The Messenger First Baptist Church of Jamestown

One God, One Tribe, One World - One Step at a Time

Vol. 15 No. 5, May 2015

As the reports continue to come in and the death toll steadily rises, it can be hard to understand and comprehend the tragedy in Nepal. The earthquake struck on April 25th, but aftershocks and other emergencies have continued on for now several days. How do we wrap our minds around the devastation and loss of life?

In our country, we continue to see violence and unrest in our cities, a political scene becoming increasingly divided, and anger and fear prevalent in our conversations and actions. Where is God in the midst of this?

In our own neighborhood, we know of so many, including those within our own church community, who are struggling with terrible loss and difficult issues ranging from health to family to finances. All of these problems together can seem overwhelming.

In moments like these, I reflect on the nature and definition of faith. Scripture tells us that faith is belief in things unseen, a process of relying on the promises and nature of the God we worship and serve. This unseen faith points us to the reality that no matter what we face, God’s love and mercy fills our lives and our world. Our calling as Christians asks us to pay attention and walk with those who are suffering in our world. Our calling, however, also calls us to look beyond the immediate pain and struggle of our present to understand that God is at work and is making all things new.

We serve a God who takes death and destruction and makes them into something beautiful. We are a resurrection people, a people who die to ourselves and our own concerns and wishes so that God’s glory can shine in our lives, our church, and our world.

We face two temptations when we encounter difficult circumstances in our lives and in our world. One temptation calls us to ignore the suffering we see. We could choose to live in a bubble of shallow things and insignificant concerns. The other temptation invites us to drown in the real pain and woundedness we encounter. To lose ourselves in a pit of hopelessness.

The way of God rejects these two temptations by acknowledging and responding to the pain of our world with the hope of the resurrected Christ. When we allow Jesus to shape and frame our response to the hurt of the world, we offer real help with a real hope. May you always stay connected to the hurt in your neighborhood and the hurt in our world. Give of your time, your resources, and your prayers to the real needs we see, but may you always remember that God is the one who heals all wounds. For as the hymn writer penned so long ago, “our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” May you be a beacon for the hope of Jesus in a struggling and hurting world.

- Patrick

Student Ministries and friends go Ziplining!!

MAY 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Happy Birthday Terry McGinnis

2

Happy Birthday Susan Blair

3

10:00 am Blended Worship 11:10 am Sunday School 12:00 - Business Meeting

4

Happy Birthday Lawrence Straughn

Lee Morris

5

Happy Birthday Larry Phillips

Deacons Meeting 7:00 pm

6

6:15 pm - Children & Youth Activities

6:30 pm - Adult Bible Study

Choir Practice - 7:30 pm

7

Happy Birthday Reba Cox

8

9

Happy Birthday

Jewel Miller

10

10:00 am Blended Worship 11:10 am Sunday School

Happy Birthday Lea Chicosky

11

12

13

Happy Birthday Ande Joan West

6:15 pm - Children & Youth Activities

6:30 pm - Adult Bible Study

Choir Practice - 7:30 pm

14

XYZ Senior Adults - 12:00

Happy Birthday

Les Dolejs

15

16

Happy Anniversary Hal & Karen Browne

17

10:00 am Blended Worship 11:10 am Sunday School

18

19

Happy Birthday Dylan Cook

20

Happy Birthday Jake Jordan

WEE Graduation

6:15 pm - Children & Youth Activities

6:30 pm - Adult Bible Study Choir Practice - 7:30 pm

21

Last day of WEE School

22

23

Happy Birthday Betty Vuncannon

24/31 10:00 am Blended Worship 11:10 am Sunday School

Happy Birthday Carol King (24th) Joe Norman (31st)

25

Happy Anniversary Milton & Carol King

Church Office closed

26

27

6:15 pm - Children & Youth Activities

6:30 pm - Adult Bible Study

Choir Practice - 7:30 pm

28

Happy Anniversary Don & Janet Hritz

29

9:30 am - Mobile Meals

30

Sunday Schedule: 10:00 am Blended Worship 11:10 am Sunday School for all ages

Wednesday Schedule:

5:45 pm Fellowship Supper 6:15 pm Children/Youth Activities 6:30 pm Adult Bible Study

Church Office Hours: Monday -Friday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wee Office Hours: 8:30 am - 2:30 pm

