October 2011
Click here for a pdf version of this newsletter
FBC Informer – October 2011
Table of Contents
- 175th Anniversary Invitation
- 175th Anniversary News
- Welcome New Member!
- Welcome Matthew Fuller, Youth Ministry Intern
- Congratulations!
- Worship Services
- Children’s Choir Rehearsal Schedule
- John Slade to Preach on Stewardship Sunday
- Jon and Tanya Parks to Preach, Nov. 6
- Children’s Church Workers’ Schedule
- Stewardship Report
- Building Fund Report
- Ladies Night Out
- Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting
- Children’s Hayride
- Office Closed
- Youth Schedule for October
- Halloween Candy Handout
- FACES Food Distribution
- Communion Ministry
- Meals on Wheels
- Habitat for Humanity
- Jail Ministry
- Ministry Teams
PASTOR’S COLUMN
“Thank You! . . . You’re Welcome!”
As our 175th anniversary rapidly approaches, there’s an excitement in the air. Like a family that is preparing to host a big party, many members of Farmville Baptist have worked and are working hard to ensure that October 16 will be a special and meaningful day.
Peggy Cave, Nancy Vick, Becky Kelly and Ceile Dunlap have completed our history booklet.
By the time you read this, all of our Pictorial Directory portraits will have been taken by Daniel and Melissa McLemore of High Bridge Photography.
Jay Lynn, Executive Director of Creative Change Consulting, is completing the first round of video interviews to identify our strengths and gifts.
Jim Davis, Kevin Dunn and others have volunteered their time to clean our building.
Sandy Yeatts, Mary Jo Chassey, Peggy Cave, Anita Lynn and Mc Amoss are preparing wonderful music for our worship service.
Gene Watson and the Stewardship Committee have sent out invitation letters to our members, former members and out-of-town friends of Farmville Baptist.
Cindy Cave and the publicity taskforce designed our banner and T-shirts, and will publicize our celebration in local media outlets.
Penny Huskey and the Social Committee are organizing a luncheon that would make a die-hard Baptist proud!
To all of these people and many more unnamed, I want to say a hearty “Thank You!” for their contributions to our anniversary celebration.
In addition to the “Thank You’s,” let us also say, “You’re welcome!”
We welcome Jane Schirmer, who joined the church on September 18.
We welcome Matt Fuller, who is coming on board as our youth ministry intern.
We welcome the comments of those who participated in the interviews.
We welcome former pastors and staff members like Dr. Jason Thrower and his family; Rev. Leslie H. Giles and his wife Joanne; Pam McDermott and her family, and Rev. Charles K. Miller and Evelyn McCluney.
We welcome former members and out-of-town friends.
We welcome pastors of local churches who will come to our luncheon to express their congratulations and well-wishes.
We welcome the opportunity to embrace our history and reconnect with those who played a very important part in the life of Farmville Baptist.
But most of all, we welcome the Spirit of God, whose presence will be felt in a mighty way, and whose power will lead us forward in the months and years to come!
Let the celebration begin! Michael
ANNOUNCEMENTS
175th Anniversary Celebration Invitation
You are cordially invited to
Farmville Baptist Church’s
175th Anniversary Reunion Celebration
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Continental Breakfast/Social at 9:30 a.m.
Worship Celebration at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Reunion Luncheon at 12 noon in the Fellowship Hall
Anniversary Program and Festivities to end by 2:00 p.m.
175th Anniversary News
Our 175th Anniversary is coming soon! Here’s the latest information . . .
“Mums” for Anniversary Sunday, Oct. 16: If you would like to purchase a Mum in memory or in honor of a loved one to be placed in the sanctuary on our Anniversary Sunday, October 16, please call the church office (392-5041). The cost is $10. The Mums can be picked up after the Anniversary Celebration service.
Interviews: Jay Lynn will interview the following groups on October 2:
Sunday, October 2, 9:45 a.m. – Elisabeth Class in the Preschool Department
Sunday, October 2, 10:15 a.m. – Youth Group in Room 304
Sunday, October 2, 12 p.m. – “Open Mic” for anyone who would like to be interviewed (after worship)
Segments of these videotaped interviews will be edited and shown at our anniversary luncheon.
Hat and Tie Contest: Get ready for the Ladies’ Hat & Men’s Tie (neck or bow) contest! Wear your hat or tie to our Anniversary Celebration and you may receive a prize at our reunion luncheon for being “historically correct,” “fashionable,” or “funny/gaudy”!
Returning Pastors and Staff members: The following former pastors and staff members are planning to attend our celebration: Dr. Jason Thrower and his family; Rev. Leslie H. Giles and his wife Joanne; and Pam McDermott and her family, and Rev. Charles K. Miller and Evelyn McCluney.
