May, 2011 Volume 73, No. 4. Remembering

Transcription

1 Volume 73, No. 4 Remembering Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us Hebrews 12:1 This month we celebrate Memorial Day, when we remember those who sacrificed their lives in defense of our nation. Almost certainly, many of you reading this have a friend or loved one who perished in this manner. More generally, we remember and celebrate those who served and risked their lives in our nation s armed services. Surely all of us have a friend or loved one who served. In my case, I remember my father, who served in Italy and North Africa during World War II. Afterward, for fifty consecutive years, he and his partners from the 978 th Ordinance Company met annually and shared the stories of the events that had formed their character when they were young. We celebrate the courage and resolve of those who survived as well as those who died. We know that we live in a dangerous world, and as long as we live in this sort of world there will be armies and wars and lives lost, in defense of noble causes and yes sometimes in defense of ambiguous or ignoble causes. Even as we gratefully remember those who have risked and died, I can t help but wonder if our beloved nation, in its great power, has depended too much on military Continued on page 2 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SW 12th and Taylor, Portland, Oregon

2 Continued from page 1: force to confront challenges and dangers, and not enough on the inherent power and beauty of our own founding ideals. Some politicians and preachers are fond of saying that this is a Christian nation. Both historically and constitutionally that s a debatable proposition. But just considering it forces us to look at the world and its dangers in a whole new way. In this world of war and power politics and wealth and pride, isn t there real danger out there for those who dare to follow the Prince of Peace for those who actually turn the other cheek, who consistently tell the truth, who keep faith in their personal and even their commercial relationships? There s a crude caricature of Christian faith that says that those who follow Christ are King s Kids, and God will honor our faith with health, wealth and success. The truth is that genuine Christian discipleship is just as likely to produce misunderstanding and suspicion in those who are invested in this world s values as success and prosperity. Following Jesus has often brought suffering on people in this present age, just as it did in the first century, and not just in conflicted settings in the Middle East and Africa, but sometimes right here at home. Often here in the United States we have taken pride in our autonomy and self sufficiency. We are the culture of rugged individuals. But the truth is, none of us develop our values, our Page 2 perceptions and our guiding beliefs in a vacuum. All of us have heroes and heroines as surely blessed by God and put in their places by God s hands as the heroes and heroines of the faith celebrated in the biblical book of Hebrews. They have protected us, instructed us, formed our characters and values, and directed us in right paths. We might say that these folk constitute our own personal cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). Have you remembered those heroes and heroines of your own faith journey? Have you thanked them for their faithfulness? Have you given thanks to God for them? Have you affirmed their investment in you by honoring their faith and living up to their standards? Do you know that dead or alive they are our witnesses, continuing to cheer us on, encouraging us and sometimes grieving for us when we fall short of our best? But there s more. As we have been the beneficiaries of the faithfulness of others, we are called upon by our Lord to be heroes and heroines for another generation of God s precious children, who are looking to us. This may seem a daunting challenge. We are so aware of our own weaknesses and challenges. But Christ himself is our empowerer and our sustainer, through his Holy Spirit who dwells in us. As the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), Christ desires to bring faith to perfection not only for us but in us. And we are invited and challenged to be representatives and reflections of Jesus Christ for our children, our grandchildren, our students, our younger colleagues at our places of work. And as we remember and give thanks to God for those who reflected Christ to us, dare we say, with the Apostle Paul, Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)? Dr. David L. Wheeler

