Vol 34 No 8 August 2018 200 E. Parkway N. Memphis, TN 38112-5414 901-454-1131 www.fbcmemphis.org REMINDERS Wednesday, August 1 Sanctuary Choir will not rehearse that night. Sunday, August 5, 9 am Join us in the Welcome Center for our monthly First Cup Gathering. Sunday, August 12, 9:30 am Promotion Sunday for our Preschool, Children and Youth Sunday School classes. Save the Date for MIFA s CommUNITY Days. Learn more about our August Meet Up events. Youth Sunday Night Bible Study resumes August 12. You re Not Alone REV. DR. DAVID BRECKENRIDGE, PASTOR would soon be going to the internet for such. But churches still provided a few things that could not be replicated online and chief among them was genuine human community. Facebook was not around then. I don t know if that would have changed Fred s mind, but I don t think so. So community, a sense of connection with God, with others, a genuine sense that we are not alone these are still essential to human existence, especially life abundant and free. And yet, to quote Lennon/McCartney Look at all the lonely people, and some of them among us. Maybe you? We ve all been there. I ve been there. Now human community is difficult and complex and nuanced and certainly can t ultimately be forced. But divine community, with God, should never be in doubt. And as church community is designed to incarnate divine love, we should strive to replicate this steadfastness, this love that will not let you go. With that in mind, I offer for your edification and reflection a song written by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco for Mavis Staples entitled You re Not Alone. I encourage you In about 1996 or so, I was helping facilitate a seminar on Technology and the Future of the Church. Yahoo! was just over a year old. Google was brand new. We were all wondering where all this was taking us. One of the people present was my friend, Fred Miller, an Academy Award-winning documentary film producer. Fred was brutally honest. He said that soon enough folks would not come to church to get content lessons, sermons, etc. They to listen to it, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cycp98mcuc8, but at least read the lyrics here. For length sake, what you read below are the verses coupled together, then the closing chorus. / I m with you/ I m lonely too What s that song/ Can t be sung/ By two? Every night/ I stand in your place Every tear/ On every face/ Tastes the same An open hand/ An open heart There s no need to be afraid Open up this is a raid I wanna get it through to you I wanna get it through to you I m gonna get it through to you First If you don t know that such a message is at the heart of the Incarnation, know it now. God has been trying and is trying now to get through to you and me and the rest of creation with the message that we are not alone, that God is with us. Continued on page 6
FELLOWSHIP First Cup Gathering AUGUST 5 9 AM Join other First Baptist members and the Ministry staff in the Welcome Center August 5, for that first cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate and a pastry and enjoy a time of fellowship with family and friends from 9-9:45 am. Our First Cup Gathering is held on the first Sunday of each month. SAVE THE DATE MIFA CommUNITY Days SEPTEMBER 8 As part of MIFA s 50th anniversary we will join with Lifeline to a Dying World Congregation and Greater Lewis Street Missionary Baptist Church in a city-wide celebration to unite the community through service. More details to follow. Mark your calendars now to be a part of this landmark celebration! MEMORIALS In memory of Celeste Reese by Ms. Lois Sandusky Ms. Libby Linder In memory of Carol Henderson by Ms. Lois Sandusky Ms. Ann Bugbee Ms. Bonnie Algee Ms. Libby Linder Ms. Mary Rogers Mr. & Mrs. Kelton Morris In memory of Ruth Sawyer by Ms. Lois Sandusky In memory of Helen Joy Hansard by Ms. Libby Linder CHURCH Volunteers Needed AVAILABLE SPOTS IN THE AFTERNOON We still need additional help at the Receptionist Desk Monday- Thursday afternoons (12:30-4:30 pm). If you are interested in working an afternoon shift at the Reception Desk, contact Bridget Ellis (bellis@fbcmemphis.org) for more details or to schedule training. CHOIR No Choir Rehearsal WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 Choir members, please note that we will not have Choir Rehearsal, Wednesday, August 1. Rehearsals will resume the next Wednesday, August 8. 2
