of Springfield Springfield OR June 2015

Transcription

1 First Baptist Church 1175 G Street of Springfield Springfield OR June 2015 From Your Pastor: 150 Years of Walking The Way. When people come together to form a family or community of faith, they do so around a core of shared values. These core values, in turn, give shape to a community and, in the course of living, loving, and serving together, are woven into the very fabric of life together, past, present, and future. A community s core shared values provide answers to the question, "Why are you doing what you are doing?" saying, in essence, "This is the way we do things here." First Baptist Church of Springfield is no exception, as the story of our 150 years of walking the way of Christ makes abundantly clear. Over the next several months, we will identify and explore several core values of FBCS. How? By paying attention to prominent stories told over the journey of years. Here is one such story: On the second Saturday in November, 1865, five charter members organized as The First Baptist Church of Christ of the McKenzie Forks. In the year 1870, pledges were made to buy two lots at the corner of Second and C Streets in Springfield to build a church house for worship. The pledges totaled $680. The new First Baptist Church house the first to be built in Springfield was dedicated in November While the Baptists were building the church house, they held their meetings in a building the Methodists were using. When the Baptist church house was completed, the Methodists were invited to use the new space for their services, as well. The arrangement continued into the next decade, with the Methodists assisting in building upkeep. In 1880, the Campbellites were also invited to use the church house on the first Saturday of each month. This story sheds light on a core value: Sharing of space as an expression of hospitality. This is the way FBCS began, and we now have 15 decades of practice! Through the years we have provided space for many groups, including Valley Baptist Church, Head Start, a community soup kitchen, and Habitat for Humanity. Today we share the FBCS campus with several community partners, including Young Life, the Springfield Shelter Rights Alliance, FOOD for Lane County Summer Meal Program, Yoga classes, two T.O.P.S. groups, two AA groups, two Conestoga Hut residents, and Cheery Chickadees (a partnership with Willamalane and Early Childhood Cares, offering nofee preschool to our neighbors). Why do we do this? Because the spirit of partnership and hospitality is in our very DNA. FBCS is a church family that shares space with others as an expression of hospitality. This is who we are and the wider community knows it. I celebrate and embrace this family trait as a true expression of being the hands and feet of Christ in the world God so loves. By God s grace and our ancestors faithfulness, we have space to share. Let us always give thanks and say Welcome! With a Heart of Hospitality, Pastor Jeff

2 Reaching Team Who Are We? The Reaching Team's mission is to reach out to others with the living and joy-giving message of Christ. In order to do that, we are continually blessed with a faith community that responds to our requests for help and participation in many activities through the year. Thank you to each of you who have said, "Yes I will do the best I can," in being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. The responsibilities and activities the Reaching Team embraces include: Host the Interfaith Homeless Night Shelter for one week; Provide door step visits to first-time attendees of morning worship service; Outreach to Rainbow Acres; Promote international, national and local mission projects; Assist with wedding and baby showers; Support Church Across the Street (CATS) after school and summer program; Provide snacks during Sunday morning greeting time; Outreach to teachers and staff at Two Rivers/Dos Rios Elementary School; and Coordinate Operation Christmas Child. The mission work provided by each of you comes in many ways throughout the year. Maybe you have attended a regional Mission Conference, participated in all or a few of the special offerings in the year (America for Christ, One Great Hour of Sharing, United Missions, Retired Ministers/ Missionaries), volunteered your time, talent and resources at the Interfaith Shelter, volunteered at CATS, served refreshments on Sunday mornings. The list can go on and on, as we celebrate our life together in Christ and journey with one another to serve Him. Thank you for your service to others as we work to fulfill our mission as a faith community. Thank you to those who are serving on the team and we welcome anyone who would like more information about the team to become more involved. Jan Stanley & Karen Gillette, Co-Leaders Purpose One Great Hour of Sharing ( OGHS ) is one of four annual offerings received by American Baptist churches. OGHS makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, poverty or severe economic hardship, and for those who find themselves refugees or displaced within their home country. Prayerfully consider your donation.

