July-August 2012 - First Baptist Church of Virden

The
essenger
F IRST B APTIST C HURCH
157 W. J ACKSON S T .
V IRDEN , IL 62690
www.virdenfirstbaptist.com
R EV . J OHN P ARRISH
P ASTOR
C HURCH P HONE : 965-4028
C ELL P HONE : 217-358-9577
D EBBIE K ERSHAW , E DITOR
E-mail:messenger@virdenfirstbaptist.com
July - August 2012
This year’s VBS will drive you ‘Buggy’
Join the action at First Baptist Church of Virden as we share
the excitement of this year’s Vacation Bible School with 5
other area churches to present “Bug Zone” Transformed by our
BIG God – on Sunday, July 22 through Thursday, July 26.
A fuzzy caterpillar crawls along a leaf, attaches to a twig,
hangs upside down, and spins a chrysalis.
Then God changes that little caterpillar into
a beautiful butterfly. Our great God transforms people in even bigger ways. Come
be a part of an amazing transformation.
VBS will kickoff with swim party at the
Virden swimming pool on Saturday, July 21 from 6-8 PM.
Then on Sunday evening we will gather at the United Methodist Church at 6:00 PM for our opening. We’ll go until 8:30
PM each evening after that through Thursday and will have
our closing at the Methodist church as well–so parents can
drop off and pick up at the same location! VBS is open to ages
3-grade 8. To register your child(ren) just go to our church
website virdenfirstbaptist.com or to the City of Virden website
virdenonline.org. You can also pick up a registration form
from the table at the back of the sanctuary or use the form in
the Virden Recorder newspaper.
As in the past, we’ll need lots of helpers for food, crafts,
games, and of course–the lessons. See Debbie Kershaw today
for ways to help.
This year students will experience the “change” of great
Bible characters such as Joshua, Gideon, Naomi & Ruth,
Zacchaeus, and Saul of Tarsus. The Bug Zone theme verse is
the expression of a person whose life has been transformed by
God: “O give thanks unto the
Lord; call upon his name; make
known his deeds among the
people” (Psalm 105:1) Let’s
respond to God’s wonderful
love with love, trust, and
courageous obedience. Join us
as we enter the “BUG ZONE”.
If you haven’t already, take a look at the
newly redesigned virdenfirstbaptist.com
web page! Steve has updated the look and
its super user friendly! You can easily reserve Pitman Hall on line, register for VBS,
view the church calendar, look at current
and past Messenger issues….you can even
listen to a recording of a Sunday morning
worship service–just in case you missed it!
Now it’s easy to submit information for
the newsletter, find the pastor’s contact
numbers, pull up the prayer chain, even
submit a date for your committee’s event to
be added to the calendar.
Once you’ve checked out the new webpage, go to the bulletin board and vote on
whether you like the old format or the new
format better. If you have suggestions you
can talk to Steve Kershaw or submit your
ideas on-line under the “Contact” tab.
As time goes by and technology changes,
it drags some of us along too–if you would
like to receive your church newsletter online, just go to the Messenger link under
“What’s Happening” and sign up. Not only
will you save the church postage, but you’ll
help the environment by going “paperless”!
If you begin to use the web page as your
first line for information, you may save
yourself some time and actually have some
fun along the way!
The
July - August 2012
essenger
–2–
July
Sunday
1
Monday
2
Tuesday
3
Wednesday
4
American Legion 4th of July
Roger & Gloria
Smith
No exercise
class
Thursday
5
Floors being
Cleaned in
Pitman Hall
Friday
6
Saturday
7
Softball in
Carlinville
6:30 and 7:45
No Kid’s Club
Dale & Betty Mullen
8
9
10
Exercise 6:30
July Business
Meeting
7:00 PM
15
16
17
Exercise 6:30
Trustee Mtg 7:00
Sunday
Bring a canned
good or two!
