20 21
MAY
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH J E F F E R S O N C I T Y, M O
The past year has brought significant change to our church family and our individual lives. Change is often difficult even when assured it will bring good things, for change is more about loss than change itself. The close companion of loss is grief, and we do well to name her and sit with her for a moment, full of grace.
UPCOMING Change is also the fertile soil from which God blooms beautiful new things! St Teresa Avila once prayed, “Let nothing upset you; let nothing startle you. All things pass; God does not change. Patience wins all it seeks. Whoever has God lacks nothing: God alone is enough.”
May 2 Children’s Sunday
May 9 Bible Teaching Resumes
May 23 We grieve the loss of our beloved Lead Pastor, Doyle, along with many friends, family, and saints who died these past fourteen months. We mourn the loss of gatherings, celebrations, and hugs because of COVID. We prepare another goodbye to our amazing Pastor of Families & Faith Formation, Hannah Coe, and her sweet family as they follow God in a new calling.
God is with us and for us, church family. Nothing is a surprise to God, and none of these changes will deter God’s mission for this loving and brave congregation. Instead, these changes are invitations for us to trust God in all things, walk forward with God in patience and wisdom, and continue to see what Love can do!
With Christ’s hope and love, Change is loss, and loss brings grief and fear as what was once familiar and known is no longer.
Pastors Melissa & Rod
Graduate Sunday
May 30 Baptism; Preaching: Jeanie McGowan
“Change is also the fertile soil from which God blooms beautiful new things!”