According to some unnamed

Transcription

1 The Encourager LAKEVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH Adam Metzger, Pastor M A R C H 2014 Let us not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 According to some unnamed people, I ve been known to do a happy dance when church attendance hits one hundred for a particular week. I m not much of a dancer, but some things deserve busting out a move or two. Not that attendance is everything, but it s one of many markers of church health. It s encouraging when members are coming on a regular basis, especially when they re and inviting their friends. I celebrate because church attendance is often an indicator that people s hearts are soft to the things of God. They re simply making Him and His people a priority. Truth be told, there are a lot of reasons people don t go to church. Our world is not lacking in Sunday morning alternative opportunities: The golf course. The lake. The pre-game show. Sleep. Yard work. God promises his presence when I go. A relaxed morning sitting by the fire Matthew 18:20 says For where two or with coffee, a good book, or a newspaper (something parents of young chil- with them." Yes, I know that his pres- three gather in my name, there am I dren only dream of). ence dwells with believers all the time, but there is just something special that There are also specific complaints happens when a room full of people against church that people often have: gather in his name to worship him. Church is boring. The sermon is long. All they want is my money. My faith is private. I can pray and read the bible at home. They re all a bunch of hypocrites! I always get a kick out of the last one. It s kind of like saying I stay away from the gym because of all the fat people. You could probably add a few more to this list. * * * I ll be honest. Sometimes, it is nice to have an unrushed, casual, easy going morning. It even feels like a gift! But maybe we should reserve those types of mornings for Saturdays. Yeah, I know. You can t have a relaxed Saturday because of kid s activities, appointments, and the typical rat race type stuff that we over-sign ourselves up for. When the schedule gets tight, it s often the optional activities, like church, that get bumped. I get it. I really do. But I also want to offer you some really great reasons why church shouldn t get bumped. While sitting by the fire might be nice every once in a while, you re could be really missing out on a lot! Interestingly, the apostle Paul says that when believers gather in worship, nonbelievers who are present might even recognize the presence of God and proclaim God is really among you! (1 Corinthians 14:25). A coffee by the fire place might relax you on Sunday morning, but gathering with other believers in the presence of God might energize you! I go to church because there is often the unmistakable presence of God there, unique to just about any other activity I m involved in. People need me to minister to them. We skip church for a variety of reasons, but do you know that someone might actually need you to be there for them? We often think of church with a consumerist mindset: how can I have my needs met today? How can I sit in the back and scoot out quickly? We go to church to get something out of it and quietly leave. Certainly I gain something when I go to church, but what if part of the reason we are to not give up meeting together is so that we can mutually encourage one another, as the writer of Hebrews states? Let me be blunt. People need you here. People come in here hurting, beaten down by the world, craving attention. You might be the only face of Christ people see all week. They might not need an hour long counseling session, but an expression of love through a hug might minister deeply to them. I can live off a compliment for two months, Mark Twain once famously said. Your garden out back might need cultivated or your grass might need to but cut and Sunday morning might be a convenient time to do it. But people s lives also need work. And God may place you in other people s lives to do the very work he needs to do. That alone is worth getting up for on Sunday. Continued...

2 THE ENCOURAGER...continued from front page Worship glorifies God and nourishes my soul. Everybody worships something. Sunday morning is a reminder that millions from around the world are worshipping the only one truly worthy of our worship Over the years, I ve come to more thorough appreciate communion (or the Lord s Supper as some call it). As I stand up on the stage breaking the bread and holding up the cup, I am reminded of Jesus great gift to us on the cross: his broken body and blood spilled for us. The fact that he would die for me causes me to be in awe of his love for me. And awe leads to worship. Each Sunday morning reminds me that he alone is worthy of my worship. And worshipping with all 100+ of you brings me joy. There are so many other reasons why going to church on Sunday morning is important: To pray for others and be prayed for. To learn more about God. To grow in our faith. To hear God s word preached. To build Godly friendships. To sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). To teach your kids the importance of faith. To be a witness to the community around you. There are too many reasons to name! Celebrating 80 Mary Kline turns 80 on March 8th Let s celebrate during Coffee Hour on March 9 th with gifts of SOAP for the Lakeview Site Food Pantry Help honor Mary with a tub full 80 of at least SOAPs. 80 SOAPs. Bath / hand soap Dish soap Laundry soap Each time I come to church, I thank God that others have faithfully chosen to join me there. I think of the words of David who said in one of his Psalms of Ascent, I rejoice with those who say to me let us go to the house of the Lord to praise the name of the Lord. (Psalm 122) Rejoicing with you this Sunday, next Sunday, and many after, Adam PAGE 2 Lakeview Baptist March FOOD PANTRY DAY Friday, March 7th (9:30 am)

3 Crafting for everyone... QUILT & CRAFT WORKSHOP March 27th 10 am Noon (LBC Parlor) Come, learn something new or bring your own project to work on. Contact Rolllie Longman ( ) or Mary Kline ( ) XYZ Club All retirees of the church are invited! The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 18, :30 a.m. Devotions with Earl Holcomb. Eating out and fellowship at Corner Café in Scotts. Join us! ** Women s All Craft Event ** Winter is here and it is cold outside!! Join us for a monthly all craft event. Bring your scrap booking, card making, knitting, crocheting, or whatever you do or bring supplies and finally do that Pinterest project you have been dying to try. For the next 3 months we will be meeting at church on the 3 rd Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Each time a main dish, coffee and bottled water will be provided. Please bring your crafting materials and a dish to share! Saturday, January 18 Saturday, February 15 Saturday, March 15 (main dish: taco bar) Invite a friend or 2 and come join us! PAGE 3

