SANDSTON BAPTIST CHURCH APRIL 2018

This month

Easter has often become clouded with other events ranging from Easter egg hunts to Spring Break trips and more. Even those who have served the Lord for many years still need reminding of the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. So, here are some tidbits for our instruction, information and inspiration:

♦ NO ONE EXPECTED JESUS TO RISE FROM THE DEAD. The disciples were as shocked over the resurrection as they were over His death. ♦ THEY ALL DOUBTED IT AT FIRST! “And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some were doubtful.” ♦ AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND TALK DID THEY RECALL THAT HE HAD PREDICTED HIS DEATH AND

RESURRECTION. Jesus tried several times to prepare them for the world-changing event that was just

ahead. But, they were convinced He was following an entirely different agenda so none of His talk made sense; only later did it fit.

♦ THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY NOT TO LET JESUS OUT! BUT TO LET THE DISCIPLES IN! “Come see the place where He lay”, said the Angel. ♦ HE APPEARED ONLY TO BELIEVERS. Paul offers the most complete list in I Corinthians 15. ♦ JESUS MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT BY NOT MAKING SOME “SURPRISE APPEAR-

ANCES”! But, Jesus wasn’t here for dramatic effect. Just looked at how He healed people, at the way He fed the multitude.

He just did it! ♦ JESUS’OPPONENTS DID NOT STEAL HIS BODY. The easiest way to put a stop to the rapid spread of the Gospel would’ve been for them to produce a dead body! They didn’t

and couldn’t because they did not have His body!! ♦ SOME OF THE JEWS REMEMBERED HIS PREDICTIONS TO RISE FROM THE DEAD. It’s kind of funny that they did but the disciples did not. In Matthew 27:62f, “Remember when the deceiver was still alive said,

after 3 days I am going to rise again.” So, they requested and got a Roman guard to make the tomb secure.” ♦ JESUS’ FRIENDS DID NOT STEAL HIS BODY. They didn’t even remember and were leaving town (Road to Emmaus!) But once they knew they exploded across the Roman

Empire with the message of Jesus. Many of them dying for the Gospel and no one dies for a hoax! ♦ THE GOSPEL STANDS OR FALLS ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. Paul writes, If Christ be not raised, your faith is worthless and you are still in your sins” and “if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (I Corinthians 15:17, 19) ♦ THE SAME RESURRECTION POWER IS AVAILABLE FOR US. The force that raised Jesus is the same Holy Spirit power that guides us today! ♦ THERE ARE MANY POINTS TO THE RESURRECTION BUT HERE ARE A COUPLE:

1)It confirmed His identity, every claim, every promise he made. 2)He’s still alive today! We bow at His feet with Thomas and cry out, “My Lord and My God!”

He is risen and nothing will be the same! See you on Sunday, Karl

Volume 43, Issue 4

This month, we will

collect canned meat

(any variety) for East-

ern Henrico County

FISH.

2

Notes From MarkNotes From MarkNotes From MarkNotes From Mark

It’s back!!!! “Inasmuch as you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to

Me.” (Matthew 25:40, NKJV) April 14 is the date our church as a family will be serving Jesus –

and serving our community. We will be reaching out to Sandston through ministering, helping,

telling, doing, encouraging, strengthening and loving. We will be Jesus’ hands and feet, demon-

strating His love for people, showing Him to men and women and boys and girls who may not have

ever seen Him.

That’s right, Operation Inasmuch (OIAM) is coming back. Lots of OIAM projects will take

place so we can serve our community in a big way. We’ll have indoor projects, outdoor projects,

standing projects and sitting projects; projects for the physically fit and for the, well, not-so-fit; pro-

jects that will appeal to older members and projects that will appeal to younger ones. We’ll defi-

nitely have something that you can be a part of.

Our first OIAM took place in 2007. Prior to that we had a spring Yard Give. Since that time,

OIAM has become an event our community looks forward to. We receive calls in the office each

year from people asking when OIAM will be. The first call this year came in February!!

OIAM is also an event many of us look forward to. I know this is true because: (1) we receive lots

and lots of donations for the Yard Give; (2) many, many people volunteer for the projects that take

place that day; (3) lots of us are busy on that day, hard at work serving people who come to our

facility; and (4) we have teams out in the community serving folks at the laundromat or homes or

other locations. Several hundred of us make OIAM a priority, and that is great.

So, reserve April 14 on your calendar and join the community outreach as part of our 2018 edition

of OIAM. Sign up for a project (maybe even volunteer to be a team leader!!), and on April 14 be

the hands and feet of Jesus to our community – a community that needs to see Him through you.

