Pastor’s Pen: Being Together Matters This year marks the 30th anniversary of the construction of our church sanctuary. For those of you who’ve been around awhile, and who still call it “our new sanctuary,” its difficult to believe...30 years! We never want to worship a building, but worship space is important for many reasons, not the least of which because it allows us to be together face-to-face. In fact, if you think about it, this is the only space which is shared by our large, sprawling, diverse and busy membership. That makes it very sacred. Face time is important. This summer, when I attended the Baptist World Congress in Durban, South Africa, I was reminded just how valuable face time really is. I could have stayed home and watched a live streaming of the proceedings in Durban. I could have simply read about them, after the fact. But there is power in presence. Something happened in me as I shared an incarnational (enfleshed) presence with fellow believers from all over the planet. Yes, we can Skype. Yes, we can e-mail, text, tweet, etc. But actually being in the same room with other people has a magic all its own. Something happens - energy is released, precious bonds are forged and God shows up. As we regather after summer trips and camps, I hope to see your face often in our worship space this fall. Beautiful sanctuary. Beautiful people. Beautiful Savior! Grace, ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2015 [ SEPTEMBER 8 ] REGISTRATION BEGINS Upward Basketball and Cheerleading [ SEPTEMBER 13 ] MISSIONS CELEBRATION 8:15 and 10:45am [ SEPTEMBER 19 & 20 ] PIANO PRAISE 7:00pm [ SEPTEMBER 28 ] FRIENDSHIP CLUB 6:00pm L to R: Brian Kaylor, Doyle Sager, Heather Entrekin, Molly Marshall, Forestal Lawton and Jim Hill at the Baptist World Congress in South Africa.
Transcript
Pastor’s Pen: Being Together Matters This year marks the 30th anniversary of the construction of our church
sanctuary. For those of you who’ve been around awhile, and who still call it “our new sanctuary,” its difficult to believe...30 years!
We never want to worship a building, but worship space is important for
many reasons, not the least of which because it allows us to be together
face-to-face. In fact, if you think about it, this is the only space which is
shared by our large, sprawling, diverse and busy membership. That makes
it very sacred.
Face time is important. This summer,
when I attended the Baptist World Congress
in Durban, South Africa, I was reminded just
how valuable face time really is. I could have
stayed home and watched a live streaming
of the proceedings in Durban. I could have
simply read about them, after the fact.
But there is power in presence. Something
happened in me as I shared an incarnational
(enfleshed) presence with fellow believers
from all over the planet.
Yes, we can Skype. Yes, we can e-mail, text, tweet, etc. But actually
being in the same room with other people has a magic all its own. Something
happens - energy is released, precious bonds are forged and God shows up.
As we regather after summer trips and camps, I hope to see your face often
Orchestra - Wednesdays, 5:30-6:25pm; adults and youth
Adult Choir - Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm
Youth Choir and Youth Praise Team - Sunday afternoons
Children’s Choirs - Wednesdays, 4:15-5:00pm; age 4 through 6th grade
Sound Techs and Projection Techs - if interested, talk to Rod
To learn more about any of these activities, visit www.fbcjc.org.
Piano Praise More than 30 adults, youth and children will perform a concert of
traditional and contemporary melodies on five grand pianos. Admission is free, but a love offering will be received. September 19 and 20, 7:00pm in the sanctuary.
Kim Asel recently accepted a job with Cole County Residential Services. Kim has been our Financial Assistant for the past three years and words cannot begin to express our gratitude for her hard work and her kind spirit. We wish Kim all the best as she begins her new work on September 1.
Thank you to our two summer interns - Hope Watson and Kristen Foster! Hope served as our Communications Intern and did a fantastic job! Her biggest project was creating this new newsletter. Kristen Foster served as our youth intern and did a fantastic job building relationships with our youth throughout the summer. We are excited that she will continue to work with our Wednesday night youth worship team throughout the year. Kristen Foster Hope Watson
Children’s MINISTRY
Join us on Wednesday nights! FBC provides wonderful opportunities for children on
Wednesday nights. We hope to see you starting September 2:
Children’s Choirs - 4:15-5:00pm. Age groups and room numbers can be found at www.fbcjc.org.
