Letter from the Senior Pastor

Transcription

1 Letter from the Senior Pastor Who doesn t want the blessings of God? In his most famous sermon Jesus gave us nine blessings that are recorded in Matthew 5:1-10. When you read through them you notice how counter-cultural they are. Every line goes against everything you have ever learned in life. God s values are different from those we find in the world. He blesses those who reflect His heart. Here are a few to ponder. Blessed are the spiritually bankrupt. Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3. The prophet Isaiah sets an example for us. When confronted with the holiness of our God he cried, Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips... Isaiah 6:5. Jesus says to us that God will bless us when and if we come to the realization how spiritually bankrupt we are. Blessed are those who weep over their sins. Jesus said, Blessed are those who mourn. Matthew 5:4. When you recognize how much your sin has injured the heart of God and it grieves your soul, He will bless you. David eloquently expresses his grief over injuring the heart of God by his affair with Bathsheba. In Psalm 51:4, Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight... The Apostle Peter, when he had denied Christ three times went out and wept bitterly. God blessed both through forgiveness, full acceptance, and complete restoration. Branch s Office hours are 9am 12pm and 1:00pm 4:00pm, Monday Friday. Please time your phone calls and visits during office hours. so as not to miss us. Please your information for the Sunday publications to office@branchs.org by Tuesday. The deadline for the Columns is the 20th of the month. Blessed are those who turn control over to God. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek. Matthew 5:5. When you hear the word meek don t think weak, or wimpy. In the original Greek, meek meant to bridle a wild horse, to put strength and power under control. Jesus says to us, Blessed are you when you realize that your self is unreliable and you need God to take control of your life. I encourage you to pray these beatitudes as part of your devotional life during the month of April. Let us prepare our hearts for the rich blessings of God. Always in prayer for you all, Pastor Sam Grozdanov 1

2 Letter From Pastor Rudd I usually start off with some reference to a song that is an oldie and goodie, but today I can only think of the words thank you. Thank you so much as a church for being so generous in the amount of vacation time you allow me. Thank you for making it possible for me to spend a weekend in Williamsburg with my husband. He went to a history conference and I caught up on quiet time, sleep, reading and eating way too much. It was an actual time of refreshment. I did think about you all a couple of times. I heard of a trip some of you might enjoy. The Art Museum in Williamsburg can be visited with a ticket alone without the expense of a Historic Sights ticket. They have many wonderful antiques and often special exhibits. They have a permanent display of quilts from the 1700 s and 1800 s. Currently, the special exhibit is weavings made by Navaho women. If you would be interested, let the office know. If we get a bus full, we will go and then eat at one of the many restaurants in the area. I am looking into plays and baseball games for our spring and summer trips. Please, put Monday, May 7 th on your calendar for the Jubilation Community Choir Free Spring Concert. We will be taking names in April. It has been a blessing to me to take Communion during Holy Week to several of our families. If you would like me to bring Communion or just to come and do a Scripture reading service, let me know. We can schedule a time to meet. Blessings during this wonderful spring season. ~ Dorryce Ann Rudd Builders Class Brunswick Stew and Pork Butt Sale The Builders Class (Bubba s Den) will be having a Brunswick Stew and Pork Butt Sale on Saturday, April 21 st, The cost will be $7.00 per quart or $7.00 per pound with orders taken in advance or you may take your chances by stopping by between 3:30 and 4:00 PM the day of the stew to see if there are quarts and/or pounds left for purchase. Advance orders may be picked up between 3:30 and 4:00 PM that day. Cash or checks payable to Branch s Baptist Church will be acceptable. Please indicate on the memo line Youth Ministry, as all proceeds will benefit the Youth Ministry of BBC. The recipe used for this stew will be the Perkins Family Recipe, and the Stew Master will be Robbie Watts. The pork butts will be roasted the slow old-fashioned way under the direction of Paul Kincheloe and chopped with love by the Bubbas. Advance Orders may be placed with any member of the Builders Class and questions may be directed to Paul Kincheloe or Jerry Smith

