THE BELL RINGER. Greetings in Jesus Name. From the Pulpit. Calling all to gather in His name

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1 THE BELL RINGER October Volum e 2, Issue 10 Calling all to gather in His name FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BLUE HILL, 53 PLEASANT STREET, BLUE HILL, ME fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com (207) Greetings in Jesus Name We are so glad you re interested in our church. We are people who love Jesus and who want others to know the joy and purpose that come with following Him. We are a friendly American Baptist Church committed to Jesus Christ and the work of His kingdom. We aim to be a loving, growing family in Jesus, and we seek to walk humbly with God, obedient to His Word. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are working to love and serve others. We invite you to join us in experiencing and sharing this abundant life. From the Pulpit Greetings in the Lord, Pastor David Chenoweth When the Apostle Paul was admonishing the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 to faithfully watch over the church under them, he confidently stated that he had not shrunk from teaching them the whole counsel of God s word. Furthermore, he could commend his godly lifestyle as one which all could follow. When the apostle made those comments, he wasn t claiming to be a perfect Christian or something. In fact, he was painfully aware of his shortcomings and struggles with his own flesh (see Romans 7). Likewise, even though I will always hold God s word up as our standard to live by, I will do it as one who needs God s continual grace to keep up the battle against my own sinful nature for a life of joy and liberty in the Spirit. My hope is that INSIDE THIS ISSUE Page Greetings 1 From the Pulpit 1 Food for Thought 2 Spiritual Poetry 2 Church Bulletin Bloopers 2 Sympathies and Concerns 3 Our Missions Team 3 Worship Team 3 Children s Ministry 3 Member News 4 Coming Attractions 4 Birthdays and Anniversaries 5 Kids Korner 5 Calendar 7 our journey together will be a long and joyful one as we get to know each other better and grow through life s trials, tears and victories. We are excited about the future, specifically about getting to worship, grow and serve with the members of FBC. Allow me to introduce my family members again. My wife, Jayme, and I have been married since October Jayme grew up in Maine and graduated from Gordon College. She is my best friend and a very gracious wife. (The Lord knew I would need one.) She is a committed wife, mother and musician. God has blessed us with four children, Samuel (8), Caleb (6), Levi (4) and Jesse (2). They bring lots of joy and laughter into our home... when they re not sticking gum in their hair or inserting coins into our van s CD player. They enjoy super heroes, Legos, dinosaurs, bugs, cowboys and Indians, and then drawing pictures of all of the above. Some may be wondering what my plans are as your new pastor. Very simply, I aim to do whatever best helps facilitate the following goals in the church: 1

2 1. To connect with and experience God through the Gospel and in the Scriptures, in worship and in prayer as frequently as possible. As we encounter and behold God as He is, the Holy Spirit powerfully brings about the necessary changes that we need in our character for faithful and enduring ministry. (2 Cor. 3:18) 2. To connect with one another in a way that God s grace in Jesus is seen and celebrated. With people from varying personalities and backgrounds, a dependence on God s grace is paramount in order to love, worship and serve together. 3. To connect with our world to show and share the message of Christ s redemption and then to make disciples of those who believe. This is our mission. (Matt. 28:19-20) 4. To cultivate our gifts to help us love one another, bring glory to God, and work together in accomplishing all of the above. May God graciously cause His face to shine on us as we work together toward these goals. Food for Thought PRAYER MEETINGS: OPTIONAL? Think prayer meetings should be seen as optional? Ever heard of Jim Cymbala? What does that second question have to do with the first one? Quite a lot. Jim had New York City s Brooklyn Tabernacle Church dumped in his lap in 1972 when it had some 20 folks showing up on Sundays. By 1997, the church had some 6,000 people in total attending on Sunday morning, noon, afternoon, and evening --- because their sanctuary at that time held only 1,500 people. In 1994, Jim was invited to speak at a Gaither Family Gathering in Indianapolis, where he delivered a powerful message on the critical importance of group prayer to the life of a body of believers, titled My House Shall Be a House of Prayer. Can you find 50 minutes sometime soon to watch Jim deliver that message? It s so profound that today, 22 years later, it can still be seen in its entirety on YouTube. Google: My House Shall Be a House of Prayer YouTube. Risk Alert: If you watch the video, you re likely to find Jim progressively demolishing all the warm, fuzzy rationales you may have hoarded up over the years to justify studiously avoiding ever going anywhere near a prayer meeting. Spiritual Poetry Welcome to Our Pastor Welcome, Pastor Dave, to our church, We embrace Jayme and your sons, too, We hope you ll find us a warm congregation And friendly in all that we do. May God s anointing be upon you As you boldly proclaim the Word, We will listen closely to the truth Of the greatest stories ever heard. May this be a new beginning In our church today, Our hearts will be renewed As together we work and pray. Welcome to our church family We pray that God will bless As you embark on this journey And give you years of happiness! Submitted by Paul Zierk By Bonnie Benedix Church Bulletin Bloopers This month s blooper: The 8th-graders will be presenting Shakespeare s Hamlet in the church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. 2

