MAY 2016 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 5 The Rocky Hock Anchor The Mission of Rocky Hock Baptist Church is to magnify Christ and make disciples of all people. Family Matters Have you ever heard the saying, the family that prays together stays together? I m certain you have, and if not, I want us to consider it together. It goes without saying that family means a lot to us. Having been your pastor for more than nine years, I have witnessed the dedication, devotion, and love that is shared. Do you know why we feel this way about family? Let s talk about it together. Some of you may know and make the connection and some may not, so let s consider the evidence. Simple logic tells us that everything in our world has a beginning and that includes you and me. Beginning confirms a creation and that leads undeniably to a Creator. As a human, the only substantial explanation of our beginning and purpose is found in the biblical account of our creation in the image of our Creator. Genesis 1 & 2 records our family heritage. It also tells us why we think like we do and have the connections and desires to love and be loved by living in a family unit. We were created to always be with our Creator, yet sin separated us from our true Father (God). But not even sin can keep us away from Him if we return to Him (by grace through faith in Jesus Christ) and fulfill our purpose. In God s magnificent design, He uses family in His eternal purpose of creating a kingdom people for His Eternal Kingdom. Then the next logical question is: How do I know and fulfill that purpose? As always, the answer is given to us in God s Word. Here s what the Lord said to us: Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is One! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Emphasis added) Let me give you three main areas of concentration to be successful as a Christian and a Christian family, which are covered in the passage quoted. First is individual growth. Commit to daily personal Bible study, prayer, and to a missional attitude (how you can glorify God through loving your neighbor). Take advantage of available Bible study. Are you in adult Bible study on Sunday and Wednesday night? Second is home growth. Daily family Bible study and prayer is expected. If you are not spending at least an hour together daily as a family you will become deficient in the necessity of family spirituality. Third is corporate (church) growth. Every member of the family who is Christian should be devoted to and serving the Lord through the ministries of the church. Involvement in the earthly Kingdom (church) is mandatory, as Paul points out in several of his epistles. Worship, evangelism, and missions are the heartbeat of the Christian and the Christian church. Wow! Our family is so important that God will make it maximize His glory on earth and fill His Kingdom of Heaven! Praise the Lord, O my soul! Let s all make sure our family matters matter in God s Kingdom! Your Loving Pastor The May Missions Committee Meeting will be on Sunday, May 15th at 7 PM in the Conference Room. The 5th Sunday Missions Offering in May has been designated for Open Arms Ministries
THE ANCHOR PAGE 2 From our Minister of Youth & Children Keep God at the center of your life. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is known as the Shema, which is the Hebrew word translated listen. The call to listen in this verse is similar to when parents say to their children, Now, listen up. The words that follow listen up have extreme significance. What are we to listen to? What are we to hear? The Lord our God, the Lord is One. It can also be rendered, God is our God, God alone. It means God and God alone is the true and living God, and He alone is central in our lives. Have you considered lately what s at the center of your life? Many things are vying for your attention: friends, family, career, sports, academics, recreation, hobbies, and so on. There s nothing inherently wrong with these things. They just don t belong at the center of a believer s life. These things won t be strong enough to hold your life together when it starts crumbling around you. If you center your life on a person, a career, money, status, health, or good looks, you re focusing on something that isn t reliable and can be lost. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on earth. Colossians 3:2 The only One who is strong enough to hold us together when things feel hopeless is our heavenly Father. Have you made Him your first priority and put Him at the center of your life? He can t be taken from you, and you can t be taken from Him. He demands and deserves to be central in your life, and when He comes first, you won t be lost, or last, or let go. Pastor Mike Events & Opportunities for Youth Every Sunday @ 6 PM - INCREASE (Youth Bible Study) - Youth Suite Every Wednesday @ 7 PM - INCREASE (Youth Bible Study) - Youth Suite Saturday, May 21 @ 7 PM - Youth Movie Night - Youth Suite - Snacks & Drinks Provided! Saturday, June 25 - Wednesday, June 29, 2016 - Youth Summer Camp @ Ridgecrest, NC Cost for members is $150, cost for non-members is $299. Full amount due by May 22. A male chaperone is needed for this week! See Pastor Mike to volunteer! Graduate Sunday On Sunday, June 5th, our 2016 High School and College Graduates will be recognized during the Morning Worship Service. There will be a luncheon following the service in the Special Function Room to honor our High School Graduates.
