February/March 2017 A publication of Heartland Baptist Church What s INSIDE Week of Prayer for North American Missions March 5-12, 2017
The upcoming months of February and March are filled with many opportunities for Heartland to embrace our vision and purpose statement Intentionally impacting people and places with a Kingdom purpose. We have guest speakers and a revival preacher who will challenge us to keeping living and serving the Lord. In February, I will be leading a four-day [February 19 22] intensive study through the book of Malachi called Complacency Exposed. The Gideon s International will speak on Sunday March 5 for a few minutes about the importance on placing bibles throughout the world. I would venture to say most of us have benefited from their placed scriptures. Also, The Restore Network, who we partnered with last year, will give an update on the foster and adoption ministry on March 26 during AM worship time. March is also the time of year the Deacons hold their Widow/Widower s fellowship that will be on March 31. The calendar for March also finds our Spring Revival. We have been blessed to be part of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary s efforts to bring revival to our churches. At no cost to us [except love offering and lodging] we have a preacher from the evangelism department coming to lead us in spiritual renewal. Those dates are March 12-15; of course it wouldn t be much of an effort if we didn t seek out the Lord through prayer and supplication so a week of in-home prayers times will be scheduled to prepare our hearts before the Lord. Of course I can t forget the Children s Valentine lunch/fundraiser to send the kids off to CentriKid on February 12! One last opportunity; I will be going to Colorado as part of the Gateway Baptist Association and other pastors to seek out the possibility of mission partnership with likeminded churches there. This is all preliminary, but could develop into a situation to impact people for Christ while growing in our own personal walk with the Lord Jesus. The last few months have been chaotic at best. It seems that our world is bent on driving all of us a bit crazy. With the protests and marches all across America and the continual media melee, it s a wonder any of us can get a private thought or quiet moment alone with the Lord. I began thinking more and more about this lately and discovered I don t have to get all caught up in the things of Pastor Jim s Gems culture and society you know be anxious for nothing but everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in our hearts, make our requests known to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [Phil 4:6-7] I know this to be true; but wondered how did Paul do it? I mean he saw many Caesars and rulers come and go throughout his ministry and travels. He had seen great changes in language, culture and politics; yet he was not overwhelmed by them but rather used them to work for the preaching of the Good News. I watched something the other day that really impacted my attitude about all the stuff that goes on these days so impacting I shared it with the Wednesday Noon Bible Study. See there was this daughter who was complaining to her dad about how terrible life was, and how that every time she tried to take a step forward, something always seemed to knock her back. She kept on ranting and raving, while dad seems to almost ignore her. As the daughter continues to whelp about her life, dad gets three pots of water going on the stove, meanwhile she is still complaining; finally the water in all three pots begins to boil, in the first pot he drops potatoes, the second eggs and the last coffee grounds. The daughter is befuddled, what in the world are you doing, aren t you listening to me What am I going to do? Dad finally says to her tell me what do you see? She says three pots of boiling water! Dad what else? Potatoes, eggs and coffee what s the deal? Daughter he says, the potatoes, eggs and coffee were subjected to the same boiling water the potatoes went in hard, but became soft from the boiling water, they lost their strength; the eggs in the second went in soft and became very hard. But the third pot had coffee; the water didn t do anything to the coffee, the coffee changed the water! Now which one do you want to be potatoes, eggs or coffee? All that to say this we can let this world change us or we can change the world it s our choice, but we must always remember no matter what happens, no one can change whose children we are! We are Children of the Most High; we are adopted into the Royal family of God. No matter how things seem down here We will always be at home with Jesus Shalom Bro. Jim 2
