The First Baptist Church - Watercolor Art by Carolyn De Brand
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The First Baptist Church
Henderson, North Carolina
VOLUME May 17, 2020
Watercolor Art by
Carolyn De Brand
A Reflection
from Ron Cava
When will we be able to gather
once more for Sunday School,
worship, and programs? We do
not know. So, what do we
know?
We are in Phase 1 of the
Governor’s plan to reopen North Carolina. During this phase,
public gatherings of more than ten people are still prohibited.
This rules out corporate worship for us, as well as operation of
Sunday School and other programs. We will continue to offer
as many internet, radio, and television options as possible.
We are developing ideas and plans for increasing activities
when Phase 2 begins. Staff and Deacons are continuing to
monitor and discuss possibilities. A group of healthcare
providers will be offering guidance. We will make every effort
to maximize our cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
During Phase 2 we should be able to have small gatherings for
Bible study and/or worship. Your health and safety will be
foremost among our thoughts as we evaluate and plan.
Phase 3 may still restrict the size of gatherings, potentially
prohibiting our return to the full scope of our ministry,
particularly our ability to worship as one body of believers.
Your staff is functioning at a high level. Ministry is
continuing. Our financial commitments to our ministry and
mission partners are being met. Many of you have been
faithful in mailing in contributions or making them online.
Those who can give may mail offerings to the attention of
Linda O’Brien at our PO Box 75. There is also a “Give” link
at the top our homepage at www.fbchenderson.net.
Finally, some of our members have made special
contributions set aside to assist any of our members
experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. All
inquires and assistance will be handled with great sensitivity
and in extreme confidence. Please call me if you need some
help. This is truly a season to model the behavior of the
earliest Christians in the book of Acts who shared, with those
who had more contributing to those who had need. I know it
is difficult to ask for help. But there comes a time when most
of us need to ask.
Ron
Ron Cava,
Senior Minister
Sunday, June 7
2pm-3pm
Please join us for a Graduation Parade to celebrate our 2020
Graduates on Sunday, June 7 from 2pm-3pm.
Each year we have the opportunity to celebrate our graduates
in worship and bless their next steps in life. Of course, we
cannot do that in the same way this year but we still want to
offer a tangible way to honor our students and their
accomplishments. So come and honk your horns, make signs,
and yell your congratulations at our graduation parade!
Driving directions will be sent the week before the
parade. Thank you for your investment in the lives of these
graduates!
Sundays at 9:00am
Join by computer: https://zoom.us/j/94372752856
Join via telephone by calling (301) 715-8592
and entering Meeting ID: 943 7275 2856
Sundays
At 11:00am, a link will be posted to our Facebook page,
under “Service Videos” at www.fbchenderson.net,
and sent via email
Spectrum Cable Channel 24: 11:00am
WIZS Radio (100.1 FM, 1450 AM): 2:00pm
Wednesdays at 10:00am
Join by computer with video: https://zoom.us/j/6378125074
You may also join via phone by calling (301) 715-8592
and entering meeting ID 637 812 5074
Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Join by following this link: https://zoom.us/j/904449512
You may also join via phone by calling (301) 715-8592
and entering meeting ID 904 449 512
Sunday mornings through May 31st at 9:00am, we will
continue our four-week study of the book of Acts. Acts is the
hinge on which the New Testament swings between the
Gospels and the (mostly) Pauline letters to the churches. It is
a book unlike any other in scripture and used only sparsely in
the Revised Common Lectionary. It is full of humble
beginnings, audacious hopes, and continual striving all
through the imagination of the Holy Spirit.
Each week we will ask ourselves the question, “How is the
Spirit stirring the church’s imagination right now?” In the
book of Acts the early church was at a crossroads as they
considered life post resurrection and post ascension. I believe
we have been thrust into a similar liminal space by our
current circumstances. We will walk with the early apostles
for a few weeks to see if our shared past can inform our
future.
