First Free Will Baptist Church of Sutton, NH

June 16, 2019 Worship Service at 10:30 A.M
First Sunday after Pentecost
Fellowship Time after the Service


(new story for June 2019)
My Sisters and Brothers,

Once upon a time in the land of our dreams, there lived a young boy. His house was not too big, but neither was it too small. It sat high on top of a beautiful hill that seemed (at lest to him) to touch the clouds. Every morning he would behold the view of the Great River which divided the land below his home. He had never seen anyone travel upon the Great River, but knew that its source to be a high, snow covered, distant mountain. Everyday, he would awaken to the sound of cheerful birds singing a song he thought was just for him. Everyday, the sun would burst forth warming his footsteps as he walked the pathways surrounding his haven. He explored to his heart's content all that was set before him. He grew. He learned. He was at peace.

Then, one day, instead of the birds singing their song; instead of the sun warming his pathways; instead his world began to change. From out of nowhere a fierce storm blew into his life.. The clouds covered the friendly sun, and drove the birds away from him. Rain washed out his well worn path; so he could no longer find his way. It destroyed all he had come to trust, loved, and enjoyed. It was a disaster.

He was devastated. What was he going to do? What would happen to him now without the beauty of life. Feeling hopeless and helpless, he sat down and did the only thing he thought he could do: cry. He cried and cried like he had never done. He cried so much that it hurt, and still the tears came.

His eyes finally cleared so he could see, and what he saw made him look twice. Coming down the Great River from the high mountain was alone figure in a canoe. He watched as he saw the stranger bring the canoe on the banks of the Great River. It looked like the stranger was gathering fire wood. That's exactly what he was doing because later that evening a huge bonfire flamed up from the River bank. It was not only this night but every night. A gigantic fire puffed its way upward. The young man could stand it no longer and decided to leave his home of shattered dreams to see who this stranger was, and why he burned his fire so brightly.

How does the story end? After all it is our story. Well how it ends depends- doesn't it?. Jesus came to us from the high mountains of God to call us, forgive us, and love us. He alone will create new life even out of the hurts, losses, and empty dreams of our life. We can be certain that Jesus will travel with us on our journey along The Great River of Life. So, let us commit ourselves to Him and know the joy of serving others as we go. Amen

Grace and peace,
Pastor Gary


                                                                                   What is Pentecost?

Pentecost is a Jewish feast to celebrate the beginning of the wheat harvest. Pentecost took place seven weeks after Passover. Pentecost means "the fiftieth day." For Christians, Pentecost is an important day because the Holy Spirit came down on the believers on that day, and He now lives in all believers. (See Acts 2)

It was the day of Pentecost and people had come from all over the country to gather in Jerusalem. The disciples soon to be called Apostles were in Jerusalem as well because Jesus told them to remain there until the received power from on high.

They were together in a room when suddenly a loud sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind filled the house. Next, tongues of fire came to rest upon each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and each one spoke in other languages. People celebrated Pentecost fro all over the known world: Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Arabs, Rome, Cappadocia, and Egypt to name a few. These people heard the noise and ran into the street in front of the house. They were amazed to hear their own languages being spoken by Galilee! So, Jesus' message was heard.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (one God in three persons) The Holy Spirit was present at creation, at the baptism of Jesus, and now at the birth of the Church. The Holy Spirit in part: reminds people of their sins and turns them to God for new life; helps us to become more like Jesus; lives in every believer; gives at least one spiritual gift; and helps us to live our lives according to God's truths.

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will see visions. Acts 2: 17 and Joel 2:28


Then Peter boldly preached the crowd and said, Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Therefore, repent of you sins, be baptized in the name of Jesus,  Then you will receive the Holy Spirit. God's promise is for all here and your children. (The Birth of the Church)


Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

Matthew 4:12-17 New Revised Standard Version

12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,  14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
    light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b]

Matthew 4:18-22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.


Sermon Title: God's Light