Pastor’s eNote: Weekly Update

It was a joy to be with the FFMC family after a couple weeks of vacation. If you are in worship this coming Sunday, you will see and hear a little bit about it as part of the sermon. Bettina and I are blessed to be part of this community of faith in Jesus.

Over the years of serving different local churches as a pastor, I have found that churches need some foundational statements that guide their work. Often these statements are called mission statements or vision statements. They are well crafted but often lack the grip to help guide the church toward its God-given call.

At FFMC, the Pastors and Leadership Team have chosen to do this work in a different way. What was known as our mission statement is now called “Our Way of Life”:

Love People – Connect to Jesus – Serve the World.

Our Way of LIFE is a commitment we share together. FFMC is a church where this Way of LIFE is strived for each day.

To help us live the Way of LIFE we must form into followers (disciples of Jesus Christ). We do this through our Way of DISCIPLESHIP. The Way of DISCIPLESHIP trains and supports us for our Way of LIFE. Both of these “Ways” are the core of who we are as a church.

There will be a longer worship series coming in January about each part of the Way of DISCIPLESHIP. On Sunday, I shared the seven practices of the Way of DISCIPLESHIP. Here they are for your continued reflection and prayer:

PRAYING – Commitment to time with God
“But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20

PRAISING – Commitment to worship
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” Hebrews 10:25

GROWING – Commitment to spiritual growth together
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation–” 1 Peter 2:2

GIVING – Commitment to generosity
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

SERVING – Commitment to love people as Jesus calls us
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10

SHARING – Commitment to tell our story of Jesus
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19

RENEWING – Commitment to care for ourselves
“The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath;” Mark 2:27

Grace to You All,

Pastor Craig Brown

(October 8, 2024)