Acts of Faith
OCT
2021
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH We are a family of faith, sharing God’s love in a spirit of hope.
Pumpkins and cider and hayrides, oh my! This year we are going back to the Tudor Farm (880 Duvall Station Road) for our Faith Family Fall Festival. Bring your lawn chairs, a picnic dinner with drinks, and join us for ALL the fall fun! We will gather around a bonfire to make s’mores and enjoy some music. Hot chocolate and hot apple cider, as well as hayrides, will be provided. For those interested in a little extra fun, bring a pumpkin and participate in our annual pumpkin carving contest! We hope you will join us for this family time of catching up and checking in surrounded by God’s breathtaking creation. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 24, at 5 p.m. for this fun event! Not sure how to get there? Meet at the church at 4:30 p.m. and we’ll caravan to the farm. We will also be taking the bus for those who don’t want to drive. We ordained Elizabeth Robinson and Diana Niedwick as deacons on September 19. They join Ross McConnaughhay and Rick Kopp who are returning as deacons for a term of 3 years.
Wednesday nights are going strong! We missed a week due to rain, but we’ve adjusted our rain plan* so we don’t have to do that again. Our Family Dinner has been a great time to share life and eat delicious food, and our activities have provided us with opportunities for fun, learning, and reflection. We will continue to meet outside by the playground since COVID numbers remain elevated and many of our children are still unable to get vaccinated. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 and then we'll have a program or activity from 6:30 to 7. Check the bulletin and Faith File for each week’s menu, chef(s), and activity. If you would like to prepare a meal, contact Wanda Pruitt or Peggy Blanton. *Our current rain plan is to meet at 5:30 in the RA with masks on for a time of prayer and celebrations followed by the week’s activity. Then you can get dinner to-go from 6:15 to 6:30.
We got to know Rick Hawthorne, Bryan Langlands shared thoughts on LGBTQ inclusion, David Fraley taught about medical imaging, and we got a report from the Discernment Committee.
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We have entered back into our full lives and schedules once again despite the challenges that COVID still presents. It has been wonderful to be back together again on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and our monthly Kids On Mission. Wednesday evenings we continue to gather for our weekly church family meal out by the playground and then the children spend time playing together, enjoying God’s beautiful creation, and wondering together about what it means to have a daily quiet time. We are focusing on Genesis 1:27 and how we are created in God’s image, meaning that all of God’s goodness also lies in all of us. We are wondering what that goodness looks like in each of us and how we can use that to shine God’s light in the world. Each week (when we have met) the children are given a simple journal to take home that will help them spend time with God wondering each day. Our Kids On Mission met on September 19 right after worship. We picnicked together on the playground and then discovered that there are missionaries living and serving right here in Kentucky. We learned about Scarlette Jasper, who our church supports, and a ministry she works with called Together For Hope. Together For Hope serves several counties in eastern Kentucky by providing resources for individuals involving health, nutrition, education, job search, and life skills. The children will be collecting underwear and socks for children to send to Scarlette. We’ll meet again for our next Kids On Mission on Sunday, October 17! HEADS UP: Messy Games has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 17!
Fall is in full swing, which means high school students need to register for the fall retreat on November 5-7 at Red River Gorge. We’ll be talking about living our lives with purpose. Justin Sizemore from Calvary Baptist will be coming to lead our retreat this year, and I am so excited for our students to spend the weekend with him! The cost of the trip is $125 and checks should be made out to Faith Baptist. This is a great opportunity to bring friends! This month our youth will be going to eat together after worship on October 17. Parents can drop youth off at Mod Pizza and pick up there at 1 p.m. Bring money! We had a great Back-to-School Retreat with our middle school students! We discussed how who (or what) we worship shows up in our actions. They were challenged to live out their lives for God in how they love others at school. We had a blast helping Elizabeth’s Village with several projects, going to a Legends game, and trying to break out of escape rooms!
