Uplook - June 21, 2025
Dear Saints,
It is Saturday evening after a day of Youth Camp car washing and also celebrating our granddaughters 4th birthday. I was thinking about birthdays and remembered a button one of the Junior Department Sunday school teachers in our church in Medford used to wear each Sunday. It said "If you're born once, you will die twice but if you're born twice, you will only die once".
I also smiled when looking at a recent short YouTube video throwback of Portland Camp meeting. It showed a Korean brother (Rev. Yune Seung Baek) in the early 1990's declaring that he had TWO Birthdays - a physical one and a spiritual one. This brother has now found the reality of the button worn by that Sunday School teacher as he died a couple of years ago and is now with the Lord.
We celebrate adding another year to our age (especially when we are young) but even if we do not celebrate...the next year comes until we pass out of this world. But consider that when we are born again of the Spirit there is celebration and rejoicing in heaven. That celebration is not just for our spiritual birth but for the reality that if we remain faithful our ultimate destiny will be an eternity with the Lord. Now my friends...that is the ultimate birthday gift.
Housekeeping notes:
Youth Camp - Applications are due with payment tomorrow. Parents will soon receive a separate email with the payment amount needed for their child.
Graduation - Tomorrow night after service we will celebrate the graduations of Kristianna, Ruth, and David. Please join us in congratulating them for their accomplishments and hard work.
Camp meeting Schedule - Tomorrow will be the final services before Portland Camp meeting. Our Sunday Services will resume on July 20 with a regular schedule of Sunday school, Morning Worship, and Evening Services. Bible Studies will not resume until in August sometime after Youth Camp.
Tithes/Offerings - For those who contribute via bill pay or through our website you may continue as always. For those wishing to pay directly during camp meeting please find the pastor who will make sure your donations get to the correct account. (Don't just put in the box in Portland). Mail to the parsonage is stopped during camp so anything sent will be secure.
God bless you all,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
It is Saturday evening after a day of Youth Camp car washing and also celebrating our granddaughters 4th birthday. I was thinking about birthdays and remembered a button one of the Junior Department Sunday school teachers in our church in Medford used to wear each Sunday. It said "If you're born once, you will die twice but if you're born twice, you will only die once".
I also smiled when looking at a recent short YouTube video throwback of Portland Camp meeting. It showed a Korean brother (Rev. Yune Seung Baek) in the early 1990's declaring that he had TWO Birthdays - a physical one and a spiritual one. This brother has now found the reality of the button worn by that Sunday School teacher as he died a couple of years ago and is now with the Lord.
We celebrate adding another year to our age (especially when we are young) but even if we do not celebrate...the next year comes until we pass out of this world. But consider that when we are born again of the Spirit there is celebration and rejoicing in heaven. That celebration is not just for our spiritual birth but for the reality that if we remain faithful our ultimate destiny will be an eternity with the Lord. Now my friends...that is the ultimate birthday gift.
Housekeeping notes:
Youth Camp - Applications are due with payment tomorrow. Parents will soon receive a separate email with the payment amount needed for their child.
Graduation - Tomorrow night after service we will celebrate the graduations of Kristianna, Ruth, and David. Please join us in congratulating them for their accomplishments and hard work.
Camp meeting Schedule - Tomorrow will be the final services before Portland Camp meeting. Our Sunday Services will resume on July 20 with a regular schedule of Sunday school, Morning Worship, and Evening Services. Bible Studies will not resume until in August sometime after Youth Camp.
Tithes/Offerings - For those who contribute via bill pay or through our website you may continue as always. For those wishing to pay directly during camp meeting please find the pastor who will make sure your donations get to the correct account. (Don't just put in the box in Portland). Mail to the parsonage is stopped during camp so anything sent will be secure.
God bless you all,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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