Central Baptist News

Transcription

1 Worship: 501 S 4th St Springfield, Il 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 600 W Birch New Berlin, Il 10:30 a.m. Ministry Staff: Reg Mills, Senior Pastor Mary Sharp, Member Care Pastor Josh Sabo, Youth Pastor Office Hours: Monday Friday 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Phone: office@cbcchurchfamily.org Website: You are invited to participate in a worship service giving thanks for the ministry of Dr. Reginald Mills on the occasion of his retirement after 35 years of ministry, including 15 years at Central Baptist Church. Central Baptist News Love God. Love People. Serve the World. Sunday, May 6, 2012 Unified Worship Service 10:30-11:45 a.m. Central Baptist Church 501 S. 4 th Street Springfield, IL A celebration of the lives and leadership of Reg and Judi will follow the worship service. Finger foods and dessert will be served. Please RSVP to Tricia ( or Tricia@cbcchurchfamily.org) by Monday, April 30. A basket of letters and cards will be presented during the reception. We invite you to send a personal letter or card to the church (c/o Tricia Allen), sentiments (tricia@cbcchurchfamily.org) or bring your card on May 6. If you would like to contribute to the gifts that will be presented to Reg and Judi during the reception, please bring or mail your check (put Retirement in the memo line) to Tricia at CBC by Monday, April 30.

2 The Story Looking Back, Moving Ahead Much of what you read here will also have been in my last quarterly report to the congregation, distributed on April 18, I can t tell you how weird this feels to write my last The Inside Story article for you or to be preparing my last sermon as senior pastor. You have been such a fully integrated part of my existence for the last fifteen years. I m not sure I know how to properly say thank you or good bye. I m not sure I know how to do this thing called retirement. So, just in case I become distracted with memories of the past or visions of the future, let me be sure to say thank you. You have been an important part of my life and you have invited me into some of the sacred spaces of yours. I am grateful to have had the opportunities and to have been blessed by you. Thank you. For fifteen years you have been on my mind almost every waking hour. We have walked through the whole gamut of human experiences together, from the birth of children to the loss of loved ones. We have rejoiced together in God s abundant goodness and grace. We have struggled through difficult transitions, both personal and at church. Together we have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, welcomed the stranger, and shared the Good News of Jesus the Christ. We have celebrated children, sponsored bus loads of youth to Bible conferences, and loved ministry interns into the next step of God s plan for their lives. We ve built houses for Habitat Springfield, painted parks and fire hydrants, stocked food pantries, operated a daycare center, participated in disaster relief, and traveled to Central America to build churches, schools, and a rural health clinic for brothers and sisters in Christ who have limited means. We ve walked with each other through life s personal tragedies, sat together in the surgery waiting room, celebrated baptisms, rejoiced together at the marriage of our children, and partied and laughed with each other until our sides hurt. We ve shown Christ s love in tangible ways to students whose families live below the national poverty level and to single mothers and children in a local shelter. We ve supported missionaries around the world, taught the Word of God with integrity, worshiped in a variety of ways, acted out Bible stories for children, and honored the role of women in ministry. All of this and more God has done through us together. We have learned ache by ache how to be Christ s church in a rapidly changing culture. We have been brothers and sisters in Christ to each other. As I prepare to take my leave, I am tempted to feel that this all now comes to a screeching halt. Yet, those experiences do not end. The ones we d like to forget, and the ones we don t want to give up, can both be entrusted to God who is eternal. Using a key line from a former missionary s poem, the Rev Bob Briggs once said to me: Only one life twill soon be past; only what s done for Christ will last. That s good to remember. Life is short and only what honors Christ truly lasts. But what the poetic line also declares is that what is done for Christ does last; it carries the blessing of God and the stamp of eternity. Everything we have accomplished together, every relationship between us that has honored Christ, has an enduring quality. For me, this suggests that God is not finished with either of us. His story continues to be lived out in our lives, and I expect many of those stories -- and our lives -- will intersect in the days and years ahead. So, rather than focus on the goodbyes, we should focus on the future where God is already working and waiting for us to join Him. Judi and I will not return to Central Baptist Church for awhile, but we hope to rejoin you some day. When and if we do, I will not be here in a pastoral leadership role. I will be the quiet guy sitting in the back of the sanctuary trying to stay awake during somebody else s sermon. (Just kidding). Seriously there is a potential issue when retired pastors remain in a congregation where they once Page 2