22
11
Supper & Kid’s
Club - 6 PM
Bible Study 6:45
Choir 8:00
18
12
13
Debbie Liles
19
No Kid’s Club
Audrey Price
20
Macoupin Co
Fair week
No Softball
Linda Gerson
23
VBS
Begins 6-8:30
24
25
26
14
Bye week for
Softball
No games
27
21
VBS Pool Party
6- 8 PM
Don & Audrey Price
Sharon Crawford
Travis Kershaw
Trevor Kershaw
Cody Stiltz
28
Bye week for
Softball
No games
No Exercise
29
30
Worship in the
Park 10 AM
31
Exercise 6:30
Pastor & family on vacation
Debbie Klocke
Marge Berriman
Youth to have game at
Legion 4th of July celebration
The American Legion’s 4th of July celebration will be held July 2-4 on the square
in Virden. The S.W.A.T. Youth will be
having a game or two to help raise funds
for their many projects.
This is a fun family event and we encourage you to attend and support both our
youth and the Legion!
Donations needed for camp service
project
Kelsey Parris is looking for donations of Birthday supplies for her Jr. High Church Camp July 22nd-28th. The
following items are needed for a service project (gift bags,
birthday candles, cake mixes, birthday decorations for
children, blank children’s birthday cards, etc.) The idea is
to create a bag of supplies to provide everything needed
for a kid whose parents can’t afford these things. The
camper will be packaging supplies in to bags to donate to
families in need. Let’s help make birthdays possible for
kids who deserve it!
The
July - August 2012
essenger
Alex Walters has taken a
summer job at Lake Springfield Baptist Camp. He’s a
maintenance worker and is
staying at the camp during
the summer camping season. Here’s a note from
Alex:
July Business meeting moved due
to holiday
The regular monthly hurch business meeting
falls on the 4th of July, so we are moving the
meeting to Tuesday, July 10 at 7 PM.
The trustees will be talking about roof repairs
and the claim on the hail damage to the roof. As
with all Bi-monthly business meetings, the things
discussed are of importance to everyone at First
Baptist and your vote as a member of this church
is important. Please plan to attend.
“A perfect summer day is when the sun is
shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are
singing and the lawn mower is broken.”
–3–
“Camp has been great so
far! I have met some cool people, reunited with
some old friends, and have been able to work with
them to make a camp an awesome place for us and
others who come out this summer! I am growing
closer to God everyday and working hard! Thanks
for your prayer and support!” – Alex
Kelsey Parrish is a member of the LSBC board of
directors, not to mention a leader for Jr. High Camp
#2. Thanks also to S.W.A.T. Youth, Mariah and Joey
who served as volunteer counselors during the Grade
4-6 camp. And of course, to pastor John who also
serves in a variety of ways all summer long at LSBC.
This year First Baptist Church is helping to sending or has already sent 7 youth to LSBC. Attendees
include: Brianna Walters, Samantha Jackson, Carter
Dibler, Ayden Liles, Sophia Hawkins, Jenna Cormier,
and Kyle Brown. If you would like to help sponsor a
child for camp, just indicate “Camp Fund” on the bottom of your check or on your church envelope tithe.
The church will be billed for the entire amount, and
your donation will be applied to that. Thank you in
advance for helping our children experience Christ in
a unique and special way by attending Summer
Church Camp.
–James Dent
Our place in the universe
When I look at the galaxies on a clear night, when I look at the incredible brilliance of creation, and think that this is
what God is like, then instead of feeling intimidated an diminished by it, I am enlarged,” said author Madeleine L’Engle. “I rejoice that I am a part of it.”
How wonderful – and mysterious – that the Creator of the universe not only
knows and loves us but wants us to know and love him! Incredibly, we are at
once infinitesimally small and yet immeasurably significant because of whose we
are.
The
July - August 2012
essenger
–4–
August
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
No Kid’s Club
this week
Saturday
4
Softball in
Carlinville
6:30 and 9:00
Pastor & family on vacation
5
6
8
7
Supper & Kid’s
Club - 6 PM
Bible Study 6:45
Choir 8:00
Canoe Trip
9
10
11
17
18
BACK
2
MAC
9-11 AM
Exercise - 6:30
Lonnie & Sharon
Crawford
Jay Turner
12
13
14
15
Kim Liles
16
Softball League Tournament
Exercise - 6:30
at LSBC 2-4 PM
swim–meal to
follow
Ray & Libby Klocke
Steve Kershaw
20
15
21
Exercise - 6:30
Committee
Planning Mtg
7 PM
Sunday
Bring a canned
good or two!