3 Cambodian Congregational News Cambodian ministry and worship services have moved to the Rose Chapel started in. We thank God for the church leaders who worked hard remodeling the new look but maintaining the same original structure. Please join our first potluck on Sunday, May 1, in the dining room. Our pancake breakfast to raise funds for the Cambodian Children s Ministry will be on Saturday, June 18, from 8:00 am 10:00 am at Applebees s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 6325 SW Meadows Rd. Lake Oswego, OR. For more information, please visit ccmnews.org. Cambodian Mission Trip Please pray for Pastor Peter and his team as they visit the Cambodian Children s Center in Kompong Chhnang Provice, May Please visit www. ccmnews.org for information on how you can help them achieve their financial goals. dmnwgdl'bykcmnum\ kmµvifif aybgòm BHrbs'BYkCMnuM\eyIgVnerIeTA ena BHviharrg n BHviharFMvijcab'tSgBIEx5enH 1- GaBah_BiBah_rbs'elak funi nigelak si va"n'ni ena BHviharFM ena esar_ TI7 Ex5 em"ag11 Bwk. 2- bsinebibykcmnumeyignaedlcg'ttylkareron BHKmıIrtampÊHsUmTak'TgCamYynwgx M. 3- nag KIrIrs' nigr"ubwf EGnLË VnkUn bus myyekit ena TI27 Ex3 eqµah mika r"ubwf EGnLË. 4- salaeron GaTit rbs'eyigkwenaxage kay BHviharrg n BHviharFM EdleyIgcab'ep ImenAem"ag 1kn H ehiykmµvifif aybgòm BHenA BHviharrgenA em"ag11 Bwk. eyignwgmanptlak'ena BHviharFM KW ena GaTit dmbug TI1 Ex5 enabnêb'vyxage kam. 5- kar r Vk'sMrab'CYysagsg'mNÎlkUnekµg rbs'eyignwgef IenA TI18 Ex6 sumemilenak~ g ev"b s ducmanenaxage kamenh. 6- dmnwgbiskmµpabrbs'bykcmnumeyigmancuhenak~ g TMB&rrbs'ebskkmµ ev"b senh ccmnews.org ef IrVykarN_edayelak KË PIFw GWum Congratulations! Pleasing God: The Stewardship of Life Need housing? Please welcome Micah Robert Enloe, who was born March 27 to very proud parents, Robert & Kiriros Enloe and blessed grandparents, Ren & Sim Rath. The Apostle Paul reminds us, as he did the church in Corinth, it is our willingness to give that pleases God. He writes, It doesn t matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have. (2 Corinthians 8:12, CEV). Want to share housing expenses with others? Need help with chores or personal care? Shared Housing may be for you! Shared Housing is a matching and referral service that brings together people who need affordable housing with people who have an extra room in their home they wish to exchange for rent, household chores or personal care. This may be the income needed to help a home provider pay their mortgage and utility bills or the help needed in order to maintain independence. Shared Housing provides an affordable option for home seekers without the deposits and fees required by many apartment complexes and rental companies. It s also a great way to build positive rental history! To learn more about Shared Housing, call (503) or housing@emoregon.org. To our First Baptist Church Family: Our family and I want to thank you for all the prayers and cards and phone calls of sympathy and condolences that we received after the death of my mother, Olga Wheelock. Your prayers are that which had sustained me in these difficult times. Thank you all very much. We love you all, Maria DeShawn and family. Page 3

4 The Trumpeter Pastor Suzie Gilmore Resigns Rev. Suzie Gilmore, our Minister of Christian Education and Discipleship, tendered her resignation last month, effective April 12, Pastor Suzie was with us for fifteen months, giving effective and creative leadership in children s and youth programing, and providing a winsome presence in our public worship. Our young people and their parents have loved Pastor Suzie, and we will miss her. We were privileged to carry out a local church ordination for Pastor Suzie last November, and to commend her to the American Baptist Churches of Oregon as a candidate for regional recognition. We wish Pastor Suzie and Lance God s richest blessings as they continue to serve Him in the future. Page 4 April 10 Spaghetti Lunch Proceeds from the event go toward the annual Youth Mission trip, in Yakima, WA, on the White Swan Indian Reservation, June 26 July 3. Photographs by Charles King.

5 Sound of Music Children s Choir The Sound of Music Children s Choir debuted their new robes on Easter Sunday. Photographs by Paul Newman Downtown Compassion needs YOUR help Beginning in May, there will be several barrels at FBC to collect your donations for Downtown Compassion clinic, which will be taking place on July 9, 2011, at the Memorial Coliseum. Please visit for more information or for volunteering opportunities. NON-MEDICAL EQUIPMENT Barber chairs Bicycle helmets Carpet shield protector (to cover 2,000 sq. Ft.) Children s activity and coloring books Children s crafts Crayons Dog & cat food Treats Nerf balls (no nerf guns) Small, low to ground stools Glasses or vouchers for glasses Printer/copier Fax machine (to borrow for the day) SPONSORSHIP Medical pharmacy cards ($ total) Printing - flyers, posters, banners, forms T-shirts ($2,000 total) General fund LUNCH FOR 2,500 Hamburgers Hot Dogs buns chips Salad (potato and macaroni) condiments (mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup) Fixin s: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc. Cookies Beverages (soda, water) MEDICAL GEAR EKG machine Folding medical exam tables Rolling physican stools Portable dental chairs Foot basins Medical gloves (non-laytex) Cotton tip applicators Glucometers with matching test strips Glucose lancets Blood pressure machines Blood pressure cuffs Emery boards Johnson & Johnson s foot wash Germicidal/antiufungal wipes Personal hygiene Diapers Feminine hygiene products Personal care products Toothbrushes Toothpaste Dental floss Socks and underwear Shoes (gently cared for or new) Combs (narrow toothed for hair cutting) TRIAL AND SMALL SIZES Antifungal powder and cream Moisturizers (Eucerin, Luberderm, Cetaphil, Sween 24, Cocoa butter) Page 5