Rhoda Aikens, Frank Angel, Joey Blackard, Jim Boyst, Mike Carter, Fiona Chicosky & Family, Jimmy Clifton, Joe Davis, Buddy Dillon, Stephen Durr, Betty Dye, Family of Jean Elliot, Dee Fink, Shelby Fink, Gabriella, Dr. Joe Geritelli, Ginny, Lorraine Greco, Cassie Griffin, Denise Griffin, Lorraine Hazelip, Kent Hoffman, Viola Holder, Richard Ingram, Marie Johnson, David Kim, Family of Agnes Kirk, Feldman Lane, Tim Linker, Julia Little, Cliff Lowe, Kelly Lowe, Robert MacDonald, Bill Marlowe, Doreen Marlowe, Judy Mathis, Mildred McBroom, Fred McPherson, Dee Meadows, Ed Michael, Jean Michael, Linda & Jeffrey Michael, Family of Janie Minish, Rebecca Mitchell, Marylou & Sonny Monroe, Sharon Muckenfuss, Zelma Myrick, Nominating Committee, Jeannette Oakley, Treava Palmer, Doris Parker, Sharon Parks, Bill Pearson, Ruth Pearson, Larry Phillips, Helen Plummer, Michael & Sarah Plummer, Jewel Pope, Teresa Pope-Vernon, Randi Ransom, Charlie Richard, Becky Rimmer, Sayid, Family of Elizabeth Sessions, Rhonda Sharp, Linda Sherron, Layne Sink & Family, Cleo Smith, Eric Smith, Dean Trickett, Mark Tromley, Herschel Turner, J.D. Turner, Ann Wentz, Esther Westerbrook, Dot Whitehead, Jennifer Willard, Family of Daisy Williams, Family of Helen Williams

Ministry Assistants May 3 Greeters: Tommy & Pat Venable Ushers: Milton King Audio/Visual: Jeff James

May 10 Greeters: Kevin & Kris Connolly Ushers: Kevin & Kris Connolly Audio/Visual: Milton King

May 17 Greeters: Malinda Dillon, Susan DePeri Ushers: Milton King Audio/Visual: Tim Linker

May 24 Greeters: Reba Cox, Pat Venable Ushers: Kevin & Kris Connolly Audio/Visual: Jeff James

Month YTD

General Budget Offerings $13,723.00 $50,642.20

Total Needed per Budget $11,584.00 $49,232.00

Over/(Under) Receipts Needed $ 2,139.00 $ 1,410.20

Stewardship Report - April 2015 - Received on: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26

XYZ Senior Adults

XYZ will meet at noon on Thursday, May 14. This will be our annual barbecue lunch. All food will be provided. Bring a good

appetite and enjoy the food and fellowship!

- Jane McGinnis

November 30 Greeters: Malinda Dillon, Phyllis Willard Ushers: Kevin & Kris Connolly Audio/Visual: Milton King

June Birthdays 8 - John Muckenfuss 9 - Tanner Butler 10 - Kelly Cook, Jim Willard 21 - Bryson Epting 23 - Freddie Tucker 27 - Bill Marlowe 28 - Drucilla West, Don Hritz 29 - Grace Vestal

June Anniversaries 3 - Norman & Judy Faircloth 4 - Ed & Jean Michael 20 - Donna & Herschel Turner 24 - Kevin & Kris Connolly 27 - Doug & Diane West 28 - Phillip & Rosita Wong 29 - Danny & Kelly Cook

May 31 Greeters: Nancy Hoffman, Phyllis Edwards Ushers: Milton King Audio/Visual: Milton King

WEE Bits & Pieces Tuesday, May 5 - 3s and 4s go to the Butterfly Farm

Tuesday, May 12 - WEE Field Day Friday, May 15 - 3s and 4s go to the Strawberry Farm

(rain date - Monday, May 18) Wednesday, May 20 - WEE Graduation Thursday, May 21 - Last day of school

Tuesday, June 2 - First day of summer school

The WEE School has a Wish List! There are always items that the WEE School needs. Some of the items needed are: AA and AAA batteries, paper towels, 5 oz. Dixie cups, colored construction paper,

colored printer paper, plastic forks and spoons. If you are interested in donating, a complete list of needed items will be posted on

the bulletin board near the vestibule along with a collection box.

The next WEE School Fundraiser will be Auto Bell Coupons. Watch for details in upcoming newsletter and emails!

There are still spaces available for WEE Summer School and the 2015/16 school year!

Please contact Lillian Dawson for registration information, 336-454-4013 or Lillian@fbcjamestown.net.

Please don't forget to link you Vic Card! You can now link your Harris Teeter

Vic card to WEE School! Please go online or, while you are at the register, link your Vic card to Weekday Early Education at First Baptist Church of Jamestown.

Our code number is 2484. This is an easy fundraiser for WEE and all you have to do is shop for groceries!

Committee Reports

Deacons The next Deacons Meeting will be Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room. XYZ Senior Adults XYZ Senior Adults meet on Thursday, May 14, at noon. This will be our annual barbecue lunch. All food will be provided. Bring a good appetite and enjoy the food and fellowship! Nominating Committee The revised Committee Handbook is now ready and the Nominating Committee has begun its work! Please be in prayer about how you might be willing to minister and serve at First Baptist. Feel free to contact Kay Williams, John Muckenfuss or Susan DePeri with questions.

WEE Committee The WEE School is accepting applications for the 2015 Summer Session which

will begin on Tuesday, June 2 and run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through

July. The program will be closed for August.

We have applications from two possible new teachers for next year and will be

considering them at the next WEE Committee meeting.