A Mid-Winter s FEBRUARY Day Don t forget Your Valentine on Sun., February 14 (Run all ye Bachelors! Leap Year is here - Feb. 29, 2016) My heart awakens each morn with a joyful & happy beat. I throw back the covers, to find my feet. If they touch the floor, that would be so neat. I hope my joints won t crack & creak.. As I arise each day to face the world, I thank My dear Lord that I am still here to spread cheer. I open my curtains to blue skies and sunrays. I look upon a mid-winter day. I may see a bird fly or a squirrel look for food. I throw out peanuts, or fruit & seeds. Oh, how I hope I can do other good deeds. But first, morning coffee, and the news to read. An egg or cereal, maybe a bun; I m soon on the run. To the mailbox I go sending cards to shut-in s, To church friends, to close friends or far-away friends. I could even call someone to chase away blues. Reading a bible verse & saying a prayer.. Will soon pick me up; I m getting somewhere. Now if this isn t enough I can tell you more. An afternoon nap gives me time to snore. It s soon Sunday church or Wednesday night there. Or monthly WMU with my mission friends is not rare. Don t I have such a great life this way, At Hampton Baptist with Pastor Betty & Staff? Even Annual Church Night can make us laugh. We love our church choirs; the leaders as well. We can t do without hymns and music and such. The children are precious, their teachers are swell. So, thank you, dear Lord, for each day I awaken, With sunshine & blue skies; our freedom not taken. For you see, I have found, mid-winter s a grand time To spread happiness around. ~ Merry Mary Copeland ~ February Birthdays Happy Birthday to you...happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday dear 1 Ryan Bond 2 Kathy Kruschwitz 2 Mike Bond, Jr. 4 Marian Supplee 4 Mary Jane Ranson 7 June Ozment 8 Jim Harrington 9 Eleanor Hartman 11 Ron Chance 11 Becky Glass 11 Wayne Tillett 13 Rhonda Schell 13 Aaron Whittington 16 Siri Sandford 18 Bob Feild 19 Jane Garvey 21 Patsy Powell 21 Blake Matter 22 Nancy Sandford 24 Will McKendree 25 Katie O Bryan 26 Vicky Bird 26 Thomas Ward, III 28 Bill Poland, Jr. Happy Birthday to all!
Our Church Hampton Baptist Church, Hampton, VA February 2016 Preparation for Lent SOUPER BOWL TRANSFIGURATION & COMMUNION SUNDAY Sunday, February 7th ~ 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Wednesday, February 10th ~ 7:00 p.m. Pancake Dinner at 5:45 p.m. FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT Sunday, February 14th ~ 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Sunday, February 21st ~ 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Sunday, February 28th ~ 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Staff Contact INFO. Rev. Dr. Betty Pugh Mills (Pastor) 804.869.6314 Rev. Rachel Sciretti (Associate Pastor of Children & Youth Discipleship) 652.7586 Mr. Tom Matthews (Minister of Music/Organist) 722.3679 Ash Wednesday ~ a Service of Confession and Ashes Wednesday, February 10 th at 7:00 p.m. Hampton Baptist Church Remember you are dust...and to dust you shall return." Mrs. Darlene Scheepers (Admin. Asst.) 723.0707 or 813.0387 Mr. Larry Jones (Facilities Tech.) 660-6929 Dr. Chester Brown (Pastor Emeritus) 804.642.4353
Pastor s Annual Letter for Annual Church Night January 27, 2016 Dear Hampton Baptist Family, 2 years and 8 months ago, I came to be your pastor. Some days it feels like it can t have been that long, and other days, it feels much longer. I suppose that is normal when you think about the continued challenges and transitions that we are facing as a congregation. Let me remind you of some of the things we have been working on this year as a church: new structure and presentation of our budget, the renaming of our soup kitchen to SAME (So All May Eat), 13 listening sessions during the month of June for future initiatives, Deep Roots Radical Rebuild Capital Campaign, the 2nd Campaign to reduce our debt service, and the final moments before we transition into the new building space. It has been a busy year on the institutional church front. More than the addition of new space has been in process of change. But much has happened on the individual front for our church staff. Tom Matthews has battled cancer over this year and is still facing challenges. Rachel Sciretti has added a new member to her family and her husband s ministry position will be ending this year in April. Joanne Barbour has lost her father, and my husband Dee has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is, as