Pg 03 Doug’s Desk (June 2021)
Dear Members and Friends of First Church, The rippling effects of the coronavirus pandemic that started in March 2020 have [...]
Pg 04 Life Interrupted
Now, here we stand, in the middle of 2021. The sky is still stormy, the waters may be turbulent, but [...]
Pg 05 First Church Interrupted
As Christians around the world were preparing their hearts for Holy Week last year, the COVID-19 contagion showed no signs [...]
Pg 06 Consulting the Original Blueprint
The weekend of May 1 marked the one-year anniversary of the return of First Church to in-person Sunday worship services, [...]
Pg 10 Life in the Spirit
June 2021 Memory Verse For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, [...]
Pg 11 Pastors Perspective (Jun/Jul 2021)
In each Epistle, this column features a single question to which our pastors are asked to reply. It is usually [...]
Pg 12 Conversation About Race in America
A look back at what was experienced in 2020 would not be complete without an acknowledgment of the conversation about [...]
Pg 16 Moving in His Purpose
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been [...]
Pg 18 In God’s Time
In a population of roughly 70 million with less than 1% Christian, ministering full-time in Thailand has been the goal [...]
Pg 19 Global Prayer Needs
As difficult as it was to adjust to lockdowns, shutdowns, and COVID-19 mitigation in Florida, many of our church-supported missionaries [...]
Pg 20 Overcoming Fear
“Some days she has to set the alarm and get up early, just to get all her worrying done.” With [...]
Pg 22 Choosing a Church Wisely in a Post-Pandemic World
Without being foolish, leaders of congregations who desire to follow the blueprint of Scripture need to practice and model the [...]
Pg 24 The Church in America
Surviving the 'New Normal' Recently I heard someone say that the most useless Christmas gift in 2019 was a 2020 [...]
Pg 26 A Prayer for Today
Why is prayer often more difficult when crisis comes, when we feel many losses? Shouldn’t we pray more easily and [...]
Pg 27 ‘Just Part of the Journey’
Barbara Wischmeier recently announced that she would be stepping down from her position as Associate Director of Sacred Arts due [...]
Pg 28 ‘Save Our Home’ Answers Prayers
What if you had to choose between paying the mortgage and putting food on the table? Many of our neighbors [...]
Pg 29 If God Is for Us…
July Memory Verse I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my [...]