A NEW BEGINNING

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As we enter the month of August, our students, families, teachers and staffs are, in the words of William Shakespeare’s play Henry V, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;”. That’s right - it’s back to school time!

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New schedules, new teachers, new students, new responsibilities—and in many cases, new challenges—are just around the corner. Among the new books added to the schools’ reading lists this year: When Does School Start by Wendy Bel- rings, The Best Subject in School by Jim Class, and Walking to School by Misty Buss.

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Even when a new school year begins with excitement, it can also bring stress, distractions, and pressure to fit in. For everyone at FCC, this time is an important season to prepare not only academically to support students, families and school staffers, but spiritually.

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School time has divided portions: academic year and summer break. I wonder if we don’t divide our faith life similarly. I want to encourage all of us to remember that God has not called us to live “divided lives,” where faith is only for church on Sunday mornings. Christ calls us to follow every season—especially during the busy.

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This month, I’m asking our church to pray about something simple and sincere: a renewed return to faithfulness to Christ. Faithfulness doesn’t always mean dramatic changes. It just starts with simple obedience:

• returning to regular prayer,

• remembering God’s Word through daily reading or faithful attendance,

• choosing God’s higher calling over personal convenience,

• speaking/ acting with integrity when no one is watching,

• and staying grounded in Christ when the world moves at a faster pace.

Back-to-school is a reminder that life has routines. If routines can shape us for good or harm, then we should ask: What routines are shaping our hearts? In August, as we plan for school and work, let’s also plan for spiritual renewal.

Here are a few ways we can respond as a church this month:

1. Pray for our students, families, schools – that they will receive God’s wisdom, peace, and protection.

2. Commit to Christ again—not when convenient, but consistently.

3. Return to the basics—prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience.

4. Support one another—encourage believers who are tired, distracted, or tempted to drift.

School staff and parents: I’m praying that this school year becomes a time where Christ is not only mentioned, but followed—where your faith is strengthened, and your trust in God grows deeper than stress.

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Students: I’m praying you can belong to Jesus in every classroom, every hallway, and every choice you make.

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Church family, I invite you to make this August a month of renewed resolve. Let’s begin the year of new classes and new schedules with a new-hearted commitment to return to what is right, true, and faithful—because Jesus is worthy of our whole lives.

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Please join us in worship and in prayer as we seek Christ together in this new beginning. Be sure to call one of our own missed over the summer and re-invite them to begin again with you. Remember, the reason the math book looked so sad on the first day of school was because it had so many problems, but…for every believing heart, no problem is too big for God.

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Peace and every good,

Rev. Colby Smith