3 Sympathies and Concerns Please remember to keep all loved ones who are unsaved in our thoughts and prayers. Children s Ministry Train a child in the way he should go Prov. 22:6 Prayers are needed for many victims of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in the Blue Hill peninsula area. Do you have a prayer request? Please send your request to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com. Our Missions Team Muriel Candage reports that the Tree of Life is in need of white pasta, spaghetti sauce, salad dressings and baby food for the month of October. Winter is getting closer - please be generous with your donations that do so much to benefit our neighbors. Please put your contributions in the Tree of Life basket in the vestibule. Sandy Snow, our Emmaus Meal Service organizer, thanks all who have participated in the monthly Emmaus meal! The cooks always provide something delicious for the servers to take to Ellsworth and we are all blessed by this community service. Thank you!!! Our next meal date is October 18 and macaroni and cheese (yum!) is on the menu. The folks we serve really look forward to our cooking and serving. Here s your chance to volunteer because that is what Jesus asks us to do!! The sign-up sheet can be found in the vestibule. Sandy Snow also is happy to let us know that Sandy Woodward will be taking up the reins as Emmaus Meal Service leader when Sandy and Cordell journey south to warmer climes. Worship Team Yes! Sue Fenders is happy to announce that choir practice will resume on Thursday evenings at 6:30. If you are interested in making a joyful noise unto the Lord, please let Sue know by contacting her at smfenders@yahoo.com. Please remember the flower sign-up clipboard in the vestibule. Flowers are an appropriate way to contribute to the worship and glory of God, and may be given to celebrate a special occasion or honor a loved one. Many dates still are open. Sunday School teachers for the year are: Kindergarten and Grade 1 Grades 2 and 3 Grades 4 and 5 Grades 6 and 7 Grades 8 and 9 Grades 10 through 12 Carrie Clifford Alma Mote Sharrie Curtis Allison Charles Sue Fenders Danner Curtis Sunday school has begun and reports coming in say we have a large group of children anxious to hear about God s love from our talented Sunday school teachers. Every now and again, it is necessary for one or more of our Sunday school teachers to miss a Sunday. Sunday school superintendent Jennifer Gray is looking for volunteers who will make themselves available as substitute teachers when necessary. Please speak with Jennifer for more information about what dates need to be covered. Of course, prior to being old enough to participate in our Sunday school program, during our worship service, our youngest children are welcomed into the nursery located in the chapel building. There, they can freely play under the supervision of our nursery volunteers. At present, Jennifer Gray is looking for nursery volunteers who can cover the nursery for one or two Sundays throughout the school year. Each week, one adult volunteer is needed, with assistance from one or two high school/middle school students. Let Jennifer know what Sundays you are available to volunteer by ing her at jennifergray@myfairpoint.net. Project 31 Project 31 is always held on the actual day of Halloween. This year it falls on a Monday. Project 31 opens at 5 p.m. and is over promptly at 7 p.m. 3