3 The flower calendar for 2018 is in the Welcome Area. Reserve your special dates now! Flowers may be donated in memory of loved ones, or in thanksgiving for blessings received. Flowers are only $40 for a pair, and they are yours after the Sunday services, or you may direct that they be delivered to shut-ins. If you have vases from the church flowers and no longer need them, we would like to have them back. To Our Church Family: Thank you so much for the prayers and support following Susan s death. We especially like to thank Dorryce Ann, Keith, and the young man who ran the slide show. We appreciate all that you did and continue to do in Christ s Name. - Robbie Watts The family of Ruby Chambers acknowledges with grateful appreciation the kind expression of your sympathy. Doris and Staff, Holy Week Schedule Thursday, Mar. Commemoration of the Last Supper with Foot Washing KH Our family would like to thank you for the extreme kindness you and your church staff have extended to us in our time of sorrow. The verses of Scripture, hymns, and personal words about Sam were so comforting and meaningful. We appreciated the support given by everyone at the church. The food and beverages were wonderfully prepared and delicious. The staff did an awesome job and was so helpful! Our experience was heartful and perfectly done. - The Samuel family Friday, Mar. Good Friday Service Sunday, April Easter Sunrise Service Light in Kincheloe Hall Prayer, Sunday School, Bible Study, and 11:00am Services as usual (see p. 6) 3 The ESL Classes are full to overflowing! We need teachers, helpers, and especially childcare givers for the ESL program which began on Sept. 6th. This program has helped many people learn English and begin a brighter future. Speak to Ernie Moore if you have questions, or to volunteer.

4 April 2018 Pray for the Spirit of the Resurrection in Metropolitan Richmond. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight. (Hebrews 13:20-21) April 1, 2018 Easter. For a spirit of hope, of possibility, of eternal life, and of commitment to the redeeming power of God who brings new life out of death to people and communities. April 8, To remove any spirit of contentiousness, prejudice, greed, jealousy, or enjoyment of others troubles; for spiritual renewal, leading to prayer and care for all regardless of race, national origin, religion, income, or neighborhood. April 15, For a spirit of love, cooperation, peace, community, and commitment to all people in God s name. April 22, For a spirit of justice, righteousness, equality, and mutual benefit. April 29, For a spirit of humility, respecting and appreciating the gifts and contributions of all. The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 10am to knit or crochet shawls for our members who are ill or in need of special comfort. The members also lift up in prayer the recipients of the shawls. If you are interested in joining, call Ginaree Llewellyn, or come to the next meeting on April 10 in the Conference Room. Join us for WMU on April 17th The Karen Collins WMU will meet at 10:30am on Tuesday, April 17 in Rm. B112. Join us for a bag lunch and fellowship. Project to be announced. Bring food for Food Pantry. - Lynette Richardson PLEASE LABEL YOUR GIFTS! This is what your Office Manager looks like when she finds bags of things dumped in the hallway. Although we appreciate your donations of food, clothing, or other items, we can t deal with them if we don t know what they are for. Please identify all gifts as Food Pantry, or Clothes Closet, and so on. Please note: there is no Spring Give Away this year. April showers may come in May, but Young At Hearts is here to stay! Amy Ladd will delight us all, so tap your feet and have a ball! See y all April 26th, 10:30 am, Kincheloe Hall. delicious pot luck lunch follows. See Barry Grantier if you have questions. 4

