August, 2009
Click Informer 2009-08 for a pdf version of this newsletter
FBC Informer – August 2009
Table of Contents
- Worship Services
- Welcome Rev. Elizabeth Rickert Dowdy
- Old-Time Gospel Service
- Choir Schedule
- Michael to Preach at New Zion
- Schedule for Children’s Church Workers
- Sunday School News
- Prayer List Distribution
- Prayer Triplet Pot-Luck Supper
- Stewardship
- Youth Ministry
- Passport Youth Camp Report
- College Ministry
- Ladies Night Out
- FBC Preschool Director/Teacher Needed
“Paying Attention”
It has been a joy for me to come back after my vacation to hear of all the exciting things that God is doing in the lives of the members of Farmville Baptist Church. In our Laity Sunday worship service on July 19, I loved seeing members of our prayer triplets being so at ease with each other and sharing about all the things they are learning from God. I heard the excitement in their voices as common themes came to the fore – themes like the blessing they are receiving from a closer relationship with God through prayer, and a deeper connection with members of their triplets. More than once, participants shared about how we need to trust God to lead us into our future and be less anxious to control and manage what might come. I also heard how God may be calling us to risk more in focusing our energy and resources to people and causes outside the walls of our church.
The next Sunday evening, I attended our youth group’s “No Holds Barred” meeting where I heard reports from our youth about their experience at Passport Camp the previous week. There was such energy and excitement during that meeting as youth after youth shared about how that week at camp was one of the most spiritually transformative experiences they’ve had as a Christian. God had gotten their attention, and now they were eager to follow in God’s footsteps.
Those two experiences reminded me of the wise words of John Westerhoff and John Eusden in their book The Spiritual Life:
For too long we have thought of the Christian life as essentially either involvement in political, economic, social concerns that wear us out and result in depression or activity which keeps the church intact and doctrinally pure. Our primary orientation cannot be an institution or some great cause or even other people, but first and forever to God. Unless our identity is hid in God we will never know who we are or what we are to do. Our first act must be prayer. . . . We are called to continuously formed and transformed by the thought of God within us. Prayer is a disciplined dedication to paying attention. Without the single-minded attentiveness of prayer we will rarely hear anything worth repeating or catch a vision worth asking anyone else to gaze upon.
In the coming weeks and months, I am eager to pay attention to what God will be telling us and what vision He may be revealing to us through prayer and through the members of Farmville Baptist — our children, our youth, our prayer triplet participants and others. I’m confident that we will hear things worth repeating and catch a vision worth following!
— Journeying on, Michael
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Church Picnic, Sunday, August 30
Gee-Price Center of the Fuqua School
3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
You are invited to our annual church picnic at the Gee-Price Center (Fuqua School) 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 24!
Those who would like to swim, but are not members of the Fuqua Pool, must respond to Penny Huskey (at pvhuskey1 [at] embarqmail.com or 392-1050) before August 25 to obtain a swim pass. Cost is $7 per person.
FBC is on Facebook
Farmville Baptist has a page on Facebook now! Log onto your Facebook.com account and become a fan of “Farmville Baptist Church, Farmville, VA” by visiting this link.
THANK YOU
A great big thank you to all who contributed to the Uni-Diversity Missions Lunch on July 11, 13 and 14. It would not have been a success without you.
Bless you all, Outreach/Missions Committee
* * * * *
Dear Farmville Baptist Church:
We are grateful for the opportunity to be involved in missions at Farmville. We really had a wonderful experience. We were able to finish 20 projects and we will continue to work on the projects at the AME church. We really appreciate the volunteers from the church who worked so hard to find enough food to fill up our crowd. They did a wonderful job and it was such a help to us not to have to stop work to get lunch ready. We hope we will see you as we continue to bring groups up to work on the AME project.
