Union Park Baptist Church
July 2016
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Union Park Baptist Church Love God | Love People | Serve Others
Making Disciples: Run the Race [Ryan] 821 Arthur Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316 (515)265-5258 [email protected] upbcdesmoines.com
ST AFF:
Wes Foster Team Pastor [email protected] Ryan McDonald Team Pastor [email protected] Wendy Highsmith Director of Student Ministries [email protected] Kay Sly Director of Wee Care [email protected] Callie Hayworth Administrative Assistant [email protected]
Last month we studied Jesus’ words about worry and anxiety, but in the context of making disciples. Worry might still be a struggle as we go forward and attempt to make disciples, but this month we will focus on some additional encouragement to help us on our way. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Just prior to these verses, Hebrews 11 outlines multiple people from the Old Testament who lived by faith, or put their faith into action. Because of their legacy, because of their faith, we should carry on God’s work. But also because of their legacy and faith, we should be willing to put aside anything that slows us down in our effort to make disciples, especially sin. These things that slow us down are numerous and different for each one of us. We should be reminded that we are running a marathon as we make disciples; this isn’t a sprint where we quickly reach a finish line and are done. We should keep focusing on the finish line over the horizon where Jesus is waiting for us, but keep in mind that he is also running beside us as we continue down the path of making disciples. Jesus has already secured us a spot in the finisher’s circle, but our race time still depends on our effort as we rely on Him.
JULY Words From Wes [Wes] want to continue to talk about friendship this month. How often do you place AT A GLANCE Iyour contentment and happiness in the hands of your friends? Do you allow 4th- Independence Day Offices/Wee Care Closed 7th- Overseer Meeting 6:30 PM Conference Room 12th- Creative Worship Meeting Conference Room, 7:00 PM
your friends to dictate whether you like something or someone? Does your happiness or sadness rest in the hands of your friends? If so, why? Friends are good. Everyone needs them. We all go through life making and losing friends. In this digital age, another term would be friending and unfriending people. As you go through life friending and unfriending folks, ask yourself why. Is it because they make you mad, have a different political view, show themselves to be dishonest with you? I would caution you to take a real hard look at the power you give to other people you think of as your friends.
19th- Wee Care Board Meeting Conference Room, 7:00 PM
I have all kinds of friends. I have a friend who would do anything for me except keep my money safe. I have a friend who would do anything for me except keep things in confidence. I have a friend who would do anything for me except tell the truth to others. I have a friend who would do anything for me but talks about me behind my back. In each of these cases, I don’t give them power over my happiness. They love me. They just have some character flaws that God is still working on. They love God dearly and yet…they are just like me. I also have character flaws that God is still working on. They don’t allow them to get in the way of our friendship either. What about you? How much power do you give your friends? How much grace do you allow them?
21st- Discipleship Board Meeting Conference Room, 6:30 PM
Friendship isn’t always easy but it’s definitely worth it. Don’t go through life friendless. Try to be the friend you would want in your life. When your friends disappoint you, forgive them in the same way God has forgiven you. Next month I’ll finish up talking about friends.
14th- Missions Board Meeting Conference Room, 6:30 PM
27th- Corporate Prayer, 6:30-8 PM Conference Room 29th- Family Movie Night FAMILY DRIVE IN MOVIE IN THE PARKING LOT- at dusk We’ll have FREE popcorn and a concession stand with pizza, pop and candy! In case of bad weather, we’ll show the movie in our auditorium. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 14 for the movie!
