Reasons to Believe
Posted on August 27th, 2008
Pastor’s Column in The Informer (FBC’s Newsletter) – published September 2008
In the months of September and October, I will be embarking on a sermon series called “Reasons to Believe.” On the Sundays when I will be preaching, I will be addressing some topics of faith that non-Christians (and even some Christians) ask, such as: “Is there a God?” “What about other religions?” “What about evil and suffering?” “Is God a killjoy?” “Are we sinners at the hands of an angry God?” and “Is God seen or unseen? Known or unknown?”
My approach to these topics will be a little different from the standard “apologetics” approach, which often tries to produce evidence that “demands” a rational verdict for the truth of Christianity. This approach assumes that we’ve got the “truth,” and therefore we can “reason” unbelievers into believing in the existence of a deity, hopefully one that bears some resemblance to the God of Jesus Christ. Apologetics used in this way can sometimes become a weapon used to target those who believe differently than we do. But I am of the belief that very few people have ever been argued into a loving and trusting relationship with anyone, much less God. I also believe that reason can take us a way, even a long way toward belief, but it is less likely to lead us all the way to staking our very lives on a loving God. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: apologetics, belief, God
Filed under News Column | No Comments »
9/28 – Consecration Sunday
Posted on August 26th, 2008
September is our Stewardship Emphasis month, and this year, our theme is “Reasons to be Grateful.” Throughout the month, members of our church will give reasons why they are grateful for God’s blessings in their lives and in our church.
This stewardship emphasis will reach its climax on “Consecration Sunday,” September 28, when we will turn in our estimate of giving cards to help support the ministry and mission of Farmville Baptist.
On that day, Dr. Daniel Bagby, Professor of Pastoral Care at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, will be our guest speaker during worship.
Immediately after worship, all members and guests are invited to a free catered luncheon held at the Gee Price Center of The Fuqua School. Please contact the church office (392-5041) to let us know that you’ll be coming for worship and lunch on September 28. Let’s all attend church that Sunday and make it a high attendance Sunday!
Filed under Announcements, Worship | No Comments »
Church Picnic 2008
Posted on August 24th, 2008
This afternoon, we had our annual church picnic at Brookleigh Country Club. We had 98 people attend, including guests from The Woodland, Southside Home for men, and Zion Hill Baptist Church.
We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon swimming in the pool, playing golf, and catching up with each other. At 5:30 p.m., we enjoyed a bounty of food contributed by members of the congregation.
Once again, many thanks to Ruth Patteson and the social committee, Chuck Daniel and Patti Trent for putting the picnic all together.
Filed under Fellowship | No Comments »
Dedication Service: Lyla Grey Ross
Posted on August 18th, 2008
This past Sunday, we had a Dedication Service for Brian and Eleanor Ross and their daughter, Lyla Grey Ross, born May 27, 2008.
In addition to Brian and Eleanor, we were blessed that many family members and friends attended the service, including:
Grandparents Blake and Joanne Ross and Gene and Patsy Watson, and
Great Grandparents Rev. Zane and Eva Ross, Doris Fitzgerald, Betty Watson and Ernestine Garrett.
It was a wonderful family affair!
We give thanks to God for bringing this precious child, Lyla Grey, safely into the world, and we pray God’s blessings on Brian and Eleanor as they raise Lyla Grey up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!
Filed under Children, Worship | No Comments »
9/6 – “One in Christ” Concert
Posted on August 13th, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
On the lawn of Heritage Baptist Church
You are invited to a community-wide “One in Christ” Celebration Concert involving both black and white churches in our community! Heritage Baptist Church is hosting this outdoor event on their lawn. This event is organized by local ministers for are a part of the “One in Christ in Prince Edward County” fellowship.
The following is a tentative schedule:
6:00 to 7:00 pm – Celebration Concert involving six church choirs and/or worship teams singing praises to God. There will also be prayers and scripture readings led by various ministers in our community. Please bring a lawn chair to enjoy this concert of celebration and praise.
7:00 to 8:30 pm – A free barbeque picnic on the lawn of Heritage Baptist Church!
Mark September 6 on your calendar and join us for this exciting gathering in the life of our community!
