Steeple Views. Worship This Sunday. New Baptist Covenant. Get a Life: Shaping the Days God Gives You

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1 Steeple Views Issue 4 January 28, 2009 First Baptist Church Monroe North Carolina Worship This Sunday Holy Communion will be observed during morning worship Deacons will deliver and serve Communion to our shut-ins Sunday afternoon Rachel Hissam, daughter of Ken and Jennifer Hissam, will be baptized during worship. The youth will be stationed at the sanctuary doors following worship to receive the annual SOUPer Bowl Offering for the local homeless shelter. This offering is received nationwide on Super Bowl Sunday to help feed the hungry. Maya Angelou and President Jimmy Carter will be the featured guest speakers at the Regional Gathering of the New Baptist Covenant being held at Wake Forest University School of Divinity April Event will include worship services and workshops offering strategies for churches to respond to pressing social and spiritual needs in a time of economic crisis A Friday evening dinner sponsored by Baptist Today magazine will honor Dr. James Dunn with a lifetime achievement award For more information about this event, visit Get a Life: Shaping the Days God Gives You a workshop to help you discover meaning and purpose for your life as a Christian continues for the next three Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:15 in the Multipurpose Room taught by Dr. Hewett

2 This Week at FBC Sunday, February 1 8:00 AM Board of Deacons 9:15 AM Prayer Room Open (Room 305) 9:15 AM Media Center Open Circulation: Ada Thomas 9:45 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Preschool Extended Session 11:00 AM Service of Worship 12:00 PM Lunch for Youth/Chancel Ringers/ College Group (Harris family) 12:45 PM Youth Group Chancel Ringers College Group Bible Study 1:30 PM Youth Choir Monday, February 2 10:30 AM Song Service at Brian Center 6:30 PM TOPS Tuesday, February 3 6:00 PM Coordinating Committee Wednesday, February 4 5:30 PM Fellowship Meal Buffet: baked chicken, limas, rice, broccoli casserole, rolls, dessert Kid s line: same as buffet 6:15 PM Music Time (age 3-4) Music Makers (K-grade 1) Children s Choir (grades 2-5) Middle School Discussion Prayer Meeting 6:30 PM Get a Life Workshop 6:45 PM Mission Friends (age 3-K) Girls Missions (grades 1-5) Boys Missions (grades 1-5) Youth Handbell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir Thursday, February 5 10:00 AM Young-at-Heart Committee 7:00 PM Faith in Fiction Book Club in the Parlor Saturday, February 7 5:00 PM Men s Bible Class in the Multipurpose Room Pastoral Care Emergencies Minister on Call January 30-Feb. 6 Paul Sims By the Numbers Sunday, January 25, 2009: Bible Study Attendance Adults Youth... 6 Children Worship Attendance Weekly Budget Requirements...$ 12,992 Budget Receipts...$ 10,635 Budget Requirements to Date...$272,732 Budget Receipts to Date...$284,522 Loaves & Fishes is requesting contributions of 5 pound bags of rice and grits, plus boxes of oatmeal for February.. Place donations in the marked container in the Gathering Area. MissionsFirst February s LOOSE CHANGE OFFERING recipient is Turning Point, the local domestic violence shelter for women and children. Staffed by professionals, survivors and volunteers, they provide victims of domestic violence and their dependent children with safe shelter while they learn how to break free from their abuser. Staff and volunteers teach clients how to live an independent and violence free life. They also provide a 24 hour per day, 7 day per week hotline for crisis calls. Crisis intervention services are available on the phone or in person 24 hours a day. For more information about Turning Point, visit our website and click on affiliations/links. Save the date: OPERATION INASMUCH Saturday, April 18. Watch for upcoming details on how you can be involved. Women of the Church Laity Retreat February 27-March 1 Hilton Myrtle Beach at Kingston Plantation $30 registration fee Kate Campbell featured Speaker & Musician ] For registration, contact Sara Spahr Stubbs ] For more information about the retreat, contact Christy McMillin- Goodwin at cgoodwin@oaklandchurch.com ] Contact The Hilton Myrtle Beach at Kingston Plantation for reservations/information by calling or online at

