Church Life Welcome Home! West Hampton Baptist Church V o l u me 59, Is sue 4 WE HAVE NO KING BUT JESUS The Prince of Peace stood before the representatives of political power and colluding religion wearing a crown of thorns. Pilate said, "Behold the man." From the crowd there arose the lusty chant, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate taunted the chief priests for whom he had no respect: "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests didn't miss a beat: "We have no king but Caesar." There it is. Their true allegiance laid out on the table. (See John 19:12-17) Rewind a thousand years and we find Israel demanding that Samuel the prophet appoint them a king so they can be like all the other nations. Samuel was upset by this and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you." (1 Samuel 8:7-8) The LORD tells Samuel to warn Israel about the ways of a king who rules over them. The LORD saw this coming, so he gave laws concerning future kings over Israel (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The LORD gave laws to ensure that Israel would act different from the other nations: Israel's king must be chosen by the LORD; Israel may not be ruled by a foreigner; Israel's king may not acquire many horses (horses were exclusively used for war thus, many horses would equate great military might); Israel's king may not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. Israel's king would meditate on these laws and learn to fear the LORD by keeping the law of the LORD. So that, "his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment...so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel." [v20] It's obvious the LORD wanted Israel to be different and set apart from the other nations. Other nations were ruled by oppressive kings who ruled from their thrones wielding power enforced by violence. The kings of other nations would chase their lustful desires and lord their wealth over their subordinates. Israel demanded a king like all the other nations, and they got what they asked for. Fast-forward back to Pilate's court, and we find the chief priests declaring their allegiance to a foreign king who wielded power enforced by violence. Pilate's rule was the power to crucify, and the high priest Caiaphas supported that rule. "So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross." The Prince of Peace was crucified, died, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. After three days, God vindicated his Son by raising him from the dead. Jesus is alive. Jesus is crowned KING of kings and LORD of lords. And now we have to pledge allegiance. Will we choose Caesar? Or will we choose Jesus? Will we choose the ways of the world? Or will we choose the Way, the Truth, and the Life? No one can serve two masters. We believe and confess Jesus is LORD, but do our lives reflect this confession? After all, faith should lead to action. We believe in our heart. We confess with our mouth. We must pledge allegiance through the stewardship of our time, money, talents, and energy. We have no king but Jesus. Now may our lives reflect this confession with all humility, grace, and love. Pastor Brian
2 Women s Missionary Union Hello Mission Church Family, With the celebration of our risen Savior on Easter, how excited we are to be called God s people. The family of West Hampton is a powerful testimony of how God works through us in ministry, and missions beyond our walls. Thank you to all that raised their hand to say Here I Am / Send Me, with our Annie Armstrong Easter offering goal of $5,000. If you missed giving to share God s love here in the US, you can give anytime through the end of the year. A Sister of the Savior, Eula Parks Spring into W.M.U. By Joining a group. WOMEN ON MISSION GROUP MEETINGS FOR APRIL: Sadie Wainwright Tuesday Apr. 5 @ Church 10:00am M&M s Monday Apr. 11 @ Vicki Schrum 6:30pm Sisters in Service Monday Apr. 11 @ Church 6:30pm Quilting Tuesday Apr. 12 @ Church 9:00am Scrapbook Saturday Apr. 16 @ Church 9:00am Sisters by Heart Monday Apr. 18 @ Eula Parks 7:00pm Hands of Service Wednesday Apr. 20 @ Church 5:30pm Quilting Saturday Apr. 23 @ Church 9:00am MyMission Sunday Apr. 24 @ Church 12:30pm WMU CALENDAR: April 9 April 23-24 April 30 WMU Council Breakfast and Quarterly meeting @ Eula Parks Mom & Me Camp @ Eagle Eyrie Lynchburg, VA Operation Inasmuch Day Churchwide Mission Action: Domestic Violence ~ Transition Family Violence Collecting: Canned Vegetables & Canned Soups Please put in WMU cart in the Atrium before April 24
