As always, here is my reading list from this past year.
I try to choose books that I know I’ll disagree with as well as books I know I will enjoy and agree with.
This may be one of the most beneficial years of study and growing yet. So many amazing books, and many books that challenged me.
Good Afternoon!
Below are the instructions and directions for the thanksgiving day meal ministry opportunity. If you are coming, please message, text, or email Pastor Nate (PN@aclife.tv).
Illumine Church
1689 Springsteen Road
If the address seems familiar to you; you are spot on. This is the building we worshiped at for a while a year ago:).
When you arrive (8:00AM), look for Pastor Nate’s Truck or other Anothen fam cars in the top of the parking lot. We will wait until 8:15am until we drive in a line under the portico to load our vehicles with meals to deliver.
See you then!
PN
This Sunday FAM DAY will be immediately after worship. Below are a few things to know to help make this day easy going and enjoyable.
1. Trunk or Treat Cars
If you are having a car set up to give out candy, please be on the lookout for someone to assist you parking as come to worship. You will park your car where you will serve candy after worship. THANK YOU in advance for loving these kids through this act of kindness. It means so much to them to have people be intentional with them. It is not too late to get candy and set up a trunk if you haven’t already:).
Parking for this will be on the left hand side of the COTTON HALL parking lot.
Trunk or Treat will start at 12:30pm.
2.Rides
We will have rides available during FAM DAY. We will also have an inflatable for the younger children to enjoy. Below are the rides and inflatables.
3. Food
Smokey Beard BBQ will have their food truck on campus for us to enjoy.
There will be a $2 discount per person on each bill. If you have a family of 4, you will get an $8 discount off of your meal.
4. Additional Info
-Lawn Chairs
It’s a good idea to bring lawn chairs for enjoying your food or if you want to relax and enjoy the day.
– Parking
Those who aren’t doing a trunk for trunk or treat will be guided to park on the campus in a designated area.
– Bring someone with you!
Sunday will be a great opportunity to bring someone to worship and for them to enjoy a time of fellowship.
Starting October 16, 2022, we will take a break from the Gospel of Luke and start an 8 week sermon series entitled 10:10. This sermon series will parallel a joint church pursuit through our Bible Fellowship Communities (BFC) of the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.
If you are not apart of a BFC, I encourage you to do so. I know community can be a challenging pursuit, especially Christian community. However, the faithful pursuit and commitment to Christ through koinonia is worth it. Community is one of our core values because of the koinonia charge and witness in Scripture. This particular study will be a great study to grow with others in. Make a plan, make it a priority, and watch the Lord fill your cup with your brothers and sisters in Christ as you do the same to them in these BFC’s.
Below is the link to purchase the book and the workbook for this joint pursuit of Christ via Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Also below, is the day and time of available BFC’s. If you are wanting to start one, contact me pn@aclife.tv.
Believing in lots of fruitfulness from this pursuit. Thank you for joining with me in finding deeper cleansing and life from the inside out.
Bible Fellowship Communities
Sunday 4:00pm – Contact Johnbarrett79@gmail.com
Sunday 2:30pm – Contact AEdmonds@rhmail.org ; tammy.pendergrass@desouttertools.com
Wednesday 6:30pm – Contact PN@aclife.tv
Tuesday 6:30pm – Contact alexandra@alexandrahopecraig.com; ladystaton@gmail.com
It’s hard to believe that only seven years ago the Lord launched this movement of people finding life and life abundantly through Christ through Anothen Church. This Sunday, we will take time to celebrate, reflect, and look forward to the Lord’s call on His Bride here at Anothen.
After worship, we will have a time of potluck Koinonia. The church will provide fried Chicken and drinks, we ask that you just bring a side to share. If you need to keep a side cold or warm, we have those capabilities. Just bring the side to the counter or kitchen and someone will help you.
Feel free to bring lawn chairs, corn hole boards, etc. It’s going to be a great day!
This is also a great Sunday to invite someone to worship. As we reflect on what Jesus has done and His faithfulness, this is a great chance for someone to catch the heart for this House of worship and prayer.
See you soon!