3 The Worship of God February 1, 2009, 11:00 a.m. Anthems by the Chancel Choir Consider the Lilies by A. Laurence Lyon O Sacrum Convivium by James Biery Communion Homily by John Hewett Level Ground Scripture: Isaiah 49:8-13; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17 Matthew 6:19-21; 25-34a Audio CDs of our worship services are available in the church office Audio recordings of sermons are available on our website, Memorials First Baptist gratefully acknowledges the following memorials: By Margaret Morton, Mr. and Mrs. Al Kessel, Sarah Greaser, Betty and Sarah Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. Brent Sherman, Zaytoun & Associates, Mr. and Mrs. John Beard, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCain, Carolina Pest Control, William Geer, Louie Sell, Rennie Cuthbertson, Frances Hunley, Mr. and Mrs. Page Winchester, Jr., George Broadrick, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Funderburk, and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Thomas in memory of Ed Gaskins. By Clayton Daniel in memory of Harvey Morrison. By Dr. and Mrs. Paul Helms in memory of Ed Gaskins and Sandy McGinn. By Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parker in memory of Ed Gaskins and Yvonne Clampitt. By Delana Helms in memory of Bette Hawfield and Ed Gaskins. By Joy Shute in memory of Marvin McManus. By Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sain in memory of Yvonne Clampitt and Levern McMullen. By Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Price in memory of Levern McMullen. By Mr. and Mrs. Gene Herrell in memory of Ed Gaskins, Yvonne Clampitt, McLendon Helms and Sandy McGinn. By Mr. and Mrs. Fred Long in memory of Ed Gaskins and Levern McMullen. By Buddy Lyon in honor of Wilma Owens. By Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parker and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sain in honor of Jane Hawkins. Annual Dinner & Variety Show Sunday, March 8 If you plan on participating in the Show, contact Sara Spahr Stubbs Members of the Faith in Fiction Book Club invite you to join them for their monthly meeting on Thursday, February 5 7:00 pm in the Church Parlor as they review and discuss Mary Doria Russell s Book A Thread of Grace The Book Club meets the first Thursday of each month Refreshments/fellowship afterwards Committees Sunday School Greeters: Tapestries Class Church Office Volunteer: Frances Vaughan Security: Narthex Harold Funderburk Gathering Area Ken Handy Ushers: Bryan Tarlton, Nancy Thomas, Ann Wild, Frances Vaughan, Lorey White Offertory: Ray Casner, Vickie Tuggle, Ann Handy, Doris Ramsey Preschool Extended Session: Nursery-Christina Kale Preschool Patti Duncan, Carol Tyson Money Counters: Frances Vaughan, Bob Cassels Wednesday Night Helpers Pat Turner, Diane Whitley, Aileen Sowder, Arnold Bivens First Baptist Family Please remember the following in prayer. Russ, Terri and Matt Sharp John Whitley at home John Ward at home Arleigh Gaskins Harriet Wilson at home Marie Bonthuys, grandmother of Gerhard Ungerer Wilma Owens, mother of Jane Hawkins Buford Huntley, brother of Babs Simpson Judy Moore, step-mother of Wendy Poovey Rev. Kenn Hucks, Senior Pastor of Sardis Baptist Church, at CMC-Union