MUSIC MINISTRY Sing unto the Lord a new Song. The song we sing through our lives is opposite of what we sang before we knew Christ. We do not live a life that is our own, but we now live a life that is to honor Christ, and Him only. We sing songs, study the Bible, give our tithes and offerings, etc. in order to lift up the name of Jesus. Simply doing these things are not worship. The definition of worship, according to Merriam Webster is reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also: an act of expressing such reverence. We can give our time and money, but not do it towards the honor of Christ. When we begin to shift our focus to Jesus, and doing everything to honor Him, we begin to see the things in a whole new light. Worship is an offering of ourselves. Dying to ourselves daily in order to see Christ glorified. To see Christ lifted higher than ourselves. As we go throughout 2017 let us be sure to do as 1 Corinthians says, and Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Steven Trask Music Minister HEARTLAND Jackie Parish, Children s Ministry Director We are gearing up for a busy year. We have just had our first meeting for CentriKid Camp 2017, Adventure Awaits. We will be going to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar MO July 17-21. See me if you need more details or a parent pack for camp. On February 12 we will be hosting our Annual Valentine Banquet to raise funds for the kids attending camp. We will be serving soup, sandwiches, and a dessert. Now is the time to get started on VBS. Our theme is Galactic Starveyors! I am looking for someone to lead the nightly events, teachers, helpers, leaders for crafts, snacks, missions, etc. Look in the bulletin for future planning meetings. Upcoming events: February 12 Valentine Banquet RA/GA events: April 16 Easter Egg Hunt 3
WOMEN S MINISTRY PARTY Saturday, February 11 from 8:00am 2:00pm. Bring any projects you would like to work on and/or share with others. Please sign up in the foyer and indicate if you will bring a soup or salad. WMU meets the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30am. Please come and join us as we pray and learn what our missionaries are doing. Also, come fellowship with us as we are involved with some community projects. MEN S MINISTRY IRON SHARPENS IRON NATIONAL MEN S ONE DAY EQUIPPING CONFERENCE Saturday, March 18 at First United Methodist Church in Springfield, IL. Please sign up in the foyer if you are interested in attending. 4
GRANDPARENT MINISTRY Visitation: February 1 & 15 and March 1 & 15 at 1:00pm Game Day: February 23 and March 30 at 1:00pm WINTER BIBLE STUDY COMPLACENCY EXPOSED A Study of the Book of Malachi February 19 at 6:00pm February 20, 21, & 21 at 6:30pm 5
MONTHLY DEACON S MEETING February 26 at 5:00pm March 26 at 5:00pm If you have a need or know of someone who needs assistance, has become ill or hospitalized, please contact the church office or Ted Burleson at 462-3032. Katie Myette from The Restore Network will be giving a special presentation here at Heartland on Sunday, March 26, during our Morning Service. Gabriel Allen Paulette Hydrick Jacob Sneddon DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME Daylight Saving Time begins March 12. Don t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour. 2017 BIBLE READING PLAN Follow along on Pastor s blog: preachbetweenthelines.com 6
Volunteer Schedule for February/March 2017 Nursery/Children s Church February 5 Babies: Linda Witcher & Amy Vatole Toddlers: Bridget Perkins & Jessica Darr Children s Church: February 12 Babies: Lisa Pimentel Toddlers: LeAnn Parish & Karen Burleson Children s Church: Carol Vernatti & Kathy Kliefoth February 19 Babies: Susie Kreitner Toddlers: Linda Chapman & Kathy Kliefoth Children s Church: Sandy & Tony Stolze February 26 Babies: Karen Harris & Carole Fredrick Toddlers: Amy Vatole Children s Church: Mitch Vernatti & Daniel Parish March 5 Babies: Linda Witcher & Amy Vatole Toddlers: Bridget Perkins & Jessica Darr Children s Church: Ashley Fox & Reka Holder March 12 Babies: Lisa Pimentel Toddlers: LeAnn Parish & Karen Burleson Children s Church: March 19 Babies: Susie Kreitner Toddlers: Kathy Kliefoth & Amy Vatole Children s Church: Carol Vernatti & Kathy Kliefoth March 26 Babies: Karen Harris & Carole Fredrick Toddlers: Amy Vatole Children s Church: Sandy & Tony Stolze Greeters February 5 Ted & Karen Burleson February 12 Dallas & Janet Moore February 19 Bill & Ethna Joyce February 26 Lowell & Betty Porter March 5 Pat Bennett Chris Bramstedt March 12 Jim & Joann Cassidy March 19 Minnie Johnson Mary Hyndman March 26 David & Linda Chapman For more information or to volunteer contact: Nursery: Mary Burger at 462-5634 Hazel Morgan at 466-2306 Heartland KIDS : Jackie Parish at 789-2974 Greeters: Linda Witcher at 466-1844 7
Bus - Driver s Schedule If you would like to set a pick up time, please call the scheduled driver. To volunteer as a bus driver please contact Ed Kreitner at 466-9047. February 5: Karen Harris February 12: Ed Kreitner February 19: Karen Harris February 26: Ed Kreitner March 5: Karen Harris March 12: Ed Kreitner March 19: Karen Harris March 26: Ed Kreitner Ed Kreitner (618) 466-9047 Karen Harris (618) 920-8992 Church Staff Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Grant pastor@hbcalton.com Music Minister Steven Trask music@hbcalton.com Financial Secretary Jeanie Farrow financial@hbcalton.com Church Office Sarah Neuhaus office@hbcalton.com Mon. Thurs. 8:30am 3:30pm preachbetweenthelines.com