God has a great adventure in store for us, whether on this side or the other side of heaven!

Transcription

1 Rev. Mike Winters Pastor Dr. Ray Jones, Jr. Pastor Emeritus WISE BAPTIST NEWS A PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF WISE BAPTIST CHURCH April 4, 2017 A place for faith and fellowship with family and friends. Dear church family, On Monday I attended the funeral service for my first cousin, Ted, at First Baptist Church of Richmond, VA. It was the most inspirational and most touching funeral service I have ever experienced. The officiating minister was Rev. Jim Somerville, who, ironically, lived in the Wise area as a child. After the service, I told Rev. Somerville that he preached the best funeral message I had ever heard. The message unflinchingly addressed the reality of death, but also beautifully held up the eternal hope that faith in Christ brings. While preaching about Jesus preparing a place for us [in heaven], he used a powerful story-figure of speech. Rev. Somerville was preparing to go on a great adventure, backpacking in Colorado. He placed his backpack on the kitchen table. Each time he passed by, he remembered something he needed to pack and set it on the table. Over time he would add and take away items. Rev. Somerville said that while Ted was dying, he was preparing for a great adventure. Therefore, Ted took great care in how he spent his limited time and energy. He decided who to see, when to see them. Ted decided what and who was most important. When Rev. Somerville woke up in Colorado, he threw back the curtain in his room and saw a majestic mountain with a dusting of snow on top. He had arrived at his destination. He said that now he keeps expecting to get a text message from Ted, in heaven, saying he has arrived at his destination! God has a great adventure in store for us, whether on this side or the other side of heaven! Love, Pastor Mike How to Join Wise Baptist Church: Express one of the following to the Pastor during the closing hymn: Transfer of Letter Transfer membership to Wise Baptist Church Baptism Desire to express faith in Christ through baptism Statement of Faith Baptized believer not on a membership roll Watch Care Desire to be connected to our Church family without official membership Important Dates Youth Lock-In April 7, 7pm Church-Wide Luncheon & Children s Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt April 9, 12pm Community Love Deeper Event April 12, 5:30-8pm Seder Service April 13, 7pm Easter Service April 16, 11am Roofing the Rock April Children s Choir April 30, 11am Prom Attire Sunday April 30, 11am Inside Announcements Page 2-3 BDays/Anniv. Page 4 Youth News Page 4 Children s News Page 4 Photos Page 5 Opportunities Page 6 DEACONS Jerry Baird Gil Blackburn Jeff Dotson Ron Helton John Kennedy Matt Meade Mike Osborne Edgar Owens Daniel Ray

2 Announcements Love Deeper Event Wed., April 12, 5:30-8pm J.J. Kelly Football Field Wise Baptist is joining area churches, local businesses & individuals from the community in sponsoring a Praise Higher, #Love Deeper Community Event to raise funds for the Nick England Scholarship Fund. Kids, 12 & under, are invited to participate in a massive Egg Hunt. Afterwards, there will be a variety of events & concessions available for a nominal fee: face painting, bouncy houses, putt-putt courses, photos with the Easter Bunny. There will also be local entertainment such as cloggers, worship bands, gymnasts & choral groups. WBC is donating 500 filled Easter eggs for the event. We already have the plastic eggs & our youth will be filling them during their Lock-In on Friday night, April 7. If you would like to donate candy, stickers or small toys to fill the eggs, please bring these to the church no later than Thursday, April 6. Jeff Dotson can provide additional information if there are any questions: ROOFING THE ROCK It s time once again to reconvene and scale the Rock Roof - this will be our first planned weekend (weather permitting) that we begin this year s process of finishing the roofing at the Rock. Let me know if you are willing and interested so we can make the necessary scheduling arrangements. We are looking for roof and ground people! Final details to follow once we have some firm commitments of manpower THANKS for all your help. Breakfast and lunch provided :))))) Please contact me ASAP if interested! Our 2017 WBC Working Man Poster Model says. I NEED YOU UP HERE! ~ John Ponish As you pray, please remember Ron Swindall, Robert & Jennifer England & family, Joanne Kennedy & family, Shirley Willis (The Laurels), Papa Joe Smiddy (The Laurels), Ray and Carolyn Jones, Artie and Clifford Bailey, John and Kay Wright, Pat and Fred Adkins, Bea and Glenn Hill, all the cancer patients in our area, and our men and women in the military. Hospitalized: Wesley Kennedy (Ridgecrest Manor, Duffield, VA) Our Shut Ins: Elizabeth Davidson (Heritage Hall Wise), Hazel Dixon (Mountain View), Martha Gilliam, Eddie Culbertson, Vernoy Bolling, and Florine Pennington (The Laurels), Betty Easterling (The Laurels) *If you know of other prayer concerns, please contact the church office ( ). To my church family, My family and I are forever grateful to each of you who helped make the memorial service for Kim a special memory in our hearts--to Pastor Mike for all the arrangements, to our musicians, to each of you who spoke, to each of you who prayed, and to each of you who helped to prepare the scrumptious meal. We were blessed to have that meal to share and spend time with family and friends. We thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts. My heart and soul will always be with my church family at Wise Baptist Church. Again, thank You. Pat Boggs & Family YOU can be a part of this year s Summer Mission Trip! If you would like to go to Tarboro, please contact John Ponish. If you are unable to go, please join us for a CHURCH-WIDE LUNCHEON on Palm Sunday...donations towards the meal will go towards the Summer Mission Trip. * Ham is being provided by the church & side dishes & desserts are being provided by the Summer Mission Team members.

