Vol. 31 No. 7 July Which Tune Do We Trust?

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1 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Let Us Share First With You. Together Vol. 31 No. 7 July 2016 A Publication of First Baptist Church, Memphis, TN For my sermon on June 12 I recounted how on some days in New Orleans you can hear c o m p e t i n g tunes echoing down the streets near the cemeteries. You can hear one band playing slow sweet dirges as one casket is carried to the cemetery while at the same time you can hear another band playing celebratory notes after the graveside ceremony. Just a Closer Walk With Thee competing with When the Saints Go Marching In. Dirges of death competing with melodies of life. And in the sermon I asked, Which tunes do you think are the most powerful? Which are the most real, the most enduring? Which tunes will win the day in your own heart and soul and mind, today and tomorrow? In which tunes do you place your trust? The point of reference when I preached that sermon was the death of Officer Verdell Smith and the homicide number in Memphis overall, which on June 11 reached Which Tune Do We Trust? 100 for the year. Poignant, important questions in the face of such tragedies, but questions that became even more important as we returned home to news of the shooting in Orlando. But the circumstances and size of the tragedy are relative. For that widow in Nain (Luke 7), the text for that Sunday, the death of her one son was enough. For all of us, the death or sickness or suffering of just one person close to us is enough. Indeed in the face of all tragedy and pain, life asks us this question: Which tune do we trust, the dirge of death or the melody of life? And how we answer that question will determine just about everything. The dirge of death says that death is the definitive. It says that life is limited, that resources are limited, that the goal of life is to live as long as you can, get as much as you can, and then protect it any way you can. In such a tune, chances are few, judgment is quick, and exclusion is assumed. It requires little no imagination, no faith, no hope. It calls forth nothing, except maybe fear and a survival instinct. It obliges one to nothing, because Rev. Dr. David Breckenridge, Pastor why bother? Life s hard, then you die. This song has much to commend it. It fits the harsh realities of Officer Smith s death and the Orlando massacre and the tragedies of your life and mine. The melody of life does not debate this. Indeed the melody of life begins in dirge-like fashion. It acknowledges and laments the pain, the sorrow, the struggle of death, but it does not remain there. It perseveres, pushes through and ends on a chorus of life. This way is more hopeful, and yet harder too. Because hope and faith don t come easy. And what s more, believing such has implications and obligations. To believe in hope and grace and life is to be in its employ. It is to choose to include and to serve and to share, even when such causes us to be vulnerable. So, in the face of death in Memphis and Orlando and everywhere Which tune do we trust? Which tune will win the day in us, and then through us win the day for those around us Memphis, the LGBTQ community, faithful Muslim brothers and sisters, etc? Mo- Continued on page 3 First Baptist Church 200 E. Parkway N. Memphis, TN

2 2 Patriotic Pops Concert & Passportkids! Camp In just a few short weeks 9 campers, 3rd-5th grade, and 3 chaperones will head to Crossville, TN for PASSPORTkids! Camp! We are incredibly thankful for your generous gifts that are helping us get there. But we don t want your participation to stop there we want you to be a part of our camp experience as well. Each day look out for s with highlights of the day, check the church Facebook page to see pictures of our kids enjoying themselves and keep us in your prayers. Each night after we ve been to our activities, Bible study and worship, our group will gather together for nightly devotions. We will talk about where we ve seen God in our day and how the things we are learning at camp are challenging us Be a part of PASSPORTkids! Campers and our faith and what that means for our lives when we get back to Memphis. This is a great chance for our group to become closer as we discuss faith matters in a safe space. I would love for you to be with us in these special moments, helping our kids to see that they are a valuable part of the FBC Family of Faith. Also, allowing our kids to know that you, their church family, care about them and their spiritual growth. This is how you can be a part of PASSPORTkids! Each night at 9 p.m. pray for our children as we begin our nightly devotions. Also consider joining us in this formational time by writing a note to a camper for them to read after devotions. Kids can often feel overlooked because of their youth but a note from a church family member reminding them that they are a part of the Body and that they are cared for can make a difference! If you or your Sunday School class is willing to write notes to be read after nightly devotions, please let me know so I can assign you a camper. Thank you for all the ways you love and care for our children as they grow in Christ. Love and Peace, Mary Chaperones Emmy Burton Callie Payson Scott Malone Gabrielle Cathey Karamia Quiriconi Glenna Ward Catherine Kellett Edens Richardson Millie Malone Will Wright Lila Morse Branson Trip, Connect 4 Missions Opportunity 3 LAST CALL FOR BRANSON TRIP Deposit due July 10 We re excited about our trip to Branson, Missouri October 3-6. In addition to seeing Fall colors in Arkansas and Missouri, we will enjoy four fantastic events. We ll have a dinner cruise and show on the Branson Belle Showboat. We ll have a great time at Puttin On the Ritz, a lavish, glittering and hugely entertaining tribute to Broadway, featuring dazzling costumes, synchronized dance steps, and timeless tunes from George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. At Million Dollar Quartet, we ll remember when four of the most extraordinary musical talents Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins came together in Memphis for one unforgettable night. And we ll have a truly unique and inspiring experience at the fabulous Sight and Sound Theatre where Moses comes to life on a giant stage. This is an epic adventure and powerful biblical story of one man s journey from brokenness to become the follower of God who delivers the children of Israel from enslavement. The multi-media production has a phenomenal cast, astonishing sets, a brilliant musical score and stunning costumes. Contact Ray Hatton for a full itinerary. The package includes motorcoach and luggage service, three nights at the Radisson Hotel, breakfast each morning and three dinners. Cost will be $595 for single occupancy, $475 for doubles, $450 for triples, or $435 for quad rooms. A deposit of $100 will be due by July 10, and final payment by August 15. We re traveling with new friends from Advent Presbyterian Church in Cordova. Although the deposit deadline is July 10, people are already turning in deposits from both churches and when the bus is full, no more room is available. So, go ahead and give Ray Hatton your deposit now to avoid disappointment in case we fill up the bus. Connect 4 Class Members work with MIFA Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association or MIFA has the vision of uniting the community through service. MIFA has a mission of supporting the independence of vulnerable seniors and families in crisis through high-impact programs. A group of church members and attendees of Connect 4 Sunday School class will start sharing a Saturday morning MIFA Meal delivery route to seniors in our community this month. This is a great opportunity to serve with one of our community partners. If interested in serving with MIFA as a group or as a class, please contact one of the Mission Committee members: Julie Richardson, Linda Marks, David Weatherspoon, Gayla Foscue, Tara Burton, Amber Holliday, Sally Damron, Courtney Pace, John McCall or Rev. Mary Kaylor (Staff Liaison). Pastor s Message Continued from page 1 Choose life that you may live. I think the same holds today. So let us keep praying comfort, keep proclaiming grace, keep living hope, keep offering love, keep fighting for justice. Let us keep singing the tune of life, for ourselves and this world. Courage, David