5 Sundays 9:15am Prayer Time ~ C216 9:30am Sunday School/Bible Study 10:30am Announcements & Fellowship~KH Puppet Ministry ~ C113 11:00am Worship Services in the Sanctuary (English) and in Kincheloe Hall (Spanish) Mondays 8:00am Bon Secours Care-a-Van (2nd Monday only) 9:00am Tellers Committee 7:00pm Deacons Meeting (2nd Monday this month) Tuesdays 9:30am Staff Meeting 10:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) 6:00pm Festival Ringers Wednesdays (No activities on April 4) 9:30am ESL classes 5:30pm Wednesday Night Supper 6:15pm Prayer & Bible Study 6:30pm Spanish Prayer & Bible Study 7:00pm Activities for Children and Youth Thursdays 9:30-10:30am Food Pantry Saturdays 8:00am Bon Secours Care-a-Van (3rd Saturday only) SPECIAL EVENTS Douglas Mann April 1 Lynette Richardson April 1 Mark Mallory April 4 Martha Donohue April 6 Leyshla Velazquez-Guzman April 8 Omar Rios April 11 Doris Cannon April 12 Rachel Contreras April 12 Jenny Aguilu April 13 Deborah Smith April 15 Faith Kennedy April 16 Judy Kincheloe April 17 Jonatan Contreras April 18 Angie Vega April 19 Kevin Spence April 20 Robert Woodson April 20 Karen Collins April 22 Maria Dominguez April 24 Susan Gallienne April 25 Betty Rigby April 26 Wanda I. Vargas April 26 Carlos Guerrero April 28 Robert Welch April 28 Marie Hines April 30 Sharon Thornton April 30 Good Friday Service ~ Friday, March 30@7:00pm Easter Sunrise Service ~ Sunday, April Deacons Meeting ~ Monday, April Karen Collins WMU ~ Tuesday, April 17@10:30am in Rm. 211B Young-at-Hearts ~ Thursday, April in Kincheloe Hall Deacons Banquet ~ Saturday, April in Kincheloe Hall Monday, May 7th, Free Concert by the Jubilation Community Choir. Please see Dorryce Ann during April to sign up. If we have enough interest, a bus will go from Branch s. All Church Potluck ~ Sunday, April followed by the Quarterly Business Meeting in KH 6

6 Dear Branch s Church Family, Again, I want to thank each of you for the fantastic job you did on the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes! Many churches are collecting year round; some are doing a different item each month. We have a box outside the church office for your donations throughout the year. We will keep some empty shoeboxes, so if you want to pack your box early, that will be fine too! Here are the items we are emphasizing in the next few months: April jump ropes, baby dolls, puzzles, harmonicas May soaps and washcloths (we run out of these quickly) Watch this space for the list of the month in upcoming newsletters. Don t worry about toothbrushes. We have dentists who have been giving us those items. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE candy of any kind, toothpaste, used or damaged items, war-related items (toy guns, knives, military figures), seeds, liquids or lotions, bubbles, medications or vitamins, razors, breakable items like snow globes, or glass containers, aerosol cans. Thank you! Marie Hines, Chair of the Samaritan s Purse Operation Christmas Child Branch's Baptist Church Condensed Financial Report Year-to-Date as of February 2018 Actual Budget Over/(Under) Account Description Year-to-Date Year-to- Date Budget YTD Regular Offering 59,964 71,965 (12,001) Expenditures: World Programs 4,261 5,203 (942) Personnel 35,839 40,769 (4,930) Educational Ministries 1,447 3,138 (1,691) Service Ministries 4,126 3, Building & Equipment 28,549 19,385 9,164 Miscellaneous 0 62 (62) Total Expenditures 74,222 71,965 2,257 Net Surplus/(Deficit) (14,258) 0 (14,258) STAFF DIRECTORY Rev. Sam Grozdanov Senior Pastor sam.grozdanov@branchs.org Rev. Dorryce Ann Rudd Minister of Visitation & Seniors dorryceann.rudd@branchs.org Rev. Arlene Guzman Pastor of Casa Refugio de Amor arlene@wbtk.com Ms. Bonnie Surma Director of Music Ministries Keith Wilmoth Organist/Pianist klw728@aol.com Lorena Markowski Office Manager & Financial Secretary office@branchs.org Karen Collins Missionary to Taiwan kc2204@pobox.com Ernie Moore Treasurer treasurer@branchs.org Joshua Zalesky Sunday School Superintendent & Director of Outreach jazfaith1@gmail.com Maria Javier Custodian J.T. Ross Security plumbwelder5852@yahoo.com 7

7 BAPTIST CHURCH 3400 Broad Rock Blvd. Richmond, VA Office: Fax: website: Office Hours: Monday Friday 9:00am-12:00pm (staff breaks for lunch) and 1:00-4:00pm