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Dear EBC Family,
As of yesterday, I have been serving as the pastor at Excell Baptist Church for one year. It’s hard for me to believe that it’s already been a year—the time has flown by. It has been a blessing to serve as your pastor, and I’m grateful for the ways you have welcomed and supported my family during this time. Thank you.
This morning I want to share two Scriptures that have been on my heart. The first is Proverbs 24:16, which says, “the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”
If you are a believer, you are righteous in God’s eyes through Christ. But being righteous doesn’t mean you never struggle. The believer is in a continual battle with sin. We fall, not just once, but repeatedly. Yet when we fall, it doesn’t ultimately defeat us. We get back up because we know that Jesus is our righteousness. We learn from our mistakes. We repent. We grow in holiness. We keep taking one step forward in our walk with Christ, even when that walk is imperfect.
This reality leads me to the second Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-2, which says, “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.”
These verses capture what I hope will mark my ministry at Excell Baptist Church. I, like you, am a man with weaknesses, fears, and a continual struggle against sin. Because I know what it’s like to struggle, I hope to be a pastor who can deal gently with your weaknesses. May God give us all gentle and sympathetic hearts toward one another as we pursue our common Savior together.
I look forward to what God will do in and through us in the year ahead.
Sunday Worship Guide
Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision! One of the best ways to get the most out of our time together in corporate worship is to come prepared, going to bed early on Saturday night, and by reviewing the sermon text, our song list, and our responsive readings. To help you prepare for Sunday worship, I've provided each element of our worship below for your review prior to Sunday.
- Sermon Text – Genesis 1:1-25
- Song List
- Responsive Reading
- Confession of Sin
- Leader: Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor (Isaiah 51:12-13)
- All: O Lord, you have searched me and known me! Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. (Psalm 139:1, 4)
- Assurance of Pardon
- Leader: Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9)
- All: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Announcements
- Wednesday Nights – Next Wednesday we will have our church fellowship meal and members meeting at 5:30 PM.
- Men's Breakfast – The next men's breakfast will be on Saturday, October 11, at 8 AM.
- Lottie Moon Chili Cook Off and Missions Auction – Please join us on October 24 for this fun time of fellowship as a church family!
- CBA Annual Meeting – Our church will be hosting the Cumberland Baptist Association's annual meeting on October 27 at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend.
- Theology for Breakfast – This is a men's discipleship group that meets on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month at 6:30 AM at The Coffee House South. We spend time sharing our struggles and prayer needs with one another, and then we spend the rest of our time discussing a book that we are reading together. If you are interested in joining, please let me know.
- Trail Life/American Heritage Girls – Trail Life and AHG meet at the church each Thursday night at 6:30 PM. If you are interested in serving as mentor/volunteer, please contact Tom or Michelle Ridley.
- Classical Conversations – The homeschool group, Classical Conversations, meets at our church on Tuesdays from 8:00 AM–3:30 PM.
- Bible Study Fellowship – The women's BSF group meets at our church on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. If you would like to join the current study, visit bsfinternational.org, click "Find a Group," locate the Excell Baptist Church group, and click "Request to Join."
Upcoming Events
- October 24 – Lottie Moon Chili Cook Off & Missions Auction
- October 27 – CBA Annual Meeting
- November 30 – 5th Sunday Fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 AM)
- December 5 – International Missions Meal
- December 14 – Holiday Meal
In Christ,
Hunter Hanson
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