Graduates Recognition

Transcription

1 The Messenger First Baptist Church Hilton Head Island May South Forest Beach Drive (29928), P. O. Box 5922 (29938) Rev. Brett Myers FBCHHI Welcomes Rev. Brett Myers as Our New Pastor The congregation is excited to begin the journey with Rev. Brett Myers as our new pastor. His family has relocated to Hilton Head Island, and we are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us. Your prayers and encouragement for Rev. Myers and our church are greatly appreciated. Annual Youth Spaghetti Fund Raiser Dinner and a Show Awana Awards Wednesday, May 2 6:30 PM - Held at the Family Life Center Ice Cream Social held after the program Please come support our children as they show us what they have learned during the year. Wednesday, May 9 Youth Spaghetti Fund Raiser and Children s Spring Musical Lift You Up Join us Wednesday, May 9, for the Youth Department s annual spaghetti dinner fund raiser (prepared by our very own resident Italian cook, Tom Beretta) served in the Family Life Center Multi-purpose Room from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Donations are graciously accepted to help defray the cost of a Discipleship Weekend held locally this summer for our Youth. Proceeds help will cover the costs of speakers, food, materials, etc. Then, our Children s Choir will provide the entertainment with their annual Spring Musical beginning at 6:15 PM. Please support both our youth and children by participating in this annual event. Graduates Recognition We will recognize our graduates on Sunday, May 20, during the morning worship service. If you have someone graduating this Spring, please call Lynda Hopkins at so that we can make a note of it and recognize them that Sunday. May Mission Project God s Gift Baby Bottle Collecting $ for the Pregnancy Center and Clinics of the Lowcountry Details on Page 7.

2 Visiting with the New Pastor Dear Church Family, I count it a tremendous privilege to be your new pastor, and to do life alongside you here in Hilton Head! Our family is so excited about this calling on our lives. Kristin and I had always talked about moving here upon retirement after so many years of vacationing here and worshipping with you but never expected Reverend Brett Myers to actually get the opportunity to be with our vacation church before my hair turned gray. We praise God for this new direction in our lives and look forward to many years of journeying together with you. Dr. Keller meant a lot to me personally. I want to say what a privilege it is to follow such an incredible man of God as him. He answered several phone calls through the years with my questions about how to handle certain situations as I learned to pastor. I cannot remember a single time that he didn t invite me to his office while I was here on vacation to check in with me and give me counsel regarding whatever ministry situation I was encountering at that time. He and Linda have done an incredible job leading this church for nearly half of our church life, and I know that he will be missed. Praise God for a couple who truly finished well in their vocation, and I know that God will continue to use them here or wherever He leads them to impact lives. While I know I have some big shoes to fill, I also know that God will equip and will lead through me and our staff as He is always gracious to do so. I know there are exciting days ahead as we build on the excellent work God has completed through all of those who have gone before us. What s Next? Lots of people have been asking me about my vision for the church. I can and have answered that in part, but the sum of that answer requires time. It would be foolish of me to come in and cast a vision on day one before I learn the context and can fully grasp the existing vision and mission of the church and how that is playing out. So, over the next several weeks, I will be meeting with some of the leadership and simply learning what God is already doing. I am also aware that we have a couple of staff positions open and needing to be filled. Chuck Workman and Anna Garduce did some amazing work in their respective ministries, and in helping to find internal replacements to carry on their work. Thanks so much to the many of you who have stepped in to bridge the gap in those ministries. You are doing an incredible job! For the same reasons mentioned above, I want to take time to really grasp our current vision as a church and to get to know our current leadership in order to gain wisdom as to who might be a good fit for these positions. So pray for me and our personnel committee as we begin to pray through God s plan for these positions. What can we do for now? Pray! As you have and will hear from the pulpit, the most important thing we can do as we transition is to pray. In this church s first smooth pastoral transition in its history, and with the great plans God has for the future, you can be assured that Satan sees the threat and he will attack. So, pray. Pray for me. Pray for your church staff. Pray for your leadership. Pray for the marriages and families of our leaders. Pray for unity, for harmony, and for a hedge of protection from the evil one as we set out into the bright future that God has for our church. What s Happening? We have lots of really exciting things going on this month. I want to encourage you to be at both our Awana Awards Ceremony and at our Children s Choir Presentation on the first two Wednesday nights this month, as we encourage and celebrate with these children all the hard work they have put forth. Thank you to all the workers who have led in these ministries as well. We will also celebrate the hard work of our high school and college seniors on Sunday, May 20 as we recognize and pray over them. Remember that after May 9, we will begin our summer schedule and no Wednesday Bible studies will meet except for Dan Wheeler s study. Finally, I want to sincerely thank all of you for your love and prayer as my family has made this transition and begun to settle in. We have had people come sit with our kids while we unpacked and have received many calls to check in on us and encourage us during the transition. Your Personnel and Search Committees were of great encouragement with our transition. Thanks especially to our office staff, Richard, Lynda, Mary, and Paulette for the gracious way they have welcomed and accepted me. They have been a tremendous encouragement, and I am thrilled to work with such an amazing team. Thank you so much for the love and encouragement you have given to me, Kristin, and our four girls. We look to the future with great expectations as God continues to use this church for many more years to impact our island and the communities around us for Christ! Your brother in Christ, Brett Myers 2

