Financial Peace University class

  • Planning for the future is hard when you’re still paying for the past! Listen—there’s a better way! Join Faith’s Financial Peace University class, and we’ll learn how to beat debt and make a plan for the future together! Interested? Join Pastor Todd at Faith Reformed Church starting Sunday, January 23, 2022. You can sign up and start your 14-day free trial of Financial Peace at fpu.com/1144859.
 
 


Farewell

Pastor Albert has accepted a call to the Community Church of Douglaston in Queens, NY. Christmas Eve was his last service at Faith Church. Below you will find his farewell message to Faith Church.
 



Rediscover Christmas

 

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS DAILY READING PLAN

Wherever you are this year on your level of anxiety, uncertainty, or pain—Wherever you are on your own spiritual journey—Wherever you are in the midst of holiday stress or pressure—We invite you into this journey of Advent. You are encouraged to participate in the daily reading that will be available here. Simply click on the links below.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO REDISCOVER CHRISTMAS IN A NEW LIGHT

Advent is a time to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of the true light of the world, Jesus Christ. But this season isn’t Christmas as usual. We’ve been through what is perhaps the most difficult year we can remember, and we know there are challenges looming ahead. The good news is—Jesus came to earth that first Christmas in one of the darkest times in history… and He’s still the light in our night now!

The season looks different this year, but for the next five weeks we will be focusing on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. We hope to minister to our members and online friends right where you are to help you discover the certainty of God’s love in uncertain times.

Advent is a season that we observe every year. The four weeks before Christmas are set aside as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. The term advent is a version of the Latin word which means “coming.”

But Advent is not just an extension of Christmas, it is a season that links the past, present and future. Advent offers us the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, to celebrate His birth, and to be alert for His second coming.

Join us for this series, rediscover Christmas and find good news in troubling times!

WORSHIP SERVICE DATES

1st Sunday of Advent, November 29 – REDISCOVERING HOPE IN OUR UNCERTAINTIES

2nd Sunday of Advent, December 6 – REDISCOVERING PEACE IN OUR STRUGGLES

3rd Sunday of Advent, December 13 – REDISCOVERING JOY IN OUR DISCOURAGEMENTS

4th Sunday of Advent, December 20 – REDISCOVERING LOVE IN OUR DIFFERENCES

Christmas Eve, December 24 – REDISCOVER CHRISTMAS, FINDING CHRIST IN OUR WORLD
 


Zooming In

The world as we know it has changed over the last few months and the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all of us. Pastor Albert has been interviewing people from different walks of life and professions on how the virus has affected them specifically. What has it been like for someone who is an EMT and is on the front line of assisting people every day? What has it been like for someone who is expecting her first baby in this time of isolation? Watch these episodes to get a perspective on the pandemic from pastors in South Africa, London, and Queens NY, a restaurant worker in our local community, a doctor in New Zealand, and many more. Learn what they and those in the same shoes are experiencing and how you can support them better and pray for them more effectively.
 
 


YouTube Channel

Faith Church has launched a YouTube channel. To find us follow the link or search Faith Church, Slate Hill, NY on the YouTube website.
 
Be sure to hit the subscribe button and stay connected to the videos we will continue to post.
 
As of now you can watch our worship services, a number of VBS videos, Songs from the Sanctuary and many more.


Songs from the Sanctuary

During these challenging times and in the midst of all the isolation, we wish to stay connected with you in new ways. One of our efforts is called “Songs from the Sanctuary.” We have recorded a few of our favorite praise and worship songs and have included some words of encouragement. 
 
May these songs and messages lift you up and remind you that you are part of a fellowship of believers. We are the body of Christ and we are in this together. Our prayer is for your safety and that the world will return to some kind of normalcy sooner rather than later.
 
Please click on the picture to go to the “Songs from the Sanctuary” page, or follow the link below. May God lift you up and shelter you in his loving arms!
 

