First Baptist Church March 2015 Volume 59 Issue No. 2

USPS 571-920 Published Monthly by The First Baptist Church 212 East F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643-3212

Office 423-543-1931 Fax 423-542-8088 www.fbcelizabethton.com Periodicals Postage Paid at Elizabethton, TN 37644

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 212 East F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643-3212

Sundays 8:45-10:30AM and 5:30-6:00PM

Wednesdays 6:00-6:30PM

FEBRUARY GIVING

Budget Required: $ 48,061.83 Budget Received: $ 44,669.20 Designated: $ 9,219.30 Total Given: $ 53,888.50

Average SS: 163 Average Worship: 257

O ur Christian Sympathy to Ray Lewis and family in the loss of his mother on Febru-

ary 3, to Donna Myers and family in the loss of her mother on February 7; and to Vickie Fulton in the loss of her father on February 22.

A thank you note has been received from Claudia Lane and is on the bulletin board

outside the library.

Leadership Training: On Saturday, March 7, there is a national leadership training being held in Johnson City concerning Sunday School and small group ministry. I want to encourage you to come and be a part of this training as we seek to make our Sun-day School small groups better. It will be held from 8:30am-3:30pm, and you will be inundated with materials and practical tools that we will be able to utilize in the small group setting. We need to connect more of our people to these life groups (Sunday School classes) so that we have more people journeying with us in faith. So please plan to attend. A sign-up sheet is located outside the sanc-tuary on the bulletin board. I look forward to having you along for the journey. Deacon Ministry: In our January business conference a motion was made to explore the possibility of allowing divorcees to serve as deacons. As I have given thought to this motion, I believe it is in the best interest of our church to explore it as a church body rather than by simply having an appointed committee bring the recommendation. I have begun acquiring materials for study concerning this topic and will be leading our church in several sessions of discussion and Bible study as we approach this issue from a biblical perspective. As we move forward and begin this process of discussion I covet your prayers for our discussion and our church body. I simply ask that you prayerfully consider the following:

1. In our discussions, we will commit to maintain an open mind, Christ-like spirit and a willingness to grow in this process

2. Recognizing that there are differences of opinion, we must seek unity in our body as we seek to fulfill God’s call on His church.

3. We will pray for the pastor, the study of God’s Word, and the discussions that we have that they may be an instrument of God’s grace, and a teach-able moment for all of us.

I look forward to our discussions. May we sharpen each other as we seek His will in His church for His glory!

March 2015

“Glorifying God, serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and sharing Him with the world.”

Funds are now being accepted to purchase a second new van. Our goal is to raise $28,200 by late April so we’ll have it for the summer.

March 2 Ruby Bowers March 3 Janis Nave March 4 Adriana Hutchins, Rich Minton March 5 Alden Duffield, Travis Holly March 6 Judith Cole March 7 Janet Crumley, Amber Hughes, Tommy Tipton March 9 Amy Bryan, Melville Cole, Theresa Hinkle March 12 Lisa Bunn, Michael Norris March 13 Edith Campbell March 15 Brenda Myers March 16 Emma Walters March 17 Joyce Grindstaff, Andrew Walker March 20 Kathy Pierce, Teddy Sowards March 21 Ruth Barnett March 22 Roger Berry, Lucille Heaton March 23 Jim Hughes March 24 Cheri Tipton March 26 Jerry Harper March 27 Ellen Bowers March 29 Harry Ford, Cory Walker, David Wetzel March 30 Angela Willocks

VBS and Easter Celebration Meeting Wednesday, March 4, 7:20PM (following evening service) in the Children’s Worship Room. The children’s Easter Celebration will be a Passover Meal where the children can taste food served at the Last Supper. It will be Wednesday, March 25, dur-ing the regular Route 252 class time.

Church-Wide Deacon Baby Picture Contest March 15 — a fund-raiser for Children’s Ministry Summer Camp! For $5 you can buy an answer form and match the deacon with his baby picture. The winner receives a yard ready for spring or some handiwork done around your home with work provided by the deacons!

Game rules and details available soon!

Roan Mountain Mission Team meeting on Sunday, March 1, at 5:00PM in the Fellowship Hall. The summer missions program is July 19-23. If you are inter-ested in being a part of the team but can’t make the meeting, please see Carter Blevins or Vickie Ford. March 1-8 is the Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Our church goal is $5,000. Note: New this year—you may give online and our church will be given credit for your offerings. The instructions are on the offering envelope.

Prayer Shawl Group meets Monday, March 16, in the Parlor.

Nursing Home Visitation to Hillview/Hermitage on Tuesday, March 17, at 5:30.

Open Heart WOM meets Thursday, March 19, at 10:00AM in the Parlor.

Tennessee WMU Get-Together in Gatlinburg March 20-22. First Ladies will meet Wednesday, March 25, at 6:00PM in the Parlor.

Pray by Tony Jones is our Wednesday Study during the season of Lent. Books are available in the Sanctuary. $5 donation.

On Saturday, March 7, Mountain View Baptist Church in Johnson City will be hosting a Sunday School leadership conference from 8:30am-3:30pm. This conference has received the most positive feedback of any training Lifeway has offered in the last two dec-ades! Conference is free for Sunday School teachers but if you are

not a teacher and would like to go to this conference, the cost is $20. We will leave the church at 7:30AM.

Committee Night on Sunday, March 8, at 6:00PM. All committee members are encouraged to meet and discuss plans and projects for 2015.

The Watauga Association Music School has been rescheduled for March 9, 10, 12 and 13 at Grace Baptist Church. Our Sanctuary Choir will be participating. Everyone is invited to the concert on Friday at 7:00. Dr. Paul Clark will direct the adults. There is an orchestra, children’s choir, and a nursery provided. The CPR/Defibrillator Class has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, at 5:00PM. Contact Terri Blevins at 512-2051 for more information. Brandon and Sharlene Coker from Papua New Guinea had to reschedule be-cause of bad weather. They will be here Sunday, March 15, at 6:00PM. Seniors Carry-In and Games Thursday, March 19, at Noon. Bring food to share and games to play!

The Deacon Widows/Widowers Banquet is Thursday, March 19, at 6:00PM. Our Easter Cantata is Sunday, March 22, at 10:45AM. Family Game Night Sunday evening, March 22. Everyone is invited! Bring a game or two and a potluck dish/snack food item. Monthly Meetings: Deacons meeting March 8 at 4:30; Church Council March 15 at 5:00; Business Conference March 18; Men’s Breakfast March 28 @ 9AM.

Week of March 29-April 5 Noon Services followed by lunch: Monday (FBC); Tuesday (Grace); Wednesday (Memorial) Maundy Thursday, First United Methodist, 7:00PM Good Friday, First Baptist Church, 7:00PM Easter Sunday Service, 10:45AM

High School students will be ushers for the Chris Tomlin concert on Saturday, March 17. We will leave the church at 4:30.