THE MONTHLY MESSAGE

Volume 1, Issue 1 August 2020

In This Issue...

A Message from the Pastor …………………….

Sunday Bible Study Scriptures ………………..

Focus on Local Missions ………………………….

Tom’s Take ……………………………………………..

Prayer List ………………………………………………

Celebrate Recovery News .………………………

A View From the Lighthouse …………….……

Youth and Kids News ………………………………

SOAP Readings ……………………………………….

August Volunteers ………………………………….

August Events & Schedules ……………………..

Birthdays and Anniversaries ……………………

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Reminder: FBCM continues to observe social

distancing and other guidelines

during all services and gatherings at

this time. Please visit

www.fbcmetter.org for more

information.

The Missions and Outreach Team is now accepting donations for Operation Christmas Child through the month of August. For those who wish to give, there are several options for you:

• Fill a shoebox and drop it off at the church (boxes are available at the church, or you may use one of your own).

• Donate items for boxes; members of the team will pack a box or boxes for you.

• Donate funds for items; members of the team will shop for appropriate items and use them to pack a box or to add to boxes that may not be as full as others.

• Donate funds for postage. Each box requires $9 postage; FBCM will cover any boxes not containing postage, but donations are always appreciated to help defray the cost.

Please have any boxes or items to the church by August 30. There is a collection box by the back door, near the church office. If you have questions, feel free to contact a member of the Missions and Outreach Team, or contact the church office. If you aren’t sure an item is acceptable to donate, there are information sheets at the church or you can visit the Samaritan’s Purse website.

Next Newsletter: September 1

Submission deadline: August 24

Our weekly newsletter is now a monthly one. We'll still publish a weekly announcement sheet, but the bulk of the information will be in the monthly edition. Both publications will be available at the church, online, by email, or by mail. Please request a mailed version ONLY if you can’t get them the other ways.

Please feel free to submit items for the newsletter, with the understanding that all submitted information is subject to approval. Submissions will be due to the office around the 20th of each month. The final deadline will be published in the current issue.

The best way to submit information is through a form on our church website, fbcmetter.org. Click on the "All About FBCM" tab, then choose "Newsletter Submission." Follow the instructions, making sure to include any pertinent information. If you prefer, you may call or email the office; please be aware that this may slow the approval process a little, so be sure to get your submission in early.

Please note: Submissions for the Sunday bulletin must be received by Wednesday. Information received after the deadline will be held and published the following week, if still relevant. Announcement slides are complete by Tuesday of each week, so if you’d like your information on a slide please get it to the office by Monday at 5 PM.

www.fbcmetter.org

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SUNDAY BIBLE STUDIES

We are well into summer as the intense heat is upon us! And just like that, school starts. Especially during these days of COVID-19, the church is needed more than ever. We are the church. We are the people of God set apart for His good work. He has invited us to join Him and others as we come alongside and support one another. We learned this past week that Jesus perfectly joins us together with Him with one mind united in thought and purpose. In the coming weeks, we will learn through God’s Word that we need the church and one another as we pray for one another, support one another, encourage one another, and strengthen one another as we stand together in life. We have had several professions of faith in recent days, and I look forward to the time we will celebrate baptism together. Continue to pray for our dearly loved members who are sheltered-in-place as we deal with the current pandemic, and stay connected. For those who are comfortable coming to church and participating in our services as well as our discipleship and ministry activities, I invite you to come. Our multiple services have been well received and supported as we socially distance. If you are still not comfortable being in person, we continue to offer both 9 am and 11 am services live on facebook as well as our local Comcast channel. The movie night has been enjoyable as we have watched Christian-themed movies together along with popcorn and other treats on Sunday nights at Guido Gardens. We have plenty of room there, too, as we continue to socially distance. We enjoyed the final movie last Sunday, and will be back to our weekly Celebrate Recovery services next week. I have also enjoyed our time in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday nights at 6 pm for our Bible study and prayer time. As we continue to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and love each other as the body of Christ through worship, discipleship, and ministry living out our faith and sharing His love as we do life together, I know the best is yet to come!

Why Do I Need the Church?

August 2 We Pray for One Another

Ephesians 3:14-21

August 9 We Support One Another

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

August 16 We Encourage One Another

Ephesians 4:17-32

August 23 We Strengthen One Another

Ephesians 5:8-21

August 30 We Stand Together in Spiritual Battle

Ephesians 6:10-20

We are thrilled to welcome

Sophia Bowen as a new member of FBCM.

Sophia has been a part of our extended family for a long time,

and has now joined the fellowship by profession of faith.

Welcome Sophia!

