Winstanley Family, Isn’t God’s grace amazing? We’ve been studying “Good News about Grace” for several weeks and we are still far from understanding everything about grace. The truth is, we will never fully understand grace on this side of heaven. Trying to understand God’s grace is similar to an ant trying to understand the internet! God’s goodness and grace to us is just beyond our comprehension.
The Window Volume 70, Issue 10 October 2018 w w w.w i n b a p . o rg Check out our Facebook page and download the Winstanley app for more information on services, events, and opportunities to serve. Sign up for events & Sunday bulletins by texting “WINBAP” to 22828
Winstanley Baptist Church 9471 W. Hwy. 161 Fairview Heights, IL 62208 618-397-2010
I think that the essence of God’s grace can be summarized in Romans 5:6, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” God didn’t wait for us to earn His love. We don’t deserve our salvation. We can’t point to anything in our lives and say, “God, THIS is why you should forgive me.” Grace is just something God gives us. That is why we need to pass His grace on to others. Jesus told us to “give as freely as you have received.” We are never more like Jesus than we are when we forgive others. Don’t let hurt, bitterness and resentment from your past hold you back. Make a determined effort to offer grace and forgiveness to others, just as God has offered it to you. When you do, you will receive God’s peace. During this series on grace, I have said many times that God loves you just as you are. God will never love you any less than He does right now – and He will never love you any more than He does right now. God’s love is not based on our performance. I don’t want you to get the idea, however, that God is always pleased with us just as we are. In fact, God loves us too much to leave us as we are. Over the next few weeks we will wrap up our study of God’s grace by looking at how God restores us, transforms us and grows us into what He wants us to be. God saves us just as we are, but His plan is to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. We can be assured that God loves us at every stage of our development as His children, but we can never be satisfied or complacent by our level of Christian maturity. If we have truly received God’s grace, it will be our desire to be obedient. It will be our desire to learn more about God and His plan for our lives. It will be our desire to follow His plan and not our plan for our lives. In the few months that Twila and I have been a part of the Winstanley family, we have been amazed by how many of you are sincerely living out your faith. It is obvious that you love God. It is obvious that you love each other. It is obvious that you love Winstanley Baptist Church.
August Financial Report Checkbook Bal. $103,590.89 Receipts $ 38,275.60 Expenditures $ 32,384.47 Ending Bal. $109,482.02
My question is, “do you love the lost and unchurched around you as much as you love your church?” Are you satisfied with the people you see every Sunday, or is your heart broken by the people who are not in church anywhere? We have just celebrated 111 years of Christian ministry as the community of faith known as Winstanley Baptist Church. What are you doing to share the Gospel with the people who need to be a part of the next generation of Winstanley? Thank you for your commitment. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your encouragement. Please pass God’s grace on to others. Blessings, Pastor Derald
Search Committee Jim Bryant, Chairman Paul Flahan Ian Harrier Sally Horstmann Laura Osborn Dave Rochleau Linda Spradling Rick Haverman, alt.
Last week our youth group hosted its first guys night/girls night since I’ve been here at Winstanley. What is that, you ask? Here is what happened. The evening began on Friday with fine dining in Garrison Hall. Students had their pick of several different kinds of pizza from Dominoes, and yet, many of them simply wanted cheese. Next time, I’m buying more cheese pizzas. After our meal, the guys remained in Garrison Hall for video games, while the girls headed to a different area for games of their own. The girls may have been a little more productive than us. They decorated little jars and stuffed them with kind notes of encouragement. Now I can take the jars to church members on my hospital visits! Thank you, Linda McGee and Sally Horstmann for leading the girls in their activities! The evening ended with everyone gathered together at the fire pit roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores. Thanks to David Harrier for building the fire! And this night wouldn’t have happened without Evan Shepard’s planning and leading. He brought his big screen TV and video game system for the guys. I’m encouraged to see our church members volunteering their time to invest in our students. Fielding
Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival-Oct. 21 Trunk or treat will start at 3:30, with the Fall Festival following. If you would like to volunteer, please see Carlene Mitchell. You can also donate candy and small items for prizes. The festivities will include: Petting Zoo
Pumpkin Decorating
Fish Tank
Cookie Decorating
Pie Eating Contest
Relay Races
Haystack
Pie in the Face
Canned fruit, canned vegetables and cash are collected on an ongoing basis now through December 9th. Money is used to purchase perishable food items Oct. 7
Grape Jelly
Oct. 14, 21
Sugar
Oct. 28
Mac and Cheese
Dates to Remember Oct. 7 Oct. 8 Oct. 17 Oct. 21
No PM Service, MEBA Annual Mtg. Office Closed Women on Mission Trunk or Treat, Fall Festival 3:30 pm
Every Tuesday Romeo’s at 8 am, Juliet Breakfast at 8:30 am Every Thursday Open VB 7 pm
“The House at Saltwater Point” is the second book in the Lavender Tides series by Colleen Coble. This is another book that you cannot put down until you finish it. Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie Blackmore faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. Everyone wants the truth, but truth – and family – is often more complex than it appears. Lots of twists and turns in this great book!
Nursery Schedule Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Lyn/Rick Haverman Samantha Maready Laura Osborn
Laura Showmaker Carlene Mitchell Chris/Megan Flahan
Paul/Meredith Flahan Karen Sandefur Bill Phillips
Janice Henry Betty Heidenfelder David Harrier Scott & Ellie Lively