March 2008
FBC Informer – March 2008
Table of Contents
Pastor’s Column
Announcements
Thank You
Calendar
Schedule for Children’s Church WorkersWorshipping God
Growing Together
- Passport and Passways Camps
- Stewardship
- Church Clean-Up Day
- Parents Night Out
- Wednesday Night Activities
- Wednesday Night Programs
Serving Others
“What Now?”
I had the privilege of attending the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in Atlanta at the end of January, and I was greatly inspired by the experience. It wasn’t so much because of the “big name” speakers, although they brought wonderful messages. No, it was the mere fact that I was in the same room with nine thousand other Baptists, spanning many geographic, racial, political and cultural divides, worshipping and praising God together. During those three days, I felt a spirit of unity based on our common commitment to Jesus Christ even in the midst of our diversity. It made me glad to be a part of the larger body of believers who call themselves Baptist. But after that meeting, a question remained: “What now?”
Then I returned to Farmville and found our town reeling from the fatal shootings and the car accident involving the Prides and Baxter Stegall. That Sunday afternoon, I attended a community-wide prayer vigil service at First Baptist Church on behalf of the victims. In the midst of our tragedy, I witnessed a sanctuary packed with fellow believers spanning geographic, racial, political and cultural divides, worshipping God in Christ and praying together. I felt a movement of God’s Spirit that unified us despite our deep differences. But after that meeting, a question remained: “What now?”
I’m happy to report that after the prayer vigil service, a small group of local pastors, African-American and Anglo (and one Asian!), decided to meet to plan other joint services to gather the community together. We feel that God’s Spirit is leading us first to establish trust, friendship and love among ourselves, and then to lead our congregations to do the same. I will keep you posted as plans materialize. In the meantime, pray for us pastors as we seek to join in what God is doing here in Farmville to unify us all in the love of Christ.
Yours in Christ, Michael
ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Christ in the Passover”
March 6, 6:30 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
Jewish Seder Passover meal demonstration followed by a Communion Service.
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Palm/Passion Sunday
Sunday, March 16, 11:00 a.m.
Holy Week Service
Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m.
Good Friday
Friday, March 21, 12 noon
Soup lunch 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday, March 23, 11:00 a.m.
Daylight Savings Time Change
Daylight Savings Time begins this year on March 9 at 2:00 a.m. Don’t forget to “Spring Forward” one hour!
CBF Virginia State Assembly Meeting
The CBFV General Assembly meeting will be March 14-15 at First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, VA. Michael and Amanda will attend part of the meeting.
Easter Egg Hunt, March 16
The families of our children and their friends are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 16 from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. It will be held at the home of the Cheuk family, 1685 Dodd St., 391-3616. There will be games, face painting, a hot dog dinner and various hunts for the different ages groups. We hope to see you there.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, June 8-12
Farmville Baptist will hold Vacation Bible School on the evenings of June 8-12. 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 mark your calendars and plan to help. Amanda Johnston will serve as VBS director.
THANKS
Dear Farmville Baptist, Dr. Cheuk and Rev. Amanda Johnston,
Thank you for all the prayers, prayer cards and visits. Dr. Cheuk & Rev. Amanda, your visits to the hospital were much appreciated. I am home and seem to be getting along very well-stronger each day. I love Farmville Baptist Church and all my friends there.
Faye H. Carter
________
To our Friends at FBC,
We want to extend our sincere appreciation for all your prayers, kind thoughts and deeds and your loving support at this most difficult time in our lives. Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered.
In Christ, Jack, Kim, Trey and Lindsey Rae
CALENDAR
Upcoming Events for Your Calendar
March 1 …………..LU Service Club/Youth @ F.A.C.E.S.
March 2 …………..Passport Kids! Interest Meeting
March 3 …………..Music & Worship Committee Meeting
March 5 …………..FAMA Lenten Service/St. Theresa Catholic
March 6 …………..Thursday Night Supper & “Christ in the Passover”
March 9 …………..Church Council
…………………………Children’s Church Volunteers Meeting
…………………………Youth Egg Stuffing Party
March 10 …………Missions & Outreach Committee Meeting
March 12 …………FAMA Lenten Service/Johns Memorial Episcopal
March 15 …………Church Clean-Up Morning
March 16 …………Palm Sunday
…………………………Easter Egg Hunt/Cheuks
March 19 …………Holy Week Service
March 21 …………Good Friday Service
March 23 …………Easter Sunday
March 24 …………Easter Monday – Church Office Closed
March 24-28 ……NO PRESCHOOL
March 30 …………Alternative Worship
………………………….Passways Interest Meeting
Sunday Schedule for Children’s Church Workers
| March 9 | |
| Toddlers/Cribs | Carrie Browning |
| Toddlers | Lucille Holman |
| Children’s Service | Beth Cheuk & Karen & Allison Newman |
| March 16 | |
| Toddlers/Cribs | Elizabeth Whiley |
| Toddlers | Lucille Holman |
| Children’s Missions |
Edith Ann & Katherine Austin |
| March 23 | |
| Toddlers/Cribs | Sandy & Matt Covington |
| Toddlers | Lucille Holman |
| Childrens’ Service |
Beth Cheuk & Lisa Tharpe |
| March 30 | |
| Toddlers/Cribs | Patti Trent |
| Toddlers | Lucille Holman |
| Children’s Service | Beth Cheuk & helper |
.