3 The Story continued served. Sometimes this can work beautifully as the pastor and spouse bring gifts that can help the church s mission. But sometimes the pastor has trouble letting go of leadership, and sometimes people have trouble disengaging from the former pastor as pastor. A Covenant of Separation was approved at the quarterly business meeting on April 18, The intent of the Covenant of Separation is to reduce or remove concerns such as those stated above. I requested and helped construct this document. When a senior pastor leaves, it is healthy and important for the congregation to bond or bond in a new way with the one or ones who will next fill that role. So, the Covenant is designed to clarify roles and expectations for both the people in the congregation and the retired pastor. If you were not at the quarterly meeting or do not have a copy of the Covenant, I encourage you to request one from the church office. I hope you will become familiar with the mutual expectations to which the congregation and I agreed. On another front, one of my responsibilities as senior pastor has always been to assign ministry staff portfolios. I work with the other ministers and interns to determine who does what. Since your ministry staff will be reduced in size by 33% on May 12, 2012, I have worked with Mary Ellen and Josh to establish a new division of responsibilities. The idea is that there continue to be a specific minister who relates to every area of the church s life. A handout was distributed at the recent quarterly meeting. You can obtain this handout, titled Pre-Interim Staff Responsibilities, from the church office. We have also placed this chart on the church s website so as changes are needed you will have an up-to-date list. This will give you an initial idea of which minister to see for which area of the church s life. Please know that Mary and Josh work closely together and they will each do whatever is necessary to see that the church s ministry and leadership needs are meet, regardless of whose name is on the chart. Well, my friends, I am of sincere heart when I say that Central Baptist Church has a great future. God has prepared each of you for this moment. God has left nothing to chance. You are brimming with gifts and able to do all that He desires. You have a superb staff and very high quality pastors. Use care not to overburden them or stretch them too thin. Love them to perfection and they will serve you well. You are a giving congregation. I encourage you to continue being patient with each other. Forgive one another. Keep the circle of love open. Invite others into your circle. Get outside the church walls and draw alongside in life those who never darken the church doors. People who cannot understand church can understand love. Let the love of Christ in you be tangible to those who have yet to experience Him. My parting prayer for you is the same as Paul s prayer for the believers in Philippi. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is already in the future beckoning us to join him there. He is calling. Let s go. Page 3

4 CBC in Brief Outreach Must Be A High Priority at Central! We must all work much harder to bring un-churched people to know and love Jesus Christ. As a body of believers, Central Baptist Church must implement more activities that will allow us to show God s love to un-churched people. We must take the church to the people and not expect the people to come to us. Plans are currently underway to host a Family Fun Day at the New Berlin campus during the summer. The goal is to organize games and kid s activities and provide food and fellowship in our large back yard at the New Berlin campus. We will invite the New Berlin community to bring their children and enjoy the day in our back yard. We will need a lot of volunteers to make this happen. Are you willing to help? If you are, please contact Tricia at the church office. I hope that similar activities can be held in Springfield as we take our church to unchurched people in Springfield. Are you ready and willing to show God s love to others? Stay tuned for more details. Larry Aldag Moderator Are you a walking billboard for Jesus? April s Mystery Member Marjorie Faulkner was April's mystery member. Marjorie has been a long-time member of Central Baptist Church and of the Weber Class. She currently resides at Oak Terrace. Her son, Larry Moose and his wife, Karen, attend Central Baptist. They are members of the Doby Class. And the Winner is.. 2 people correctly identified Marjorie as the Mystery Member. Margret Kirschner is the winner of the free Wednesday Night Dinner. Thanks for playing! Beyond Our Doors Wednesday Night Dinners are really enjoyable! They are also enjoyed by the women and children staying at the Contact Ministries shelter because our volunteers prepare and deliver 32 to them. When a month has five Wednesdays, the adult men and women at Helping Hands also enjoy the 32 meals prepared and delivered During June, July and August we are committed to continue the preparation and delivery of Wednesday night meals to Contact Ministries each week and to Helping Hands on the 5th Wednesday of a month. Your help for those Wednesday nights is vital. Will you, your family, your Sunday School class, or small group help feed the hungry? The dates meals need to be prepared and delivered are: June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 4, 11, 18,25; and August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. A total of 64 meals are needed on August 29, which is the fifth Wednesday in August. If you would like to help but find yourself financially challenged at this time, the benevolence budget has sufficient financial resources for this ministry. Your family or group can be reimbursed to the amount of $75 per week if you could prepare and deliver the meals to the shelter. If you would like more information or can help with this ministry, please contact the church office or Carol Volle ( ).

