THE BELL RINGER October 20 15 Volum e 1, Issue 3 Calling all to gather in His name FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BLUE HILL, 53 PLEASANT STREET, BLUE HILL, ME 04614 www.firstbaptistchurchbluehill.org fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com (207) 374-5093 Greetings in Jesus Name We are so glad you re interested in our church. We are people who love Jesus and who want others to know the joy and purpose that come with following Him. We are a friendly American Baptist Church committed to Jesus Christ and the work of His kingdom. We aim to be a loving, growing family in Jesus, and we seek to walk humbly with God, obedient to His Word. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are working to love and serve others. We invite you to join us in experiencing and sharing this abundant life. From the Pulpit The Rev. W. Lyman (Terry) Phillips is Chancellor of Grace Evangelical College & Seminary in Bangor, Maine, and currently serves as our Interim Pastor. Rev. Phillips received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School in 1969. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Page Greetings 1 From the Pulpit 1 Children s Ministry 2 Junior Church Activities 2 Missions Report 3 Sympathies and Concerns 3 Prayer Requests 3 The Offering Plate 4 Spiritual Poetry 4 Member News 4 Coming Attractions 5 News from Our Trustees 5 Birthdays and Anniversaries 6 Kids Korner 6 Calendar 7 the Father does indeed know what we need before we ask Him. Oddly, though, I cannot remember any verse in the Gospels where there is a record of the words of any prayer Jesus prayed, except the brief words of His prayers in Gethsemane -- very brief prayers that seem to me to be just about what you or I would have prayed in the same situation. (See Matthew 26: 36 and following.) Prayer is important. No, let's rephrase that: Prayer is very, very important! On more than one occasion through the Gospel story, Jesus speaks to us about prayer, using such words as "...when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matthew 6: 7 and 8, English Standard Version). We have many opportunities for prayer: at church meetings, during worship, when we do devotional reading each day, and such, and often we focus on our needs or the needs of someone in the family or in the church, and sometimes, the needs are many and the prayers are lengthy. I pray we all know very well, though, that But there is one prayer that he shares with us wordfor-word and urges us to pray ("This, then, pray you:") and He clearly desires that the words he shares with us become the words we, too, use in prayer to the One who is both His Father and Our Father! I am writing these words here in italic print and offering brief comments in standard print. The reason is there are many who think this is just rote learning no one thinks about once we learn it. Here's how I think about it... "Our Father [Jesus' Father and yours and mine: He and we together call upon Him] who art in heaven 1
[This is who the Father is: the One who rules in heaven -- and everywhere else, too], hallowed be thy name [I desire your very name to be holy to me -- to my heart, my mind: all of me]. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven [I desire that your kingdom will come and your will be done here on earth, just as it is in your heavenly kingdom]. Give us this day our daily bread [we trust you to provide even the everyday needs of life: to meet our every day's need for food -- and all other things we need], and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors [we need forgiveness from You: no other forgiveness is truly complete, but please remind us that we need also to forgive those who sin against us, whether they "deserve" it or not in our minds]. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [temptations from the world are what draw us away from You: please don't put us to the test, but, instead, give us strength and understanding to reject evil and walk the path You call us to walk -- faithfully!] [The rest of the prayer we pray is not part of the Bible text in Matthew, but it is definitely an expression of our faith in the faithfulness of God, about whom we recognize]: For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. AMEN! It's not difficult to keep these thoughts about the living God, who loves you and me, in mind as we pray this prayer of prayers. Its truths and wonders shape the meaning of all our other prayers, when we pay attention to what Jesus has meant us to be thinking as we "pray this!" May it bless every one of us more and more, AMEN. Sharrie Curtis girls are all smiles in their 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school class. Maybe because there are no boys??? Sue Fenders tells us that she and her class of seventh and eighth graders have begun a discussion about service projects they could complete on Saturdays. Sue says the kids are very interested and already suggested a couple ideas. If you haven t visited our newly revamped