4 2014 Camp Schedule JUNE June 8-14: Work Week (Adults) June 15-21: Mission Week June 22-28: 5th & 6th Grade June 29-July 5: Family Adventure Week (Adults/Families) JULY July 6-12: 9th & 10th Grade July 13-19: 11/12/13 Senior High July 20-26: 7th & 8th Grade July 27-Aug. 2: Special Needs (Please contact) AUGUST Aug 3-7: Camp Church Rental Aug. 8-9: Kinder Camp (K thru 2nd Grade) Aug : Intro Camp (3rd & 4th Grade) Aug : Call of the Wild Aug : Adult Jamboree (Adults 45+) SEPTEMBER Sept. 6-7: Pastor s Fall Retreat Sept : Jr. & Sr. High Fall Retreat For more details and registration forms please contact the church office, Pastor Adam or visit: PAGE 4

5

6 MARCH NURSERY VOLU NTEERS 2 Betty Trumbull Donna Headings 9 Shauneene Crowe Nancy Ondracek 16 Sue Rose Kim Schuler March Kid s Church leaders: 252 BASICS 23 Lisa Thomas Linda Daniel 30 Marni Haapapuro Kathy Snyder MARCH EARLY GREETERS 2 Cora Beebe & Louise Butler 9 Deni Fry & Pat DeVoll 16 Joe & Sonnie Boes 23 Tom & Linda Hicks 30 Barry & Aleta Linscott MARCH COFFEE HOUR 2 Zesiger family 9 Kline family 16 Liz & Donna FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Please remember to designate on your offering envelope how you would like your offering distributed to the various funds, i.e. General Fund, Missions, Fellowship. Since we do not have pledge cards we need your direction each time you give an offering. Thank you. MONTHLY FINANCIAL RECORD Budgeted need for: Jan Feb Weekly: $ 3,751. $ 4,051. Monthly: $15,004. $ 16,204. Received: 1/5 2,320. 2/2 1,836. 1/12 3,342. 2/9 3,350. 1/19 2,331. 2/16 1,514. 1/26 1,429. 2/23 TOTAL $ 9,422. $ 6,700. MEIJER COMMUNITY REWARDS UPDATE Earned in January : $ Since start of program $7,507 (8+ years) LBC earns up to 1% of your purchases each time you use your Rewards card and make a payment by Meijer Credit Card, Cash or PIN- Debit payment. If you have any trouble at all hearing the morning worship service, listening devices are now available. Please ask an usher for assistance.

7 MARCH S. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI info@mylakeviewbaptist.com Ph Fax: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 Communion Sunday SUNDAY SCHEDULE 9:30 am Adult Studies 10:45 am Worship & Kid s Church 12:00 Fellowship 12:30 Falam Ministry 4:30 F.R.O.G.s & Teens 5:30 Young Adults Ash Wednesday 6 6:30 Praise Team 7 World Day of Prayer pm Prayer & Study 9:30 LBC Food Pantry volunteer day 7 pm Falam Praise rehearsal 9 1st Sunday of Lent pm Prayer & Study 13 6:30 Praise Team 14 7 pm Falam Praise rehearsal am 4pm Women s All Craft Event 16 2nd Sunday of Lent 17 6 pm Council 7 pm Boards meet 18 11:30 XYZ 19 7 pm Prayer & Study 20 6:30 Praise Team 21 7 pm Falam Praise rehearsal rd Sunday of Lent pm Prayer & Study am Quilting Group 6:30 Praise Team 28 7 pm Falam Praise rehearsal th Sunday of Lent 31 SUNDAY SCHEDULE: 9:30 AM Adult Bible Studies 10:45 AM Worship & Kid s Church 4:30 PM F.R.O.G.s & Youth Ministries

8 7 S. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI Ph Fax: Sunday: 10:45 AM Worship & Kid s Church Wednesday: 7 PM Prayer, Praise & Study Sundays at 10:45 a.m. Bir thdays Anniversaries 1 Phillip Daniel 4 Norita Kalkman 8 Don Barber, Sr. Tom Hicks Mary Kline Mildred Lee 12 Mike Gwillim 13 Jenna Haapapuro 15 John Anthony Chmiel 17 Earl Holcomb 18 Dawn Corless 19 Lloyd Lee 23 Gloria Allred Hershel Davis 24 Walter Haapapuro Kathy Niece 25 John Allwardt John Edwards Ethan Thomas 26 Phil Allwardt Haroldine Colwell 28 Rich Zesiger 29 Opal Dille Sue Rose 30 Desiree Allred Norma Carr Brad Johnston Jamie Kosciuszko 31 Reilly Sleeper 16 John & Heidi Chmiel 21 Barry & Aleta Linscott 27 Daniel Thawngza & Men K Cing Kap 31 Don & Kathy Snyder