One of the largest statues ever carved from a single piece of stone weighed over 1000 tons. It was the statue of Rameses I, who died in 1314 B.C. Rameses decreed, with only a bit of hubris, that his statue would forever remind people of his greatness. He was, in fact, such a dynamic and great ruler that later pharaohs often named themselves Rameses in his honor. Today the statue lies broken in the sands of Egypt. The image of the greatest of the Egyptian kings is reduced to rubble. But when Israelites left Egypt, they passed under the shadow of this enormous statue. If you had been marching by that day, you might have been hard pressed to imagine that the ragged, former slaves, were part of God s eternal plan of redemption. It would have been difficult to follow Moses into the hardship of the unknown desert. It would have seemed much smarter to stay amid the splendor of Egypt, where there was plenty of water and a bountiful harvest of vegetables. But the people of God went, and the rest, as they say, is history. History that they made by their obedience to God s call to go. Starting in January, we are embarking on our own journey of faith. Our goal is to reach 10 new families for the Lord and bring them to Branch s. To accomplish this goal every single one of us will have to work for the same goal. It will take a bit of effort to get out of our comfortable habits and begin inviting people on a regular basis. It will take all of us adopting the lifestyle of a pilgrim to accomplish God s purpose for us. We are all bound for the Promised Land and are called to bring in the Harvest. I believe Branch s will respond with faithfulness and enthusiasm. Always in prayer for you all, Pastor Sam Grozdanov 1 Special Events this Month Tuesday, January 15 10:30am Karen Collins WMU Thursday, January 24 10:30am in Kincheloe Hall Young-at Hearts Sunday, January 27 5:00pm Potluck Supper 6:00pm Annual Meeting Inclement Weather Policy When Chesterfield County Schools are closed due to bad weather, activities at Branch s Baptist are cancelled. On Sundays, please listen to the radio or TV for notice of closings.
Letter from our Minister of Seniors and Visitation You have heard the phrases, nothing new under the sun and what goes around comes around. My family at one time knew a lady that always had on a hat in the latest style. When asked how she stayed so up to date, her answer was that she never threw a hat out, just packed them away. If she waited long enough it would come back into style. It is possible that some part of church work might work the same way. Many of you will remember when our offering envelopes had a check list printed on them. It would list items like attendance, brought Bible, brought offering, invited someone, etc. The new business twist to this approach to growth is to concentrate on one item at a time. It suggested that only one important feature of our work become the emphasized focus of the year. Everything that takes place in a year be focused in the direction of that goal. Branch s Baptist Church has selected growth as our Wonderfully Inspiring Goal. To accomplish this, we are emphasizing the work of our Sunday School classes. Part of the inspiration is to ask everyone to invite family groups to attend our church. Then to report these invitations on Sunday mornings. I encourage every person that attends Branch s to invite and bring people with you to a service. We all love to talk about our favorite things, sports, food, restaurants, and the like. I pray each of us will make Branch s our favorite thing and invite people to come with you on Sundays, Wednesday nights or Young at Hearts. It does not take training, just enthusiasm. Please, join me in making a goal to pray for Branch s Baptist Church every day this year. Pray that the Lord leads us in wisdom and growth. ~ Dorryce Ann Rudd Branch s Kidz Corner News for January 2019 Just as each snowflake is unique so is each child here at Branch s. God has a plan for each one of them. Come join us on February 3 rd and see how you can help lead these children to know and love Christ Jesus. January Happenings: Adult classes, would you consider adopting a child who is considering attending camp this summer? I would like to match a child with a class. Your role would be helping the child monetarily as well as encouraging the child. There will be more to come. Check out the Children s Program with Support and Training February 3 rd 2019. The time will be 1:30 3:00. There will be snacks but not lunch. We will begin in the sanctuary with Pastor Sam, then have break out sessions. Wednesday Night Happenings: All children from preschool to grade 5 are welcome to attend choir on Wednesday night. Preschool Choir 6:30 8:00 Room C112 Elementary Choir 6:30-7:00 Room A212 Children on Missions (for boys and girls K 5 th grade) 7:00-8:00 Room A211 We need your gifts to help with our children sewing, cooking, wood working, child care, teaching and substituting for teachers who are out. A quote from Narnia It is winter in Narnia, said Mr. Tumnus, and has been for ever so long always winter, but never Christmas. Pray with me and work with me as we train up His children to know Christ as their Savior. 2
