The Beacon. From Your Pastor s Wife, Linda

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1 First Baptist Church The Beacon Issue 96 April 2018 Inside this issue: April Events List 2 Men Conference/Fred Luter 2 Sunday School 2 PayPal Link for FBC 2 Easter Drama 3 Safety Committee 3 Christians On The Go 3 Music 4 Prayers With Feet 4 Sunrise Service/Camp V. 4 Scholarship Application 5 Lord s Supper 5 FBC Youth 5 Tips From The Treasurer 6 Rotating Lists 6 Team Kid 6 April Calendar 7 Contact Info 8 From Your Pastor s Wife, Linda If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." [Meditations Divine and Moral] Anne Bradstreet, The Works of Anne Bradstreet I often regard my life in terms of the four seasons: Spring - birth to age 20, Summer - age 20-40, Fall - age and Winter - age I am in Winter now. Writing a book about my four seasons for my family is on my bucket list. Since I have entered this last season then what? It s final. Over. Ciao. Nada. Sayonara. Or is it? The universe is cyclic. There is a rhythm. A return. An expansion followed by deflating. The moon. The tides. Day and night. And there is life and death. So, where is the cycle in life and death? A time comes when we say: There has to be more than this. This comes when we have had our fair share of suffering, of discomfort, pain (physical or emotional), and when the allure of all those temptations in life food as reward, exciting movies, dramatic encounters, worrying about everyone else s problems or gossiping about them, relationship ups and downs, bickering, working ourselves into exhaustion, the latest gadgets, and so on and so on no longer have the same hold over us. It s like we realize we ve had blinders on, and that we ve been seeing only part of the picture. It s like a waking bear from hibernation in the winter- mean, smelly and hungry. So, what s after your Winter? Scripture has an answer to that question. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;... Ecclesiastes 3:1-22. Spring is a time for renewal. A time for rebirth. A time for resurrection. God s plans are not by accident. What a season to choose The Resurrection! After a long dark winter, when the people were mean, smelly and hungry - He gave us Christ. The concept of Easter - a spring festival of renewal, a celebration of resurrection - lies anciently and deeply embedded in the human spirit. From the brown, dead earth awakens a tiny seed and, so therefore, there is Hope. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus strike a universal chord with parallels of the seasons. From its crucial moment, Jesus triumphed over death. Christianity began as a religion of Hope, a fundamental belief among the faithful that whatever happened during life on earth, whatever happened in their seasons, a paradise awaited and an eternal life with God. I am emerging this winter mean, smelly and hungry. My renewal awaits me. Christ is my Hope for renewal and rebirth.

2 PAGE 2 ISSUE 96 April Events Quick List 1 - Easter Drama 10 am 2 - Council Meeting 6 pm 8 - Lord s Supper 10 am 9 - Finance Meeting 6 am 11 - Christians On The Go (David s Catfish, Crestview) 16 - Deacon & PWF 6 pm 19 - Iron Works Meeting 7 pm 20 - Men s FBC 6 pm Speaker - Fred Luter Increase Sunday School In the parable of the wedding banquet JESUS tells of a KING who told the servants to GO out to the byways and high ways and compel them to come (NKJ), GO out on the roads, and gather everyone you find (Holman), and in the (NIV) GO to the street corners and invite anyone you find. (Matthew 22:9). JESUS also tells us in HIS last statement on earth to GO. (Matthew 28:19). I am adding: GO AS YOU ARE. INCREASE YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, ATTENDANCE & CONTACTS: When contacts increase, attendance tends to increase. One vital method for increasing attendance is making more contacts: calls, cards/letters, s, and visits. Pray and set a God-sized attendance goal (remember to give Him the credit when you reach it). MINISTRY CLASS LIST: Adding someone to a class ministry list is a way for the class to know they have an opportunity to pray for, care for, minister to, and fellowship with someone. Those actions often result in attendance at class fellowships and Sunday School. Bro BRENT PROVERBS 3: 5-6 *NEW FEATURE ON WEBSITE You can now go to our website and find the PayPal link on our HOME page. From there, you can click and donate! We are working to make things easier for you, our FBC family! If you have other ideas that we might try, please contact us and share them. We want to stay current with the going trends and thoughts. God Bless Each of YOU!

3 ISSUE 96 These verses help us to focus on the Risen Christ and bring us hope for our eternal home in Heaven. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe in this?" John 11:25-26 PAGE 3 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5 FBC Safety/Security I appreciate that some of you have begun to park elsewhere. Thank you. Our church parking lot is still filling up and overflowing and that is a blessing. However we need to keep our parking lot available to those who are physically unable to park elsewhere and walk a longer distance, and to allow parking spaces for church visitors. Please if you are physically able to park across the street in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot or in the Smith Insurance lot please do so. If you park at Smith s please do not block the rear drive. Be kind to our neighbor. Christians On The Go God Bless You, Al Bennett When you don't come, we miss your fellowship. No age requirements, bring a friend, young or old. All are welcome. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Plan to go with us! Jan Bennett