5 News from the Pews. In Christian Love and Sympathy I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26 ( IV) Please remember these brothers and sisters in Christ: Bill VanDusen and family upon the death of his father, Bob VanDusen. Family and friends of Harriet Bogden, upon her death. Info If you have military friends or family members you would like to include on our prayer list, please contact the church office. Thanks! Tip of the Halo...Sharon Smith for coordinating and placing the palms and Easter flowers that beautified our sanctuary...gene Sherrow, Suzanne Stericker, Phyllis Hudspeth, Edna Walden, Erika Palsen & Garvice Saunders, our amazing volunteer receptionists, for their help each week Larry Aldag for his extraordinary dedication and service as moderator...the teams of offering counters...the candle caretakers, Don Anderson, Barbara & Malcomb McKean, & Darin Harms who keep the sanctuary candles filled with oil...sandy Taylor, Sheila Fite and the bereavement volunteers for serving 2 families in one week Higher Education The Higher Education Fund of Central Baptist Church was created to assist students pursuing a college degree. The application form for will be available in the Welcome Center and on our website on May 1, The application form should be completely filled out and submitted to the church office no later than June 1, for consideration for the school year. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Mary Ellen Sharp ( , ext. 16 or maryellen@cbcchurchfamily.org). Graduating? We would like to recognize graduates in a special edition of our June newsletter and during worship in the month of June. Forms are available in the Welcome Center or on the website on May 1. Don t forget to include a picture (preferably in.jpeg format) for the CBN. Anyone can submit the information students, parents, or other family members are encouraged to recognize these special accomplishments. Page 5

6 Do You Know Me? 1. I was born at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield 2. I graduated from Know College with a chemistry degree which I never used in my employment 3. I made my living most of my life using talents from the only high school class where I failed the final exam...typing 4. I have 2 children. 5. I met my mate in a parking lot. 6. I have volunteered, or been a member of the library, food bank, and Sangamon Co. Farm Bureau. 7. My favorite scripture is: John 3:16 Do you know who this is? Send your answer to: Maryellen@cbcchurchfamily.org or call the church at ext 16 and leave a message in her voice mail. The winner receives a free Wednesday Night Dinner. From Our ConnectEdPAIRS Counselor! ConnectEdPAIRS Counseling Ministry will be busy this summer as they host two major events. Both events will be held at Central Baptist Church, Springfield campus. Event 1: A Prepare / Enrich Certification Workshop will be offered twice this summer on June 3rd (registration deadline May 25) or August 1st (registration July 27). The training is open to pastors, counselors, social workers, and lay leaders working with couples. The PREPARE/ENRICH Certification Workshop is designed to help facilitators learn how to administer PREPARE/ENRICH and provide feedback to premarital and married couples using six core and over 20 supplemental exercises. Participants will learn to help couples identify their strengths and growth areas in categories such as Communication, Conflict Resolution, Spiritual Beliefs & Financial Management. A new feature for working with Adoptive Couples will be included. Event 2: Beginning on Tuesday June 5th, a free weekly Lunch and Learn Series will be open to the public. It will begin at 12:10 and conclude at 12:50, and feature a discussion of Robert Wicks' book Riding the Dragon: 10 Lessons for Inner Strength in Challenging Times. Participants can register for any or all of the sessions. Participants can bring their own lunch, or purchase a box lunch by registering in advance. The book is also for sale for those who are interested. Stephani Cave, LCPC will continue to provide counseling services to the church family and community. More information is available on the Prepare Enrich Workshops, Lunch and Learn Series, and counseling with Stephani at: Stephani can be reached for appointments at Contact Info: Marilyn Stevens ConnectEdPAIRS Phone: Ext 19 or Stephani@cbcchurchfamily.org To schedule an appointment online: leanappointment.en.html ConnectEdPAIRS website: Page 6