3 CAMP ARRAH WANNA E. Arrah Wanna Blvd Welches, OR Phone: FAX: SUMMER CAMPS High School Camp July 6-10 Elementary Camp July Middle School Camp July Preparing for Scripture ~ Weekly Readings... June 1-7 ~ 1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35 June 8-14 ~ 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17; Mark 4:26-34 June ~ 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49; Psalm 9:9-20; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 June ~ 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43 June 29-July 5 ~ 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13 YARD SALE ~ July 11 9 am - 3 pm Fundraiser for the All Church Retreat in August! Start rounding up those gently used but quality items you ve been storing forever and can t remember when you used them last (make sure they re clean). Bring them to the church the morning of the 8th; if necessary, temporary storage space will be available in the church. Volunteers are needed to help price items at noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the 8th, 9th and 10th and set up the morning of the 11th, as well as to clean up afterwards. Please contact Jennifer Patterson or Kelly Roberts to volunteer. ABC s Biennial Mission Summit will be returning to Overland Park June 26-28, We want to see you there!join us in fabulous Kansas City for the celebration bigger, better than 2013!!! Additional events occur before and after the official Mission Summit dates.

4 NEW OFFICES HOURS ~JUNE 1st THE OFFICE HOURS WILL CHANGE TO 9 AM TO 12:30 PM ~ IS ANYONE MISSING A BLACK QUILTED VEST? IT S BEEN HANGING OVER THE BACK OF A CHAIR IN THE OFFICE FOR A FEW WEEKS! EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD RELAY FOR LIFE July 24 - July 25 We are planning to have a team participate in this year s Relay for Life. Join the FBCS Team and help us fight cancer! June 21, 2015 F - Fighting B - Because C - Cancer S - Sucks Save these dates: June 18th - Curbing Cancer, 4pm to 6pm July 24th & 25th ~ Relay for Life event ~ noon to noon ~ at Willamalane Recreation Center in Springfield JUNE 14th is Graduation Sunday. Please let the office or Corey know if you have a graduate. Help us so those with Cancer will celebrate more Birthdays! More information to come! Contact Mike Snider, Aaron Gley or Kelly Roberts if you have questions.

5 Eco-Explorers 2015 ~ NATUREQUEST: Hide n Seek FBCS has been blessed by receiving grant funding for this year's Eco-Explorers program. Eco- Explorers is the summer-time counterpart to our afterschool program during the school year. Free time and warm weather allow us to explore the natural world, including field trips to nearby nature. Grant funds allow us to address our program goals with new strategies and technology. These goals include: 1. Improving children's general knowledge through travel and discovery in the natural world; 2. Leveling the academic playing field for children without access to contemporary technology at home; and 3. Offering an unhurried environment in which children can explore and express their ideas and impressions with age peers. Our eco-explorers will investigate firsthand the characteristics of different natural habitats in Oregon. Tuesdays will be devoted to planning for our field trip of the week, accessing online resources on new Chromebooks. On Wednesdays, we will venture to our destination, explore the habitat, and document its features using compasses, handheld GPS trackers, and digital cameras. On Thursdays, we will re-cap our field trip, document our activities on Powerpoint presentations and videos, and express our learning in music, movement, drama, puppetry and arts and crafts. An important part of Eco-Explorers 2015 will involve the kid- and family-friendly pastimes of letterboxing and geocaching. Each of these hobbies have guidelines and practices our eco-explorers will learn over the summer. Both involve waterproof boxes or other containers hidden by their creators; clues to their locations are posted on letterbox and geocache websites. Using handheld GPS locators, compasses, maps and other clues, seekers find the container, examine its contents, leave evidence of visiting the site, and sometimes swap trinkets with those placed by the owner. We will also create and hide a letterbox or geocache in every destination we visit! During the last week in July, we're inviting eco-explorers to attend Camp Arrah Wanna with FBCS children. This is an important opportunity for many children to experience the spiritual dimension of God's creation. Many sense the Divine while exploring the natural environment, but realize its full impact in church camp. We want to offer that experience to those who are led. The final weeks of our summer program will involve longer Wednesdays, as we travel to more distant destinations in Oregon. Many children attending Eco-Explorers have not visited such sites as the multiple waterfalls of the Silver Falls trails, the tide pools in Yachats, the lava beds in Oregon's high desert, or Crater Lake. We will be traveling to these locations in a large van to enjoy activities together as we come and go. We look forward to sharing our adventures with Eco-Explorer families and FBCS members at our end-of-summer celebration on August 21. Please save the date on your calendar now!