26
27
Tracy Lewis
No Kid’s Club
this week
28
Libby Klocke
Exercise - 6:30
Drew Hawkins
Della Phillips
Richard Weerts
Linda Liles
Tim Snodgrass
22
23
24
25
Supper & Kid’s
Club - 6 PM
Bible Study 6:45
Choir 8:00
Alex Walters
29
30
31
No Kid’s Club
this week
Carroll Morony
When you can’t see
It’s that time of year
again. Time to hit the river
with our friends from Greenfield Baptist as we head out
on the annual Canoe Trip.
August 5-7. We’ll hit the
road right after church on
Sunday morning and return on Wednesday.
This event is open to all Senior High Youth and any
adults that would like to go along as well. It’s always a
good time! Please see Mike Hawkins for details including the total cost per person.
The sun was sinking below the horizon
when the sightseer approached the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. By the time she reached the
overlook, night had fallen. Before her was one
of the world’s most spectacular views, yet she
couldn’t see it.
When darkness closes in around us, we’re
tempted to think we’re alone and nothing is
left. But our senses can deceive us; for though
we may see no trace of it, we just might be on
the brink of something spectacular. Hang on
to hope, “for we walk by faith, not by sight”
(2 Corinthians 5:7, NRSV)
The
essenger
July - August 2012
–5–
It’s Hot Outside!!!!!!!!!!
Today as I sit to write this article it definitely went over 100 degrees on the temperature gauge, a hot one indeed! And for those of you keeping record, on this hot
day, our softball team did win our first game. (I had to throw that in there.) But as
summertime is in mid season, and everyone is out swimming and doing family activities, and with vacations, and camp going on, it’s as if everything is in full swing.
I love summer; the pools, the cookouts, and yes even the heat! But as I sit and reflect on how hot it has been, it made me think of my spiritual life.
Summer is known for getting pretty warm at times, especially here in central
Illinois. And as summer ends and fall begins the temperature drops, and it seems as
life slows down some. Our walk with the Lord is much like summer. When it begins, we are on fire, steaming hot, and burn up everything in our paths for the Lord.
But as time goes on and a “fall” sets in, things seem to slow down, and life appears to go back to “normal.”
But what if it didn’t have too? What if our spiritual lives didn’t have to cool off? What if we could be on fire
for the Lord all of the time? You know it may sound pretty cliché, but it could happen. The only person stopping you is you! Yes, Satan convinces you to take a break to stay home from church one Sunday, or to not pray
this time, or puts thoughts in your head such as, “I’m not good enough.” But when we do some deep soul searching, it is only we ourselves who cools off the fire.
Church, you have heard me say we are growing and making strides, and while all that is true, I know God is
leading us to do more. I have been here now for 9 months, and I have had ample opportunity to sit and observe
the community, how it functions, what works and what doesn’t. I have ben able to get involved in a limited setting so far, but have worked with some of you to be more available to others through counseling non-members,
officiating funerals for non-members, communicating and building relationships with community groups and
services.
I don’t say this to pat my own back, but I say this to show you that there is a need in this community. That
need is Jesus. It’s my prayer that although we are small in number we don’t become small in faith, or small in
action. We need to work together to fellowship more with one another, hold each other accountable, and to keep
the fire alive and burning all year round.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 2:11 NIV
As summer continues and will come to an end in a few weeks, let this verse remind us to run the race with
perseverance in everything do! May our lives be living examples of Christ, and may we stay on fire, stay hot for
Him, so that the whole world knows His grace.
Will you step up and challenge yourself starting this very day to study your Bible on a regular basis, to pray
for your neighbor and the broken-hearted, will you live with that child-like faith that you once had? One that
was on fire for Jesus, and took Him everywhere, and shared Him with everyone! If you don’t, who will?
Let’s work together church to keep the temperature hot! Our community needs it!