6 MAY 2011 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Worship Committee 6:30 pm Bethel Circle 6:30 pm White Cross 10:00 am CINCO DE MAYO MOTHER S DAY Compassion Clinic 6:30 pm CE Committee 6:30 pm Fellowship Dinner 12:00 pm Chapman Circle 10:00 am Diaconate 7:35 pm Downtown Fellowship 10:30 am ARMED FORCES DAY Compassion Clinic 6:00 pm FBC Office Closed MEMORIAL DAY Page 6

7 Sermon Schedule May Birthdays May 1 Your Inheritance Psalm 16 John 9:1 12 May 8 Ransomed! John 4:5 15 May 15 Fellowship Psalm 118:19 29 Matthew 21:1 11 May 22 Home! Jeremiah 31:1 6 Matthew 28:1 10 May 29 Rev. Steve Bils Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Oregon April Carter 1 Annie Ponce 1 Janice Haynes 2 Margaret Peck 2 Brian White 2 Nate Delta 3 Savuth Penn 4 Peter Verdieck 4 Rom King 5 Thian Non 5 Janet Squier 5 Kirk Squier 5 Kim Yin 5 Kimberly Ault 6 Mao Leng 6 Teresa Russell 6 Frank Sajulan 6 Phon Mean 7 Phil Erickson 8 Cynthia Benfield 10 Samnang Sin 10 Bill Wetmore 10 Wilson Lee 12 Carol Lucier 12 Tamie Goranson 13 Cynthia Hutchinson 13 Chris Beard 14 Leah Douvris 14 Kham Khao 15 Dave Bolton 16 Bruce Montgomery 17 Jay Beeks 19 Monique Devi 19 Mandy Puth 19 Dorothy Watson 19 Sovannarith Yin 19 Richard Parke 20 Ron Bates 22 Carol Bolton 22 Todd Marella 22 Rito Sanchez 22 Saveth Anderson 23 Jorge Gutierrez 23 Zel Stelle 24 Vicki Bridges 25 Leslie Cody 26 Greg Gubrud 26 Leslie Chase 28 Damary Wakhungu 28 Al Brown 31 Shannon McCabe 31 SUNDAY 9:00 Contemporary Service 9:55 Sunday School for all ages 11:00 Worship Service, Sanctuary Cambodian language, Rose Chapel Children s Church for ages 3 through 2nd Grade, follows the Time for Children at 11:00 1:00 Youth 5:30 Worship and Praise Celebration Candlelight Chapel Weekly Schedule and Activities SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY 5:00 pm: Transitional Youth MONDAY SATURDAY 6:00 8:30 am: Eye Opener (AA meeting) MONDAY & THURSDAY 2:00 4:00 pm: Drop-In Center TUESDAY 6:00 pm: Dinner & A Movie WEDNESDAY 5:45 pm: Wednesday Dinner 6:15 pm: Youth Choir 6:30 pm: Adult Bible Study 6:45 pm: Kindergarten Midweek 7:35 pm: Choir Rehearsal FRIDAY Office closed 6:00 pm: FOCUS SATURDAY 8:30 10:30 am: Cambodian Men s Fellowship Bible Study 5:30 & 7:00 pm: Solid Rock Page 7

8 (USPS ) is published monthly at First Baptist Church, Portland OR Periodicals postage paid at Portland, Oregon. Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Trumpeter 909 SW 11th Avenue Portland, OR (USPS ) is published monthly Find us on the worldwide web: and cambodianministries.org The next Trumpeter deadline is May 16, Please send articles to Dr. David L. Wheeler - Senior Pastor Ed Stelle - Senior Adult Ministries Peter Im - Cambodian Ministries Travis Hatton - Music Director Keith Ponce - Facilities and Events Manager Cathy Francis - Business Administrator Meet the Rose Festival Court The Portland Rose Festival Court will be making its annual visit to FBC s Downtown Fellowship program and lunch on Thursday, May 19, starting at 10:30 a.m. Come and hear what these young area high school students have to say about themselves and their dreams for the future! Come and see if you can guess which one will be crowned queen of the court! H AV E S OM E F U N A N D E N J OY M A R Y OL S ON S C O O K I NG!