6 INA HUBBARD SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED Four people requested application packets for the Ina Hubbard Scholarship. Three packets were turned in and were considered by the scholarship committee. We are proud to announce, Megan Roush, Coe Daly and Raven Stafford as recipients of an Ina Hubbard Scholarship for this year. Coe Daly Coe Daly will be a sophomore at the University of Oregon. Coe has a true passion for music, especially playing the trumpet. He currently is playing in the Campus Band at the U of O, has helped out the Thurston High School pep band during football season and played in the production of Beauty and the Beast for the Rose Children s Theater. Megan Roush Megan Roush has been a scholarship recipient for several years. She is currently enrolled in a personalized program at Northern Arizona University. She is working toward a small business degree. Megan will be returning to work at Camp Arrah Wanna this summer as the Summer Staff Supervisor & Assistant Director. She also has demonstrated admirable leadership while working at Rainbow Acres. Raven Stafford Raven Stafford will be attending Lane Community College this fall. She has an interest in earning a paramedic degree and eventually a fire science degree and become a firefighter. This summer Raven has been hired to work for the Forest Service working on a fire engine as part of the Middlefork Ranger District Fire Crew. Raven is definitely a hard worker, whether it is clearing trails for the Forest Service, leading games at youth group, or mixing cement at Deborah s House. Congratulations Megan, Coe and Raven! We are very proud of you. Each of you has demonstrated growth in your faith journey along with reaching toward your academic goals. May God richly bless you as you continue to further your education. Ina Hubbard Scholarship Committee Betsy Clewett, John Paskey and Debbie Herr

7 This Year s Recipient of the Barnabas Award On May 17th, during our Celebration of Life Together, Betsy Clewett was recognized as the 2015 recipient of the annual FBCS Barnabas Award. In honoring Betsy with this award, we recognize that she gives her time willingly and lovingly in such a positive, encouraging way. She is impacting the lives of children in our church family and in our community in so many ways. Betsy exemplifies true Barnabas characteristics... loving others and encouraging unity in the community of faith. Congratulations, Betsy! We thank God for you and the life we share!

8 Many THANKS to those who helped make our third annual A-MAY-zing Race a total success! This race/scavenger/treasure hunt/ service project event has proven to be a fun tradition combining work, play and wackiness. This year we did some yard work, cleaned at Starbucks, ate some crickets and larvae, bagged some groceries, and did the usual gathering of random items and pictures around town. We will be honoring High School and College Graduates during Worship Services on Sunday, June 14. If you know of graduates, please let us know ASAP! Monday, June 8: High School Summer Camp Registration Deadline Monday, June 22: Middle School Summer Camp Registration Deadline Monday, June 29: Elementary School Summer Camp Registration Deadline Summer is upon us and along with it a variety of different activities and schedules. Be sure to pay attention here for details. Please return your registrations to CoreyD! High School Camp: July 6-10 Middle School Camp: July Elementary Camp: July Register under the grade in which you just completed.

