October 2007

FBC Informer – October 2007

Table of Contents

Pastor’s Column
Announcements
Calendar

Worshipping God

• Introducing Dr. Curtis Freeman
• Deacon Ordination & Installation

Growing Together

• Children Ministry News
• Youth Ministry News
• College Ministry News
• Bible Study Opportunities
• Wednesday Night Activities
• Welcome New Member

Serving Others

• Schedule for Children’s Church Workers
• Deacon Ministry Teams
• Flu Shots
• Service Opportunities

“What We’re About”

Do we know what we’re about as a church? In my May newsletter column this year, I mentioned that I’ve recruited a team of church leaders to begin discussing and discerning our church’s identity, core values, and mission. We met many times over the summer, and using Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger’s book, Simple Church as a launching point, we are beginning to identify the major things that Farmville Baptist Church should be about. Following Jesus’ “Great Commandment” (Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27) and his “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20), we believe that God is leading Farmville Baptist to be a church that makes disciples by focusing on three things: 1) Worshipping God, 2) Growing Together, and 3) Serving Others.

As the “temple of God” (2 Cor. 6:16), we aim to encourage and facilitate people to worship God corporately and individually every day of the week. As a “body of believers” (1 Cor. 12:12-26), we aim to grow together in the knowledge of our Lord through Bible study and the sharing of our lives within a community of care and trust. And as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), we aim to serve others as a channel of God’s blessing to our community and the world.

There’s nothing “magical” about these three things, nor are they what we should be about from now to eternity. But in the coming years, these three things will hopefully provide us with some clarity regarding our mission. We hope these three things will provide the process of moving us to become more mature disciples of Jesus. We hope these three things will help us align our ministries so that we may be focused in our mission.

Practically speaking, what does this mean for our church? In terms of pastoral leadership, it means that while I have the responsibility to oversee and lead the whole congregation, I will pay special attention to the “worshipping God” aspect of our church. Amanda Johnston, our new Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Growth, will focus on the “growing together” aspect, especially in facilitating small groups, age-graded ministries, and Bible studies. Finally, our Deacons, with their newly formed Ministry Teams, will (together with the staff) provide leadership in the “serving others” aspect of the church. In terms of the congregation, it means that we want to challenge and encourage each member of Farmville Baptist to set aside time each week to worship God, to be a part of a small group growing together in community, and to serve others. Let us all take the first steps in becoming the church and the disciples that God wants us to be!

Yours in Christ, Michael

Installation Service for Rev. Amanda Johnston

Farmville Baptist Church cordially invites all members of the congregation and community to an Installation Service for Reverend Amanda Barbour-Johnston as Associate Pastor.

Sunday, October 7, 2007
Worship at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Reception at 12:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

ALMA HUNT MISSIONS OFFERING

2007 Offering for Virginia Missions
State Goal: $14,000,000
FBC Goal: $1,4000

BGAV Annual Meeting

November 13-14, Richmond, VA
The Baptist General Association of Virginia Annual Meeting will take place in Richmond, VA on November 13-14. Michael and Amanda will attend the meeting. Any church member who would like to serve as a messenger to the meeting can contact Michael.

Upcoming Events for Your Calendar

Please mark your calendars with these upcoming events:
October 7 Amanda Johnston Installation Sunday
October 10 Flu Shots, 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
October 21 Deacon Ordination and Installation Service
October 21 Deacon’s Meeting, 5 p.m.
October 22 Music & Worship Committee Meeting, 5:45 p.m.
October 27 Roadside Clean-up, 9:30 a.m.

Introducing Dr. Curtis Freeman, October 7

Dr. Curtis Freeman will be our guest preacher on October 7 for Amanda’s Installation Worship Service. He is a research professor of theology and the director of the Baptist House of Studies in the Duke Divinity School at Duke University. He received both his B.A. and his Ph.D. from Baylor University, and his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation and earlier research was on Augustine of Hippo, but more recently his work has explored areas of free church theology. He is currently doing research on Baptists in the South from 1750-1850 and is writing a book tentatively titled Confessions of an Other Baptist. He is active in the Baptist World Alliance, serving on the Doctrine and InterChurch Cooperation Commission.

Deacon Installation & Ordination Sunday, October 21

In our worship service on Sunday, October 21, we will be ordaining Rodney Dunning, Kerby Moore, and Doris Weaver to the position of Deacon. They will be joined by Jim Davis, Gene Watson and Cecil Yeatts as they all will be installed as active Deacons for the 2008-1010 term. Please come and worship on that day as we affirm these gifted people in their calling as deacon.

