This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-BRANCHES BAND will be here this Saturday at 3pm for an OUTDOOR CONCERT behind the school building. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket! Branches Band exists to serve Christ through their music. They play hymns and contemporary Christian songs. For more info go to www.branchesband.com .

-Sunday Worship is at 8:00am and 10:30, with Bible Class and Sunday School in-between, at the church for the time being. The remaining Monday nights in September will be mask-required, unless you are medically unable to wear one. Sunday's services (but not Monday) will be accompanied by Branches Band.

-Sunday morning Bible class will be livestreamed. Sunday's materials can be found here: https://www.stpls.org/bible-study/

-Wednesday morning Bible class will be livestreamed. Questions are below. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY 

Sign up for a time in-person between services, online, or call during the week for us to help you. To sign up online, go to www.ucdir.com, click on the appointment scheduling button, enter mi1502 for the church code and enter photos for the password. Online sign up will only be active Mon-Fri, so that the sheets for in-person sign up on Sunday morning will be accurate. If you are unable to go to the basement because of handicap accessibility, or need help scheduling, call Elaine Livingston at 989-321-1095.

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(Picture above found at https://credohouse.org/)

This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-Sunday Worship will be at 8:00am and 10:30, with Bible Class and Sunday School in-between, at the church for the time being. The remaining Monday nights in September will be mask-required, unless you are medically unable to wear one.

-Sunday morning Bible class will be livestreamed. Sunday's materials can be found here: https://www.stpls.org/bible-study/

-Wednesday morning Bible class will be livestreamed. Questions are below. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

-COVID NOTIFICATION We have once again been notified of a regularly tested individual who was told of a positive test on Sunday evening. This individual attended the 8:00 am service on 9/13, and had and still has no symptoms. The family also has no symptoms currently. Since there was no close contact (within 6 ft/15 minutes), and no new symptoms from the person or anyone around, then according to the latest CDC guidelines, all we should do is continue to monitor ourselves like normal (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html).

Again, we have no promise from God that we can't get sick on the way to church or being in church. But we hold on to the promises that we do have, that as we gather together we will be encouraged and prepared by God's gifts not just for a day of potential COVID alerts, but for the DAY, when Jesus returns to bring us to paradise.(See devotional thought below as well)

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY 

Sign up for a time in-person between services, online, or call during the week for us to help you. To sign up online, go to www.ucdir.com, click on the appointment scheduling button, enter mi1502 for the church code and enter photos for the password. Online sign up will only be active Mon-Fri, so that the sheets for in-person sign up on Sunday morning will be accurate. If you are unable to go to the basement because of handicap accessibility, or need help scheduling, call Elaine Livingston at 989-321-1095.

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Picture above from the sermon text for this weekend. May this newsletter lead you to the word of God which transforms your mind to know God's Will! This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-Worship and Bible Class Fall Schedule Starts September 13th! Sunday Worship will be at 8:00am and 10:30, with Bible Class and Sunday School in-between, at the church for the time being. Bible class will continue our study of the Passion in the sanctuary, and Sunday School (teen Bible class as well) will meet downstairs. The remaining Monday nights in September will be mask-required, unless you are medically unable to wear one.

-This Sunday, in the late service, we will have an affirmation of the confirmands whom we confirmed this past spring. It will also be our Christian Education Sunday, with special prayers and focus on the mission of assisting parents to bring their children up in the knowledge of the the Lord. Pray that God bless our teachers, parents, students, and staff in that mission!

3 Upcoming Things To Note for Worship and Bible class

1. Monday night will be mask required for the final three weeks in September. With late service moving back, and Public School confirmation beginning 12-1pm on Sundays, we're running out of time (and pastoral manpower) on Sunday morning for a special mask service. So we ask those who are able to wear masks to do so for the services on Monday the 14th, 21st, and 28th. We will continue to revisit our plans monthly.
2. We will have a teen (7th grade through high school) Bible class between services on Sunday, beginning with the study, "Courage that Defies Death."
3. The Thursday Zoom Bible Class will migrate to Wednesday morning. We will hold our Wednesday classes in the basement of the church, and the Wednesday morning one, God-willing, will be a hybrid in-person and online study.

