Friends in Low Places
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57: 15)
Isaiah introduces us to a God who takes us by surprise. We expect God to be high and exalted and he is, but God doesn’t remain in the high places. He descends to where we are. That’s what he wants to do. The low place is where he wants to be because he wants to be in fellowship with those who are contrite and humble. He chooses his people based on their attitude and mindset. We often are driven to believe that important people are the ones who get the most time with him, but according to the prophet this is not true. He designs to be with those who are dusty; that’s literally what the word, contrite, means…those who have been crushed to dust.
This is great news for those who aren’t important people, but common, ordinary, dusty folk that never get to be high-brow or even know what it means to live in high society. We are the people God wants to hang out with. In keeping with our summer playlist theme, God is literally saying, “I’ve got friends in low places” (minus the whiskey, and beer, of course.)
I can worship a God like that because he’s a God who is with me in my dusty condition. But there’s more; If I am to be the fulfilment of prophesy in the same way Jesus fulfilled prophesy, I also need to choose to be with those who are dusty just as I am. I am to build community with the dusty rather than the polished and shiny people. I am to be like God to those who feel forgotten and neglected. I am to comfort those who are in low places.
Prayer for today: Jesus, you came to me in my dust. You came to me in my low place. Thank you for finding me in my dust. Now, hear my heart as I commit to live in the same pattern, going to the low places to befriend the dusty, forgotten people of our city and showing them your grace. Amen.
Pastor Wes
ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS
ALL CHURCH NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK
Wednesday, August 5th | 5:45p Game begins at 6:35p
Instead of regular mid-week activities, join us at the Spokane Indians baseball game! Sign up on Church Center to reserve your spot. Cost is $15 (limited number of tickets available).
FLOWER CUTTINGS W/ JOY
Saturday, August 8th | 9a
SFNAZ ladies, bring a brunch item to share, visit, and go home with a fresh cut flower bouquet. Space is limited, sign up on Church Center!
SENIOR LUNCHEON
Tuesday, August 12th | 12p
Join us at Old European. Call Roberta to RSVP 509-325-0711.
ALL CHURCH & COMMUNITY BBQ
Wednesday, August 12th | 6p
The final BBQ of the Summer! Meat and drinks will be provided; please bring a bag of chips, side dish, or dessert to share. Come join us for a wonderful end to the summer season at SFNaz, can’t wait to see you there!
COFFEE W/ PASTORS
Tuesday, August 25th | 8:30-9:30a
Meet at Little Garden Café on N Waikiki Rd. to have coffee with the pastors of SFNAZ!
MUSIC & DRAMA PERFORMANCE
Wednesday, August 26th | 7p
Join the Naz kids as they go on a search for the lost Rigsby Bros. that take them on an adventure all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Travel with us Back to the Beginning! Refreshments following the performance!
SFNAZ FAMILY CAMP
Friday, August 28th – Monday, August 31st
Bring the family for a fun weekend at our annual family campout! This year we will be camping at Pinelow Campgrounds in Loon Lake. Registration is open on Church Center. Book one night or stay all three.
- Camper/RV spots w/ full hook-up – $50 per night
- Tent Camping – $30 per night
- Lodge Rooms – $42 per night (13 & up) $21 per night (12 & under)
Hamburgers will be provided for lunch on Sunday after church service. Please be prepared to have a side to share.
FAMILY CAMP SUNDAY WORSHIP
Sunday, August 30th | 11a
Come out to Pinelow and worship with us at family camp! We will enjoy lunch together after service. Sign up at the info counter or on Church Center to let us know you’re coming.
SFNAZ FAMILY – EXCITING NEWS!
BEGINNING THIS FALL…
We are making a small change to our Sunday morning schedule!
Learning & Growth classes: 9:00-9:45a
You’ll still have time to grab a coffee or a treat before worship.
Morning Worship Service: 10:00a
We’re excited about this new schedule and look forward to growing, connecting, and worshipping together each Sunday. We can’t wait to see what the Fall season brings for our SFNaz family!
ADULT BIBLE STUDY | Sundays | 9:30a
REFUGE MEN’S GROUP | Tuesdays | 6:15 – 8:00p
ADULT BIBLE STUDY | Wednesdays | 6:30p
Weekly Schedule:
SUNDAYS
- 9:30a
- FELLOWSHIP HOUR | Join us over the summer for fellowship, come enjoy a drink or treat from the café. Learning & Growth for children and youth will pause until Fall Kickoff on September 6th. Childcare begins at 10:30a
- 10:45a
- Nursery for children 3 and under
- Children’s Church for Pre-K and K
- Grades 1st-6th will join parents in church for worship, then be dismissed before the sermon for Children’s Church
WEDNESDAYS
- 5:30-6:20p
- Join us in the Holy Grounds to enjoy a meal before midweek activities. The cost is $5 per person or $25 for families of 6 or more.