Jesus admonishes us to love and serve our community as He loved and served His. In the midst of

our busy lives, we have a chance to do just that – serve as He served and love our neighbor as He

loved. Jesus said that, “Inasmuch as you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to

Me.” On April 14 we can do that in a big way.

Under His Direction, Mark

BLESSING

WARRIORS

This month the Wednesday night dinners will come to an end and resume again in September. Therefore, April will be the last month

we sign up to feed the homeless until the fall.

We would like to thank all of you who have helped

with Blessing Warriors. We feel very blessed to have

received so many donations from so many

people. One hundred people were feed by you, in January and February and

they were very appreciative.

Due to donations we have received, we anticipate this

ministry to continue throughout the summer.

We hope that you will

continue to support this ministry and again thank you for caring, giving and

showing the love of God in this ministry.

Benda Crain

2018

January, February, March

Jim and Joyce EberlyJim and Joyce EberlyJim and Joyce EberlyJim and Joyce Eberly Jonathan NolteJonathan NolteJonathan NolteJonathan Nolte Vickie WillisVickie WillisVickie WillisVickie Willis

William and Jodi KulpWilliam and Jodi KulpWilliam and Jodi KulpWilliam and Jodi Kulp Calyn StanleyCalyn StanleyCalyn StanleyCalyn Stanley

Susan and Mark GoodinSusan and Mark GoodinSusan and Mark GoodinSusan and Mark Goodin

3

Volume 20 • Number 30 MONTH 2014

Make plans to join us for Operation Inasmuch Day on April 14 from

8 am to 2 pm.

Opportunities for you to participate in include:

Yard Give Car Wash

Laundromat Ministry Neighborhood Prayer

Walk VA Blood Service Quilters’ Group

Lunch Prep Community Repair

Project Kid’s Activity Table

Look for the sign-up sheets in the hallway behind the sanctuary. There’s a project for everyone, so sign up

soon!

I have a few important questions for you…

• Do fish get cramps after eating?

• What do little birds see when they fly into a glass window?

• Why is spring resisting this year?

Those are tough question and perhaps we will never know the answers; however, I do

have a two real questions for you…

• Will you have an attitude of service today or will this be an all about me day?

• Will you respond to God’s calling as “Happy to do it” or “Hacked to do it”?

Tough questions, I know, but think of every opportunity to serve others as a chance to

share God’s love with others and use your gifts in unique ways. When we look at every

action and decision we have made, embrace the Happy To Do It train of thought and

you will most certainly discover more joy, happiness, and gratitude towards others.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spring Retreat - Children in grades 3-6 have the exciting opportunity to be able to

attend a spring retreat at Camp Willow Springs on April 20-22. Please pray for safe

travels and deepening of faith for all of the children that are attending.

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day - All Moms are invited to grab a muffin and juice on

Sunday, May 13th and Dad’s are invited to grab a donut and juice on Sunday, June 17th.

The goodies will be available during the Sunday School Hour.

Wednesday Night Activities will take a short break during the month of May and part

of June. The last night for normal activities for children and preschool is April 25th.

Happy Campers Summer Camp - Mark your calendars: July 22 - July 25 at Bear Creek

State Park. More information to come in early May. The monthly Friendly Club

meeting will take place on

Thursday, April 19 at 10:30

a.m. in the Bosher-Gray

building. There’s a great

program scheduled that day

that you won’t want to miss.

The Cowgirls Next Door will

be returning! Following the

program will be a covered

dish luncheon.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support for Disciple Now 2018: Echoes! Thank

you to everyone who helped in putting it together, from our host homes, to helping

with food, to helping decorate or stepping in wherever needed! The youth enjoyed the

music of Val’s Pals (Valerie and Taylor Bess, and Brandon O'Neil) and our messag-

es by Katie Nielsen. I hope you did as well during our Sunday morning worship time

of DNow weekend. What a great message for our youth to hear and our congregation

about being sure to listen to and for God, He is all around us!

