The Banner The Lord is My Banner. Exodus 17:15 July 8, 2020

First Baptist Church, Cuero P.O. Box 803 408 N. Gonzales Cuero, TX 77954 361-275-3401 (office)

www.fbccuero.org

Note From The Pastor Dr. Glenn E. Robertson, Sr. Pastor

We now reopened after being closed for a week due to one of our staff coming down with COVID. Our intern is still sick with COVID. It appears to take three weeks to clear it out of your system. She is doing better, but we and the Health Department are still monitoring her health. I ask you to continue to pray for her healing. Also, continue to pray for Lori and I. Our intern is staying at our house during this. I praise God that thus far the Lord has helped us (1 Samuel 7:12) stay free from this pestilence.

I will be wearing a mask when in public or talking with other people. I am doing this because I have been in close contact with someone who has COVID. We do not know where she got infected. I do not know if I may carry the germs with me. So, wearing a mask is a way of trying to protect others. I am aware of all of the arguments against wearing masks. I am also aware of research that suggest masks might be able to help slow the spread of the disease by limiting the particles that come out of our mouths. Masks will not keep you from inhaling a virus. However, it might help prevent your breath particles from reaching others should you have the virus and not know it.

The Governor has made mask wearing mandatory for commercial and public places. Although churches are exempt because of separation of church and state, we would do well to reconsider our attitude on wearing masks at church. We may also want to revisit the idea of having Sunday School for all ages. If the infection rate and hospitalization and death rates were declining significantly, it might not be necessary to do this. However, since our state opened up, the trend is the wrong direction. Having had COVID in my house, in the room next to where I sleep, I am inclined to think more seriously about this. I personally feel we should re-examine whether we should be open for full services at this time. We need to think not just about ourselves, but about the well being of our members. This disease is particularly dangerous to those who are in their 80’s and above. The sur-vival rate for those in that age category is not good. Yet, many of them are our teachers. Until we get a reliable vaccine, we should not put our elderly in a dangerous position by exposing them to potential COVID germs. We will have a deacons meeting this Sunday. I believe we should re-assess our activities in light of current hospitalization trends.

Beginning this Sunday, we will make half of our sanctuary available for masks only. Please show courtesy to those who want the protection of masks by allowing them this provision. We have masks available for those who need a mask.

In our office, we are going to follow the same rules the State has set for businesses. Everyone entering the office must wear a mask and disinfect their hands upon entering. Our staff may be mask-free when alone in their offices. However, when we engage with others we will wear masks. Hopefully in time this virus will mutate to a less lethal form. Until then, we must realize that “normal” is not going to be what we are used to for a while. 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:2-4 NIVO)

Pastor Glenn

Note from Steven:

Pastor of Youth & Family

Summer Camp: WOW!!! What an awesome week we had at Summer Camp this year. Life changing decisions were made, lasting relationships were formed, and the Holy Spirit invaded our students( and adults) in a mighty way! Join us Sunday July 12 during the 11 AM service to hear more from our students about the time we had at camp with a slideshow, student testimonials, and more! I will be bringing the message during the 8:30 AM service to tell you more about my camp experience and to share what I saw the Spirit working on with our students. You do not want to miss hearing what these students have to say, so please be at church to support our young people. Thank you for all of your prayers during our time at camp. We were certainly lifted up from our church family and your support was definitely felt! Events: Incoming 7th grade orientation and family game night- July 10 from 6-9 PM Fireside Worship- July 15 7 to 9 PM San Antonio Zoo Trip- July 17 9 AM to 5 PM Splashway Field Trip- July 22 10 AM- 7 PM Preteen Camp- July 29- August 1 Our 2021 DNOW date has been set, so please mark your calendars with a date of January 8-10, 2021 for DNOW. In Christ, Steven Reece

Larry’s Notes

Pastor of Music & Worship

HOPE

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his

compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my

portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it

is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:21-26 (NIV)

The coronavirus keeps rearing its ugly head. So much confusion and angst. So many things that have been taken away from us. So much uncertainty and misinformation. In one way or another, all of us have been struggling through these difficult times.

I thank the Lord that He is not upset or discouraged. It is comforting to know that we can go to our heavenly Father and find hope and peace. I recently looked through Scriptures on hope, and was reminded of the above passage from Lamentations. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah was coping with something far more devastating than the coronavirus. He is trying to come to grips with the destruction of his nation, religion, and culture. As he watched his world being torn apart, he remembered God’s faithfulness.

The Lord gives us a fresh dose of faithfulness every day. God is at work today, not just yesterday or last week or centuries ago. He is a living God and is completely up to date with what is going on in our lives. The things He has for us are fresh and new.

I am writing all of this not only to encourage you, but to also encourage myself. Waiting is something that frequently challenges me, especially waiting for something when I don’t know how or when it will conclude. I need to remember that the Lord has always been with me through all the tough times before. Since I can’t see the ending, I have to trust Him and live by faith. Because of His character and promises, I am certain that He will be with me through this crisis and through whatever difficulties may lie ahead.

Thank you, Lord, that we can trust Your faithfulness.

PRAYER REQUEST

Charles Benton Bertha Buch

Rory Henry Bernice Hargrove

Lee Tillman Betty Whitten

Glenn Portis Pearl Kornfurehrer

Barbara Bowman Lori Robertson

Mary Wood Mary Bird

Chester Wallace Colby Spencer

Vic Hoffman

Stewardship

June 28 & July 5, 2020

21,353.08

12,322.00

1,485.00

288,266.58

303,465.65

10,305.66

265,903.35

Renovation

Week To Date Giving

Month To Date Giving

Year To Date Giving

Monthly Note Payment

Loan Balance

Budget Requirements

Budget Receipts

Designated Receipts

Requirements Year To Date

Received Year To Date

Month To Date Expenses

Year To Date Expenses

1,825.00

1,825.00

72,306.76

11,583.95

1,947.098.45

July 5 - 18

Curtis Cates - 5 Tyler Parma - 6 Jo Ann Young - 6

Sean Courreges - 6 Jimmy Bennett - 7 Robert Knox - 7 Travis Reeve - 7 Laura Tiffin - 9 Karen Bade - 10

Mary Jane DeBee - 13 Neal Sanfill - 13

Lori Robertson - 13 Faith Chavez - 13 Lee Tillman - 14 Gary Morgan - 14 Skip Potts - 15

Claudia Morris - 16 Verland Granberry - 17

Sarah Nichols - 17

‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘’‘

Deacon of the Week

July 12, 2020

Gary Morgan

BE SURE TO READ PASTORS ARTICLE

FOR IMPORTANT INFO

We will practice Social distancing and safe hygiene.

Church Services 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m.

Items needed: #2 Pencils Crayons

Baseballs

OPERATION CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX 300 boxes have been packed to date

30 were packed by VBS Missions

The True Cost of Persecution

July 23rd at 7 pm

Come participate in person or watch Live Stream

@ FBCCuero.org on the Media tab

*A night to honor one modern day martyr

*A night to remember the cost of being called “Christian”

*A night to pray for brothers and sisters around the globe who are

persecuted and to pray for OUR part in this Kingdom call.

Sponsored by a group of prayer partners @FBCCuero