3 4 churchwide away from the loop, 5 retreat outside the box On Labor Day Weekend, September 2-4, we will get Away from the Loop & Outside the Box at our first church-wide retreat. We will travel to Pinecrest Conference and Retreat Center, just an hour outside of Memphis, in LaGrange, TN for a weekend of food, fun, worship, Bible Study, laughter, and play. This weekend will be a great chance for us to build on our core value of community, for us to spend time together as a church family without those things in life that rush us and pull us and divide our attention. This is important in the life of our church. So make plans to join us! Here are the details: Accommodations Pinecrest offers a variety of accommodations. These include cabins with single beds and a private bathroom and hotel-like rooms with a double bed, single bed and private bathroom. Families can stay together, you can reserve your own room, or room with a friend. There are a variety of rooming options and we will work with you to accommodate your needs! Cost Friday evening Sunday morning: $135 per person. This includes lodging, meals, activities, etc. A $100 deposit is due per family by August 1. The remaining balance will be due August 21. Saturday Only: $50 per person. This includes lunch, dinner and activities. We do not want the cost to keep you from attending so please let us know and we will do our best to make this experience affordable. Sign Up Today (bellis@fbcmemphis.org) or call ( ) the church office as soon as possible. The earlier the better and the more likely we are to be able to meet your lodging needs. The deadline to sign up is August 1, Friday 6:30-7:00 Check-In 7:00-8:00 Bonfire 8:00-9:00 Dance Party tentative schedule Saurday 7:30-8:00 Morning Devotions 8:00-9:00 Breakfast 9:15-10:30 Outdoor Worship 10:45-11:45 Free Time 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-2:30 Bible Study 2:30-5:00 Free time w/ Pool 5:30-6:30 Dinner 6:45-7:30 Worship in Chapel 7:45-9:00 Churchwide Games MEET YOUR RETREAT LEADERS Sunday 7:30-8:00 Morning Devotions 8:00-8:30 Breakfast 8:30-9:00 Check-Out 9:00-9:30 Closing Worship 9:30-10:45 Travel to FBC 11:00-12:15 Worship 12:15-1:30 Lunch on Lawn Devita and Mark Parnell are the proud parents of Tyler and Julia. They are members at First Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia. Both Devita and Mark are graduates of the McAfee School of Theology and have worked throughout their careers in various ministry settings. Devita currently serves as the Young Baptist Ecosystem Manager at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Devita and Mark, who is currently pursuing a Spiritual Direction Certification, will teach us about the importance of Sabbath, Rest and Renewal. We look forward to retreating with the entire Parnell family!