4 We have a bounce house and we serve hotdogs, chili, corn chowder, coffee and Jackie's doughnuts. There are games, crafts, small prizes, cookie decorating, face painting and a bag of candy with an invitation to Sunday school clipped to the bag. Volunteers are needed to help with Project 31, so please let Allison Charles know you are willing to lend a hand. You can contact Allison at kenalcha@midmaine.com, speak with her at church on Sunday or give her a call at Member News Proud grandmother Muriel Candage tells us Isabel Grindle is a star soccer player. In fact, Muriel says that during a recent game, when the coach yelled to Isabel that she should go get that ball, she followed instructions to the letter. Isabel ran, picked up the ball and, holding it aloft, said I ve got it! We re so excited to hear from the lovely Jayme Chenoweth, wife of our new pastor and mother of their four children. She writes: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes us to give thanks in all circumstances. Sometimes that is easy to do, sometimes not so easy. As David and I and our four boys prepare to move to Blue Hill and join you in ministry, giving thanks in all circumstances is easy. We are looking forward to our years together with all of you in ministry to Blue Hill and beyond. At the same time, I know that for all of us there are times where giving thanks in all circumstances is not easy. There are many mysteries in our world and many unanswered questions. But behind them all stands the unseen and Sovereign God who watches over his own. He makes no mistakes and in that confidence, we can and must give thanks in all circumstances (Roman 8:28). Dave and I have been blessed in having received your call to partner with you in ministry. We look forward to getting to know you all over the next months and year. Jayme also sent photos of moving day to share with the congregation. We re so proud of all our members who stepped up to help David and Jayme on moving day. Welcome to the neighborhood! Coming Attractions Saturday, October 22 Harvest Home Supper Our annual Harvest Home Supper takes place, with the first seating at 5 p.m. and the second at 6 p.m. Preparation for the supper begins with the Men s Breakfast at 8 a.m. After being nourished by a big breakfast, our men will commence peeling and slicing all the vegetables brought in to be cooked for the supper. Men, sharpen your best paring knives - or hatchets, for those acorn and Hubbard squashes! Sunday, October 23 The Fall Business Meeting and potluck lunch will be held in Fellowship Hall immediately following the worship service. Topics of discussion will include the 2017 budget, so please mark your calendars and plan to attend this very important meeting. 4

5 Birthday and Anniversary Greetings Happy Birthday to Ethan Kane October 5 Tim Walls October 18 Ellie Kane October 5 Wayne Hutchins October 22 Ron Stanko October 12 Sandra Clapp October 24 Harrison Walden October 16 Isabel Grindle October 30 David Stearns October 17 Happy Anniversary to Cory & Shelly Schildroth October 4 Josh & Kim Astbury October 6 Wayne & Ruth Hutchins October years! Are you on our Birthday or Wedding Anniversary list? If not, please let us know by to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com so we may celebrate with you! Kids Korner Color me! 5

6 Harvest Home Supper The First Baptist Church of Blue Hill will host its annual Harvest Home Supper on Saturday, October 22. The menu includes roast turkey with all the fixings, rolls and a wide selection of pies for dessert. All proceeds benefit the fuel assistance program for families in the community. Where: First Baptist Church of Blue Hill 53 Pleasant Street When: Saturday, October 22 Time: Seatings at 5 and 6 p.m. Cost: $9/Adults; $7/Seniors $5/Children under 12 Reservations: (Please leave a message.) 6

7 October 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Trustees Christian Ed Emmaus Meal 4:30 p.m. 23 Deacons Men s Breakfast 8 a.m. Harvest Home Supper 5 & 6 p.m Fall Business Meeting follows worship service Greeters October 4 October 9 October 16 October 23 October 30 Project p.m. Rob & Patty Clapp Debbie & Mira Carter Harrison & Cameron Walden Darryl & Muriel Candage Bruce & Faye Candage Advisory Board Notes The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given. 7