A New Year. A New Story. As Christmas Day draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the season. I allowed myself to get really busy. In fact, it was beyond any busy-ness I have ever experienced. There were moments that were so daunting that I wondered if I would make it. Truly. I know you have those moments. They are part of all of our lives. It s in those times that we just give up and ask God to just work through us as we yield our hearts and schedules to Him. It was a surrendering season...every day...and it all got done with His help! I just want to thank each of you for welcoming me to Branch s this year. I ve just about gone through all of the seasons with you. As I ve learned your likes and dislikes and your culture as a church, I ve grown so much. Every place I ve served has been very different, and that is the way a community operates. It s a unique group of people who come together to worship and serve God in their own ways and in mission for what God is doing in the community. It s beautiful. The Christmas season was very special. Thank you so much for all of those who participated in the White Christmas service, the Advent readings and candle lightings each week, the Christmas cantata, the Festival Ringers at The Metro Zoo, the Young at Hearts music program, and the visits and singing to the local nursing homes/assisted living homes by our Reflections Choir. Thank you so much to Joanne Neal, Carol Landen, Julie Andrews, Danielle Andrews, Fran Pike, Juanita Morgan, Keith Wilmoth, and DeeDee Smith, who give countless hours serving in the music ministry. You are so appreciated! I also want to thank the A/V team who quietly lead behind the scenes each week to create beautiful visual worship with our slides and sound. Please take a moment and thank a volunteer. Branch s is very fortunate to have such a talented worship team. A new year. A new story. Let s create a new story in 2019. Let s leave the past behind and journey with God to a new level of worshipping Him. Let s dare to let Him change each of us from the inside out. Let s share the greatest story every told Jesus! Draw close to Him and He WILL draw close to you. Happy New Year! 3 Act Now to Sponsor Flowers! The 2019 flower calendar is posted near the sanctuary. Save your special dates for sponsoring flowers. Two arrangements are a minimum of $50, and are yours to keep or donate as you wish. The staff of Branch s extends heartfelt thanks to all of you who gave us cards and gifts at Christmas. Your warm support and expressions of appreciation mean a lot to all of us. Pastor Sam Grozdanov Pastor Dorryce Ann Rudd Pastor Arlene Guzman Bonnie Surma Keith Wilmoth Ernie Moore Maria Javier J.T. Ross Lorena Markowski Committee Chairs: Please send your reports to office@branchs.org by Friday January 18th! Potluck Supper is at 5:00pm, just before the meeting at 6:00. Please bring a dish to share.
Pray to Overcome in Christ s Name the Heritage of Racism in Metropolitan Richmond. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) January 6, 2019. We pray to overcome in Christ s name the heritage of racism: For the elimination of discrimination in living patterns, public education, employment, political jurisdiction, transportation, and churches in Metropolitan Richmond. January 13, 2019. We pray to overcome in Christ s name the heritage of racism: To experience the victory of Jesus resurrection over all personal and institutional results of racism and racial inequity in this metropolitan city. January 20, 2019. We pray to overcome in Christ s name the heritage of racism: To overcome ignorance, indifference, resentment, and bitterness with regard to race in both private and public life. January 27, 2019. We pray to overcome in Christ s name the heritage of racism: To proclaim in word and deed the establishment of a beloved community in Metropolitan Richmond. We love the snow - some say "Mo,Mo"; some say "No,Go"! But for sure we all agree Jan 24; Young At Hearts is the place to be! Resolve to be in Kincheloe Hall at 10:30 am! Friday Jan. 18 for the February issue of Branching Out and for the Committee Reports for the Annual Meeting of Jan. 27. Bill and Linda Lewis will entertain us and a delicious pot meal awaits us! Bring a friend, your favorite dish to pass and wear a smile! ESL @9:30am Wednesdays Classes in English as a Second Language are on Wednesdays at 9:30am. We need teachers, aides, child care providers and snack servers. Please contact Ernie Moore to volunteer. Supper is every Wednesday at 5:30pm, except for holidays and the eve of holidays. Please call the office if you wish to be on the permanent list, which means you call only when you will not attend. If you attend once in a while, please call the office on Monday of the week when you mean to be here. Menus are published in the Wednesday and Sunday bulletins a week in advance 4
