SANDSTON BAPTIST CHURCH

Transcription

1 SANDSTON BAPTIST CHURCH HIS LAST COMMAND, OUR FIRST CONCERN Volume 43, Issue 11 November 2018 I don t know about you but I can hardly believe that November is here! Yeah, I know that the weather is geng cooler and the days are much shorter and that football season is in full swing and of course the World Series is taking place (Go Red Sox!). Aside from the obvious things of fall, it means that Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas are right on top of us. As a result there will be many distrac- +ons and many things tugging at our personal (and church) priori+es. I m reminded of the story about a family seated around their table, looking at the annual holiday bird. From the oldest to the youngest, they were to express their praise. When they came to the 5-year-old in the family, he began by looking at the turkey and expressing his thanks to the turkey, saying although he had not tasted it he knew it would be good. A.er that rather novel expression of thanksgiving, he began with a more predictable line of credits, thanking his mother for cooking the turkey and his father for buying the turkey. But then he went beyond that. He joined together a whole hidden mul+tude of benefactors, linking them with cause and effect. He said, "I thank you for the checker at the grocery store who checked out the turkey. I thank you for the grocery store people who put it on the shelf. I thank you for the farmer who made it fat. I thank you for the man who made the feed. I thank you for those who brought the turkey to the store." Using his Columbo-like li5le mind, he traced the turkey all the way from its origin to his plate. And then at the end he solemnly said "Did I leave anybody out?" His 2-year-older brother, embarrassed by all those proceedings, said, "God." Solemnly and without being flustered at all, the 5-year-old said, "I was about to get to him." Well, isn t that the ques+on about which we ought to think at Thanksgiving +me (and for that ma5er everyday)? Are we really going to get to him this Thanksgiving? Make it a priority to be grateful and express your thanks for the Lord has done! See you on Sunday, Karl

2 Seems like this time each year I begin to take stock of how the current year is turning out and then look forward to the possibilities the new year offers. Part of my taking stock includes asking myself questions like: How is my Christian walk? What kind of Christian have I been? How does what I have been doing day-to-day impact Sandston Baptist Church, our community and, even, the world? I know these are works kinds of thoughts, but, as James wrote, What use is it, brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?... For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2: 14a, 26 (NASB)) So I m thinking, what have I actually DONE this year to demonstrate my faith? Do my works demonstrate my faith? What should I DO next year to show others Jesus? As I take stock, I invite you to do the same. And maybe use these questions as the starting point: 1. Suppose every member of Sandston Baptist Church were like me. Would we be a stronger or weaker fellowship? What if everyone attended Sunday worship the way I attend. Would we need a larger or smaller sanctuary? Suppose everyone participated in Sunday School and discipleship classes and small group study the way I do. Would we be a maturing body of believers or a body that does not grow? 2. What if everyone worked like I do at Sandston Baptist. Would we have plenty of Sunday School teachers and Extended Session volunteers and committee leaders? Or would we be limping by with just barely enough workers? Would our facilities look first class or run down? Would service and mission activities be thriving or languishing? Would Sandston Baptist be regarded as a lighthouse or a night light? 3. Suppose everyone gave financially the way I give. Would Sandston Baptist be increasing mission and benevolence support or curtailing the children s activities and programs? 4. Suppose every member of Sandston Baptist prayed like I pray. Would we be a church that is alive, full of vitality and filled with the Holy Spirit or would we be a dead or dying church? 5. What if every church member were like me? These are important questions that have a direct relationship to our faith. For as James wrote, I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18b) Something to think about. Under His Direction, Mark HERE ARE SEVERAL IMNPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE ON YOUR CALENDAR 2019 BUDGET PRESENTATION: On Wednesday evening, November 7 (6:30), we will have a Called Business Meeting to receive and vote on our 2019 Church Budget. FALL BACK : Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, November 4. Set your clocks back one hour Saturday night and enjoy an extra hour of sleep that Sunday morning!!! VOTING: Our Bosher Gray Building is the polling spot for the precinct in this area. Therefore, it will be in use from Monday, November 5 (so the workers can get things set up) through the morning of November 7. DECEMBER 23: We will have only one service on Sunday, December 23. It will begin at 10:00 am. IS THE CHURCH OPEN? If we experience inclement weather on a Sunday, you may: call the church ( ) to hear a recording about the status of worship services and Bible study. watch channels 6, 8, or 12 for updates. go to the TV station websites for information. If Henrico schools are closed on a Wednesday because of bad weather, we will NOT have any Wednesday night activities.

