Rev. Rendell Hipps, Ac&ng Senior Pastor/ Minister of Discipleship

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1 When I was growing up, we were not a picture taking family and it was before everyone had smart phones with build-in cameras. But, I do have in my possession a few pictures that were taken of me when I was a child. One of my favorites is a picture that captures the joy and bliss of a childhood Easter Sunday. I look to be about 6 years old. I assume mom took it. I m in the yard on a sunny Easter Sunday hiding Easter eggs, with evidence of Spring burs&ng all around. In the picture, my expression boasts of my self-proclaimed genius in hiding an egg in a place that it would never, ever be found or so I thought. The gu*er down spout! No one will ever look there! I tucked the egg into the open hole at the end of the gu*er and pushed a few leaves and twigs and small rocks in front. With hand clasped over mouth, twinkle in the eye, and even a bit of a sneaky look, I posed for the picture. Someone did find the egg and it didn t take long at all for that to happen. Famous theologians (Luther, Barth) have said that we Chris&ans worship a Hidden God. They are right. God in all of God s glory is not on full display. In fact, very li*le of God is out in the open for all eyes to see. God is not visible to us, not really. Yes, we see evidence of God s handiwork all around, but the Glory of the fullness of God Almighty is, indeed, hidden from our eyes -- and from our experience. Even the prophet Moses, when he asked to see just a glimpse of God s glory, could only do so a8er God passed by, allowing the prophet only a momentary glance of God from the back. (Exodus 33:23) The Easter egg that I hid so proudly in that gu*er downspout was quickly discovered and my genius in hiding it was quickly dispelled. But, the Hidden God, who remains to this very day hidden in so many ways, once ingeniously hid himself in Flesh. Ingeniously hidden so much so that few were able to detect who He really was. So much so that they killed God in Christ; they hung Him on a cross, not knowing that He was Lord of the Universe. So much so that they wrapped Him in a shroud and hid Him in a tomb, dead. They pushed not leaves and twigs and small rocks in front of that open sepulcher, but rather a large stone. It was dark inside the body of Jesus hidden from light and wind and breath and life. But it didn t stay hidden long. Stone rolled away. Light radia&ng from inside tomb. Grave clothes unwrapped, neatly folded. Resurrec&on morning. Dead come to life. Glory beyond Glory on display. The Hidden God who hid Himself in flesh stepped out of the tomb into the world He once formed, an echo of what had taken place 33 year prior, when He once entered that same world through the womb that had formed Him, when angels sang Glory in the Highest. And there, an angel sat on that Tomb-Rock ringingforth the greatest words ever spoken other than Let there be, which were He is not here, He has risen! We Chris&ans do worship a Hidden God. But we don t do so blindly. We don t do so in darkness. We don t do so without reason. Why? Because we have seen a glimpse of the Hidden God from the back side. We have beheld His glory at the empty tomb. We have heard the glorious proclama&on He is not here, He has risen! It s Easter, and we have seen just enough of the Hidden God to know that that which we have not yet seen is worth the wait. Then, one day, when Easter morning becomes our own Resurrec&on experience, wait and the wonder will turn to sight. God s full glory will be on display before our very eyes. And we will join angels singing with full voice: To Him who sits on the Throne and unto the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever! Amen! (Revela&on 5:24) Can you picture it? Me neither. And isn t that Good News in and of itself. Rev. Rendell Hipps, Ac&ng Senior Pastor/ Minister of Discipleship

2 MINISTERING WITH SONG Each Thursday the Melodears, one of our senior adult musical ensembles, travel to area assisted living centers to share the joy of song and love of Christ with its residents. If you would like informa&on on how to join this group please contact the office or it s director, Nellie Prui*. A six-week look at some major and o8en controversial topics that can confound our faith and that stretch our imagina&on beyond belief. Led by Rev. Rendell Hipps, Wednesday nights, 6:15 7:00 pm beginning April 11, Fellowship Hall. Childcare is provided. 1) The Past: Crea&on and Genesis 2) The Future: End-&mes and Revela&on 3) The Enemy: Satan, Evil, and the First Death 4) The Fourth Dimension: Time, Eternity, and the Cross 5) The Des&ny: Heaven, Hell, and the Second Death 6) The Choice: Free-will, Predes&na&on, and the Sovereignty of God CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED The church office will be closed Monday, April 2 in observance of Easter. The church office will reopen Tuesday, April 3 at 8:30am. SPRING BREAK ACTIVITIES There will be no children or student activities on Wednesday, April 4, due to Spring Break. We will have regular supper, prayer meeting and Bible study. STUDENT MINISTRY UPDATE Our search for a full-&me Minister with Students is back on track! Please be in prayer for this search process and for the Search Advisory Commi*ee as we seek the person God has for FBC Hickory to lead our Student Ministry as well as being responsible for a variety of other ministry areas within our church. Please keep Rendell and the Search Advisory Commi*ee in your prayers. QUARTERLY CHURCH CONFERENCE Mark your calendar for our Quarterly Church Conference on Sunday April 22 in the fellowship hall. Fellowship meal at 5:00pm, mee&ng at 5:45pm. Call the office for reserva&ons. Wednesday evening meal prices apply. HELP FEED CHILDREN OF NCBCH During the month of April, our Missions Council will be collec&ng food items to support the Bap&st Children s Home ministry to feed hungry children and families. Look for more info on line or in your weekly order of worship.