4 PAGE 4 Music Notes ISSUE 96 Psalms 100:1-2; Make a Joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. It has been proven many times that more familiar songs are easier to sing. Therefore, we can sing better in worship if we are familiar with the songs. We have placed a suggestion box on the second floor of the new building next to the stairs. If you have songs you would like for us to sing, please write them down and place these titles in that box. A special thank you to the members of our Praise Team; Amanda Pickron, Leigh Taylor, Dale Cole and Caleb Davidson. They are doing an excellent job and we look forward to hearing them in our future services. We are blessed with talent in our church. So, if you are approached to share your talent, please say yes. Blessings, Terry Spader Music Director Prayers With Feet Springtime seems to be budding out all over these days. New growth, trees in bloom, and excited gardeners all seem to point to the end of winder and the beginning of the most colorful season we experience.spring! PWF has also experienced new growth with additional ladies coming on board to add their talents and personalities to our group. Our original members are exploring new ideas on how best to minister to others. Everyone involved is in bloom with their passion to love others. As each new strand is added to our cord we become more effective. Prayers, devotionals, prayer blankets and cloths, baskets, visits, phone calls, financial assistance...these are the Spring bouquets we offer as we reach out to people in need. PWF is thankful for the opportunity to minister to others thru our church. Please contact any of the ladies in PWF if there is a prayer need that you are aware of as we can better minister if we are informed. God Bless from The FROG ladies, Sheila Anderson Fully Rely On God and Breakfast Additional Events at Camp V. April 3 Home School Day April 6-7 Father / Son Campout April 28 Family Day

5 ISSUE 96 PAGE 5 Find the link on our FBC homepage for the Scholarship Application. You can print, fill it out and return to the FBC Office or to Mary Perkins or Martha Morgan. The deadline is April 30th, which will allow the committee time to review before Graduate Recognition Day at FBC on May 6th. ( FBC Youth The end of another school year is quickly approaching. In our church youth group there are feelings of both excitement and sadness. We are beginning to prepare ourselves for many summer events, but also for a time when we know we will have to say goodbye to some of our cherished seniors. It is that time for our senior youth to be recognized for all their achievements at school as well as at FBC. The seniors to be recognized this year are as follows: PEYTON ZESSIN (Florala High School), GARY BUBBA MAXWELL (Florala High School), BRYSON TURNER (Paxton High School) and CALEB ZESSIN (University of Mobile). Please join us on Sunday, May 6, at 10:00 a.m. to celebrate these seniors accomplishments on FBC Senior Recognition Day. TRUST IN THE LORD Brent L. Zessin Proverbs 3:5-6 Coming Events: May 6, Senior Recognition Day May 16, 2018 Paxton s Baccalaureate May 18, 2018 Paxton s Graduation May 20, 2018 Florala High School s Baccalaureate May 25, 2018 Florala High School s Graduation

6 PAGE 6 Tips from the Treasurer ISSUE 96 What is STEWARDSHIP? It is the use of one s time, talents and possessions. We have been entrusted with these gifts for the sake of God s purpose throughout our lives. The members of the finance committee strive to be good stewards of our Church s tithes and offerings. If you have any questions concerning the finances of our church contact me or any member of the finance committee. Additional principal payments were made in March. As of March 31 st, we have paid $367,265.66, leaving a balance on the note of $301, A Pay Pal account has been set up for contributions and donations to our church. Contact Joyce for information on how to use this account. A reminder, the Maggie Arnold Scholarship application form is on the church web site. It is available to any senior who is a member of our church and who will be attending an institution of higher learning in the State of Alabama in the field of Liberal Arts. If you wish to apply, the completed application should be turned into the church office or given to Martha Morgan or Mary Perkins no later than April 30TH th, giving the scholarship committee time to review and present during graduation. HAPPY EASTER, CELEBRATING OF OUR RISEN SAVIOR. May God continue to bless our church and may God Bless America. Your Church Treasurer Mary Perkins FLOWERS APRIL List Of Volunteer Duties 1 - Linda Lenard 8 - Linda Russell 15 - Rose Haile 22 - Debbie Reeves 29 - Caleb Davidson GREETERS 1 - Carlton Dukes, Tim Smith 8 - Terry Holley, Mark Forehand 15 - Donnie Clark, Dennis Golden 22 - Gene Lingley, Charles Russell 29 - Bill Perkins, Diane Stevenson NURSERY 1 - CAN YOU HELP? 8 - Laura Ashley Radney 15 - Jennifer Bradley 22 - Jeff Bradley 29 - NONE - 5th Sunday *These rotation lists are also found on the Calendar page of our website.

7 ISSUE 96 PAGE 7 2 council meeting 9 - finance meeting 16 - deacon and PWF All meetings are at 6 pm 1 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SUNRISE SVC & BREAKFAST CAMP VICTORY 6:30 AM Lord s Supper :00 am COUNCIL MEETING 6 PM FINANCE MEETING 6 PM CHRISTIANS ON THE GO 10:30 AM DEACON & PWF MEETING 6 PM FBC MEN S CONFERENCE W/FRED LUTER 6 PM DEACON ON CALL CHUCK TREADWELL

8 First Baptist Church Fifth Avenue Florala, AL Where things are happening that only God can do! FBC Mission Statement: Make disciples to live like Jesus to transform the world for Christ. SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School 8:45 am Worship 10:00 am Wednesday 6:30 PM OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Wed. 8 am - 4 pm STAFF: ADDRESSES Pastor (Bro. Charlie) fbcpastor16@gmail.com Music Director (Terry) fbcterry16@gmail.com Youth Minister (Brent) brent.zessin@calhounflschools.org Office (Amanda) fbcamanda16@gmail.com Financial Secretary (Joyce) fbcjoyce@gmail.com