3 Autumn has certainly arrived in full force and we are entering the busy season of the year. During this busy season, excitement is everywhere and our schedules remain full of +me with family and friends. One thing we o.en do in November is begin Christmas shopping, or at least preparing for it. This year, while you are out and about, observe others and extend grace when needed. We have all been in situa+ons where our pa- +ence is tested or the kids throw tantrums or even when we lose our cool - which could be any variety of circumstances. This year, embrace the season with grace. Find the good in every situa+on. Smile at our neighbors and community members. Reach out and just tell that stranger that God loves them. Hold the doors. Tell that mama that it will be ok. Engage in conversa+on while wai+ng in lines. Be the light that we are called to be. Christmas Program We are in full swing for our prac+ces for A Country Christmas. Please save the date and mark your calendars to plan to join us on Sunday, December 9th at 5:00 p.m. (please note this date change) Rehearsal date and +me will be announced later. FRIENDLY CLUB The monthly Friendly Club meeting will take place on Thursday, November 15 at 10:30 a.m. Patty Townsend, Program Assistant in Horticulture of New Kent County office of the VA Cooperative Extension will be presenting a program about Birds. Meeting will take place in the sanctuary and brown bag lunch will follow. See you then! CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Orders are now being taken for poinsettias. Cost will be $12.00 each. Please contact the office ASAP to place your order. In November we will continue our series Big Questions about God on Wednesday nights, November 7 and 28. We will also be filling our Youth Shoeboxes on Wednesday, November 14, so be sure to get your supplies ready to put in your shoebox to help out Operation Christmas Child! If you are not in youth and don t have time to pack a shoebox or would like to donate items, youth will be putting together shoeboxes with any extra goodies that we have to help try and reach our church goal of 500 shoeboxes! We will have a youth group retreat on January 11-13, please be sure to check your or see Justin to sign up for our trip to Camp Piankatank for games, activities, team building, and helping us to focus on our relationship with God and each other! Please make sure you are part of our youth group mailing list - sbcyouth.info@gmail.com or part of our youth Facebook page (SBC Fusion) in order to get updates on youth events listed here or new ones that come up! You can also follow SBC Youth on Twitter and Instagram for

4 We are in full swing with shoeboxes! Have you been prayerfully considering how you will Be Part of the Story this shoebox season? Packing a shoebox is a great first step. The opportunity for a child to hear "The Greatest Story Ever Told" lies within each shoebox. Sandston Baptist is connected to the larger church, and through that connection, we are connected to thousands of communities all over the world who are just waiting for the opportunity to share the Gospel message which is made possible through the distribution of shoeboxes. Another way to be part of the story is to work with us at the SBC Drop-Off Center during National Collection Week (Nov ), where we receive shoeboxes from neighboring churches and individuals. Over the past eight years that we have served as a drop-off location, we have handled an average of 3,200 shoeboxes during National Collection Week! Areas of service are greeters (meeting the public and unloading shoeboxes from vehicles), prayer partners (offering prayer over shoeboxes with those who have brought them), cartonizers (loading individual shoeboxes into large cardboard boxes and recording an accurate count), and heavy lifters (loading filled cardboard boxes onto a trailer for transport to the Collection Center at New Bethesda). This is an important first step in the shoebox journey. While we do not inspect individual boxes during this step, our work here at the local level is very important to the ministry. It is how the boxes are prepared to go to the next step. If you want to be part of that next step and see the larger picture (literally!), join us as we travel to Charlotte, NC (Nov. 30-Dec. 2). You will stand or sit along side thousands of volunteers from all over the country coming together for one purpose to prepare over one million shoeboxes for the final step of their journey. Just think, your hands will be the last to touch a shoebox before it is placed into the hands of a child. Whether you choose to help here at the local level, or travel to Charlotte, or both, you will be blessed beyond anything you can imagine. The bonus? We have a really great time!! The only qualifications required to serve in either place are to love Jesus and love His children on-the-job training will be provided!! Sign-up sheets for both opportunities are located on tables in the front foyer and back hallway. In addition, an information sheet about travel and lodging details for Charlotte can be found there as well. We hope you have found your way to the table located in the back hallway to choose an item or two to add to your gift. An optional "love offering" will help us continue to make these items available for next year. As we continue to pray for and remember our brothers and sisters who were affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, would you consider packing an extra shoebox to honor them? As a result of the devastating flooding, many lost the items and shoeboxes they had already packed. Above all things, as you pack your shoebox, remember these basic ideas what goes in the box is fun, what comes out is Eternal! Evangelism (the shoebox opening doors for children to have a glimpse at The Greatest Story), Discipleship (the 12-week program of study to help these children grow in their faith, just as our third and fourth graders recently experienced here), and Multiplication (these precious new disciples of Christ, sharing The Good News with their families and their communities, growing the Kingdom of God, one shoebox at a time). Come, Be Part of the Story this year, as together we will meet our goal of 500 Gospel Opportunities! 500 children who will potentially be joining us in Heaven because we chose to give them that blessing that would not be possible any other way. Above all else, don t forget to pray, asking God for His preparation of children to receive and the calling out of volunteers to serve, as together we will Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. Palm 96:3 Good News, Great Joy!!! Brenda Crain and Jean Jones Note to RA s and GA s At the monthly meeting on November 11, RA s and GA s will be packing shoeboxes. RA s and GA s are asked to bring an item for the box. And they can bring some spare change to help pay for the postage on the shoebox to be shipped overseas.