WORSHIPPING GOD
March Worship Services
3/2……. “Blind Faith and Seeing Disbelief” – John 9:1-41
3/6……. Thursday Night Passover Seder Meal & Communion Service
3/9……. “A Rising Sign of Hope” – John 11:1-45/Communion
3/16….. “From Cheers to Jeers” – Palm/Passion Sunday
3/19…… Wednesday Night Passion Week Service
3/21…… Good Friday Noon Service and Soup Lunch
3/23….. “Good Morning, Jesus!” – Easter Sunday
3/30….. “Imperishable Inheritance” – 1 Peter 1:3-9, Amanda Johnston
“Christ in the Passover” Thursday, March 6
During the first week of March, all Wednesday night activities will be rescheduled for Thursday, March 6. We will serve supper at 5:45 p.m., followed by a special “Christ in the Passover” program. Held in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m., the program will feature a missionary from “Jews for Jesus,” who will give a sermonic demonstration of a traditional Jewish Passover seder meal. We will actually see a table set with traditional Passover items. The missionary uses Scripture as well as the visual items to walk through a seder meal, weaving the story of the Exodus together with the life, death and resurrection of Christ. After the demonstration, we will celebrate Communion.
Alternative Worship Gathering, March 30
On Sunday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m. Farmville Baptist Church will host an “Alternative Worship” gathering led by our youth, college and young adults. The message will be given by Michael Cheuk and the music for the service will be led by our very own worship team and band. This will be a “come as you are gathering,” no need to dress in “church” attire. Please come and join us for this new worship experience!
Children’s Church Volunteers’ Meeting
There will be a brief informational meeting for current and prospective children’s church volunteers after church on March 9. Beth Cheuk will distribute leaders’ guides and the teaching curriculum for the next few months, as we move into a new phase in which Beth serves as the assistant leader, not the main children’s worship leader. If you already feel prepared to step in as the main leader, then simply stop by and pick up your materials. If you are interested in learning more about how to help, or if you are already committed to helping but need further training, please stay for the short meeting. Thank you!
2008 Calendar for Flowers in Sunday Worship
The 2007-2008 Flower Calendar is on the bulletin board across from the Sunday School office. Please sign up for the coming year to put flowers in the church in memory/honor of a loved one.
Easter Lilies
If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily in memory or in honor of a loved one to be placed the sanctuary for the Easter season, please call the church office (392-5041). The cost is $14.00. It can be picked up after the Easter Sunday service.
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.
Sermons Available Online
MP3s of sermons from previous weeks of worship are available on the worship page of our website under: http://www.farmvillebaptist.org/worship.php.
GROWING TOGETHER
Passport / Passways Camps Interest Meetings
The dates for the children’s trip to Passport Kids! will be June 30-July 3 at Eagle Eyrie. The present cost of the retreat is $225, and the camp is open to students who have completed grades 3 through 6. There will be an interest meeting for the camp following worship on Sunday, March 2. All children and parents who are interested are invited to come. We will discuss fundraisers to substantially lower the cost of the camp. You must RSVP for camp by Sunday, April 27.
The dates for our youths’ trip to the Passways camp will be July 13-18 at Wingate University, NC. The camp costs $320 (before fundraising) and is open to youth who have completed grades 6 through 12. There will be a pizza dinner and interest meeting at 7 p.m., Sunday, March 30 following the Alternative Worship Service. You must RSVP for camp by Sunday, April 27.
Both groups will be fundraising to lower the cost per child. Contact Amanda Johnston if you’d like to attend either camp.
2007 Year-End BGAV Contribution Report
Summary Report, 1/1/2007 to 12/31/2007
2007 Cooperative Program World Missions 3 ………………… $9,700.00
Standard Designated Giving …………………………………………..$1,405.05
Total Contribution by Farmville Baptist Church …………..$11,105.05
Church Clean-Up Day, March 15, 9:30 a.m.
Please come on Saturday morning, March 15 to help clean the church in preparation for Easter. Bring cleaning supplies, rags, and vacuums as we clean the sanctuary, windows, pews, hallways and restrooms. We’ll start at 9:30 a.m. and end at noon with a provided lunch.
Parents’ Night Out, April 18, 6 to 9 p.m.
The Children’s Committee will be providing a Parents’ Night Out on Friday, April 18, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. We will provide dinner, a movie and games. The cost is $5 per child. To make a reservation, contact Tammy Dunning at tammy[at]farmvillebaptist.org or 392-4990. Reservations are due by April 11 in order to ensure adequate childcare.
Prayer List Format Change
Due to our growing prayer list, we will only publish in our Sunday bulletin the names of new additions and those whose health status have changed. For those who are on our ongoing prayer list, that list will be published on Wednesday nights for our prayer meeting. Anyone wanting the full list may obtain one by contacting the office.
Wednesday Night Activities
| 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. | Wednesday Night Supper. COST: $5 for adults; $2 for children; $14 family limit. |
| 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. | Children’s Choir, led by Gail Cave. |
| 6:30 to 7:10 p.m. | Adult Discipleship Study (formerly known as Wed. Night Bible Study) in Fellowship Hall |
| 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Bell Choir rehearsal |
| 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. |
“Bible Blitz,” a curriculum of active learning featuring science experiments, games, crafts, and life lessons for grade-school children. |
| 7:15 to 7:25 p.m. | Prayer Time in Fellowship Hall |
| 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal |
Wednesday Night Supper
In order to be good stewards of the church’s resources and to keep prices low for everyone, we ask that those who make reservations for our Wednesday night supper to pay for your supper(s) even if you don’t show up. Due to rising food cost, our new Wednesday night supper pricing will be $5 for adults; $2 for children; $14 family limit. If this price increase is a financial hardship on anyone, please let Michael know. We do not want anyone to quit coming to Wednesday night supper because of finances.
Menus for February
COST: $5.00 for adults; $2.00 for children; $14.00 family limit.
| THURS., March 6 | Lasagna, Corn on the Cobb, Tossed Salad, Garlic Bread and Jello with topping. Children’s menu: Same |
| March 12 | Brunswick Stew, Grilled Cheese, Tossed Salad and Banana Pudding. Children’s menu: Chicken Nuggets |
| March 19 | Oven Baked Chicken with Gravy, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Rolls and Cookies. Children’s menu: Same |
| March 26 | Spaghetti, Corn on Cobb, Garlic Bread, Tossed Salad, and Fruit Cup. Children’s menu: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich |
Wednesday Night Discipleship Study Schedule
March 6 …………… “Jesus in the Passover” Presentation, 6:30 p.m.
March 12 …………. “Jesus Saves! But How?” Study, 6:30 p.m.
March 19 …………. Holy Week Service, 6:30 p.m.
March 26 …………. BCM Missions Report, 6:30 p.m..
SERVING OTHERS
Souper Bowl of Caring & Youth Fund Raiser Report
Throughout the month of January, and ending Sunday, February 3, we collected roughly 50 canned items for our pantry and $250 for FACES. We also raised $420 for youth camp at the luncheon after worship on Feb. 3. I want to thank everyone who attended, the people who prepared soup, and especially those of you who worked hard in the kitchen getting everything ready.
Youth and College Student Service Opportunity
On Saturday, March 1, the newly formed Longwood Mission Club would like to invite our youth, college students, and any willing adults to come and help with food distribution at FACES. We will meet at the church around 7:45 am. FACES needs us at their facility at 8:00 a.m. in order to prepare for the day’s distribution. If you are interested in going, please contact Amanda at the church office by cell: 607-0082 or email: amanda[at]farmvillebaptist.org; or at church: 392-5041.
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
Opportunities to Serve Others
“Meals on Wheels” Fundraiser-”Fiesta: Auction, Jackpot Drawing & Culinary Delights” March 8, 6:00 p.m., Dorrill Dining Hall at Longwood University. Cost: $75 a ticket per person. For make reservations, visit: http://scopemow.farmville.net/FiestaReservation.htm.
American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”-April 4, 6:00 p.m. Visit: http://events.cancer.org/rfllongwooduniversity for more info.
BCM Yard Sale for Summer Missions-April 5, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Baptist Campus Ministries building, 303 Griffin Blvd.
Sunday School Teachers and Small Group Leaders Needed
Michael and Amanda are looking for people who are willing to consider the possibility of becoming either a Sunday School or small group leader. If you are interested please see either Michael or Amanda. There will be a time set aside to further discuss these leadership opportunities.
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!