VBS 2010
Posted on July 2nd, 2010
This week 38 children joined FBC in taking a journey through Egypt with Joseph. We enjoyed time in the market place, spending time in the Jewelry shop, where we made Egyptian jewelry, the Barbershop, where we became clean-shaven citizens of Egypt, and the Brick-making shop, where we made bricks in the same way that the Egyptians made them. Other shops included a Salon, the Food shop, and a Hieroglyphics shop. We also had a linen shop, where the kids spent time completing 5 warm fleece blankets to send to Africa via Operation Kid to Kid.
In bible time, we got to see Joseph’s life change as he went from being a prisoner on day one to being an assistant to the Pharaoh. Joseph taught us important lessons, such as God gives us hope, and God gives us forgiveness.
We would like to thank Cindy Cave and Sara Thompson for working together to create a fun week for everyone involved!
For pictures of VBS… Read the rest of this entry »
Filed under Children, VBS | No Comments »
FBC Youth News
Posted on July 1st, 2010
PassportChoices 2010: Barefoot
It’s hard to believe that the time for Passport is here again! In less than three weeks, twelve of our youth and three of our bravest adults are headed to Wingate, North Carolina and the campus of Wingate University to participate in PassportChoices, a missions-based youth camp run by Passport, Inc. We’ll be joined by four youth and a chaperone from Tarwallet Baptist. This is a very exciting time for the youth (and the chaperones-I had a blast last year and am already looking forward to this year’s trip!). Please pray for our group as we travel and spend a week worshipping God, serving others, bonding as a group, and growing in our personal relationships with Christ.
For those of you with students going, we will be meeting at the church Sunday morning, July 18th, at 8:15am. We’ll pack the vehicles, take a picture, and depart! We should return around 6pm to FBC on Friday, July 23rd.
Thanks to the church and all individuals who donated and volunteered and made it possible for our youth to go on this trip! The Sunday after camp, July 25, the worship service will be a recap of the week. The youth will have a chance to share their experiences and participate in the service, so make plans to be there and be a part of that! Read the rest of this entry »
Filed under Uncategorized, Youth | No Comments »
Come with Me and Get Some Rest
Posted on July 1st, 2010
Pastor’s Column published in The Informer (FBC’s Newsletter for July, 2010)
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:30-31).
Well, summer is finally here, and this is a time when many of us go on vacations or try to live life at a slightly slower pace. As I read and meditated on the above passage from Mark 6, it dawned on me that many times, we’re so busy doing things for Jesus that we don’t have time to spend with Jesus! Yet, our Lord desires for us to go with Him to a quiet place and get some rest.
As I look back on this year so far, we’ve done a lot here at Farmville Baptist. By the time you read this, our VBS will just have finished, and I am thankful for Cindy Cave and Sarah Thompson, who co-directed our VBS and for all our volunteers! We could not have done it without them! But this passage in Mark reminds me that while there is a time to work hard, and there is also a time to rest in the presence of Jesus. William C. Martin wrote the following meditation for pastors, but I think his wise words can apply to everyone.
If you fill your calendar with important appointments
you will have no time for God.
If you fill your spare time with essential reading
you will starve your soul.
If you fill your mind with worry
about budgets and offerings,
the pains in your chest and the ache in your shoulders
will betray you.
If you try to conform to the expectations of those around you
you will be forever their slave.
Work a modest day
then step back and rest.
This will keep you close to God.
(William C. Martin, The Art of Pastoring: Contemplative Reflections, p. 9.)
Martin encourages us to take a long, prayerful, meditative look at our calendars and ask ourselves: Who are we trying to impress? God? Our boss? Ourselves? What would it look like if we cut some big chunks of each week for family, rest, meditation, prayer and flower sniffing?
This summer, I’m going to try to explore Martin’s questions and follow his advice, and you are welcome to hold me accountable! This summer, may you also find time to go with Jesus by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest!
Resting in Christ, Michael
Tags: rest, summer
Filed under News Column | No Comments »