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY 

Sign up for a time in-person between services, online, or call during the week for us to help you. To sign up online, go to www.ucdir.com, click on the appointment scheduling button, enter mi1502 for the church code and enter photos for the password. Online sign up will only be active Mon-Fri, so that the sheets for in-person sign up on Sunday morning will be accurate. If you are unable to go to the basement because of handicap accessibility, or need help scheduling, call Elaine Livingston at 989-321-1095.

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am (Next Week moving to Wednesday at 10am)

Questions below. Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

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This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

--We will have our next mask-required services at 11:30am this Sunday, September 6th. This will be a shortened service with less singing, and the pastors will wear masks before and after the service, as well as during communion distribution. After this service, the mask-required service will be the remaining Mondays in September (more on that in note below).

--Worship and Bible Class Fall Schedule Starts September 13th!

This is the last week of 9:45 late service. After Labor Day, Sunday Worship will be at 8:00am and 10:30, with Bible Class and Sunday School in-between, at the church for the time being. Bible class will continue our study of the Passion (remember when we were studying that??) in the sanctuary, and Sunday School (teen Bible class as well) will meet downstairs. Parents, either register your kids for Sunday School at church ( https://forms.gle/bHvXpQuSZet76RHe6 ) or visit our publishing house website to prepare to teach Sunday School to your kids at home (https://online.nph.net/ss-at-home). Wednesday Bible classes, at 10am and 7pm, will be at the church.

4 Upcoming Things To Note for Worship and Bible class

1. Monday night will be mask required for the final three weeks in September. With late service moving back, and Public School confirmation beginning 12-1pm on Sundays, we're running out of time (and pastoral manpower) on Sunday morning for a special mask service. So we ask those who are able to wear masks to do so for the services on Monday the 14th, 21st, and 28th. We will continue to revisit our plans monthly.
2. We will have a teen (7th grade through high school) Bible class between services on Sunday, beginning with the study, "Courage that Defies Death."
3. Scheduled Facebook video devotions will be coming to an end soon. With school starting, the pastors will be adding back school year duties, and this involves cutting back on some other things. We will still provide online content as able.
4. The Thursday Zoom Bible Class will migrate to Wednesday morning. We will hold our Wednesday classes in the basement of the church, and the Wednesday morning one, God-willing, will be a hybrid in-person and online study.

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY 

Sign up for a time in-person between services, online, or call during the week for us to help you. To sign up online, go to www.ucdir.com, click on the appointment scheduling button, enter mi1502 for the church code and enter photos for the password. Online sign up will only be active Mon-Fri, so that the sheets for in-person sign up on Sunday morning will be accurate.

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Questions below. Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

+++

This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-COVID-19 Update (Slightly updated from an hour ago)

We have been informed that a member who was in the 8:00 service on August 23rd, was notified of a positive test. This member is tested weekly for work. This member was and is completely asymptomatic, was well-distanced from others in the sanctuary, and did not interact with anyone for an extended period of time. All of the family members of this member have all tested negative since despite extended close contact. A new type of test at the workplace yielded many more positives than the tests in the previous weeks, and those individuals who newly tested positive were asymptomatic as well, and those who were retested immediately were negative on their second test. So, all indications are this was a false positive, and this member is getting retested for this reason. We thank the family for notifying us and for sharing this information. The latest CDC guidelines indicate that other individuals at the service do not need to be tested under these circumstances (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html). Just monitor yourself like normal.

As we have noted in the past, there is no guarantee that Christians cannot get sick at church. We take common sense precautions and continue to rely on God and his wise and perfect rule and protection. We trust you as you make your personal decisions according to your conscience, guided by God's Word. We thank God that we have currently had almost 50 services since May, with over 8000 worshippers, and this is our first alert of this kind. There may be more in the future. There's much we don't know. But there is something we always know: "Where two or three gather together in my name, there I am with them" (Matthew 18:20). We are glad to be informed by members so we can continue to care for each other in that way. We are also glad to be informed by Jesus that at every service, as at the 8:00 service on the 23rd, he was there with us, granting perfect protection through his word, and conquering the far greater enemies out to harm us through his forgiveness. As we heard in the sermon, continue to live in the confidence of Moses' words to the Israelites: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again." Our loving God and Father, the source of all good, will continue to deliver us from whatever may harm us.

-NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY As part of our anniversary celebration next year (170th of congregation, 100th of building), we are producing a new anniversary church directory. One short and safe trip to church will make sure that you (or your family) are a part of this project to bring our church family together. Pictures will be taken in the church basement October 8-10, and 12. The whole picture taking process takes about 45 minutes, and you get a free directory and a free 8 x 10 portrait just for participating. Sign up for a time in-person between services, or online. To sign up online, go to www.ucdir.com, click on the yellow sunburst icon, enter mi1502 for the church code and enter photos for the password. Online sign up will only be active Mon-Fri, so that the sheets for in-person sign up on Sunday morning will be accurate.

-We will have our next mask-required services at 11:30am on September 6th. This will be a shortened service with less singing, and the pastors will wear masks before and after the service, as well as during communion distribution.

-Regular in-person worship: Sunday at 8am & 9:45am; Monday at 6:30pm

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-Sunday School Registration can be done online! Just click here: https://forms.gle/bHvXpQuSZet76RHe6 . We're currently (tentatively) planning on having Bible Study in the sanctuary and Sunday School in the basement of the church (while in Phase 4--Phase 5 would be normal).

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

+++

This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-COVID-19 Update (Slightly updated from an hour ago)

We have been informed that a member who was in the 8:00 service on August 23rd, was notified of a positive test. This member is tested weekly for work. This member was and is completely asymptomatic, was well-distanced from others in the sanctuary, and did not interact with anyone for an extended period of time. All of the family members of this member have all tested negative since despite extended close contact. A new type of test at the workplace yielded many more positives than the tests in the previous weeks, and those individuals who newly tested positive were asymptomatic as well, and those who were retested immediately were negative on their second test. So, all indications are this was a false positive, and this member is getting retested for this reason. We thank the family for notifying us and for sharing this information. The latest CDC guidelines indicate that other individuals at the service do not need to be tested under these circumstances (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html). Just monitor yourself like normal.

As we have noted in the past, there is no guarantee that Christians cannot get sick at church. We take common sense precautions and continue to rely on God and his wise and perfect rule and protection. We trust you as you make your personal decisions according to your conscience, guided by God's Word. We thank God that we have currently had almost 50 services since May, with over 8000 worshippers, and this is our first alert of this kind. There may be more in the future. There's much we don't know. But there is something we always know: "Where two or three gather together in my name, there I am with them" (Matthew 18:20). We are glad to be informed by members so we can continue to care for each other in that way. We are also glad to be informed by Jesus that at every service, as at the 8:00 service on the 23rd, he was there with us, granting perfect protection through his word, and conquering the far greater enemies out to harm us through his forgiveness. As we heard in the sermon, continue to live in the confidence of Moses' words to the Israelites: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again." Our loving God and Father, the source of all good, will continue to deliver us from whatever may harm us.

-NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY As part of our anniversary celebration next year (170th of congregation, 100th of building), we are producing a new anniversary church directory. One short and safe trip to church will make sure that you (or your family) are a part of this project to bring our church family together. Pictures will be taken in the church basement October 8-10, and 12. The whole picture taking process takes about 45 minutes, and you get a free directory and a free 8 x 10 portrait just for participating. Sign up for a time in-person between services, or online. To sign up online, go to www.ucdir.com, click on the yellow sunburst icon, enter mi1502 for the church code and enter photos for the password. Online sign up will only be active Mon-Fri, so that the sheets for in-person sign up on Sunday morning will be accurate.

-We will have our next mask-required services at 11:30am on September 6th. This will be a shortened service with less singing, and the pastors will wear masks before and after the service, as well as during communion distribution.

-Regular in-person worship: Sunday at 8am & 9:45am; Monday at 6:30pm

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-Sunday School Registration can be done online! Just click here: https://forms.gle/bHvXpQuSZet76RHe6 . We're currently (tentatively) planning on having Bible Study in the sanctuary and Sunday School in the basement of the church (while in Phase 4--Phase 5 would be normal).

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

+++

This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-We will have our next mask-required services at 11:30am on September 6th. This will be a shortened service with less singing, and the pastors will wear masks before and after the service, as well as during communion distribution.

-Regular in-person worship: Sunday at 8am & 9:45am; Monday at 6:30pm (Monday is also a good service for those at higher risk--this past Monday had around 30 people will plenty of space to spread out.)