LOCAL OUTREACH MINISTRIES

COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION

2nd MONDAY OF EACH MONTH 10:00 AM

TREMOUNT TEMPLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH NORTH TRAPNELL ST, METTER

SPONSORED BY SECOND HARVEST

AND THE BRIDGE

COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN 4TH SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH METTER SPONSORED BY THE GIDEON SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

COMING SOON...CHECK BACK HERE FOR MORE

INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

Pastor Tom Osborne

fbcmg@pineland.net

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Prayer List

Our Church Family

Rose Bonner Wayne Carter Berrien Donaldson Carol Donaldson Larry Hill Leck Montgomery Amy Rash David & Pat Rhoney

Homebound, Nursing Care, Assisted Living

Judy Collins Charlie & Debbie Collum Jean Culbertson Nadeline Edenfield Judith Hirt May Hooks Melba McCoy Sondra Ownbey Donna Pittman Don & Dot Rabitsch Ruth Trapnell Evelyn Warren

Other Family and Friends

Kim Cagel Benilda Craft Dopson Deal Will Donaldson William Donaldson Angie Franklin Virginia Johnson Delores Kornn John & Angie Long Greg Luft Shawn Pittard Don Randall Rabitsch Bruce & Cheryl Rector Nannie Lou Sewell Gloria Sills Larry Williams Peggy Williams

Prayer requests may be submitted during Wednesday night prayer time, by contacting

the office, or by submitting a form via www.fbcmetter.org .

FBCM will review the prayer list periodically; after 60 days without updates, names are

subject to removal from the list. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CARD SENT OR OTHER CONTACT MADE, PLEASE SUBMIT CONTACT

INFORMATION TO THE OFFICE.

THIS

SECTION

REMOVED FOR

PRIVACY

First, let’s talk about our Worship Ministry. I would personally like to thank all of those who make up the gospel ensemble and the praise team that lead worship at 9:00 and 11:00 on Sundays, respectively. These are some of the most dedicated and committed people in our church. The gospel ensemble currently practices at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays, and the praise team practices just after, at 7:00 PM.

On the discipleship front, Sunday school is sort of a “mixed bag of nuts” at this time. We still have classes that are meeting with Zoom as well as at least two classes who are meeting face-to-face on Sunday mornings at 10 AM. Some folks have expressed interest in doing some Zoom classes on Christian Apologetics and revelation prophecy. Let me know if you would like to be a part of either one of those classes.

Celebrate Recovery/Broken Chains has been enjoying our summer Sunday Nights at the Movies. Our final movie night was August 2, with an airing of the hilarious Mom’s Night Out. We’ll be resuming regular meeting times in August. CR/BC meets on Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM at the Hamstra Worship Center at Guido Gardens. Anyone is welcome to join us there.

Celebrate Recovery / Broken Chains meets on Sundays at 6:00 PM at the Hamstra Worship Center

at Guido Gardens. This is a time of worship, support, and encouragement, and is open to anyone.

Come as you are; you are welcome here.

The Broken Chains are bikers

and bike enthusiasts with

a passion for Celebrate Recovery.

Celebrate Recovery is a

ministry of and for people

struggling with hurts, habits, and hang ups.

www.fbcmetter.org

A View from the Lighthouse

In Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Moses tells the reader to “Be strong and courageous.” In Joshua

1:9, the Lord told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous”. Solomon, in his wisdom, wrote in

Proverbs 28:1, “The righteous are bold as a Lion.” In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul tells the

reader to “stand firm in the faith, be strong and courageous.” I think you get the point.

Those who put their faith in the Lord God Almighty are called, not to cower in a corner, but

to be bold and courageous! In this season of turmoil in our country, Christians are called to

be a light in the darkness. That kind of faith, that is not a crutch but a sword, and it’s not

developed in a classroom, or exercises on paper. It is not developed through head-

knowledge alone. Our children can memorize the entire bible, but if they don’t live what

they’ve learned, then we have failed to develop a faith that is bold. That kind of faith is

cultivated through action, and through progressive and deliberate attempts to live out

what we say we believe.

We have just started a new school year. Pray with me, that our kids will boldly live out their faith, seeking ways to equip themselves for

works of service. Youth and children are not suddenly able to fulfill the “Great Commission” upon turning 18! That kind of faith must be

developed, stretched, and tested. Starting this Fall, our Sunday school program for 6th-12th graders will teach them the basics of our

faith. Our evening youth ministry time will cause them to think about how we live what we believe. They will have many opportunities

to exercise their faith this fall, from helping with Lighthouse Kids on Wednesday nights to our quarterly service projects. I encourage

you, as parents, to get them involved in all of it. Here’s to a great new school year, filled with possibilities and opportunities.