Dr. Bill Wilson, Dr. Charles Stewart, Rev. Susan Joyce, Revs. Joseph and Dawn Mayes and Rev. Everett Chapman send their regrets.
Fun Facts from our history:
Joseph Mays, as choir director at FBC started the annual Hanging of the Greens service at Christmas. It has become an important tradition.
There was in existence a boys school called the Southside Institute which was held in the basement of the Baptist Church. It had a rather close relationship existing between the local white Baptist Church and the present State Teachers College. Many prominent people were taught in this Institute, including the celebrated Dr. Walter Reed.
The first church building was completed in 1837, on the corner of Fourth and South Main Streets where First Baptist Church now stands. Our present location was purchased and a new building erected in 1855 and used until 1912. In 1912, construction on a new building begun, and it was completed and dedicated on Nov. 1, 1914 at a cost of $24,033.93.
Welcome New Member!
On Sunday, September 18, Jane Schirmer requested membership to Farmville Baptist by transfer of letter from a sister Baptist Church. Jane is the new Director of Southside YMCA. We welcome Jane into the Farmville Baptist family!
Welcome Matthew Fuller, Youth Ministry Intern
Hello my name is Matthew Fuller, I am the new intern for Farmville Baptist. I am in charge of leading the church’s youth group. I am a 5th year senior at Longwood University studying Public History. I was previously a photography major, and photography and art remain favored hobbies of mine.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Elizabeth Whiley and Anna Wieder, teachers at Cumberland Middle School. They are part of a team that received an Outstanding Making Middle Grades Work award. The team was one of only eight schools in the nation to receive the 2011 award.
THANK YOU
I cannot thank Peggy, Kathryn, Patsy, Cindy and my precious granddaughter Kelly [Dudley] enough for your prayers. James 5:16 is a beautiful verse and I appreciate each of you. Thank you again.
Phil 4:13, Virginia Warmack
* * * * * * * *
I would like to thank you and your wonderful congregation during my recent illness. Their prayers and kind thoughts have meant a lot during these long days of recovery. May God bless you all.
Sincerely, Sharon Carney
* * * * * * * *
Thank you so much for all the wonderful notes and prayers you have sent to me during my recent surgery and recovery. I am doing well and progressing with my treatments. I am very appreciative for your many thoughtful words of encouragement.
Patsy Layer
* * * * * * * *
I want to thank each of you for food, cards, visits and phone calls. I appreciate them all.
Al Schmidt
* * * * * * * *
How good it was to open the mailbox so many times and see notes from you explaining you’d lifted my cancer and my healing to God in prayer. Thank you! I want to tell you that I have sensed God’s care and provision. . . . I am mending well. I had to miss 3 weeks of school, but now I am back to work as a 5th grade teacher at a classical Christian school. I would ask that you please pray for me to have more energy. . . . I know it has probably been strange praying for someone that you haven’t met, so I am sending a picture from last years Parent’s Weekend with our son Will. I want to thank your church for reaching out to the college students. William has said how he has been included in invitations to homes for meals & football on TV. I hope I can meet you someday.
Blessings, Ann Correll (mother of HS-C student, Will Correll)
* * * * * * * *
Dear Pastor Cheuk and Friends. We want to say a very sincere “Thank you” for the wonderful preaching/teaching we were experiencing while attending FBC. The preparation and enthusiasm you brought to the pulpit, Pastor CHeuk, is second to none. We miss you! We also want to say to the congregation, “well done” for extending warmth and interest to us whenever we attended worship during our time in Farmville. There is much love at FBC. We know you all strive to get that message across. Thank you so much. Please excuse our delay in sending this note as we have now moved to northern VA. God has us on a busy and complex journey right now. We pray when all is said and done, we do not fail Him.
All of God’s Best Blessings, Love in Christ, Jane & John Graff
* * * * * * * *
Thank you for the prayers, phone calls and “Caring Cuisine.” Farmville Baptist is made up of a very loving and caring group of people and I feel blessed to have the privilege of serving as your church secretary. Thanks again.
Kathy Dunnavant
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES
This fall, we are offering Sunday School classes for all ages spanning preschoolers to senior adults. Our Sunday School classes begin at 9:45 a.m. and ends at around 10:40 a.m.