-John
Remember to sign up for a
Sunday in the nursery or to
present a children’s sermon
during worship–or both. This
is a ministry that indicates
growth, and our future! See
Pam Hawkins or Kim Liles for details.
Pastor John and his family will be leaving for Walt Disney
World in Florida on Sunday, July 29–the day of the VBS worship
in the park.
Needless to say they have one VERY excited three-year-old!
They will return to Virden on Saturday, August 4.
Have a great time meeting Mickey Mouse, Pastor John,
Kelsey, Peyton and Piper!
The
essenger
July - August 2012
–6–
The following is a letter received from one of the two of our sponsored children,
Mala Roy. Mala lives in Bangladesh. She is 8 years old and in grade 3. You can
find out all about Mala on the church website or look at the bulletin board in the
downstairs basement. It includes the picture of the mango that Mala has drawn.
Our Wednesday night kids have written Mala cards and described themselves to her
and included their own drawings. We will share future correspondence from Mala
as it is received, but for now, enjoy this from the facilitator at Kotalipara:
Kotalipara Area Dev. Program
Dear Sponsor
Warm greetings and love to you from your sponsored child Mala. The entire
family members are very happy to know that you have chosen her as your
sponsored child and give thanks with gratitude. She hope that she will be able
to continue her studies well with your kind help and assistance from now on.
She lives in a small house with her parents in a village. Their house is mad
by tin-shed roof and wood. The village is situated in the eastern side of Gopalgonj district, which is about 225 kilometers away from the capital city of Dhaka. This area is flat & low-lying. There are two primary schools, high school,
girl’s school, play ground an many crops field in this area here. The weather
of this area is moderate in temperature.
Her father is a day labor and mother is a housewife. She has one sister and two brothers. World vision
Bangladesh has taken various development activities in her area. They arrange different types of training & workshop for people awareness. They have access to arsenic free drinking water. Their staple
food is rice & fish. She goes to school regularly on foot and school is about half km far from her house.
She read in grade three. She wants to be a nurse in future.
You are requested to pray for her so that she can continue her studies well in future. She is very much
interested to know about your family and country. She would be glad if you write a letter and send photograph for her. She is sending a drawing of mango for you and hopes that you will like it. Again she
conveys her best regards to all the members of your family. May God bless you and your family!
With thanks and best regards.
Bye now
(written by: Sima Roy, facilitator of Kotalipara ADP -- translated by: Darren A.D’Costa)
Church Picnic - August 12
You are invited to attend the annual church
picnic on Sunday, August 12. This year it will
be held at Lake Springfield Baptist Camp. Swimming will begin
at 2 PM and we
will eat our potluck meal in the
main dining hall
at 4 PM. Plan
now to attend!
No Excuses
When Jesus wanted to feed the crowds of 5,000 and
then 4,000 people, his disciples instantly offered excuses. It would be too expensive. We won’t be able to
get enough food. This is a remote place. Plus, it’s too
late.
But Jesus didn’t address any of those excuses. All
he asked in both instances, was “How many loaves do
you have?” Then he miraculously satisfied everyone’s
hunger, with leftovers to boot.
Jesus doesn’t want our excuses, either. All he
wants is us – and what we already have. Watch in
amazement as God blesses that and uses it mightily.
The
essenger
July - August 2012
–7–
“Faith in Action” - Service Sunday plans being made
There is something very special in the works at First Baptist Church. It is ministry with
“feet”– a chance for everyone to share in service to others, just as Christ served. It will happen on Sunday morning, September 30, 2012.
Planning has already begun and you will hear more details as the date approaches but
read on and begin now to pray for this special day of service.
In early August Pastor John will begin an 8-week sermon series focusing on service
and what the scriptures call on us to do. On Sunday morning September 30, we will skip
Sunday school and begin our “worship” at 9:30 am.
There will be four teams, each centered on a different area of service. After a brief time
of dedication at 9:30 am, the four teams will head out to their “mission field” to complete
their service tasks. After their tasks have been completed, everyone will return to Pitman Hall for a potluck luncheon meal.
