“Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love...”

hope you have had an opportunity to see the pictures of the notes that Tim posted toour church Facebook page. These notes from October 1918 detail that EBC did not

meet during the days of the Spanish Flu. These are treasures! If you have not seen them(see page 3) they are simply notes that say “No service due to flu epidemic.” This part ofour church history speaks to us today. We have had to change our meeting schedule beforefor a similar reason. It did not crush us as a church. Here it is 2020 and we are still going.

We are not meeting in person these days because of love for our neighbors. Yes we areabiding by an order of Metro Government but our opportunity is to “Love our neighbor aswe love ourselves.” We often talk about how we can reach our community and this is aunique way that we can do just that. Hang in there, better days are coming! We will meet

in our church building again one day soon!

Some people have asked me if this is the end of the world and if Jesus’ return is upon us. Whenever I am askedthat question, which is about once a year based on world events, I always quote Matthew 24:36, “Now concerningthat day and hour no one knows--neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son--except the Father only.” That is, if Jesus does-n’t know then I sure don’t know.

Here is what I do know, he promised He is coming back and all of His promises are true. That is all I need toknow.

This month we celebrate Resurrection Day, Easter, on the 12th. Jesus died on the cross but God raised Him fromthe dead. Hallelujah! No matter how we gather on that day this truth remains. Let’s commit to sharing our truthin the days to come.

Hang in there church, this too shall pass!

Pastor Steve

This Month’s ThoughtPastor Steve

The BinderThe Monthly Newsletter ofEdgefield Baptist ChurchApril 2020

I‘I am the resurrection and the life...’

- John 11:25

2 April 2020 THE BINDER

Edgefieldbaptist churchfamily...friends...community

700 Russell StreetNashville, TN 37206615.255.0468ebcsbc@bellsouth.netebceastnashville.org

Weekly ScheduleSunday10:00 am Worship11:15 am Bible StudyWednesday5:15 pm Fellowship Supper5:50 pm AWANA6:00 pm Student Ministry6:00 pm Prayer Meeting/Bible Study

Steve Saunders, Senior PastorJohnathan Woodside, Worship Pastor Daniel Davis, Student Pastor

Michael Brake, Church Cook Destiny Prezzato, Nursery Rodney Jenkins, Church Custodian

Sympathy......is extended to Chelsey Autry, and family, in the recent passing of her grandfather....to the family, and friends, of Tiffany McClain on her recent passing....to the family, and friends, of former member, Bobby Norris on his recent passing....and to the family, and friends, of former members, James & Donna Eatonwho passed away, as a result of the tor-nado that struck Mt. Juliet, on March 3.Please continue to keep all of these families in your thoughts and your prayers.News & Notes...All Church Activities Suspended...as we continue to move thru this season, we remind you that all regular church ac-tivities have been suspended, that includes other ministries that utilize our church facilities and campus. No activitiesshould be scheduled, at the church, until cleared to do so by our government and healthcare leadership.Worship via Facebook Live...while we aren’t able to gather together to worship, eachSunday, we are still gathering via Facebook Live each Sunday morning. Pastor Steveand Pastor Johnathan are leading us, at 10 am, each Sunday morning. Just jump on-line, come to the church Facebook page, and worship along with us...make sure tocomment and let us know where you’re watching from!Kids Ministry via Zoom...Each Monday morning, at 10:30 am, during this season, the kids ministry will be meetingonline, via Zoom, for a 30-minute time of fellowship and devotion. If your kids would like to join in, please e-mailChristy Davis, for a meeting link, at dcsbts307@gmail.com.Giving...since we aren’t meeting together, we remind you that the church is still in-curring regular financial obligations that must be met. We thank all of you whohave been faithful to mail in, or give online, your tithes and offerings and we hopeand pray that you will continue to do so throughout this season. We know, for someof you, that these may be challenging times financially, but we encourage all of you,who are able, to please continue to support the work, and ministry, of the churchduring this season. You can mail in your tithes and offerings, to the church, at 700Russell Street, Nashville, TN 37206. You can also contribute online, via Venmo@Edgefield-BaptistChurch, or via PayPal at ebcsbc@bellsouth.net.Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions season of giving is underway, and we will keep itopen for an extended period so that you will have an opportunity to give. Please join us in supporting the work of ourSouthern Baptist missionaries, as they serve, all throughout North America. Our church offering goal is $1,000. Youcan mail in your offering, or you can also give online, via our Venmo or PayPal giving options. Make sure to designatethat your gift is for Annie Armstrong.Do We Have Your E-mail? We are regularly sending out e-mails from the church, keeping you up-to-date on impor-tant news and notes, as well as words of encouragement from our ministry team, as we go thru this season. If youaren’t receiving regular e-mails from us, and you would like to be added our e-mail list, please e-mail the church officeat ebcsbc@bellsouth.net and we will make sure you get added.

