THE BUILDER. The Newsletter of the First Baptist Church of Dunn, N.C. February 2019 Issue

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1 THE BUILDER The Newsletter of the First Baptist Church of Dunn, N.C. February 2019 Issue Proverbs 3:9-10 reads, Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. The Biblical writers often used images of farming and of making wine, turning pottery and building things as metaphors to convey their message. They were not meant to only speak of grain or green beans, they were meant to convey that how we spend our time, invest our effort, and honor God with the substance of our life is important. Recently, in a Wednesday night Bible study, I asked, How many of you do your devotions in the morning and how many at night? For me, I have found that giving God the first fruits of my day is paramount to setting my heart in the right direction. The first thing of substance I do every morning is to sit in my favorite spot and do my devotions, pray for the things on my mind, and try to listen to God directing me. I do think of God at night and pray in the last minutes of the day but giving God the first fruits of the day is what keeps me sane, helps me to deal with the terrors around me, focuses my vision to see beyond the distractions and toward God. To follow the Proverbs lesson, my barns are filled, and my vats are overflowing when I give the first fruits of the day to God. Sunday is the first day of the week, not the last. As Christians, we worship on the first day because it is the day on which Jesus was raised from the dead. Also, we worship on the first day because it is the first fruits of every week. At First Baptist, we honor the first Sunday of every month with fellowship around the Lord s table serving communion. More recently, we have begun to have a first Sunday fellowship before Sunday School as another way honor God with the first fruits of each month; the first fruits of our laughter, friendship, brotherhood and sisterhood. Giving God the first fruits is an exercise in directing all our substance, all the product of our labor and leisure, the very things we want our life to be about, toward God. Those of us who tithe know that when we write the very first check, or set up the very first draft, or put the very first amount of our cash in an envelope and set it aside for God, all the other expenses fall under the priority of trusting God in all things. And, in practicing faithfulness in stewardship, we learn, too, that tithing is more than just giving God the first fruits of our pay, it is putting God first so that all other things fall under His lordship. When we pray first each day, the rest of the day s priorities fall in line. When we start each week off in worship, the rest of the week seems to go better because the light of Christ has shone on us. Our barns are full and our vats overflow because God has had the first word to us and we see what is most important more clearly. As we move from the season of Epiphany, the first fruits of each year, the time where we celebrate that God sent Jesus so we can be included in God s promises, a time of realizing we are loved and included, to the season of Lent where we work to rid ourselves of distractions so that the Holy Spirit can do his best work in us, we discover that to receive the gift God wants to give us we must put faith first in our life. To grow as Christians into the peace God wants to give us, we must work so that our substance is directed toward Jesus. The most joyful time of my day is when I am giving God the first fruits. The most joyful time of my week is when I give God the first hours of the first day. The most rewarding thing I do is pausing before I am bombarded with each day s demands and I give God my attention so that God can teach me how to hear and see all the things I will face. Don t think of how you will fit God into your day. Give God the first of each day and God will show you what you need and what you can do without. MORNING GROUP Monday February 18th 10:00 Church Parlor EVENING GROUP Monday February 25th 7:00 Fellowship Hall We met last year s budget and ended the year $1, above what we needed! Thanks to everyone for their continued support of the church in many ways Budget Need $ 417, Budget Rcvd. $ 418,630.11

2 John 2:52 Kids Club 252 is on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30! There s something for every age so plan to come join in the fun and Bible lessons along with Kids Praise as we learn songs that teach us about God s love for us. We are practicing Easter songs now to sing on April 7th and April 14th. We will also sing for Mother s Day and Father s Day. Engage with Small Groups! Sunday Nights Feb. 10th, 17th, 24th and March 3rd, 10th, 17th starting at 6:00 with supper and ending at 7:30. Thanks to those parents who have been providing suppers! We still need someone to volunteers, so let me know if you can help. Wednesday Nights! We are covering Bible studies on GODLY LEADERSHIP through the month of February. The world often promotes certain styles of leadership that are not necessarily God honoring. Through scripture as well as current examples, we will look at what it means to be a Godly Leader. RSVP to the office if you want dinner at 5:30 then join us at 6:30pm for Bible Study. COMING UP: Winter Jam 2019 is in Raleigh Friday night March 22, Cost will be $35 this year to get preferred seating. Sign-up with Sara by Sunday February 10th. If we have at least 10 sign up we will go. Please register your youth for Caswell (July 8 th 13 th ) Cost $315/person (without taking into account fundraising). $190 will be due by Wednesday, February 13 th. Let me know if you have questions regarding this. I have to give Caswell our final numbers by February 15 th. Ask any friends you want to come now! (We plan on doing a big Pork Roast fundraiser around Mother s Day weekend. Youth will need to sell tickets ahead of time more info to come on this.) Feb. 3 Feb. 10 Feb. 17 Feb. 24 February Coordinator: Amanda Wise Lauren & Maddie Stephens Kim Weaver Nicole Davis & Audrey Wright Neil & Elizabeth Emory Ron McLamb Sarah & Robbie Pope Amanda & Alexa Wise Alexa Wise Sara & Mark Williams Denise Jarrell & Nicole Davis Matthew Jones Miranda & Christopher Moore Feb. 3 Chuck Turnage Feb. 10 Bo Jones Feb. 17 Larry Snipes Feb. 24 Kelly McLamb Candle Lighter Feb. 3 Brenner Boswell Feb. 10 Elijah Williams Feb. 17 Olivia Thompson Feb. 24 Bristol Stephens Scripture Readers Feb. 3 Sarah Weaver Feb. 10 Alexa Wise Feb. 17 Gracie Byrd Feb. 24 Ron McLamb