GROUPS………………………………………. ROOM……………………………. TEACHER(S)
Children
Age 3 to Kindergarten: ………………… Preschool Rm. 3……………… Celia Jo Young, Mary Jo Chassey
Grades 1 to 3: ……………………………Rm. 302………………………… Janie Simpson, Janett Southall
Grades 4 to 5: ……………………………Rm. 303………………………….Beth Cheuk
Youth
Grades 6 to 12: ………………………….Rm. 304…………………………..Chuck Daniel, Gail Cave
Adult
College Students……………………….. Rm. 308…………………………..Michael Cheuk
Median Adults: ………………………… Fellowship Hall……………………Ken Copeland
Older Median Adults:……………………Preschool Rm. 5………………… Clinton Vick
Senior Adults: …………………………. Church Parlor……………………. Dave Landrum
CALENDAR
October 2 Jail Ministry, 9:00 am
…………………Elisabeth Class Anniversary Interviews, 9:45 am
…………………Youth Group Anniversary Interviews, 10:15 am
…………………“Open Mic” Anniversary Interviews, 12 noon
October 5 Prayer Meeting, 5:30 pm
October 6 Missions & Outreach Committee, 6:30 pm
October 8 Reclaiming Our Lives, 2:00 pm
October 9 Children’s Choir 6:00 pm
…………………Deacons’ Meeting, 6:30 pm
October 10 Columbus Day—Office Closed
October 12 Prayer Meeting, 5:30 pm
October 15 FACES Food Distribution, 7:30 am
October 16 175th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration
………………….Breakfast Social, 9:30 am
………………….Celebration Worship, 11 am
………………….Reunion Luncheon, 12 pm
October 17 Newsletter Articles Due
October 19 Prayer Meeting, 5:30 pm
October 23 Deacon Installation Sunday, 11:00 am
………………….Children’s Choir, 6:00 pm
October 26 Prayer Meeting, 5:30 pm
October 28 Fall Collegiate Conference @ Eagle Eyrie
October 30 Stewardship/Pledge Sunday, 11:00 am
October 31 Halloween Candy Handout, 4:00 pm
WORSHIPPING GOD
Farmville Baptist Worship Services in October
October 2 — “The Proper Value of Our Past” – Philippians 3:4b-14
October 9 — “Joy and Peace in the Present” – Philippians 4:1-9
October 16 — “Raising Our Ebenezer” – 1 Samuel 7: 7-13
…………………175th Anniversary Celebration
October 23 — “And Life Goes On . . .” – Deuteronomy 34:1-12
October 30 — “The Gift of Love” – 1 Corinthians 13: 1-10, 13
…………………Stewardship Sunday, John Slade to Preach
Children’s Choir Rehearsal and Dates
Children’s Choir will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month during the school year, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Children in grades 1-6 are invited to participate. Anita Lynn and Beth Cheuk will serve as children’s choir leaders. Children will sing during worship an average of once per month.
John Slade to Preach on Stewardship Sunday, October 30
Sunday, October 30, is our Stewardship Sunday, and John Slade is scheduled to be our guest preacher. Prior to his retirement to Farmville, John worked and served in a wide variety of capacities ranging from being a TV producer (Say Brother and Big Blue Marble), a radio talk show host, a film producer, a Civil Rights advocate with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a founder of a national fraternity (Iota Phi Theta), a Lieutenant–Colonel in the Army, a professor of Military Science and an author. He is a former member of the Board of Directors at the Longwood University Foundation, and he is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Military Officer’s Association of America (MOAA), Piedmont Chapter. He is married to Deborah Douglas-Slade and has one son, Kenyatta. We welcome John to our pulpit on October 30th!
John and Tanya Parks to Preach, November 6
Rev. Jon Parks, pastor of Kenbridge Baptist, and his wife, Tanya, will be our guest preachers on Sunday, Nov. 6. The Parks were recently commissioned as Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionaries to Slovakia, where they will minister among the Roma people. After worship, there will be a special luncheon to learn more about their appointment and how we can support them financially and with our prayers. Come see what God is doing in the lives of Jon and Tanya and in the Roma people!
Sunday Schedule for Children’s Church Workers
October 2
Toddlers/Cribs: Sandy & Matt Covington
Toddlers: Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship: Carter Family & Chris Landrum
October 9
Toddlers/Cribs: College Student & Erin Copeland
Toddlers: Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship: Doris Weaver, Thea Cheuk & Kevin Dunn
October 16
Toddlers/Cribs: Charlotte Cave & Lindsey Davis
Toddlers: Lucille Holman
Children: No children’s church or missions
October 23
Toddlers/Cribs: Chuck & Debbie Daniel
Toddlers: Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship: Beth Cheuk & Katie Trent
October 30
Toddlers/Cribs: College Students
Toddlers: Lucille Holman
Children’s Worship: Cindy Landrum & Chris Landrum
Stewardship Report
Budget Needs through 9/29………………………………………..$187,245.44
Total Disbursements through 9/29…………………………………$174,092.79
Receipts (Gen. Offering & Interest Income) through 9/29……….$145,989.39
Building Fund Report
As of September 30, $32,118.70 has been donated toward our roof restoration project. The total cost of the project was $99,665.00. Any donations toward our building restoration fund will be greatly appreciated! Special “Building Restoration Fund” envelopes can be found on our “Raise in Praise” bulletin board on the main floor.