7 Off The Shelf Downtown Green by Judy Christie Downtown Green is book #5 in Judy Christie s Green Series which involves Lois who goes from being a corporate journalist at a large paper in the Midwest to the owner of The Green ews-item, a small twiceweekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. When the short bypass around Green opens with much fanfare, downtown dries up faster than cement on the roadway. Businesses close and the hospital becomes a clinic. Mayor Eva must decide whether to sell her historic store or close it. The Holey Moley Antique Mall seems less like a dream and more like a nightmare. While the road is progress to some, it seems to be leading Green toward a national trend--a town that is merely a shadow of itself. With the town going backwards, Lois is both intrigued and jealous when a fellow business owner comes up with a strategy to save Green. But can his plan rescue the town from the path it s on? Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued by Kim Meeder Laurie's dreams had been shattered before she came to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch the ranch of rescued dreams where broken horses and broken children encounter healing every day. In an attempt to soothe her aching soul, Laurie reached out to save a dog in need. And she soon began to realize that the dog was rescuing her. An inspiring true story told through the engaging voice of Kim Meeder, Blind Hope reveals poignant life lessons Laurie experienced from her ailing, yet courageous canine friend. Despite the blindness of her dog and her own heart Laurie uncovered what she really needed most: authentic love, unconditional trust, and true acceptance, faults and all. As Laurie and her dog, Mia, both learned to follow the lead of a master they couldn t see, Laurie discovered the transforming power of God s grace even for imperfect and selfish people and she experienced a greater love than she had ever known. This book was donated by Colette VanDusen Both books may be found in the New Book rack in the Library. Jim Filler On Behalf of the Library Team Children s House May is an exciting month for Children s House! Children s House celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week May 7 through 11. The Children s House staff takes pride in their jobs. They work very hard every day doing more than what is required of them while making sure each child is kept safe, lovingly cared for, and learning each day. The Children s House Team members have been planning many special surprises for the teachers that week. If you are interested in helping or donating towards any of the activities during the week, please contact Tricia Allen at the church office or Rita McCarthy at the Children s House office. The older 2 s room will be ready to open this month as well. This will be a transition room for those children as they are getting closer to preschool age. The Summer Program parent meeting is on May 17 at 6 p.m., in the Weber Lounge. The program starts on May 29 running through August 17. Rita McCarthy Children s House Director Page 7

