Ladies Christmas Tea: Save the Date! Saturday, December 6, 9:30am-12:30pm. Table decorator sign-ups will open next week.

Church Closed: The church office will be closed tomorrow, October 13, due to staff vacation.

Pastoral Staff Vacation: Pastor Matt and Pastor Josh will both be on vacation at various times October 11-18. Please contact Ministry Assistant Chuck Young or one of the elders if you have an emergency.

Pastor Appreciation Month | October: Please take time to thank Pastor Matt and Pastor Josh for their service to Forestgate!

Men’s Friday Morning Bible Study: We are currently studying the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul's letter of encouragement and instruction to the church at Philippi. As a fellowship of men in need of His daily grace, we go slowly through His Word, seeking to understand what the Lord is saying and how it applies to our everyday lives. "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." (John 8:31)

Join us for a game night on Tuesday, October 21, 7pm-9pm in the double classroom. Bring an appetizer to share and be ready for some fun! There will be door prizes as well! RSVP HERE. 

Adult Sunday School Class on Romans: Paul speaks at the end of Romans 11 about a mystery - come learn about it this week as we discuss Romans 11:25-36. Next week's reading is Romans 12.

Barn Dance! Our beloved annual, church-wide event is coming soon! Join in the fun at Funke Farms the afternoon/evening of Saturday, October 18, 4-9 PM. There will be hayrides, pick-up games, lots of swings to try out, followed by a potluck dinner. The evening is culminated with beginner-level square dancing, orchestrated by our local favorite caller, Gregg Andersen. Last name A-J bring a side/ dessert. Last name K-Z bring main dish/casserole. For more info and to RSVP, click HERE.

We are having another Christmas Choir this year! Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 5:30pm. Sign up HERE. Questions? See Music Director Anna Saks anna.saks@forestgate.org.

Sep 23 - Nov 18: We meet in the double classroom at 9am. for fellowship & the study begins at 9:30am. We will be studying “No Empty Word: Relentless Pursuit, a Study on Hosea” by Paula Miles. For more info or to register, please contact Pat at TuesdayAM@forestgate.org. Books are $15 & will be available in September. Childcare is provided; please let us know when you RSVP that you’ll need it & for how many children. We look forward to seeing you there!

Forestgate is partnering with Village Seven Presbyterian Church to offer DivorceCare support groups for people seeking faith-based guidance on a recovery path after separation or divorce. The philosophy of ministry is for caring people to come alongside, to help people find healing from the pain of separation or divorce. This 13-week, video-based program will provide helpful counsel to manage the emotional turmoil and provide practical tools for decision-making. Groups meet Sunday evenings 5:30-7:30, starting September 7 at Village Seven. Register HERE. The same course will be offered at Forestgate starting in January. Contact Bruce or Connie Harrington for more information harrington.bruce@gmail.com.

This week at GriefShare —“Hope & Resilience” Any adult who has experienced the death of a family member or friend is invited to attend the 13-week GriefShare support group Thursdays at 6:30 pm—you may join at any time in the cycle. Click HERE to register. Questions? See Kelly Odell, Joan Funke, Bruce Beyerly or email GriefShare@forestgate.org.

Surviving the Holidays — Grief is just harder, more challenging around the holidays. Like a trusted guide, a 2-hour Surviving the Holidays event will prepare you to navigate the season’s changes. Learn how to deal with those challenges with practical ideas and helpful strategies for coping and gain insight into what to expect and how to go on. Join us Saturday November 1, 2025 at 1pm (click HERE to register) or Thursday December 4, 2025 at 6:30pm (click HERE to register). Questions? See Kelly Odell, Joan Funke Bruce Beyerly or email GriefShare@forestgate.org.

Engagement Ministry Team: We are excited to announce that our church will be hosting a Powered by Summit event on October 25 from 8:30am-2pm. This special program offers tailored Christian apologetics and biblical worldview training designed to meet the specific needs of our congregation. Kasey Leander of Summit Ministries will be helping to equip us to engage with and preach Christ to our friends and neighbors. We would love to see you there. Questions can be directed to josh.harstine@forestgate.org.

Kasey Leander is the program manager for Summit Colorado. He holds a BA in History and PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Taylor University, and a Certificate in Theological Studies from Oxford University. After completing his studies at Oxford, Kasey worked with collegiate ministries across the country, speaking on the tough questions of faith and culture. Before working for Summit, he was a writer for Breakpoint, a publication of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview.

OCTOBER 25 SESSIONS:
● Reaching the Culture in an Age of Anxiety: Culture tells us to look within to find our purpose, but this is a dead end. It has led to burnout, isolation, and a sense of purposelessness in every corner of society. Christians have a better answer. We are made in the image of God, designed to live in relationship with Him and with one another in community. When Christians recover God's design for people, we will shine His light in a darkened landscape.

● How to Talk to Anyone (About Jesus): How can we show empathy when we don’t agree? How can we broach sensitive topics when people are antagonistic to our message? That task can sometimes feel impossible, but led by a love for neighbor, Christians can recover the lost art of conversation.

● How Do We Deal with Doubt? There are times in all our lives when we doubt, especially in a culture that tells us skepticism is a sign of intelligence. When Christians wobble, they are said to deconstruct. That is a mistake. We need to learn how to "doubt our doubts." The Christian worldview doesn't just stand on solid evidence; it explains and predicts our feelings of doubt.

● The Problem of Pain and Suffering: We live in a world shattered by the existence of evil. Christians sometimes ask how a good and loving God could allow pain and suffering to persist. Our story doesn’t end with pain and suffering. Instead of being an unanswerable question, Christianity reveals that our pain and suffering are threads that lead us to the very heart of the gospel.

8:30am - Registration and check-in
9:00am - Session 1: Reaching the Culture in an Age of Anxiety (Kasey Leander)
9:45am - Break
10:00am - Session 2: How to Talk to Anyone (About Jesus) (Kasey Leander)
10:45am - Break
11:00am - Session 3: How Do We Deal with Doubt? (Kasey Leander)
11:45am - Lunch
12:45am - Session 4: The Problem of Pain and Suffering (Kasey Leander)
2:00pm - Announcements, workshop survey, and workshop concludes

Sign up for the event HERE.

Wednesday Evening Men's Bible Study meets at 6:45 in the church library. Join us as we unpack the theological richness and warmth of the Heidelberg Catechism, using a Kevin DeYoung book as a guide. First published in 1563, the Heidelberg remains timeless for its clarity and heart-focus. Points of contact for any questions are Matt Giesman, Doug Lee, or Stephen Sprague.

Wednesday Evening Women’s Bible Study: Studying None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us by Jen Wilkin. Books $7. We meet in the double classroom from 6:30-8:30pm. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Stephanie at Wednesdayeve@forestgate.