3 Mondays in Spring: April 16 and May 14. Join Dr. Larry Phillips for a series of luncheon presentations Plain Talk About Aging: A Conversation - Theological, Psychological and Physical Aspects of Aging. Beginning in room 164 at 11:30am followed by lunch in the fellowship hall. A suggested donation of $8. Please sign up by calling the church office by the prior Thursday. Want to learn more about FBC Hickory and your place in it? DiscoveryTWO will be Sunday, April 8 from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm in Room 164. Sign up on our website at NOODLES FOR NCBM DISASTER RELIEF GAs and RAs will be sponsoring a spagheu lunch to raise dona&ons for North Carolina Bap&st Men Disaster Relief on Sunday, May 20, immediately following church. These dona&ons will help support the efforts of NCBM Disaster Relief in response to the hurricanes that ravaged Houston, Puerto Rico, Florida, and North Carolina this past fall. Tickets are $7.00 per adult and $4.00 per child (family max of $25.00). We will be selling &ckets star&ng in April. Gluten-free op&on will be available, please indicate when purchasing &cket. We hope you will help us support this important mission! WILD WEST DAYS - SATURDAY, JUNE 2 ND The response to the Wild West Days has been phenomenal, thank you. In fact, you caught us with our boots off. Many of you have asked when you can begin to bring your flea market items to the church. We are asking, if possible, for you to keep these items at your home as long as possible as the church has limited storage space. If it is not possible we have a storage unit across from the church and will be happy to store your items there. It has also been asked if the church will pick up your items. The church is not in a posi&on to pick up items. More informa&on will be coming out very soon. IMPORTANT REFUGE DATES Deposits past due for Beach Camp 2.0 Permission Slips past due for all Refuge ac&vi&es (youth and adults) April 7 from 8am to 12 noon Rent-a-Kid April 20 at 6:30 Refuge Cookout and Bonfire at the Compound April 30 CMT sponsorships due June Beach Camp 2.0 July CMT Mission Trip BAPTIST MEN S CONFERENCE The 2018 Missions Conference will be held on April 6-7, 2018 at Hickory Grove Bap&st Church in Charlo*e. The conference is open to all men, women, and youth. Conference includes worship, general sessions, breakout sessions, missions fair exhibits, missions tes&monies, volunteer supper and more! There is a $20 per person registra&on fee which includes all general sessions, all breakout sessions, name tag, materials and lunch on Saturday. There is also an op&onal "Mission Opportuni&es" Friday supper for $8 per person. Please contact the church office to sign up. OPIOD CRISIS ADDRESS AT ASSOCIATION MEETING On Thursday, April 19, our regional Bap&st Associa&on Mee&ng will be held at Lakeview Bap&st Church. Following the business/agency reports at 6:30pm, the program will begin at 7:00pm on the topic "The Church Addresses the Opioid Crisis." A8er the program, there will be resource people to help provide further informa&on concerning Opioid issues. Dr. Tate Cochrand, Professor at Southeastern Bap&st Theological Seminary, will be the keynote speaker. Anyone interested is invited to a*end. CHILDREN S MINISTRY SPRING & SUMMER DATES Music & Missions Finale Wednesday, May 23, 6pm VBS June 24-28, 6pm-8:15pm FBCitykids Camp July ON THE COVER... Rev. Rendell Hipps bap&zes First Bap&st Church Administrator Bert Schmid.