3 Dear Church Family, Thank You Church Family Words cannot express our gratitude for your extravagant expressions of love for us! Your words, cards, gifts, hugs, and tears wrote an engraved letter of love on our hearts! It has been our joy to walk with you and our Lord for these past many months and years. I know our Lord will continue to hold you in His hand of security and serenity! As our dear friend, Earl Wheeler would always say, Walk with the King. We will always LOVE YOU! In Calvary s Tie, John & Linda Keller Dr. Keller s Final Sermon The Church Staff and Members of the Personnel Committee offer Dr. Keller and his wife, Linda, words of thanks and appreciation during his Retirement Reception. Dr. John Keller Celebrates His Final Day as Pastor of FBCHHI April 22, 2018 It was with great thanksgiving that the members of FBCHHI honored Dr. John Keller at a reception following his final sermon as pastor on Sunday, April 22, He and his wife, Linda, were given some mementos and gifts from the church staff and Personnel Committee recognizing them in a special way. Many cards of thanks and appreciation came in from the congregation for this couple who has served this church, congregation, and community so faithfully for so many years. We ask that you keep them in your prayers for God s provision and protection during their retirement years. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate Dr. Keller s retirement. A Note of Thanks April 7, 2018 To Whom It May concern: Your Easter Sunrise Service was most beautiful, inspiring and perfectly planned and presented. From the parking, the walk to the beach, the music, the prayers and the sermon - all together you people blessed hundreds, if not thousands. thank you! Sincerely R. Dean Ramey 3

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5 FBCHHI s Vacation Bible School Is Headed Our Way Monday - Friday June :00 AM - 12:00 Noon Both Children and Volunteers Attending can register via our website at Click on the Ministries Tab>Children s Ministries>Vacation Bible School This page will have information about this year s Vacation Bible School. Scroll down the page to this link: Select Volunteer Registration or Participant Registration, and complete the form. Volunteers are asked to attend a meeting about VBS after the worship service on Sunday, April 15. They will meet in room #8 in the Children s Building and will include lunch. Please call Wendy Gudz to let her know you will attend at Open Rehearsals for Sanctuary Choir Summer is a good time to try singing in our Sanctuary choir. We don t use robes and the music is easy. We want you to give it a try. You are invited to an Open Rehearsal on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 6:30 PM, to see what you think. If you like it, continue through the summer rehearsing with the choir and singing on Sundays. Call Richard Wade at for more information. Learn to Play Handbells This Summer Richard Wade will be holding a weekly workshop this summer for handbells. Adults and youth from 6th grade and older are invited to attend once a week on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM, in the Music Suite, for an hour each session. If you have ever wanted to learn how to play handbells, this is a great opportunity. Contact Richard Wade at for more information. Welcome New Members Victor Vic and Abby Williamson Joined by Church Letter From Southmont Baptist Church Denton, TX 4/1/2018 Rev. Brett and Kristin Myers and Eden Myers Joined by Church Letter Daughters Karis, Lydia, and Abigail are enrolled in Sunday School. From Cornerstone Church Calgary, Canada 4/22/2018 5

