4500 Highway 65, Conway, SC

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1 Volume 29 Issue 10 October 2017 The Bible alone is our highest authority. We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ. We are saved by the grace of God alone. Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King. We live for the glory of God alone. Do you believe these statements? I think I can represent the whole of Maple Baptist Church by stating that we believe these five statements. These statements are of great significance in defining what we believe as a Christ -following church. Since and if so, then this month is a significant month for us. 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed to the door of the church of Wittenburg, Germany his Ninety-Five Theses. This act was like a shot heard around the world that formally ushered in what we know as the Reformation Era. October 31, 1517 was a defining moment. Luther was an important human instrument to bring in the era. However, other significant persons and events played vital roles in the reformation. We find that through it all God is the author of it. John Wycliffe is called the morning star of the reformation. It was his writings that stirred the notion that there is a great need for knowledge of God s Word. As Wycliffe studied, he found that salvation was by no one else but Jesus Christ. Wycliffe s writings made their way to an area that is now Czech Republic. They were picked up by a man named John Hus. Hus found the need for scripture and scripture alone as the highest authority, and there is no other way to salvation but Jesus Christ. In 1415, he was burned at the stake for his convictions. Before his death, Hus made a prophetic statement. "You are now going to burn a goose, (Hus signifying goose in the Bohemian language:) but in a century you will have a swan which you can neither roast nor boil." The swan arrived on the scene 100 years later that resulted in the beginning of the Reformation Era 500 years ago, October 31. Other reformers emerged. Two of them were Zurich Swingli and John Calvin. The five statements cited at the beginning of this article emerged during the Reformation to summarize the Reformers theological convictions about the essentials of Christianity. Therefore, we owe much gratitude to God for raising up the leaders who risked their lives and in some instances gave their lives for the convictions that we today, hold dear. As I thought about all of these things, one thing really struck me to the heart. The reformation movement had as its start the return to the Bible as God s Word on how we are to believe and how we are to live. God can reveal Himself, generally, through other means. However, God specifically reveals Himself through His Word. To young Timothy were written these words: From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 Sola Deo Gloria Maple Baptist Church 4500 Highway 65, Conway, SC maplebaptist@yahoo.com Pastor Gary Reeves cell pastormbc4500@yahoo.com Member of the SC Baptist Convention and the Waccamaw Baptist Association

2 When God is about to do something great, he starts with a difficulty. When he is about to do something truly magnificent, he Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Guy Majewski AM Elizabeth Calder & Rachel Fleming PM Kristi Bratcher 1 Flowers Available 3 to 4:30 pm Christmas in KY meeting Raymond Hairston AM Ava Norris & Barbara Sarvis PM Pam Allsbrook Keith Sarvis AM Tonya Todd & Joyce Moran PM Melissa Stephens David Harris AM Melissa Stephens & Melissa Boyd PM Helen Stephens Rick Moran AM Helen Stephens & Pattie Hairston PM Kristi Bratcher Columbus Day Flowers Available In loving memory of Lucille B. Harrelson, Joyce R. Winburn & Cecil F. Winburn by Jimmy & Jane Winburn Wednesday Supper 6:15 pm Children s Choir 7pm Youth Bible Study 7pm Prayer Mtng 7:15 pm Page 2 Maple Messenger

3 Life is really about one thing Love. Life is all about love because God is love. 1 John 4:8 He Who does not love, does not know God, for God is love. Prayer is all about love. It is the grace-filled communion of life with father, Son and Holy Spirit. Prayer and faithful reading of God s word are our most powerful means of experiencing God and growing in our relationship with him. Prayer is when the tide of loneliness begins to recede. Monthly Challenge: Psalms contains 150 prayers. Can you find them all? Appreciate and act October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month, reminding church members to thank their hardworking ministry leaders. But the people in the pews though they might lack official church titles also play important roles in doing God s work. In User Friendly Churches (Regal Books), researcher George Barna compares the behavior of people in growing vs. stagnant or declining churches. Members of growing churches actively participate in the church s ministry. They did not divorce their faith from their lifestyle; their faith was their lifestyle, Barna writes. They took seriously the classical Reformation doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. By contrast, laypeople in stagnant churches tend to observe rather than participate. They perceived their role as being in the audience in the stands, Barna notes, nodding approvingly in efforts to demonstrate religious behavior as the clergy went through their paces. Appreciate your pastors, but then follow their example by living out your beliefs! SUNDAY COFFEE AND SUCH - 9:30AM; SUNDAY SCHOOL - 10AM; WORSHIP GATHERING WITH CHURCH - 11AM; TOPICS - 6PM; WORSHIP GATHERING WITH CHURCH- 7PM WEDNESDAY SUPPER - 6:15PM; BIBLE STUDY - 7PM Page 3 The Maple Messenger

