October 2020 Acts of Faith Newsletter by Faith Baptist Church

Acts of Faith

OCT 2020

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH We are a family of faith, sharing God’s love in a spirit of hope.

FALL FESTIVAL

Our fall programs are in full swing! We miss gathering at the church for our regular Wednesday night activities, but we are learning to connect and grow together in new ways and we are grateful for technology that helps us do that. We have weekly virtual programs on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Jawanna Herd is teaching an outdoor sign language class, and the children and youth are studying parables through a mixture of in-person and virtual activities. (See pages 2 and 3 for more information on programs for children and youth.

Mark your calendars for 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 18! We will gather out back by the playground and enjoy live music from Sam Pollock’s band, Shanghai Express. Bring a blanket or chairs for your household so we can spread out and stay safe. Feel free to bring food for your family to enjoy and supplies to participate in our annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. This event will be BYOPAP (Bring Your Own Picnic and Pumpkin) because we won’t be sharing anything, including germs! Speaking of germs, masks are required when not eating. We can’t wait to spend a fall evening of fun together! See you there!

TUESDAYS AT 5 P.M. ON ZOOM Parables Chuck Bugg leads a study of the parables of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke. Each week the Zoom link is posted in the Faith File and the lesson portion of the class is posted on YouTube the next day. Chuck covers the same parables as the children and youth so our whole church family can learn together. Read about the fun parable videos created by our church members and how to watch them on page 3.

WEDNESDAYS AT 6 P.M. ON FACEBOOK October 7 & 14 Mountains & Matthew Randy Napier and Greg Earwood have been guiding us on a mountain climbing expedition through the Gospel of Matthew. Randy has regaled us with stories and pictures from his adventures and Greg has shared thoughtful lessons and insights from his studies. Join us for the final two weeks of this spiritual journey. October 21 & 28 Human Trafficking Regan Lookadoo will provide us with an overview of human trafficking. This two-week course will examine why this issue is so important and what we can do about it on an individual and collective level.

BACKYARD WORSHIP We will continue our Backyard Worship at 5 p.m. on Sunday nights this month, with the exception of October 18, the night of the Fall Festival. At the end of the month, we will evaluate whether we can continue our outdoor service in November based on the weather and the time of sunset.

CHILDREN’S CORNER It is hard to believe that the school year is well underway. The weather has been beautiful and I hope you have been able to get out and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. I have witnessed such beauty in the parents and teachers who are working overtime to help their children learn and engage during this peculiar time. It has helped me to feel and to know that we are truly all connected to one another and that love is all around us! The children, along with the youth and adults, are discovering some of the parables of Jesus that we find in the Gospel of Luke. The children are encouraged each week to watch a creative retelling of the parable and then are guided through a time of listening for God, a story time of a modern day parable, and a video to inspire them to be God’s light in the world. You can scan the QR code with your phone or tablet camera to see an example of what the children are doing. The children have also been meeting twice a month on Sunday evenings for a time to reconnect with one another, play games, and talk about where we are finding God during this time. Our next Sunday night meeting will be Sunday, October 4, at 5:45 p.m. by the playground and it is a special one. The children will be playing messy games with their parents and youth! Don’t miss this fun event!

These are a couple of the children’s books Pastor Amanda has been using lately.

The children and youth are kicking off October with Messy Games...and their parents are invited! After worship on October 4, we will be playing some hilarious and messy games in the church backyard. Please join us for a ton of fun, and lots of chocolate sauce and Cheetos! Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes so you don’t have to ride home covered in whipped cream!

YOUTH NEWS

PARABLE VIDEOS

School has started and fall is in full swing! I can’t believe it! It’s been six months now since we were able to come together maskless. I miss hugging everyone and singing next to students in worship. Some days it’s just really hard and sad. Our students feel it and I am so thankful that we are able to get together twice a month in person after outdoor worship and talk about how life is going. Our youth need this in-person time to connect with each other and God. They are such an encouragement to me! They continue to find the joy and hope in all things, and the funny! We have remarkable teenagers!

Several Faith families have created fun videos of the parables in Luke to go along with the lessons for the children and youth each week. Chuck Bugg is also teaching on these same parables in his Tuesday night class. A link to each week’s parable video is sent in the Faith File, and the videos can also be found on the Faith YouTube page. Thank you to those who have taken the time to make videos. They are a great addition to our studies!

We continue to study the parables of Luke with weekly devotions and activities. We’ve reflected on art, listened to music, watched some videos, and asked questions about our own stories. I would encourage you to try doing these as a family. This week one mom told me they go through them at dinner time and it’s been a great way for them to connect as a family! Do whatever works for your family; we just pray you are finding some joy and peace in this time. Our youth will also be competing in FAITH bingo all across the city! Missions activities and crazy things will be required to fill up their FAITH cards!

