Week of February 4, 2024

Lent Begins -- Ash Wednesday:  Join us for a reflective Ash Wednesday service on the morning of February 14 from 7:00-7:30 am as we mark the beginning of the Lenten season. This brief yet impactful gathering will take place at in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church in Etna, offering an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and the imposition of ashes. All are welcome to participate in this early morning service, setting the tone for a meaningful journey through Lent and on toward Easter morning.

 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

Life Shared series:  Join us this Sunday after church for the final session of Life Shared,  a three-part teaching series on sharing your faith.  If you've ever thought about the topic, and especially if the word evangalism might give you pause ("How do I share my faith without feeling weird?" as Pastor Chris put it), this is a great opportunity!   The video series was prepared by the same group responsible for Alpha (https://alphausa.org/).  This is a great opportunity to get a taste of what Alpha's like and to develop some approaches to share our faith with others who are seeking more in and from their lives.
 A light lunch of soup and crackers will be provided.

New Alpha Session:  Our church will offer another Alpha session starting February 25^th. Click here for more details!

Missions Committee Update:  We've received an update from John LaCourse of  the Healing Ministries portion of Rise Again Outreach.  As always, they have a wonderful story to tell.  Their ministry is expanding and the best news is that of the 13 people who completed their re-entry program over the past three years, none has returned to prison.  Our church's former hymnals donated to this ministry have been put to use in the new women's prison chapel.
You may read their lastest newsletter update by clicking here.

Communion Sunday: We will be celebrating Communion in our 10 am Sunday worship service this week. If you livestream with us, you should have a cracker or a piece of bread and a small cup (sip) of juice or other drink available to join us in this celebration.