Sunday school quarters in the chapel lately, please check it out. Jennifer Gray and her crew are busy repainting and refurbishing the third floor to accommodate music and dancing and the classrooms and craft room have been spruced up and look terrific! Junior Church Activities Children s Ministry Train a child in the way he should go Prov. 22:6 Sunday School teachers for the 2015-16 year are: Pre-K and Kindergarten Grades 1 and 2 Grades 3 and 4 Grades 5 and 6 Grades 7 and 8 Grades 9 through 12 Carrie Clifford Vacant Sharrie Curtis Allison Charles Sue Fenders Danner Curtis This year s Operation Christmas Child boxes are now available in the church foyer. They will be due back shortly before Thanksgiving so pick up yours now and start filling them. Instructions for packing a shoe box will be inside the boxes. If this is the first time you ve participated in this worthy program, you re in for a treat. Not only is the shopping aspect great fun, but, as you ll see when Nancy shows her 2
DVD, the real benefit is witnessing the joy of the children from all around the world as they receive their boxes. The young people have not set a goal of filled boxes yet but we will announce that by October 11. This is a church-wide project and if we can get others (i.e. friends, family, coworkers) to join us in this, then Praise the Lord! Please take a box for anyone willing to participate. The blessings of this mission are not limited to those children who receive these gifts. On the contrary; the blessings start here on the home front with our own people. The children of our church have spearheaded this project for quite a few years and the support of the congregation helps to teach them about service and about giving. So please - help us reach the goal they set and help us to minister to the young people who will receive these gifts. Nancy Bates Junior Church Leader Our Missions Team The Missions Team has reconvened after taking the months of July and August off, and have been working on how to interest high school students in getting to know Jesus Christ. We have been thinking of asking Adrian Munro from Baptist Youth Camp to meet with us to get his input, as he is so good with kids. We hope it's something that can come to fruition - there are so many unsaved teens. Please pray for us. The latest diaper drive yielded about a dozen packages of diapers and/or wipes, and two dozen jars of assorted baby foods. The diapers were taken to the Bangor Salvation Army, and the baby food to our local food pantry. Both were well received. Thanks to all who donated! The Emmaus meal on September 15 was, as always, a big success. We fed about 22 people delicious chicken casserole (three different varieties!), salad, bread and dessert. Thanks to Josh Astbury and his international student, Eason, for their help, and to all those who cooked or otherwise provided food for the meal. The folks at Emmaus are always so grateful for our meal service - it means they ALL can have a day off from cooking dinner! As you know, the Missions team has lost two of its members, Sheila Heneise and Bill Pettengill. We would LOVE to have anyone interested in being a part of our team join us the first Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church. We'd love to hear YOUR ideas! God Bless you all, Chris Guy Sympathies and Concerns Please remember to keep all loved ones who are unsaved in our thoughts and prayers. We need to pray for the families of all the victims of Chris Harper-Mercer, the shooter who specifically targeted Christians during his rampage at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Do you have a prayer request? Please send your request to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com. Please Pray for First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone. I Timothy 2:1 Our Special Missionaries: David and Robin Watters in Papua New Guinea Debbie Mulneix in the Philippines Sue Hegarty in Costa Rica Pieter and Nora Kalkman in Europe Bill and Ann Clemmer in South Sudan Tim and Patty Long in Mexico Kit Ripley in Thailand Naraa in Mongolia Bill and Fran Atchison in Waterville Our Church Family and Activities: ABCOM and East Association Deacons Benevolence Work Emmaus Center Meal Service Children s Sunday School Junior Church and Youth Worship Ministry Teams Pastoral Search Committee 3