REFLECTIONS FROM DALE We said goodbye to a beautiful lady in September. Bonnie Redditt, a person of quiet strength and dignity, was a role model for us all. I was with Paul on the morning of her passing. While he shared about Bonnie and their life together, Paul started to sing, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!” When he got to the part about seeing Jesus, he sang louder as he proclaimed, "we will sing and shout the victory!" At that moment, for Dr. Paul Redditt, well-known religion professor and scholar, it wasn't about dates or historical events, but about a loving savior who had just welcomed his loving wife Bonnie. When we are filled with grief, Jesus is our Comforter.

The Good SaBEARitan

The Friend at Midnight

Our JOY group has remained so faithful and strong through the many storms life brings. When the days seem dreary or our spirits feel weary, we know that Jesus cares for us. Elaine Fultz continues to make each day count. She has the distinction of personally meeting five presidents, as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.! Jack Willet brightens my day and he still has that twinkle in his eye. Anne Rose, who has loved Faith Baptist Church for 50 years, enjoys sharing her wonderful memories of her life at Faith. Pat Webb always lightens my day with her smile and positive outlook. I often see Sis Curry. Last week we listened to old hymns on my phone when I realized we were both singing. We had tears in our eyes as we sang along with those wonderful hymns that were a foundation of our faith. Wanda Pruitt joined us for dinner last week. We thought we would encourage her, but she encouraged us with her faith and strength. I could go on with stories of joy and grief, but I know this: we serve and love a wonderful savior who is always with us. —Dale

Several years ago, I created a college program for the church I worked at. We went on adventures, ate too much fried food, and had wonderfully deep conversations. The format of our weekly meetings was based on John Wesley’s class meeting in which he would ask his famous question, “What is the condition of your soul?” We found that question too hard, so we instead asked ourselves: Where have you seen God this week? What are you struggling with? How are you learning/growing? It was simple, but these questions always created genuine reflection and honest spiritual evaluation. This month we hit two COVID-related milestones. It has been six months since we began altering our lives for the sake of safety. As if to remind us why that is necessary, even with these efforts, this month we also surpassed 200,000 COVID deaths in the United States. As the pandemic stretches on in time and devastation, I’ve found myself thinking about these past several months in terms of the questions above. As John Wesley taught us, it is good to regularly take stock of our soul’s condition. Therefore, amidst the chaos of our times, I invite you to reflect on these questions with me. My answers will be broadly over the past several months, but feel free to more specifically think about the last month, or even last week. Where have you seen God? As I think over the last several months, I’ve seen God in so many places. In you, people that have continued to find ways to love and support one another. We truly are a family at Faith. In the incredible number of people who have felt compelled to inconvenience themselves for the sake of others, demonstrating the teachings of Christ. I’ve seen God in our ability to do and survive more than we could imagine. I’ve felt God during the quiet, still moments that pop up when I’m in my backyard, on a walk, or allowing myself to take a breath. Bascially, I’ve found God any time I allowed myself to slow down and notice. What are you struggling with? Mostly, I miss hugs. Also, I’m struggling with the uncertainty of everything. There is no one right answer to anything. How do we protect ourselves? What should we do or not do? When will this be over? Who will get sick next? COVID has forced us to admit how little control we have over our lives and that can be hard to deal with. Lack of control often leads to anxiety, anger, and weariness. It’s a lifelong battle, but right now especially I’m struggling to be content with my utter lack of control over my life. How are you learning/growing? I’ve been reminded over these past months just how much my faith actually matters. It’s easy to believe in God when everything makes sense, but I wouldn’t have been able to make it without my faith when the world fell apart. I’m also being reminded how important community is. Even with limited interaction, I have relied so much on my church family for strength. Finally, there has been a lot of conversation in the last several years about the church dying and Christianity losing its relevance. This pandemic has shown me how resilient the body of Christ is. We aren’t going anywhere. Take away our sanctuaries, our small groups, our potlucks, and we’ll still worship God. When society stopped, the church stepped forward to love God and love others. No matter what the surveys say, God is not going away any time soon.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL Though we are all enjoying the beautiful fall weather, Advent is just around the corner. This year the devotions will focus on the theme “Do Not Be Afraid!” It is the first thing the angels say when they encounter people in the Bible. And I imagine that is what they would say to us today during this unprecedented time. As we approach the season with more uncertainties than ever before, we can lean into this phrase so commonly uttered by the angels and know that we do not have to live in fear, but are created to live in love. If you are interested in participating, please email contact Amanda at amanda@familyoffaith.net or 502-542-1433.