PN
Starting October 16, 2022, we will take a break from the Gospel of Luke and start an 8 week sermon series entitled 10:10. This sermon series will parallel a joint church pursuit through our Bible Fellowship Communities (BFC) of the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. If you are not apart of a BFC, I encourage you to do so. I know community can be a challenging pursuit, especially Christian community. However, the faithful pursuit and commitment to Christ through koinonia is worth it. Community is one of our core values because of the koinonia charge and witness in Scripture. This particular study will be a great study to grow with others in. Make a plan, make it a priority, and watch the Lord fill your cup with your brothers and sisters in Christ as you do the same to them in these BFC’s.
Below is the link to purchase the book and the workbook for this joint pursuit of Christ via Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Also below, is the day and time of available BFC’s. If you are wanting to start one, contact me pn@aclife.tv.
Believing in lots of fruitfulness from this pursuit. Thank you for joining with me in finding deeper cleansing and life from the inside out.
Bible Fellowship Communities
Sunday 4:00pm – Contact Johnbarrett79@gmail.com
Sunday 2:30pm – Contact AEdmonds@rhmail.org
Wednesday 6:30pm – Contact PN@aclife.tv
Tuesday 6:15pm – Contact PN@aclife.tv
See what we did there?😎
Tomorrow after worship we will have a free pancake and sausage brunch immediately following worship. The back field that is fenced in will be open for kids to run around and play as well.
We have been placing a big focus on obedience KOINONIA this past year, this is another opportunity for community of the body of Christ tomorrow.
For those who would like sow financially , there will be a box to place funds in at the brunch line. All money received will go to a local ministry partner.
I went for a walk this evening try and clear my head and blow off some steam. I do this from time to time when I know my flesh is trying to get the best of me. Ministry is amazing, but sometimes my mind and flesh get the best of me, so I try to counteract and repent as often as possible. While I was walking I was listening to the Bible, specifically, the Gospel of Luke. I’ve been attempting to preach through this book of the Bible (horrifically so) this year, so I try to read it to listen to Luke at least 5 times a week. As I’m walking and listening and venting to the LORD I become incredibly convicted. I’m missing the mark.
I can’t speak for anyone else. But I am. I’m walking through a beautiful neighborhood that I don’t deserve to live in, my kids and wife do for sure, but not I. I’m walking complaining to the LORD about petty western luxurious church world “problems” and my heart is completely exposed. I hear the words of the Gospel of Luke being read aloud to me and the RED LETTERS of Jesus are piercing my soul.
I worry and get bothered by absolutely insane things. I measure myself by standards that are impossible meet and aren’t even Kingdom centered. I’m ranting..
Regardless, if anyone else feels like they are missing the mark, I’m writing to encourage you with an empathetic heart. I’m missing it to. But I’m repenting forward. Jesus Word’s are life, as He is life Himself. The RED LETTERS were loud tonight, and I pray they become loud to you too. I pray this because the Bride of Christ has lost her passion and thirst for her Husband, and she is lost missing the mark. The more of us that admit this and repent forward, this more bright this world will become.
Tomorrow is FAM DAY. We are excited for a time of Koinonia! Here are a few things to help you prepare for tomorrow.
Bathing Suit and Towel
Be sure to bring a bathing suit and towel. We will have a water slide for the older people and a small water slide for the younger people.
Food Truck
We will have a food truck present for lunch! We are so thankful to be able to sow into local vendors.
Lawn Chair
Be sure to bring a lawn chair to sit in while you eat or fellowship with others.
Blessing of the Backpacks
Students can choose to bring the backpack tomorrow as we will have a consecrated time of prayer of families, children, and teachers tomorrow am.
We can’t wait to see you!
FAM DAY START IMMEDIATELY AFTER WORSHIP
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
-Hebrews 12:6
I need correction in my life. I don’t always like it, but I need it. Correction when accepted, leads to life. Without correction , or when I reject correction, leads to my peril.
For the longest time I saw correction and discipline as a threat. It meant that I had to acknowledge I wasn’t perfect and that anyone that corrected me would know that too. That seemed unbearable.
The blessing of discipline is that is brings me to a place of vulnerability that births redirection.
If it wasn’t for that word spoken to me, or that Word of God speaking to me, I would be stuck on the road of peril. But because of God’s great love for me, He disciplines me. And when I’m blessed enough to have friends who correct me, they are loving me enough to lead me back on the path of righteousness.
My ability to receive correction will ultimately determine my life’s direction.
Nate Staton 