Bridger Community MinistriesJanuary 2013

First Baptist Church

My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. ‘For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. ‘The flowers have already appeared in the land; the time has arrived for pruning the vines, and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. ‘The fig tree has ripened its figs, and the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along! [Song of Songs 2:10-13 NASB95]

The end of 2012 was marked by a series of senseless killings in malls and schools; the spectre of the ‘fiscal cliff ’ with its threat of a serious rise in taxes for all US citizens; the rumour of food shortages and serious climate change - all combining to cast an apocalyptic pall over the commencement of a new year. The church itself struggled, and still struggles, through the difficult process of ‘righting’ the ship.

But in the last days of 2012, the media itself issued a clarion call for hope in the midst of such tragedy and hopelessness. The new production of Les Misérables, featuring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathway came out on Christmas day. Victor Hugo’s acclaimed novel traces the relationship between two very different men during the aftermath of the French revolution. Not wanting to give away the plot for those who have neither read the novel, nor seen the movie, let me just say that that from tragedy comes hope. Faith, love, honesty, humility, mercy and perseverance win the day. Hugo, a disaffected Catholic, growing up in the French revolution of 1830, eventually became a rational deist, as did Voltaire; and yet, as much as rejected the institutionalized church, he never rejected Christian teaching. His final will stated this:

From the Pastor’s deskI leave 50 000 francs to the poor. I want to be buried in their hearse.I refuse [funeral] orations of all churches. I beg a prayer to all souls.I believe in God.I believe in God.

In a very real sense, the world of Les Misérables is our world as well. Hugo is prophetic in this sense. Revolution, economic hardship, torn relationships, bleak futures and simply the struggle to stay alive, mark our own 21st century world. The Catholic Church in Hugo’s France had lost its way, much like the institutional Protestant church in America today has lost its way.

Like Hugo, today’s young men and women under the age of 40 want to love God, but are rejecting the institutional church because of its failure to make a meaningful difference in the world. At the end of Les Misérables, as Jean Valjean dies, Victor Hugo makes the statement, “To love another person is to see the face of God.” Jesus said something very similar, when he stated this: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

In the Song of Songs, the beloved states, “…behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone…the time has arrived for pruning the vines…” In light of the culture in which you and I live, it is time to rethink how we are the church in our community. We only began in 2012 what must be continued in 2013 if we are to truly reach our world with the love of God in Christ. To that end, my message series for the New Year is: Recovering a Radical Faith for a Revolutionary Culture!

My prayer for each of us as members of the Bridger Community / FBC family is that we are transformed this year by, and for the love of God in Christ, so that we can see our world changed for the better!

See you Sunday! Pastor Jay

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CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS, 2012 was a glorious evening! We knew we were in for a treat with the young men of Bozeman Orchestra strings BUT we experienced a Christmas Concert. They were superb, presenting old familiar Carols in unique arrangements. Our Lila Beard challenged us with her devotional. Thank you Lila. The food and decorations were lovely. A true blessing and a poignant Christmas season starter! Thanks to each of you who came and participated.

December was the month of music. Pastor Jay saw to it that each Sunday we were thrilled with youth musicians who played their hearts out for us. Beautiful! Thank you Pastors Jay and Gary.

UPCOMING EVENTS: JAN. 9 - A Birthday Celebration with Marge

Beckman... more to follow JAN. 23 - 12:00 Lunch at the Senior Center.

Time of Rememberance: Remembering beloved friends no longer with us. Please bring any pictures you may have!

ABW Ministries - Pat Newby

I want to thank everyone who helped this year with family promise. Our last week went very well. There are now 25 congregations that provide temporary shelter and meals for homeless familes. We served 96 families which consisted of 321 individuals last year. 80% of our families graduated with housing, employment and childcare so we have a good percentage of success. We are always looking for more volunteers and have a couple of trainings coming up that will be held at First Presbyterian Church. They are Jan 16th 6-8 and Feb 20th 6-8. If you would like more information about this program please contact Grace Holiday or the church office.

Family Promise - Grace Holiday

On Saturday, December 8, a cold and snowy day, Ken and Susan Mottram handed out 10 lunches to nine people who stopped by the HIS Soup site on Oak Street across from Walmart. As I mentioned in the November newsletter, I will no longer be coordinating the HIS Soup lunch program in 2013, and as I have been unable to find someone to take over as coordinator of this program for the church, I have notified John Belschwender at Hope Lutheran Church that First Baptist Church will not be able to participate in the homeless lunch program in 2013. Many thanks to all those who have helped to distribute lunches on Saturdays and who have donated food items for the lunches. Your help has always appreciated both by me and the people we served. Thank you!

HIS Soup - Robin Moore

Well, our semester is over and everyone has passed their classes! While the college students are enjoying their break, let’s please remember to be in prayer for them as they travel for the holidays, and for their Spring semester that will kick off soon. If you happen to see Will Moore out and about, make sure to congratulate him on graduating, and let him know you’re praying for him as he moves on to the next chapter of his life. Finally, be in prayer for our ministry as a whole, that we can meet new people and help our Bridger Community family grow with new college faces. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

College Ministry Update - Nick Woods

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Daily Prayer Points

*The Rock & Illuminate*Staff: Gary, Tammy & Allison Wright*TRYC Assistant Director/Student Ministry search

Wednesday

Thursday*Thursday Night Outreach service planning*ABW & Women’s Ministries*Home Groups*Cancer Support Group

Friday*College & Young Adult Ministries*Children Outreach & Ministries*The Gathering

Saturday*Yellowstone Theological Institute progress, faculty & partners*AJ, Andrea, and Elijah Culp

