APRIL 2019 VOLUME 23, ISSUE 4 The Rocky Hock Anchor The Mission of Rocky Hock Baptist Church is to magnify Christ and make disciples of all people. from our Interim Pastor... The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Galatians 4:10-11 Easter's older and better name is the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. Easter was a pagan festival. It should not be hard to persuade Baptists to use the older name since they always go in for a feast. April 21 is a late date for Easter, but not quite the latest. That would be April 25 and it won't happen until 2038. Easter can arrive as early as March 22. Look for that in 2285. I hope to be at another feast by then. Easter is a movable feast, that is, it won't stay still. I would love to explain to you how the date of Easter moves from year to year. As soon as I figure it out, I will. It has something to do with the Paschal Full Moon which may differ from the actual full moon by up to two days. How you have a full moon that is not a full moon is an interesting question in itself, isn't it? Paul chided the Galatian Christians (the Colossians too, 2:16f) for their adherence to a calendar of supposed sacred events and days. He went so far as to say that this made him afraid for them. He felt that his preaching of Christ, the cross, and Christian freedom had been useless. The Galatians seemed to be happier trying to please God through religious ritual and observance than through celebrating their freedom in Christ and pursuing a genuine spiritual fruitfulness in life. Paul's fear is neither old nor distant. We like the way it has always been done. Repetition gets easier as it goes along and it offers a comfort all its own. In a world where life changes as frequently as the ocean tides, rehearsing things we already know may provide emotional stability. So, if ritual and repetition comfort us, why is Paul afraid for us? Paul knew the content of the Old Testament and he knew the Gospel. What he found there warned him that such comfort may be false and therefore dangerous. To what or whom will you trust the welfare of your soul? The Galatians wanted to trust a calendar of days (sabbath), months (new moons), seasons (recurring festivals) and years (jubilee years). Paul wanted them to trust Christ alone. The Biblical evidence of the danger is strong. In Isaiah 1, the people were keeping all the festivals and special days. They were performing all the rituals. Their hands were lifted high in prayer. But God was not listening. He wanted an honest, heart to heart talk with his children. What they were doing was all show. Come, God said, Let's argue this out. (1:18) Hebrews 10:20 tells us that Jesus has created for us a new and living way. He didn't follow the accepted path with all of its sacred repetitions. Jesus was challenged by men who might have acknowledged his leadership if he would only have blessed what they were already doing. But Jesus pointed out that what they were already doing was the problem. He wasn't here to bless it but to break it up, start something new, start something so radical that only the cross could secure it and so powerful that even the grave could not hold it back. (continued on page 2)
THE ANCHOR PAGE 2 (continued from page 1) The Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be crammed into a calendar, an event, or an observance. Even the commands of baptism and the Lord's Supper, those great and God-ordained observances of the Christian life, are not containers of grace, as if the powerful grace of God could be canned, placed upon a shelf, and pulled out when the calendar says it's okay. No, they are windows, God's windows on a scene so vast, so magnificent that it boggles the mind, breaks the heart, and bends the knee in worship and adoration. Paul was afraid. I, too, am scared. I am scared for Baptists who comfort themselves by how things have always been done. I am scared for Baptists who leave those shackles only to chain themselves to a liturgical calendar of Christmases and Easters, Advents and Lenten seasons, Pentecost and saint's days, a calendar which our spiritual forefathers rejected at great cost. I am indeed afraid for Baptists, but I am not in the least afraid for the Gospel. It is still the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, to the Galatians first and also to the Baptists (see Romans 1:16). And this Gospel will break every chain of every child who truly wants to be free. Praise be to God for the thief on the cross who had no chance to look through either of those mighty windows of baptism and the Lord's Supper. Yet, he found all that his nearly spent life needed in the face, in the words, in the person of Jesus, the Christ of God. I can't explain how Easter moves on the calendar from year to year, but I am glad that it does. It keeps us alert. I hope that one year very soon it will show up in July. Would the death and resurrection of Jesus be worth celebrating then? What a magnificent Savior we have! Pastor Bob Easter Musical Friday & Saturday, April 19th & 20th at 7 PM nightly We Are Witnesses: Encounters with the Savior Easter Sunday Morning, April 21st, will Be a Traditional Easter Worship Service. Virginia Arts Festival The Senior Adult Day Trip to the Virginia Arts Festival is Thursday, April 25th. The show is at 7:30 PM at the Norfolk Scope Arena. If you have not paid your $38.25, please do so ASAP! We will leave the church by 4:30 PM, stop for a quick supper, and arrive around 6:30 PM in order to get settled. We plan to take the bus. However, if a bus driver is not available, we will need to carpool. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will offer their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Rocky Hock Baptist Church on Wednesday, May 15th. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries, which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms, which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat, which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package, which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please visit www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle or call 1-888-653-6441 or text the word circle to 797979.
