Church Life. Dress Rehearsal For The Real Thing. Welcome Home! August Pastor Brian. West Hampton Baptist Church

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1 Welcome Home! V o lume 60, Iss ue 8 Church Life West Hampton Baptist Church August 2017 Dress Rehearsal For The Real Thing In his book Falling Upward, Richard Rohr writes, For some reason, religious people tend to confuse the means with the actual goal. In the beginning, you tend to think that God really cares about your exact posture, the exact day of the week for public prayer, the authorship and wordings of your prayers, and other such things. Once your life has become a constant communion, you know that all the techniques, formulas, sacraments, and practices were just a dress rehearsal for the real thing life itself which can actually become a constant intentional prayer. Your conscious and loving existence gives glory to God. Having been involved in the arts, in some form or fashion, all of my life, I have learned the importance of rehearsal. Countless band rehearsals and drama rehearsals, not to mention individual practice time, it all adds up. Directors over the years would always say, you will perform how you practice. If you skipped out on practice or didn t take it seriously it absolutely showed come performance time. But there was one other thing my directors would inevitably say, If the dress rehearsal was bad it usually meant we would have a great performance. Maybe they were trying to psyche us up, or maybe we just needed one last time to work out the nerves. See, there is a difference between rehearsal and dress rehearsal. Regular rehearsals often included lots of stoppage time, retakes, and more retakes. During a regular rehearsal you worked out all the kinks. It was the time to try new things and see what worked best. But, at dress rehearsal, you went straight through from beginning to end without stops. At that point there were hopefully no more kinks to be worked out, and you definitely were not adlibbing at dress rehearsal. In fact, it is called dress rehearsal because everyone is usually dressed in their full performance wardrobe, and nothing is out of place. At dress rehearsal, you perform like it is the real thing. When Richard Rohr says, Once your life has become a constant communion, you know that all the techniques, formulas, sacraments, and practices were just a dress rehearsal for the real thing, he s certainly not dismissing those spiritual practices as if they don t matter. What he means is that they are a means to another goal, they are meant to prepare us for the real thing. And what is this real thing? Life itself. When you come to the place of awareness, where you re constantly living in the presence of God, where you breathe the Spirit in with every breath, and where you recognize that every step you take is a motion wrapped up in the Divine, you finally understand what all those practices and dress rehearsals were leading up to. You become aware of this constant communion and intentional prayer that God has always been drawing you into. And it is beautiful. What we do in our spiritual practices absolutely matters! Our gathering together matters (Hebrews 10:25). Our worshiping together matters (Hebrews 13:15). Teaching and fellowship and Eucharist and the prayers are all important, they all matter (Acts 2:42). But they are the means, they are not the goal in and of themselves. So, what we do on Sunday is really dress rehearsal for how we live our lives every day. The goal is constant communion with the Lord. For in him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) Grace & Peace, - Pastor Brian

2 2 It s Shoebox Time! Samaritan s Purse Operation Christmas Child Share the love of Jesus, through the power of simple gifts in a shoebox, with children from around the world. Shoeboxes will be available in the Atrium starting July 16. Fill a box and or donate supplies to help fill a box. Please donate $9 per shoebox to help with shipping. Make checks payable to WHBC. Some suggested items: Toys Pencils Bar Soap Hard Candy Crayons Toothpaste Socks Glue Stick Tooth Brush T-shirts Stickers Combs Hats Small Fishing Kit Hair accessories Gloves Small Notebooks Jewelry Small Sewing Kit Pens Sunglasses Fabric Craft Kits Watercolor paint set Small Hand Tools Harmonica $9.00 Check to WHBC Covered Dish For ALL Senior Adults 50+ Tuesday, August 8 at 12 noon Come and bring your favorite dish to share and enjoy some great fellowship with other Senior Adults. Vacation Bible School July 31 August 6-8 pm Kindergarten Grade 5 Invite your friends & neighbors! First 25 to register get a special surprise! Register at VBS Kickoff Party! Sunday, July 4-6pm Bounce Houses, Popcorn, Snow Cones, Hotdogs Bring your friends, have fun, and get ready for VBS! Kids, bring a solid color t-shirt by Wednesday, Aug. 2, to get your VBS iron-on. Hey! This is Skylar! Friday night, August 4, we will have VBS Cake at 8pm. Yuuummmy! VBS Celebration Worship Sunday, August 10:30am The whole family is invited to see the children sing the VBS songs and tell of all the fun they had during VBS week!

3 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat July 31 1 No Senior Adult Choir 3 2 No Dinner 3 10 am Bible Study 6 9:15am Sunday School 10:30am Combined Worship VBS Celebration 13 12pm S.A.L.T am Quilting Ministry pm Directory Picture Appointments Sunday Schedule 8:30 am Celebration Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Contemporary Worship Deaf Worship August 12pm Sr. Adult 15 11:00 am Senior Adult Choir 11:00 am Senior Adult Choir 11:00 am Senior Adult Choir No Celebration Choir 9 Dinner: Lasagna, Garlic Knots, Salad Kids: Spaghetti O s 16 Dinner: Chicken & Rice, Broccoli, Bread & Dessert Kids: Mini Corn Dogs 7:45pm Finance Mtg. 23 Dinner: Hamburger Steak, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Bread & Dessert Kids: Hamburgers 30Dinner: Chicken Alfredo, Peas & Carrots, Bread & Dessert Kids: Chicken Nuggets Wednesday Schedule 5:00 pm Dinner 5:45 pm Deaf Bible Study 6:00 pm Preschool/Children s Choirs Elevate Youth B206 A Time of Prayer D am Bible Study 1710 am Bible Study 2410 am Bible Study 6pm FRESH/Basic Herbalism 3110 am Bible Study am PBA/WMU Hilton Baptist 9am Scrapbook Ministry 9am Quilting Ministry 6:30 pm Men s Discussion in Café Women s Study D115 6:45 pm Mission Friends (Preschool) RAs & GAs (Children grades 1-5) Deaf Adult Choir Rehearsal 7:45 pm Celebration Choir Rehearsal