UPBC SUMMER SOFTBALL We are down to the last month of church softball! Have you been out to support our team yet this season? We play at the Grace Church field. Here is the schedule for July: July 5th- 7:00 PM (UPBC is the Home team) July 12th- 7:00 PM (UPBC is the Home team) July 19th- 6:00 PM (UPBC is the Home team) July 26th- 7:00 PM (UPBC is the Away team)
SOLID ROCK [Wendy] Wednesdays: July 6: Cook-out/Amazing Race. 6:00-8:00. FREE hamburgers/hot dogs, chips, watermelon and pop followed by an Amazing Race challenge. Cafe closed. July 13: DIVERGENT FAITH: Abnegation (The Selfless) July 20: SLIP-N-SLIDE kickball. An exciting game of kick-ball at Union Park. Meet at the church. Wear clothing you can get wet and a towel. July 27, Aug 3, 10, 17: NO Solid Rock Adventureland! Thursday, July 7. JH/SH. Sign up in the Youth Room. Give Wendy $21 for your ticket by Wednesday, July 6. Bring extra $ for food/snacks. You can bring a lunch. SERVE 2016 We had an amazing trip to Dayton, OH this past month for our youth mission trip. The students studied Daniel and were challenged in many ways – spiritually as well as in the area of leadership & teamwork. Some of our wins we celebrated for the week: honesty, improved communication and attitudes throughout the week, finished strong, persevered through navigating obstacles, punctual, cooperation with others, open-minded, met goals, 12+ decisions at VBS, and relationships with the kids at VBS. THANK YOU for your prayers and support. A more detailed report will be given to the congregation soon.
MISSIONS [Paul] Missionary Feature Jeff and Barb Chapman Converge Missionaries in Japan
We are planting the first cell-church in the Japan Baptist Church Association Rengo, in the town of Ikoma, just outside Osaka, Japan's third largest city. It is called Christ Community Church and currently meets in a house. We are responding to the desire of Japanese to learn English and are starting new English classes. The church is in need of a place to meet and recently has been offered the use of one for very low rent. Please pray for confirmation of this being God's will and for details to be worked out in an amicable manner. Pray for hearts to be open to the Gospel as God reveals to people their need for Him. Please remember the Chapmans in your prayer time . . . Ask God to continue to bless the work being done in this first cell-church plant. Continue to pray for the effectiveness of the new English classes. Pray for the details to be worked out with the offer of a place to worship. Pray for the Japanese people and their hearts to be open to the Gospel message.
h
Union Park Baptist Church Love God | Love People | Serve Others
Making Disciples: Run the Race [Ryan] 821 Arthur Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316 (515)265-5258 [email protected] upbcdesmoines.com
ST AFF:
Wes Foster Team Pastor [email protected] Ryan McDonald Team Pastor [email protected] Wendy Highsmith Director of Student Ministries [email protected] Kay Sly Director of Wee Care [email protected] Callie Hayworth Administrative Assistant [email protected]
Last month we studied Jesus’ words about worry and anxiety, but in the context of making disciples. Worry might still be a struggle as we go forward and attempt to make disciples, but this month we will focus on some additional encouragement to help us on our way. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Just prior to these verses, Hebrews 11 outlines multiple people from the Old Testament who lived by faith, or put their faith into action. Because of their legacy, because of their faith, we should carry on God’s work. But also because of their legacy and faith, we should be willing to put aside anything that slows us down in our effort to make disciples, especially sin. These things that slow us down are numerous and different for each one of us. We should be reminded that we are running a marathon as we make disciples; this isn’t a sprint where we quickly reach a finish line and are done. We should keep focusing on the finish line over the horizon where Jesus is waiting for us, but keep in mind that he is also running beside us as we continue down the path of making disciples. Jesus has already secured us a spot in the finisher’s circle, but our race time still depends on our effort as we rely on Him.
JULY Words From Wes [Wes] want to continue to talk about friendship this month. How often do you place AT A GLANCE Iyour contentment and happiness in the hands of your friends? Do you allow 4th- Independence Day Offices/Wee Care Closed 7th- Overseer Meeting 6:30 PM Conference Room 12th- Creative Worship Meeting Conference Room, 7:00 PM
your friends to dictate whether you like something or someone? Does your happiness or sadness rest in the hands of your friends? If so, why? Friends are good. Everyone needs them. We all go through life making and losing friends. In this digital age, another term would be friending and unfriending people. As you go through life friending and unfriending folks, ask yourself why. Is it because they make you mad, have a different political view, show themselves to be dishonest with you? I would caution you to take a real hard look at the power you give to other people you think of as your friends.