you gather this evening, beginning the road to recovery following his Prostatectomy. Death, illness and job transition are the top three stresses for people, we ve had quite a year. Thank goodness that Darlene Scheepers and Larry Jones have kept home fires burning with good work and attention to detail in every way. We are continuing a few more weeks of living on top of each other as we await the completion of the renovations. As I walk through those new spaces, wide and well lit, I am reminded of the many potential opportunities we will have to be a community of deep hospitality and care for the downtown Hampton community. The most important questions for each of us to be asking in this season are How will this new space give us previously unimagined opportunities for our church and her ministries? What kinds of things can we be about that we ve never considered as possible before? What do I think of when I consider the use of our space in the future? I know that I continue to invite you into some new ways and experiences in education, in worship, and how we connect to others outside our church family. I also know that some of this change is unsettling and hard because it differs from the past and it challenges us to think in new ways. Trusting me has been hard for many of you, but I would ask of you as I get ready to complete 3 years of service, to try and do so by asking good questions and paying attention to the public discourse about our direction. I will continue to work to give you my most thoughtful discourse in teaching and preaching, and my deepest love and compassion as I walk beside you along the journey of faith. I will also give you my trust and honesty as we move step by step through 2016. A few months back, as I sat in a lively and, at moments, confrontational Deacons meeting, Melissa Lerner leaned over to ask me that perennial question that has come from more than one of you, I bet you re regretting leaving your church in Richmond. I ve been pondering how, other than laughing, I should respond to such a question. Well, that evening, sitting next to her, the spirit came and I was able to respond to her. I said, Melissa, I am probably not regretting this as much as you guys will be. When new members join a church I remind them that it takes a solid 3 years before you feel a part of the community. I am on the horizon of that precipice with the hope and commitment that where we are going together is going to be a significant journey. I invite you to re-commit spiritually and practically to join me and one another as we try to follow God s leadership in 2016. Sincerely, Betty Pugh Mills, Pastor Read at Annual Church Night on Wednesday, January 27th.
HBC Emeritus Class Allison, Velma Jean Askew, Mrs. Evelyn (Rea) Christian, John & Martha Curtis, Mr. Philip (Phil) Dixon, Mrs. Lois Galloway, Mrs. Connie Gerringer, Mrs. Ruth Hatchett, Mrs. Margaret Hawkins, Maude Haynes, Mrs. Jean Hoffman, Irene Johnston, Mrs. Virginia Malone, Latrelle (Aunt to Becky Glass) McKendree, Mrs. Beth Norman, Ms. Martha Pollock, Martha Powell, Mrs. Patsy Winstead, Mrs. Wilma Wornom, Mrs. Freddy Yates, Dr. Carson Continue to Pray for our Emeritus Class! Stories from the heart... Wednesday Family Night Supper Menus Feb. 3 - Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad & dessert Greeters - Billy & Nancy Forbes Serving - Jim Paul Allison Class Feb. 10 - Pancakes, bacon/sausage, eggs, biscuits & gravy Greeters - Vivian Deal & Jane Ward Serving - Jay Russ Class While volunteering in a soup kitchen, I met a very nice single man. It was a relief, since my mom and I always laughed about my finding a young man who was not already married. So, optimistic about my chances, I asked my new friend what he did for a living. He replied, "I'm a priest." Since my young son is so crazy about cars, I finally took him to his first car show. He loved seeing all the models, brands, big engines, colors and even the wheels. But the car he was most impressed with was a hearse. "Mom!" he shouted, "Look at all this storage!" ~ Sara S., New London, Conn. Feb. 17 - Barbeque sandwich, cole slaw, baked beans, salad, chips & dessert Greeters - Betty Miller & Virginia Kanoy Serving - Little Brown Fox Class Feb. 24 - Chili, grilled cheese sandwich, salad, corn chips & dessert Greeters - Betty Berge Serving - Need Volunteers Thank you Betty Berge for volunteering! All meals served with salad bar (unless otherwise noted), iced tea, hot tea, water and coffee Mary C.