3 ARE YOU READY? VBS 2019: June 23rd - 27th We would like to reach kids during VBS at FBC Dunn. Would you like to help make that happen? We need: CREW LEADERS, MEAL MAKERS, BIBLE STORY TEACHERS, DECORATORS, and more! PLEASE don t wait! If you are interested in volunteering your time before or during VBS please contact Sara ASAP! Please start collecting: empty (16oz.) water bottles, shoe boxes, and paper towel rolls. Other donation requests: zip-lock bags (quart and gallon), flexible straws, duct tape, painters tape, play dough, pool noodles, 3oz. disposable cups, paper lunch bags, cotton balls, yarn (all colors), glue dots, sticky notes, washable markers, plain sponges, wet wipes, medium to large tapered plastic flower pots. An Easter cantata, Calvary s Love, will be presented by the adult choir on Palm Sunday morning, complete with an orchestra. This is the message of the intimate story of the grief, the fear, the hope, the love, the tenderness, and the longing of God for His children expressed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. If you would like to sing with the choir for this program, join them for practice on Wednesdays at 7:30. Simply Single, Yet Divine Fun and Fellowship Valentine s Dinner Saturday, February 9th 6:00 pm First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall RSVP by February 3rd office@fbcdunn.com If you consider yourself Simply Single, please join us for this event. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GOING? A mission trip to Belize is in the planning stages. The date being considered is June 29-July 6. There is plenty of work to be done at the youth camp and on some of the homes. Plan to come to an interest meeting on February 3 at noon in the sanctuary.

4 Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Dunn, NC Permit #51 Challenge for 2019 Each member is challenged to get involved in 1 THING in church life you have not been involved in before or lately. ***** So challenge yourself and step out in faith. You will be greatly rewarded. First Baptist Church of Dunn, Inc. 309 West Broad Street Dunn, NC (910) ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED We will once again be collecting items monthly for Operation Christmas Child! New for this year: save your used prescription bottles, remove the label and put in the collection box anytime. We are going to make fishing kits with a hook and line and these bottles are excellent holders for the kits. February Item is Coloring Books Our goal for 2019 is 275 boxes! BEGIN PRAYING FOR THE CHILDREN & THEIR FAMILIES THAT WILL RECEIVE THE BOXES. Personnel Pastor Minister to Families & Outreach Music Director Accompanist Administrative Assistant Custodian Dr. Len Keever Sara Williams Chuck Allen Mary Sue Godwin Angela Jones Maria Wadzinski IF:GATHERING 2019 A women s Conference First Baptist Dunn will be hosting a women s conference through a simulcast in March. It will be a wonderful gathering of amazing speakers, prayer, fellowship and enrichment. Please make plans to attend and bring as many ladies along as you can! Date: March 1-2 More Information to Come

5 FEBRUARY EVENT and BIRTHDAY CALENDAR Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat REGULAR ACTIVITIES EACH SUNDAY 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service 6:00 Youth Dinner 6:30 Youth Small Groups Christmas Child Item for February collection is coloring books. REGULAR ACTIVITIES 5:30 Baptist Dining 6:30 Adult Bible Study 6:30 Youth Bible Study 6:30 Children s Club 252 7:30 Sanctuary Choir OFFICE CLOSED ON FRIDAYS 1 2 Laverne Stamper 3 First Sunday Breakfast BANQUET 12:00 Belize Mission Mtg. Annabelle Scott Beth Bell Walt Jones Donna Godwin Jenny White Keith Houston Amberly Wilson Holly Blackburn Lauren Reece Campbell Phillips Kathy Mann :00 Deacon s Meeting 12 FBC Food Pantry Day 9:30-2: :30 Church Conference Bylaws Change Proposal London Hinson Angela Fusco Nicholas Parker Sara Godwin Lonnie Scott Fran Scott :00 Morning Prayer Grp Gabby Clayton Eric Sinclair Matthew Johnson Peggy Jones Katie Jackson Ruth Hope Morris Paula West Linda Lee Mitchell Scott Dwight Snow Ella Holland Michael Simmons Amy Suggs 24 Locke Godwin Donald Smith Larry Snipes 25 7:00 Women s Fellowship Nancy Wright 26 Buddy Creed Don t forget to save your prescription bottles.