8 Life Celebrations This Month Birthdays 05/01 Gideon Smith 05/03 Bill Davis 05/04 Maybelle Hall 05/07 Linda Nelson 05/08 Judi Haber 05/08 Tom Parks 05/08 Ray Reynolds 05/09 Nora Ficke 05/16 Dallas Tankersley 05/18 Jenny Baur 05/18 Lisa Morrow 05/18 Glen Smith 05/18 Helen Whitlock 05/22 Greg Seifert 05/23 Gayle Blair 05/24 Mary Coleman 05/25 Brooklyn Malone-Moore 05/27 Alexus Berry 05/27 John Black 05/29 Jennie Alt 05/31 Dixie Dalbey 05/31 Suzanne Stericker Anniversaries 05/04 Jerry & Sheila Fite 05/06 Dave & Theresa Law 05/12 Reg & Judi Mills 05/20 Dave & Lin Glomski 05/21 Jason & Rachel Crain 05/22 Josh & Emily Sabo 05/25 Matt & Tricia Allen 05/28 Tony & Nancy Crain 05/28 Don & Adeline Deutchman 05/29 Gregg & Paula Harwood 05/31 Tom & Irene Peters Bits & Pieces LSBP Fundraiser Dinner Saturday, May 5 5:00 p.m. 6 pm following dinner on Wednesday LSBC Annual Camp Clean Up & Work Day Saturday, May 19, 2012 Work Day begins at 9:00 a.m. Coffee and donuts provided at breakfast. Pizza and drinks at lunch for all who come to help. 05/02 - Make & Write Notes 05/09 - Celebrate the Journey with Reg & Judi 05/16 - My Favorite Bible Verse & Why 05/23 - WND/Contact Ministry Meal Volunteer Appreciation Page 8

9 Mark Your Calendars! Weekly MAY At A Glance SU DAY 8:30a Classic Worship 9:20a Adult Sunday School (New Berlin) 9:45a Sunday School all ages 10:30a Worship Service (New Berlin) 11:00a Contemporary Worship Children's Church 4:00p Face2Face () grades 6-8 6:30p High School/College Bible Study (Koebler s home) TUESDAY Noon Women s Lunch Study Group, Mary Sharp s office WED ESDAY 4:45p Wednesday Night Dinner 6:00p Program Hour Room 21 6:45p Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY 9:00a Small Group, Sr Pastor's Study 6:00p Worship Band Practice All events at Springfield location unless otherwise noted. Tuesday, May 1 8 am Wednesday, May 2 5:30 pm Saturday, May 5 8 am 5:00 pm Sunday, May 6 10:30 am Monday, May 7 6:30 pm Friday, May 11 3:00p Monday, May 14 9:30 am 5:30 pm 6:30 pm Tuesday May 15 8 am noon Key Dates & Information Area II ABW Rally ew Berlin Outreach Area Mtg Sr. Pastor s Office AB Men s Breakfast LSBH Fundraiser Dinner Unified Worship & Reception Sanctuary, ew Berlin Outreach Mtg ew Berlin Rainbows Mother s Day tea Bethell Circle Weber Lounge Finance Area Mtg Weber Lounge Leadership Coordinator Team Mtg ABW Area 2 Spring Rally ew Berlin campus ewsletter Articles Due Saturday, May 19 8 am Monday, May 28 Memorial Day Thursday, May 31 1 pm AB Men s Breakfast CBC & Children s House Closed ewsletter Mailed Weber Lounge Reg Mills, Senior Pastor Mary Ellen Sharp, Member Care Pastor Josh Sabo, Youth Pastor Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Phone: office@cbcchurchfamily.org Website: Children s House Phone: rita@cbcchurchfamily.org Website: Page 9

10 501 South 4th Street Springfield, Il Non Profit Org US Postage PAID Springfield, IL Permit # twitter.com/cbcchurchfamily cbcchurchfamily.org Children s House Summer Program Registration is now open for Children s House Summer Program for ages 6 to 9. A registration fee of $30 will secure a slot for your child. The Parent Meeting is May 17 at 6 p.m. The summer program begins May 29 and runs through August 17. Weekly learning themes using reading, math and science skills along with field trips, crafts and other fun activities. More information and registration forms are available at the Children s House office. Director: Rita McCarthy Phone: Rita@cbcchurchfamily.org Join us on Wednesday eveningsand Sunday mornings. Wednesday evening dinner is available beginning at 4:45 p.m. Cost is $4.50/adults; $1.50/children. Reservations needed. Program follows at 6 p.m. Call the church office at or office@cbcchurchfamily.org Regular Sunday Worship Opportunities Springfield 8:30 a.m. Worship (traditional format) 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship (contemporary format) New Berlin 9:20 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship