FEBRUARY 2017 Bella Vista Baptist Church. Something to Think & Pray About by Pastor Mike McCauley

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1 FEBRUARY 2017 Bella Vista Baptist Church Phone: (479) Prayer Ministry: (479) Something to Think & Pray About by Pastor Mike McCauley I know it may be remarkably cliché to do this, but as we enter into February we are going to talk about love. The good news is we will discuss love from a different perspective than most will. Scripture tells us to Love your neighbor as yourself. With that as a starting point I ve been thinking about how we are not as important as we might think, and yet we are somehow amazingly important in God s Kingdom. I ve been calling it the importance of our unimportance. Let s begin with the perspective that will help keep our egos in check. In a poem called, The Indispensable Man Saxon White Kessinger advises us: Sometime when you re feeling important; Sometime when your ego s in bloom; Sometime when you take it for granted, You re the best qualified in the room; Sometime when you feel that your going would leave an unfillable hole; Just follow these simple instructions and see how they humble your soul: Take a bucket and fill it with water, put your hand in it up to the wrist, pull it out and the hole that s remaining is a measure of how much you ll be missed. You can splash all you wish when you enter; You may stir up the water galore, but stop and you ll find that in no time it looks quite the same as before. The moral of this quaint example is to do just the best that you can; be proud of yourself but remember, there s no indispensable man. Philippians 2:3 in the New King James we are told, Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself. My mom used to say to us kids at times that we were acting too big for our britches. The point then and now is the same: We all need a healthy perspective on ourselves. None of us are the center of the universe. We all need to recognize that the world doesn t revolve around us. Saying that, let s look at the other half of this equation. Psalm 139:14 says, I will praise You because I have been remarkably and won derfully made. When we look at Philippians 4:13 we see, I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. God fully intends for us to be a tool that He uses to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you Matthew 28: If one reads these verses too quickly, they could get the wrong impression many do. We can do all things. We can be difference makers and world changers. We are remarkably and wonderfully made but don t let that go to your head. The credit for that goes to our Creator. Therefore, the verse begins, I will praise You I CAN do all things, BUT only through Him who strengthens me. Likewise, I can be a difference maker and a world changer, but only as I yield myself to God and allow Him to work through me. You are amazingly important in the Kingdom of God. Never shrink from that! You are so very needed, yet you are not indispensable. This is, the importance of our importance. How are you doing at keeping this balance? It s Something to Think About, Michael McCauley

2 Page 2 Bella Vista Baptist Church We will learn about: February 5 Joash and the People Gave Offerings February 12 - Esther February 19 Jeremiah Wrote God s Words February 26- Daniel Chose During February, our AWANA Puggle s will learn: check out page 6 of this newsletter for info on a special cookie baking and decorating day hosted by the Women s Ministry (on Feb. 11th) February 1 God loves me when I am afraid February 8 - God loves me when I am sleeping February 15 - God loves me all the time February 22- God loves my family Candl Preschool / Homeschool Valentine Party When: Friday, February 17, 2017 Where: Fellowship Hall Time: 10:30 12:30 Please Bring: A healthy Snack to share and Valentines to pass out Reminder: Snow Cancelation or Delay Wednesday Nights if Bentonville schools cancel so will we. Sunday Church if in doubt call church or check news stations or church web site at bvbaptist.com

3 Phone: (479) Fax: (479) Page 3 February Events: 2/01 Souper Bowl Sports Night 2/15 Red/ Blue Local Hero Night 2/24 Beautiful Girls Retreat Birthdays Kobe J /06 Kimmy R /16 Justin C /20 Jarrett G /24 ** Souper Bowl Night/ Sports night.- Your child is encouraged to wear their favorite team gear during Choir and AWANA. Please consider bringing a nonperishable food item for our Souper Bowl Food Drive. see page 6 of this newsletter for info on a cookie baking and decorating day hosted by the Women s Ministry What we are learning... In Sunday School- 1-4 th grade- We will be learning to do what God says by looking at the examples of Joash, Esther, Jeremiah and Daniel. Unit Verse is Deuteronomy 6:5. You can follow along with your child s lesson and find more activities to do at home by downloading the Bible Studies for Life app. 5 th and 6 th grade The theme is Decision Making. We will be talking through ways to make to right decisions and what the Bible has about the decision making process. Children are encouraged to learn the Unit verse (Proverbs 2:9-10) Children s Worship: EMOTIONS Loving God From The Inside Out Idea: We think of some emo ons as good and others as bad. But God made every part of us, and no ma er how we are feeling, we can turn to Him. Memory Verse: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. - Deuteronomy 6:5

4 Page 4 Bella Vista Baptist Church

5 Phone: (479) Fax: (479) Music News I want to thank everyone that has lifted me up in prayer the last two weeks. My sinus surgery went well and I am on the road to complete recovery. Adult choir has begun again and we will be rehearsing new music to share in worship. In February, we will begin working on our Easter presentation for this year. This year is going to be a little different. We will be leading a Maundy Thursday service. As you can tell by the name, it takes place on the Thursday before Easter. It is a solemn service that focuses on Page 5 by Pastor Robert McGee Jesus last supper with the disciples. There will be several choir numbers involved and I hope to get some soloists, dramatic reading, instrumentalists, and others involved. I believe this is something very unique and has the opportunity to bless our community and all those involved. Please be in prayer about how you can be involved. NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO JOIN THE ADULT CHOIR. Come join us on Wednesday nights at 6PM. Young at Heart Senior Adult News by Pastor Robert McGee A few notes on upcoming activities: Senior Fun Day- February 9 th from 1pm 3pm. Attendance for the last few fun days in 2016 was low, but I stay committed to this activity. God s people must set aside time for fellowship with other Christians. So if you are thinking about coming, just come. Bring your favorite snacks and games. Let s make fellowship together a priority. Movie night is February 24 th at 6:30pm. February s movie is Amazing Love: The Story of Hosea. Sean Astin stars in this unique telling of the story of Hosea and how it affects a group of youth on a camping trip. Ark Encounter Trip.- April 26 th 29 th. This is a trip that has been planned to visit the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Kentucky. The trip is almost completely full, but there are a few spots available. The cost is $385 per person and includes lodging and tickets to each venue. Please contact us ASAP before the final slots are taken. Our monthly movie night for Senior Adults will be on February 24, in Grace Hall. When a confrontation occurs amongst the youth group, Stuart takes the opportunity to share with the group the touching story of the Old Testament prophet Hosea.

6 Page 6 Bella Vista Baptist Church We are collecting for a food drive Please bring in shelf-stable food items on Sunday, February 26th. Next Meeting: Wed., Feb. 1st in Fellowship Hall 9:30am Program by North West Arkansas Women s Shelter Join us for an afternoon of fellowship on Sunday, February 12th from 2pm-4:30pm, in Fellowship Hall. Bring any needlework or other craft project you are working on, or if you want to learn to knit or crochet we can help. This is a drop-in event come for all or part of the time. For information, contact Joan Abrams All ages are welcome! We are working Threads on tote bags to send to the Northwest of Love Arkansas Children s Center and baby hats for newborns at local hospitals. We meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 9:30. Our next meeting will be on February 8. Please contact Joan Abrams at for more info. Cookie Baking Day! Saturday, Feb. 11 9am 11am Children are invited to bring their parents to fellowship hall to help bake and decorate valentine cookies that will be served at our Feb. 12th banquet (and a few eaten as we decorate!) This will be a fun-filled time, making memories with our children. Use the bulletin tear-off or staff@bvbaptist.com to let us know if you ll be attending to help us plan.

7 Phone: (479) Fax: (479) Thank You Church Page 7 Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, called, and sent cards during Jim s passing and Memorial Service. A special thank you to Pastor Mike for providing a service that was full of hope, joy, and peace we could not have asked for a service which would have honored Jim and fit our wishes any better. Thank you to Donna Swift, organist, and Pastor Robert for leading music. Thank you to Pastor Dave Brown for setting up, greeting guests, and helping during visitation. Thank you to Julie Weese for organizing the service and taking care of so many of the details for us your help was such a comfort to me. Thank you so much to those who made food and served on the bereavement committee by feeding our family after the service. I am thankful for my church family and look forward to serving along side you in the future. Sincerely, Brenda Gooch and family Ladies, We are taking our Bible study deeper with Faithful, Abundant, True a resource from Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore! Join us as we unpack the rich teaching from these women through Scripture and personal application. This 6 week study begins on Daytime class: Tues., 2/21; 9-11am Evening class: Tues., 2/21; 6:30-8:30pm Register via registration envelopes (located at the Welcome Center)

8 Bella Vista Baptist Church 50 E Lancashire Blvd. Bella Vista, AR February 2017 Phone: (479) General staff@bvbaptist.com BVBC Pastoral Staff Michael McCauley, Senior Pastor mmccauley@bvbaptist.com Dave Brown, Associate Pastor dbrown@bvbaptist.com Robert McGee, Associate Pastor rmcgee@bvbaptist.com ******************************* Lighthouse of Prayer... (479) Freedom Ministry... (479) General Delivery...staff@bvbaptist.com Stacy Craig.... scraig@bvbaptist.com Julie Weese... jweese@bvbaptist.com Carolyn Beaver..cbeaver@bvbaptist.com Nancy Merrell..nmerrell@bvbaptist.com Julie Hettel...jhettel@bvbaptist.com AWANA...awana@bvbaptist.com NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID BENTONVILLE, AR PERMIT #222 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 1 Anne Tramposh, Steve Vance, J. Walter Rodriguez 2 LaVerna Lemmer 4 Wanda Clemmons, Tom Campell 5 C.T. Collins, Bob Cartwright, Lee Siler, Chloe Vance 6 Tommy Pitts 7 Chris Saxon, Brock Moore 8 Wanda Rodinsky, Julie McCauley 10 Tobin Bowman 11 Harold Mize 13 John Graham 14 Kathy Stuart 18 Katie Weaver 19 Rebecca Dollar 20 Ethan Saxon Febr ar Bir hdays FOR THOSE SENDING CARDS, THE FOLLOWING IS THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH S BIRTHDAYS: March (FROM 1 ST 5 TH ) 1 Norma Young 2 Peter Bulza 21 Red Herring, Marcia Mincer 22 Lillian Tully 23 Monty Herrington, Cyntia Rostamo 24 Josephine Keith 25 Oran Loyd, Lois Melroy, Jack Orlicek, Rick McInnes 27 Connie Ford, Duane Holcomb 28 Douglas Thomas, Charles Freeman 29 Vicky Weatherly 3 Leslie Dixon 4 Gary Rice, Stacy Craig Nosari 5 David Brown, Clyde Plunk, Ron Garner, Don Allen, Ethan Merrell February Anniversaries (50+years) Jim & Barbara Erskine... 02/14/51 If you are celebrating your 50th plus anniversary this month and were not on our list, please contact the office.

9 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 Praise Kids Practice 2-5pm February Women On Mission 9:00am FH AWANA Souper Bowl Night Threads of Love 9: Sr. Adult Fun Day 1-3pm FH Personnel Comm. 6:15pm IF: Bella Vista see registration info. pg Children s Cookie Baking Day! 12 Stitch-n-Chat 2-4:30pm Valentine Banquet 5pm Finance Committee 6:30pm CR 15 AWANA Red/ Blue Local Hero Night Praise Kids Practice 2-5pm Deacon s Meeting 4pm Women s Bible Study 9-11am and 6:30-8:30pm 22 Threads of Love 9:30am Movie Night for Senior Adults 6:30pm 25 Beautiful Girls Retreat 26 WOM Food Drive Day bring items to Grace Hall Lord s Supper 8:30am Service Women s Bible Study 9-11am and 6:30-8:30pm Regularly Scheduled Events: Sundays: Worship (8:30am, 11am, 5pm); Bible Study(9:45am) Tuesdays: Men s Bible Study (6:30am) Wednesdays: Meal (4:45-5:30pm); Children s Choirs (5:30) Prayer Meeting (5:45pm); AWANA (6:15); Youth (6pm); Choir (6pm)