Frank Smith, Youth Minister, FBC Greenville, SC
CALENDAR
August 2…………………. Deacons’ Mtg., 8:30 am
…………………………….. No Holds Barred, 7 pm at the Chasseys’
August 8…………………. Prayer Triplet Pot-Luck Dinner, 5:30 pm
August 9…………………. No Holds Barred, 7 pm at the Cheuks’
August 15……………….. FACES Food Distribution, 7:45 am
August 16 ………………. Michael to preach at University Baptist Church
…………………………….. No Holds Barred, 7 pm at Farmville Baptist
August 17……………….. Stewardship Committee Meeting, 5:30 pm
…………………………….. Newsletter Articles Due
August 22……………….. “Reclaiming Our Life Ministries”, 12 noon
August 23……………….. No Holds Barred, 7 pm at the Copelands’
August 25……………….. Ladies’ Night Out/La Parota Grill (Mexican)
August 30……………….. Church-Wide Picnic @ Gee-Price Center
September 6……………. Sunday School Promotion
September 7……………. Labor Day — Church Office Closed
WORSHIPPING GOD
Farmville Baptist Worship Services in August
8/2 “Gifts for the One Body” — Ephesians 4:1-6
8/9 “The Bread of Life” — John 6:35; 41-51
8/16 Rev. Elizabeth Rickert Dowdy to preach
8/23 “Being Strong in the Lord” — Ephesians 6:10-20
8/30 “Old-Time Gospel Service”
We Welcome Rev. Elizabeth Rickert Dowdy
We welcome Rev. Elizabeth Rickert Dowdy to our pulpit on August 16. Rev. Dowdy is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University of Atlanta, Georgia. She currently serves as the Pastor of Tar Wallet Baptist Church. She and her husband Lee have a year-old daughter, Rozelia.
On that day, Michael will be preaching at University Baptist Church in Charlottesville, VA.
“Old-Time Gospel Service” August 30
On Sunday, August 30, we will have an “Old Time Gospel Service” in which we want to celebrate and affirm the hymns and songs sung by our senior adults when they were growing up. The service will be light on preachin’ and heavy on the singin’! If you have any suggestions for hymns you want to sing, please contact Michael or Kathy at the office.
Summer Sanctuary Choir Schedule
During the month of August, the Sanctuary Choir will rehearse on Wednesday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Childcare is provided. We invite anyone who would like to sing to join the choir!
Michael to Preach at Revival at New Zion Baptist
Michael has been invited to preach at a revival service at New Zion Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA, on Monday, August 10, 7:00 p.m. Please keep Michael in your prayers as he worships with that congregation that evening.
Sunday Schedule for Children’s Church Workers
August 2
Toddlers/Cribs:………… Volunteer Needed
Toddlers:………………… Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship:….. Beth Cheuk
August 9
Toddlers/Cribs:………… Sandy East & Crystal Cupp
Toddlers:………………… Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship:….. Sandy Covington
August 16
Toddlers/Cribs:………… Volunteer Needed
Toddlers:………………… Lucille Holman
Children’s Missions:….. Edith Ann & Katherine Austin
August 23
Toddlers/Cribs:………… Liz & Carter Chassey
Toddlers:………………… Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship:….. Penny Agee
August 30
Toddlers/Cribs:………… Volunteer Needed
Toddlers:………………… Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship:….. Patti Trent
GROWING TOGETHER
Sunday School News
On Sunday, September 6, at 11:00 a.m. worship, we will be promoting our Sunday School classes for our grade-school students. We will also be recognizing our Sunday School teachers in the worship service.
Prayer List Distribution
The church office is considering sending a weekly email of our full Prayer Concerns list to those who would like to receive it. If you would like to receive the full Prayer Concerns list, please contact the church office at 392-5041 or office [at] farmvillebaptist.org.
Prayer Triplet Pot-Luck Supper
Saturday, August 8, 5:30 p.m.
All participants in our prayer triplets (and their family members) are invited to a pot-luck supper on Saturday, August 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We’ll spend the evening sharing and comparing notes regarding what we have learned in our prayer triplets. Michael will give a brief overview of what’s to come in the future months. Julie Gaines and Liz Chassey will provide childcare. Please RSVP with Michael 392-5041 to let him know how many are coming and what you will be bringing to the pot-luck.
Stewardship Report
Budget Needs through July 27 …………………. $127,815.90
Budget Disbursements July 27…………………… $106,719.29
Budget Receipts through July 27……………….. 100,161.15
Youth “No Holds Barred” Meetings, 7:00 p.m.
For the month of August, “No Holds Barred” will meet from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We also welcome Julie Gaines, who will be volunteering to lead the youth meetings in August and in the coming school year!
August 2 At the Chasseys’, 960 Greentown Rd., 223-7481
August 9 At the Cheuks’, 1685 Dodd St., 392-5041
August 16 At Farmville Baptist
August 23 At the Copelands’, 310 Briarwood Dr., 392-4765
August 30 Church-Wide Picnic, 3 to 7 p.m. at the Fuqua School
Passport Youth Camp Report
On July 19 to 24, eleven of our youth, together with four youth from Tar Wallet Baptist Church, attended Passport Youth Camp at Wingate University in North Carolina. The theme of the week was “[re]mix” which led the youth to an inward journey of introspection and discipleship. It was a transformative time for many of our youth, and they came back full of renewed energy, passion and enthusiasm in their faith journey. Many thanks to Jordan Whiley, Kim Davis and Julie Gaines for chaperoning this trip and to the congregation for their prayers and support! Click here for pictures.
