The sermon for December 28, 2008 “Pastoral Epistles #1″ by Pastor Phil McNeill is now available.

• “Pastoral Epistles #1″ Sermon Notes (PDF)
  
• “Pastoral Epistles #1″ Sermon (RealAudio Version – 4MB)
• “Pastoral Epistles #1″ Sermon (MP3 Version – 44MB)

The December 28, 2008 4 p.m. prayer meeting has been canceled.

Bulletin for December 28, 2008

Equipping, networking and strengthening leaders of Youth and Young Adults

More information at:

• Elim Youth Leaders’ Summit Brochure
• Elim Fellowship Youth Events

Plan now to attend a free worship concert presented by Sallie Fuller with her friend Heather Soyring as vocal and our own Caroline Clearwater on cello. It will be held on Saturday, January 31, 7:00-8:00 P.M. They will play worship music and songs that Sallie has written and recorded.

Empty Nesters will begin the New Year by meeting Saturday, January 3, 2009 to do a good deed for the church. We will meet at 7:00 P.M. to take down and put away the Christmas decorations that were put up by our youth group under the direction of Pastor Ben Clark.

After we are finished with our task of undecorating, we will have refreshments and maybe play a game if time permits.

Even if you have not previously attended Empty Nesters, begin the New Year by attending our group.

On January 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., the women at Word of Life Christian Fellowship are invited to a brunch at the church for a time of spiritual feeding, food, and fellowship. This is the beginning of a monthly opportunity for women to get together to encourage one another and to hear a teaching that will be speaking to us as Christian women.

Updated!

• Our own Sheryl McNeill will be speaking.
• Nursery care will be provided through age three.
• All women are invited.

As I write this article we are a few days from Christmas and moving quickly to a New Year. I have a sense of excitement in my own spirit as we head into the New Year. Some of you may have very legitimate things weighing on you. Some things are inevitably going to cause us to be burdened and in this article I am not addressing these. However, there are some burdens that we can release and two of these are regrets and offenses which can lead to unforgiveness. Prolonged regrets lead to unforgiveness because you cannot forgive yourself, and offenses lead to unforgiveness because you cannot forgive the other person.

Life has enough legitimate challenges without us taking on regrets and offenses. As we head into the New Year think of these words from Paul found in Phil 3:13-15, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.” Let me encourage you as we head into this New Year release and regrets and offenses.

One church I know every year in December rents a dumpster and puts it outside the church. Then they go through each room in the church and throw out any unnecessary items so as to start the New Year with as little clutter as possible. Life has enough challenges without us holding on to things that we need to release to the Lord. Lets all get rid of our “clutter.” Scripture tells us “everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Offenses and prolonged regrets are not of faith. As we read in Heb 12:1-3, “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. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Have a great New Year free of prolonged regret and offenses.
Pastor Phil

The sermon for December 21, 2008 “How to have Christmas every day” by Ben Clark is now available.

• “How to have Christmas every day” Sermon (RealAudio Version)
• “How to have Christmas every day” Sermon (MP3 Version)

On Saturdays  11:45 am – 1:15 pm starting January 10, 2009 through February 7, 2009 Word of Life Christian Fellowship will be hosting floor hockey (games and practices for two teams) in the gym (3374 Winton Road South, Rochester (Hentrietta) NY 13623-3026) for all children grades 5 – 8 (coed teams).  The cost will be for $15/child (families with 2 or more children participating $25).

Required equipment:

• clean sneakers
• gloves (leather palm best for handling sticks)
• waiver and registration form signed by parents

Optional equipment (recommended)

• shin guards

Please contact the chruch offices for more information.