June 2008
FBC Informer - June 2008
Table of Contents
Pastor’s Column
Announcements
Thank You
Calendar
Schedule for Children’s Church WorkersWorshipping God
Growing Together
Serving Others
“The Grace in Gray Hairs”
This past May I celebrated another birthday, and one of the things that I’ve noticed as I enter middle age is that gray hairs are encroaching upon my head. I try not to notice it too much, but it’s hard not to when Thea my daughter has made it a hobby to count them! When I look in the mirror and see a glistening silver strand, I am tempted to pluck it out. But then I’m reminded of Proverbs 16:31: “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.”
In a culture that worships youth, it can be hard to embrace our growing maturity in terms of chronological years. And there is nothing virtuous about growing old in and of itself. As my father-in-law frequently says, “Growing old is not for sissies!” But this proverb reminds us that there is no shame in growing old either, especially when it is accompanied by the wisdom of God.
In his book, The Book of Wisecracks: Windows of Wisdom for Living Well, Gerald Mann reflects on that proverb and contends that gray hair can be a crown of glory . . . if it comes from outliving our sins and flaws. He argues: Hair does not turn gray. It turns clear! The Bible tells us that God knows each of our sins. It also tells us that He has counted our every hair. He knows the number of both. Every time I look at my hoary head in the mirror, I don’t think of my mortality. I think of my morality. Every “clear” hair represents a cleared offense. It is a sign that God “clears” our record, whenever we ask Him to.
Mann then writes this poem about his gray hairs:
When I look at my reflection,
it says, “You’re really getting old!
Your chest has fled to your midsection.
Your hair is silver instead of gold.”
But I reject mirror’s knell of my mortality.
My belly stands for eating well,
and my hair—morality.
No! I haven’t reached the goodness
For which I long have striven,
But every thread in my hoary head
Represents a sin forgiven.
Some of you reading this column are young and don’t have any gray hairs. But they will come! Mann’s reflection reminds us all that there is grace in gray hairs. They can be reminders of God’s continuing work of forgiveness in our lives, if we will only allow it to “take root” and cleanse us “as white as snow.” So Thea, keep counting those gray hairs!
Yours in Christ, Michael
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly
This year, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly will be held on June 19-20, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis Tennessee. The theme will be “Embrace the World, Building Bridges,” and Lauran Bethell, global ministry consultant for the American Baptist Churches, USA will be the keynote speaker. Michael will be attending the meeting.
Congratulations to Our Graduates!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our high school and university graduates! God’s blessings upon you as you reach this important milestone, and may God continue to lead and guide you in the months ahead!
Stephen Carter—Fuqua High School. Plans to attend J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and enroll in their Fire Science Program.
Bobby Newman—Fuqua High School. Plans to attend Ferrum College.
Adam Southall—Graduated from Southside Community College Diesel Mechanic School on May 1.
Birth Announcements
Congratulations to Daniel and Melissa McLemore on the birth of their daughter, Ellie Grace, on April 28!
Congratulations to Brian and Eleanor Ross on the birth of their daughter, Lyla Grey, on May 27! Gene and Patsy Watson are the proud grandparents. Betty Watson and Ernestine Garrett are the proud great grandmothers.
THANK YOU
Dear Members of Farmville Baptist,
I want to let you know that the missions board contacted me last week and confirmed my approval for the missions trip to India this summer! I will be leaving the first week of July and I should return within the first week of August. I am so grateful for your support prayers. Thank you!
Sincerely, Neena George, BCM Missionary
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I am so proud to say that my church is the reason I am able to go to Macau. Your donations were so generous, it has truly humbled my heart and taught me to trust God (both financially and in all aspects of life). Thank you so much! I look forward to coming back to Farmville—soon!
With love, Emily Grace Caviness, BCM Missionary
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I cannot thank you enough for all of the help you have provided, and it feels great to be a part of it! God works in many ways, and Farmville Baptist is truly one of them. I hope that sometime this summer Emily and myself will be able to come one Sunday and express our gratitude to the church, and just update the congregation on how their support has helped spread the grace of God through missionary action.
God Bless, Robbie Yancey, BCM Missionary
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Dear Farmville Baptist Church Families,
We want to send our special thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Your love and support will always be treasured and remembered in our hearts.