This summer we talked about serving our community and considered what we have to offer. Our youth were drawn to the work of Bluegrass Community Action, an organization that has dedicated resources to enhance the quality of life of low-income, disadvantaged and disabled families and individuals of all ages and ethnic backgrounds in Scott and surrounding counties. They help out with basic needs like food and clothing so
3 people can move out of poverty and into selfsufficiency. Faith Baptist Youth have committed to making client bags of necessary items for Community Action, and we need our church family to help! On Sundays we will have a marked container in the front foyer along with lists of needed items. Please help us by purchasing items on the list and bringing them back to church. The youth will be sorting and packaging up items to take to Community Action each week. Thank you for your help in loving our neighbors. Items needed for Community Action client bags: • full-size shampoo/conditioner • soap or body wash (women’s and men’s) • deodorant (women’s and men’s) • lotion (women’s and men’s) • toothpaste and toothbrush • tampons/pads • SheaMoisture hair and body products • Carol’s Daughter hair products • body lotion with shea butter
October is upon us and as we face falling leaves, shorter days and colder nights, we realize that these all are the signs of a new change in the eternal circle of nature. This time of the year, with its charming beauty, always inspires me to reflect on these changes and makes me feel closer to God. So instead of complaining about chilly weather and rain, take a drive or walk and observe the beauty of God’s artistry and reflect on this never-ending cycle of existence. If you’re having a bad day or just feeling down, remind yourself that difficulties will pass, opening the door to new occasions, just like a rainy fall and long cold winter will be followed by a new breath of life in the spring. As new members to this beautiful church family, Joanna and I have been so impressed with the hospitality of the people of Faith! If we have not had a chance to meet, please take a moment to stop me on Sunday or Wednesday night and introduce yourself. It would be a delight to meet you! The September JOY luncheon was a great success! I would like to personally thank Pat Blackburn who prepared the pork loin and the many others who brought delicious potluck selections! Glen Taul presented his personal family genealogy and the many different avenues he used to research his ancestry.
He showed us how we too can reveal parts of our own ancestry! Thanks, Glen! Also, thanks to Mariann Harlan and the travel committee who planned a wonderful trip to Paris, KY, to enjoy a great meal at Paradise Café. After lunch we visited the Eiffel Tower and the believed-to-behaunted Colville Covered Bridge. A good time was had by all! Our next luncheon will be on Monday, October 18, at 11 a m. in the RA. Our speaker will be from Kentucky’s grandest Greek Revival mansion, Ward Hall. Come and learn some unique historical facts about this old home.
Calling all singers! Please consider joining us if you are able. We especially need female voices in the choir right now. Choir members will continue to meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays in the sanctuary to rehearse for worship. We will not meet on Wednesday, October 6, because of Scott County’s fall break. Beginning on October 13, we will work on music for Christmas. It's fun, and we hope you can join us.
The Flower Committee continues to enjoy sharing our blooms and creativity, adding to the worship experience on Sundays. If anyone wishes to place flowers on the Communion Table in honor or memory of a loved one, please contact the church office or any member of our committee. Current members are Courtney Baird, Becky Collins, Jane Cutter, Shannon Gullett, Ann Leigh, Rose Lewis, Molly Sigmon, and Carol Williams. Shannon begins our new committee year in October, followed by Ann in November. In December, we hope to be able to fill the sanctuary again with poinsettias! The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness therein… -Psalm 24:1
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Words from William We’ve started asking people who join the church what their favorite part of Faith is. Here are two recent responses: “How it actually feels like a family.” “The way everyone is so loving.” Turns out, those are two of my favorite things about Faith as well. I’m sure several of you would say the same. We really do try to be a family of Faith that shares God’s love in a spirit of hope. We genuinely seek to care about each other, celebrate with each other, carry each other’s burdens, and grow with each other. We truly wish to be a beacon of love for the world, demonstrating what God’s love looks and feels like to everyone around us. It’s so heartening to see that, at least in these two instances (and hopefully more), those intentions were actualized. We really did live into our mission statement and, in doing so, were able to invite some new people into that work of being a part of a loving family. These quotes encouraged me but also gave me pause. They are a reminder that at our best (or even just our good), Faith is a refuge of unconditional love, a place for anyone to belong and be. Everyone needs a place like that, but so many in our community don’t have one. I hesitated in my excitement because it struck me just how much responsibility comes with being a part of a place with that much potential. As a member of this family, I also serve as one of many gatekeepers for the group. My actions and attitude will determine if someone finds the loving family I did, or if all they find is another cold, inhospitable community that they are excluded from. There is so much love to be found here; I have to make sure I’m loving enough for people to actually be able to find it. As a member of this family of Faith, you also determine what someone finds when they join us. You determine if other people have the opportunity to experience your favorite parts of Faith that have been so meaningful to you. You either cultivate an environment that invites people into a loving family or create the excuses that exclude someone from being a part of our community. I am so thankful for the ways you continually show love and hospitality to others. Your attitude makes this a family of Faith. Your actions share God’s love in a spirit of hope. I know that together we can continue being the place that feels like a family, a place that offers unconditional love. “SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY” Our garden sharing table this summer was always a blessing, but this sweet note was extra special!
Jane Cutter and Chuck Bugg will be facilitating a grief group for anyone who has experienced loss. We hope this group can be a time for healing and growth, especially as we move into the holiday season. The group will meet for four weeks in the RA from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning October 19. We will wear masks and practice physical distancing. To register for this group, contact the church office. If you have questions, call Chuck Bugg at 704-473-8486.