Heritage Baptist Church is located at 700 Milnwood Rd. Below is a map and directions to the church. Read the rest of this entry »
Filed under Announcements | No Comments »
Back to School Laser Quest Lock In
Posted on August 13th, 2008
On Friday August 8 Farmville Baptist’s youth group embarked on a new adventure. They participated in a traveling lock in to celebrate the upcoming school year.
The lock in began at the church with dinner and then the youth traveled to Laser Quest, Laser Tag in Richmond, Virginia. There they enjoyed two exciting games of laser tag under black lights. Russell Chassey, who just graduated into the youth group stated that: “This is like Star Wars!” That feeling must have been shared by the group because when they returned to the church everyone voted to watch a Star Wars film. Transformers followed after that carrying on the futuristic theme of the evening. This event was a first for the group but it will not be the last! If you’re in grades 6-12 we hope to see you at our next lock in!
Filed under Youth | No Comments »
10/26 – “Consider Your Call”
Posted on August 5th, 2008
On Sunday, October 26, Dr. Ron Crawford, President of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will be our guest preacher in worship as we consider God’s call in our lives to serve God.
On that Sunday, we will also collect a special offering for BTSR.
Please plan to attend this special day of worship!
Filed under Announcements | No Comments »
10/19 – Deacon Ordination Sunday
Posted on August 5th, 2008
In our worship service on Sunday, October 19, we will be ordaining Don Kyper to the service of Deacon. He will be joined by Peggy Cave, Jay Lynn, Drue Martin and Jordan Whiley as they all will be installed as active Deacons for the 2008-2010 term. Please worship with us on that day as we affirm these servants of the church in their calling as deacon.
Filed under Announcements | No Comments »
Cecil Yeatts, Life Deacon
Posted on August 1st, 2008
At the church business meeting on Sunday, July 20, the deacons recommended that the congregation name Cecil Yeatts to the position of “Life Deacon.” The congregation unanimously approved the motion, recognizing Cecil’s longtime service to the church and to the community. Since 1984, Cecil has been regularly serving as a deacon, first at Crewe Baptist Church and now at Farmville Baptist Church. Cecil and Phyllis tirelessly visit our sick and homebound members, bringing them fresh vegetables and fruit grown from their garden and orchard during the summer months. Farmville Baptist is truly blessed to have members like Cecil–and Phyllis–in our midst!
Filed under Appreciation, Members | No Comments »
What’s In a Logo?
Posted on August 1st, 2008
Pastor’s Column in The Informer (FBC’s Newsletter) – published August 2008
You might have noticed something new on the cover of our newsletter this month. We’ve added a newly designed logo of the church. As you can see in the graphic to the left, it is a lower case “f” with a “circle” in the center. The circle is broken up into three parts, each part with “arrows” on both ends that point to the other parts of the circle. I want to thank Jay Lynn for designing this logo, and I’d like to explain what this logo symbolizes.
First of all, the “f” in the logo obviously stands for the first letter in “Farmville.” The circle in the logo represents the strategic process that the church is intentionally using to help move people through the stages of spiritual growth. As you might remember, a leadership group spent last summer studying the book Simple Church. We learned that a maturing disciple of Jesus Christ is one who (at the very least) walks intimately with Christ, lives in community with others, and serves both the church and the world. As a result of that study, the group came up with three things we want to focus as a church: “Worshipping God,” “Growing Together” and “Serving Others.” We began to organize the ministries and activities of the church around these three areas-this organization is reflected by the organization of this newsletter.
The circle comes into play because we also realize that people can enter into a growing discipleship process at any of those three points. For example, the discipleship process for many people may begin in a worship setting, but for others, this process could begin with being a part of a small group or by participating in a service project. The goal, however, is not just to stay at one point, but to help our members grow in Christ by encouraging them to move to the next point and then the next-hence the arrows. We would like to encourage all members of Farmville Baptist to not only worship God, but also to grow together in community and to serve others in our community. This process is a circle, because we never “arrive”; there is always room for continual growth in all three areas.
Finally, in the middle of the logo, in the middle of the circle, is a cross, because Jesus Christ is at the center of everything that we do.
My hope is that every time we see this logo, we’ll be reminded of what we’re about as a church.
- In Christ, Michael
Filed under News Column | No Comments »