35831 Cane Market Road Mailing address: P.O. Box 675 Watson, LA 70786 225-667-8818 www.watsonbaptist.com Rev. John Pemberton, Pastor March 2017 Our Sunday Schedule Men s Prayer Time 8:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Morning Worship 10:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 5:00 p.m. Children s Choir 5:30 p.m. Children In Action 6:00 p.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Our Wednesday Schedule Ladies Ensemble Rehearsal or Mixed Ensemble Rehearsal 6:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. Bible Drills/Youth Gathering 6:30 p.m.
Happy spring to you, my church family! The month of March is always a special one for me, because my birthday is in it, but this year its even more special. This year, on my birthday, will make a year being here at Watson Baptist Church, and what a great year it s been. Though it did have its ups and downs, (when it rained, it poured) through it all we made it through together, as a family. That s one of the biggest things I noticed when I arrived here at WBC; was that there was this feeling of togetherness and belonging that so many other churches miss out on. I didn't just feel like I was going to church, I felt like I was coming home. So before we spring ahead, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for being so good to me over this past year, and just know that your kindness has been such a blessing to me. I look forward to seeing what this next year will bring. Thank you again church family, and God bless. Blessings, Matt S Children in Action Saturday, March 11, the Children have a chance to earn another badge at North American Mission Study 2017: Colorado Sign-in begins at 9:15 am and the event ends at 11:00 am. This event will be held at Walker Baptist Church and will cost $5/child. The registration deadline is Monday, March 6, 2017, so reserve your place today! Bogue Chitto State Park April 21-23 March 18 th 4-6 pm Contact Justin Blythe for info. Sunday, February 26, the Children in Action baked, packaged and delivered about 150 cookies to the residents at Harvest Manor nursing home in honor of National Children s Ministry Day. I was proud to see that our students took their time during the delivery; visiting with the residents and praying with them. More than once I peeked through a door to check on the kids and saw hands held and heads bowed. I am always humbled by the way they love their neighbors. 2
My sister s favorite song for as long as I can remember has been that old hymn Power in the Blood. Amanda spent a lot of time with the wrong sort of people. None of Amanda s friends were the type I would ve chosen to hang out with. They were loud and crass but more importantly, they were almost always so very lost. For years, we questioned her judgement. It was so bad that it became a bit of a family joke. In retrospect though, I can see that her judgement was one of her best qualities. She saw so much good in the people that snobs like me would ve walked right past. She didn t see their brokenness as a repellent she saw an opportunity to be a good friend to someone who needed it desperately. February 5, we welcomed Fiona Warren to our church family. Fiona made a profession of faith at the Youth Evangelism Conference. It makes sense to me now that her favorite song resonates with a message of redemption. She knew that people, ALL people, need to feel loved and valued. They need a relationship with Jesus and when we walk past those who don t fit our good friend stereotypes, we are walking past opportunities to reach the lost. There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the lamb... Seniors The Senior group will not be have their bi-monthly meeting in April. The normal meeting time falls on Good Friday during the church s annual fish fry. We hope to see everyone there. The next Senior group meeting will be June 9th. Patty s Note: My sister-in- law, Edna, brought me a gift assortment of teas. The selection included Pomegranate, Blueberry, French vanilla, Chai Spice, and Mango flavors, to name just a few. I love having so much variety to choose from. Each day I can pick one that suits by taste. The individual packs are all different colors, the aromas are unique, yet they are all tea. As I was trying one of the unique blends, I thought about our fundraiser for summer camp, Hillbillies In Hawaii. In our church we have so many talented people. I thought about then read the parable in Matthew 25:14-15 For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Jesus talked about the master giving various gifts to his servants. Each one was blessed but not all in the same way. We are all alike in our need of God s love. We need his forgiveness in our everyday lives. Jesus taught us that God treats us as individuals. He gives each of us different gifts. We should thank Him for treating each of us as dearly loved individuals with unique callings. We should embrace the gifts He places in our lives and ask Him to help us use them wisely. I enjoy the variety of flavors in tea and in people. I am so glad to work with individuals with unique gifts. 3
