GOOD NEWS. From the Pastor. In This Issue. Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God! - William Carey

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1 GOOD NEWS BEREA BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER April 2015 From the Pastor Earlene and I want to express our deepest appreciation for your warmth and friendly welcome you have extended to us. As I have begun my ministry as your pastor, I ve been very thankful for the faithful commitment to the Lord and His church, Berea, so many of you have exhibited through your words and actions. I can t wait to see all that the Lord has planned for Berea in the next few years. I was recently reading a friend s sermon on Isaiah 54: 1-3. The focus of his message struck me as I thought about the opportunities Berea will have during this Easter season. Isaiah 54: 1-3 reads: Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than her who has a husband, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. This prophecy was spoken for God s people and is as relevant for us today as it was when first spoken. The message focused on the image of stretching the tent for his church. I began to think about how our church s attendance during Easter will stretch our tents. People will attend one of our church s Easter services that do not normally attend our church or possibly don t attend any church. This will cause our tents to be stretched. May the love of Christ bring excitement and encouragement to each of us as we follow up through relational outreach with those the Lord has brought into His tent. In this Easter season may we remember the words of William Carey, one of the founders of the modern mission movement, Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God! Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God! - William Carey In This Issue From the Pastor Adult Sunday School Walk Across the Room NEHEMIAH Rebuilding our Lives Thank You, Choir April Choir Rehearsals Thank You from Peggy Weekly Church Activities ENGAGE Youth PinWHEELS Youth Activity Thank You from the Youth Spic and Span Day The Jelly Bean Prayer April Calendar, Birthdays and Anniversaries April Prayer Requests Dine at Chick-Fil-A Ronald McDonald House Missions HAPPY EASTER! Faithfully, Mike Jessee A COMMUNITY OF SERVANTS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY in Durham, NC

2 Adult Sunday School We invite you to join us for Sunday School at 9:45 am every Sunday. Come experience how several of the adult classes are studying The Community of Beloved Disciples. No matter where you are on your life journey or your age, there is a Sunday School Class for you and your family. We would be delighted to have you learn, explore, fellowship and develop your spiritual relationship with us. Sunday Bible Study Beginning on Sunday April 12 at 5pm, join us for a weekly bible study focused to grow more effective followers of Christ. What if you knew by taking ten steps across a room and saying hello to another person you could impact his or her eternity? It has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking a genuine interest in another human being. Discover how to partner with the Holy Spirit in a way that allows him to accomplish his kingdom-building activity through you. You can make the difference of an eternity for someone standing near you! This is something you can do, and it all begins with a simple walk across the room. WALK ACROSS THE ROOM Sunday April 12, 5pm Thank You, from Peggy Barringer In January of this year, our church was presented by the Seekers Sunday School Class a beautiful presentation of The Ten Commandments. At a time in American society when Christian and patriotic symbols are being removed from our schools and public buildings, it is refreshing that God s commands to us are now hanging in the front of our sanctuary. They serve as a reminder to us older folks and a great source of learning for the younger ones among us. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the class and especially Dennis Massey, master carpenter and framer, for this wonderful gift to Berea. Wednesday Bible Study Have you ever found yourself in life where everything is broken down and you are just surrounded by the rubble and ashes of a broken world? Would you like to know how to begin taking positive God inspired actions to rebuild your life or help someone with their life. Join us on Wednesday, April 8 at 6pm for a weekly bible study in the life of Nehemiah. NEHEMIAH Rebuilding our Lives Thank You, Choir, by Judi Kochik You did it! Choir members, you were committed to attend morning and evening rehearsals, you listened to your CDs, you encouraged one another, you selected and wore your biblical costumes, and you worked together with joyful attitudes to present the complete Easter cantata "In the Presence of Jehovah." Thank you for giving your time, sharing your talents, and for your willingness to present the wonderful gospel message though narrations and songs. Blessings to you! April Choir Rehearsals April 5 9:30 April 12 9:00 & 6:00 April 19 9:00 April 26 9:00 & 6:00 2

3 ENGAGE Youth The youth are engaging with one another as they are learning 10 steps to a life of confidence, self-control, and respect through the study Manners Made Easy by June Hines Moore. Good manners are important at every stage of life. Together we are going from self-conscious to self-confident, with the Golden Rule as our focus from Luke 6:31, Do to others as you would have them do to you. The purpose of learning manners is key to putting other people at ease, feeling better about themselves, and leaving all awkwardness and social fear behind, allowing our youth to become better examples of Christ through their actions. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only James 1:22 PinWHEELS Youth Activity On Sunday, April 19th, directly after the worship service, the youth will be participating in the PinWHEELS for Prevention Family Fun Day at Wheels Fun Park in Durham. Activities will include riding go karts, playing puttputt, hitting balls in the batting cage, roller skating and much more. This fun activity is allowing our youth to use the new manners they learned and to show community support for the Exchange Family Center. This will be our second year participating in this event, thanks to Peggy and Jim Barringer. Sweet Word of Thanks A special thank you to all for your help in making this year s Easter Egg and Youth Scavenger Hunt a success. Your prayers, time, donated candy, hard boiled eggs and snacks, were a blessing. It is a joy to reach out to our community, remembering what we really are hunting for this Easter...JESUS! May you each be blessed for supporting and participating in such a life changing opportunity each year. Again, thank you and Happy Easter! The Jelly Bean Prayer (A copy of this prayer was offered to all children and youth who came to the Easter Egg Hunt.) RED is for the blood Christ gave. GREEN is for the grass God made. YELLOW is for the sun so bright. ORANGE is for the edge of might. BLACK is for the sins that were made. WHITE is for the grace Christ gave. PURPLE is for the hour of sorrow. PINK is for the new tomorrow. 3