Songs from the Sanctuary



Eyes on Jesus

“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!” Hebrews 12:2 (CEV)
 

When the characters in the Passion narrative look at Jesus, what do they see? In most cases, people misunderstood who He is and what He was doing. In some cases, by faith, people recognized Him correctly. Our Lenten series this year, based on the Gospel according to Mark, will examine how the various people around Jesus viewed Him—and how we should view Him. We will “fix our eyes” on what Jesus has done to save us from our sins by His holy, precious blood and innocent sufferings and death, and celebrate what God sees on account of His work: our justification for His sake.

Ash Wednesday – February 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Misguided Eyes
 

On Ash Wednesday, we will see how, in spite of Jesus’ repeated predictions about His upcoming Passion, the disciples with “Misjudging Eyes” fail to recognize that soon He will not be with them, and they cannot see the anonymous woman’s anointing of Jesus as preparation for His burial. But Jesus sees her actions as a beautiful deed that will be proclaimed throughout the world wherever the Gospel is heard.

1st Sunday of Lent – March 1 at 10:30 a.m.
Betraying Eyes
 

On the First Sunday of Lent, we will look through Judas’s “Betraying Eyes” and learn why he did this awful deed. Yet the behind-the-scenes-reality is that Jesus was “handed over” (another way of translating the verb for “betray”) by God the Father Himself, so that Jesus could die for the sin of the world.

2nd Sunday of Lent – March 8 at 10:30 a.m.
Sleepy Eyes

 

“Sleepy Eyes” is the theme for the second week of Lent. In Gethsemane, Jesus’ inner circle of Peter, James, and John cannot keep their eyes open to watch and pray with Jesus for even an hour, while Jesus comes to see that His Father’s will is that He drink the cup of God’s wrath when He comes to the “hour” of His suffering.
 
3rd Sunday of Lent – March 15 at 10:30 a.m.
Denying Eyes
 

In the third week of Lent, we stare into the “Denying Eyes” of Peter and the other apostles. They could not see how they could ever fall away from Jesus, but after Jesus is betrayed by Judas, ten of them flee, and Peter—when he is spotted by a servant girl and sees that his own neck is on the line—sees fit to deny Jesus, which leads to his own eyes weeping in remorse. We sinners likewise deny our Lord in many ways, but Jesus denied Himself to take up the cross for our salvation.

4th Sunday of Lent – March 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Murderous Eyes
 
“Murderous Eyes” is the theme of week 4 in Lent. The chief priests and scribes saw Jesus as an obstacle to be rid of by murdering Him through the Roman judicial system. Yet during the Passover festival, they would unwittingly bring about the Father’s sacrifice of the ultimate Passover Lamb.
 
5th Sunday of Lent – March 29 at 10:30 a.m.
Worldly Eyes
 
In the fifth week of Lent, we look through the “Worldly Eyes” of Pilate, the Jewish leaders, and the Roman soldiers. Pilate can only view matters in a worldly, pragmatic way, wishing to placate the worldly Jewish leaders and crowd, so he consents to handing Jesus over for crucifixion. The soldiers see the opposite of a worldly king, but their ironic hailing of Him as “King of the Jews” proclaims who He really is. The world looks for power and glory; God’s way is suffering and the cross.
 
Maundy Thursday – April 9 at 7:30 p.m.
More Than Meets the Eye
 
On Maundy Thursday, there is “More Than Meets the Eye” to the Lord’s Supper. We will look into the Old Testament background of the Last Supper and rejoice in the mystery that Jesus, in and with, bread and wine, gives us His body and blood in order to deliver to us the benefits of His Passion.
 
Good Friday – April 10 at 12:00 p.m.
God’s Eyes

 

On Good Friday, we will be meeting for our Soup Luncheon and Fellowship at 12 noon, This will be followed by our worship service, where we will look through “God’s Eyes” to see what is happening during the Passion: the once-for-all atonement for the sin of the whole world and the justification of all sinners on Easter.