CARE BEAR VOLUNTEER AWARD As winter approaches, bears begin to eat lots of food in preparation for hibernation. That might have been a motivating factor when Bearnabus decided to name Jill Wells as Volunteer of the Month of the Year and live with her for a month. Bearnabus hopes to act as a taster as Jill prepares dozens of handdecorated cookies for anyone and everyone who needs a bit of love. Anyone who has received one of these delicious surprises knows how deserving of this award Jill is! Thanks for sharing joy with us, Jill!

CBFKY AUTUMN CELEBRATION: ENGAGING THE WORLD The annual meeting for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Kentucky will be held virtually this year on October 9 and 10. Highlights:  Preaching Friday Night: Dr. David Gushee, “Who is Jesus Christ for Us Today?”  Preaching Saturday Morning: Rev. Molly Shoulta Tucker, “But…this isn’t Church!”  Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Karen Thomas Smith & pastors in our partner churches in Morocco  Women in Ministry Workshop on Racial Justice, Dr. Laura Levens and Rev. Molly Shoulta Tucker Breakout Sessions:  Race Relations (Dr. Lewis Brogdon)  After the Caravans: Promoting Hope and Resilience in Youth in Honduras (Dr. Elaine Hernandez)  How I Changed My Mind (Dr. David Gushee)  Godly Play for Everyone (Rev. Amanda Standiford and Rev. Sara Turpin)

CARD CARE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Sending a handwritten note is one way to love and encourage those in our church family who need a little extra support. This has always been a good way to reach out and care for others, but it is especially meaningful right now as many of us are missing the personal interactions we usually have at church. Receiving a card with a handwritten message in it is also special because it is so vastly different than all the impersonal letters and advertisements that flood our inboxes and mailboxes on a daily basis. Because we know the impact of this simple gesture, and because we want to care for our church family, we are looking for volunteers to write one or two notes each week to people selected by the church staff. You can mail the notes or hand deliver them, and we can provide cards and stamps if you like. If you are willing to participate in this ministry, please email Angela at angela@familyoffaith.net.

If you would like to participate in the Autumn Celebration, please email office@cbfky.org for a reservation! Links to join the Autumn Celebration will only be sent to those who have contacted us and made a reservation.

6 Thurs 1

Sun 4

Mon 5

11 AM—Virtual Worship Service 5 PM— Backyard Worship Service 6 PM — Messy Games

Tues

Wed

5 PM—Parables

6 PM— Mountains & Matthew

Winnie Bratcher

Callie Thompson

Kim Kindrick Vivienne Langlands

McConnaughhay

11 AM—Virtual Worship Service 5 PM— Backyard Worship Service 7 PM— Candlelight Vigil for DV Karen Hutton

14 6 PM— Mountains & Matthew

5 PM—Parables

6 PM—Human Trafficking

5 PM—Parables

Charlie Cain

18 19 11 AM—Virtual Worship Service 5 PM—Fall Festival

Dan Miller Natalie Tilford Kopp

Judith Williams Mariann Harlan

11 AM—Virtual Worship Service 5 PM— Backyard Worship Service 5:45 PM—Youth, Children, & Parents’ Time Anthony Gullett

Sat

CBFKY Autumn Celebration Laryssa

Fri

Rose Lewis

Camryn Lookadoo

5 PM—Parables

6 PM—Human Trafficking

Jane Cutter

Jason Baird Laura Stone

Halloween

Ally Stone

PICKLEBALL All are welcome to play pickleball at the Pavilion on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Masks are required when not playing and Pavilion entry is free.

FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF Senior Pastor William Reilly william@familyoffaith.net Minister of Students Sharon Felton sharon@familyoffaith.net

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Each year Elizabeth’s Village holds a week of events to raise awareness and provide support for victims of domestic violence. This year we are proud to partner with Elizabeth’s Village to host the Candlelight Vigil, a worship service that starts the week, on Sunday, October 11, at 7 p.m. All of the events are virtual, so the service will be conducted similar to our Sunday morning worship and will be streamed on the Elizabeth’s Village Facebook page (facebook.com/ elizabethsvillage), as well as the church’s Facebook page. A note to parents and survivors: with the theme of domestic violence, this will be a heavier service that talks about sexual and physical violence.

Minister of Children & Education Amanda Langlands amanda@familyoffaith.net Minister to Seniors Dale Stowe dale@familyoffaith.net Choir Director Natalie Tilford-Kopp natalie@familyoffaith.net Office Manager Angela Earwood angela@familyoffaith.net Custodian Linda Johnston Organist Charlotte McFarland Nursery Workers Suada Derakovic Melisa Custard Church Office M-F, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (502) 863-1537 *The church building is currently closed. Staff can be reached by phone or email throughout the week.

Faith Baptist Church 116 Pocahontas Trail Georgetown, KY 40324 502.863.1537 familyoffaith@familyoffaith.net www.familyoffaith.net

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