17
Apr '20
Revive Us O Lord | Pastor Update | 4-17-20
17
Apr '20
Pastor Phil asks everyone to pray for our President, and the 20/20 Vision for the Heartland. Please take a moment to watch this video.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face,
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
—2 Chronicles 7:14
14
Apr '20
Pastor’s Update | “He Is Risen” 4-14-20
14
Apr '20
Two days ago, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single greatest event in the history of the world and the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
It is so foundational to Christianity that anyone who denies the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ—cannot be a genuine Christian. Without the resurrection there is no Christian faith, no salvation—and no hope for man.
As Paul the Apostle said, “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is useless, your faith is meaningless, we are still in our sins, those who have died believing in Christ are lost and we are of all men the most pathetic. We might as well eat, drink, be merry and then die—for there is nothing more to life than this.”
However, Paul went on to say, “But now Christ is risen from the dead and is the first fruits from the grave of those who have died believing in Jesus.”
Church Update 3-24-20 PM
Good Afternoon Church Family,
I watched the President’s briefing today and it looks like he wants the country back open for business and people working again by Easter—which is good news.
That means we have another 2 ½ weeks of “sheltering in place” ahead of us.
That said, I thank the Lord that we were able to livestream our last Sunday service and plan on livestreaming this Wednesday night’s Bible study as well.
Please join us at 7 pm as we will be continuing our study in the Book of Jude.
Also, I would like to resume the small groups next week using ‘Zoom’ which will allow all the small groups to meet and interact with one another thru the webcam on their home computers.
I will be in contact with Mike Nuxoll who will be contacting all the group leaders in the next day or two to set things up.
I know that for some of you “cabin fever” is taking its toll—which makes it even more important that we ‘come together’ remotely thru the avenue of social media.
I know it’s not the same as being with each other face to face, but it’s better than no fellowship with each other at all—
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Love you all and see you soon!
Pastor Phil
Church Update – 3-21-20 AM
Good Morning Church Family, Beloved of God,
Well, our governor (J.B. Pritzker) has announced a statewide ‘stay-at-home’ order aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus.
The order is expected to begin at 5 p.m. Saturday (tonight) and continue until the end of April 7.
The governor is asking Illinoisans to ‘hunker down’, stay at home and not come into contact (as much as possible) with other human beings as a way of fighting this virus.
President Trump has started to refer to himself as a “wartime president” seeing as he (and his team) are fighting a war against COVID-19.
To borrow a line from Thomas Paine during the Revolutionary War—“These are the times that try men’s souls”—and indeed they are.
For many Americans, they find themselves isolated and bereft of human contact with only social media to satisfy their longing to connect and communicate with others. At this time in history, I thank God we do have social media as a way to connect with each other.
Having said that, please join us tomorrow at 10 AM for the first livestream of our church services.
Tomorrow’s service will be basic, as we want to keep it simple so see how things go.
But then beginning the week after, I’d like to introduce some worship into our service before the message.
Please keep things in prayer—as someone has said, “Life is hard, but God is good!”
I love you all, and want to encourage you to keep looking up—and remember that God is on the throne (sovereign) and we must trust Him to see us thru difficult times no matter how bad things get around us.
Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV)
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV)
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls– Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls– Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
In Jesus precious name,
Pastor Phil
Devotional-Phil A Ballmaier-3-19-20
From Pastor Phil:
I am including a devotional study by my son Phil below. He felt led to share with the people of God a message from His Word that he hopes will bless and encourage your hearts.
08
Aug '19
VBS 2019
08
Aug '19
Jump in and join the Incredible Race at this years’ Vacation Bible School!
Meeting each week during 1st and 2nd service in the Sunday School Class. Each week we will journey to a different country!! 
06
Jul '19
2019 Women’s Retreat Open
06
Jul '19
Ladies, please consider joining us for a weekend away for fellowship, worship and teaching. A time to come away—retreat— and spend time in His presence without distraction, on beautiful Lake Geneva. This years’ speakers are: Cyndi Ballmaier, Vicki Goyke and Leslie Michaels. Angela Gill of Harvest Chapel in LaFayette will be leading us in worship.