Love in Christ, Sybil Feng, Andy, Charlene and Allison
(Family of Michael Cheuk’s deceased uncle)
CALENDAR
Upcoming Church Events
June 1 Deacon’s Meeting
June 7 Breakfast/Roadside Clean-up
June 8-12 Vacation Bible School
June 15-17 Michael on Vacation
June 19-20 CBF General Assembly
June 22-27 Michael on Vacation
June 25 Church-wide Pot-Luck Wed. Night Supper
June 30-July 3 Passports for Kids
July 13-18 Passways camp for Youth
Sunday Schedule for Children’s Church Workers
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June 1 |
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Cribs |
Sandy & Matt Covington |
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Toddlers |
Lucille Holman |
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Children’s Worship |
Beth Cheuk & Carter Family |
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June 8 |
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Cribs: |
B. A. & Emmalee Klein |
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Toddlers: |
Lucille Holman |
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Children’s Worship |
Beth Cheuk & Scarrow/Garrett |
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June 15 |
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Cribs |
Sandy & Matt Covington |
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Toddlers |
Lucille Holman |
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Children’s Missions |
Edith Ann & Katherine Austin |
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June 22 |
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Cribs |
David Schmidt |
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Toddlers |
Lucille Holman |
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Children’s Worship |
Beth Cheuk & Farrah Schmidt |
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June 29 |
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Cribs |
Volunteers Needed |
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Toddlers |
Lucille Holman |
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Childrens Worship |
Beth Cheuk & Volunteers Needed |
WORSHIPPING GOD
June Worship Services
6/1 Rev. Joe Stanley to preach
6/8 “The Great Physician” — Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
6/15 Rev. William Smith to preach
6/22 Rev. Amanda Johnston to preach
6/29 Youth-Led Worship Service
Summer Sanctuary Choir Schedule
During the months of June, July and August, the Sanctuary Choir will rehearse on Wednesday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Childcare is provided. There will be no rehearsals on June 11 and 18. We invite anyone who would like to sing to join the choir during these months!
Guest Preachers in June
Sunday, June 1
The Rev. Joe Stanley will be our guest minister on Sunday, June 1. Rev. Stanley is a native of St. Paul, Virginia and attended Mars Hill College, the University of Richmond, Boyce Bible School of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary. He completed CPE training at Virginia Baptist Hospital and graduated from their School of Pastoral Care. He was ordained in 1963 by Goochland Baptist Church.
Among the Virginia churches that Rev. Stanley has pastored include: New Hope Baptist in Appomattox, Oakland Baptist in Gum Spring, and Eleys Ford Baptist in Fredericksburg. He also pastored Leetown Baptist Church in West Virginia. He has been a member of Farmville Baptist since 1996. We welcome Rev. Stanley to our pulpit on June 1!
Sunday, June 15
On Sunday, June 15, the Rev. Willie Smith, Sr., Chaplain Coordinator at Central Southside. will be our guest preacher. Rev. Smith has served churches in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California. He previously served as a Staff Chaplain at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg. His pastoral care experience includes work as a Chaplain with Centra in Lynchburg and with Carillion Health in Roanoke, Virginia. He served in the United States Navy from 1979 – 1996.
Rev. Smith and his wife Gloria have three children, Willie Jr., Richard, and Naomi. We welcome Rev. Smith to our pulpit on June 15!
The Bells of the Blue Ridge, Sunday, May 31, 7:00 p.m.
On Saturday, May 31 at 7:00 p.m. Heritage Baptist Church will host a concert of “The Bells of the Blue Ride”, an advanced community handbell group from Lynchburg, Virginia. This will be an exciting event, so please come and support their efforts.
Children’s Worship Service
During our main worship service we are also offering a Children’s Worship Service, for children kindergarten to second grade, in the Fellowship Hall. Children in those grades will leave the sanctuary following the children’s lesson and will typically return to the adult service in the sanctuary during the offertory. Older children are welcome to sign up to be “guest readers,” serving as worship leaders on the specific Sundays for which they sign up. Children’s church will take place every week except the third Sunday of each month, when Edith Ann and Katherine Austin will continue to lead missions activities.