9 I had a lot of fun while sharing the love of the Lord. You can t beat that. Raven Stafford I really enjoyed being able to share my passion with the kids. The drumming we did together brought us closer through the universal language of music. I also enjoyed interacting with the women and children there because they were so open to us and understanding that we were in a strange situation. They were our guides through the new culture we had emerged ourselves in. Matt Gley Despite the past experiences of the families at Deborah's House, it is a place of love, grace, compassion, joy, and hope, and we all witnessed and experienced those through the women, children, and volunteers there. Throughout the week friendships were made, laughs were had, and tears were shed, reminding us that no matter our differences, we are all beloved children of God. Nora Daly Deborah s House ~ Part II My very favorite part was meeting the kids and building a relationship with them. We always had fun playing soccer of futbol as they call it. I enjoyed experiencing a new culture. And the [communion/prayer] service at the border wall, seeing how those who have been deported and what they have to go through to see family in the States. I feel fortunate being able to a part of this trip. Dustin Molder Getting to know all the children really taught me that we may have been created differently and raised in different situations, but also how equal we really are. And seeing the emotion that the women showed made me think about how much we impact their lives by doing something so simple as going somewhere away from home. Absolutely life changing. Jonathan Patterson When we visited the Border Fence, and could see San Diego in the short distance, it occurred to me that Tijuana, Mexico is so close to the United States, not very far from home at all actually. But in the eyes of these families who have been deported back to Mexico for their own personal reasons, the United States and freedom is worlds away, and in some cases will never be reached again. Carson Werder Even with our lack of ability to communicate verbally, we were able to develop friendships and find alternative ways to share and communicate. We were even there to help welcome a new family that arrived during our stay. Deborah s House provides a place of safety and security for women while they heal and learn skills needed to support themselves and their families. They are extremely generous and loving and it was an honor to come alongside them and offer love and hope. Many of them shared their stories, and though their situations seem so difficult they are hopeful about their futures. We are thankful for God s grace and blessings on our time and travels. We have truly been impacted by this week. Amanda Gley Developing relationships with the women and children staying at Deborah s House, was a very special experience for me. I felt that even through very broken English/Spanish, we were still able to understand each other and form friendships. I don t know if we will have the ability to stay in contact with any of them, or if we will know for sure where their lives will take them. Despite the unknown, I pray that, along with Ray and Adalia, our presence there may have left the young girls with a strong sense of love, hope and courage that will allow them to grow into amazing, and confident women. Women who will know and experience true love, women who will honor themselves, and women who will continue to follow the path of Jesus. Angie Werder

10 For Your Health Summer Risk and Reality by Gail Engle The news media is full of warnings about potential summer hazards and you may wonder how anyone ever gets through summer in one piece. Remember the news media is about selling not necessarily accurate news! But there are a few points I want to make here. The greatest summertime threats are automobile accidents. It is the number 1 cause of injury death especially in teen and young adults during June, July and August. Bicycling is another perilous activity. About 85% biking fatalities are from head injuries. WEAR A HELMET, no matter how dorky it looks. The next serious summer risk is water activities. Some drown from a bad cramp or a heart attack. Others foolishly dive into unfamiliar waters breaking their neck or knocking themselves out and drowning. Kids 4 and younger drown more often in swimming pools, even backyard wading pools. Do not leave a child in any kind of water because quicker than you can believe a child can drown. Boating accidents accounts for drowning cases every year ~ colder than expected water also contributes to drowning through hypothermia. And ALWAYS wear a flotation jacket or vest. Finally, extreme heat is a factor in summertime deaths. How deadly can hot weather be? To elderly people, kids and pets locked into hot cars and anyone exerting himself in hot weather ~ VERY! The National Weather Service uses a "heat index" which takes both air temperature and humidity into account to determine how hot the weather really feels. A heat index in the 90 to 105 degree range means a risk for sun stroke or heat exhaustion. The degree range means a heat stroke, the deadliest heat-related illness that is possible. Stay in an air conditioned room and take cool dips or showers and drink plenty of fluids. If your house is too hot, try to get to a public library or a store to cool your body.