To join via computer or smartphone app, go to
https://zoom.us/j/94372752856
To join via telephone, call (301) 715-8592
and enter Meeting ID: 943 7275 2856
Amy
Amy Russell,
Associate Minister
Take a stay-at-home selfie! Snap an informal selfie of your quarantine situation — a photo of yourself giving a wave or a thumbs-up, a snapshot of you snuggling your pet, or a group shot of your family doing a fun activity during quarantine. Send your pictures to Mark Hopper at (252) 432-6007. Have fun! First Baptist Church, I just wanted to send you a quick note in the middle of the chaos to thank you for your kindness and generosity over the past year. You have provided a gracious and loving space for me to learn and grow. You have let me ask questions and helped me find answers. Thank you for your particular expression of the body of Christ. Love, Kari Martin Pastoral Intern
A Reflection by Ruxton Bobbitt, Jr. First Baptist Church has been the only church family that I have ever known. I was seven years old in 1971, when on a normal Sunday morning mom made her way to the front of the church and Dr. Leathers and made her public affirmation of faith, a commitment that serves as a shining example to me now and I hope many others of what it means to have faith in God and a commitment to help others. I was baptized at 17, exchanged my wedding vows in our church, and have had the wonderful experience of my three daughters making a public affirmation of faith in our sanctuary. I remember Dr. Lark often saying “coming to church on just the special occasions is not what it is all about!” After leaving for college, I must admit I lost my way and my public affirmation for Jesus Christ was absent. After all, I was a freshman at Campbell taking a religion course each semester, I felt I had all the church I needed. As a young adult, I returned to Henderson, but my priorities to our Savior were still lost. During my irregular visits to worship, it seemed Dr. Lark’s words were spoken directly at me. How could he have known I was going to be present that week? Maybe still today that is why my “assigned” church seat is on the back row and not because of my anxiety that my height may block someone’s view! Over time, several calls came from members reminding me where our church was located (maybe that was mom really reminding me of the location) however, the callers were always genuine, letting me know the church was there and they wanted to see me in worship again. Looking back those calls mean the world to me today. It has been some 20 years now that Sunday mornings have brought a deeper purpose. It is not just about the special occasions, but more about sharing and experiencing our faith in Jesus Christ with one another, a calling I was clueless about for so long. Being a part of a Sunday School class that is full of so many faithful and smart people, I continue to grow each week. Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
As I work through life’s struggles, I know that God is not
going to just take my troubles away, but that my faith in Him
gives me the strength and guidance to lead me through the
tough times.
During our current pandemic conditions as we all learn to
live six feet apart, I know a day will come that we can gather
again as a church family for worship together. I selfishly
imagine an Easter service, whenever that day comes. But no
matter what the topic, it will be a wonderful day for us all. I
leave you with a Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV), marked in my Bible
for quick reference.
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom we have obtained
access to this grace in which we stand; and
we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of
God. And not only that, but we also boast in
our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces
endurance, and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, and hope does
not disappoint us, because God’s love has been
poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit
that has been given to us.” -Romans 5:1-5 NRSV
May the peace of Christ be with you all!
Ruxton Bobbitt, Jr.
ScholarShip applicationS Applications for various scholarships administered by The First Baptist Church are available by emailing the church office at fbchurch@fbchenderson.net. All scholarship applications must be submitted to the church office by Sunday, June 28, 2020. Applications received after June 28, 2020 will be considered ineligible to receive a scholarship. Please note that the transcript must be an official transcript from your school. In order for an application to be considered complete, all documents listed on the front of the application must be submitted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Several of our scholarships are offered to graduating high school seniors, including the First Baptist Scholarship, the Briley Scholarship, and the Watkins Scholarship. Other scholarships are focused on current college and graduate students, including the Burton and Gary Scholarships. There is also a scholarship fund specifically for people preparing for lives in various kinds of Christian ministry. For more information, please contact Thurman Murphy at (252) 438-5045. T S K L I O M ! We would like to make available our collection of books for you to enjoy during our "shelter in place" observance. We have books for pleasure, encouragement, Bible study and many other topics which may be of interest during these difficult times. Children, teens, and all adults can hopefully find something that might be of interest to you. Our collection is very easy to access! Via smartphone: 1. Download the free app "Library Trek" from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store 2. Open the app, and under "Find Library," enter "Sue Kelly" 3. Choose our library and gain access to our card catalog. Via any internet browser: 1. Navigate to suekellylibrary.mysurpass.net for instant access to our card catalog. Once you have decided on your book selections, we ask you to email your request to Mary Austell at maustell@hotmail.com. A small group (2 -3) of volunteers will then fill your request and deliver the books to your home. Our work and delivery day will be Thursday. We hope this ministry will be useful to you. We look forward to hearing from you.
