FirstNews September, 2023

FIRST CHURCH OF GOD Staff:

3025 US HWY 92 WEST Sr. Pastor: Dr. Kenny Howard
WINTER HAVEN, FL 33881-9049 [email protected]
Phone: (863) 956-4601 Minister of Music, Rev. Tim Cox
[email protected]
Email: [email protected] Youth Leaders, Tyler & Patience Rogers
Website: Fcogwh.org [email protected]

“For Such a Time As This,” Are We Fulfilling God’s Calling in Our Lives?

Since June, we have been studying Esther during our Sunday morning services. Esther and her
cousin Mordecai reveal that they have the courage to fulfill God’s calling for their lives.

So far, we have seen that in chapter 1, King Xerxes divorced Queen Vashti, when Vashti
refused to humiliate herself when she was invited by the king to show off her beauty in front of the men
and she embarrassed the king by refusing to come. In Esther 2, there was a great beauty contest of the
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
young women in Persia to see who would be selected by King Xerxes to be his new queen and the
2 Amy Fabraso
person who was selected was Esther. Esther 3 became the turning point of the story after King Xerxes
4 Dorothy Bensel
promotes Haman and everyone was encouraged to bow down to Haman, but Mordecai refused to bow 5 Garland King
to Haman. Haman became very angry at Mordecai for refusing to bow before him. Haman was also 6 George Dean
racist against the Jewish people. When Haman found out Mordecai was Jewish, he wanted all the Jewish 7 Barbara Moss
people killed in Persia. King Xerxes agrees to this plan and it is decreed that all the Jewish people are 9 Deborah Hepler
scheduled to be murdered in Persia. In Esther 4, Mordecai and the Jews respond by fasting and 9 Mary Lou Weisbrod
mourning. Esther is in the castle as queen and does not seem to understand what is going on. After 10 Linda Gipson
finding out what has been decreed against the Jews, Esther does not want to get involved. Mordecai 12 Charlene Hunt
presses Esther to get involved by the end of Esther 4. Esther agrees to go before the king and be the 13 Paul Van Wagner
representative for the Jews that God has called her to be. In Esther 5, Esther approaches the king and 14 Kay McDonald
the king is pleased and gladly welcomes her in his presence. Instead of Esther immediately telling the 16 Marge Treible
king that she came to the king to intercede on behalf of the Jews, she has a subtle plan of inviting the 21 Patty Lawson
king and Haman to two different banquets without telling the king yet what she wants from him. How 22 Debbie Kaufmann
will the Book of Esther end and what role will Esther and Mordecai have in the deliverance of the Jews 23 Milton Wood
from death? That is what we will consider as we conclude this great book in the next several weeks. 23 Doris Cox
24 Dave Hepler
Like Esther, we too are confronted with the issue of will we live for God in these troubling
25 Larry Rabon
times or will we seek comfort? The Christian life is never to be a life of safe comfort, but rather the
27 Marty Zuniga
Christian life is a courageous adventure that is to be lived for God and for His glory. In today’s world, we
see a culture that has become increasingly hostile toward Christianity and our values. Like Esther, we
SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
need to have the courage to stand firm for God even as we understand that danger may be on the other 4 James and Cindy Ponder
side of taking such a stand. In the book, we are encouraged that Esther was willing to risk her life for the 5 Russ and Irene Sheffield
Jewish people and because of her faith in God, she was able to help save her people from death. In 6 Terry and Joy Sowles
Jesus, we remember that Jesus gave up his life for us to save His people from death from our sins. Let us 7 John and Mary Jo Malbone
learn from Esther and be inspired to live a life of courageous faith! 13 Roger and Pat Fisher
Blessings, 13 Herbert and Norma Taylor
13 Alan and Jeanie Wessell
Pastor Kenny 18 Will and Connie Glancy
21 Tom and Barbara Brown
23 William and Amy Fabraso
CWC HAPPENINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School Schedule
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to each one who Sunday School Classes Meet from 9:30-10:15 am
helped make the Sundae Sunday such a success by
We are accepting donations for Operation Christmas Child shoe- Joy Sunday School - Led by Bobby Steadman
donating food items or money! A profit of $765 boxes! Please see Darlene Terrell if you have any questions. Over the Ambassadors Class - Led by Sondra Spradlin
was made to benefit the CWC missionary out- next couple of months, please bring in donations such as school Preschool Class - Room 8: Led by Autumn Beeman
reach.
supplies, new toys, and new clothing. Items can be put in the collec- Grades 1st - 5th - Room 4: Led by Sorina Howard
What do you believe about ANGELS among Youth - Room 2: Led by Tyler and Patience Rogers
tion box in the lobby at the sign up sheet table.
us? September 19th at 6:30 PM will be our first
CWC meeting of the fall. I will be presenting what I Sunday Sermon Series
believe have been Angel Encounters in my life.
Volunteers are needed for children’s church and the nursery. If you What is the Jewish Queen Esther supposed to do
Please come and be willing to share yours! Re-
when her king, King Xerxes makes a decree that all
freshments will be provided by Gwen and Darlene. want to be a teacher’s assistant, help with the little ones, or even of the Jews are to be murdered in his kingdom of
All ladies are welcome. teach a class, please see Sorina Howard or Autumn Beeman. Lesson Persia? That is precisely the situation Esther finds
herself in Esther 4. God not only had a plan for
On October 17th, Cheryl Harding will be sharing a plans are already a complete packet, so there is little to no prep work
Esther during troubled times, he also has a plan for
topic that affects all of us directly or indirectly: involved. All we are asking you to do is take one Sunday, for 30 each of us during these difficult days.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. We are hoping to
start the Wednesday Night Dinners in October. If minutes, out of your month to teach the little ones.
you are willing to cook, please see me. There will Wednesday Night Bible Study
be many more exciting up-coming events sched- The Book of Acts is history of the early church from
uled. Please plan to join us for information, fun and We have a new church administrative assistant! Welcome, Patience Jesus’ ascension through the missionary work of the
fellowship. Apostle Paul. In Acts, the church expands from
Rogers. Patience will also be leading our youth with her husband, Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, to the utmost
God Bless You, Barbara Tyler. Welcome, Tyler and Patience Rogers as the new youth leaders parts of the earth.
as well!