- 6:30p
- Nursery | 3 and under
- Pre-K – 6th grade | Small group lessons, games, and music
Needs in Children’s Department:
- Teacher once a month on Sundays for Pre-K/Kindergarten class 10:45a
Upcoming Events:
- Tuesday, August 4th 2-4p | Pre-teen swim party (grades 4th, 5th, 6th only)
*Be on the lookout for confirmation from Pastor Jordan* Please bring a snack to share!
- Wednesday, August 5th 6:35p | Indians Baseball game
Come enjoy a Spokane Indians game with your SFNaz family, sign up on Church Center!
- Wednesday, August 12th 6p | BBQ
All church and family BBQ, bring a side to share!
- Wednesday, August 19th 6:30p | Normal Wednesday night classes
- Wednesday, August 26th 7p | Summer Performance
Come support the summer music and drama and see what they have been working on all summer long. Free for everyone, refreshments to follow!
- Wednesday, September 2nd 6p | FALL KICKOFF
Invite the whole family to join us for a fun evening as we kick off the fall season together. There will be activities for everyone to enjoy! Bounce house, foam machine, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, and games. We would love to have you join us for this exciting night of fun, fellowship, and community.
We look forward to having you join us. If you have any questions, please email me jordanr@sfnaz.org
Meet Bianca Boreson
Bianca is not unfamiliar to SFNaz. You’ve probably seen her around, but now she’s here in an official capacity. This summer, Bianca will be serving as an intern in our Kids’ Ministry dept. She has already been taking on ministry tasks helping with Summer Drama and on Sunday morning and during the midweek events. Of course, she’s been working behind the scenes as well doing efficient preparation work for the times when we have children in the building.
Bianca is no stranger to ministry. She has felt the call of God toward ministry most of her life. She was writing sermons and preaching them as a little girl. She has been involved in worship with the youth as a student in the Lewiston Church of the Nazarene for most of her junior-high and high-school years. Now, more than ever Bianca believes that God has called her to ministry and is exploring what avenues that might take. Just this summer she received confirmation that sign language might be one of those paths allowing her to serve those who live in silence.
Please pray for and encourage Bianca all you can, as you see her serving here this summer.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Sunday – 10:45am
- Worship Service
Wednesday – 6:30pm
- Youth Group 7-12th grade – Games, Snacks, and Fun!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Night at the Ballpark – Wednesday, 8/5 – Youth group is taking over the Spokane Indians baseball park! Get your tickets ($15) ASAP on Church Center, limited spots available.
- All Church BBQ – Wednesday, 8/12 – Everyone is invited for a BBQ, games, fun, friends, and hanging out! Bring your friends and family.
- Serve Day @ Connect – Monday, 8/17 – Let’s serve dinner to the community. Sign up on Church Center.
- Redneck Night – Wednesday, 8/19 – Let your inner Redneck out by wearing cutoff jorts, saying “howdy”, and playing Redneck Kickball. Bring your friends for a crazy night!
- Wii Champs – Monday, 8/24 – We will have Wii’s connected to a bunch of TVs in the youth room and spend the evening competing in all different Wii games.
- Kid’s Drama Performance – Wednesday, 8/26 – We will support the kids who have been rehearsing all summer by attending their musical performance.
- Family Camp – Friday, 8/28 – Monday, 8/31 – The whole family is invited to come campout with the church at Pinelow Camp. More details and sign-ups can be found on Church Center.
NOT YET BUT COMING SOON
- Fall Calendar!
Questions, comments, concerns? Email justinew@sfnaz.org
YOUNG ADULT HANGOUT | Tuesdays | 6p
Calling all young adults (18-30) to come meet with Pastor Lake in the library for a weekly time to hang out and connect with other young adults.
Are you looking for a way to connect with SFNaz? Life groups are the perfect way to build community that matters. We would love to have you be part of our life group family. Check out Church Center or contact the office. We’ll do our best to find a group that will work for you. Would you like to lead a Life Group? Please let us know by contacting the office. We’ll host a training session as soon as possible.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY | Thursdays 6p – led by Richard Flatt Are you curious about Celebrate Recovery? We’d love to have you there. Whether you are interested in how we address hurts, habits and hangups for you or someone you know, or want to help support the program. We hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Flatt 509-499-6118.
CARE & CONNECTION:
Supporting Our Adopted Missionaries
The Church of the Nazarene’s Care & Connection emphasis provides a meaningful way for local churches to encourage and support the missionaries serving around the world.
Through the Church of the Nazarene’s World Evangelism Fund, nearly 500 missionaries are supported financially as they serve in countries across the globe. Rather than raising their own individual financial support, missionaries are funded through the faithful giving of Nazarene churches.
In addition to financial support, every missionary or missionary family is assigned to a District Nazarene Missions International (NMI), which in turn connects them with local churches through the Care & Connection ministry.
