The First Baptist Informer

Transcription

1 The First Baptist Informer Rockingham, North Carolina To know Christ and make Him known Volume XL* Number 3 * March 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017 Resource Recording Team Monday, March 6, 2017 Bonnie Barnes, Joanne Cadieu Monday, March 13, 2017 Mary Joyner, Judy McEntire Monday, March 20, 2017 Charles Harrill, J.C. Lamm, Bill Featherston Monday, March 27, 2017 Sally Pierce, Beverly Carnes Attendance Report Sunday, Jan 29, 2017 Sunday, Feb 5, 2017 Sunday School-75 Sunday School-91 Worship Service 105 Worship Service-106 Sunday, Feb 12, 2017 Sunday, Feb 19, 2017 Sunday School-86 Sunday School-76 Worship Service-112 Worship Service-92 Sunday, Feb 26, 2017 Sunday School-89 Worship Service-95 Serving on Sunday, March 5, 2017 Nursery: Virginia and Sarah Auman 2s & 3s: Claudia Robinette & Gabrielle Goodwin Children s Church: Steve and Debbie McIver Church Security: Mark Cockerton Greeters: Jill Emerson, Mary Joyner, Marjorie Rainey Serving on Sunday, March 12, 2017 Nursery: Teri and Danny Norwood Cherub Choir: Judy Harris & Judy Harrelson Church Security: Steve Morris Greeters: Judy Harrelson, Steve and Cynthia Morris Serving on Sunday, March 19, 2017 Nursery: Elaine Davis & Mary Joyner 2s & 3s: Steve and Debbie McIver Children s Church: John and Beth Ray Church Security: Joe Carroll Greeters: Frances Godwin, Debbie Knight, Elaine Wilson Serving on Sunday, March 26, 2017 Nursery: Elaine Wilson & Marjorie Rainey Cherub Choir: Judy Harris & Brenda Tyler Church Security: Dennis Holloway Greeters: Mandy Allen, Dennis and Debbie Holloway Have you ever experienced rejection? Most probably we all have in one way or another. Maybe we were denied a position in a firm or a place on a team. Maybe our college application was turned down. Perhaps our idea which we thought was awesome was discarded. Or maybe we were rejected on more personal grounds - our looks, our personality, our beliefs, our nationality, or our religion. Whatever the case may be, rejection hurts. Richard Lee said that rejection can be like a quick sword thrust through the spirit or even like a long gradual slide down a rocky mountain side. Either way, rejection hurts. When G. Campbell Morgan, the noted preacher, desired to enter the ministry, he gave a trial sermon in front of a panel of men who were to ordain him. To his amazement and despair, they turned him down for his ordination. Knowing that his father was waiting for him at home in anticipation, Morgan sadly wired his father one word: REJECTED. He also wrote in his diary that day, Everything seems very dark. So still. But He knows best. Soon after, Morgan received the reply from his father: REJECTED ON EARTH, BUT ACCEPTED IN HEAVEN. DAD. Although Morgan went on to be a great preacher, he never forgot that moment of deep pain in his life. Every one of us has felt such wounds. Perhaps we have endured the disappointment and self-doubt which result from being turned down for a job. Or perhaps we have known the deeper, life-shattering rejection of a spouse or parent. All of us, in one degree or another, know how it feels. But you may ask, Why do I even mention such a negative topic? the answer is - because we re moving into the season of Lent which climaxes with the unbelievable rejection of Jesus by the Jewish religious leaders and the nation at large. It was a rejection which in turn led to his crucifixion and his resurrection. But this is what the world needs to understand: Because Jesus was willing to be rejected by men, God can and does accept you and me. To the Ephesian church Paul said, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. While human rejection hurts, and many are feeling it s pain today, the good news is we are accepted through Jesus Christ by our loving Creator and Heavenly Father. So - Be encouraged. Be assured that as you walk the Lenten road of selfevaluation, confession, and repentant which can be painful, you are still accepted in the beloved. Have a meaningful journey!