PAGE 3 THE ANCHOR From Our Minister of Music & Education SING PRAISE TO THE KING! SING WITH UNDERSTANDING! Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to the King, sing praises! For God is King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. ~ Psalm 47:6, 7 The book of Psalms is concerned with the primary activity of God s blood-bought saints: singing! Psalm 47 is particularly powerful, as it is a psalm concerned with singing praise to the King of Kings! For the psalmist, this royal psalm sings of triumph, adoration, and honor. Today, such a psalm would gush with adolescent awe and pseudo praise (Like, wow... this is awesome!). But this psalm is weighty, ponderous, filled with profound admiration and awe. For the Mighty One, God, is on His throne. Verse 7 states the obvious: God is King of all the earth! Therefore, praise to the King reflects His honor and might. Every particle of this earth belongs to Him - - and all of music, as well. Hence, songs of praise sung cannot be careless or flippant: He IS the King of all the earth! His subjects (His blood-bought ones) fall down before Him in worship and wonder. Verse 2 sings that, not only is He the King, the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. None can resist His power or stand before His anger. He is not an effeminate deity! He is Almighty! Those who oppose Him have great reason to fear; yet those who love Him, adore and worship Him for the very same reason: the battle is not theirs, but God s. Verses 6 and 7 contain a great Call to Worship. When the King (our King!) issues a command to his subjects, He need only speak once, perhaps twice. But in these verses, our Lord repeats the call to praise five times! Can such a call for action be taken lightly? May it never be so. Holy song IS important; this five-fold repetition rebukes the slackness of our song. For, HE IS WORTHY... He is our Creator, our Savior! The music must never stop. He must have all of our praise, all the time. We must not praise Him with complaining, but enthusiasm. His majesty compels His children to powerful praise. But, notice that verse 7 contains God s fifth command to praise: Sing praises with understanding. In our culture today, this is one of the Lord s most ignored demands. Christians like to sing with enthusiasm, but not with understanding. Excitement is pleasurable; singing with intelligent and thoughtful understanding (of both the text and music) takes way too much effort (In 1 Corinthians 14, the King James word understanding is usually translated as mind ). But, the psalmist thunders: we are singing to the King and He is no ordinary King. He is King of all the earth! Therefore, our song must be worthy of its subject. We are in a battle. Our Lord will be victorious, but we cannot play at sacred song. We must sing with understanding: intelligent, informed, and insightful song. Is it possible? Can today's church sing with understanding? The Psalmist closes with these words: He is greatly exalted. Sound doctrine and transcendent music is the only song that is truly worthy of our exalted King. May we this day: Sing praises to our King, Sing praises with understanding. As we begin the summer months, it is a busy time that can get in the way of worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I ask that you stay faithful to worshiping our Lord. Each day this month I challenge you to worship Christ everyday through scripture and song. Stay faithful and stay strong in God s word as we sing praises to our King. Love in Christ, Pastor Tyler
THE ANCHOR PAGE 4 LAST CHANCE to be included in our New 2016 Church Pictorial Directory! Photo Make-Up Day: Thursday, May 5th from 2-9 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room You may sign up on-line by going to the Church web-site (www.rhbce.org), scroll down to the middle of the page to Important Links and click on Schedule your church directory photos. Or you may call the Church Office. Rocky Hock Baptist Church Day Care Presentation There will be an additional Church Conference meeting, along with a Question & Answer Session, regarding the Proposed Day Care at RHBC on Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM in the Sanctuary. You may present your questions to Day Care Committee Members: Susan Nixon, Chris Sykes, Laura Turner, Michelle Tynch, Tanya Turner, Leslie Peele, Lee Bass, and Taylor Parks. A vote will be taken on Sunday, May 22nd at the Morning Worship Service as to whether Rocky Hock Baptist Church should pursue starting a full-time Day Care Ministry (infants - 5 year olds). American Red Cross Blood Drive Tuesday, May 17 from 2:00-7:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room Sponsored by RHBC Baptist Men Saturday, May 21 This is an outreach event to those in the church and community who need assistance with odd jobs around their homes. Sign-up sheets are in the connecting corridor for volunteers, as well as for those who need jobs done. Please contact Oscar White for more information.