3 Seder Service Thursday ~ April 13 ~ 7-8 pm Join us for a special time of worship as we reflect on the meaning of Passover and how Jesus fulfilled God s promises through His death and resurrection. We will observe a Passover meal from a New Testament point of view. The Passover celebration was an anchor that helped hold the people of God together throughout their history. Every object in the service: the candles, yeast, bitter herbs, unleavened bread, and the four cups are loaded with meaning that beautifully tells the story of God and His people. When Jesus came, He became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and thus fulfilled the promises and hope of Passover. We will need to know by Sunday, April 9 if you plan to attend, so that adequate preparations can be made. You can contact the church office or indicate this on the Communication Card in your bulletin.

4 New choir members are always welcome with open arms! The sanctuary choir rehearses each Wednesday evening at 7:50pm, following dinner & Bible study. If you are interested in learning how to play handbells, please see Donna Hutchinson! Our Jubilation Ringers will be leading in worship on Easter Sunday. April 5 April 7 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 13 Holly Cline Alex Maine Sandy Mullins Sue Kennedy Karen Ponish Sunny Kennedy Sarah Lane April 10 David & Sandy Mullins April 13 Steve & Debbie Collins Wise Baptist Church Youth Ministry LOCK IN This Friday, April 7! Meet at the youth building at 7pm. If you are interested in participating, please contact Bryon Burton at *There will be no Youth Bible study on April 9 because of the Lock In on April 7-8, and the Youth will not be meeting on April 16, Easter Sunday. Troy & Winnie Jones Scholarship Scholarship applications for the school year will soon be available for those wishing to attend a Baptist college or university. Please see Teresa Adkins for more information. Applications will be due June 1. WBC Children s Ministry The Children s Ministry at Wise Baptist has several special activities planned to help celebrate Easter this year! March 26-April 16 - books about the first Easter will be given to each child April 9 - Morning Worship: Palm Processional - Church-Wide Luncheon (sponsored by the Missions Committee; financial donations towards lunch will go towards funding the Summer Mission trip) - Children s Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt April You ve Been Egged!...The Children s Ministry Team will hand out candy-filled Easter eggs with an invitation to attend the Easter Worship Service to neighbors & friends. April 16 - We encourage children & parents to bring fresh flowers on Easter Sunday morning before worship to help Flower the Cross. April 30 - Children s Choir will sing & ring during morning worship MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Children s Ministry Team Dinner Meeting May 7 Barter Theater May 30

5 Mike Osborne shares with the congregation about his past mission trip experiences and invites others to participate in this year s Summer Mission Trip to Tarboro, NC June 24 July1. Here, Mike is demonstrating how the electric hammer works, for those less skilled in the area of construction! If you are not on the Nursery Rotation list, look what you are missing! See Susie Clasby & volunteer!

6 Volunteers this Week A Place for Faith and Fellowship with Family and Friends Deacons On Call: 4/02-4/08 Mike Osborne, Gil Blackburn 4/09-4/15 Daniel Ray, Edgar Owens Building Stewards: Ron, Dan, Scott S Instrumentalists: Susan M., Susan S. Worship Welcome Team: Dave Belcher, Misty Belcher, Jeff Kiser, Oscar Raile, Daniel Ray S.S. Greeters: 4/09 Mike & Rebecca Osborne 4/16 John Kennedy Nursery: 4/09 Regina Carson, Noah Hall 4/16 Kathy Osborne, Ali Stuedemann Children s Church: 4/09 Butch & Donna Hutchinson 4/16 Debbie Collins PA: 4/09 Mike Osborne 4/16 Oscar Raile Tellers: April Cliff Carson, Jeff Dotson May Martha Blackburn, Mike Strouth Ushers: 4/09 Jim Sturgill*, Bob Adkins^, Kenny Bowling, Matt Meade, Daniel Ray, Johnny Robinson 4/16 Roger Viers*, Harold Witt^, Jerry Baird, Stan Kunigelis, Edgar Owens, Gary Smith, John Thacker *Offertory Prayer; ^Choir Ushers) Wed. Serving Teams: 4/05 Linda Bailey, Karen Ponish, Ruby Salyers 4/12 Teresa Adkins, Jean Aker, Bonnie Owens Wed. Meals: 4/05 Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread 4/12 Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Slaw, Chips Children-in-Action: 4/05 Susie Clasby & Sandy Mullins 4/12 Susie Clasby & Sandy Mullins WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES Sunday Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Youth 6:00 pm Monday Piecemakers (1st & 3rd) 9:30 am Caring Friends (2nd & 4th) Singing Sunbeams 4-5 pm Wednesday Missions Committee (1st) 5:00 pm Fellowship Meal 6:00 pm Adult Bible Study 6:45 pm Children-in-Action (Grades K-6) Nursery (Birth-Preschool) Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal 7:50 pm Thursday Women on Mission (2nd) 2-4 pm Rev. Mike Winters Contact Information Mailing Address: 8915 Red Maple Dr., Wise, VA MikeWinters@w isebaptist.com Phone: Cell: Phone:(276) Website: wisebaptist@verizon.net Fax: Wise Baptist Church P.O. Box 777 Wise, VA Like us at: Wise Baptist Church and at Wise Baptist Youth Thought for the week: Pack for the great adventure that God has for you!