4 April 2015 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 5. EASTER Sunrise Service, 7:00 am Easter Breakfast/ Fellowship Choir, 9:30 am No Evening Services Choir Rehearsal, PinWHEEL s Youth Activity, 12:00 pm 26. Church Conference Youth Committee Meeting, 12:15 pm Choir Rehearsal, May Prayer Requests and Newsletter Articles Needed 1. Deacon s Meeting, 7:00 pm Finance Meeting, 7:00 pm 2. Dine at Chick-fil-A Support Keith Davis 5:00-8:00 pm Renaissance Village 9. Location Amy Rigsbee Private Event Sunday Weekly Activities and Times: Choir Rehearsal-9:00 am, Sunday School-9:45 am, Worship-11:00 am, Bible Study, 5:00 pm Spring Cleaning 10:00 am 2:00 pm SPECIAL DATES BIRTHDAYS 1 Jessica Matthews 1 Juanita Vickers 1 Dewey Reams 2 Elwood Massey, Sr. 2 Ayden Thornton 3 Andrew Simmons 6 Lee Berrios 6 David Call 7 Spencer Berry-Dry 9 Jay Fogleman 9 Grace Bennington 12 Alan Dry 14 Tracey Massey 16 Brian Vickers 17 Thomas Adams 17 Jo Anne Barker 17 Greg Rigsbee, Jr. 19 Jen Farrell 23 Bill Kirby 24 Herman Alloway 26 Earlene Jessee 29 Justin Dever ANNIVERSARIES 7 Jesse & Jessica Matthews 10 Mike & Lori Gentry 20 Jim & Peggy Barringer 22 Craig & Marcie Hutson 27 Earl & Cindy Boyd 4

5 April 2015 PRAYER REQUESTS Please keep our church family in your prayers, along with our: community, country, church, family members, friends, neighbors, government, military men and woman, those on the mission field and the world. Congregation members have specifically asked that we keep the following in your prayers: Frances Ferrell Sister-in-Law of Gilda Wade Stroke Gilda Wade Self Self Personal Jay Fogelman Husband of Linda Fogelman Bladder Cancer and Health in General Lori Gentry Self Self TMJ and Neck Rudolph Howard Brother-in-Law of Jo Anne Barker Mild Heart Attacks & Tick Fever Stephen Ferrell Brother of Gilda Wade Arthritis Dawn Westbrook Friend/Co-Worker Donna Massey Colon Cancer C.W. & Leslie Bing Friends of Wanda Hutson Missionaries In Africa Sandra Browning Friend of Jo Ann Massey ALS Bethany Brandon Friend of Jo Ann Massey Diagnosed with Bone Cancer Brian Vickers Grandson of Mack & Juanita Vickers Safety in Military, USAF Rich Kochik Husband of Judi Kochik CLL Christy Rigsbee Sister-in-Law of Amy Rigsbee Diverticulitis Dana Davis Mother-in-Law of Tish Rogers Treatment for Stage II Cancer If there is someone you would like to add to the Prayer List, please submit information by the 3rd Sunday of every month by to online at or in writing to the church office. Congratulations to Braxton Berrios, grandson to Linda and Jay Fogelman, for making the ACC Team last semester! Dine at Chick-Fil-A, Supporting Keith Davis We encourage you, your family and friends to dine at Chick-Fil-A on Thursday, April 2 nd from 5:00-8:00 pm, at the Renaissance Village location, located at 7836 Leonardo Drive in Durham, to support Keith Davis. Chick-Fil-A is going to donate a portion of all sales to Keith s cancer expenses. When you purchase your meal(s), you must mention that you are there for Keith and Terri Davis. Also, here is Keith s home address if you would like to send him a card: Keith Davis 5006 Tudor Place Durham, NC Please contact Wanda and David Hutson if you have any questions. Thank You! 5

6 Ronald McDonald House Missions by Susan Council Wish List Collection We will have our 5th annual Ronald McDonald House collection on the second Sunday in April (April 12). Collection bins have been prepared by the CIA group and placed in the vestibule for collection of donated items. Our total collection will be split between the Durham and Chapel Hill Houses. Provision of these day to day items for these children and their families, as well as preparing "home cooked" dinners are very appreciated. When we prepare meals, we need to do full preparation there or buy commercial kitchen prepared and sealed items for protection of the children. When we collect items for our annual collection drive, they can only accept new items as a precaution to guard the children against infection. A copy of their complete wish-list is available and distributed, but in general, they need kitchen items, hygiene items and toiletries, single serve food items, cleaning supplies and office supplies. Their website lists the following as "Critical Needs": 20 oz. paper bowls, Granola bars, Coffee creamer, Paper towels, Plastic forks and spoons and Disinfecting Wipes. Start bringing in your items and let's make this collection our best collection ever! Tee Shirts Families that stay at the House are asked to pay $10 per night; however, for families with large travel fees and medical bills, even this small fee for lodging is too much. By purchasing a shirt, for $10.00, you can provide one night's stay for a family with a seriously ill child. If you would like one of this year's teeshirts, please contact Susan Council at or scouncil@gmail.com. Contact Us Berea Baptist Church 5011 Fayetteville Road Durham, NC Church Office Hours: Mon, Tues & Thurs- 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Wednesday- Noon to 4:00 pm For security purposes during these hours, enter/exit using the main church office doors only. (919) Visit us on the web at Like Us On Facebook under Berea Baptist Church GOOD NEWS: APRIL 2015 NEWSLETTER BEREA BAPTIST CHURCH P.O. Box Durham, NC PLACE STAMP HERE He is risen! Come celebrate Christ s resurrection early in the morning with us Easter Sunrise Service, April 5th at 7:00 am followed by a fellowship breakfast 6