October Worship Services

10/7 Amanda’s Installation-Dr. Curtis Freeman
10/14 Amanda to preach on Luke 17:11-19/Communion Sunday
10/21 “Don’t Lose Heart” – Luke 18:1-8
10/28 “The Sinner’s Prayer” – Luke 18:9-14

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.

Family Movie & Scrapbooking Night

October 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
We’ll be showing “Oliver & Company” (rated G, 74 min.) in the Preschool Department, Room 3. The movie starts at 7 p.m. sharp. There will be an intermission where popcorn and water will be served. Invite your friends! At the same time, anyone wanting to do some scrapbooking can come to the Fellowship Hall. Contact Farrah Schmidt, 392-4320, for more information.

Youth Schedule for October

Switchfoot Concert Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, October 13, the Christian band Switchfoot is coming to the Liberty University Vines Center. We will meet as a group at FBC at 5:00 p.m. We will either car pool or take the van (if there is someone who will volunteer to drive it). We will stop in Lynchburg before the concert for a quick dinner and then proceed to rocking out with Switchfoot. If you want to go, bring $20 to Amanda before Oct. 7, or order online, www.sonshineconcerts.com.

Halloween Water Bottle Give-a-Way, Oct. 31

On Halloween, our youth will be handing out water bottles between 4 to 5:00 p.m. during the town Halloween “parade.” If you would like to assist the youth, please show up and help hand out bottles. On the bottles will be a promotion for the “Watering Malawi” project that the youth have committed to supporting this year. For more information about “Watering Malawi” please visit: www.wateringmalawi.org.

Collegiate Student Ministry

On Sunday, September 16, we had an “adopt-a-student” cookout at the home of Kerby and Janet Moore. Thirteen Longwood students came and various members of the church “adopted” fourteen students to provide a home-away-from-home for the students. Many thanks to Kerby and Janet for their hospitality.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Our Tuesday morning Bible study is Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace, which started on Tuesday, September 4. The group meets every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the church parlor. Contact Peggy Cave, 392-4422, if you are interested in participating.

Wed. Night Adult Discipleship Study, 6:30 to 7:10 p.m.

On Wednesday night October 3 there will be an Alma Hunt Missions Presentation. Then beginning on October 10, Michael and Amanda will continue to lead the NOOMA video series. We invite you to come as we continue to view the videos and discuss these provocative topics!

• 10/3 Alma Hunt Missions Offering Presentation
• 10/10 “Why Go to Church?” – “Sunday”
• 10/17 “Why Silence?” – “Noise”
• 10/24 “What Do You Want?” – “Kickball”
• 10/31 “Why Forgive?” – “Luggage”
• 11/7 Budget Discussion Meeting

Wednesday Night Activities

Menus for October

COST: $4 for adults; $2.00 for children; $12 family limit.

Welcome New Member!

On Sunday, September 16, we welcomed Amanda Johnston into membership here at Farmville Baptist. Amanda’s husband John also came forward requesting baptism by immersion. John will be baptized in our worship service on November 4. John and Amanda live at 200-D Poplar Forest Rd., Farmville, VA 23901, 607-0082. Welcome, John and Amanda!

Sunday Schedule for Children’s Church Workers

Deacon Ministry Teams

The following Deacon Ministry Teams are now in place to serve those in our congregation and others in our community. 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. This team provides physical, emotional and spiritual assistance to our senior adults.
• Bereavement Ministry: led by Kathryn Copeland and Joyce Davis. This team ministers to those affected by a loved one’s death.
• Casserole Ministry: led by George Carter. This team delivers dinners to individuals and families during times of need.
• Homebound Ministry: led by Drue Martin and Jack Davis. This team seeks to care and encourage those who find themselves confined to their homes or retirement/nursing centers.
• Guests and New Members Team: led by Chuck Daniel. This team seeks to extend a friendly, caring connection to people new to Farmville or to Farmville Baptist, and to help new members feel included and connected to others in the church.

Flu Shots Available, October 10

On October 10, from 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Dr. Witten will be administering 150 flu shots in our Fellowship Hall to those who desire to receive one. You need to call the church office, 392-5041, to set up an appointment. The cost is $30.

Roadside Cleanup, October 27

Come join us for breakfast at Country Cookin’ at 8:30 am on Oct. 27 or meet us on W. Third St. (Rt. 15/460) near Davis Pontiac at 9:30 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. Let’s do our part to make our stretch of the highway clean!

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!