20 21
FEBRUARY
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH J E F F E R S O N C I T Y, M O
The death of our pastor, shepherd, and friend, Dr. Doyle Sager, on January 22, 2021 is a life-changing event for our congregation. In the days ahead we grieve, remember with gratitude, and find our strength in God’s loving presence. In the 2018 Beacon, Doyle wrote “Grieving is part of loving and, eventually, God’s love heals all our sorrow. As Corrie Ten Boom once said, ‘No matter how deep the pit, God’s love goes deeper.’” How deeply we love Doyle. How deeply he loved us. Love outlasts our sadness and our mortal bodies; love never fails. We are, therefore, compelled to be Christ’s love and hope. During our Lenten sermon series, Fixer Upper: Renovation of the Heart, we’ll explore the why, what, and how of embracing God’s desire to reframe our lives. What renovation does Christ desire to do in our hearts? Where do we begin? How can we connect with God’s transforming work in our everyday lives?
Renovations often involve demolition days, and demos can get messy. The good news is this: Jesus meets us where we are, offering his healing and redemptive power to fill our deepest longings and heal our deepest hurts. Our Lenten memory verse is: I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5). How important it is for us to abide in Christ and seek his leading as the Lord of our lives in the days and months ahead. We begin Lent with our online only Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, February 17, 6 pm. We hope you’ll register at fbcjc.org/lent to receive an Ash Wednesday kit.
With Christ’s hope and love,
FBC Pastors
UPCOMING Feb 17 Ash Wednesday 6pm Online Only Lent Devotionals To receive these daily devotions via email, go to fbcjc.org/lent
Feb 21 Quarterly Business Meeting @ Noon
“Grieving is part of loving and, eventually, God’s love heals all our sorrow.” Doyle Sager