Dear Church, Happy March everybody! So this article is to give you a sneak peak at the rest of our sermon series through much of March as we focus in on Luke Chapter 15, calling it What Brings God Joy?. Luke 15 is a powerful chapter, the theme of which revolves around the subject of something or someone being lost. Jesus tells the Pharisees three stories all in a row: the story of the lost sheep, the story of the lost coin, and then the story of the lost son. In each story God is the one hoping and searching and rejoicing. God is the shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep. God is the woman who sweeps and searches all over her home for her lost coin. And God is the Father who scans the horizon and comes running to his lost son. In the end, the Master is trying to convey two important truths to these religious experts who think they are good and righteous men. First: God finds the greatest joy in pursuing, finding, and saving lost sinners. And second: its impossible to be rescued, delivered, saved out of our lost condition without repentance (which is why God also rejoices when we repent). This impresses on me the mission of our church, a mission we must remind ourselves of daily: We want to bring joy to our Father. And Luke 15 tells us maybe more than any other chapter in the Bible the single best way we can bring God joy is by actively joining Him on His mission of seeking and saving the lost. This is the one thing we won t be able to do in heaven. This story also reminds me that while we should search far and wide, reach out to the lost, to sinners of all stripes (don t have to search far as over 60 percent of people in Livingston Parish do not attend church), we also must not change gospel which includes the critical message of repentance. We have to remind ourselves this is what brings God joy, and that our Father delights in seeing us, His children, involved in his work. We also have to be mindful of any barriers that might stop us from seeking the lost, including apathy, disdain for those who aren t like us, and fear of change. Consider the Pharisees had all of these hang-ups, didn t they? That s why they complained to Jesus for ly receiving sinners and tax collectors. Friends, as the Lord wore that title like a badge of honor may we here at Watson Baptist Church do the same. May we strive to be a church family that ly receives messy people, broken people, and not merely exist to be a meeting place for people who already have their lives together (that place doesn t exist anyway). Press On, Bro. John Dear Watson Baptist Church, I thank God for you! 2 Timothy 1:3 I so appreciate your generous help. It means so much to know friends are there for you. It surely helps. God bless all! Thanks again! Love In Christ, Faye Whitfield Thank You more than I can say!!! Thank you so much for the money. I will use it toward a new washer & dryer. I really appreciate it. Thanks again, Rose Starkey I cannot thank you guys enough for the kind words, thoughts, prayers, meals, and donations you have showered me with following my sister s passing. Thank you all. With so much love, Brandy Tullos and Family Thanks so much to my church family for the monetary gift. It helped me get my house completely restored. I am now enjoying living in it. Thanks again, EJ Langlois, SR 4
February Statistics Sunday School Attendance: Total February 5 101 members 6 visitors 107 February 12 94 members 6 visitors 100 February 19 100 members 3 visitors 103 February 26 90 members 2 visitors 92 Receipts for February Budget Offering $ 21,202.99 Debt Retirement* 700.00 Disaster Relief 300.00 Children s Camp* 670.00 Youth Camp* 2,118.00 Budget Receipts to date: $ 44,620.81 Budget Needs for the year: $ 50,395.76 Total (under) $ (5,774.95) A donation was made to the Debt Retirement fund in memory of Wimpy Trest. N U R S E R Y V O L U N T E E R S Child Care For Worship Services March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 Amy Nickel Chris Nickel Kay McFarlain Geraldine Loper Theresa Warren Janice Penton Donna Whitfield Mandy Pemberton PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS Donations were made to the Children s Camp and Youth Camp funds in memory of Mr. Leslie Wells. USHER SCHEDULE Wednesday, March 1 Sunday, March 5 Matthew Tullos - a.m. - p.m. Wednesday, March 8 Sunday, March 12 - a.m. Garland Penton- p.m. Wednesday, March 15 Sunday, March 19 Keith Mayers - a.m. & p.m. Wednesday, March 22 Sunday, March 26 John Warren - a.m. & p.m. Wednesday, March 29 March 5 March 12 March 19 Tommy Jacobsen Ronnie McMorris Jeff Jones Tom Green Bryan Tadlock Terry Hollowell Matthew Tullos Justin Blythe Roy Payne Michael Anderson Wayne Varnado Tom Hall Garland Penton Jeff Bennett Steve Webb Terry Hollowell Michael Anderson Keith Mayers Application forms for the 2017 Associational Scholarships to Louisiana College and New Orleans Theological Seminary are available and may be picked up from the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Associational Office at 32470 Walker Rd. North, or you may email a request to: info@elbamissions.org The deadline for returning completed forms is March 21, 2017. March 26 Tommy Jacobsen Ronnie McMorris Jeff Jones Tom Green Bryan Tadlock Terry Hollowell March 5 Justin Blythe DEACON OF THE WEEK March 12 Tommy Jacobsen March 19 Bryan Tadlock March 26 Steve Webb 5
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Regular Schedule 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Regular Schedule 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Regular Schedule 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Hamburger Fundraiser Finance Committee Meeting Dress Rehearsal 4:45 Business Meeting 26 27 28 29 30 31 2017 Regular Sunday Schedule: Men s Prayer Time 8:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship Service 10:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 5:00 p.m. Children s Activities 5:30 p.m. Evening Worship Service 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Schedule: Ladies Ensemble or Mixed Ensemble 6:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting / Youth Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Fundraiser Practices listed in blue. Final Practice 5:30 Week of Prayer for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and North American Missions Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time begins Children s Camp Money Due Talent Show 6:00 pm Mission Study Youth Bowling 4-6 pm 6