Dear KCBC family,
Some of us have health problems due to aging and getting older, while others have health issues unrelated to age, including mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, and many other things that aren’t readily apparent nor with easy fixes. A few of us are just plain stressed out by life! God may take away some of these trials, but others he won’t (see 2 Cor. 12:7-9).
So as we gather each week, one of the most important things we can do is pray for one another. But we shouldn’t just assume we know what to pray for, especially if a need seems obvious. Instead, we should actually ask one another, “How can I pray for you?” Of course, a sick person wants to be healed, but usually, a person’s needs go far beyond that, especially when a health issue persists.
So, if someone asks, “How can I pray for you?” in addition to physical healing, remember to ask them to pray that God would give you the strength for today’s tasks and not to become overwhelmed with tomorrow’s. Ask them to pray that God would be glorified in your weakness and that your true strength would be in Christ.
When we ask people to pray in these ways, it’s not an indication that we’ve given up hope; but an indication of trying to redirect our will to God’s. After all, there’s much more to each of us than our physical health.
Every single one of us has bodies that will fail eventually, and sometimes it happens sooner than we’d like. Therefore, what we all need most is to keep a biblical perspective and to keep our focus on Christ.
So keep praying for one another. Ask one another how we can pray because physical healing isn’t the only thing, nor is it necessarily the most important. Sometimes we’ll never know how to pray for a person unless we ask them.
The Apostle Paul, who God chose not to heal in this life, said, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). I think if we’d asked Paul what to pray for he would have said, “that I don’t lose heart.”
So let’s pray for one another that our weaknesses and limitations will be used by God to point us to the source of all authority and ability. To God and God alone.
For the gospel,
Pastor Tim
Potluck
This Sunday, after worship, we will have a church potluck. Our regularly scheduled third-Sunday-of-the-month potlucks will resume in September.
Parsonage
Progress in the basement of the parsonage continues to be made. The plumbing for an enlarged bathroom has been done, and now we’re ready to fill in the hole with concrete. We expect to move on to insulation within a couple of weeks and then drywall! Thanks to Roger, Heart, and Sean for all of their donated time and expertise!
Presentation Software Help
If you have an interest in helping Pastor Tim set up and control the software we use for slides and live streams, please let him know as soon as possible. No experience is necessary, just a desire to learn and serve.
Vacation Time
Pastor Tim and his family will be on vacation starting next week. Pastor Douglas Hollums, a former VM pastor who is now head of Christian Resort Ministries, will be filling the pulpit on August 14th and 21st.
KCBC Bylaw Committee
Purpose:
The purpose of the committee is to examine KCBC's bylaws in order to increase our ability to fulfill its object, which is “The preaching of the Gospel to every creature; the edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word, and the promotion of spiritual fellowship among God’s people of like faith and purpose.”
Who:
Any member of KCBC may serve on this committee, and if you are interested in serving, don't hesitate to contact Pastor Tim. Of course, any person, member or not, is welcome to give input at any time.
Method:
The committee will compare and contrast KCBC’s Bylaws with Newel Community Church’s Bylaws (a Village Missions church) in order to make bylaw recommendations to the Board. Only the Bible and these two documents will be utilized.
All recommended changes to the bylaws must have 3/4 majority support of the committee.
Pastor Tim will serve as moderator for all committee meetings. A minimum of four (no more than six) members (including the Pastor) must be present to make recommendations to the Board. Fewer than four may meet together for discussion but may not make formal recommendations.
The committee will decide how often to meet, and monthly progress will be made to the Board by the Pastor.
Lord willing, in the middle of January 2023, or sooner, the Board will evaluate the committee's recommendations and then present any proposed changes to the members of KCBC for final approval at the Congregational Meeting.
YouTube Livestreaming
If you cannot attend worship services in person, we continue to offer a Livestream option but with a change. Instead of using Facebook, we are now using YouTube’s services. We hope this platform will allow us to reach more people and provide a better overall experience for those who watch online. Here’s the new link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCru5UDhNF-dJN1BlWXU4gYg/live. Be sure to click the “like” button and “subscribe” to the channel, as it helps others get connected with our church. In addition, all sermons from 1 Corinthians are available to watch at any time.
Village Missions Spotlight
Joe & Ana Levesque, Elk Creek, CA
Elk Creek is nineteen miles west of Willows, CA, and sits at the eastern base of the Mendocino National Forest. As you drive in, you will cross a picturesque bridge across Elk Creek, fed by Stony Gorge Reservoir just south of town. Our town, a little foothill community, is raided nightly by mule deer, raccoons, wild pigs, and an occasional black bear. Stop by Nancy’s Elkhorn Family Lodge and try “The Preach,” a menu item named after Joe.
Prayer Requests:
Praise the Lord for providing a new van for our family.
Pray for the AWANA group to grow this coming fall.
Pray for our Saturday morning men’s group to grow and that these men would grow spiritually strong.
Pray for the church to have a stronger outreach to the community.
Please join us in praying for rain.
Elk Creek Community Bible Church, PO Box 203, Elk Creek, CA 95939 (530)-968-5185