January 06th, 2016

Good Peoples

"Those are good peoples! That's good family!" As our van pulled out of the driveway and headed out of the cul-de-sac at the beginning of a ten-hour trip home, our toddler shared his thoughts on the five days spent with my sister and her family. I have to say that I agree with his assessment. It was great to be with my family in Georgia over this last week, and I am thankful to everyone who took care of things in my absence to make this time away possible.

While I often joke (sometimes seriously) about the stresses of being with family and the tensions that can arise when too many people gather in too small a space for too long a time, family at its best is a wonderful thing! When we laugh together and cry together, when we share our victories and mourn our losses, when we dream of possibilities and encourage each other to go for it, when we cook and eat together or simply sit in each other's company, it is a beautiful thing. I am thankful to have such family even if we only get to see them once or twice a year. 

Part of living together in community is to be just such this type of family for each other. Like all families, there will be times in the church when we will disagree or disappoint each other. But at our best, we are to be a family that loves one another, sticks with each other through thick and thin, and at the end of the day puts aside our differences to walk with each other along life's journey. After all, we're all in this together!

May God grant us the grace to be "good peoples" for one another!

Blessings on the journey, Jim

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Worship this Week: Forgotten Folks of Faith

When we read through the Bible or hear Scriptures in worship, the big names often jump out at us: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Mary and Joseph, Jesus, Peter, James, John, and Paul to name a few. But there are so many more folks in the Bible - many who enter only for a verse and two and are lay forgotten among the pages of our Scriptures. Over the next few weeks, we will hear some of the stories of some of these "Forgotten Folks of Faith" and what they have to teach us!

We kick off this Sunday with the story of two forgotten women just trying to do their jobs and forced into a difficult moral dilemma. Will they choose the thing they know is wrong as they are told or do the right thing that could risk them their own lives? What consequences might they face if they dare defy those in charge? Join us this Sunday as we hear the story of "The Midwives"!

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Bible Blast 31

With the new year under way, we are into our Bible Blast 31 - a month-long journey through the Bible. If you haven't joined in yet, it's not too late! You can start today with Day 1 and finish up in early February. The reading plan and helpful notes on each day's readings are available on our Bible Blast 31.

Living in Community

• Thank you to everyone who came out for our Christmas Eve dinner and fellowship! A special thanks to chief cook Dianna, decorators Pam and Marvin, children's craft leader Lee, and everyone who brought food and helped clean up!
• Thanks to Dinah for sharing a wonderful message this past Sunday!
• Thanks to all of our leaders who have served in the past year to make our ministries so successful! Please pray for our leaders in the new year.

This Week at Port Church

Wednesday, January 6
9:30 am - 2:00 pm - Office Hours

Thursday, January 7
9:30 am - 12:00 noon - Office Hours

Sunday, January 10
9:30 am - Worship Service with Communion
"Forgotten Folks: The Midwives"

Looking Ahead

• Wednesday at the Port resumes - January 13
• ​Sunshine Seniors - January 21
• Vacation Bible School - June 27-July 1