5 As we approach the Thanksgiving season I am reminded of how blessed we are to have such dedicated teachers in our Sunday school. Please take a moment to thank your teachers and then offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for those He has called to this task. Pre-school Division: The amazing staff in the Preschool Division is eager to welcome and nurture the preschoolers (ages infant through 5) by introducing them to God s love in a safe and loving environment. We strive to share God s wonder through stories, activities, and interaction with your children. We are located on the first floor of the education wing. We have a wristband policy in place as a security measure for our preschoolers. Also, in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for all of our preschoolers and staff members, we ask that preschoolers not attend if within the last 24 hours they have had a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or a continuous hacky cough. We look forward to the opportunity to share God s love with your preschooler and watch them grow right before our eyes. Children s Division: Our children's division is located upstairs and divided according to grade level, 1st 5th grades. During this time of their life, children should explore the world around them. Here they will explore the biblical stories and truths, and begin to relate these to their lives. From playground talk, to school situations, to home life - they are facing many early life decisions on how to treat others and make wise choices. Our children s ministry will support their growth and exploration of these biblical truths while pursuing a life with Jesus in their hearts. Youth Division: This is where our middle and high school kids are provided a safe place to be themselves, express their feelings, ask questions, and grow in their faith. Led by caring and nurturing adults, teens learn the values and find the strengths needed to face a difficult world. This group meets every Sunday morning, in our Youth House, looking at various topical and biblical studies. There are also Wednesday night activities (6:30-7:30) including games and Bible study, as well as monthly Sunday night bible studies and mission opportunities. College/Career: Live on Facebook during the Sunday school hour. God is working in our Sunday school groups. I encourage you to find a place for yourself and your children so that we can all grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. In His Service, Bonnie Abernathy The monthly meeting of The Compassionate Friends of Sandston will not be held in November. Our December meeting will be held in conjunction with the Williamsburg TCF chapter on December 9th for the Worldwide Candlelight Remembrance Service at St. Martin s Episcopal Church in Williamsburg. Details included in next paragraph or for further information on how a family may participate in the candlelight service, please call Susan Goodin at A service of remembrance will be held at St. Martin s Episcopal Church, 1333 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg on Sunday, December 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Program with special music and personal reflections at 6:30 followed by candle lighting at 7 p.m. You may bring a photo of your child and you will have the opportunity to say a few words of remembrances, if desired. Refreshments will follow the ceremony. Wow, this is such an exciting time of year here at Sandston Baptist! Opportunities abound to share the love of Jesus with many. As has been a tradition here for many years, we will be providing the Henrico County Christmas Mother with hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves that will be distributed to families served by this program. A Christmas tree is located in the back hallway for you to place your donations. If you are not able to get to that area, one of our ushers will be more than happy to deliver your donations for you! The deadline is Sunday, November 18th. This is a church-wide mission project and all are invited to participate. Your support of WMU sponsored church-wide missions opportunities throughout the year is very much appreciated. Thank you! Jean Jones, WMU Director

6 Activities Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 6:30 Singles 6:30 HIS to 7 pm Pancake Supper 4 5:30 Prison Ministry 5 2:00 Lowder 6 10:00 Suddith 2:00 VanLear 7:00 Williamson 7 5:30 Dinner 6:30 Activities for Preschool, Children, Youth Called Business Meeting 7:30 Adult Choir 8 8:00 Brotherhood to Oregon Hill 6:30 HIS :15 RA and GA Meetings 12:00 Branches SS Luncheon :30 Activities for Preschool, Children, Youth, Bible Study, Discipleship Class 7:30 Adult Choir 15 10:30 Friendly Club Meeting 6:30 HIS SHOBEBOX COLLECTION WEEK IN THE BOSHER-GRAY BUILDING (NOVEMBER 11 19) :30 Men s Basketball No Dinner Or Activities Office Closed Office Closed :30 Men s Basketball :30 Dinner 6:30 Activities for Preschool, Children, Youth Discipleship Class 7:30 Adult Choir 29 6:30 HIS 30 6:30 Gingerbread Workshop OCC Trip to Charlotte Warehouse (11/30 12/2) MENUS FOR NOVEMBER Nov. 7 - Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin's Nov No Dinner Nov. 21 No Dinner Nov Chicken pot pie, fruit, salad, biscuits, dessert

