Acts of Faith
NOV 2020
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH We are a family of faith, sharing God’s love in a spirit of hope.
BACKYARD WORSHIP AND DEACON FAMILY COMMUNION CANCELED TUESDAYS AT 5 P.M. ON ZOOM Parables Chuck Bugg continues his study of the parables in Luke. He covers the same parables as the children and youth so our whole church family can learn together. Also, several Faith families have created fun videos to go along with the parables. Links to the Zoom class and parable videos are in the Faith File.
WEDNESDAYS AT 6 P.M. ON FACEBOOK November 4 — Post-Election Prayer Time On the day after the election, we will have a time of prayer to pray for our country and community. No matter who wins (if we even know by then), it will be necessary for us to pray for our leaders and the decisions they make that impact so many. November 11 — CBF Global Missions Presentation Come hear about the CBF Offering for Global Missions from our Missions Committee. We will meet several of the field personnel—both in the U.S. and abroad—and learn how they are impacting the lives of so many by extending hope and hospitality to those they serve. November 18 — Advent Wreath Workshop Lighting the candles on the Advent wreath is an important tradition at Faith. This year, in 2020 style, we will be lighting the candles in our own homes as we worship virtually. Join Amanda and Angela to learn about this tradition and make a wreath for your home. Email Angela to sign up! The workshop is open to everyone, but only those who sign up will receive the materials to make a wreath.
As of the end of October, Scott County is a red county because of an increase in coronavirus cases. The recommendations for red counties are to avoid gatherings of any kind and cancel public or private events. In accordance with this guidance, our deacons and staff have decided cancel Backyard Worship on November 1 and Deacon Family Communion on November 8. This is a sad announcement to make as we were so looking forward to meeting outside a couple more times before cold weather prevented it. We were especially excited about gathering around a fire with you to celebrate communion. The deacons are currently working on other options to connect with their families around communion and we all pray for the day that we can meet again without worry of a virus!
THANKSGIVING BASKETS Each year we provide Thanksgiving baskets for families at Southern Elementary and Scott County Middle Schools. Just as everything else in 2020, it will be a little different than usual. This year we are collecting complete meals. The following items can be put in a box, basket, or tote:
2 cans of corn 2 cans of green beans 2 cans of yams cranberry sauce box of stuffing gravy packet
brown-and-serve rolls bag of apples or oranges turkey breast pumpkin pie bag of marshmallows
Please bring the baskets to the church between 2 and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, November 4, 11, or 18. As always, let us know if we need to pick it up from you instead. If you are unable to get all of the items, please make a list of what is missing and put it in your box so we can fill in the gaps. Join us in sharing Christ's love with others!
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CHILDREN’S CORNER The children are continuing their discovery of Jesus’ parables. For a little fun, scan the QR codes below to see what they are up to! MODERN DAY MEDITATION THE PARABLE PARABLE
ADVENT It is hard to believe we are getting so close to Advent. The children will be receiving Advent preparation kits in November. This will help them enter the season as we prepare for the arrival of Christ. Be on the lookout for yours! CALLING ALL ANGELS (and others!) We are planning a virtual Christmas program this year. We need angels and kings, a scientist, and more! If you are interested in being a part of this fun event, contact Amanda by email or phone.
REFLECTIONS FROM DALE One of the best things about our JOY ministry is visiting and being a part of the lives of so many people. A few days ago I had the privilege of being with one of our new friends, Winston Gullett. Winston gave his life to the Lord years ago, but had never been baptized until recently, at age 86. We were all saddened when his wife, Mrs. Shirley (Anthony Gullett's mother), passed away. Winston and I took a road trip to West Liberty to visit where they used to live, enjoying the beautiful autumn scenery along the way. We never stopped laughing and swapping stories. However, when Winston talked about his faith he said, "I trust Jesus and it is nothing I do and everything Jesus did on that cross." His observation was so simple yet so powerful! He said more in one sentence than I've heard in a long time. I also had the delight of taking a trip with Darrell Cruse to visit Dr. Genevieve Clark, a former biology professor at Georgetown College. Dr. Clark is 99 years old, but that doesn't stop her from going to Bible study on Sunday nights. She is an amazing person, but it was Darrell who won my heart. He was so engaged with Dr. Clark, and the twinkle in his eye showed how much he cared. Darrell was the pastor of Gano Baptist Church during the 1980s and 1990s. During his ministry the congregation grew from around 50 to over 300, and they built a beautiful
education addition to the church. I asked him how he accomplished such astounding growth and he replied, "I wore out many pairs of shoes visiting all over Georgetown, sharing the gospel." Darrell is 85 and still visiting, helping, and caring about people. I often visit Ance and Mary Kaye Abner. For the past few years Mary Kaye has been in poor health and Ance has been her devoted caregiver. When I visit I wonder how I can encourage them, but it's Ance, with his positive and uplifting attitude, who encourages me. He always says, "we are doing just fine, because I know how the story ends." Jesus is the center of their home and Ance and Mary Kaye are a blessing to everyone around them. I want to thank two people who have been delighting our seniors all summer: Jill Wells TerBeest, who bakes and creates beautifully-designed cookies, and Rose Lewis, who grows colorful flowers and tasty vegetables. Thank you, ladies, for your caring ministry! These are just a few stories of people who make a difference. —Dale “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” -Robert Louis Stevenson
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YOUTH NEWS Our youth have been working on a #FaithFromHome bingo game! They’ve had three weeks to complete as many of the squares as possible! Winners will be announced at the beginning of November! We are continuing our weekly devotions related to the parables from Luke, joining our entire church family as we study these scriptures together.