PAGE 5 As we begin preparing for 2016 s Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry, we will be collecting certain items each month. The items needed for May are: Children s T-shirts (Small, Medium, and Large) THE ANCHOR Book Recommendations NEW FROM John Piper A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision By William Lane Craig FEATURING... Sunday, May 29th @ 6 PM Multi-Purpose Room Rocky Hock Baptist Church Vacation Bible School Monday, June 20 - Friday, June 24 8:30 AM - 12 Noon for Children, 7 PM for Youth Kids, let s go on an adventure like no other, deep within the mysterious sea! As we submerge ourselves in God s Word, we will discover that Jesus didn t just see what s on the outside of people, He looked deep down on the inside. So grab your goggles, step into your flippers, and dive in to find truth below the surface! Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139: 23-24 (HCSB) Our Motto: Jesus sees. Jesus knows. Jesus saves.
THE ANCHOR PAGE 6 SUNDAY Sunday, May 1st @ 10:55 AM Worship Baptist Women A Message from Belva During the month of May, we will be collecting money for the Albemarle Pregnancy Resource Center. The center ministers to women and families facing an abortion decision. They count it as a true blessing when they have the opportunity to help mothers chose life. The center is in their 27th year of ministry. Their efforts can only continue with the support of churches and individuals who share their belief that life truly is sacred. We will be passing out the baby bottles in the coming weeks and will return the bottles filled with money by May 29th. Please support their efforts with your donations. Bap ist Men Baptist Men s Breakfast Sunday, May 15th at 7:30 AM in the Special Function Room Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20 This is what we are instructed in scripture to do. And this is our motto verse for CREW. By participating in this outreach, you will experience how to become a better disciple and how to grow new disciples. If you have not been to CREW before, I challenge you to come this month on Thursday, May 26th at 7 PM to the Special Function Room. Let s strive together to build the kingdom of God!
PAGE 7 THE ANCHOR Movie Night for Kids Spring Crossword Puzzle Friday, May 20th @ 6 PM in the Youth Suite Snacks and Drinks will be provided! Children s Summer Camp Monday, July 25 - Friday, July 29, 2016 @ Gardner-Webb University Cost for members is $142, cost for non-members is $283. Full amount due by May 22. See Pastor Mike for more information!
THE ANCHOR PAGE 8 Serve the Lord with gladness... ~ Psalms 100: 2 Deacon Ministry Teams Deacon Greeters 5/1/16 5/7/16 Wayne Bunch, Jack Evans, Mike Evans 5/8/16 5/14/16 Keith Nixon, Scott Noble, Phil Smith 5/15/16 5/21/16 Russell Byrum, Col. Bill Smith, Chris Sykes 5/22/16 5/28/16 Wayne Howell, Ted Peele, Bill Smith 5/29/16 6/4/16 Adam Bunch, Steve Evans, Allen Peele Offering Lee Bass (Chairman), Donald Bass (Co-Chairman), Wayne Bunch, Allen Peele, Bill (Janet) Smith, Phil Smith Sr. Adult SS Center: Donald Bass Sanctuary Main: Lee Bass Connecting Corridor: Allen Peele Multi-Purpose Main: Steve Evans Ushers Joe Asbell, Neal Bass, Tony Bass, Randy Parks, Aubrey Tynch, Stanley Tynch, Bob Wallace Counting Committee Mike Evans, Frank & Hope Gosser, Carroll & Judy Peele Collecting in May Children s T-shirts Small, Medium, & Large Needed for May Spaghetti