Se p t e m b e r 2 023 C al e nd a r of E ve n t s
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
Men’s Breakfast, 8am,
Golden Corral

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Church Carry-In & The Mid-Week Service at 7pm Ladies' Grief Support at Choir Choir Workshop 9am
Cox’s Open House Youth Group & Kids Meet 10:30am, lunch after Workshop at 6pm Joy SS Cass at 5pm

10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Leadership Council Mid-Week Service at 7pm Ladies’ Weekend of Ladies’ Weekend of
Meeting at 6:30 Youth Group & Kids Meet Fellowship and Fun - 1pm Fellowship and Fun - 9am

17 18 19 20 21 22 23
CWC Meeting at 6:30, all Mid-Week Service at 7pm
ladies welcome to attend Youth Group & Kids Meet

24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Mid-Week Service at 7pm
Youth Group & Kids Meet

Eleven:18 Youth Ministry is off to the start of a new

Leadership Council Sub Committees school year! We are beginning the semester with a new
Missions/Worship/Spiritual Emphasis P a s to r Ke n n y Ho wa rd , P a s to r T im , C o x
series called darkroom. Darkroom Faith encourages
D a ve H e p le r a n d G l o r ia C l a y
students to ask questions and think critically about
Physical Facilities/Vehicles/Custodial B o b by S te a d ma n , C huc k a n d R us s a n d
their beliefs. The Darkroom series provides a safe and
no n - Le a de rs h ip C o u nc il me m be r s B o b
Supplies engaging context for teens to explore key issues of faith
C ha p ma n , F ra n k V e ga
Christian Education and Evangelism M yro n C o o n a nd S a m Ha r di n g with caring adult leaders in small group settings. We
will be exploring topics on doubt, the church, sin, and
purpose.
Partners In Ministry
Honduras Sister Churches Rio Lindo P a s to r C a rlo s & S o n ia G u e v a ra Look forward to some opportunities to support the youth with fundraising
Cofradia P a s to r I v is & C a ro l i na A c o s t a this coming season. Statistics show the more adults that are there for each
Honduras Girls Foster Homes Compelled by Christ Ministries
youth, the better percentage they have of not leaving the church as they
get older.
Living Link Missionaries Germany Ke l le y & R ho n da P hi li ps
P i n k D o o r P ro j e c t
If you are ever interested in volunteering with the youth, please let us
Children of Promise D ir e c to rs M i ke & H e a t he r W e bb
know. We can use volunteers ranging from chaperones on trips, to
Haiti D r. M a r k & K a t h y F u l to n
someone simply sitting in on the youth with us to be an extra set of ears.
United Kingdom Za c h & A u d re L a n gf o r d
F o n ta in e & P a u la G re e ne ;
Guatemala F o u n de rs o f C a ta ly s t R e s o u rc e Thanks everyone for you support and prayers!
I n te rn a tio na l
-Tyler and Patience