SOUP KITCHEN MINISTRY CHANGES IT S NAME TO SAME 2015 was a year of change and growth at the Soup Kitchen. We officially changed our name to better reflect our Ministry to So All May Eat, which not only reflects our purpose to feed those in need, but also acknowledges that everyone s worth in the eyes of God is the SAME. Thanks to Kelly O Neill at KSO Design LLC, we have a new logo that expresses the two-fold mission of SAME to not only create a place of ministry for folks both within and without the Christian faith, but to minister with our brothers and sisters who are homeless or living in poverty. This year we have served 4945 meals to 835 different individuals including 65 children (under the age of 18), 55 seniors (over the age of 65) and 130 veterans. We spent a total of $8,553.23 which means that on average, we spent $1.73/per meal. This number is not totally accurate as we have also added a Clothing/Toiletry component to our program. Not only do we have feminine products available to our female guests, we are making available basics such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant, razors, soap, etc. to our guests each week. This year was also the first time (I believe in the history of Hampton Baptist Soup Kitchen dating back to the early 1960s) that we did not close down during the summer when hunger is a more pressing issue for many families. During the summer kids are home and not getting food support from the school lunch program or the VA Peninsula Foodbank backpack program (which sends healthy food home with kids on the weekends during the school year). We opened each Monday during the summer for a bag lunch distribution and we were able to accommodate many different volunteer groups in our effort including our own HBC youth/children groups. The financial generosity of HBC members and those who have been touched by the kind and loving spirit of HBC members continues to bless our ministry. Alexis Ferenc and Coastal Community Church continue to be a major contributor both financially and through volunteering. With support from both churches and generous donations from individuals we were able to raise nearly $9,500 this year. We are grateful for the decision to fund SAME in the amount of $5,000 during 2016 as our major fundraising opportunity, Bay Days, has been cancelled. Having this funding also allows us to concentrate our precious volunteer resources on taking care of those in need. We look forward to returning to HBC and our beautiful new facility. We have plans to begin a child s program during lunch and we are researching ways to help our neighbors with the obstacles that affect the quality of their lives such as not having government identification, not having a job, and being food and/or shelter insecure. I think I am speaking for all of us who volunteer with SAME when I say that as we get to know our neighbors in need we are blessed to be able to serve them recognizing in our service the truth of Matthew 25:40 - Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. We would love to have you join us in service. Sign up on VolunteerSpot (http:/ / vols.pt/ Uc27rn) or email, call/text Amy at soallmayeat@gmail.com or 757.508.1772. Amy Witcover-Sandford, Director
FEBRUARY WMU NEWS Thank you for your gifts to the Lynn Latham Global Missions Offering. In December we learned how the Roma people are responding to the Lord through Project Ruth. We have learned that the Roma children love listening to a dramatized recording of the New Testament. The children have a listening, rather than a reading culture. Many are opening their hearts to the Gospel because they heard it in their own heart language. HBC 2015 Global Missions Offering was $3,796.45. Our baby shower for Teen Moms Support Program was successful and many beautiful baby clothes and supplies were given. Joyce Everett works through the Office of Human Affairs in Newport News and shared about meeting the girls, making home visits, and taking them to doctor appointments. Hearts are changing as these moms share their fears and uncertainty. They receive one-on-one love and guidance through the stages of pregnancy and beyond. See the WMU bulletin board for pictures. Peninsula Rescue Mission is in need of new men s socks, tee shirts and underwear for the homeless men staying at the shelter. All sizes needed. Thank you! WMU VALENTINE S TEA February 14, 4:00 p.m. Parkview Baptist Church 604 Hilton Boulevard Pat Wright, Speaker For Reservations please call Parkview Baptist at 247-0491 Hats are Welcome! Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Night s Welcome a blessing for our community. A Special Thank You to Phil Everhart Phil, you have given time, talent, money and compassion for a ministry call. Thank you for being a true example of a servant s heart for our children, youth, members of HBC, and to the community that we have been called to serve. You have been the very embodiment of Christ with Night s Welcome Ministry and we say again, Thank you! ~ Quotable Quotes ~ Mary C. Love the life you live. Live the life you love... Bob Marley "Only in the darkness can you see the stars.".. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hope appears on the horizon each morning in the form of a brand new day... Unknown Everything grows better with love... Unknown Whether you think you can or think you can't.. you are right... Henry Ford Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for... Joseph Addison Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.. Ralph Waldo Emerson A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden... Unknown Bloom where you are planted... Unknown A weed is but an unloved flower... Ella W. Wilcox No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the horizon of the spirit... Helen Keller