Events coming up: On April 14 we will have Operation Inasmuch. Please let me know if you and/or

your youth are able to help out with a project that day! On June 3, our youth will lead our worship

services for Youth Sunday! And remember, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Birthday CalendarBirthday CalendarBirthday CalendarBirthday Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Mary Burrows

Michele Burton

Dennis Hawes

Patti Martin

Keith Morgan

2

Kristen Andrews

William McKinney

3

Buddy Cavedo

Stephanie Wright

4

John Carpenter

John Eubank

Brandon

Hazelgrove

Wayne Page

5

Edward Barden

Scott Crowther

Michael Milby

Jake Renick

Julie Staub

6

Will Cavedo

7

Brian Abernathy

Betty Davis

8

Payton Bailey

Harold Carter

Melissa

Hazelgrove

Calvin Jackson

Aris Kirby

9

Jason Hawes

Debbie Loving

Bonnie Sohn

Davis Wilcox

10

Chris Applewhite

Jennifer Haden

11

Carolyn Borash

Wanda Johnson

Susan Rackley

12

Bruce Alvis

Jules Banka

Hugh Hughes

Thomas Hunkele

Morgan Mitchell

Katie Norman

Bill Woodward

13

Ben Bryant

Dan Girouard

Carolyn Hankins

Ron Harper

14

Madelyn Burnett

Ethan Groome

Rylan Horne

Ricky Johnson

Joanne Woolard

15

Sara Dawes

16

Lindsey Haller

Justin McClure

17

Kevin Byrd

Shannon Chinault

Sho Nakagawa

Jake Poarch

18

Chris Arauza

Joann Davis

Sara Gurney

Paul Jones

Jonathan Jones

Terri

Mothershead

Ty Staub

19

Mary Arrowood

Craig Crider

20

Marvin Hardisty

21

Agnes Hoyt

22

Crystal

Hazelwood

Brenda

Wheelhouse

23

Bethann Canada

Cece Eubank

Emily Gurney

Susan Hickey

Levi Marshall

Mark Poland

Judy Ruby

Betty Terrell

24

Taylor Ann

Applewhite

John Baggett

David Dixon

25

Donna Johnson

Murolyn Schmidt

26

Jason Askew

Chris Ball

Benjimen King

Chris McLaughlin

27

Aubriella

Columbo

Samantha

Gurney

Madeline Page

Nancy Sheleheda

28

Dana Calvin

Jane Carter

Carolyn Milby

Wendy Vendegrift

29

Savannah Donkle

Makenzie

Donkle

Ann Evelyn

30

Shannon Blunt

Kelly Hare

Ai Nakagawa

Melissa Oliver

Church Parsons

5

Activities Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 6:30 Sunrise Service 8:30 Worship 9:30 Bible Study 10:30 Worship

2 2:00 Lowder Group 6:30 Men’s Basketball 6:30 Women’s Bible Study

3 10:00 Lutie Suddith Group 2:00 VanLear Group

4 No Dinner or Activities

5 6:30 Singles Group meeting At Red Lobster (White Oak)

6 7 10:00 Williamson Group

8 8:30 Worship 9:30 Bible Study 10:15 RA and GA Meetings 10:30 Worship

9 6:30 Women’s Bible Study Bosher-Gray open (Yard Give Donations)

10 Bosher-Gray open (Yard Give Donations)

11 6:30 Activities for Preschool, Chil-dren, Youth and Adults 7:30 Adult Choir Bosher-Gray open (Yard Give Donations)

12 6:00 Brotherhood Meeting Bosher-Gray open (Yard Give Donations)

13 Bosher-Gray open (Yard Give Donations)

14 Operation Inasmuch

15 8:30 Worship 9:30 Bible Study 10:30 Worship

16 6:30 Men’s Basketball 6:30 Women’s Bible Study

17 18 5:30 Dinner 6:30 Activities for Preschool, Chil-dren, Youth and Adults 7:30 Adult Choir

19 10:30 Friendly Club Meeting

20 21

22 8:30 Worship 9:30 Bible Study 10:30 Worship

23 6:30 Men’s Basketball 6:30 Women’s Bible Study

24 7:00 Quilters

25 5:30 Dinner 6:30 Quarterly Business Meeting 7:30 Adult Choir

26 10:00 CCW

27 28

29 8:30 Worship 9:30 Bible Study 10:30 Worship

30 6:30 Men’s Basketball 6:30 Women’s Bible Study

No Dinners - April 4 and 11. April 18 - pork loin, roasted potatoes, vegetable, bread, dessert. April 25 - Covered Dish (church provides beverage and fried chicken).

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Game On! - Vacation Bible School

Place: Sandston Baptist Church

When: Sun, July 29 - Thu, August 2

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

For: Children age 4 – Rising 6th graders

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Be a part of Vacation Bible School this summer! Volunteers are vital to the success of the program. This is a great week where you can share Christ’s love with children both in the church as well as from the community. Due to the size of this event, there

are many opportunities where help is needed.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO VOLUNTEER IN MANY AREAS:

Teachers & Co-Teachers ..................... Crafts Leaders

Food Prep Team ............................... Missions Leaders

Games Leaders ................................ Decorating Team

Music Leaders ................................. Worship Rally Team

Registration Team

Contact Jennifer Schmid if you can help in any of these areas!