“I’ve read the last page of the Bible,it’s all going to turn out all right.”

- Billy Graham

EBC Cares for Cayce...Unfortunately due to Covid-19 quarantines,Cayce Community Easter Egg hunt has been canceled. MarilynGreer wants to thank EBC for the generous donation of plasticeggs and Easter grass donated for the event. Those items will be

held until the hunt can be rescheduled.

Thank You to the awesome crew that helped out with Tornado Relief efforts on Saturday,March 7. We had folks that made breakfast, provided childcare, worked in “The Well”, deliv-ered sack lunches, and that helped with tornado cleanup on Barclay Drive. Your help wasappreciated...and please continue to pray for all those in our community that still havemuch work to do recovering from the effects of the tornado.

THEBINDER April 2020 3

The Binder is published monthly through-out the year. Copies are available at thechurch, via US Mail, or via e-mail. For amail, or e-mail, subscription, please con-tact the church office.

CommunityConnector

Prayer Needs...Church FamilyJoyce BooneMary FoxBarry GraySandra HamiltonStephen JennetteSue JennetteSharon LaneHelen PattersonWendell Stewart (Maybelle Carter)Eli Wilson (USMC - Norway)Ethan Wilson (USMC - San Diego, CA)

Family & FriendsFamily of James & Donna EatonMarilyn GreerRosella Jackson (Gary’s mother)

Maggie (Gary’s sister-in-law)Kenneth & Liz Miller (former members)

Community & MinistriesHealthcare Workers & Government LeadersTornado VictimsAnnie Armstrong Easter OfferingAWANAHome Street HomeRejoice MinistriesWarner Elementary SchoolFeeding Music CityEast Nashville Cooperative MinistryNashville Rescue MissionEast Nashville ChurchesMissionaries Aaron & Melissa StormerGideon Missionary Rez Rasti

Monthly Digest...Church Stewardship: Tithes & Offerings..................$5,817.00Received Year-To-Date .......$16,016.54

Missions Giving:Annie Armstrong Offering .........$205.00Annie Armstrong Goal ...........$1,000.00

Not The First Time...We thought you might enjoy this historicalchurch tidbit...this is not the first time thatchurch services have been suspended for anextended season, here at EBC, due to a pan-demic. Our church minutes show us that,nearly 102 years ago, services were sus-pended, from October 9-30, 1918, due to theSpanish Influenza pandemic.

4 April 2020 THE BINDER

While working from home I have realized how much I enjoy working in an office set-ting with my co-workers and how much I miss seeing and meeting with my churchfamily. While I can do my work for both my job and church at home, I enjoy the rou-tine of my “normal” life and long for things to get back to normal. At this time in the world, there is uncertainty and confusion which may cause some ofyou to feel uncertain and confused as to what is going to happen next? How am Igoing to take care of me and my family? And many other questions you may have.Well God says in Jeremiah that He will “satisfy the thirsty person and feed all thosewho are weak”, then again in Luke God asks us to “Consider the ravens: They don’tsow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you

worth much more than the birds?” So, knowing that our LORD provides, why wouldwe hoard up our things, food, money?

Not giving during times of hardship, stress, etc. can stifle God’s blessings and provisions for us. Satan hasus under an illusion that our things and money are ours when the Bible clearly states that everything wehave and everything we are has been given to us (Psalm 90:12, Proverbs 19:14, Luke 16:12, Romans 12:6,1 Corinthians 4:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).When we choose to freely give of “our”selves, “our” possessions and “our” money we are allowing God toflow through us and when things flow through there is an entrance as well as an exit.Let God show you how He can and will provide for you by continuing to give even in these uncertain andconfusing times.May God Bless you all and keep you well.ErinGiving to the church can be through mail, Venmo and PayPal, if you need assistance and instructions on how to use Venmo orPayPal, please feel free to call or e-mail me.

A Word on GivingErin Brake

Easter Sunday, April 12