Over the past two years, the amount we spend on bank fees has increased by over 500%! The church is charged a flat fee per online gift as well as a percentage-based fee on the total amount of the gift. Recently, several of you have inquired about these fees and how to avoid them. We do not pay any fees if you give in person or by mail. We pay a small fee if you give via electronic payments directly from your bank (ACH) and a larger fee for debit or credit card payments. While we encourage you to consider one of these giving methods to avoid fees, we are thankful for any gift we receive by any means. Your faithful giving and generous support have allowed our church to more than just survive during a difficult time. Thank you for being an incredible family of Faith.
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We welcomed two new members, Ysa Duenas and Braxton Hamon, into our family of faith in September! We are so happy you’re here!
The Discernment Committee would like to thank the entire congregation for your continued prayerful participation in our church-wide process regarding how our church might welcome the LGBTQ community. Please visit www.familyoffaith.net/discernment for the daily prayer guide and other resources and reminders. On Wednesday, September 29, we shared a report of your feedback from the listening sessions and surveys. A summary of this report is also found at the link above. We continue to gladly receive your questions, hopes and concerns. Here are the next steps:
The week of October 11, our team, based on your feedback, will send the statement we create to the whole congregation via email. Pastor William will lead a Bible Study during the Sunday School hour each week beginning October 17. In it he will examine many Bible passages that are often discussed regarding LGBTQ inclusion in church. Adults and youth are welcome to attend. Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 7, at 6 p.m. when we will gather for a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the statement proposed by the committee. On November 14 we will vote on the statement at our business meeting following morning worship. —Cynthia Insko, chairperson Please join us as we ask for the Spirit’s guidance in the days ahead: Open our minds to remember your Presence. Open our mouths to speak your Wisdom. Open our hearts to extend your Love. Open our hands to Serve you generously. We open our whole selves to you. Amen
As part of our ongoing conversation on how welcoming our church will be for members of the LGBTQ community, Pastor William will teach a class exploring Biblical and theological perspectives on the matter on Sundays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. beginning October 17 and going through November 7. During this class we will discuss the scripture passages most associated with this conversation and how different people and groups have interpreted and applied them. We’ll also explore how our unique Baptist identity affects the conversation. There will be lots of space in the class for theological questions and discussions as we continue to seek to better understand what our faith compels us to do as a church concerning the inclusion of LGBTQ people.
Every year we collect shoe boxes full of supplies for our CBF missionary partner Scarlette Jasper to distribute in McCreary County. These shoe boxes provide much needed items to families during the holidays and may be the only Christmas gift many of these children receive. This year we will be collecting those boxes in September and October (instead of November). This will relieve some of our collecting chaos around the holidays and hopefully keep Scarlette from getting so overwhelmed with donations coming in all at once. So, how can you participate in this wonderful endeavor? Pack a shoe box (or two or five!) and bring them to the church! This year the Missions Committee will be supplying the boxes. You can pick them up in the foyer on Sunday mornings or in the church office throughout the week. Let the church office know if you can’t make it in and we’ll drop one off at your house. A list of supplies and instructions will be in each box as well as on the Missions page (www.familyoffaith.net/missions) under the Christmas Shoebox Ministry block. Please remember to label the boxes with the intended age and gender of the child and do not wrap the box (items have to be checked before boxes are distributed). All completed boxes need to be returned to the church by Friday, October 29. Scarlette plans to distribute 2000 boxes this year and our individual church goal is 50. We appreciate your generosity and compassion.
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Winnie Bratcher Derek Hatch
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Laryssa McConnaughhay
Heather Tucker
Elizabeth Robinson
Kim Kindrick Vivienne Langlands
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Mary Hutton
Charlie Cain
Billy Custard Natalie Tilford Kopp Dan Miller
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Jane Cutter
Jason Baird Laura Stone
Callie Thompson
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Mariann Harlan Judith Williams
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Camryn Lookadoo
Anthony Gullett
Rose Lewis
31 Halloween
Ally Stone
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FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF William Reilly william@familyoffaith.net
Sharon Felton sharon@familyoffaith.net
CBFKY Autumnal Celebration: Seeking Justice
Amanda Langlands amanda@familyoffaith.net
Friday, October 8, 7-9 p.m. Saturday, October 9, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Rick Hawthorne rick@familyoffaith.net
Third Baptist Church, Owensboro Breakout Sessions: racial justice, hunger, education, & more Guest Preachers: Robert Jones, author of White Too Long; Kasey Jones, CBF Associate Coordinator for Outreach and Growth Registration: Register online at www.cbfky.org for in-person or virtual attendance. Childcare is available.
—John & Pat Blackburn
Natalie Tilford-Kopp natalie@familyoffaith.net
Angela Earwood angela@familyoffaith.net
Linda Johnston
Charlotte McFarland
Suada Derakovic Melisa Custard
—Melissa Ward, Lynn Mayo —Chris Cutter, Dale Stowe —Molly Sigmon, Sue Wilson —Jim Land, Roberta Dodd
Church Office M-F, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (502) 863-1537
116 Pocahontas Trail Georgetown, KY 40324 502.863.1537 www.familyoffaith.net
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