How Do We Lean into Lent? By Betty Pugh Mills Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 10 th. It is a season of preparation and an opportunity for great spiritual and personal examination. It is a time where the tones of worship become more pensive and quiet, where our thoughts are about finitude, mortality, what God calls us to be and how we often do not measure up to God s desires for righteousness, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Lent is also a time for our spiritual practices to be placed in competition with the rest of life. When these disciplines go up against our everyday lives, busy schedules, work and family demands, emotional trial and more, we are challenged in new and sacrificial ways of living the life of faith. During the next 40 days you can experiment with what it means to introduce a daily discipline into your life which might invite an adjustment in your focus on Jesus and your commitment to living life in a way that would honor and please him. Six weeks is a short time, but a period that can be very meaningful as you move through it. We often think of giving up something and of taking on something. As you discern the possibilities, I encourage you to consider the options below as mere suggestions for things that might make this time of reorientation a powerful and life changing experience. And don t be reluctant to share your Lenten commitments with another. The Christian community is about many things, and accountability is one of the ways we challenge each other to live a deeper and more relevant faith walk. So, tell others what you are doing and ask them how they are choosing to observe Lent this year. This year, I am committing myself to writing a note each day to someone for whom I am thankful. You are welcome to join me. I invite you to live Lent well so that as we prepare to celebrate the new life in Christ that comes with Easter, we might truly know the power of sacrificial love in his name and for his sake. Giving something up is done as a discipline of learning self-control, in order to free our minds from the pursuance of material things and other things that consume us and distract us. It is done as a reminder of Christ s sufferings and what our true pleasures are as followers of Christ. And it can be an act of sorrow over our failures and wrong doings. Here are some suggestions: Certain foods (caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, sugar, meat) Television, Internet time surfing, Gambling Impulse shopping, Fast food, Smoking Driving over the speed limit Taking on something for Lent is about adding good things to our lives and to the lives of others. It helps us to begin to bring some positive changes that may last beyond the 40 days of Lent. Here are some suggestions: Reconcile yourself to someone with whom you have had conflict Do acts of kindness for perfect strangers Go to a place of beauty and retreat, even if for a little while Add more physical exercise to your routine Study, pray, and meditate over scripture each day through the daily lectionary in community more frequently than you do now Collect money for a favored charity at each meal time Volunteer for a ministry at church in which you ve never participated in the past Visit an older person who cannot come to church Betty
BOARD OF DEACONS The deacons began their year with a training offsite conducted on January 10, 2015. As in past years, the deacons functioned in ministry teams that included the bereavement team, the emeritus team, the hospitalization team, the prospective member team, the prayer team, the community development team, and the culinary team. The culinary team is a new team formed for 2015 to assist with providing meals to families in need. 2015 was a very busy year for the deacons. They appointed an ad hoc committee to find a path ahead to complete the ongoing rebuilding effort. The effort led to an April vote by the congregation to continue forward with the project, begin a 2nd capital campaign to secure a $1M, and increase the loan value with Old Point National Bank to $2M. They also then appointed an ad hoc steering committee to oversee and coordinate all aspects (capital campaign, communications, financing, and the rebuild) of the project. Beyond the rebuilding effort, the deacons approved a child protection policy for the church and developed covenants with members of our congregation who are convicted sex offenders. Deacons of the week spent time visiting and contacting the sick as well as the members on our Emeritus list. Because of great work by the financial planning committee, the deacons approved a revamped operating budget that more than simplifies and clearly outlines how church funds are allocated and expended each year. Finally, the deacons are in the process of considering modifications to the Constitution and By-laws that will better integrate the church's soup kitchen (SAME) into the church's committee process. Pat Garvey, Chair (Deacon Report for 2015 Book of Reports) *Book of Reports for 2015 are available in the church office. **All are welcome to submit information for the monthly newsletter for encouragement, communication, and or just for giggles. Thank you to Mary Copeland & Bill Hurt for recent submissions! :) Lil D Deacon Assignments for February 8:30 11:00 North (baptistry) (Capt.) Dee Dee Horne Carole Lynn South (piano) Cynthia Otte (greeter) Melissa Lerner North (baptistry) (Capt.) Jimmy Michael Phil Everhart, Jr. (greeter) Lucille Everhart South (piano) Lin Eure David Gaffney (greeter) Frank Schneider February 2016 Prayer Scripture Roses are red Violets are blue. Someone loves you. Here is a clue Deacon of the week 2/7 Carole Lynn Jim Puckett II 2/14 Gary Powell Jim Puckett Sr. 2/21 Patty Price Jim Puckett II 2/28 Jack Miller Joyce Clemens *Names in blue are scheduled for the Service Read John 3:16