Remember in Prayer...
Jane Baker
Peggy Y. Bryan (sister of Nancy Noel and Bud Young)
Anne Coghill
Bettie Core
Sam Dickerson
Danny Edwards (Ruth Hartsell’s son-in-law)
Alice Falkner
Becky Faucette
Ruth Hartsell
Micki Johnson
Jewel Lewis
Veronica Long
Jim Markham
Bill Mast
Ann and Ralph Mayes
J. W. Moody
Virginia Norwood
Jeanne Pearson
Ferebee Pegram
Dorothy Proctor (Tammy Manning’s mother)
Diane Reavis
Elaine Simmons
Lucy Stewart
Buddy Thomas
Lee Wade
Names listed in bold have been recently added
Sympathy is extended to Ashley Bean following
the death of her grandmother, Grace Kearny, on
May 4, 2020.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Brandon
Dickerson who were married on Saturday, May
2, 2020. The bride is the former Morgan
Watkins, granddaughter of June Irvin.FBC Happenings: May 17—30
9:00 AM Virtual Sunday School—A Study of The Book of Acts
11:00 Worship Service Recording Posted on Facebook,
under “Service Videos” at www.fbchenderson.net, and
Sunday, 5/17 YouTube Link Sent via Email
11:00 Worship Service Aired on Spectrum Channel 24
Noon 3rd Sunday Lunch Ministry– Hosted by Chancel Choir
2:00 PM Worship Service Aired on WIZS 100.1 FM, 1450 AM
10:00 AM “Sacred Reading” Weekly Video Call
Wednesday, 5/19
7:00 “Virtual Vespers” Midweek Online Prayer
9:00 AM Virtual Sunday School—A Study of the Book of Acts
11:00 Worship Service Recording Posted on Facebook,
under “Service Videos” at www.fbchenderson.net, and
Sunday, 5/24
YouTube Link Sent via Email
11:00 Worship Service Aired on Spectrum Channel 24
2:00 PM Worship Service Aired on WIZS 100.1 FM, 1450 AM
10:00 AM “Sacred Reading” Weekly Video Call
Wednesday, 5/27
7:00 “Virtual Vespers” Midweek Online Prayer
Weekend Minister on Call:
May 15-17: Amy Russell (404) 272-0882
May 22-24: Amy Russell (404) 272-0882
Deacons on Call:
May 17-23: Betty Boyd (252) 432-3967
May 24-30: Jenny Hester (252) 738-9771
First Baptist Church Staff
Ronald S. Cava, Senior Minister
Amy S. Russell, Associate Minister
Mark L. Hopper, Minister of Music and Organist
David Cole, Associate Minister of Music and Organist
Tammy Hight, Director of Childhood Discipleship
Linda O’Brien, Financial Secretary
Tammy Manning, Ministry Support Coordinator
Amber Jones, Administrative Support Coordinator
Robert Snow, Custodian
Philip M. Young, Composer-in-Residence
Marion D. Lark, Senior Pastor EmeritusNonprofit Organization
The Firs t Baptis t Church AUTO
U.S. Postage Paid
H en ders on , NC Henderson, NC 27536
Permit 5
Equipping and Forming Disciples of Christ
Phone: 252-438-3172
Fax: 252-438-3710
E-Mail: fbchurch@fbchenderson.net Address Service Requested
205 West Winder Street
PO Box 75
Henderson, NC 27536
See our Worship Services on
Spectrum Cable Channel 24You can also read