6 Savannah River Baptist Association Has A New Director of Missions Rev. Woody Oliver Assistant Pastor of Northlake Baptist Church, Garland, TX, Teacher/Coach - Greenwood School District, Greenwood, SC General Manager - Dunn Enterprises- Myrtle Beach, SC Not only is our church getting a new pastor, but our Association - the Savannah River Baptist Association - is getting a new Director of Missions. Many of you will remember that Rev. Darius was our Interim Director of Missions for several years. Rev. Woody Oliver is a native of Summit, New Jersey, but South Carolina is home. Born in 1960, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior July 27, He and his wife, Dena, have four children (one is married) and three grandchildren. Woody has a passionate desire to honor and glorify God by leading the lost to accept Jesus Christ, discipling the believer to become more like Jesus Christ, and equipping the disciple to serve Jesus Christ in the context of a community of believers. Woody is very passionate about his wife and family. He loves to watch people grow in Christ. He knows that when people accept Jesus Christ and get intentional about becoming more like Jesus, everything changes. Woody admits that he is a flawed but redeemed guy who loves Jesus Christ and desires that his life bears fruit of that love as he seeks to passionately live out Biblical principles. 6 Rev. Woody Oliver New Director of Missions for Savannah River Baptist Association He is pictured above with his wife, Dena. Education: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary Warren Wilson College Experience: Pastor of Harmony Baptist Church, Edgemoor, SC Pastor of Woodfields Baptist Church, Greenwood, SC **** The SRBA Director of Missions Search Committee believes without a shadow of a doubt, that this man is God s choice for our association to be our Director of Missions. Through much prayer and seeking God s guidance and wisdom through this search process, the committee members have been unanimous on this decision. We need your prayers and your support as we continue to work together Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) ( Simply interpreted, the Kingdom means that God in Christ has control of our lives, and that everyone, everywhere has the need to know and experience Jesus as Savior and Lord. Our people would be so enriched if we could incorporate a keen understanding of the Kingdom of God into our hearts and then teach it, sing it, preach it, work at it, write about it, and pray constantly for it to happen. As God is sovereign and King in Heaven, so He is over all of His creation on earth. ) in and through the churches of the Savannah River Baptist Association. SRBA DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS SEARCH COMMITTEE: Pastor Allen Perry, Chairman (Coosawhatchie Baptist Church) Pastor Jim Baker, Vice Chairman (Grays Hill Baptist Church) Mary Jane Richardson, Secretary (Ridgeland Baptist Church) Suzanne Crosby (Hardeeville First Baptist Church) Pastor Jack Gatlin (Maye River Baptist Church) Pastor Leon Meadows (Riverview Baptist Church) Pastor Kevin Crosby, Ex-officio /Moderator (Red Dam Baptist Church) Main Campus & Euhaw Campus Scott Shields, Associational Liaison (South Carolina Baptist Convention)

7 Missions in Action We Filled the Well for Deep Well Thank you to all who contributed food items to our well to benefit Deep Well s pantry in the month of April. This is a great benefit to our community. It is our prayer that local families in need will not only benefit from the nutrition and comfort it will provide but that they will also feel the love and prayers of our congregation. FBCHHI May Mission Project Baby Bottle Fund Raiser to Benefit the Pregnancy Center and Clinics of the Lowcountry You will have an opportunity to fill a baby bottle with monetary donations for the Pregnancy Center as part of our church-wide mission opportunity for May. The God s Gift baby bottles will be available in the foyers of the Sanctuary and Family Life Center. Place the currency or check in the bottle and return it to the church by the deadline of May 28, placing them in the baskets provided in the foyers of the Sanctuary and Family Life Center. IMPORTANT: All money and checks will be given directly to the Pregnancy Center and checks need to be made out to the Pregnancy Center and Clinics of the Lowcountry, not to First Baptist Church. Tax credit letters will come directly from the Pregnancy Center to you. Empty or full, baby bottles must be returned by the deadline. Congratulations on Reaching Our Missions Offering Goal Collected from November April Goal: $40,000 Collected: $41,475 50% of the money collected goes to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. 25% goes to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. 25% remains in our local church to be used for mission projects and to support opportunities as designated by our Missions Committee. Mission Trip to Calgary, Canada Our church has scheduled another mission trip to Calgary, Canada, this summer. As in the past two summers, we will send a mission team to help with some outreach camps for children. The dates for the trip are July 28 through August 4, If you are interested, please call Nancy Staab at Financial Statement Year-to-Date Budget Receipts Goal thru 03/31/2018 $223,572 Year-to-Date Receipts thru 03/ $221,425 Year-to-Date Expenses 03/31/2018 $183,233 Budget Receipts Goal for April 2018 $93,155 Month-to-Date Receipts thru 04/30/2018 $94,735 Month-to-Date Expenses thru 04/30/2018 $58,369 Annual Missions Offering thru 04/30/2018 Goal: $40,000 $41,475 7

