St. Joe Community Church
  • Home
  • Connection Group
  • About
    • Beliefs and Values
    • Our membership covenant
    • Leadership
    • Ministries
    • Who is Jesus?
    • On Mission
    • 8:30 am & 10:30 am Services
    • Resources
  • Kids Connection
  • Give
  • Sermons
  • St. Joe News
  • Contact
  • Beliefs and Values

St. Joe News

Photo by Austin Ochoa on Unsplash

Coronovirus Update Nov 18, 2020

11/18/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Pastor Greg Byman

God is our refuge and strength  Psalm 46:1

I knew statistically my symptoms would be likely be mild and thankfully that has been true so far.  However, the mystery surrounding this virus gave me great pause when I tested positive for COVID-19 last week.  Psalm 46:1 became God's personal words of comfort for me.  God used the the calls, text messages and social media posts from my church family as a spiritual refuge of love and strength.  Thank you everyone who prayed and offered support!  As of today, my symptoms are mostly gone, Bonita and Janae are fine, and we should all emerge from quarantine tomorrow, Lord willing.  Thank you Jesus!

COVID-19 Update

Indiana and Allen County restrictions on gatherings will not alter St Joe's current plans at this point.  We will continue to provide an 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday worship.  Our 6:30 PM Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study is another way to connect in person.  All our gatherings require masks and social distancing, just like other public buildings.  No holiday fellowship meals or gatherings are planned at this time.  Connection Groups are making their own decisions regarding in-person/virtual gatherings.  Please watch our Facebook, E-News, website and Remind text alerts for new updates.  I am thankful for all our volunteers who are working so hard to help us gather meaningfully and safely right now!

I am with you always  Matthew 28:20

Jesus promised his presence forever. He walks with us through mental stress, relationship strains, political turmoil, economic hardships and physical dangers.  The church he started to build in the First Century continues into the 21st.  I pray we will experience the true peace of Christ as we join Him in his eternal work of bringing people to Himself for salvation and the true peace 
0 Comments

Coronovirus update: Masks required in all services

11/15/2020

0 Comments

 
St Joe Team Leaders decided to require masks at all future worship services (8:30 & 10:30 AM) beginning tomorrow, out of an abundance of safety concerns. This is also in keeping with requirements in all public buildings in Indiana right now. ​

Thank you,

Pastor Greg
0 Comments

VBS 2020 canceled

7/10/2020

0 Comments

 
St Joe has canceled VBS 2020. Thank you for your interest; we pray that God will allow us to resume this outreach to children in 2021. 
0 Comments

Covid-19 update letter from Pastor Greg

6/12/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Hello everyone,
Our Ministry Team Leaders met to discuss our St Joe Back On Track plan.  I want you to be aware of one big change, and a few other plans.

First, we are now designating our 10:30 AM worship service as a "masks required" gathering.  Everyone, except for worship leaders while on stage, will be required to wear a mask while in the building and during worship.  The 8:30 AM worship service will continue to be "masks optional/recommended" for everyone.  This change was in response to worship attenders who have expressed a desire to worship in person, but cannot do so for health reasons because some of our members are not wearing masks.  We wanted to make sure one of our services was also available for those who are unable or choose not to wear masks.    

We would definitely like your feedback on which service we should establish as "masks required" in the future.  For now, we simply chose the 10:30 AM, based on random feedback from those who need this accommodation.  

The second thing I wanted you to know is that we will continue to offer online Bible study materials for parents with children.  We are going to re-evaluate in July whether or not to restart Kid's Connection classes during at least one worship service.  We WELCOME children in worship, no matter how noisy it might get!  But, we do realize this is a difficult arrangement for the parents of smaller children!  Parents, we need your feedback on what you think about restarting Kid's Connection.  

I continue my sermon series "How To Walk Through Chaos" this Sunday by explaining why and how we must "Connect With God's Family" right now!  I hope you will worship with us in person or online. 

Blessings in Christ,
Greg
0 Comments

COVID 19 Update from Pastor Greg

5/27/2020

 

​What The Bible Says About Personal Stress

5/11/2020

0 Comments

 
By Pastor Greg Byman
​
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
 
MATTHEW 6:28-30 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
 
1 PETER 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
 
LUKE 12:22-23 22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.
 