4 Music & Worship Ministry West Hampton Baptist Church is blessed to have four choirs, representing ages 2 through Senior Adults. The purpose for every choir is to prepare for, and lead in, services of worship. The choirs meet continuously through the year, but fall brings a special effort to re-energize current members and to enlist new members with a musical gift and desire to give glory and praise to God in our services of worship. The choirs are: Preschool Choir Ages 2-5 Children s Choir Grades 1-5 Celebration Choir Adults (and possibly older youth) Senior Adult Choir Senior Adults 4 Fall also brings the introduction of Christmas music and musicals. Final selections are being made now, and rehearsal of the musicals will begin at the beginning of September. All choir members are encouraged to be fully engaged when the new music is introduced. Singers desiring to join us for a Christmas musical only may do so by contacting me. Please pray for the Music & Worship Ministry as we strive to serve God with faithfulness, love, joy, and excellence. Larry W. Smith, Music & Worship Pastor SENIORS MINISTRY MOMENT Vicki and I have 5 grandchildren, fortunately they all live rather close by. It s always an interesting time when we visit them /or they come to be with us. Sometimes they get to spend a couple of days at a time. I got to thinking about the things we do and stuff we talk about when we re together, just us and the grandkids. We want to pass on to them as much as we can about our relationship with the Lord. And as I give it more thought, that s exactly what all of us should be doing, passing that on to the next generation. The apostle Paul did that with Timothy. Timothy had a Jewish mother who became a Christian. His grandmother Lois, was also Christian. Timothy traveled with Paul a lot, Paul mentored the young co-worker as well. In the year 64, Paul left Timothy at Ephesus, to govern that church. (Ray Brown s book Introduction to the New Testament ) When we think of the important things we have to do in our life, certainly making sure we pass on (in the most positive and encouraging ways we can), to our children and grandchildren, the rich legacy and love of God and knowledge of what Jesus has done for each of us, surely is of an utmost priority. -Pastor Kevin

5 5 Women s Missionary Union Hello Mission Church Family, All ladies from West Hampton I hope you will join me for the annual PBA Celebration and Workshop, which will be held at Hilton Baptist Church on Saturday, August 19, at 9:00am. This is a time for all women in the Peninsula Baptist Association to join together for exciting informational sessions and training. I hope you will pray that God s leadership will guide these women as they continue to share missions and ministries here on the peninsula and the world. The kick off for the new year in missions begins in September, starting with toddlers to senior adults. 6:45pm - Mission Friends (Preschoolers age 2-5) GAs & RAs (boys & girls grade 1-5) Youth w / Acteens & SOS (teens grades 6-12) Ladies groups meet at least once a month in homes or here at the church. (see below) A Sister of the Savior, Eula Parks Sign up for Women s Eagle Eyrie Theme: November 3-4 or 4-5, 2017 Keynote Speaker & Worship Leader: Teresa Harmening You can register now. See Margaret Langley for cost & details. WMU CALENDAR: Aug. 19 WMU/PBA Annual Celebration & Hilton Baptist Church 9:00am WOMEN ON MISSION MEETINGS FOR AUGUST: Elizabeth Flowers Tuesday Aug. Church 10:00am Sadie Wainwright Tuesday Aug. Church 10:00am M&M s Monday Aug. Ginny Smith 6:00pm Sisters in Service Monday Aug. Elaine Jones 6:30pm Quilting Tuesday Aug. Church 9:00am Hands of Service Wednesday Aug. Church 5:30pm Scrapbook Saturday Aug. Church 9:00am Sisters by Heart Monday Aug. Kim DeBusk 6:00pm Quilting Saturday Aug. Church 9:00am Churchwide Mission Involvement: VBS Mission project: We will be collecting non-perishable foods items, 12 month baby clothing, diapers, and baby wipes for Care Net. Bring to the WMU Cart in the Atrium by the Café.

6 6 W e s t H a m p t o n B a p t i s t C h u r c h A b e r d e e n R d H a m p t o n, V A P h o n e : E - m a i l : o f f i c w e s t h a m p t o n b a p t i s t. o r g W e b S i t e : w w w. w h b c n o w. o r g NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID HAMPTON, VA PERMIT #793 R e t u r n S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d If you would like to be taken off this mailing list, please contact us. You can also access this Newsletter on our website Giving Back to God Date Worship Sunday School Budget Received Heart for the House Received June $7, $ June $7, $ July $12, $1, Vacation Bible School July 31 August 6-8 pm Kindergarten Grade 5 Invite your friends & neighbors! July $10, $1, YTD 2017 received (Budget): $252, Budget Needed to Date: $337, YTD 2017 received (Heart for the House): $23,865.47