The Buzz… Busy Bees Learning Center

Busy Bees open registration for the summer and fall is here. We are excited about the growth of this ministry and the impact on the Sandston Community. This summer we are offering a M-F summer program for ages 6-12. We will have plenty of opportunities for community field trips and community service. See or email Margaret Bryant for more details bblcsbc@gmail.com or call 737-2171. This summer we will have a limited number of openings for full-time students. If you have any questions, please see Margaret. The summer program will consist of thematic weeks, field trips, water play and worship. Pick-up a BBLC enrollment packet and turn it in to Mary Vayo. Summer Camps: We will offer two Summer Camps for all ages 2-12 this summer. Camps concentrate on a specific theme and allow for children to come be a part of this ministry without committing to the entire summer. Camp dates are July 9-13 and August 6-10. Camp themes will be posted soon! Looking ahead! Busy Bees Learning Center is planning for the fall. Call 737-2171 or visit our website: http://www.busybeeslearn@weebly.com for more information. We offer preschool classes for ages 2-5 and Afterschool Care for K-5th grade. We have been told that our students are more prepared for Kindergarten than others entering school. This makes us feel good about the quality education that we offer here at Sandston Baptist Church. Students are also receiving a foundation for the love of God and His word through our daily Bible study and ministry. This foundation sets the course for their eternal life and we are thrilled about the impact that we are making on these little lives and their fami-lies. Prayerfully consider BBLC as your child’s introduction to education and learning. Thank you for allowing us to continue this ministry. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

In His service, Margaret

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FINANCIAL REPORT Offerings 03/04/18 ................ $ 16,578.92 03/11/18 ................ $ 10,215.70 03/18/18 ................ $ 10,752.01 03/25/18 ................ $ 10,242.24 Offerings (March) ..................... $ 47,788.87 Offerings to Date ...................... $141,642.99 Weekly Needs .......................... $ 13,212.02 Needs To Date ......................... $158,544.23 UNIFIED MISSION UPDATE Unified Missions (to date) ......... $ 6,637.00 Unified Missions Goal ............... $ 35,000.00 UM Weekly Needs .................... $ 673.08 Needs To Date .......................... $ 8,076.92

Operation Christmas Child….For our year round shoppers (and we hope everyone is getting on board with this idea), April’s Item of the Month is Stuffed Animals!! Stuffed animals are considered a “WOW” item to include in shoeboxes. With Easter merchandise going on sale, this is a really great time to purchase some really cute bunnies and lambs and other sweet, “huggable” animals to add to our shoeboxes. Don’t be limited to these items…other Easter basket stuffer items will also be reduced in price and make great additions to any shoebox. As we are making our purchases and planning out our shoeboxes, let us also remember to pray for “the one” who will receive our gift. The following scripture might be something for us to consider as we think about the eternal impact our gift might have on a child’s life. Matthew 18:12-14 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. If you would like a free starter item for your shoebox, be the first one to send an email to jonezee51@gmail.com , naming an Item of the Month for March. We thank you for having a heart for changing lives, one shoebox at a time. We pray that all will embrace the eternal impact of O.C.C. and join us as we go forward, “not willing that any of these little ones should per-ish.”

Good News, Great Joy!!! Brenda Crain and Jean Jones

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Saturday, May 19th at 12:00!

ALL women of SBC are

invited to hear Rev.

Lynn Litchfield who

serves with the

GraceInside: Virginia’s

Prison Chaplain

Service. Several of us had the privilege to hear

Rev. Litchfield speak recently at Antioch Baptist,

along with 80 other women. Her presentation

was moving, compelling, challenging, informa-

tive, and riveting. We were so moved that we

wanted all of our ladies to have the opportunity to

hear her story. Following her presentation, we

will “break bread together” and enjoy a delicious

covered dish luncheon provided by the ladies of

our WMU groups. Please invite your friends to

come with you. A sign up sheet will be available

beginning Sunday, April 29th. If you are bring-

ing a guest(s), please include that information on

the sign up sheet beside your name. If it is not

convenient for you to get to the sign up sheet, you

may call Mary in the church office at 737-2171 or

Jean Jones 737-2233. Deadline to sign up will be

Sunday, May 12th. Please join us in the

Bosher-Gray Building for this inspiring time

with Lynn and sweet fellowship with your

sisters in Christ.

It’s Spring time, at least according to the calen-dar. The time has come to begin mowing the lawn, planting the garden, tending the flowers, pruning the fruit trees. We work hard, and in a short while we will enjoy the fruits of our labor.