CHURCH August Meet Ups YOU RE ALL INVITED! Our summer Meet Ups seemed to be a hit so let s try a few more this month. Modeled after the app, Meet Up, we will have activities throughout the month for 3 different interest groups: food and thought, art, and a book club. Choose a group (or two or three!) that interest you and join us as we connect our faith with our hobbies. Please do not think these Meet Ups are not for you. They will give you the opportunity to engage with our youth and for you to form a relationship with these precious, insightful teens. It will also give you a chance to consider how you might turn your hobbies into an act of prayer and reflection. You do not have to attend all of the Meet Up dates listed in each category in order to be a part of the group. Our hope is that these can be a fun, meaningful part of your summer. So put what interests you on your calendar and join us when you can! 3
YOUTH Sunday Night Bible Study Dinners Needed SUNDAYS, 6 PM YOUTH Messy Games AUGUST 10, 7:30 PM It is that time of year again Sunday night, August 12 marks the beginning our Fall Sunday Night Bible Studies. Each Sunday night the youth gather for Bible Study, dinner, and games. This is precious time for us and we enjoy the time together. I would love for our youth to get to know their church family better. Please consider bringing dinner for the youth (10-12 teens) and eating with us on Sunday nights at 6:00. I provide paper products, utensils, drinks and some condiments. I treasure our conversations around the dinner table on Sunday nights and I know you will enjoy getting to know what is going on in the lives of our youth. You can sign up to bring dinners by contacting Brittany (bstillwell@fbcmemphis.org) or signing up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0948adab2ca4fa7-spring1 YOUTH Sunday Night Bible Study: Emotions SUNDAYS, 5-7 PM Emotions are a large part of our everyday lives and can sometimes feel like they move from high to low in an instant. This onth we will examine some common emotions we all feel and look at what our faith has to teach us as we seek to deal with these emotions. August 12: The Spine-tinger (Fear) This Bible Study invites us to examine the role fear plays in our lives and to see the things we fear in light of their faith in Christ. The peace Jesus brings doesn t deny the existence of scary events, experiences, 4 and even people, but we can face our fears when we trust in the One who calms the fearful storms and, perhaps more importantly, calms us in the midst of our storms. August 19: The Heartbreaker (Love) Almost everywhere we turn, we encounter a dizzying array of incomplete or false messages about what love is. The explanation of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is clear: Love is lived out in our relationships with others. Real love isn t always easy; it doesn t always come naturally. Paul knew that the church at Corinth needed to be reminded of these things just as we do today. August 26: The Fist of Fury (Anger) Sometimes we are quick to anger, perhaps because we feel hurt, whether inflicted by friends or by family, so very intensely. This session examines the story of Jesus outburst in the temple and helps us learn from Jesus experience and reaction, as well as Paul s words in Ephesians, about the importance of not letting anger linger in our lives.
SUNDAY SCHOOL Promotion Sunday AUGUST 12 CHILDREN & FAMILIES Dive-In Movie: Back to School Celebration AUGUST 11, 6:30 PM Be sure to join us on Sunday, August 12! Our kids and youth will be promoted to their new Sunday School classes. In worship our kindergarteners, third, and sixth graders will be presented Bibles. This is a special day not only for our kids and youth but the entire congregation as together we mark an important milestone in the life of our church family. Children and parents you are invited to celebrate a new school year with a dive-in movie! Join us at Clay and Jennifer Wilson s house for a night of swimming, movie watching, and fun beginning at 6:30 pm Saturday, August 11. We will begin with dinner and then enjoy a movie as we lounge in the pool. So be sure to wear your swim gear. Dinner will be provided. This will be a great way to say goodbye to summer and splash into a new school year! PASSPORT Passport Camp Snapshots YOUTH & KIDS CAMPS 5
First Memphis 200 E. Parkway N. Memphis, TN 38112-5414 901-454-1131 www.fbcmemphis.org POSTMASTER: Together USPS Number 000-606 Published Monthly by First Baptist Church 200 E Parkway N Memphis TN 38112 Please send address changes to: TOGETHER 200 E Parkway N Memphis TN 38112-5414 Periodicals Postage Paid at Memphis, TN a different way to be Baptist You re Not Alone, Continued from page 1 Second, consider what you need to do about your own loneliness. To whom do you need to reach out? Who do you need to allow to break through? Third, who around you needs to hear 6 you say this? Who needs you to get through to them and let them know they are not alone? We can t be everything to everybody, but we can be there for some, and we are called to strive to stretch ourselves and our circles of concern. In short, know, now and forever more, you are not alone (Psalm 139:1-12, Romans 8:38-39). And do whatever you can to let others know such good news as well. Grace, David