11 INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES A continuation from Mylinda s missive shared in the March newsletter... January, 2015: On my way home from Costa Rica today I reflected on the countless ways I had seen God at work throughout the week. Since there were so many, I figured it was best to list them in a way that wouldn t take you all day to read it. Hopefully the word images invite you to imagine what I experienced. Thank you for making it possible through your prayerful partnership and support. For more go to Small gestures, big impact: An arm offered to lend support along a slippery trail Baby smiles and giggles Spontaneous and heartfelt hugs from kids and old friends A gaze of recognition from the coffee vender matched by attentive and kind service Our beloved family pet, well cared for and brought to me for a visit An impromptu international video chat with loved ones chiming in from Oxford, England, Seattle and Olympia, WA while I waited for my flight from San Jose, Costa Rica Incarnational joys along the Way: Mylinda Baits COFFEE BEANS Long walks through coffee fields and adobe home neighborhoods Hikes through bamboo forests and dusty dirt roads, navigating slippery slopes and deep drainage ditches Strolling along pedestrian pathways in the city or fresh fruit ferias in the suburbs Seeing Jesus in flesh and bones, moving through the neighborhood Glimpses of shalom and God breaking through moments: Presence honored in greetings and goodbyes Playing parachute games with 50 kids who have found a safe place to belong and grow Reconnecting with a mentor in ministry and being one to others Group building games and communication between students in English and Spanish Honest conversations about racism and its painful consequences May the words on these pages and the meditations and memories from my heart, honor the Creator and inspire you to notice the gifts of beauty that abound whether in Costa Rica, Central America, Costa Mesa, California or wherever else on this globe you may wander. Thank you for making the world more beautiful. Mylinda

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13 June 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Worship Leader Rodney Chase 4:30 pm SSRA Meeting Eco Eco- 17 Explorers Worship Leader Lou Engle Father s Day Pancake Fundraiser Worship Leader Ron Stanley 7 Ministry Teams Explorers 6 Executive Committee 7 Church Council 12 Eco- Explorers 6:30 Youth Group 6:30 Youth Group 1:30 Food Box Del 6:30 Youth Group 6:30 Yoga Class Eco- Explorers 6:30 Youth Group 6:30 Yoga Class 12 Eco- Explorers 4-6 pm Curbing Cancer 6:30 Yoga Class 12 Eco- Explorers 6:30 Yoga class Pastor Jeff, Spiritual Direction Training 10:30 PRC Pat Harms Celebration of Life Biennial Mission Summit Worship Leader Corey Hughes Mission Summit 12 Eco- Explorers Sunday Lockup ~ Dan & Jennifer Patterson Rob Helms... 2 Jennifer Patterson... 2 Andrew Helms... 6 Raven Stafford... 8 JUNE BIRTHDAYS Andrew Rosales Ronni Deam Angelica Cole Don Ebbert Laura Elkin Tammy Davis Saryah Judish Bradys Savage Auzriah Pitt Haley Pitt Judy Davies 24 Joshua Nau Linda Forbes Kelly Roberts Jennifer Savage Mike Davis Aaron Gley JUNE ANNIVERSARIES Tim & Kim Moore David & Chris Roush Robert & Liza Stucky Russ & Barbara Ragland... 25

14 First Baptist Church of Springfield 1175 G Street Springfield, OR RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Jeff Savage, Pastor jlsav1957@gmail.com Corey Hughes, Pastoral Associate coreydh80@gmail.com Ronnie Egger, Secretary fbcspringfield@gmail.com Office Hours 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Tuesday - Friday Phone: (541) Fax: (541) Church Address: fbcspringfield@gmail.com Sunday Worship 9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Worship Service Youth Group 6:30-8 pm Wednesday AS FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE ARE COMMITTED TO: Growing Reaching Training our friendship with Christ and one another through worship, prayer, study, partnership and service. out to others in our community with the living and joy-giving message of Christ. those in this congregation for ministry and leadership in the church and the world.