Many longtime Nazarenes remember this ministry as LINKS, an acronym for Loving, Interested Nazarenes Knowing and Sharing. While that name served the church well for many years, it worked only in English. As the Church of the Nazarene has grown into a truly global, multilingual family, the ministry was renamed Care & Connection to better reflect its purpose and worldwide reach.
Care & Connection reminds us that every church member can play a part in encouraging missionaries through prayer, personal communication, and practical expressions of love.
A Brief History
The roots of Care & Connection date back more than 100 years.
In 1921, only two years after Nazarene Missions International was established, a ministry called Box Work began. Churches packed boxes filled with personal items, ministry supplies, and other necessities to send directly to missionaries serving overseas.
Just two years later, in 1923, the General Budget—now known as the World Evangelism Fund—was established. As missionaries began receiving financial support through this centralized budget, Box Work evolved into a ministry focused on building personal relationships between missionaries and local churches.
Over the years, Box Work became LINKS, and today it continues as Care & Connection, strengthening the bond between missionaries and the churches that faithfully pray for and encourage them.
Ways We Can Connect
- Care & Connection provides many opportunities for our church family to support missionaries:
- Remember missionaries with birthday, anniversary, and holiday cards.
- Stay in touch through emails, letters, and messages of encouragement.
- Welcome and host missionaries during their home assignment visits.
- Encourage retired missionaries with cards, emails, and small gifts that remind them they are loved and appreciated.
- Support Missionary Kids (MKs) by sending birthday cards, Christmas greetings, care packages, and other thoughtful expressions of encouragement.
Our current Care & Connection Missionaries are:
- Tim & Michelle Eby — South Africa
- Yoan & Astrid Camacaro — Italy
Missions Prayer Focus
- Pastor Victor’s Kenya Mission Trip – July 23 – August 6
Please pray for Pastor Victor Morrison and his ministry team as they serve in Kenya. Ask God to grant them safety, good health, wisdom, and many opportunities to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with everyone they meet.
- Dinner Church Ministry
Please continue praying for our Dinner Church Ministry as it reaches our community through fellowship, meals, and discipleship. May God continue to use this ministry to build relationships, transform lives, and connect people with Christ.
Contact Information: Pastor Victor Morrison
Email: victor.morrisonx5@gmail.com Phone: (509) 999-9206
Missionaries We Support in Prayer
Please remember these missionaries and ministries throughout the month:
- Tim & Michelle Eby — South Africa
- Yoan & Astrid Camacaro — Italy
- Monica Boseff & the Open-Door Foundation — Romania
- Bruce & Cinda McKellips — Portugal
Stay Connected
Stay informed about the work of Nazarene missionaries around the world by subscribing to: news@nazarene.org
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
Thank you for your faithful prayers, generous support, and heart for missions.
Your NMI Team
TITHES & OFFERING
Thank you so much for your faithful support of our church! Here are a few options available to continue with giving of tithes & offerings.
- Online giving is available. Visit https://sfnaz.org/giving
- You may mail your check directly to the church!
Spokane First Church of the Nazarene
9004 N Country Homes Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99218
Faithfulness in Giving
Income Expense +/-
- General $ 176,310 $ 182,354 -$ 6,043
- Missions $ 10,493 $ 7,137 +$ 3,355
(Giving March 1st, 2026, through May 31st, 2026)
Thank you for giving generously to your church general fund. Your faithfulness in giving help to meet our budgeted expenses.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER
Prayer Chain by Email
- Contact the church office to receive prayer requests by email (office@sfnaz.org).
Prayer for District Churches & Events
- August 2 Kellogg Silver Valley and Kennewick First
- August 5 NW District Young Adult Ministries & Coordinator April Manning
- August 9 Herminia Esqueda, Multi-Cultural Ministry Coordinator
- August 12 Pastors’ Kids’ Retreat
- August 16 Kennewick Discipulous de Hoy and Leavenworth
- August 19 Northwest Nazarene University & President Dr. Mark DeMichael
- August 23 Lewiston First and Lewiston Orchards
- August 26 Moscow and Moses Lake Desert Springs
- August 30 Moses Lake First and Naches
Mission Prayer Requests
- August 2 Virgin Islands & Western Samoa
- August 9 Zimbabwe & Albania
- August 16 American Samoa & Angola
- August 23 Antigua & France
- August 30 French Guiana & Germany
PRAYER REQUESTS
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Please be praying for everyone affected by these devastating wildfires. Lift up the families who have lost their homes, treasured belongings, and places of comfort. Pray that they would find strength, hope, and peace in the midst of uncertainty.
Please also pray for the firefighters, first responders, emergency personnel, and volunteers working tirelessly to protect lives and communities. Ask for their safety, wisdom, endurance, and protection as they continue their efforts.
May those who are displaced find shelter, provision, and encouragement. Pray for comfort for those grieving their losses, for favorable weather to help contain the fires, and for healing and restoration for our affected community. May God’s presence be felt by all who are facing these difficult days, bringing hope where there is fear and strength for each new day.
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