The Bible has a lot to say about seeds, and planting, and harvesting and pruning. It talks about producing fruit, being fruitful in good works, the fruit of the Spirit. These things illustrate our spiritual growth as Christians and point us to a closer relationship with God. I wonder, do we work as hard at tending these things as we do caring for the lawns and gardens in our lives? Are we enjoying the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of good works as much as we are the fresh vegetables and flowers we will grow? The Bible is a great “gardening book”. It talks about planting and pruning and even weeding. Join us for Bible study on Sunday morn-ings and learn more. We’ll even provide the “gardening tools”. Oh, if gardening is not your thing and you would rather go fishing (for men) or build a house (on solid rock), we can help you with that too. Happy Spring!

See you in Bible study. Bonnie Abernathy, Sunday School Director

8

As of this year, our church is supporting Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) through our Unified Missions Giving program. Many of you may be unfamiliar with this organization. CEF is an international, non-denominational evangelical organization which strives to reach all children with the good news of Jesus Christ. It has a presence in all but a handful of countries around the world. It promotes the formation of Good News Clubs (GNCs) in elementary schools as an after-school activity led by vol-unteers typically sponsored by a local church to teach Bible truths from CEF's own curriculum. It also promotes summer five-day clubs in communities much like our VBS, as well as one-day Christmas Across America clubs. Locally, over 2700 children

have been reached through GNCs with over 200 professions of faith. Children from our own church family have benefited from existing Good News Clubs in New Kent elementary schools with at least two of them making professions of faith at these clubs and, in turn, at our church for baptism. If you are interested in learning more of the work of CEF, visit www.cefrichmond.org for local work and cef online for national/international work or feel free to contact me.

"Let the children come unto me" Mark 10:14

Charles Hankins, member of CEF of Greater Richmond local steering committee

April seems like a “quiet” month for the Brotherhood… but it is not. By Biblical definition every man in Sandston Baptist Church, from age 18 and older, is the Brotherhood. And Biblically as well Christian men are to be serving God through the example of the love of Jesus Christ. Brotherhood offers another way to be actively involved in witnessing to others in our community the sincere love of Jesus for all persons. Here are some ways men can consider in serving we are Biblically challenged to do: The Brotherhood Meeting will be on Thursday, April 12th even though the Bosher-Gray fellow-

ship hall will be full use for Operation Inasmuch. Look for announcements as to where within the church the dinner-business meeting will be held. Some Brother(s) will be on the lookout for you that night for the meeting that starts at 6:00 p.m. Signing up in the hall behind the sanctuary to attend will help anticipate the numbers. As this meal will not be prepared in the Bosher-Gray kitchen, the meal will be a variety of 6” sub sandwiches… options could include bring your own favorite fast food. The second annual Cruise-in custom car show is scheduled for June 9th. The 2017 Cruise-in attracted over 220 cars and hundreds of car enthusiasts to Sandston Baptist property, perhaps the largest community attraction/opportunity for wit-nessing at SBC (not to exclude Operation Inasmuch). Ways in which you could serve in this outreach ministry will be dis-cussed at the April Brotherhood meeting! Please consider how you can participate in assisting to park show cars, direct-ing those attending to car parking, preparing or serving food, and seizing the opportunity to be friendly ambassadors and witnesses! Look for notification of the Doughnuts and coffee visitation at Veterans Administration (VA) Barfoot & Sitter nursing home (a quarterly ministry), The March 21st visitation was cancelled by bad weather. Feel free to ask questions about this ministry with Mike Edwards. Bob Rainey and Billy Fisher. The March Brotherhood Meeting included guest speakers about a Christian-based organized effort to minister to homeless veterans around the Sandston area. This local ministry began by the tireless committed effort of one woman, continuing to involve additional volunteers. This ministry, that could involve SBC members, focuses on getting to know a larger-than-you-would-think number of men and women, recognizing their need for hugs and individual recognition. Oregon Hill Baptist Center breakfast for homeless men & women is a quarterly ministry typically enjoyed by 8-12 men who prepare and serve a hot breakfast. The next breakfast will be Thursday, May 10th. Look for sign-up sheets in hallway be-hind sanctuary. Meantime, feel free to ask questions about this ministry with Ron Ruby, Billy Fisher, Bob Rainey, Don Clark, Greg Martin, Dennis Hawes, Jay Royal, Sandy Lambert, or Wayne Smith. Stop Hunger on the Weekends (S.H.O.W.) deliveries; deliveries of SBC donations to Eastern Henrico FISH ministries; Tool Box ministries, and transporting persons as needed for medical appointments are continuing Brotherhood ministries.