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-School registration is this coming Monday, August 24th, from 3-7pm. What a blessing to have a school that partners with our parents to teach children the priceless truths of our Savior! Pray for our teachers and staff, and the students and their families that we can continue the plan for in-person instruction starting on time, on September 8th. "The LORD gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding come from his mouth." Proverbs 2:6

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

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This newsletter includes:

1. Notes & Funeral Notice
2. Devotional Thought
3. Worship Preview for Sunday
4. Bible Study

1. Notes & Funeral Notice

-"To live is Christ, to die is gain" (Php 1:21). Our dear sister in Christ, Judy Wacker, passed away this past Monday. We rejoice that her faithful savior has brought her to her eternal inheritance through faith in him, even as we mourn. Please pray for the family, that they find comfort in God's Word. Though the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)!

The funeral will be held at noon on Monday, August 17th, at St. Paul's sanctuary, with visitation from 10-12, either outside along Bond street (weather-permitting) or down in the basement. Committal will follow at Oakwood cemetery. The family has requested that all those who attend the service wear masks. Due to Covid-precautions, there will be no luncheon. The obituary can be found here: https://www.casefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Judith-Ann-Wacker?obId=17844332 .

We will have masks-required services at 11:30am on the next two communion Sundays, August 16th and September 6th. This will be a shortened service with less singing, and the pastors will wear masks before and after the service, as well as during communion distribution. We will start with these two services in order to gauge interest.

-Regular in-person worship: Sunday at 8am & 9:45am; Monday at 6:30pm

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays. The DVDs from the past few weeks seem not to be working in some players. We are working on getting you new DVDs of those services as soon as possible.

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

+++

This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-New Mask-Only Services, Aug. 16 + Sept. 6th!

We will have masks-required services at 11:30am on the next two communion Sundays, August 16th and September 6th. This will be a shortened service with less singing, and the pastors will wear masks before and after the service, as well as during communion distribution. We will start with these two services in order to gauge interest.

-Regular in-person worship: Sunday at 8am & 9:45am; Monday at 6:30pm--Monday is a good option for those at higher risk--we had 27 this past Monday in a huge sanctuary, so there was plenty of room to distance. Because more of our at-risk members attend on Monday, we encourage those who are able to wear a mask at the Monday service.

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready (or find bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzC3y8YQ1IYcfndHWmRhQ2t6TVhhVXoyTWNVN29vcHBJMzlxcjMyWEJhRGpKM3RfNXdKMHc_ ).

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-As you continue doing your best to live out of love for your God and your neighbor, look to your God for help. Whatever Scripture-guided decisions you come to about how God would have you live, remember that God demands more than outward behavior; God looks at the heart. God forgive us for judging ourselves and our neighbor by outward actions, whatever they are, as if that's all that matters!

 God does forgive--and he gives us lives that are truly pleasing to him. God-pleasing lives come from a place only God can see: the heart--a heart cleansed by God's forgiveness, covered with Jesus' perfection, and moved by God's love. As you ask God for help to live as the person he has already declared you to be through faith in Jesus, be encouraged by the words of Psalm 121,

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

+++

This newsletter includes:

1. Devotional Thought
2. Worship Preview for Sunday
3. Bible Study

Notes

-In person worship: Sunday at 8am & 9:45am; Monday at 6:30pm (good option for those at higher risk). Feel free to wear a mask. Thank you for doing your best to maintain distance when choosing your seat.

-For those worshiping at home this week: Livestreamed 8am service, with the service available on Youtube directly afterwards. See worship preparation below to get the hymns and readings ready.

-DVDs and sermon copies are available by contacting the church office, between 9am-12pm on weekdays.

-Pastors available anytime to visit and share a devotion and/or communion (Church Office: 989-799-3271; PB: 989-412-0458; PN: 989-412-0232)

-If you are uncomfortable returning to church, take your time, especially if you have preconditions that compromise your health and immune system. If you are experiencing any symptoms, such as fever, please stay home. We will continue to make videos available for you of our services and pray that you are making use of them to stay connected with Jesus!

-In a time when we have different opinions and make different decisions...Continue to thank God for our fellowship with each other! Pray that God keeps doing what he promises to do: accomplishing his good work among us by leading each of us daily to repent of our sinful pride, to trust in Jesus' forgiveness, and to live together in the light of the gospel. As Philippians 1:3-6 says:

"I thank my God every time I remember you. Every time I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY MORNING at 10am

Anybody is free to join. Click this link or enter the information below in the program/app Zoom. Meeting ID: 813 9931 8006 Password: 011081

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