Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Christian Club group at the high school has had an active start to the school year.  On Aug. 25th the FCA Kickoff was held for  the high school and junior high students in the district at the Village on Main.  Approximately fifty students attended and participated in karaoke, games, fellowship, food, giveaways, and a devotion led by Emily Spray.  Thank you to all who helped donate items to make this event a success!  We hope to host this annual event.
FCA students at the high school held their first school meeting on September 8th.  Eli Koertge gave a devotion and FCA area representative, Nate Whisler, provided snacks for  everyone.  There were about 35 students in attendance.  They plan to have regular school meetings twice a month.  Another upcoming event  is the Doughnuts and Dodgeball event that the club puts on every December .  All high school students are welcome to hear a devotion, eat a donut, and play some dodgeball.
Junior High students meet weekly on Wednesday mornings at 8:00am for a time of student-led devotion, fellowship, and prayer.  About 50 students have signed up  to be a part of Christian Club.  In addition to the weekly meetings, the group plans to participate in Operation Christmas Child as a service project they can do together. 
On September 24, students participated in the nationwide See You at the Pole prayer event.  This year’s theme is “Awe,” drawing from Habakkuk 3:2-”Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”  Students gathered before school by the flag pole in front of the building to hear a student-led devotion and to take time to pray together for our schools and our nation.  FCA provided breakfast food for the event.
The students appreciate the support of the church in all of the things they are trying to do through the FCA group at school.  Please continue to pray for all of the students in our district that they would be drawn closer in their relationship with God this school year.

      As I set down to write this note it has been less than a week since the death of Charlie Kirk. I don’t typically preach on or write about figures outside of scripture. But I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge a man who was by all accounts our brother in Christ, and who died for his faith because it drove him to speak the truth. And now as a society, and as the church, we must decide how we will respond.
It appears we have been drawn tight between two opposing desires. Retribution in the form of internet vitriol against all who are deemed enemies. Or we respond with grace. Grace is much harder. To look into the eyes of those who are different, who are argumentative, dismissive, angry, and then put on full display the love and grace of Jesus is hard. But it’s what Jesus did, so it’s what we are called to do. Paul wrote in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  The writer of Hebrews adds, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
When people think about God, it will be our faces that come to mind. When we proclaim our faith, surrender our lives to Jesus, it isn’t just salvation that we are given, but also a responsibility. The lives we live, and words that we say, our actions, will either lead people to Jesus, or turn them away. Choose grace.