F
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RAKE A SENIOR ADULT’S YARD
PAY FOR THE PERSON’S FOOD BEHIND YOU IN A DRIVE THRU
MAKE SANDWICHES AND TAKE TO THE GATHERING PLACE
CARVE A PUMPKIN
WRITE A NOTE OR A CARD TO A COLLEGE STUDENT
MAKE HOT COCOA WITH YOUR FAMILY
DONATE CANNED GOODS FOR THE BACKPACK PROGRAM
HAVE A PICNIC WITH YOUR FAMILY
WRITE KIND MESSAGES ON A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY WITH SIDEWALK CHALK
MAKE CARAMEL APPLES OR APPLE COBBLER
COLLECT AN OFFERING FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS
MAKE COOKIES OR BROWNIES FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A SMILE
GO APPLE PICKING OR PUMPKIN PICKING
JOURNAL YOUR STORY WITH GOD
TAKE FOOD TO THE AMEN HOUSE
ATTEND A SUNDAY NIGHT WORSHIP AND YOUTH EVENT
HELP YOUR FAMILY AROUND THE HOUSE OR A SIBLING WITH SCHOOL WORK
WRITE A CARD OR A LETTER TO A SENIOR ADULT
TALK TO SHARON ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN WORSHIP
PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES IN THE PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE
MESSY
GAMES
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Words from William I must confess, I probably should have written this a month ago. As you read this, we are either on the eve of or just completed election day. The results might not be known yet, but they will be soon. If you’re like me, this day could not come soon enough. Every day brings a new political postcard, every commercial break is full of attack ads, every part of our lives seems to be about politics. Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself experiencing political burnout. How do I know? Signs of burnout include anxiety, depression, anger, ambivalence, unusual sleep patterns, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling on edge all the time. We can experience burnout from lots of sources, but it seems our country has been gripped by the overwhelming nature of this year’s election. Therefore, in the last few days of the election, and coming months of what will surely be continued politicking, I would like to offer some tips on how we might find rest from political burnout. First, we must acknowledge that this is normal. Right now is an extremely stressful time. You are not weird or crazy for feeling overwhelmed. Our burnout is just our bodies recognizing this and reminding us we need a break. We should listen to our bodies and intentionally try to find rest. Here are some specific tips on how to accomplish that: Prioritize connecting with things that bring you joy, such as friends, pets, family, or hobbies. Disconnect from stressful things like the news and limit the amount of time you spend on technology. I’ve limited myself by only checking the news once a day and only checking a few sites (BBC, NBC News, and FiveThirtyEight). Exercise. This is a great way to reduce symptoms of stress! Schedule quiet times. I mean actually schedule them. Put them in your calendar. Set reminders. Make it part of your daily plan to have set-aside chunks of quiet time. If you are experiencing heavy burnout, consider talking to a therapist. Even if you aren’t, therapy is often a good idea. Finally, I would encourage you to continue seeking God. It has been so helpful these last few weeks for me to remember that we are part of the kingdom of God before any earthly nation. No matter what happens here and now, there is a promise of hope and peace that we can cling to. Know that I continue to pray for you and your country and am confident that we will get through this time.
CARE BEAR VOLUNTEER AWARD Bearnabus is looking for a road trip, so he figured he'd spend some time with this month's Care Bear Volunteer of the Month of the Year, Betty Parrish. Betty is a central part of our finance team and serves diligently on many committees. However, she is being recognized this month for her work with Scarlette Jasper and the Christmas shoe boxes. Betty has sorted our boxes and will deliver them to Scarlette, then return several times to help Scarlette sort boxes that come from other churches. In working with Scarlette, she will help thousands of children have basic toiletries and a meaningful gift on Christmas. Bearnabus can't wait to help out too!