PAGE 3 From our Minister of Youth & Children THE ANCHOR Discussion Questions to Get Your Family Talking By Jim Leibelt Parents often struggle to get more than one- or two-word responses from their kids, especially in families that don't talk much. It's no secret that good communication builds family relationships. But, when the rubber meets the road, how does a parent actually help to get more out of family talk-times? Here are a series of family discussion questions you might find helpful. The Way I Am / The Way I Was... In the following group of discussion questions, your kids will talk about the way things are right now in their lives, while parents will talk about the way things were when they were teenagers. - Talk about what you like (liked) doing most when you are (were) hanging out with your friends. - Talk about what the biggest fads are (were) in your school. - Talk about what are (were) the "in" words and phrases students at your school use (used) and what they mean (meant.) - Who are (were) your favorite music artists? Why? - Describe your best friend. What are (were) they like? What makes (made) them tick? Why are (was) he/she your best friend? Family Talk... Here are more open-ended discussion questions to keep your family talking: - Describe an embarrassing moment in your life that your family members don't know about. - Talk about the time you remember being the sickest. What was worst about going through that time? - What are three of the happiest memories you have from your life? What made them happy experiences? - Talk about one thing you know you should do differently that would make your family work better. - What is your biggest fear? Why? - What do think is the most important thing in your life? Why? - (For kids) What is one issue you wish your parents would discuss with you? Why? - (For parents) What is one issue you wish your kids would discuss with you? Why? - (For kids) What is one area in your life you wish you had more control over? Why? - (For parents) What is one area in your son's/daughter's life you next plan to give them more control over? Why? What will this look like? Pastor Mike Events & Opportunities for Youth this month... Sundays @ 6 PM & Wednesdays @ 7 PM - INCREASE Student Ministries (ISM) - Youth Suite Tuesday, April 23rd - Youth Work Day @ Camp Cale Thursday, April 25th - Saturday, 27th - Youth Camping Trip The RHBC Missions Committee offers a scholarship each year in the amount of $1,000 to a church member who is a college student pursuing an education in a ministerial field. To apply, simply address a letter to the Missions Committee (c/o Rocky Hock Baptist Church) stating why you would like to be considered for the scholarship and you will be contacted if more information is needed. The deadline is April 30th.
THE ANCHOR PAGE 4 Baptist Women The Week of Prayer for North American Missions Sunday, April 14th - Sunday, April 21st The Week of Prayer for North American Missions is observed annually by SBC churches to specifically pray for missionaries on the field, the needs of their ministries and the needs of their families. Prayer is the fuel for spiritually and emotionally sustaining missionaries in places where the gospel is greatly needed, but often opposed. Prayer guides will be included in the bulletins on Sunday, April 14th. Annie Armstrong Easter Walk Offering Sunday, April 21st - Goal $7,000 Each year, churches and individuals give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. This offering accounts for 49% of the North American Mission Board s budget, with 100% of offering gifts going directly to the field for missionaries and their ministries. None is kept for administrative purposes. Pray for people to be generous in giving to the offering this year so missionaries are equipped to share the gospel throughout the United States and Canada. Who was Annie Armstrong? Annie Armstrong (1850-1938) was born in Baltimore at a time when women were not expected to lead. She served, challenged churches to action and rallied support for missionaries. Ultimately, Annie was recognized as a national Southern Baptist trailblazer renowned for visionary missions leadership. Annie s Contributions: Started Bay View Mission for Baltimore s poor and addicted Served as the first executive of Woman s Missionary Union, the largest protestant women s organization in the world Led the formation of missions organizations for children Raised support for missionaries to Italian and Jewish immigrants Handwrote over 18,000 letters in one year advocating for missions Refused a salary because she would never give to the Lord that which costs me nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24) Initiated fund-raising brick cards to build churches in Cuba Gained support for the first black, female missionaries Secured funds to relieve China missionary, Lottie Moon, who had served for 11 years without a furlough Advocated for Native Americans and impoverished mountain people Honored in 1934 when The Home Missions Offering was re-named for her to encourage more to follow her sacrificial example Bap ist Men Gentlemen, please join us for our Men s Bible Conference Video Series on the second Monday of the month, April 8th, at 7 PM in the Special Function Room as we fellowship and worship through watching an inspiring message by a gifted speaker. We plan to be finished by 8 PM or shortly thereafter. Our next Men s Breakfast is Sunday, April 21st at 7:30 AM in the Special Function Room. All men are welcome to join us for this time of fellowship!