4 Farther Along... Last week our antiquated sound system went off its rocker. The wireless microphone lost its frequency and began trying to communicate with the air conditioner, which resulted in massive feedback in the sanctuary and many loud, popping noises. The wizards at Holloway s Music Center quickly restored order, but warned us it might return during worship Sunday morning. If you noticed unusual levels of alertness, it was our concern that we all might lose our frequencies and begin feeding back upon ourselves. It occurred to me that this is not at all unusual. Occasionally we all need what the IT folk call a complete reboot of our systems. We get off course. Our receivers pick up the wrong transmissions. The result is static, and noise, and loss of communication. Worship is the reboot. When we gather together as the body of Christ, we come asking God to restore us to our true North, to the perfectly tuned frequency of God s love, so that we can again hear what God is saying. For some it happens during the reading of Holy Scripture, for others the prayers, for still others the sermon. For me it s all about the music. When the choir sings, when we sing, I can actually feel the inward dials being spun back to my original settings. Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace. Exactly. Some of you don t care much for Sunday worship. I ve been here nearly two years, and I ve yet to meet you. You are members of the church, but to what end? You don t come, you don t serve, you don t give. What sort of relationship is that? Maybe you need a complete reboot. Sunday morning we re entering the waters of baptism with a young woman who s made a profound decision to follow Christ, and we ll gather at the Lord s table for the perfect sacrament of grace. You should be here. What are you going to do Sunday morning that s worth more than this? Join us this Lord s Day. The tuning and the grace are free. John Hewett Steeple Views First Baptist Church First Baptist Church 109 Morrow Avenue Monroe NC Free and faithful Baptists ministering in the heart of Union County since 1852 Web-site... John H. Hewett, Senior Minister... john.hewett@monroefirstbaptist.org Paul M. Sims, Minister... paul.sims@monroefirstbaptist.org Sara Spahr Stubbs, Minister... sara.stubbs@@monroefirstbaptist.org Joyce Helms, Interim Organist Marsha Sexton, Business Manager... marsha.sexton@monroefirstbaptist.org Kathy Cole, Ministry Coordinator...kathy.cole@monroefirstbaptist.org Cissy Brewer, Weekday Preschool Director... chbrewer@carolina.rr.com RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TO: 109 Morrow Avenue, Monroe, NC PRSRT STD Non-Profit Permit #34 Monroe, NC 28110

5 The following members of our church family are observing anniversaries and birthdays in February. For additions or corrections, please call the church office. Anniversaries: 2 - William and Judy Edwards 3 - John and Jan Hearn 23 - Richard and Glenda Poindexter 26 - Franklin and Mary Akeers 29 - John and Pat McMullen Birthdays: 1 - Derrell Livingston 2 - Nick Coffey Jennifer Hissam 4 - Stewart Totty Brody Tyson 7 - Madison Walters 12 - Kay Harrill Burt Humphries Nikki Taylor 14 - Betty Bivens Lindsay Harris 16 - Bob Cassels Tom Pegram 17 - Nancy Thomas Barbara Gaddy 18 - Hope Thompson 20 - Ernie Hinson 21 - Joe Harris Lola Lee Derrick Lowery 22 - John Looney 25 - Misty Tarlton 26 - Jean Duck Tiffany Taylor 27 - April Dawkins Frances Knight Carolyn White 28 - Kaden Haver Patrick Pegram Morgan Lilley REMINDER If you, your class or group would like to provide lunch for the college group following worship on Sunday this winter or spring, contact Paul Sims

6 February 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Board of Deacons, 8:00 am Communion & Baptism, 11:00 am 2 Song Service at Brian Center, 10:30 am 3 Coordinating Com., 6:00 pm 4 5 Young-at-Heart Committee, 10:00 am Faith in Fiction Book Club, Parlor 7:00 pm 6 7 Men s Bible Class 5:00-7:00 pm, Multipurpose Rm 8 Board of Missions, 3:00 pm 15 Baptism, 11:00 am 9 Poovey/Denmark Group, 2:00 pm, Library Children s Ministry Team, 6:00 pm Board of Christian Ed., 7:00 pm 16 Song Service at Brian Center, 10:30 am 10 Board of Trustees, 6:30 pm Lottie Moon Group, 7:00 pm, with Aileen Sowder Handbell Festival Spartanburg, SC Ash Wednesday Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 5:30 pm, Multipurpose Rm Community Lenten Service 12:00 noon Central United Methodist Lions Club Spaghetti Supper, 6:00 pm, Multipurpose Rm 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 12:30 College Group 5:00 Youth Group 5:45 Youth Choir 6:30 Snack Supper 7:00 Chancel Ringers 5:30 Fellowship Meal 6:15 Children s Music Middle School Dis. Prayer Meeting 6:30 Bible Study 6:45 Children s Missions Youth Handbells 7:30 Chancel Choir