The Offering Plate We remain in the same relative position: regular offerings would need to increase by 25% to reach a level equal to last years' actual operating expenses not covered by other income sources. THE TYRANNY OF POSSESSIONS Prayer offered by the late Peter Marshall, sometime Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, opening a session of the Senate. Forbid it, Lord, that our roots become too firmly attached to this earth, That we should fall in love with things. Help us truly to understand that the pilgrimage of this life is but an introduction, a prologue, a training school for what is to come. Spiritual Poetry REMEMBERING GOD Lord, help us remember all You ve done yesterday And the strength You have given as we pray, The courage to face all of our fears And the comfort knowing that You are near. We need to teach our children, the generations to come Your praiseworthy deeds and the wonders You have done, So that they may come to put their faith in You And glorify Your name in all that they do. Looking back and remembering what You have done, Teaching our children to overcome And leading them to Your throne to pray, Will preserve the faith and show them the way. By Bonnie Benedix Member News Then shall we see all of life in its true perspective. Then shall we not fall in love with things of time, but come to love the things that endure. Then shall we be saved from the tyranny of possessions which we have no leisure to enjoy, of property whose care becomes a burden. Give us, we pray, the courage to clear out the clutter and simplify our lives. So may we be mature in our faith, childlike but never childish, humble but never cringing, understanding but never conceited. So help us, God, to live and not merely exist, that we may have joy in our work and even amid our sorrows. In Thy Name, who alone can give us moderation and balance and zest for living, we pray. A word from Cordell: This is Sandy and me at the Boston Cup Car Show. A really great show with perfect weather. Car ran good with no problems. We are on our way to Chicago and then Minnesota and down to Cincinnati to visit our daughter and grandchildren. What s your latest news? Been on a trip? New grandchild? Send it along (photos always welcome) to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com. 4
Coming Attractions Harvest Home Supper Saturday, October 24 5 & 6 p.m. as they work to complete the new bathroom and nursery addition to our church. News from Our Trustees After a bit of back-and-forth, we re happy to report that we have Wi-Fi available in both Fellowship Hall and the chapel. For you tech-types amongst us, the Wi-Fi password is bluehill1806. Special thanks to Darin Gray and Jason Butler for their diligence. And what have our Bang-ups been up to? Vegetable peelers: Please report for duty at the Men s Breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Thank you!! Sunday, October 25 The annual Fall Business Meeting and potluck lunch of First Baptist Church of Blue Hill will be held in Fellowship Hall immediately following the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Topics of discussion will include the 2016 budget for our church, so please mark your calendars and plan to attend this very important meeting. Sunday, November 22 The Acadia Handbell Choir will participate in our worship service Sunday morning. They will be performing as a group as well as performing one piece with our choir. According to a December 2013 article in the Bangor Daily News, handbell choirs are carefully choreographed so that the entire group acts as a single instrument. Please invite your friends and neighbors to come enjoy this special presentation. Yes, indeed, we re expecting a new addition to our congregation later this Fall. Although no date has been set yet, our Fellowship Committee is busy planning a baby shower for the Walden family as they await arrival of their new baby. Thanks, once again, to Sharrie Curtis for taking the time to photograph our volunteer construction crew 5
Birthday and Anniversary Greetings Happy Birthday to Ethan Kane October 5 David Stearns October 17 Ellie Kane October 5 Tim Walls October 18 Ron Stanko October 12 Wayne Hutchins October 22 Harrison Walden October 16 Sandra Clapp October 24 Ethan Kane October 5 David Stearns October 17 Ellie Kane October 5 Tim Walls October 18 Happy Anniversary to Cory and Shelly Schildroth October 4 Josh and Kim Astbury October 6 Are you on our Birthday or Wedding Anniversary list? If not, please let us know by e-mail to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com so we may celebrate with you! Kids Korner A little boy was overheard praying, "Lord, if You can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time as I am." Color me! And last, but not least, is our monthly Church Bulletin Blooper ~ Ladies, don t forget the rummage sale. It s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. 6
October 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 3 Every Sunday 9 a.m. 4 5 6 Missions 11 Trustees 12 13 Choir practice 7 14 8 9 10 15 16 17 Pastor Kerry Lord Christian Education Choir practice 18 Rev. Dr. Al Fletcher PSC meeting following worship 25 19 20 Emmaus Meal Service 5 p.m. Deacons 26 27 Choir practice 21 28 22 23 24 Men s Breakfast 8 a.m. Harvest Home Supper 5 & 6 p.m. 29 30 31 Annual Fall Business Meeting following worship Advisory Board Choir practice Project 31 People are funny; they want the front of the bus, middle of the road, and back of the church. Greeters October 4 Danner and Dewey Curtis Notes October 11 Dick and Sandy Hill October 18 Barry and Sharrie Curtis October 25 Caroline and Corina Walden 7
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