EXODUS 33:14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
 
HEBREWS 13:5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
 
JOSHUA 1:9 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
 
MATTHEW 11:28-29 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
 
PSALM 29:11 The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
 
PSALM 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
 
ROMANS 5:3-5 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Tips to Handle Anxiety During the COVID-19 Virus
  1. Create a schedule - continue your work schedule at home just like going to work. Write down the night before what your schedule would be for the next day.  Do this for the family also.
  2. Limit time spent on media regarding the virus.  Choose one time frame or news source that you would find credible to keep you informed.
  3. Choose what media you will watch, especially one that gives healthy information to stay well.  Avoid multiple newscasts with negative information, such as the number of illnesses or deaths.
  4. Exercise, which will relieve anxiety, such as taking walks while monitoring social distancing.  Doing strength training alleviates anxiety, such as dumbbells or weightlifting.
  5. Label your emotions - choose a word that describes your feeling, such as anxious, confused, overwhelmed, fearful.  Saying the name of your feeling out loud makes things less scary.  Do this several times a day to identify the feeling.
  6. Balance emotions with logic.  It is normal to have these feelings, but also state the facts:  that this pandemic will go away, the economy will rebound, and people survive.
  7. Argue the opposite.  When you think, “My business will not get through this”,  argue that you will come out stronger than before.  Allow yourself to think positive and that you will emerge from this and things will be better than before.  Find a middle ground option for your situation.
  8. Maintain social support.  Keep in contact with family, friends, church family to keep your relationships and social support moving forward.  Even support groups online can help you maintain positive thoughts. 
  9. Focus on things you can control versus things you cannot.  You can manage your health, social distancing, how you spend your money.  This will bring some peace to your situation.
  10. Externalize your anxiety.  Rather than saying,  “Anxiety makes me feel awful”, think and say,  “Anxiety tries to make feel like I cannot handle things”, or “It makes me pace.”  You can also relieve your anxiety by sleep, exercise or verbally saying out loud how anxiety is trying to take control of your situation.
  11. Schedule time to worry.  Set a time aside, maybe 15 minutes, to think and feel all the worry.  When your time is up, move on to something positive.
  12. Lastly, take time each day to read your Bible, pray and talk to the Lord!
 
0 Comments

Coronavirus Update

3/17/2020

1 Comment

 
https://zoom.us/j/140400606
A note from Chris Mann:

St Joe family, Pastor Greg asked me to convey that the St Joe leadership is closely monitoring and studying the counsel and directives that are being handed down regarding the Coronavirus/Covid-19. St Joe will convey an update on its ongoing ministry activities by this Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Please continue to pray for our leadership, our health and that of our community, and for God to use this time to bring people to a saving knowledge of the One who offers true Peace. This pandemic may have surprised us, but God was not caught off guard. Let's be a church that liberally and generously shares that Peace.
1 Comment

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    2020 VBS
    A Bonnie Doolittle
    A: Christopher Mann
    Connection Notes Newsletter
    Event 2019
    Event 2020
    Event Concert
    G Safe Families For Children
    I: 15th Anniv Cookout 4/21/18
    I: Abortion
    I: Christmas
    I Coronavirus
    I: ReSermon Institute
    I: Voter Guide 2018
    I: Youth Camp 2018
    Media Clip
    M Fort Wayne Rescue Mission
    Missions
    Newsletter
    Newsletter 2018 11 21
    Newsletter 2018 12 05
    Newsletter 2020 01 22
    N St Joe E-News
    S 2019 Best Relationship Ever
    Sanctity Of Life Sunday
    S: Family Life 2018 - Elephant-Free Family Life
    S Mental Health Ministry
    VBS 2019
    Youth Group

    RSS Feed

    E-news archive

    Picture
    Click here to be taken to the St Joe E-news archive.
Picture
St Joe Email List
Home
About
​> About Our Beliefs and Values
> About Our Member Covenant
> About Leadership
> About Ministries
St Joe Podcast
2900 North Anthony Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
(260) 471-4704 www.StJoeCommunityChurch.org
Sunday Worship: 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM
Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study:  6:30 PM
Picture
Photos used under Creative Commons from m01229, joncutrer, shixart1985
  • Home
  • Connection Group
  • About
    • Beliefs and Values
    • Our membership covenant
    • Leadership
    • Ministries
    • Who is Jesus?
    • On Mission
    • 8:30 am & 10:30 am Services
    • Resources
  • Kids Connection
  • Give
  • Sermons
  • St. Joe News
  • Contact
  • Beliefs and Values