2 Happy March! I hope you all have been able to enjoy some of this beautiful weather we have had recently! Things have been going well in the children and youth realms at the church. Our children and children s council enjoyed baking and delivering cookies in February, and our youth have just returned from an exciting weekend of skiing and tubing! As always, I am incredibly grateful for your love and prayers for our young folks at the church. The prayer service with Taize music that we had at my house was quite meaningful. I am looking forward to continuing this on the first Sunday of the month at 7:00pm. All are welcome. I also wanted to let you know that we now have people who have agreed to greet on specific Sundays of the month. I am thankful for each of them! They will be standing in the vestibule, outside, or at any of the sanctuary entrances before worship on Sunday. I believe this will contribute to making our worship atmosphere warm and welcoming. If you would like to be a greeter, please see me! Mandy Allen and I have put together a Lenten Devotional Book for this Lenten season. We have taken writings from different authors and some of our own and compiled a book that we hope will be meaningful for you. Please take the time to pick one up for you and your family. As always, know that I hold you in my prayers, and if there s anything I can do for you, please let me know. Peace, Patricia NC Baptist Singers March 27, 2017 Don t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 12 th. First Baptist Church Shelby, NC Giving Jan Feb 1-12 Summary General Fund 21,651 12,793 Chall. to Maint. 350 Memorials & Honor Radio Ministry/Sound 2, NC Bap. Men & Women 100 Wed. Fellowship Meals Missions 566 Baptist Men/Wheelchair Ramp Fund 210 Total Gifts 25,077 14,378 Budget req. to date 53,306 Gifts to date 35,418 YTD req. under actual gifts (17,888) % giving to req. 66% 3/2 Anna Lee Crump 3/4 Lex Hilton 3/4 David Steffen 3/5 Melanie Lampley 3/5 Charlie Auman 3/6 Talon Stoner 3/9 Lauren Brown 3/9 Teri Beth Norwood 3/10 Gene Davis 3/16 Brenda Tyler 3/18 Jim Stokes 3/20 Ina Haigler 3/21 Janice Coen 3/25 Mandy Allen 3/28 Carolyn Saunders 3/28 Caroline Smith 3/30 Kathleen Mumford 3/31 Kim Cox

3 God has blessed us with beautiful weather, and 2017 has brought blessings abound! Choir chimes will play Amazing Grace on Sunday, March 5 th. They will not meet on Wednesday, March 29 th. We will play again on April 30 th for children and youth Sunday. The North Carolina Baptist Singers will be singing at First Baptist Church in Shelby, NC on Sunday, March 27 th. If you have friends or family in the area, please spread the word. It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 92:1) Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina 2017 Gathering March 30 - April 1, 2017 First Baptist Church, Hickory, NC Theme - As You Go Matthew 28:19 / Worship Leader: Susan Sparks Link: North Carolina Baptist Missions Conference 2017 March 17-18, 2017 Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC Theme - Reconciled Link: Happy Anniversary! 3/10 Drew and Erin Gregory - 5 yrs. 3/19 Larry and Judy Harrelson - 39 yrs 3/29 Gene and Bonnie Barnes - 53 yrs. You gotta love kids... A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, And why is it necessary to be quiet in church? One bright little girl replied, Because people are sleeping. Easter Lilies Anyone wishing to remember a loved one on Easter by placing a lily in the sanctuary may complete and submit this form to the church office as soon as possible. The cost this year is $ In Memory of: In Honor of: Given by: You may pick up your lily after the 11 am service on April 16th.

4 March 1 - Ash Wednesday Service, 6:00 pm March 5 - Taize Worship, Patricia s Home, 7:00 pm March 12 - Daylight Savings Time (turn clocks forward 1 hour) - Missions Committee Meeting, 9:00 am - Youth 3F s, 6:00 pm March 13 - Finance Meeting, 6:00 pm March 15 - Gideon Bible Study Group, S150, 11:00 am March 17&18 - NC Baptist Missions Conference, Winston Salem, NC March 19 - Worship Council Meeting, 9:00 am - Children s Council Meeting, 12:30 pm March 20 - Deacons Meeting, 6:30 pm March 25 - WinterJam, Greensboro, NC March 27 - NC Baptist Singers, First Baptist Church in Shelby NC March 30-April 1 - NC Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, FBC Hickory, NC Lenten Preaching Series: Boot Camp for the Soul Sunday, March 5 - Sunday, April 9 The season of Lent is a time of self-evaluation and spiritual discipline. It involves self-denial, prayer, fasting, Bible study, confession, and repentance as we walk with Christ to the cross and beyond to the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. If taken seriously, as in a boot camp, this Lenten journey can produce positive changes in our lives. So lets travel together and experience a successful Boot Camp for the Soul! RADIO SPONSORS: If you can t be present in the sanctuary for the worship service, listen to the broadcast on WJSG, G-104 on your FM dial. The following area businesses sponsor the broadcast: Crump Realty, Jenkins Automotive and Industrial Supply, Medical Center Pharmacy and Carter Funeral Home. The First Baptist Informer Published Monthly by: The First Baptist Church of Rockingham 201 N. Randolph St. Rockingham, NC (910) Dr. James J. Nelson, Senior Pastor jim@fbcrockingham.org Rev. Patricia Greene, Associate Pastor/Minister to Families patricia@fbcrockingham.org Lynda Clifton, Financial Secretary lynda@fbcrockingham.org Marjorie Hinson, Organist/Choir Director choirlady@fbcrockingham.org Chris McEntire, Director of Accounting cmcentire@carolina.rr.com Daniel Short, Custodian John Thompson, Administrative Assistant john@fbcrockingham.org Address Service Requested NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCKINGHAM, NC PERMIT NO. 35 March 1-31

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