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Page 1: April_Good_News_Messenger.docx€¦  · Web viewThe Japanese Bonsai tree is known for its stunted growth. ... The action word “GO” should make it apparent that to fulfill this

Good News Messenger Vol. 15 No. 4 First Southern Baptist Church – Mattoon, Illinois March 31, 2016

From Our PastorAs I write this, it is Monday, March 21st. We just experienced another Sunday where the Lord blessed us with witnessing three young people baptized and an adult making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. I am now preparing for our Maundy Thursday service for Thursday night and our Easter service following on Sunday.

When you receive this we will be into April. Baptist Men’s Day is Sunday, April 3rd in the morning service. We have not had a Baptist Men’s Day in several years, so this is exciting.

The Illinois Baptist Youth Choir will be singing in our morning worship service on Sunday, April 24th. They will be here Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th preparing for our worship service on Sunday. So often, we wonder about the next generation’s faith and commitment to the Lord. I expect we will be pleased to see how the Lord will work through their singing ministry and our worship service.

It is times like these that I sit back and reflect on how great it is to be able to see the Lord working among us. The way I have it figured, the Lord does not just work in young people. I believe that as long as we are on the earth, and open to the Lord working in our lives, He definitely will. Praise be the Name of the Lord – Jesus!

Psalm 34:8 (NIV): Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. God Bless!

In Christ,John Calio, Pastor

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Deacons Corner

He is alive! Easter services were fantastic and

reinforced the fact He lives in all who attended.

Many people want to know what the church can do for them, but when we, by God’s grace, are saved through Jesus we are given a gift of ministry to build the church.

See and love others as Jesus sees and loves them. “And walk in love, as Christ has loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” Ephesians 5:2 How will you use your gift of grace to help others?

The Japanese Bonsai tree is known for its stunted growth. It is accomplished by tying off the main root and some tap roots. If we don’t use what God has given us and tap into God’s leading and power we will be stunted. Satan tries to limit growth by tying off our “tap root” into God by misleading our efforts to serve. The more a Christian understands and follows

God’s revelation of Jesus, the more we will grow and not be stunted.

The phrase “walk in love” implies a way of life, a habit, not a feeling. Live daily with the belief that needs of others are as important as ours.

I read the story of a young boy who was a perfect blood type match for his older sister who needed a transfusion as she was seriously ill. After being hooked up, he asked the doctor, “Will I feel anything when I die?” The astonished doctor told him, “You are not going to die.” He was willing to give his life for hers.

Will we tap into Jesus and not only attend, give and praise, but walk in love as Jesus did?Your DeaconsLarry Maguire, Deacon

Women’s Ministry On Monday, April 4th, we will have dinner at Angelos at 6:00 p.m. Ladies of all ages are welcome to come. Our Ladies tea is Saturday, April 16th. Free tickets will be available in the office with Kay during the week or on Sundays in the foyer. We still are in need of two more hostesses.

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Julie Calio, Director Women’s Ministry

Added to the Flock

Rebecca Benson, McKenzie Hiller and Xander Thomas were baptized on Sunday, March 20th by youth pastor, Mike Sloan. All three are students at Mattoon Middle School. McKenzie’s family, Jeff and Cresta Brandenburg are members of FSBC.

Gloria D. Colbert came forward for baptism on Sunday, March 20th. She will be baptized at a later date. Mrs. Colbert is the mother of Trisha Graham.

Music Box

A special thank you goes to all who helped us to

remember our Lord this Easter. Thanks to the choir, those who helped with the Maundy Thursday service and Ginny Sloan for her special on Easter Sunday. Everyone did a great job!

In April we have two special services planned. On the 3rd is Baptist Men’s day,

and on the 24th the IBSA youth choir will be singing. Both will be a special treat. Also on the weekend of the youth choir being here, we will be feeding then on Saturday and on Sunday morning. There will be a sign up sheet in the foyer on Sunday, April 10th. Please help us make the IBSA youth choir a blessing to them for coming to us. Julie Calio,Choir Director

With The LordTwo members of our church went home to be with the Lord on March 8th.

David Brandenburg, age 61 was a long time member of 53 years. David was the son of Coralie Brandenburg. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her and the family.

