This Sunday, we are going to study Matthew 13:1–23. In this passage, Jesus tells us the parable of the sower and the soils. It is a familiar text for many of us, but do we truly understand it? At the surface level, we can understand this parable to be speaking about the gospel going forth to save souls and that it is capable of producing a great harvest. I ask you to consider whether there is further meaning in the harvest that it produces. We are told in the parable that the seed is the Word of God. The Word of God does not only go forth to save, it also goes forth to mature. I believe we should regularly evaluate the condition of our hearts to receive God‘s Word. What type of soil is reflected by our hearts when we hear God‘s word spoken or preached? When we encounter God’s Word, are we anticipating the harvest it will produce in our lives? The heart that is anticipating a godly harvest, is a heart prepared to receive God’s Word. 

Sunday - Kids' Week Kick Off Meeting

This Sunday, all of our workers are required to attend our Kick Off meeting on July 14, after the service.

Please pray for our Kids' Week ministry! We currently have over 160 children registered for Kids' Week and 80 ministry workers. We would appreciate your prayers during the week for the workers, safety for the children, schedules to go smoothly, for the Gospel to reach the children's hearts, and for souls to be saved.

No Evening Programs This Wednesday

This Wednesday, during Kids' Week, there will not be any Wednesday evening programs (July 17).

Save the Date - Teen Week 2024

Teen Week 2024 is Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. If you have completed grades 6 through 12, join us at MVBC for the week. Monday through Thursday, we begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. and on Friday, we begin at 5:00 p.m. and end at 10:00 p.m. Registration is open, click here.

We are looking for a lot of help for Teen Week. We need help with set up, break down, registration, games, snacks, and working with the teens during the event. If you are interested in helping us this week, please contact Jared Gordon.

Senior Saints Mt. Washington Cruise

On Saturday, August 10, 2024, the Senior Saints will be going on the M/S Mt. Washington for a Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise. The Daytime Scenic Tour from Weirs Beach is 2.5 hours long. We will depart from MVBC at 7:30AM and return around 3:30PM. Pack a bagged lunch to have a picnic after the cruise. We plan to arrive at Weirs Beach at 9:30AM for the 10:00AM cruise departure. Cost per person is $37.00. Fliers to sign up and reserve your ticket for the cruise will be available at the Connections Desk beginning this Sunday. You may also contact the church office during the week to get more information or make a reservation.

Chapel Renovations

May 16, 1829 – hand-hewn timbers began to be raised on the village green of the village of South Merrimack. Those timbers were the framing for the building we know today as “The Chapel.” If you do the math, that makes The Chapel 195 years old, and as you can imagine, that means this special building has seen a lot of history. Local history – like the store, post office and gas station that used to sit around the green (what we call “The Point” today). World history – like the Civil War, World War I, the Stock Market Crash, the Great Depression, World War II, the Apollo Missions to the Moon, and so much more. And Merrimack Valley Baptist Church’s history – like first renting The Chapel in 1990, then purchasing it, growing to 3 morning services there, and seeing multiple people saved and discipled over the years.

The Chapel is a very special building, and now it needs some special care. The paint on its exterior is cracking and peeling, revealing the base layers of paint that have poisonous lead in them. It has become apparent that we need to address the paint, both to care for The Chapel and for the safety of the families and individuals we minister to. In order to safely remove the lead, and preserve The Chapel long-term, we have contracted with a company called Rhino-Shield. They can safely remove the paint and then coat The Chapel with a ceramic coating that comes with a 25-year guarantee. This specialized work comes with a cost of $65,000 – and that’s significantly less than other quotes we received that only use regular paint.

To help with this significant project, we launched a Special Giving Emphasis on Sunday, July 7, with the goal of raising $50,000 toward caring for The Chapel. Can I ask you to pray and consider how God might lead you to give toward caring for The Chapel? Maybe you attended a wedding there, maybe the funeral of a dear loved one, maybe you or someone you know put their trust in Christ there. Over the years, The Chapel has provided a place where multiple hearts and lives have been touched by the Gospel. Together, we can care for this special building for many years to come.

To view the Chapel presentation, click the link below.

Custodial Positions Available

MVBC has two part-time custodial positions available. The estimated work hours are 15+ hours per week. For more details on the job requirements, click here. If you have an interest in applying for the position, contact Linette Lukawitz.

Services

Adult & Children’s Sunday School @ 8:45AM

Sunday Worship @ 10:30AM – Livestream available

Children's Church – Children will be dismissed from the MPR after the song service @ the 10:30AM service.

Wednesday Adult Bible Study @ 6:45PM – Livestream available

Teen Life @ 6:45PM – Livestream available

Giving

You may give by either mailing checks to 517 Boston Post Road, Merrimack, NH, 03054, or by donating online here. To view this week's giving statement, click here. You may pick up a hard copy of this week's statement, on Sunday, at the Connection Desk.

Seeking to serve,

Greg Odiorne