A team leader will be needed for each group of people. The team leader’s job will be to recruit volunteers to
serve on their team as well as coordinate the supplies needed to carry out their appointed task, and make any
and all arrangements for their project’s success. Each team leader will be asked to give a short description of
their team’s mission and purpose during a morning worship service leading up to Service Sunday.
Team #1 will be our “Hospitality & Prayer” group. Their job will be threefold. They
will bake cookies that can later in the week, be delivered to the Virden Police, Fire, and
Ambulance departments. They will also be asked to have one or two individuals from
their team in the sanctuary at all times during the service event, lifting up each of the
teams and our church as a whole in prayer. Finally, team #1 will coordinate the pot-luck
meal that we will all share as the teams complete their tasks and return to the church.
Team #2 is called “Kids Can Minister 2”. This team will gather as many of our youth as possible to visit the
local nursing home and present a morning worship program for the residents.
Team #3 is named “Volunteer & Mission Outreach”. Jill Hawkins will coordinate all the supplies needed to
create a service project that requires no walking, or strenuous activity. This group will be able to sit and assemble kits that will then be sent anywhere in the world a need is identified. These members
may also serve as prayer warriors with Team #1.
Team #4 is appropriately named the“Roll Up Your Sleeves” crew. This team will meet
in the yard or yards (depending on the size of team #4) to knock out a Yard work clean-up
project. This team will need to be prepared to put in some muscle and sweat to help out a
neighbor in need.
Pastor John will be moving from project to project along with another volunteer to document the progress of
each team by taking pictures and offering encouragement. A video diary of the day will be prepared and presented–possibly even after the luncheon on that Sunday afternoon.
Obviously, a day like this can’t just happen–it takes planning and it takes a LOT of people willing to step out
of their comfort zones and put “feet” to the ministry Christ calls us to do. So first and foremost, mark your calendar for September 30 and plan NOW to be a part of this special “Service Sunday” event. You may be asked
in the next few weeks to be a team leader–pray about your answer right now. And if your answer is yes, pray
about who will serve best on your team and what your team’s mission and purpose is.
Watch your bulletin for meeting times to help coordinate and plan your team’s activities. This is something
different than we’ve ever attempted at First Baptist and it will take everyone to get on board to make it a success. Please pray daily for the success of this special “Faith in Action - Service Sunday”.
The
essenger
“Like” us on Facebook
If you are a Facebook follower, add
First Baptist Church of Virden as a friend
and you can easily follow current activities
or add comments to the church Home page
like the one below:
I would like to thank the church for giving
Brianna the chance to attend camp. She
always enjoys going and never wants to
come home when its over. At first I would
get nervous leaving her and try to talk her
into the shortest camp stay (Brianna would
not have any part of that). The wonderful
staff at camp seem to have become part of
my kids family and I now feel comfortable
leaving her. I cannot thank you all enough
for giving the kids the opportunity to attend
camp. They have made great friends over
the years. It's great to see Alex going out
and working at the camp. They have each
made so many memories at camp.
–Post from Heather Walters, mother of Alex
and Brianna Walters.
July - August 2012
BACK 2 MAC
Saturday, August 11
The churches of the North Mac school
district will unite again this year to sponsor the 3rd annual back to school event.
This year we’ve named it “Back 2 Mac”
and it will take place on Saturday, August
11 from 9 AM to 11 AM. The location
has yet to be confirmed, and may indeed
be in Pitman Fellowship hall–watch the newspaper and Sunday
bulletin for final details.
Each church has been assigned a grade level and will put
together a complete backpack with all the supplies needed by
that age student. We will use the numbers collected from last
year’s event to prepare plus a few extra. All clothing donations
will be handled by and through the Grace Place location and if
beauticians are available, haircuts will be handled through their
shops and at their convenience.
How can you help? First Baptist has been assigned Grade 2
which means we need 16 backpacks filled with 2nd grade supplies. You can purchase the supplies and fill a backpack yourself, or if you prefer, you can donate money and we will
assemble the pack for you. Approximate cost of a backpack
with supplies is $20.00–give however the Lord is leading you.
The
essenger
First Baptist Church
157 W. Jackson St.
Virden, IL 62690
–8–
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED