A word from the Pastor… - First Baptist Church of Toccoa >> First

A word from the Pastor…
This past Sunday we discussed Paul’s understanding of God’s grace. In
the first chapter of his first letter to Timothy, he celebrates the significance of God’s grace through his testimony.
First, he understood the source of grace. Paul directs his thanks to Christ
Jesus because he realized that Jesus is the source of God’s unmerited favor. In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul says, “But by the grace of God I am what
I am.” He knew it was God’s grace that made him, sustained him and
saved him.
Second, Paul recognized the power of grace. Paul’s need as well as our
need for grace is great, but the power of grace is greater. The grace of
God is powerful enough to redeem the worst sinner who is willing to repent.
So how did Paul respond to grace? I imagine as Paul wrote this letter he
began to think of God’s grace and how it had changed his life forever;
and as he did so, it led him to proclaim, “To the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen.”
May each of us understand the source and power of grace, and may it lead
us to proclaim the greatness of the only true God!
Please be in prayer for our youth this week. Disciple Now is this weekend, and we need to pray that each one who attends will allow the Lord to
have His way in his or her life. Pray for Brett, the leaders, host homes and
everyone involved in this powerful event. Remember, we will have Sunday School at 9:45 at a combined service at 11:00 a.m. Make plans to be
here as we worship the Lord together!
David
Operation
Christmas Child
Item of the Month:
March
Stickers, Small Note Pads,
Small Coloring Books
*Please remember all items
have to be able to fit in the
box.
Annie Armstrong
Easter Offering
for Home Missions
Our Church Goal:
$10,000
LADIES SAVE THE DATE
“All About Grace”
Saturday, March 21
9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
*Worship* *Praise* *Fellowship*
Starla Harbin from
Starlight Ministries, Leading Worship
Special Speaker:
Frances Worthington of
Desert Flower Ministries
Venue: The Cheek Hall-Toccoa First
United Methodist Church
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 8
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:45 a.m. Prayer Meeting
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
5:00 p.m. Deacons Meeting
5:45 p.m. Children’s Choirs
6:30 p.m. Children’s Snack Supper
6:30 p.m. Evening Worship
6:45 p.m. SwordQuest
6:45 p.m. Kingdom Kids
Monday, March 9
9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Faithful Fitness
6:30 p.m. Go Tell Banquet—GBCC
7:00 p.m. ESL
Tuesday, March 10
12:00 noon XYZ Lunch
5:00 p.m. Handbells
6:00 p.m. Darkness to Light Training
6:00 p.m. Youth Vocal Ensemble
Deacons Meeting
Sunday, March 8
5:00 p.m.
Congratulations
To Budd and Mary Keith in the
birth of a daughter, Charlotte
Rose “Lottie.” Grandparents are
Mark and Rose Ann Watson. Great-grandmother is
Charlotte Bowers.
*NEW Ladies Bible Study
Wednesday Nights
6:30-7:30 Adult 5 Classroom
Andy Stanley's 8 Week Study "Christian"
Workbooks available. See Illa Moore for
more information.
XYZ Lunch
Tuesday, March 10
12:00 Noon
Nursery Workers
March 8 11:00 a.m. Service
Dawn Thomas Mickey Thomas
Dianne Moon
Peggy Williams
Wednesday, March 11
5:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
5:30 p.m. Supper Line Opens
6:30 p.m. Supper Line Closes
6:30 p.m. Ladies Bible Study
6:30 p.m. Business Meeting
6:30 p.m. Mission Groups Meet
R.A.’s, G.A.’s, Mission Friends
6:30 p.m. Joy Explosion
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
Thursday, March 12
6:00 p.m. Faithful Fitness
7:30 p.m. Praise Band Practice
Congratulations
To Cecil and Pat Pickett in the birth
of twin granddaughters, Mary Patrick and Elizabeth Lindy.
Parents are Brandon and
Katie Ingram.
EASTER LILIES
Deadline for placing order:
April 1 Cost: $15.00
Number ordered
In memory of
In honor of
Given by
Sympathy
We express Christian sympathy to
Jonathan Rickman, Allyson Warren
and family in the death of their
father, Bobby Rickman.
FAMILY NIGHT
March 11
Baked Chicken
Broccoli Casserole
Rice Pilaf
Rolls
Dessert
Children:
Hamburgers, Baked Beans, Chips
Please call the church office by
Monday Noon
to make or cancel a reservation.
Disciple Now is finally here! While it is too late to be a host home and
help out in those ways, it is the perfect time to pray! Below is a list of
the topics the students will be learning about over the course of the
weekend. Please be in prayer not only for the students, but also the college leaders. This weekend has the potential to make a big impact on
many people, and I ask that you remember us in your prayers this weekend.
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Friday Night “You Can Know The Truth”
Saturday Afternoon –“You Can Trust The Truth”
Saturday Night- “You Can Experience The Truth”
I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and please continue to remember us in your prayers always, but especially this weekend!
-Brett
Youth Upcoming Events
Every Wednesday - Joy Explosion (6:30-7:30)
Every Sunday - Youth Choir (5:00) and Fusion (6:30)
March 6-8 – Disciple Now
April 4 – Mission Trip to Clarkston
April 9 – Clemson FCA
Many times as I am preparing the children’s message or a SwordQuest lesson, I find that God is
teaching me as much as, or more than, the kids.
This past week was one of those times. I needed the reminder of how
great God’s grace is… No matter where we are or what is happening in
our lives, God’s grace is more powerful and more abundant! There is
nothing we did to deserve it and nothing we can do to lose it. What an
encouraging promise!
We have several things going on in March including the Darkness to
Light Training on March 10, Family Game Night March 20, R.A. race
March 21 and the Easter celebration March 29. Please check your Link
for details and let me know if you have any questions.
-Carrie
Darkness to Light Training
Tuesday, March 10
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in fellowship hall
Supper and childcare will be provided.
Please RSVP by calling church office by March 6.
This is a free event for church members and those who work with our
children.
This Lenten season, I have found myself immersed in the pages of
Barbara Brown Taylor’s newest book, “Learning to Walk in the
Dark.” In it, she explores the associations we have with light and
dark. Though sometimes we associate all good things with “light”
and all bad things with “dark,” shouldn’t we also seek to see God in
the darkness as well? Whenever we are experiencing the darkness of
depression, fear, doubt, or sickness—“Here I raise my Ebenezer; here
by Thy great help I’ve come.” During this time of Lent, as we consider our sinfulness and the heaviness of the cross, let us remember
that God is with us even in the darkest times.
-Benji
This Sunday’s Music
“Come, Thou Fount”—Arr. Craig Courtney
Sanctuary Choir
Periodical postage paid at Toccoa, GA 30577
Music Ministry
The
“A Link Between Church and Home”
Vol. 31 - No. 9
Sunday Worship Opportunities
No Early Service - D-NOW
11:00 A.M. Morning Worship - Sanctuary
6:30 P.M. Evening Worship - Chapel
Men’s Ensemble Sings
Sunday Night
Reminder: No Early Service this Sunday due to D-Now Weekend!
Please join us for Morning Worship at 11:00 in the Sanctuary
SPRING FORWARD!!!
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS
AHEAD 1 HOUR SATURDAY NIGHT
Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail...
Please bring in your candy-filled Easter eggs
during the month of March! There will be boxes
set out around the church in which to place
them. Our egg hunt will be March 29!
Go Tell Kick-Off Banquet
Monday, March 9—6:30 p.m.
GBCC—$10 per person
To purchase tickets see Woody Blasingame
or the church office.
THE LINK (USPS 669430) is published weekly by
First Baptist Church, Toccoa, GA—706-886-6822
Postmaster: Send address changes to First Baptist Church,
475 E. Tugalo Street, Toccoa, GA 30577-2131
(Meet in the choir room at 6:10 for a brief warm-up. )
Flowers in the Sanctuary Sunday, March 8, are given in memory of
Joel Wheeler and Norma Spangler
by John and Paula Wheeler; Alan Wheeler and family;
Jessica Carpenter and family
LINK
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
March 1, 2015
Budget Requirements Weekly . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,211.54
Budget Receipts March 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$13,165.00
Month-to-Date Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,211.54
Month-to-Date Received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,165.00
Sunday School Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
FOR TRANSPORTATION
Contact John Wheeler at 706-939-1614
OUR CHURCH STAFF
Pastor
David Ritcey
Associate Pastor/Youth Pastor
Brett Sanders
davidfbctoccoa@windstream.net
Interim Music Director
Benji Stegner
brettfbctoccoa@windstream.net
Interim Children’s Director
Carrie Clark
benjiontheshore@hotmail.com
Our Church Website
www.fbctoccoa.org
carrie@fbctoccoa.org
March 5, 2015