WANTED: Loving Families for College Students
Do you remember when you sent your child off for his or her first day of kindergarten? First summer residence camp? First year of college?
The College Committee is seeking church members who wish to participate in FBC’s “Adopt-A-Student” program. This fun outreach program is designed to give college students local Christian support while living in Farmville. Suggested activities may include taking your students to lunch or having them over for a home cooked meal, sending cards on special occasions, calling to check on them, offering a ride if their car is in the shop, etc. In addition, we will have some fun activities planned for all participants throughout the school year.
For more information or to sign up, please contact Patsy Watson at 392-8563 or pwatson [at] southsidevafamilyymca.org or complete the registration form in the church bulletin for the weeks of August 10th and August 17th.
Ladies’ Night Out at La Parota, August 25
The ladies will have dinner at the La Parota Grill in Farmville on Tuesday, August 25th at 6:00 p.m.. RSVP to Penny Huskey no later than August 20 (392-1050 or pvhuskey1 [at] embarqmail.com).
OUR PRESCHOOL IS HIRING!
Our morning preschool program for children ages 2 – 5 years old is currently accepting applications for the positions of:
Director of Preschool (Part time)
2-Day Teacher (Part time)
We are seeking individuals with the following qualifications:
1. Faithful Christian
2. Four-year degree in Early Childhood Education or comparable experience
3. Strengths: nurturing and encouraging young children
4. Director would need excellent administrative and communication skills
Interested persons should submit a resume including three (3) references to:
Farmville Baptist Church
Attention: Chair, Preschool Advisory Committee
132 North Main Street
Farmville, VA 23901
SERVING OTHERS
FACES Food Distribution, August 15
On Saturday, August 15, volunteers of all ages are needed at FACES from 8 to 10 a.m. to help with food distribution. Meet at the church at 7:45 a.m. and walk over to FACES located at 314 N. South St.
The Jail Ministry Team invites you . . .
On the first Sunday of each month from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., a small team visits the Piedmont Regional Jail to lead the female inmates in a time of singing, devotion and prayer. This ministry requires no specialized talents, just an open and flexible spirit. Please contact Anita Lynn, 391-3751, for more information and to participate.
“Stuff the Bus” with School Supplies
Saturday, August 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wal-Mart Super Center
Help Prince Edward County Elementary PTA “Stuff the Bus” with school supplies for low-income students at Prince Edward Elementary School. Shop tax-free at Wal-Mart on that day, and throw in a few school supplies in your cart. A list of needed supplies will be available at Wal-Mart on August 8. Your donations will be collected by PTA volunteers at a county School Bus on the premises, where they will then be distributed to the Teacher Reps for each grade level.
“Mentoring Children for a Better Tomorrow”
“Prince Edward Partnership for Success” is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children. They are currently looking for individuals to mentor at-risk 2nd and 3rd graders from Prince Edward Elementary School.
Requirements include:
- 12-month commitment from September 2009 to August 2010
- One hour per week minimum interaction time with an at-risk child
- Background and reference checks on all mentor applicants
Mentors will receive:
- Training prior to beginning the program
- Support and continued training throughout the year
For more information on how you can make a significant difference in a child’s life, please contact Jane Hudgins, Executive Director at (434) 391-1159.
BIRTHDAYS
August 1
Covington, Matthew
August 2
Nelson, Steve
Smalley, Melanie
August 3
Davis, Joyce
Trent, Katie
August 4
Kelly, Rebecca
August 5
Simpson, Janie
August 8
Daniel, Chuck
August 10
Browning, Alex
Moore, Janet
Watson, Betty
August 12
Duval, Debbie
August 13
Atkins, Gary
August 13
Weaver, Doris
August 14
Ross, Eleanor Watson
August 20
Cave, Peggy
Trent, Tim
Kathy Dunnavant
August 21
Daniel, Debbie
Klein, David
August 23
Slade, Deborah
Wingo, Cory
August 24
Browning, Kaleb
August 25
Cave, Sarah
Mills, Laurie
August 26
Browning, Joe
Noel, Elizabeth
August 27
Carter, Lorraine
August 30
McLemore, Melissa
Southall, Adam
August 31
Davis, Jack