Gifts for the Journey
Posted on August 30th, 2010
Pastor’s Column published in The Informer (FBC’s Newsletter for September, 2010)
In recent days, I’ve heard stories from church members who are wondering: “So what’s up with our Spiritual Transformation Journey? Are we done?” I know that for some of you, it feels like our spiritual journey has stalled. While it is true that I have not talked or preached much about our spiritual journey this summer, it isn’t because we’ve ended this journey with a whimper. Far from it! My relative silence on this topic is due to the fact that I myself needed to go through a period of discernment and “incubation” so that I might be clear about what God is asking of me in this new phase of our journey. I spent parts of this summer reading, learning, praying, going on personal retreats—all for the sake of allowing God to reveal to me a clearer vision of our future.
As the summer draws to a close, so too ends my time of personal discernment. And today, I’m happy to announce that I’m more excited about our church’s spiritual journey than ever before! Read the rest of this entry »
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September Youth News
Posted on August 30th, 2010
Parents and Youth Meeting
We will be having a meeting on September 26th at 6pm to discuss this past summer and the upcoming months as we transition back into a school year schedule. This will be in place of youth group that night. Both parents and youth are invited and encouraged to attend. We’ll be discussing things like when No Holds Barred should be held, what kinds of activities we’ll be doing as a youth group, and what days work best for these activities. Please make plans to attend and email Julie with RSVPs. Hope to see you all there!
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Church Picnic 2010
Posted on August 30th, 2010
Last Sunday, over 120 folks enjoyed a nice afternoon of swimming, conversation and good food at our annual church picnic. We gathered at the Gee Price Center of the Fuqua School starting at 3 pm, and had a pot-luck supper at 5:30 pm. We were thrilled that we had over 25 college students attend! Many thanks to Penny Huskey and the Social Committee for organizing this event. A good time was had by all!
For more pictures of the picnic . . . Read the rest of this entry »
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“Building Strong Relationships”
Posted on August 26th, 2010
Starting September 5, Pastor Michael Cheuk will be leading a Sunday morning class in the Fellowship Hall from 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. called “Building Strong Relationships.” It is especially designed for college students and young adults (singles and couples) who are dating or thinking about marriage, and for couples wanting to enrich their marriage.
During these four weeks, the following topics will be addressed:
9/5 “Understanding Myself”
9/12 “Communication is the Key”
9/19 “Money Habitudes” (requires “Money Habitudes” cards, $10)
9/26 “Dealing with Stress and Conflict”
Cost is $10 for couples; $5 for singles for the purchase of “Money Habitudes” cards needed for the third session of class. Scholarships are available. Please contact Michael if you’re interested in enrolling in the class.
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8/31 – Preschool Open House
Posted on August 26th, 2010
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Place: Farmville Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall and Preschool Department
Our preschool will host an open house for all preschool students, their parents and any interested individuals on Tuesday, August 31. Students will meet their teachers and parents will receive a general orientation to the preschool.
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Part-time Choir Director Needed
Posted on August 24th, 2010
We are looking for a spiritually mature and musically talented person to lead a dedicated, fun-loving and energetic choir! This is a part-time position of approximately 6-8 hours a week. Below the jump is the job description or you can download it here.
Please send resume and cover letter by email or by postal mail to:
Personnel Committee, Farmville Baptist Church
132 North Main Street
Farmville, Virginia 23901
For the full job description . . . Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: choir director, job opening, we're hiring
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8/29 – Church Picnic
Posted on August 22nd, 2010
Annual Church Picnic
Sunday, August 29, 2010
3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Gee Price Center of The Fuqua School (see map below)
You are invited to our annual church picnic at the Gee-Price Center of the Fuqua School from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. for an afternoon of swimming, food and fellowship!
Dinner will be served in the air-conditioned Gee Price Center at 5:30 p.m. The church will provide drink, meat and bread. Please bring casseroles, vegetables, and/or desserts to share. Invite your friends!
Help us to order the right amount of meat with a RSVP to the church office (392-5041) by Monday, August 23!
Those who would like to swim, but are not members of the Fuqua Pool, must respond to Janet Moore (at 392-6727). If we have more than 15 swimmers we will get the group rate of $5/per person otherwise the cost will be $7/per person.
Map to the Gee Price Center
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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 »
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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 »
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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
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