Friends,

“Thank you for
your help!”  These words were
written by the widowed spouse of a retired American Baptist minister after she
received a Thank You check from the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering
  (RMMO).  “For
14 years,” she wrote, “I have
received an annual check.  These
  gifts have given me peace of mind and a sense of gratitude that have brought
  tears to my eyes.  The money has
helped me at times when I didn’t know how I would manage. 
This year’s gift helped me pay the insurance on my house. 
My heart is filled with gratitude to Christ
Jesus.”


  Her words of thanks echo those of many of the more than
  3,000 retired American Baptist ministers and missionaries, or their widowed
  spouses, whose annual Thank You checks are made possible by the RMMO.  Fifty-seven percent of the offering is
  distribute4d in the form of ABC Thank You checks; 43 % is available to meet
  emergency and special financial needs.

 The theme of this year’s RMMO is “Remember
with LOVE/Give with GRATITUDE.” 
As a denomination we are grateful for and deeply indebted to our retired
spiritual leaders who have faithfully served our churches and mission fields. 
 
First Baptist Church of Detroit will be receiving this
  offering throughout the month of January and our goal is $800. 
Special envelopes will be available in the pews.

 Your gift makes a difference.

 Sincerely,

 The Missions
  Committee

Z. Dianne Hubbard                
Joyce McDaniel
Myrtice Beatty                       
Ann Richardson
 Ardis Cazeno                         
Glenda Strong
 Kathy Collins                         
Shirley Vincent           
 Martha Green                         
Chris Walker
 Eunita Haskins                       
Emily Walker
Juliette
McClung                    
Brandy Walton

Friends,

Earlier email resulted in confusing beginning. The cursor jumped before I noticed; I spelled checked but did not proof read. I consider it a lesson well learned...hopefully a lesson learned. I regret any confusion.
Jesus kingdom talk is about God and change. Here is a quote from C. S. Lewis; it is a bit dated but still relevant. I offer it for your consideration.


"If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven."



C. S. Lewis

Pastor Bill

Friends,
For Sunday morning read Matthew 13; the passage is 13:31-33, 44-52. Matthew 13 is a chapter full of parables and parables themselves are

                                                                                       "Picture stories" .
Jesus is trying to describe what the kingdom of heaven is like and he uses parables to illustrate the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is called the "kingdom of God) in the rest of the New Testament. Matthew uses the word "heaven" because he is the most "Jewish" of the gospel writers and the first century Jew did not speak the word "God" since human lips are considered too profane to utter such a holy word. The point is "Kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God" are the same reality and force; the kingdom of heaven is God becoming present in this world turning our expectations upside down and ordering creation along his divine intention. Love, forgiveness, justice and peace are among the attributes God is bringing to life.



How do we recognize the kingdom?        
-This is what Jesus is pointing to.

Where would you see the kingdom breaking out today?
-Remember, the kingdom may not look like what you think it will look like. Kingdom thinking is thinking "outside the box"

Allow God to surprise you.

Be blessed and I'll see you Sunday.

Pastor Bill

Friends, An excerpt from a prayer:

"I Arise Today" to begin your day:

Enjoy


This morning,
and all mornings
as we face the day
daunted by expectations
others place upon us,
weighed down by burdens,
unsure of outcomes,
opposed,
alone,
afraid;
remind us
that you faced all this
and more,
that we might loose
these chains that bind us,
rise above and beyond
the troubles of this world,
and know peace.
To the one who has overcome
we bring our thanks and praise



Pastor Bill

Good morning,

For tomorrow morning read Psalm 139 which is the sermon text--The Nearnes of God;

also for your devotional life, I share this prayer from another Psalm:



Prayer of Praise (from Psalm 86)Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; and no works like those you have done.

All nations whom you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; and will glorify your name.

For you are great, and do wondrous things: you are God alone.

Teach me your way, Lord, and I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify your name forever.

Amen.Be Blessed,

Pastor Bill

Friends,

For Tuesday morning a prayer to start the day; it comes from a daily prayer site;

Dear Lord, I give you my hands to do your work; I give you my feet to go your way; I give you my eyes to see as you see; I give you my tongue to speak your words; I give you my mind that you may think in me; I give you my spirit that you may pray in me. Above all, I give you my heart that you may love in me. I give you my whole self, Lord, that you may grow in me, so that it is you who lives, works and prays in me.

Amen
Have a great dayPastor Bill

Good morning all;

For Sunday morning read Genesis 25:29-34-the selling by Esau of his birthright to Jacob (I guess in those days no one spoke about "deferrred gratification") and Matthew 13:1-9--the parable of the sower.
Today the memorial service for Rip Collins is at the Harris Funeral Home on Farmington Rd. north of 5 Mile in Livonia @ 11 AM. Keep Kathy and her family in your prayers.

As you begn the day, here is a prayer for you:
May the Passion of Christ be ever in my heart. May your law and your goodness guide my every thought, O Lord.

And may the power of your Holy Spirit flow through my words and my actions.

Walk with me, so that I may not be alone as I face this day, but always in your presence.

Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark and confused, and I pray that I may inspire others

as I have been inspired. In the name of Christ, bless me this day, and all whom I may meet.

Amen.Peace

Pastor Bill

I will be away next week--Chris and I will be in Mexico for a week at the beach.

The. Rev. Dr. Billie Beverly will be preaching next Sunday morning 6/26..

Continue to keep our church family in your prayers.



In the Celtic prayer tradition, from a version of "I Arise Today" comes a blessing/petition I find meanignful.

May it bless you as well as you begin your days.



May the whisper
of the Father
be the one that wakens you;
the open hand
of the Son
be the one that raises you;
the prompting
of the Spirit
be the one that sends you,
this morning
and all mornings,
and leads you safely home.

Pastor Bill