First Friends [3 years - Kindergarten] - 5:45-6:30pm, (Room 305)
First Kids [1st - 6th grade] - 5:45-6:30pm, (Room 201)
Upward is Coming Soon! Registration for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading
will soon be underway! Be on the lookout for forms beginning September 8. Please register early. The cost is $70 per child; SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AVAILABLE. Practices begin in December and games will be on Saturdays in January and February. Contact the Church Office for more information.
Youth PAGE 3
The Year is Off to a Great Start! We had a tremendous kick off to the school year at our
Back-to-School Retreat August 19 and 20. Nearly 40 youth and adults had fun playing some crazy games and welcoming the new 7th grade youth into the Refuge youth family.
Our regular weekly events kick off in September with the start of Souled Out on Wednesday, September 2, from 6:00-7:30pm. Each week we meet for games, worship and small groups. Our September unit is “INFLUENCE” as we talk about how we can influence others as we follow Jesus.
Our theme for the year is “GROWING SMALLER” based on John 3:30 which says, “He must become greater; I must become less.” We will spend a lot of time talking and learning about discipleship this year.
We have a tremendous Refuge family of youth and volunteers. Thanks for your ongoing support and prayers!
SEPT
24 REFUGE BONFIRE Fun night of games, food and singing round the campfire. 6:00-8:30pm at Binder Park.
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Cole Chapman (8th grade) slides into home during slip and slide kickball on the Back to School Retreat.
If you want to receive Refuge Text messages, text “JoinRefugeYouth” to 40650 or go to
refugejc.com/connect.
* For additional information, go to www.refugejc.com.
Let’s welcome Christopher Allen as our contract Upward League Director for the 2016 season! Chris is a Mizzou grad with a Park, Recreation, and Tourism degree. He is passionate about sports and providing a positive environment for children to learn about basketball and experience God’s love. Chris will plan, implement, and oversee all aspects of Upward basketball and cheerleading. Chris, Hannah, and our partner churches are looking forward to a great Upward season.
REFUGE GAME NIGHT Meet in the gym from 6:00-7:30pm for some Refuge Family fun.
Family Mission Project FBC families are invited to participate in a
fleece blanket-making project on Saturday, November 14 from 9:00am-noon. The blankets we make will be donated to St. Mary’s and Capital Region hospitals. Chaplains at these hospitals will share our blankets with families in need of extra love and support. Please let Hannah know if you can attend.
the second congregational conversation on Sunday. Lunch will be served from 11:45am-12:30pm followed by guided table conversations from 12:30-2:00pm. Child care will be provided for children birth - elementary. This is NOT a repeat of the first conversation. We will discuss entirely different questions so please plan to attend.
Join us as we celebrate a Summer of Missions in both morning worship services. Hear reports
from our spring and summer trips with a special focus on some of our local partners. We will welcome Carey Drehle, principal at South Elementary School, and Kristen Hilty, Director of Common Ground, as they share in both services.
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TRUNK-OR-TREAT: Mark your calendar and
join us from 2:00-4:00pm for a safe, friendly, and fun Trunk-or-Treat experience. Children and parents can go from car to car in our parking lot to receive goodies. FBC members, please consider making your car part of Trunk-or-Treat. The more cars we have, the more fun it will be! Sign up sheets will be in the Bible Teaching folders soon.
SAVE THE DATE
MISSIONS
We are proud partners in education with South Elementary School. South School Tigers Rule! Each year they provide a South Family t-shirt to each child and staff member. Last year you generously provided over 400 t-shirts. Let’s do it again!
On Sundays, September 13 and 20, we will be selling t-shirts for $5. You won’t get to take a t-shirt home but a lucky South School student or teacher will! Make checks out to “First Baptist Church.” And, yes, you are welcome to buy more than one!
We are also looking for mentors for the upcoming year. Go to http://www.fbcjc.org/ serve/missions/local-missions/mentoring/.
SOUTH DAKOTA CHRISTMAS: We will once again collect
Christmas shoe boxes for our Lakota friends on Pine Ridge Reservation. More information will be provided in October and shoe boxes will be collected in late November and early December.
Join us as we deliver Christmas to Pine Ridge. We will depart early on December 10 and return late on December 14. Cost is $275 and includes everything except a few meals on the road. There are some partial scholarships available for FBC members. Contact Melissa Hatfield for more information.
Registration will open the beginning of October and full payment will be required by December 1.