Easter Sunday – April 12 at 10:30 a.m.
Angel Eyes

 

Finally, Easter Sunday gazes upon “Angel Eyes.” The angel in the tomb knows the whole story of Jesus’ resurrection. When he sees the women, he proclaims the Gospel to them, shows them where Jesus’ body had formerly lain, and tells them that they can see Jesus themselves in Galilee. Likewise, the “angels” or messengers of the Church in the apostolic ministry tell God’s people where they can find Jesus and His salvation in the Means of Grace.

Eyes on Jesus will continuously focus our eyes on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen for our justification. This is a vision that will never disappoint, for by trusting in Jesus, He promises that we will gaze upon His beautiful face now by faith and forever in heaven!

 


Improv Fundraiser

On the evening of January 11, Faith Church hosted a night of Improv with the Excited Raspberries. The evening started with a delicious dinner for those who opted for dinner and show tickets, Later the doors were opened for the show only and more people joined for a night of fun and laughter. The cast consisted of players from different comedy troops who came together for a special performance at Faith Church. Among the stars were our very own Teresia and Haley, who knew many in the crowd and made the most of drawing a laugh based on their local knowledge of the people in the audience. Thank you to all who made this a memorable event.
 



The Christmas Choice

We often do the Christmas story a disservice due to its familiarity. More times than not, we romanticize the events of the Nativity as we put them on postcards, in children’s plays, and sing about them in popular Christmas carols. But living through the events of the Christmas story would have at times felt dreadful.  A teenage girl with her future ahead of her was rocked by scandal—even though she didn’t do anything wrong. A newlywed couple was uprooted from their home, their family, and their support system during the most inconvenient time of their lives. A king who was already losing his power to a Roman occupation discovered a new king was born that would be an even greater threat to his authority.
It seems every life that was touched by the events of Christmas experienced inconvenience and hardship. Yet, through those inconveniences, the greatest opportunities presented themselves. Opportunities for peace in the midst of chaos, for powerful influence, and ultimately for the salvation of all humanity.
 
We invite you to join us for an Advent Series based on the book The Christmas Option: The Hidden Options Found in the Christmas Story  by Jonathan Malm, We will be telling the Nativity story in a unique and powerful way and together discover new meaning for our lives in a familiar Christmas story.
 
December 1 – Christmas and Disappointment
Many people get stuck in the disappointments and pain of life. As believers, however, we have an opportunity to channel those troubles into a bigger purpose.
 
December 8 – Christmas and Displacement
Don’t get discouraged when your expectations aren’t met. Keep going and see God’s plan for your life flourish.
 
December 15 – Christmas and Interruptions
If we want to love God and others, we must allow our routines to be interrupted.
 
December 22 – Christmas and Expectations
We all deal with disappointments. The beauty of Jesus being “with us” is that he can fully relate to those feelings. No matter what we’re going through, we have someone who understands and still offers hope. The story isn’t over yet.
 


The Bethlehem Experience

December 14 at 2 pm
 
Come start the Christmas season with us during our Bethlehem Experience! Join us at the Inn and be welcomed with a cup of hot cider. Here you will meet the innkeeper and wait with us for the arrival of Mary and Joseph who have been traveling to Bethlehem from their hometown Nazareth. Will there be room for them at the Inn? Or will Mary have to give birth in a stable? After visiting with Mary and Joseph, you will be escorted inside for a delicious soup meal and dessert. As part of the festivities we will be singing some of your favorite Christmas Carols. You can also enter a free drawing. The winner will be receiving a beautiful, handmade, fresh Christmas Wreath.
 
This is an event for the whole family. Invite some friends along as well. It will bring us great joy if you could join us for the Bethlehem Experience at Faith Church!
 
Be welcomed at the Inn with a cup of hot cider
Witness the arrival of Mary and Joseph
Enjoy a delicious soup meal
Join in the singing of favorite Christmas Carols
Win a beautiful handmade Christmas Wreath