April 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 4 5 10:30am Sr. Adult Choir sings @ Bayside 12pm Sr. Adult Covered Dish Lunch 1 Women s Eastover Spring Retreat thru 2nd 2 3 6 Dinner: Pork Chop, 18 19 20 12pm Sr. Adult Trip to Norfolk Botani- 25 26 27 Dinner: Taco Salad & Dessert 10 1pm-Operation Inasmuch Meeting 17 TBA-Youth Paintball 24 12pm-Youth Fundraiser Fiesta Lunch 11 12 9am Quilting Ministry Applesauce, Peas & Carrots, B&D Kids: Ham & Cheese Sandwich 5:30pm Blood Pressure checks 13Dinner: Brunswick Stew, Hot dog, Jello Fruit Salad, Bread & Dessert Kids: the Same 7:45pm Finance Mtg. cal Garden Dinner: Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Grn. Beans, Bread & Dessert Kids: Chicken Nuggets 6:30pm Intro to Disciplines of Christian Life D117 Kids: the Same 6:30pm Intro to Disciplines of Christian Life D117 7 6pm-FRESH 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 29 30 9am-WMU Council @ Eula Parks 9am-Scrapbook Ministry GA s Mom & Me @ Eagle Eyrie thru 24th 9am Quilting Ministry
4 Thank You to everyone who participated in the H4TH Cleaning day on March 12. It was a great day of cleaning and organizing. We also enjoyed great fellowship as we worked together. Let s continue to work to keep God s house clean and in order. Senior Adult Day Trip Wednesday, April 20, 2016 12pm 4pm (Guided tram ride available inside the park.) Cost: $20 for entrance in to the park, plus money for lunch at Freemason Abbey Transportation: Church Van (first come, first serve) Deadline to sign up: April 6 Contact: Christina Young (223-5774) Save the Date December 7-9 Senior Adult Trip to Lancaster, PA Sight and Sound Theatre Samson Weekly Schedule Sunday 8:30 am Celebration Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Contemporary Worship Deaf Worship Monday 6:00 pm Praise Band Rehearsal Tuesday 10:00 am Staff Meeting 11:00 am Senior Adult Choir 7:00 pm Rendezvous (Young Adults) Wednesday 5:00 pm Dinner 5:45 pm Elevate Youth Fellowship B206 Deaf Bible Study 6:00 pm Preschool & Children s Choirs Elevate Youth Worship B206 Adult Teachers D120 A Time of Prayer D119 Sign Language (ASL 1.3) D226 Sign Language (Beginners) D227 6:30 pm Intro Disciplines Christian Life D117 6:45 pm Mission Friends (Preschool) RA s & GA s (Grades 1-5) Elevate Youth Missions Women s Bible Study D115 Deaf Adult Choir Rehearsal 7:45 pm Celebration Choir Rehearsal Thursday 10:00 am Bible Study 11:30 am Industrial Park Lunch Ministry Clothes Closet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every 1st Tuesday 12:00 pm Senior Adult Covered Dish Lunch Every 1st Wednesday 5:30 pm Blood Pressure checks Every 2 nd Tuesday & 4 th Saturday 9:00 am Quilting Ministry Every 1st Thursday 6:00 pm F.R.E.S.H/Basic Herbalism Class Every 3 rd Saturday 9:00 am Scrapbooking Ministry
5 Youth Fundraiser Lunch Sunday, April 24 @ 12pm Come and support our youth as they work to earn money for summer camp. Tickets will be on sale a couple weeks prior to the lunch in the Atrium outside the Café. Your lunch ticket will be your door prize ticket. There will be a grand prize worth $100. SATURDAY, APRIL 30 Prayer & Planning Meeting for all Volunteers: Sunday, April 10 in Fellowship Hall @ 1pm Contact: Carly Coleman carly.coleman@cox.net 757.876.3230 See the bulletin board (outside sanctuary) for more details. Prayer Team, Small Jobs Team, Homeless Team, Laundromat Team, Nursing Home Team, and Block Party Team. Choose a team & sign up! Nursing Home Team: Craft supplies Bingo Prizes Money for Handi-ride passes Sugar free individually wrapped candy Diet soda Granola bars Small bags of chips Vienna Sausages Cup-o-Noodles Shampoo/Conditioner/Bodywash (women) 3-in-1 Shampoo/Bodywash (men) Ball and stocking caps Change Purses Wallets (men and women) Sunglasses Large-print Bibles and Devotionals Stamps Note Cards DVDs ITEMS NEEDED - place in OIAM box (outside of sanctuary) Laundromat Team: Monetary Donations Homeless Team: Bar Soap Wash cloths Shampoo (12oz or smaller) Stick deodorant Toothpaste (6oz) Toothbrushes Small combs Shaving razors Shaving cream (2-7oz) Thick white crew socks Sanitary napkins Diapers (size 1-4) Baby wipes (16-32 count) Baby soap (8-10oz) Inasmuch as you did it for the least of these, you did it for me. -Jesus
6 W e s t H a m p t o n B a p t i s t C h u r c h 6 3 1 A b e r d e e n R d H a m p t o n, V A 2 3 6 6 1 P h o n e : 7 5 7-826- 5772 E - m a i l : o f f i c e @ w e s t h a m p t o n b a p t i s t. o r g W e b S i t e : w w w. w e s t h a m p t o n b a p t i s t. o r g NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID HAMPTON, VA PERMIT #793 R e t u r n S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d If you would like to be taken off this mailing list, please contact us. You can also access this Newsletter on our website. 2015/2016Giving Back to God Date Worship Sunday School Budget Heart for the House Feb. 21 224 228 $5,781.02 $526.00 Feb. 28 249 227 $10,257.58 $779.50 Mar. 6 234 208 $14,925.67 $1,448.50 Mar. 13 220 208 $7,565.57 $654.00 YTD 2016 received (Budget): $107,937.96 2016 Budget Needed to Date: $130,892.52 YTD 2016 received (Heart for the House): $10,561.50