HBC Sundays & Wednesday Schedule for February Sunday, February 7 ~ Souper Bowl Nursery Workers For February Feb 7 S.S. Liz Abeyounis Corinna Payne Betty Berge Feb 14 S.S. Sandy Matthews Sarah Puckett Bev O Bryan Feb 21 S.S. Toni Wilkins Brooke Puckett Ann Michael Feb 28 S.S. Kay Powell Alystra Barefoot Ashleigh Diehl Transfiguration & Communion 9:45 AM Sunday School for all ages 2-4:00 PM The Enneagram and You Study 5:30 PM Youth Super Bowl Party @ Seymours Sunday, February 14 ~ 1st Sunday of Lent 9:45 AM 12:00 PM 2-4:00 PM TBA Sunday School for all ages SSLT for Youth The Enneagram and You Study Steeple Singers Practice Sunday, February 21 ~ 2nd Sunday of Lent 9:45 AM 2-4:00 PM 5-7:00 PM Sunday School for all ages The Enneagram and You Study (Middle School Only) Youth Group (Dinner: Harvell/Berge) Sunday, February 28 ~ 3rd Sunday of Lent 9:45 AM 2-4:00 PM 5:00 PM 5-7:00 PM Intergenerational Sunday School The Enneagram and You Study Steeple Singers Youth Group (Dinner: Ware) Wednesday Evening Schedule : (For all ages) 5:45-8:00 PM ~ Dinner, Choir, Missions, Bible Study, Activities & more Ash Wednesday Confession & ~ a Service of Ashes Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m. Hampton Baptist Sanctuary Following their choir rehearsals, school-aged children and youth will attend the service. Mission Friends and care for young children will still be available. WMU Circles for February Dorothy Lee Jones Group - 12:00 PM Tuesday, February 2nd at The Chamberlain Garber/Chandler Group - 1:00 PM Tuesday, February 9th in the Jones Fellowship Hall Martha Ailor Group - 6:00 PM Tuesday, February 9th at Seton Manor for a Brunswick Stew dinner with residents Lucille Rollins Group - Tuesday, February 23rd in the Jones Fellowship Hall (Please bring a sandwich.) WMU VALENTINE S TEA February 14, 4:00 p.m. Parkview Baptist Church 604 Hilton Boulevard Pat Wright, Speaker For Reservations please call Parkview Baptist at 247-0491 Hats are Welcome!
Important Dates for February: Church Council Planning Retreat February 6, Saturday 9:00-1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room (upstairs) B.Y.O.L. & B The Gospel According to Luke February 3, 10, 17, and 24 - Wednesdays 12 noon in the church Parlor The Enneagram and You: February 7, 14, 21, and 28 - Sundays 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Jones Fellowship Hall. Ash Wednesday Service February 10, Wednesday 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary Lent begins this year on February 10th as we gather for Ash Wednesday. This is a simple service of scripture and hymns inviting us to join Jesus as he enters his own season of discernment. For us, it is about obedience, sacrifice, and mortality. Remembering from dust we have come and to dust we shall return is the beginning of how we will choose to live all of our tomorrows. It is not a morbid or threatening reminder, just a reality for each of us to ponder. Am I living the life God would want me to live? Am I being the person that God created me to be? Is our church, this body of Christ, moving toward greater discipleship and obedience to God's wants and God's will? Lent is about serious stuff. But remember, you do not journey it alone. Make your reservation for dinner on February 10th before the 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service. We will be having a rendition of a Shrove Tuesday Pancake meal that night. I just love having breakfast for dinner. A Service of Spirituals March 6, Sunday 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. On the 4th Sunday of Lent, we will gather for a different kind of worship as we recall one of the most uniquely American genres of music, the African-American Spiritual. Spirituals will be sung by the congregational choir, spirituals will be offered by the Sanctuary Choir and Spirituals will guide our worship as we explore the theological, social, political and emotional elements of these songs from our nation s history. Scripture, Song and Testimony will fill this time of worship as we make the connections between this musical content and the Lenten Season. SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY February 7 - Special Offering (taken at the end of ) Services: 8:30-11:00 a.m. In conjunction with the Super Bowl game on February 7, 2016, you are invited to bring an offering to worship that day that will be collected at the doors as you exit from worship of both services. This Souper Bowl gift has historically gone to SAME, Night's Welcome, the Food Bank and others who serve the needs of the hungry. This year, as we transition back into our space for SAME and weekly meals for the homeless, we thought it would be most appropriate for this offering to go to our friends at First Presbyterian Church. They have shared their facility with the homeless and with the ministry of HBC for over two years and this is just a small gesture of appreciation that we hope they can use to replace or expand things in their kitchen. I also remind you how appreciative we are that we could continue with our week of Night's Welcome and remain in the ministry there at FPC. So, bring your checks, cash, and throw in a thank you note as well. We'll get the final total tallied and take it over to them when it is most appropriate. Let's make this year's Souper Bowl a Super day of giving and appreciation for our partner in ministry. Recommended Reading by Mary Copeland Painted Dreams (living your best life), by Dr. Jo Hanna Mechergui. Painted Dreams is filled with stories that provide spiritual guidance that strengthen one's spirit. This stunning book teaches readers courage to follow the steps to achieve their dreams regardless of what level you are in your life. God wants us to live our best life and follow our dreams.