1533 HWY 52W, Crossett, AR 71635 PH 870.364.4057 FAX 870.304.2979
SEPTEMBER 2017 Volume 27, Number 9
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
The
MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH www.theolivechurch.org
"…and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:6) It's FOOTBALL SEASON…finally! And many of us will be pulling for our teams. Not to mention, we will expect them to win every game. Right? Let me take a moment to also remind us that we will not be able to control if our team wins or not. Oh we'll jump for joy in the stands when they win…and we'll scream at the TV when they lose. But winning and losing is out of our
control. I can't control whether the Crossett Eagles, Sulphur Tors, ULM Warhawks, Arkansas Razorbacks, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, or the Dallas Cowboys win or not. But, I sure can hope… I think that's what life is really all about. We must make sure to control the things that we can, and trust the Lord with the things we can't control (and no, I don't think God cares about who wins a football game). Some things are in our control…some are not. And that's just the way it is. Hurricanes & tornadoes are not in my control. My mouth and speech are in my control. Cancer and other health issues are usually not in our control. Our attitudes are certainly in our control. What that little fat boy in North Korea does isn't in my control. Neither is what President Trump does to the little fat boy in North Korea. But I absolutely do control my actions and deeds. Think about this. Without self-control we end up hurting ourselves. When we become overly controlling of ourselves and others, it's an indication that we're not trusting God enough. In the final analysis God alone determines the outcomes of things in our lives. So: " Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge (submit) Him, and he will make your paths straight" (vs.5-6, NIV). If you find yourself trying to control every detail and aspect of the things that you actually can't control, try using these strategies…
1. Understand that you are not an independent, self-sufficient being. You and I can't do life on our own. And we're not on our own with the Lord Jesus. Remember this passage…" We are his people, the sheep of his pasture" (Psalm 100:3). Sheep cannot take care of themselves; they need the shepherd to feed them, lead them, and protect them. I think we understand that.
2. When the unexpected happens, practice responding calmly. I know some things are more calmly dealt with than other things. But, it's a good point and practice. We know that God is never taken by surprise. What seems like a crisis to us is often an opportunity for Him to demonstrate His love and care to you.
3. Focus on the internal and leave the external to God. Once you settle the fact within yourself that you cannot control most external happenings…but only your internal response to them, you'll be able to stop stressing out over the uncontrollable and the inevitable. We must take a deep breath to slow the flow of adrenaline, send up a silent prayer to our Lord who is in control, and then completely turn the problem over to Him. And realize that His plans for your life have not been derailed. " You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single moment had passed." (Psalm 139:16).
I can't control who will be in church this Sunday. Sure wish I could. Almost all church members will be able to control whether they are in church Sunday. Mt. Olive folks will not be able to control the response to the sermon. Most will sleep through it anyway. But God's people are people who will decide to stop trying to control everything…because they know that their God is in control. God bless each of you. I love you!
From the PastorFrom the PastorFrom the Pastor
For His Kids-
Sunday School Teachers Meeting- Let’s meet Sunday,
Sept 3 at 9:00 AM.
September Freebies In A Drawing: Kid’s Bible and Kid’s
Devotional Journal. Every time you’re in Sunday School be sure
to put your name in the box located in the foyer.
One Sunday of the month till Christmas will be JAM Sunday. Wear your JAM t-shirts & be ready for some family
fun! Our JAM
Sunday this month
will be Sunday, Sept 10. We’ll go eat
in Monroe @ Chuck-E-Cheese for lunch!
Branson Family Trip is scheduled for
Oct. 6-8. If interested talk to Mrs. Regina.
GA & RA'S, Mission Friends & Children’s Choir will resume Sept. 6.
to our SEPT. Stars! Kaitlin Wright- 9/15 Kimberlyn Wilcox - 9/25
Sept 24 at 5:00 PM
We need all ages, talents, & abilities. This meeting is for anyone who might be interested in the behind scenes, costumes, or stage production as well as the acting.
A mission for Ashley County church members to pray for our nation’s schools.
Evening Services & Activities Dismissed
Sunday, Sept. 3
Church Office Closed Monday, Sept. 4
LABOR DAY
COME JOIN US Sundays 9:15 AM- Prayer Breakfast 10:25 AM- Worship 5 PM- Bible Study 6 PM- Discipleship Training
Wednesdays 6 PM-8 PM Staying SALTY! -Chili Cook Off Fund Raiser Sunday Sept 24 at Noon $7 per meal. Will cook off between the Youth boys and the Youth girls and anyone else who wants to enter a pot of chili!
- See You At The Pole! - 7 AM Wednesday, Sept 27 at your school flagpole.
- Saw You At The Pole! - 6:30 PM Wednesday, Sept 27 at FBC Crossett & FBC Hamburg. 6:30-8:00PM. Meet at Mt. Olive for a ride if needed.