Zella Schnoover age 83 had been a member since 2007. She leaves her husband Everett. A memorial service will be held for her here on Saturday, April 23rd. Our condolences to her family.

Hush, Can you hear it?The rustling in the grass,Bringing you the welcome newsWinter's day is past.soft, Can you feel it?The warm caressing breeze,Telling you the sticky budsAre bursting on the trees.Look, Can you see them?The primrose in the lane,Now you must believe it -Spring is here again.

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I don’t know about you, but growing up as a scrawny kid in Southern Illinois, I often found myself outside in the dark, fishing or hunting, adventuring in some dark barn, or under a building.  Sometimes it was scary - for a little kid.  But if my Dad was with me, it didn’t matter what was going on, or what ‘dangers’ might have been lurking around unseen.  My Father’s presence bolstered my confidence.  I knew he would protect me, and nothing could get me.  No matter what, everything would be Ok.

Outreach is all about the Great Commission - the last instructions given to the disciples by the Risen Christ, just prior to his bodily departure back to Heaven: to go and make disciples of all Nations.  The action word “GO” should make it apparent that to fulfill this task, we can’t stand still.  We must move forward, out, away from our current location.  But that’s just the beginning.

Outreach also involves ‘new’ people.  Maybe they’re people that you know, neighbors, colleagues at work, family members, etc., but many will likely be new acquaintances.  The thing to remember is our goal is not to get people to go to Heaven, or even to church.  Our goal is to introduce them to Jesus.How does THAT work? I’m really glad you asked.

Outreach is just that, Reaching Out - to

people, obviously.  It isn’t just inviting people to church, or church events (though that is included).  It isn’t just being visible in the community, and outlying areas (though also included).  Outreach is all about building relationships.  It’s about being open and vocal about your faith in God.  In some ways, you don’t have to go out of your way - go where you normally go, and do the things you normally do - but as you do and go, make a point to tell people about how good God has been to you today, and ask people if you can pray for them, or with them.  Live out the Joy that God plants in you, in such a way that people around you notice Him.

In the Great Commission, when Jesus told the disciples to go and make disciples, He ended up saying that, “...surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  As we go, God goes WITH us.  Any fear or concern should drop away if we know that God is near.  We should be excited about the opportunity ahead, and getting to share with people about the Love of God.

Our next Outreach meeting is Monday, April 11th at 6:00pm.  If you feel so moved, I hope that you will join us as we discuss and plan ways of introducing our community to Christ.

Annyong hi kashipshiyo (Go, in Peace),

Jon Crask

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Outreach Chairman

Youth Choir to Perform Here

The Illinois Baptist Youth Choir will hold a lock-in retreat April 23 and 24th at FSBC. They will perform during the Sunday morning service on April 24th. The Choir consists of forty High School students from various Baptist Churches in the state of Illinois

Chosen each spring, choir members are youth in grades 9-12, selected based on a strong Christian lifestyle, church attendance, the recommendation of their church's pastor or music director and successful completion of a rigorous musical audition. Many of the students plan to go into music ministry, music education or missions as their future vocation. Their adult sponsors are church music leaders in Illinois who accompany the choirThe students and sponsors will arrive Saturday morning around 7:30 a.m. Ladies of the church will serve them lunch and supper (and snacks) that day and breakfast Sunday morning. Students will bring their own sleeping bags and the boys will sleep in youth classrooms in the

basement and girls in classrooms in the children’s wing on the main floor. They will have access to the showers in the gym bathrooms.

Steve Hamrick, IBSA director of Worship and Church Music Ministries, is the tour coordinator, he maintains, "The focus of worship is two sides of the same coin. On one side are believers coming to the throne and worshipping the God they love and on the other side is evangelism. If spirit-filled Christians are worshipping in truth, unchurched people are drawn to God."

The choir mission’s tour this year will run for one week in July and will include performances in Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina.

 

VBS June 5-10th at 5:45-8:15.

The church will soon be going underwater as we dive into the depths of God. We are still in need of a recreation person, store manager, and a 4th—5th grade helper. We also are in need of some security as well as floaters to come and help wherever needed each night. I’ll be ordering t-shirts soon, so if you would like to get a VBS t-shirt (optional) just let me know. Please prayerfully consider what place is for you this VBS.