Sundays 9:15am Prayer Time ~ C216 9:30am Sunday School/Bible Study 10:30am Announcements & Fellowship~KH 11:00am Worship Services in the Sanctuary (English) and in Kincheloe Hall (Spanish) Mondays 8:00am Bon Secours Care-a-Van (2nd Monday only) 9:00am Tellers Committee 7:00pm Deacons Meeting (1st Monday) Tuesdays 9:30am Staff Meeting 11:30am Reflections Choir 6:00pm Festival Ringers Wednesdays 9:30am ESL classes 5:30pm Wednesday Night Supper 6:15pm Prayer & Bible Study 6:30pm Spanish Prayer & Bible Study 6:30pm Children s Choir (Grade School) 7:00pm Activities for Children and Youth 7:00pm Chancel Choir 7:00pm Preschool Children s Choir 7:00pm Spanish Bible Study Thursdays 9:30-10:30am Food Pantry NOTE: Church closed on Monday, Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Day. Special Gatherings Un-decorating of the church, 9:00am, Tues., Jan. 8 Come and help! Personnel Committee, Sun., Jan. 13, 1:00pm ~ Conference Room Samantha I. Delgado January 01 Jacob Delgado January 01 Helen (Jo) Horner January 01 Anne O'Leary January 02 James Milton Andrews January 04 Susan Nelms January 06 Dorothy O'Connor January 09 W. Vaughan Dunnavant Jr January 11 Clifford Eberhard January 11 Curtis Welch January 14 Alvin Wakeman January 16 Francis (Duke) Dickerson January 17 Abigail Grace Kish January 17 Phyllis Bryant January 18 Elena Contreras January 18 Ashley Hernandez January 20 Betty Abbott January 23 Eduardo Clavel January 24 Fran Kizer Pike January 24 Matthew Lowman January 28 Robert Oliver January 29 Arlene Guzman January 30 Carlos Morales January 30 Alyce Reid January 31 Congratulations! Congratulations to Elena Contreras, daughter of Rachel and Oscar Contreras, who has been selected as an Abigail Girl for the state WMU. Abigail Girls are chosen for leadership training in missions. Constitution and By-Laws Committee, Sun., Jan. 20, 12:00pm ~ Conference Room Church Council, Sun., Jan. 20, 1:00pm ~ Old Fellowship Hall 5
Coming Next Month: Valentines Dinner Feb. 23, 5:30-9:00pm Registration will be required. Watch upcoming Sunday School Bulletins and the February Branching Out for details. FINANCIAL NOTES Don t forget to pick up your envelopes from the table by the Sunday School Office. All those, whether members or attendees, who have given regularly in 2018 were issued envelopes. DO NOT USE your 2018 envelopes in 2019. Doing so may result in errors in recording your gifts. If you don t see your envelopes, please call the office at 276-5000. Due to IRS regulations, any contributions received after midnight December 31, 2018 will be credited to 2019. Branch's Baptist Church Condensed Financial Report Year-to-Date as of November 2018 Actual Budget Over/(Under) Account Description Year-to- Date Year-to- Date Budget YTD Regular Offering 403,466 422,792 (19,326) Expenditures: World Programs 28,405 30,568 (2,163) Personnel 213,245 239,519 (26,274) Educational Ministries 14,766 18,438 (3,672) Service Ministries 17,774 20,020 (2,246) Building & Equipment 132,048 113,885 18,163 Miscellaneous 0 362 (362) Total Expenditures 406,238 422,792 (16,554) Sunday Services 9:15am Prayer Time ~ C216 9:30am Sunday School/Bible Study 10:30 am Announcements & Fellowship ~ KH 11:00am Worship Service- Sanctuary 11:00am Spanish Worship ~ KH Rev. Sam Grozdanov Senior Pastor sam.grozdanov@branchs.org Rev. Dorryce Ann Rudd Minister of Visitation & Seniors dorryceann.rudd@branchs.org Rev. Arlene Guzman Pastor of Casa Refugio de Amor ( the Spanish Speaking Members ) arlene@wbtk.com Bonnie Surma Director of Music Ministries bonnie.surma@branchs.org Keith Wilmoth Organist/Pianist klw728@aol.com Lorena Markowski Office Manager & Financial Secretary office@branchs.org Karen Collins Missionary to Taiwan kc2204@pobox.com Ernie Moore Treasurer treasurer@branchs.org Joshua Zalesky Sunday School Superintendent & Director of Outreach Net Surplus/(Deficit) (2,772) 0 (2,772) 6
BAPTIST CHURCH 3400 Broad Rock Blvd. Richmond, VA 23234 Office: 276-5000 Fax: 675-0759 website: www.branchs.org office@branchs.org Office Hours: Monday Friday 9:00am-12:00pm (staff breaks for lunch) and 1:00-4:00pm