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!  I might even dare to say that, during my time of discernment this summer, I feel like I have seen the Promised Land!  I now have much greater clarity about the next steps of our journey, and I am excited and eager to lead the congregation to discern the specifics of what it means for Farmville Baptist to be the presence of Christ outside our walls.  And I plan to share in detail my current understanding of God’s future for us in my September sermon series called “Gifts for the Journey.”

One main premise of “Gifts for the Journey” is my conviction that God has already gifted or is presently gifting us with everything we need to live into God’s future for us.  God has gifted us with Jesus’ own mission to bless and redeem the world.  God has gifted us with a “divine discontent” that refuses to settle for the way we “do church” today.  God is offering to us the gift of knowing and befriending our neighbors through lives of radical hospitality.  And God is inviting us to offer to our neighbors the gift of our lives—our time, our money, our listening ear, our helping hand—so that we might truly learn what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.  As you take steps to live out God’s gifts for the journey, I am convinced that God will reveal to you your role in God’s future story for Farmville Baptist just as God is revealing to me what my role will be.  I have already come to realize that my role will NOT involve telling you what God’s plan is for you.  My role as Pastor is to encourage you on your journey, to help you discover God’s plan for yourself, to equip you to follow that plan, and then to bless and release you to actually live it out!

Speaking about gifts for the journey, I also want to acknowledge how we have been blessed by the gifts of Anita Lynn in her role as Choir Director.  She will be stepping down from that role at the end of this month so that she can focus on her new teaching job.  Let us take the time to express our appreciation to Anita for her leadership with our sanctuary and bell choirs.  Let us thank Sandy Yeatts for her willingness to serve as our interim sanctuary choir director.  Let us pray for our Personnel Committee as they search for God’s person to lead in this role as we enter into a new phase in our church’s spiritual journey!

Journeying on, Michael

We will be having a meeting on September 26^th 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!

September Plans

September is a transitional month between the carefree days of summer and the more structured, routine-oriented fall.  For this reason, the youth will be taking a relaxed approach to our schedule this month.  We’ll have No Holds Barred the first 3 Sundays of the month, and then we’ll have a meeting the last Sunday of the month as referenced above.  We’d like to encourage you to enjoy the time with your family and to get yourself back into the swing of school.  October promises to be interesting…

“Let us preach you, Dear Jesus, without preaching….not by words but by our example.”

-Mother Teresa

September Schedule

September 5^th: NHB @ FBC 6pm-7pm

September 12^th: NHB @ FBC 6pm-7pm

September 18^th: FBC @ FACES, 7:30am

September 19^th: NHB @ FBC 6pm-7pm

September 26^th: Parent/Youth Meeting @ FBC, 6pm-7pm

“TO LOVE IS TO BE VULNERABLE.”

-C.S. Lewis

Having a “Peter Moment”

There’s this story in the Bible where Peter and some other disciples are just hanging out in a boat, sleeping, waiting for Jesus to come and join them.  They wait, and wait, and wait some more.  Jesus is a night owl, and decides he’s going to wait until the last watch of the night (between 4-6am) to come to them.  Peter sees Jesus walking on the water towards them.  He’s curious, and calls out “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come walk on the water.”  So, Jesus invites him to get out of the boat.  And Peter, being the crazy man that he was, actually got out.

He double checked to make sure it was God’s voice that he was hearing, and then he went.  I don’t know about you, but in the middle of an awful thunderstorm, I wouldn’t be very eager to get out of a boat onto a choppy, unstable giant body of water.   But-Peter gets out and begins to walk on water.  And I’d bet that he’s enjoying it-knowing that he got out and was doing what Christ asked of him.  And then he looked down.

He looked down and saw the waves crashing around him.  He realized that he was doing something no human being besides Jesus had ever done before.  He realized he had no control.  And he freaked out.  I can’t say I blame him one bit, either.  Jesus calmly walks over, plays lifeguard, saves him, and says “Why did you doubt?”

Well, I’m having my own “Peter Moment” right now.  I’ve just graduated from college, spent the last 6 years training to be a teacher, the career I knew from age 4 was the career for me.  After my time this summer as a CBF CCI intern, however, I’m sensing a call to seminary and to vocational ministry.  Jesus asked Peter to get out of the boat.

I don’t know how it’s going to all turn out.  In fact, I know very little, but I do know that God wants what is best for me and will provide for me as I continue my journey.  I’m spending this year lifeguarding, serving as the Assistant Band Director for the Appomattox County High School Marching Band (GO RAIDERS! woo!), and interning here at Farmville Baptist until December.