GROWING TOGETHER
Stewardship Report
Prorated Budget………………………..$112,121.65
Receipts (as of 5/25).……………….….$75,388.85
Difference……………………..… .<$36,732.80>
Passport Kids! Camp
On June 30 to July 3, Chris Landrum, Thea Cheuk, Erin Copeland, Jewel Moore, Amanda Elsaesser, and Breanna Smalley will attend Passport Kids! Camp at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg, VA. Beth Cheuk, Kathryn Copeland, David Landrum, Janet Moore and Amanda Johnston will serve as chaperones. Please remember them in your prayers as they travel and as they attend this wonderful four-day camp.
Youth Car Wash Report
On Saturday, April 26, our youth group together with the youth group from Tar Wallet Baptist Church hosted a car wash fundraiser for Passport and Passways Camp this summer. It was a beautiful day for a car wash! The group washed a lot of cars and raised about $600!
Wednesday Night Activities
We will take a break from our Wednesday Night Activities during the months of June, July and August.
Wednesday Night Potluck Fellowship
There will be a church-wide pot-luck supper fellowship on Wednesday June 25, 5:45 to 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring dishes to share (meat, vegetables, bread, salad and dessert) and we’ll have a good time. Please RSVP the church office by Sunday, June 22 to let us know that you’re coming and what dish you are bringing.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, JUNE 8-12
On the evenings of June 8-12, FBC and Zion Hill Baptist Church will join forces again to host Vacation Bible School. The theme this year is “Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power” by Group Publishing. Our children will discover Jesus’ miraculous power by experimenting with Bible study, music, games, and treats in the “Power Lab.” Please come by the office to get a registration form. Or, visit our website to download the form. For more information, visit http://www.groupvbs.com/powerlab/.
We also need twenty 16 to 20 oz. water bottles (with caps) for a craft that we’re doing in VBS. Please save your bottles and drop them by the office. Thank you!
SERVING OTHERS
Opportunities to Serve Others
Please consider helping these important community programs through the summer months in the following ways:
- Help unload the FACES food truck each Friday (between 10 a.m. until noon, N. South St., behind RugRats). Help distribute food on Saturday mornings beginning at 8 a.m.
- Contact Meals on Wheels (392-8797) to serve as a substitute driver.
- Habitat for Humanity is looking for groups to provide lunch for their construction crews working on the Buckingham House. They can also use volunteers to answer phones, enter data and plan events. Contact Pam Gills at 392-6627.
Food Pantry Donations
Our food pantry is running low. We need canned vegetables, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned meats, spaghetti sauce, pasta and soups. Since January 1, 2008, we have provided 6 local families twelve bags of food. Donations can be left outside the pantry door in the basement.
Roadside Clean Up, Saturday, June 7
Come join us for breakfast at Country Cookin’ at 9:00 a.m. on June 7th or meet us on the road near Davis Pontiac at 10:00 am. Dress for the weather and bring gloves to participate in cleaning litter from the stretch of road that our church adopted several years ago.
Benevolence Fund Report, January 1—May 27, 2008
Cases Assistance Amount
12 Lodging $507.11
16 Electric $793.69
2 Rent $110.00
3 Prescriptions $106.28
4 Gas $ 70.00
1 Heating Oil $333.20
3 Water Bill $147.52
41 $2,067.80
(Compared to 28 cases and a total of $1,298.17 at this same time last year)
Deacon Ministry Teams
The following Deacon Ministry Teams are now in place to serve those in our congregation and others in our community. Information about these teams is posted on our Deacon Ministry Teams bulletin board on the main floor of the church. If you’d like to join one or more of these teams, please contact team leaders for more detailed information regarding each ministry team.
- Senior Adult Ministry: led by Jack Davis and Bobby Huskey
- Bereavement Ministry: led by Kathryn Copeland and Joyce Davis
- Casserole Ministry: led by George Carter
- Homebound Ministry: led by Drue Martin and Jack Davis
- Guests and New Members Team: led by Chuck Daniel
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.
Meals on Wheels
SCOPE Meals on Wheels provide approximately ninety plus meals per day to local residents. It takes at least 10 drivers each day to make the deliveries. Currently there is a need for drivers. If you can help please call Hoke Currie at 434-392-8797. This is a great mission opportunity!