4 April 1-10:30am EASTER Why I Believe in the Resurrecon Rev. Ma* Hearn April 8-10:30am Beer Together Rev. Ma* Hearn April 15-10:30am Title: We are What He Is... Dr. Larry Phillips April 22-10:30am Empower Ministries Internaonal Rev. Ma* Hearn FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 339 Second Avenue, Northwest Hickory, North Carolina Volume 18, Issue 4 Published Monthly by First Bap4st Church, Hickory, NC Return Service Requested Phone: (828) Fax: (828) info@wc.cc Website: Rendell Hipps, Ac&ng Senior Pastor & Minister of Discipleship, Ma9 Hearn, Extended Pulpit Supply Preacher David Wachter, Interim Minister to Students Steve Clarke, Minister of Music & Worship Cindi Morrison, Director of Children's Ministry Bert Schmid, Church Administrator Andris Rozukalns, organist Staff (last name)@wc.cc Bible Study at 6:15pm the Fellowship Hall. A six-week look at some major and o8en controversial topics that can confound our faith and that stretch our imagina&on beyond belief. Led by Rev. Rendell Hipps beginning April 11. FBC GOLF TOURNAMENT Monday MAY 21 12pm Lunch; 12:30 Tee Time Catawba Country Club $60 per person Proceeds Benefit the Refuge Missions Trip to Savannah, GA

5 MINISTER ON CALL April 6 Rendell Hipps on call ( ) April 13 Larry Phillips on call ( ) April 20 Ma Hearn on call ( ) April 27 Pat Pearce on call ( ) DEACONS OF THE WEEK D?@ABCD EBF GH? W??I BE M@FAH 31 - AJFKL 6 Ashley Hightower, Coordinator Greg Watson Ruth Ann Carreira Norma Flores D?@ABCD EBF GH? W??I BE AJFKL 7-13 Daniel Lucaciu, Coordinator Chris Paulsen Kris&n Herring Susan Haire D?@ABCD EBF GH? W??I AJFKL Jim Meade, Coordinator Terry Johnson Dwight Has&ngs Ron Miller D?@ABCD EBF GH? W??I BE AJFKL Steve Palmer, Coordinator Sheree Watson Jim To*y Cody Wingler D?@ABCD EBF GH? W??I BE AJFKL 28 - M@S 4 Jim Woolf, Coordinator Gary Woods Jack Pressly Ki*y Yount We are now offering Chicken Salad If you would like a Chicken Salad Sandwich on Croissant or on Le*uce with Crackers as your Entrée or would like to buy a Container of Chicken Salad please call the front office by 4pm. A 16oz container is $7.50 and a 32oz container is $14. Did you know that the Salad Bar with Grilled Chicken Strips is available as an Entrée Choice every week? Just tell the server as you come through line that you want the Entrée Salad Bar we will give you a plate for your salad along with the evenings sides, bread & dessert. We will prepare your chicken strips as you fix your salad and bring it to you at your table. April 4 Lasagna Zucchini, Tropical Fruit Salad Salad Bar, Garlic Bread S&cks April 11 Apple Bu*er Pork Loin Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes Salad Bar, Biscuits April 18 Swiss Chicken Broccoli, Cooked Apples Salad Bar, Rolls April 25 BBQ Pork on Bun Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Salad Bar SECURITY TEAM April 1 Allen Wi*enberg April 8 Phillip Burns April 15 Rick Travis April 22 Nathan Bowman

6 RECENT BAPTISMS April 1 9am - Kara Wienberg 10:15am - Kara Wienberg Infants Melanie Wingler & Carla Ingram Walkers & Two s Ma* Ingram & Kelly Clark Three s & Four s Sonya Brown Coordinator: Children s Church: Children in Worship Katelynn Carter April 8 9am - Ashley Dyson 10:15am - Gail Ford Infants Kara Wi*enberg & Pam McCall Walkers & Two s Jill Pernell Three s & Four s Linda Jones & Kimo Mullinax Coordinator: Janice Barger Children s Church: Lee Bogle & Joy Knuckles April 15 9am - Krisn Herring 10:15am - Joan Schmid Infants Sandra Foster & Fran Ballengee Walkers & Two s Adriane Oxford & Beth Miller Three s & Four s Lisa Meade & Dana Woods Coordinator: Carol Ann Keller Children s Church: Cindi Morrison & Ashley Dyson April 22 9am - 10:15am - Dana Woods Ava Robinson Infants Adair Bowman Walkers & Two s Caroline Trado Three s & Four s Chuck Trado & Gail Ford Coordinator: Valerie LaBo Children s Church: Beverly Crosby & Sco* Sledge Blayne Robinson