This is a major transitional time in my life.  I’d bet that as some of you (your youth) get back into the more structured routine of the school year that you’re going through a transition yourself.  Transitions can be smooth, but they can also come with waves of fear, anxiety, and a sense of confusion about what the future is going to look like.  As we transition into this fall, I hope that all of us can remember to trust in where God is sending us.  Like Michael said last Sunday, God equips those whom He calls.  School can be hard.  Homework can be time consuming (not to mention obnoxious).  Friendships and relationships can be hard to manage with the busy schedules we keep.

As we enter this school year, know that I’m praying for you and your family.  Know that God is ever-present in your life, even when you may not see Him or understand the ways in which He is working.  Know that you are well-loved by God, and that no bad grade on a test or strikeout in the baseball game will ever change that.  Know that you have a church family that wants to help you and support you as you go through the ups and downs of the school year and of life in general.

God is calling you to get out of the boat in some area of your life.  Will you be willing to answer His leading, even if you can’t understand what’s happening?  Will you trust God during your storms?  Will you work with God through your “Peter Moments” to grow as a person, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally?  All it takes is a willingness to get out of your boat and take the first step.

Love you all. Julie

You don’t need to go to Calcutta to help people. Find your own Calcutta. – Mother Teresa

For more pictures of the picnic . . .

[Show as slideshow]

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.

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.

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 . . .

Job Description

SANCTUARY AND HANDBELL CHOIR DIRECTOR

(Part time: approx. 8-10 hours per week)

REPORTS TO: Pastor & Personnel Committee

DUTIES:

Sanctuary Choir

• Choose appropriate anthems for weekly worship services, plus occasional introits/choral calls to worship and benedictions.
• Choose hymns for Sunday morning worship service.
• Select service music where appropriate, i.e. calls to prayer and prayer responses, amens, meditations, “connective music.”
• Lead weekly choir rehearsals.
• Lead choir in worship.
• Lead congregation in worship through music.
• Communicate with organist and other musicians about hymns and other special music.
• Arrange for soloists, small ensembles, and other instrumentalists when appropriate.
• Communicate anthem information to secretary for bulletin.  Assist with proofreading anthem texts for bulletin.
• Consult with minister(s) as needed to plan worship/create a variety of worship experiences.
• Secure substitute organists/accompanists during the absences of the church organist.
• Maintain music library (both physical and electronic).
• Assist others in finding music when requested.
• Adhere to copyright laws, and use such resources such as Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) to remain within the parameters of ethical and legal use of copyrighted materials.

Handbell Choir

• Select appropriate handbell/handchime music, to be offered during worship 6-12 times per year.
• Recruit and train handbell ringers in proper ringing techniques and proper care of handbells.
• Lead regular handbell rehearsals.
• Prepare all music for rehearsals.
• Responsible for set up, tear down and storage of bell tables, pads, table covers, and other equipment, when handbells play in worship.
• If handbell selections will be played as the prelude, offertory or postlude, coordinate with organist several weeks ahead of time.
• Oversee routine maintenance of handbells, handchimes and equipment.
• Offer opportunities for handbell ringers to attend regional workshops and festivals.

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

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…

[Show as slideshow]

12►

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 18^th, at 8:15am.  We’ll pack the vehicles, take a picture, and depart!  We should return around 6pm to FBC on Friday, July 23^rd.

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!

FBC Passport Attendees 2010

Girls:

Tara Bauer

Caroline Bryant

Charlotte Cave

Lindsey Davis

Carter Gantt

Casey Meadows

Emmalee Klein

Whitney Southall

Guys:

Carter Chassey

Russell Chassey

John Copeland

Matt Covington

Chaperones:

Female:

Julie Gaines

B.A. Klein

Male:

Jordan Whiley

Miscellaneous Youth Happenings

Youth Night @ FBC

On Friday night, July 16^th, we will be having a get-together at the church to prepare for camp and to spend some time together!  We’ll meet at the church at 6pm, tye-dye some tshirts, and then go on a video/photo scavenger hunt around Farmville!

Please bring an old shirt, preferably white, to dye-new ones are fine as well, but not required.

If you are an adult and are willing to drive the youth around on this scavenger hunt, please email me back and let me know!

We’ll be done by 9pm that night.