PAGE 5 THE ANCHOR For children of all ages! State Bible Drill Saturday, April 6th @ Berea Baptist Church in Pembroke, NC 2019 EGG DROP Saturday, April 13th (Rain Date: April 20th) 11:30 AM RHBC Campus Lunch, Games, Prizes, and Sharing of the Easter Story, PLUS, thousands of eggs will be dropped from a helicopter for kids to collect! This is a community-wide event and the potential for attendance is great, so we are asking for donations of candy, which may be placed in the bins in the Connecting Corridor. Summer Camps Children s Camp June 25-29 @ Ridgecrest Youth Camp July 15-19 @ Ridgecrest 2nd payment of $60 due April 7th, balance due by May 5th Operation Christmas Child Items to be collected... April - socks (children & adult sizes) May - children s T-shirts (small, medium, & large) June - washcloths & soap July - stuffed animals August - school supplies (pencils, colored pencils, pencil boxes, pencil sharpeners, pens, children s scissors) September - flip flops / shoes October - toothbrushes & deodorant VBS 2019 June 17-21 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon
THE ANCHOR PAGE 6 Serve the Lord with gladness... ~ Psalms 100: 2 Deacon Ministry Teams 3/31/19 4/6/19 Wayne Bunch, Keith Rollins, Mike Evans 4/7/19 4/13/19 Keith Nixon, Scott Noble, Phil Smith 4/14/19 4/20/19 Russell Byrum, Justin Smith, Chris Sykes 4/21/19 4/27/19 Wayne Howell, Ted Peele, Bill Smith 4/28/19 5/4/19 Adam Bunch, Steve Evans, Allen Peele Offering Ruston Howell (Chairman), Chris Sykes (Co-Chairman), Donald Bass, Allen Peele, Keith Nixon, Keith Rollins Deacon Greeters Senior Adult Building: Keith Rollins Sanctuary Main: Chris Sykes Connecting Corridor: Donald Bass Multi-Purpose Main: Adam Bunch Ushers Lee Jordan, Carolyn Noble, Jerry Peele, Ellis Tynch, Paul Ward, Aundra Harrell Counting Committee Richard & Lisa Bullock, Phil & Rene` Smith, Aubrey Tynch, Ellis Tynch Deacon Ministry Training Event There will be a Deacon Ministry Training Event at RHBC on Sunday, April 28th at 2:30 PM in the Special Function Room. This training will be led by our Associational Mission Strategist, James Harrington. It is designed for ALL ordained Deacons of RHBC, not just those currently serving. Please make every effort to attend! Prayer Shawl Ministry The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM, upstairs in the Administrative Building. As we knit scarves and shawls, we pray over them. They are then taken before the church and prayed over by the Pastor and congregation before they are given to a recipient. If you d like to share your skills, please join us! Items needed in April: Spaghetti & Spaghetti Sauce
PAGE 7 Nursery & Pre-School Workers THE ANCHOR During Sunday School Penny Byrum Linda Layton Lisa Smith Sunday AM Worship (Nursery) Kim Forehand Kimberly McPherson Denise Nixon Sunday AM Worship (2 year olds) Louvenia Stewart Audrey Bassett Sunday PM Worship Amber Young Wednesday PM Worship 1st Wednesday Kimberly McPherson Denise Nixon Mission Friends Chris & Susan Sykes Kristia Noble Michelle Tynch Alanna Bass Lauren Smith Lindsay Smith Amy Turner Donna Harrell 2nd Wednesday Rhonda Bass Laura Turner Mission Friends Kim Forehand Sherlynne Smith Mary Jo Bass Susan Sykes Kristia Noble Michelle Tynch Hope Gosser Susan Sykes 3rd Wednesday Ashley Byrum Carolyn Bassett Mission Friends Kimberly Riddick Asheton Smith Kimberly Riddick Kaiden Riddick Arlene Bass Beth Evans Laura Bass Carolyn Bassett Cher Bassett Claire Evans Kristia Noble Mia Noble Karen (Roger) Smith Asheton Smith Brittany Smith Laura Turner Amy Turner Audrey Eley Mia Noble Donna Harrell 4th Wednesday Louvenia Stewart Susan Sykes _Mission Friends Amber Young Allen & Sarah Nixon 5th Wednesday Robin Nixon Sherlynne Smith Mission Friends Sallie Chappell Sue Hoggard * indicates teachers of the week Catina Byrum Faith Byrum Amber Young Chelsea White Children s Church Carolyn Bassett Cher Bassett Bob & Sherlynne Smith Allen & Sarah Nixon Ashley Byrum Amanda Howell *Mike & Heather Denny *Jay & Felicia Parrish Laura Turner Trey & Alanna Bass Wayne & Donna Harrell LeAnn Nixon *Mike & Heather Denny Sharon Nixon *Chris & Susan Sykes No Children s Church for on
Rocky Hock Baptist Church 113 Rocky Hock Church Road Edenton, North Carolina 27932 Address Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID EDENTON, NC PERMIT NO. 127 Check us out on the web at www.rhbce.org Weekly Church Activities: Sundays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays: 9:45 AM - Bible Study for all ages 10:55 AM - Worship 5:45 PM - GROW - Kids In Discipleship (K.I.D. Groups) 6:00 PM - Adult Bible Study; INCREASE (Youth Bible Study) 10:00 AM - Young at Heart Adult Bible Study 7:00 PM - Senior Adult Choir 7:00 PM - Adult Bible Study; INCREASE (Youth); GROW (Children - Mission Friends, GA s, RA s) 8:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Bob Young, Interim Pastor ryoung098@gmail.com Mike Denny, Associate Pastor: Youth & Children mdenny@rhbce.org Justin Smith, Interim Music Director justinsmith6584@gmail.com Wayne Howell, Chairman of Deacons lwhowell@embarqmail.com Linda B. Bunch, Administrative Assistant lbunch@rhbce.org 339-7808 (Cell) 336-266-9493 (Cell) 221-2298 (Home) 426-7844 (Home) 221-4133 (Office)