19th- Wee Care Board Meeting Conference Room, 7:00 PM
I have all kinds of friends. I have a friend who would do anything for me except keep my money safe. I have a friend who would do anything for me except keep things in confidence. I have a friend who would do anything for me except tell the truth to others. I have a friend who would do anything for me but talks about me behind my back. In each of these cases, I don’t give them power over my happiness. They love me. They just have some character flaws that God is still working on. They love God dearly and yet…they are just like me. I also have character flaws that God is still working on. They don’t allow them to get in the way of our friendship either. What about you? How much power do you give your friends? How much grace do you allow them?
21st- Discipleship Board Meeting Conference Room, 6:30 PM
Friendship isn’t always easy but it’s definitely worth it. Don’t go through life friendless. Try to be the friend you would want in your life. When your friends disappoint you, forgive them in the same way God has forgiven you. Next month I’ll finish up talking about friends.
14th- Missions Board Meeting Conference Room, 6:30 PM
27th- Corporate Prayer, 6:30-8 PM Conference Room 29th- Family Movie Night FAMILY DRIVE IN MOVIE IN THE PARKING LOT- at dusk We’ll have FREE popcorn and a concession stand with pizza, pop and candy! In case of bad weather, we’ll show the movie in our auditorium. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 14 for the movie!
UPBC SUMMER SOFTBALL We are down to the last month of church softball! Have you been out to support our team yet this season? We play at the Grace Church field. Here is the schedule for July: July 5th- 7:00 PM (UPBC is the Home team) July 12th- 7:00 PM (UPBC is the Home team) July 19th- 6:00 PM (UPBC is the Home team) July 26th- 7:00 PM (UPBC is the Away team)
SOLID ROCK [Wendy] Wednesdays: July 6: Cook-out/Amazing Race. 6:00-8:00. FREE hamburgers/hot dogs, chips, watermelon and pop followed by an Amazing Race challenge. Cafe closed. July 13: DIVERGENT FAITH: Abnegation (The Selfless) July 20: SLIP-N-SLIDE kickball. An exciting game of kick-ball at Union Park. Meet at the church. Wear clothing you can get wet and a towel. July 27, Aug 3, 10, 17: NO Solid Rock Adventureland! Thursday, July 7. JH/SH. Sign up in the Youth Room. Give Wendy $21 for your ticket by Wednesday, July 6. Bring extra $ for food/snacks. You can bring a lunch. SERVE 2016 We had an amazing trip to Dayton, OH this past month for our youth mission trip. The students studied Daniel and were challenged in many ways – spiritually as well as in the area of leadership & teamwork. Some of our wins we celebrated for the week: honesty, improved communication and attitudes throughout the week, finished strong, persevered through navigating obstacles, punctual, cooperation with others, open-minded, met goals, 12+ decisions at VBS, and relationships with the kids at VBS. THANK YOU for your prayers and support. A more detailed report will be given to the congregation soon.
MISSIONS [Paul] Missionary Feature Jeff and Barb Chapman Converge Missionaries in Japan
We are planting the first cell-church in the Japan Baptist Church Association Rengo, in the town of Ikoma, just outside Osaka, Japan's third largest city. It is called Christ Community Church and currently meets in a house. We are responding to the desire of Japanese to learn English and are starting new English classes. The church is in need of a place to meet and recently has been offered the use of one for very low rent. Please pray for confirmation of this being God's will and for details to be worked out in an amicable manner. Pray for hearts to be open to the Gospel as God reveals to people their need for Him. Please remember the Chapmans in your prayer time . . . Ask God to continue to bless the work being done in this first cell-church plant. Continue to pray for the effectiveness of the new English classes. Pray for the details to be worked out with the offer of a place to worship. Pray for the Japanese people and their hearts to be open to the Gospel message.