PAGE 9 THE ANCHOR Nursery & Pre-School Workers During Sunday School 1st Sunday Penny Byrum Linda Layton Lisa Smith 2nd Sunday Ashley Byrum Kristia Noble Michelle Tynch 3rd Sunday Mary Jo Bass Amanda Howell Susan Sykes 4th Sunday Bonnie Bond Holly Evans Marcia Evans 5th Sunday Arlene Bass Betty Bunch Beth Evans * indicates teachers of the week 1st Sunday Son Seekers (3-4 year olds) Catina Byrum Faith Byrum Molli Riddick Kingdom Kids (K-5th Grade) Joey & Ashley Byrum *Amanda Howell *Laura Turner Sunday AM Worship (Nursery) 1st Sunday Maryann Bunch Kim Forehand Kimberly McPherson Denise Nixon Lindsay Smith 2nd Sunday Alanna Bass Melissa Chappell Lauren Smith Peggy Weiss 3rd Sunday Amanda Goodwin Jessica Hoggard Kristia Noble Tanya Turner Michelle Tynch 4th Sunday Laura Bass Dawn Bunch Gloria Horton Amanda Howell 5th Sunday Claire Evans Karen Miller Kristia Noble Mia Noble 2nd Sunday Son Seekers (3-4 year olds) Regina Copeland Kim Forehand Chelsea White Kingdom Kids (K-5th Grade) *Gloria Horton Jay & Felicia Parrish Lisa Bullock *Mike & Heather Denny Sunday AM Worship (2 year olds) 1st Sunday Louvenia Stewart Amanda O Kelley 2nd Sunday Holly Evans Dawn Bunch 3rd Sunday Hope Gosser Susan Sykes 4th Sunday Anna Evans Karen Smith Logan Smith 5th Sunday Kimberly McPherson Denise Nixon Children s Church 3rd Sunday Son Seekers (3-4 year olds) Melissa Chappell Claire Evans Kingdom Kids (K-5th Grade) *Trey & Alanna Bass *Wayne & Donna Harrell LeAnn Nixon Sunday PM Worship 1st Sunday Sue Hoggard Amber Young 2nd Sunday Karen Miller Rene` Smith 3rd Sunday Karen Miller Susan Sykes 4th Sunday Donna Harrell Audrey Eley 5th Sunday Ashley Byrum Michelle Tynch 4th Sunday Son Seekers (3-4 year olds) Alanna Bass Sherlynne Smith Kingdom Kids (K-5th Grade) Debbie Bicknell *Sharon Nixon Chris & Susan Sykes *Mike & Heather Denny Wednesday PM Worship 1st Wednesday Leslie Peele Elizabeth Riddick Mission Friends Chris & Susan Sykes 2nd Wednesday Rhonda Bass Laura Turner Mission Friends Kim Forehand Sherlynne Smith 3rd Wednesday Ashley Byrum Linda Layton Mission Friends Alanna Bass Molli Riddick 4th Wednesday Alanna Bass Molli Riddick _Mission Friends Michelle Tynch Laura Turner 5th Wednesday Gloria Horton Elizabeth Riddick Mission Friends Sallie Chappell Clara Peele Molli Riddick 5th Sunday Son Seekers (3-4 year olds) Allen & Sarah Nixon Clara Peele No Children s Church for Kingdom Kids (K-5th Grade) on 5th Sunday
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 May Check us out on the web at www.rhbce.org Weekly Church Activities: Sundays: 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) Tuesdays: 10:00 AM - Young at Heart Adult Bible Study 4th Tuesdays: 7:00 PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry 7:00 PM - Senior Adult Choir Wednesdays: 7:00 PM - Adult Bible Study; INCREASE (Youth); GROW (Children - Mission Friends, GA s, RA s) 8:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Dr. James Horton, Senior Pastor jhorton@rhbce.org Mike Denny, Associate Pastor: Youth & Children mdenny@rhbce.org 221-4948 (Home) 336-266-9493 (Cell) Tyler Cone, Associate Pastor: Worship & Education 252-903-2565 (Cell) tcone@rhbce.org Mr. Allen Peele, Chairman of Deacons Mrs. Linda B. Bunch, Administrative Assistant lbunch@rhbce.org 221-8814 (Home) 221-4133 (Office)