7 Birthday Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Joshua Talley 2 Bernard Adams Gary Groux Bishop Roberts Leah Steele 3 Karyss Milby 4 Sheila Cross Rachel McClure 5 6 Larry Pitts Thomas Riley Jason Rochon Aris Thomas 7 Joseph Hart Thomas Milby 8 Bootsie Braswell Emma Rose James Ward 9 Carl Hoffmann Bill Johnson 10 Emma Campbell Wayne Pollard Sue Rainey 11 Liz Allen 12 Carolyn Frise 13 Krista Allen Wayne Witherspoon Judy Clements Lynn DiMarco 16 Eryn Leyda Jack Robertson 17 Lauren Casillas Patrick Tanner 18 John Bivins Paul Burke Mark Haden Donna Loving Kathy Robins 19 Suzanne Blyer Katie Christopher Martha Lander Lindsey Rose Mark Snyder David Wilcox 20 Elizabeth Lander 21 Marie Ward 22 Reta Douglas Edward Drake Jonathan Nolte Charles Taylor 23 George Gurney Stewart Meredith III 24 Bryson Hamp 25 Linda Christian Donna Haller Ricky Leake 26 Mark Blanton Sarah Larsen Tina Motley Michael Rochon 27 Tommy Evans Bill Poarch 28 Kim Bivins Melissa Cottrell Debbie Downey Kimberli Harris Nancy Johnson 29 Susan Shaw 30 Bill Beazley Lauren Heilman Jonathan Holmes Jake Schultz

8 You may be aware that deaconesses are often asked to serve grieving families by hosting a light meal after funeral or memorial services. This ministry allows families and friends to share their love and support with the bereaved family, and the ministry allows you the opportunity to express your love and support in a tangible way. Would you like to join our team of volunteers? In helping the deaconesses, we provide filling, healthy, reception style foods. We have found that this finger-food style approach lends itself well to providing usable leftovers for the family to take home and/or we can easily share with others in our community (for example our local firefighters). The church furnishes ham and turkey rolls. Volunteers receive an 2-3 days in advance of the date when food is needed, with information on when the church is open to receive foods. Volunteers provide food whenever they can, but participation every time is not required. Families are ALWAYS blessed and appreciative of this expression of love through this simple gesture of church support. And you are blessed knowing this ministry reaches so many outside our church. If you would like to help or learn more about it contact Marie McLaughlin or the church office. LOOKING FOR OUTREACH MINISTRIES IN NOVEMBER There are plenty of opportunities for men (all men regardless of age): PANCAKE SUPPER, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 3rd is a community outreach ministry offering all one can eat pancakes along with bacon, sausage, beverage, butter and syrup for $5.00. Dinner is open to SBC members/ attendees and community residents who read the marque or hear about this inexpensive and popular breakfast supper spread the word to your neighbors and co-workers! Men needed to cook and be prepared to welcome those attending and to clean up during and after the meal! Cooking will start around 2:00, serving & greeting starting at 4:45, and the essential cleaning up 6:00-8:00! For more info, contact Ron Molnar. OREGON HILL HOMELESS BREAKFAST, Thursday, November 8th at the Pine Street Baptist Church. Join other men gathering in the Pickett Ave. parking lot 8:10 a.m. to ride the church bus (or car pools) at 8:30 a.m. you should see vehicle taillights leaving for Pine Street Baptist Church. There is always room for this quarterly enjoyable fellowship and more than breakfast community ministry. Newcomers are welcome to cook and serve homeless persons and assist in other aspects of this Richmond Baptist Association ministry. Brief Brotherhood meeting to follow the breakfast at the Oregon Hill Center. A CHRISTMAS DINNER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WAY community ministry 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 6. Guests are those in community served by THE WAY as a hands up (not hands out) ministry. Brotherhood will prepare the meal to be served to guest by volunteers of THE WAY. If you d like more info or would like to be involved, contact Greg Martin or Mike Edwards. Other Ongoing Ministries include: Visitation to Sitter and Barfoot (next visitation date is December 13), Toolbox Ministry and Transportation Ministry. We will be participating in the Angel Tree Ministry again this year. Kick off Sunday is November 18. Then on December 8, there will be an Angel Tree party. If you would like to know more or would like to be involved, please contact Charles Hankins. FINANCIAL REPORT Offerings 09/30/18... $ 7, /07/18... $ 15, /14/18... $ 15, /21/18... $ 7, /28/18... $ 11, Offerings (Oct)... $ 57, Offerings to Date... $498, Weekly Needs... $ 13, Needs To Date... $575, UNIFIED MISSION UPDATE Unified Missions (to date)... $ 23, Unified Missions Goal... $ 35, UM Weekly Needs... $ Needs To Date... $ 28, During the month of November, we will collect beef and Brunswick stew for Eastern Henrico County FISH.