Sunday*Pastor Jay, Melissa & family*Pastor Gary, Tammy & family*Jason, Mandy, and Zoe Bowker*Hallie and Chris Kronebusch*Nick and Lauren Woods

*BCM Staff: Grace & Larry*Shut–ins & Nursing Home members*CSR Ministry Outreach

Monday

*Leadership Team: Gary Cook, Grace Holiday, Austin Beard, Karen Gilhousen, Robin Moore, Ken Mottram, and Dan Abrams

Tuesday

The Rock Report- Gary Cook

Following the school calendar, we are on break until January 7, 2013. But we have some projects going on while the students are away. We are adding a new LCD projector and screen so we can project videos and song lyrics for Illuminate and other events. We are also having more coats of sealer applied to the floor so it will last longer, look better, and be easier to clean during the messy-floor months ahead. (Maybe I could use a new coat of sealer myself!)

We had our Illuminate Christmas party on the Thursday night of the week before Christmas. About 25 students attended and Jason joined us to begin getting to know the students. We snacked, visited, and watched “Elf.” General goodwill abounded.

The new year is full of promise. Jason will join us full-time when classes resume. I am very excited about all the possibilities his experience, energy, enthusiasm, and creativity will bring to The Rock’s ministries. In the meantime, he, along with Mandy and Zoe, are visiting family in Havre and in North Dakota over the holidays.

Even so, pray for us. We are in daily contact with students who are making life-changing decisions. Pray for our relationships. Pray that we will have opportunities and courage to speak the Lord’s wisdom into our young friends’ lives.

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1. We must decide that nothing matters more than accomplishing the mission of Christ.

In the 17th century, the earliest Baptists – John Smyth and Thomas Helwys – decided that only two things really mattered for the church that sought to follow Christ: baptizing professing believers and recognizing the local autonomy of every church. What they did as dissenting believers was separate themselves from the mainstream of the Church of England and chart an adventuresome new path. To earn the right to be heard, we must decide that the legacy we want to leave is one of mission, adventure, grace and love.

2. We have to put aside those things that are a hindrance to our mission.

I have talked to people at length as to why we have been slowly adopting the name, “Bridger Community.” To adopt this name is nota to dismiss the fact that we are Baptists. Indeed, it makes us uniquely Baptist. What it does, is it keeps people from judging us before they experience who we are and what the gospel is! When the most common synonyms for Baptists today are ‘hypocrites’, or ‘backwards fundamentalists’ then how can any of us expect to win our world to Christ? It’s time to consider truly becoming Bridger Community: A Uniquely Christian and Baptist Fellowship and to lay aside those things that keep us from making new disciples!

3. It’s time to focus on, and embrace our non-traditional outreach events.

Events such as our youth ministry at the Rock, our jazz outreach – “The Gathering” – and our events at Copper Spring Ranch are opportunities to “earn the right to be heard” here in the Gallatin Valley. Maybe you know a service or an event we can host to ‘earn the right to be heard’. Let’s do it!

During our December meetings, the Leadership Team reviewed the financial reports and the budget information provided by the accountants. In December, the accountants began placing money to cover taxes and insurance (about $3,500 monthly) in a designated “escrow” fund. The 2013 Proposed Budget, based on the monthly expense budget developed by Gary Cook, Robin Moore, and Grace Holiday, was presented and approved at the Business Meeting held on December 9.

The van was sold this month for $16,500, and this money was applied to the loan principal as approved at the Business Meeting on December 9. The current loan balance is about $183,000.

The stage renovation in the sanctuary is complete except for a little finish work. Austin Beard headed up this project with the help of Robert Cok and others.

Nick Woods reported that all of the college students survived the semester well and are traveling home for the Christmas holidays. In 2013, Nick hopes to arrange more opportunities for new people to hang out with the college group, become better acquainted, and perhaps join our community.

Jason and Mandy Bowker and baby Zoe arrived in mid-December. Jason will begin working as Assistant Director at the Rock in January.

The first potential buyer for the Pond Property has had second thoughts due to water impact fees on the possible development of the property. He made a counter offer that was lower than our asking price. The Leadership Team agreed with the Next Step Team to not lower the asking price of $895,000 and to wait for another offer. The real estate agent, Lloyd Mandeville, is lining up a second potential buyer.

The Gathering on Thursday evenings finished its last meeting of the year on December 13. Pastor Jay, Basement Jazz and Courtney Yovich would like to continue The Gathering once a month in 2013.

Pastor Jay gave the Leadership Team an update on the Yellowstone Theological Institute (YTI). YTI now has its own EIN number separate from First Baptist’s, its own Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, a Board of Directors and should have its own 501 (c) (3) status by spring. The office is operating now under the direction of Joan Gray and Deborah Gourley with its own phone number and post office box. A.J. Culp and his family will be here in January. A.J. will be Director of Recruitment and will be traveling to campuses to recruit students for YTI.

We will need to work on our childcare and nursery needs in 2013 as both the Bowkers and the Culps have babies.

The Leadership Team also spent some time discussing ideas and visions for Bridger Community in 2013. The Team felt that we are already doing much of what we set out to do a year ago and that we will continue to work towards these goals, honing the current programs, in the year ahead. The Team also discussed how to measure “success” for the church and what “success” means in this current culture and the world today. The Leadership Team will continue to ponder these ideas in the New Year.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to speak with Pastor Jay or a member of the Leadership Team. Leadership Team members are: Gary Cook, Grace Holiday, Austin Beard, Karen Gilhousen, Robin Moore, Ken Mottram, and Dan Abrams.

Our Continuing Call in 2013- Pastor Jay Smith

Leadership Team Meeting Report- Robin Moore, Secretary