We are looking for Youth Home Town Missions (YHTM)! Please let us know where we can serve you or others.
Participation Rules for Ski Trip! 2nd Annual Mt. Olive Baptist Church Youth Ski Trip! Spring Break 2018.
Requirements to participate-
1. You must participate in Youth Home Town Missions
2. You must participate in Youth & designated Children’s fund raising activities.
3. You must make 80% of Church activities (Sunday School, Worship, PM Services, & Wednesday Night)
4. You must sign up for the ski trip before Christmas Break and pay a $100 non-refundable deposit.
5. You must participate in ALL Youth Mission Trips!!!
3 strike system will be used this year, applies to requirements 1-3.
Monthly Visitation with our Homebound
Monday, Sept 5, 9 AM
Monthly Meeting Potluck in the Fellowship Hall
Monday, Sept 11, 11:30 AM
Sr. Adult Rally North Crossett FBC Monday, Sept 25, 10:15 AM
SAW YOU AT THE POLE YOUTH RALLY SEPTEMBER 27, FBC CROSSETT & HAMBURG
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
North Crossett First Baptist Church
Message
Sonny Simpson from Lake Charles, Louisiana
Music The Stone Quartet
from FBC Crossett
Program starts at 10:15 AM Noon Meal Provided
Monday, September 25
Cook Off between the
Youth guys & girls and
anyone who’d like to enter
a pot of chili!
Special A.M.
Business Meeting
Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017
The purpose of the special meeting is to vote on Nominating Committee Recommendations for Programs & Organizations 2017-2018.
Stewardship Committee meetings begin Sept 10, 7 PM, to work on our 2018 Budget & will continue each Sunday & Wednesday to completion.
Special P.M.
Business Meeting
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017
The purpose of this special meeting is to elect Messengers to the Ashley Baptist Association Annual Meeting set for October 17, at Magnolia Baptist Church.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Am Worship Special Business Meeting
Regular Service
9 Am
Young@Heart
Homebound Ministry
Kids JAM Sunday Chucky Cheese
4:30 PM Finance Committee
4:30 PM Finance Committee
4:30 PM Finance Committee
Regular Service
Regular Service
11:30 AM Young@Heart
Potluck
PM Services Dismissed
4 PM Deacons
Budget Forms Returned to office
Regular Services
Regular Service
Regular Service
-Office Closed-
4:30 PM Finance Committee
3:30 PM 4th Monday
Worship at Stonegate 12 pm Churchwide Chili Fundraiser $7 a bowl
NEW CHURCH
YEAR
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR STATE MISSIONS – DIXIE JACKSON
– DIXIE JACKSON
10:15 AM SR. Adult Rally @ North Crossett FBC
5PM-7PM Campus Prayer Walks
7AM See You At The Pole
6:30-8 PM Saw You At The Pole Rally
FBC & FBH
4:30 pm Decorating Committees
5:00 pm Drama Ministry Meeting
7:00 pm Stewardship Meeting
PM Special Business Meeting
9 AM Sunday School Teachers Meeting
VOLUNTEERS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
NURSERY Cindy Hamilton
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
NURSERY Tina Maxwell
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
NURSERY Corky Pennington
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
NURSERY Sharon Tankersley THANK YOU
CHURCH STAFF ERIC S. HODGE, Pastor
SCOTT SASSER, Min. Music / Worship REGINA HODGE, Min. Children / Preschool WESLEY LAFOON, Min. to Students
LEAH HENDRIX, Church Secretary
MELINDA FERGUSON, Fin./Asst. Secretary
MELISSA JONES, Building Supervisor
General Officers Preschoolers Children Youth Adults New Members Visitors TOTAL
DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING
6 4 5 5
45 0 1
68
28
6 7
13 10 51 0 1
87
33
6 7
20 14 53 0 0
100
19
6 8
13 12 51 0 3
90
20
6 11 39 39
208 0
15
303
VITAL SIGNS/August
SYMPATHY
STEWARDSHIP Receipts on 8/6
Receipts on 8/13
Receipts on 8/20
Receipts on 8/27
10,151.60
5,878.50
6,711.50
5,135.50
September Deacon Visitation Jerry Ozment and Mike Smith
Mt. O
live Bap
tist Ch
urch
1533 H
wy 52 W
C
rossett, A
R 71635
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- PR
INT
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MO
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Return S
ervice Requested
The staff & church family of Mt. Olive Baptist Church expresses sincere & heart felt sympathy to the following:
Wesley Harville’s
Family
Thank you notes have been received from the following and are on the bulletin board:
First Baptist Church of Crossett
Clyde and Debbie Farmer
6 13 20 27 ENR SUNDAY SCHOOL