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL Digital and print copies of the daily Advent devotional will be available this year. Look for information about distribution in the coming weeks. Also, every day we will post a video on Facebook of the devotion being read. If you are interested in writing a devotion, please contact Amanda.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP During worship on each Sunday of Advent, we will continue our tradition of lighting a candle on the Advent wreath, singing a song, and reading a prayer to help us prepare for the mystery of God coming to the world to save us as an infant child. Also, we will still have special contributions from our choir, children, and others, and we look forward to seeing the creative ways they are presented this year.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYER TIME We say it every year. Christmas is about Jesus, yet we get distracted with all the other stuff the season brings. During Advent, we will have a time of centering prayer via Facebook every Wednesday at 6 p.m. This will be a few minutes to pause, stop whatever we are doing, and just sit with the presence of God. This guided time is meant to be a moment of peace in an otherwise chaotic world.
HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS This service of remembrance is an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and hope for those who have lost a loved one during the previous year, and anyone grieving with them. Our service will be at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 29, and it will be virtual this year. Contact the church office if you would like to participate. We will send you the Zoom link and bring you a candle for the service.
CHRISTMAS PARADE Remember car parades? Those things that were super popular early on during the pandemic? Well, we're bringing it back! Meet in the church parking lot on Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m. for a Christmas parade to share joy with some of our less mobile members. Decorate your car and/or yourself, turn up the Christmas music, and let's spread some holiday cheer!
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Join us for a virtual Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. on Facebook. It is truly sad that we will not be able to hold a “normal'“ Christmas Eve service this year. However, we hope to still have an opportunity to gather as a community and wish each other a Merry Christmas. Read on to find out more.
CHRISTMAS EVE CAROL SING At 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, gather in the church parking lot and playground area to sing Christmas carols. We will sing requested songs for about 20 minutes and end with “Silent Night.” Candles will be provided to light or you can bring your own. All participants must wear a mask and maintain physical distance. So bring some hot chocolate and a warm coat as we sing in the birth of Jesus.
SHARE THE JOY If your family or group would like to sponsor a family for Christmas, contact Amanda.
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SUN 1
MON 2
Daylight Saving Time Ends 11 AM—Virtual Worship Service
TUES 3
4
Election Day
2-4 PM— Thanksgiving Basket Drop-Off 6 PM— Post-Election Prayer Time
Mary Ann Gaeddert
8
9
10
11 AM—Virtual Worship Service
Carol Williams
15
16
WED
17
11 AM—Virtual Worship Service 1 PM—Virtual Quarterly Business Meeting
THURS
FRI
SAT
5
6
7
Dakota Felton
Kate Dean
Cora Baird David Fraley
Jim Blanton
11
12
13
14
2-4 PM— Thanksgiving Basket Drop-Off 6 PM— CBF Global Angela Missions Earwood Presentation Keith Felton Jackson Hadaway Jennifer Beckett
Greg Earwood Melinda Patrick
Jill Wells TerBeest
18
20
21
19
2-4 PM— Thanksgiving Basket Drop-Off 6 PM— Advent Wreath Workshop Kaden
Amanda Langlands
David Rashleigh Karen Taylor
Leslie Williams
Ben Sargent
22
23
25
26
27
Church Office Closed
Church Office Closed
McConnaughhay
24
11 AM—Virtual Worship Service
Joni Stowe
28
Thanksgiving
Annaliese Hadaway
29 First Sunday of Advent 11 AM—Virtual Worship Service 5 PM—Hope for the Holidays
30
H.M. Lewis
Ami Wilcox
Lucy McConnaughhay
November
With COVID guidance changing regularly, our plans also change. The best way to get the most current information is by joining our email list.
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FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF Senior Pastor William Reilly william@familyoffaith.net
We had a great time at our Fall Festival! We loved the great music by Sam Pollock’s band, Shanghai Express, and had fun decorating pumpkins. Congrats to Amara Dean on winning the pumpkin carving contest!
ADMIN COMMITTEE REPORT The Administrative Committee met on Thursday, October 22, by Zoom. The Admin Committee is composed of the chairpersons from all the standing committees of the church. Our responsibility is primarily to hear reports from the various committee chairs, develop a yearly budget, and monitor the finances. During our last meeting these items of business were discussed: Financial Reports for the month of September. Planning and development of the 2021 church budget. Heard a report from the Branding Committee and endorsed approval to the business meeting. Heard a proposal to allow the Community Medical Mission to use space in the church (basement area) to see patients twice monthly. This service has been in operation for twelve years, but lost their current space and requested an arrangement with Faith. The Admin Committee enthusiastically supported this request and we are currently working out details and a contract arrangement to provide this space as an in-kind service. Heard reports from various committee chairs. Noted that a quarterly business meeting is planned for Sunday, November 15, at 1 p.m. via Zoom.
Minister of Students Sharon Felton sharon@familyoffaith.net 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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