8 May Calendar Tuesday, May 1 12:00 Noon - Administrative Council, Family Life Center, Multi-purpose Room Wednesday, May 2 5:00 PM - Deacon s Meeting, Family Life Center, Rm #7 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Wednesday Night Dinner 6:30 PM - Awana Awards, Sanctuary with an Ice Cream Social after the Awana Awards 6:15 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal, Music Suite Thursday, May 3 National Day of Prayer Saturday, May 5 12:00 Noon - Women s Connection Spring Get-Together, Palmetto Hall Golf Club Sunday, May 6 Regular Worship Schedule Baby Bottle Collection for Pregnancy Center and Clinics of the Lowcountry Begins Tuesday, May 8 12:00 Noon - Personnel Committee Meeting, Church Library Wednesday, May 9 4:00 PM - Missions Committee Meeting, Family Life Center, Rm #2 4:45 PM - Parent s Council Meeting, Family Life Center, Rm #6 Dinner and A Show 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Spaghetti Fund Raiser, All proceeds go to assist Youth Camp Donations Gladly Accepted. Family Life Center, Multi-purpose Room 6:15 PM - Children s Choir Spring Musical - Lift You Up, (all other Wednesday Night activities and rehearsals are canceled so you can attend this special event. Sunday, May 13 Happy Mother s Day Regular Sunday Schedule Tuesday, May 15 4:30 PM - Building and Grounds Committee Meeting, Family Life Center, Rm #2 Wednesday, May 16 4:00 PM - Stewardship Committee Meeting, Family Life Center, Rm #2 Summer Wednesday Night Schedule Begins No Wednesday Night Dinner, Children s Programs, Bible Drill, Ladies or Men s Bible Study and will resume in the Fall 6:30 PM - Adult Bible Study, Family Life Center, Rm #4 Sunday, May 20 Regular Sunday Worship Schedule 10:30 AM - School Graduates Recognition, Sanctuary Wednesday, May 23 6:30 PM - Open Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal, Music Suite Sunday, May 27 Regular Sunday Worship Schedule Monday, May 28 The Church Offices Will Be Closed for the Memorial Day Holiday Wednesday, May 30 Summer Wednesday Night Schedule Thursday, May 31 Baby Bottle Collection for Pregnancy Center and Clinics of the Lowcountry Ends Staff Rev. Brett Myers - c/o - lhopkins@fbchhi.org Rev. Richard Wade - Minister of Music and Education - rwade@fbchhi.org Mary Hayes - Business and Financial Director - mhayes@fbchhi.org Lynda Hopkins - Ministry Assistant - lhopkins@fbchhi.org Paulette Gardner - Church Receptionist - pgardner@fbchhi.org Richard Lewis - Custodial/Maintenance Dennis Matson, Jr. - Custodial/Maintenance Sunday Schedule 8:15 AM - 8:45 AM - Open Prayer Time and Devo onal, Family Life Center, Room #2 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM - Coffee Fellowship Time, Family Life Center, Mul -purpose Room 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM - Sunday School For All Ages, Various Buildings 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM - Worship Service, Sanctuary 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM - Middle School High Tide, Family/Student Building 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM - High School High Tide, Family/Student Building Tuesdays 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Handbell Choir Rehearsal, Music Suite Wednesday Night Schedule 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM - Wednesday Night Dinner, Family Life Center, Multi-purpose Room (Last Dinner - Wednesday, May 9) 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM - Children s Choir Rehearsal, Children s Building, Room #7 (Last Meeting - May 9 - until Fall) 5:30 PM - 6:10 PM - Youth Choir Rehearsal, Music Suite (Last Meeting - May 9 - until Fall) 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal, Music Suite 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM - CORE, Parents of Children and Youth Study, Family/Student Building 6:20 PM - 7:30 PM - Awana, Education/Children s Building, Atrium (Last Meeting - May 2, until Fall) 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Adult Bible Study in the Family Life Center, Room #4