4 6 Children & Family News, Youth News Youth News 7 Youth Passport Camp Children & Family News A Big VBS Thank You! A big thank you to everyone that made VBS such a success! The day would not have been possible without so many of you and I am thankful to have you all on my team. It was a great Field Trip of Faith as we traveled the country Finding Hope! My prayer is that we continue to hold on to the hope we have in God and spread it around! YOUTH Come Friday, July 8 at 7 pm ready to get messy! Families will spend the night embracing their crafty side and the mess it brings. From tie dying to balloon painting to moon sand you re sure to get a little messy and there s nothing wrong with getting messy every now and then! Mary will have pillow cases to tie dye but feel free to bring anything else and make sure it has been washed and dried. Tuesday, July 12 Shelby Farms Meet at church at 4:30 return by 8. Rent paddle boats Picnic Dinner provided by Brittany & Reid Bring $5 to rent boats Tuesday, July 19 Pool Party at the Paysons Time: 7-9 pm Eat before you come; I will provide dessert. Tuesday, July 26 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Beale Street Landing Meet at church at 7 pm Bring a snack to share, a drink, and a chair We will return around 10:30 pm By the time you receive this newsletter we will be packing up for camp or on the road already! For months we have been planning this trip and while only 14 of us will actually go to camp, we take a part of you with us. We take your financial support and your prayers and encouragement as we travel away from home, parents, normal responsibilities and some of our friends. While we are gone we will be challenged to consider what it means to live life to the fullest. Our theme verse is I came so that everyone would have life and have it in its fullest. (John 10:10b CEV). Have you ever considered what it means to have life to its fullest? Maybe you have had a moment where you caught a glimpse of it. Max Lucado is a Christian devotional writer. He calls these moments eternal instants. These are moments when we glimpse life at its fullest. They might come with On Sunday nights this summer, we will prepare for the 2016 Olympics with our own FBC Youth Group Olympic Games. Earn points each week by attending & participating in Bible Study, competing in games, completing a weekly Bible reading & texting your thoughts to Brittany, and participating in mission opportunities. First, second, and third place winners will receive medals and a gift card to Target. So mark your calendars, keep your Bibles handy, and get ready for family, friends, in joy, in tragedy, or in service to others. Our week is about being a part of This Wild Life. At camp we will get a chance to be more open to it. This Wild Life is a shared life; where we laugh together, cry together, work together, and play together. This week at camp we will do most of these things, if not all of them, on multiple occasions. You can keep up with our adventures each day by reading the daily Wild Life Update or by clicking on the link to our Wild Life Update on our church Facebook page. And you can pray for us. Pray for us as we open ourselves up to these eternal instants. Pray that we are good listeners as we share these instants with each other. Pray that we will have the courage to share these eternal instants with others. Pray with us as we seek to embrace this Wild Life during our week at camp and in the days and weeks ahead. God of the safe and the wild, we thank you for a place to be, a place to engage, and a place to live life fully. Hear our prayers for those in our youth group and our church that they be courageous enough to jump into This Wild Life. God, open our hearts to the possibilities of eternal instants, to moments that we create and to where You are revealed in and through it all. Amen. Campers Micah Breckenridge Cedar Dean Ben Payson Nathan Payson Carson Wright Natalie Austria Margot Weslee Cronk Olivia Hankins Abigail Kellett Lily Merryman Grace Ward Chaperones Brittany Krebs Reid Russom Jason Sullivan some Olympic fun! In Bible Study we will go back to the Old Testament to remember those important stories of our faith, revisiting some of the first people to pass the torch of faith on to us, and considering what this might mean for us today. Schedule July 3: No Youth tonight July 10: David & Goliath (1 Samuel 17) July 17: Elijah & the Widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16) July 24: The Healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19) July 31: Daniel & the Lion s Den (Daniel 6:10-28) August 7: Jonah & the Big Fish (Jonah 1-4)

5 8 Choir, Memorials, First Cup Check Out the New Titles in Your Church Library Berndt, Jodie: Celebration of Miracles Briles, Judith: Questions Women Ask DeVincle, Christopher: Threads of Paradise Karon, Jan: Come Rain or Come Shine Kuskin, Eric: Billion Dollar Painter Mains, Karen: Comforting One Memorials Given in Memory of: Given by: Kathryn McCommon...Ms. Libby Linder Mr. & Mrs. Mark Smith Martha Virginia Kitchens...Mr. & Mrs. Mark Smith Evelyn Ogle...Mr. & Mrs. Mark Smith Lydia Simmons...Ms. Memory Libby Linder Steve & Jamie Safigan Ms. Mary Walters Michael & Michelle Jamison Mr. & Mrs. Mark Smith Honoraria Another Honor Mansfield, Stephen: Lincoln s Battle with God Rose, Ann B.: Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble Stobel, Lee: The Case for a Creator Wells, Thelma: What s Going on Lord? Witemeyer, Karen: A Worthy Pursuit Given in Honor of: Given by: Helen Ruth Bourgoyne... Dr. & Mrs. John McCall, III Choir Summer Schedule The choir will sing in worship on Sunday, July 10. We will resume Wednesday night rehearsal on Wednesday, July 13. These summer rehearsals will begin at 6:45 p.m. Worship & Arts Team Meeting: July 10 8:30 am in the Music Suite First Cup Intergenerational Family Gathering Join other First Baptist members and the Ministry staff in the Welcome Center on the first Sunday of every month for that first cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate and a pastry and enjoy a time of fellowship with family and friends from 9-9:45 a.m. Our next gathering will be Sunday, July 3.