Ladies Night Out, October 25, 7:30 p.m.
All ladies are invited to a “Desserts” edition of Ladies Night Out, Tuesday, October 25, 7:30 p.m. at Flip Flops across from McDonald’s. Please contact Penny Huskey (pvhuskey1 [at] embarqmail [dot] com, 392-1050) to RSVP.
Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting
Join us for our Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting for adults in the Fellowship Hall, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Children’s Hayride, October 23
There will be a Children’s Fall Hayride on October 23, at 3:30 p.m. at 952 Lockett Rd, the home of Wayne Wallace. A hot dog dinner will follow the hayride at around 5:00 p.m. Please RSVP the church office (392-5041) .
Here are directions to the Wallaces:
From Farmville, take 460 East, past Trinity Memorial Gardens. Turn LEFT on County Road 600. The road will fork. Veer LEFT on County Road 619 (Lockett Rd.). Look for the Hayfield on your right at 952 Lockett Rd. If you get lost, contact Wayne Wallace for directions 390-7818 (cell).
Office Closed
The office will be closed Monday, October 10 in observance of Columbus Day.
Youth Schedule for October
October 2—at FBC, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
October 9—at FBC, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
October 16—No Youth Group meeting
October 23—Help with Children’s Hayride (see above)
October 30—at FBC, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Halloween Candy Handout, October 31
Our youth will be handing out candy at the town’s Halloween parade, Monday, October 31, 4 p.m. Please bring your donations of candy to the church office by Sunday, October 30. Thank you!
SERVING OTHERS
FACES Food Distribution, Saturday, October 15
On Saturday, October 15, 7:30 to 11 a.m., Farmville Baptist Church will be volunteering at FACES (416 N. South Street), our local food pantry. Meet at FACES at 7:30 a.m., or go at 9:30 a.m. to be the “second shift.”
Communion Ministry
The deacons would like to offer communion to our church families that are shut-ins or in the retirement homes in our area. If you or someone you know would also like to have communion served to them, please contact the church office so our deacons can schedule the visitation on our communion Sundays.
Meals on Wheels
It takes $5/day; $25/week; $100/month; and $1200/year to satisfy one senior’s hunger, yet the personal interaction is priceless and invaluable!
If you know of those who need our services, please contact us. Also, if there are those who wish to serve as volunteer drivers, we welcome newcomers.
Contact: Cindy Cave 434-392-8797; director [at] scopemow.farmville.net
Habitat for Humanity Apostle’s Build
Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity is inviting local churches to partner to do an “Apostle’s Build” in 2012. An Apostle’s Build is typically twelve churches coming together to raise the money for and provide the labor and prayer support to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Please be in prayer for this project as we find ways to support Habitat in the project!
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. Please contact Anita Lynn, 391-3751, for more information and to participate.
Ministry Teams at Farmville Baptist
Our ministry teams are up and running! Below is a list of teams and their contact persons should you know of a need that these teams can meet.
Small Tasks Team: Performs small tasks like changing light bulbs, raking leaves, doing yard work, or moving furniture. Contact Jim Davis, 392-3308.
Food Team: Provides food to those who need a meal, especially those who are sick, recently hospitalized, etc. Contact Peggy Cave, 392-4422.
Visitation Team: Makes visits to those unable to attend church regularly. Contact Jack Davis, 223-4413.
Bereavement Team: Provides help to a family who has lost a loved one. Contact Gene Watson, 392-8563.
BIRTHDAYS
October 2
Cindy Landrum
October 4
Gail Cave
October 5
Tim Tharpe
October 6
Martha Malone
October 8
Gary Watson
October 9
Lawrence O’York
October 10
Nellie Mallory
October 11
Whitney Southall
October 13
Daniel Huskey
Al Schmidt
October 14
Crystal Barnette
October 15
Weldon Thompson
October 18
William Covington
October 19
Kelly Dudley
October 21
Charles Wilkerson
October 23
Lynn Amoss
October 25
Kathy Thompson
October 26
Alise Taylor
October 27
Edith Ann Austin
Wayne Wallace
October 29
Katherine Austin
October 30
Darren Tolley