FOR YOUR YOUTH CALENDAR: YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES MEET ON

SUNDAYS AT 9:55 AM LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH MEETS SUNDAYS AT 6:00 PM THE YOUTH PRAISE BAND PRACTICES ON SUNDAYS

AT 5:00 PM

YOUTH BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 6:00 PM

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• Kids’ Church has resumed! Children up to 5th grade are welcome to join in at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings.

• Children’s Sunday School Classes will resume on August 9!

fbcmg@pineland.net

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JOURNAL READINGS CURRENT WEEKLY SCHEDULE DEACON OF THE WEEK

1 Isaiah 65, 66; Psalm 62; John 3 SUNDAYS 2 Dustin Vernon

2 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4 9:00 AM TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SERVICE 9 Jeff Deal

3 Nahum 1-3; John 5 9:55 AM YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL 16 Matt Rash

4 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6 10:00 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 23 Jordy Carter

5 2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7 11:00 AM BLENDED WORSHIP SERVICE 30 Rickey McDaniel

6 Habakkuk 1-3; John 8 SANCTUARY FLOWERS KID’S CHURCH

7 Zephaniah 1-3 John 9 5:00 PM YOUTH PRAISE BAND PRACTICE 2 Wayne & Gail Carter

8 Jeremiah 1, 2; John 10 6:00 PM LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH 9 Ben & Betty Bennett

9 Jeremiah 3, 4; John 11 CELEBRATE RECOVERY/BROKEN CHAINS 16 June Coursey

10 Jeremiah 5, 6; John 12 WEDNESDAYS 23 Juanita McDaniel

11 Jeremiah 7-9; John 13 6:00 PM BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER TIME 30 5th Sunday

12 Jeremiah 10-12; John 14 GOSPEL ENSEMBLE PRACTICE

13 Jeremiah 13-15; John 15 7:00 PM PRAISE TEAM PRACTICE

14 Jeremiah 16, 17; Psalm 96; John 16 1 Tom Osborne

15 Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17 8 Steven Vedder AUGUST

16 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18 2 NEW YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 Blake Lanier 17 Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19 3 David & Pat Rhoney FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

18 Jeremiah 26, 35, 36; John 20 5 CHILDREN’S MINISTRY PLANNING 10 Brent & Candace Carter

19 Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21 MEETING, 6 PM Louise Ryckewaert

20 Jeremiah 48, 49; Psalm 67; 1 John 1 9 KID’S SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES 11 Sarah Kelley

21 Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; 1 John 2 10 2ND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION 12 Faith Vedder

22 Jeremiah 28-30; 1 John 3 AT TREMOUNT MISSIONARY BAPTIST 14 Ralph Clifton

23 Jeremiah 31, 32; 1 John 4 16 YOUTH BACK 2 SCHOOL BASH, 6PM 15 Sandi Alderman

24 Jeremiah 33, 34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5 22 SOUP KITCHEN 17 Jason & Michelle Kelley 25 Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2 John 20 Mary Buijnarowski 26 Jeremiah 50-51; 3 John 22 Rhonda Rocker 27 Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143, 144 23 Junior McCoy 28 Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2 29 Traci Clifton

29 Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3 30 Wayne & Gail Carter 30 Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4 Ben & Kelley Franklin 31 Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5 31 Emily Franklin

Scan here to

give online. #FBCMMission1:8

PO Box 34 50 South Rountree St. Metter, GA 30439 912.685.2208

Pastor Tom Osborne

tominmetter@gmail.com

Mobile: 912.601.9694

Pastor Tom Alderman, Worship & Discipleship

talderman6854@gmail.com

Mobile: 912.536.5083

Pastor Jason Kelley, Youth & Children

pastorjk@vol.com

Mobile: 706.372.2066

Jeanna Simons, Ministry Assistant

fbcmg@pineland.net

Kelsea Batson , Music Assistant & Church Pianist

Robin Scott, Nursery Supervisor

Josh Kelley, Children’s Ministry Director

jlk744@hotmail.com

Mobile: (229) 232-9248

VISIT US ONLINE

SUNDAY WORSHIP 9:00 AM & 11:OO AM

www.fbcmetter.org

www.facebook.com/metterfirst/

YouTube: First Baptist Church Metter

CANDLER SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN SESSION

CANDLER SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN SESSION

We all know that in the “age of Covid-19” things could change quickly, but as of the time of this publication, students have returned to school.

There are many conflicting thoughts and concerns throughout our country about the reopening of schools, and we won’t be answering those questions here. What we are doing is calling on all of our church family and friends to be in prayer for our students, the school administrators, the faculty and staff of all of our schools, and anyone else who is connected with our education system here in Candler County. We trust in God’s faithfulness, and we know that He is always in control. Please take a moment each day to pray for our schools and for a safe and productive 2020-2021 academic year.