NHB @ Davis’ July 11

Sunday night, July 11^th, NHB will be held at the household of Jack and Kim Davis.  Their address is 8660 Five Forks Rd Pamplin, VA 23958.  We’ll meet at 6pm and be done at 7:30pm.  Snacks will be provided.

Help needed July 17

Saturday, July 17^th, is FBC’s Saturday to help out with the food distribution at FACES.  All youth are encouraged to come and be a part of this church-wide ministry opportunity that will benefit the Farmville community!

Shifts start at 7:30 and 9:30.  We’ll be done by 11.

Passport Camp Recap Service

The Sunday morning service on July 25^th will be a Passport Recap Service.  I’ll be preaching and the students will be actively involved in a number of ways, including reading scripture, possibly acting in skits, singing songs from the week, and sharing testimonies with the church.  This is a wonderful way to share what God’s been doing in our youth group and to give thanks to God and our congregation for making it possible for us to go to camp.  Please plan on being at that service, and be excited about sharing what God’s going to do that week!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

We’ve all had to write those essays…in the first week after returning to school, invariably the teacher would request that you write an essay entitled “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.”  You’d be expected to list every activity, camp, and vacation you were a part of during the last 2-3 months, describing in detail the time when you got bit by that giant spider and when you fell off your bike and scraped your face on the pavement.

What will you write about this fall?  Will you say you spent your summer laying around the house, catching up on Days of Our Lives (although, there’s nothing wrong with that show!) and cat-sitting your neighbors feisty cat Fluffy?  Will you say you hung out with your friends all day every day (again, nothing wrong with that)?  What stories will you have to tell about your summer?

We make choices everyday-lots of them.  We choose what we put into our bodies and minds.  We choose who we’ll talk to and who we’ll walk past.  We choose where we go, what we do, and when we do it.  We choose how we spend our summers, at least to some extent.

I’m spending my summer lifeguarding and interning at the church.  Each day when I come into work, I choose my attitude.  I can be upset that I have to sit in the heat (even indoors, it’s still close to 90 degrees all the time) and deal with screaming kids and people breaking the rules all day.  Or, I could choose to be thankful that I have a job when so many others don’t.  I could choose to interact with the people that I’m coming into contact with, hopefully brightening their day and showing them love.  I’m not always so cheery when I head into work, but I try to actively decide each day to be positive and life-giving to others, rather than be miserable myself and draw others into that feeling.

What are some ways that you could be a positive influence in the community this summer?  Perhaps you could go to FACES with the church every 3^rd Saturday of the month and help distribute food to those who are less fortunate.  Perhaps you could offer to mow the lawn for older members of the church or neighbors who are unable to do it themselves.  Perhaps you could spend time in prayer each day for people in the church, the Farmville community, and the world.

We live in a world that is so broken.  You can’t turn on the news for five seconds without becoming depressed that the world is in such a sorry state.  You have a choice, though.  You can choose to sit back and watch as people continue to harm and kill one another, as oil continues to spill into our oceans, as people in our town continue to starve and live without shelter.  Or, you can choose to do something about that.  It doesn’t take a massive effort all the time.  It starts with little things, little changes in the ways we live.  Walk somewhere instead of driving.  Give two hours of your weekend to the hungry.  Spend a week at camp learning how to serve others.  It doesn’t take much, but it all begins with a choice.  What decisions are you making today?

Love in Christ,

Julie

Youth Calendar for July

July 4: NO NHB

July 11: NHB @ Davis’, 6-7:30pm

July 16: Youth Night @ FBC, 6-9pm

July 17: FACES, 7:30am-11am

July 18-23: Passport Youth Camp, Wingate, NC

July 25: PYC Recap Service @ FBC, 11am

Links of the Month

Starting in the month of July, I’d like to share a link (or a few links) that I think are noteworthy.  This month, I’m going to share two:

1) “Your Love is Strong” by Jon Foreman

This is one of my favorite songs of all time.  It’s based on the Lord’s Prayer and has been a source of comfort for me through some extremely hard times.  Jon Foreman is the lead singer for the band Switchfoot.  Lyrics can be found here.

“The Power of Love” by Donald Miller

This is a link to Donald Miller’s blog.  Miller is the writer of Blue Like Jazz, and he writes almost daily about a variety of topics on his site.  This entry was from June 28, 2010, and discusses the undeniable importance of love in our witness and ministry to the world.  Miller never ceases to make me think about my own beliefs and move forward in my faith.  I hope you’ll find this link interesting and thought-provoking!

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