4 Woman s Missionary Union Maple on Mission Lead with prayer: Pray for Courage and Compassion We love missions! We serve others, step out into the world, cultivate relationships, and demonstrate God s love. But do we remember that prayer is the heart and most basic work of believers? How can we expect the Lord to open doors and call hearts to him without prayer? Let s begin with prayer. The October Emphasis is on Global Hunger and we are participating in the SC WMU Christmas Backpacks for Appalachia project you can get a flyer with the supply list in your bulletin on Sunday or download it from the Maple website. Psalm 34:12-16(NASB) 12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To This was contributed to the previous Maple Cookbook by Martha Ann Johnson. Martha Ann has served as choir director and VBS organizer in the past, and is currently in charge of the annual Nativity Expo. She and her husband Charles raised three girls who are all now married and moved away from the area. 3c unpeeled apples, chopped 2c whole cranberries 1 1/4 c sugar 1/2c brown sugar 1 stick margarine 1/3c chopped pecans 1 1/4c quick rolled oats 1/3c flour Place apples in 2 quart baking dish. Add cranberries and sugar. Melt margarine and stir in brown sugar, oats, flour and pecans. Spread this mixture over apples, cranberries and sugar. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. cut off the memory of them from the earth. Get geared up for Maple s Fall Festival This year it is on October 28 between 2:00 and 6:00 pm. Tons of fun, games and food. Bring all of your friends and family. WMU Meeting Dates Oct 7 Dorothea Long Sewing Ministry 8:30am Oct 6 Bible Study/ Fellowship Group TBD Ethel Stephens Circle Oct 17 Sallie Powell Group 2:30pm He will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:19-21 Current balance in the account $167, Don t Forget Your Pledges! Volume 29 Issue 10 Page 4

5 , he starts with an impossibility. Armin Gesswein Thursday Friday Saturday DEACON FAMILY ASSIGNMENTS A-B: Rick Moran C-Di: Dominic Mason Do-Ha: Jonathan Stephens He-Johnson (A-K): Alan Jordan Johnson (L-Z) - Lee: Guy Majewski Lef-Norris (A-E): Steve Hall Norris (F-Z) - Ri: Keith Sarvis Ro-Ta: Raymond Hairston Te-Z: David Harris 1 Josh Hucks 3 Jackson High 5 Karen Cole Becky Edge 9 Tonya Todd m pm m :30pm :30pm :30pm Ushers Counting Sunday David Harris Robert Taylor Billy Shannon John Johnson David Harris Sara Lynn Edge Robert taylor Mission Friends after children s sermon RAs, GAs, Topics 7pm Discipleship Training 6pm Adult Choir meets 5pm 6 Ava & Ronnie Norris 8 Guy & Kathy Majewski 15 Martha Ann & Charles Johnson 17 Pam & Neil Allsbrook 19 Terry & Michael Stevens 22 Kristi & Russell Johnson How many times does Jesus say we should forgive others? A. 7 B. 70 C. 77 D. 70 x 7 E. C or D, depending on the translation Answer: E (See Matthew 18:22.) 10 Jacelyn Spearman 15 Pamela Blake Robert Edge 16 Brian Traver 17 Jeffery Cross Jeremy Cross 19 Robert Taylor 20 Sallye Beth Prince 22 Cheri Lewis Ann: Kristi & Russell Johnson 23 Earline Edge Linda Ann Parker Volume 29 Issue 10 Page 5

6 Maple Baptist Church 4500 Highway 65 Conway, South Carolina Growing a Family of Faith Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Conway, South Carolina Permit No. 111 Return Service Requested Maple Baptist Staff Pastor Rev. Gary Reeves Music Director Jacelyn Spearman Secretary Julie Holliday If you would you like to be removed from this mailing list, call or maplebaptist@yahoo.com October 8 Ministry Opportunities Sunday s Meeting - 1st Sunday 8:30 am RAs, GAs, Acteens, & Challengers 7:00 pm Mission Friend after children s sermon Brotherhood Breakfast - 2nd 8:30 am Church Council Meeting - TBA Business Meeting - 2nd evening The Lord s Supper - 5th, Morning Worship Discipleship Courses 6:00 pm Tuesday Street Reach Ministry - 2nd 6:00 pm Sallie Powell Prayer Group Meeting - 3rd 2:30 pm Wednesday Supper 6:15 pm Youth Discipleship 7:00 pm Children s Discipleship (G s K-6) 7:00 pm Young Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm Prayer Service and Bible Study 7:15 pm Thursday WMU Bible Study / Fellowship - 1st at 7:00pm Saturday Dorothea Long Sewing Ministry 1st at 8:30am October 28