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Julie Calio, VBS Director

You Will Want to Attend the Next Meeting!

A safety and Security meeting was held

in the gym on Saturday, March 19th. The meeting was called to order by Fred Nieman, chairman of the Men’s Ministry.

The purpose of the meeting was to begin a procedure of making people aware of the need for some precautions and some actions to assure the safety of those attending services or activities at FSBC.

There are three specific needs to be further addressed at future meetings. There is a need for a person to head up the safety and security group for the youth and children. This would involve deciding the best method for identifying those picking up children, contacting parents, and special needs that might arise. This could possibly require purchasing additional software.

Secondly, there is a need for a medical team, those who have medical training, such as nurses, and those who know CPR or first aid so that if a medical incident or a medical emergency should arise it could be handled as smoothly and quickly as possible. This could possibly require

purchasing extra first aid materials. Trained volunteers will be needed.The third need is a person to head the safety and security for the church building and congregation. Ray McPherson has agreed to head up this group. This would involve having someone responsible during an evacuation, knowing which doors to take or where to gather. It would also involve planning for protection against an intruder, having doors locked when services or activities are underway with volunteers on duty to watch doors and patrol the halls.

The next safety security meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Thank YouThe Annie Armstrong Easter Offering ended on Easter Sunday. The pledge this year for our church was $2,500, the total given was $2,098.65. Every penny of the money collected by the North American Mission Board goes to missionaries and their work in the United States and Canada and their territories.

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A Sunday school teacher was asking her students some questions after a series of lessons on God's omnipotence. She asked, "Is there anything God can't do?"         All was silent. Finally, one boy held up his hand.        The teacher, on seeing this, was disappointed that they had missed the point of the lesson. She sighed and asked, "Well, what is it you think God can't do?"        The boy replied, "He can't please everybody."

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2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat1 2

8:30 a.m. Men’s Ministry Breakfast at Pagliacci’s

39:05 a.m. Sunday School10:05 a.m. Worship4:00 Choir5:30 p.m. Awana6:00 p.m. Worship

45:30 p.m. Deacons’ Mtg.

51:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry

61:00 p.m. WOM

5:30 p.m. Youth Pulse

6:00 p.m. Bible Study/prayer

74:30 p.m. Trustees Mtg.6:15 Ladies Bible Study

8 9

109:05 a.m. Sunday School10:05 a.m. Worship4:00 Choir5:30 p.m. Awana6:00 p.m. Worship

116:00 p.m. Outreach & Sun. School Council

121:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry

7:00 p.m. Finance Committee

135:30 p.m. Youth Pulse

6:00 p.m. Bible Study/prayer

146:15 Ladies Bible Study

15 1610:00 a.m.Safety Meeting in Sanctuary

Ladies Tea2:00 p.m.

179:05 a.m. Sunday School10:05 a.m. Worship4:00 Choir5:30 p.m. Awana6:00 p.m.Business Mtg.

18 191:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry

205:30 p.m. Youth Pulse

6:00 p.m. Bible Study/prayer

216:15 Ladies Bible Study

LIVEWIRES

22 23

Youth Choir will perform in Sunday morning service

249:05 a.m. Sunday School10:05 a.m. Worship/Youth Choir/Lord’s Supper4:00 Choir5:30 p.m. Awana6:00 p.m. Worship

25 261:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry

275:30 p.m. Youth Pulse

6:00 p.m. Bible Study/prayer

286:15 Ladies Bible Study

29 30

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-12

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AprilJohn Calio 02Gillis Wilson 07Karen Collier 07Josh Shaffer 11Brody Shook 12Mike Croy 13Anna Plank 14Catherine Neal 15Sharon Weger 16Al Gary 20Tyler Bennett 21Roger Croy 22Cathy Croy 23Mackenzie Graham 29Rick Good 30

MayMarilyn Johnson 02Charles Mears 02David Saunders 02Sean Sloan 05Margaret Sparks 05Andrew Thomas 12Larry Maguire 13Brad Matson 13Derek Graham 20Emma Dann 22Scott Harley 25Derek Fullerton