July 2022 Acts of Faith Newsletter by Faith Baptist Church

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

Backyard worships continue in July as we gather twice in Mike and Becky Collins’ backyard at 7 p.m. for a time to grow closer to God. These are opportunities for us to experience worship in different settings and styles than we are used to, and to connect in a more intimate worship environment. Our worship on July 6 is being designed by summer intern Carter Felton and worship on July 20 is specifically designed to be kid-friendly with puppets, drums, and s'mores after.

Our last Open Mic Night was so fun that we’re doing it again! Join us on Tuesday, July 19, at 7 p.m. in the RA to experience art and community with friends and neighbors! Everyone is invited to participate through listening or sharing stories, poems, songs, music, and more. Light refreshments will be provided. Sign up for a 5-minute slot when you get there. Contact Natalie Kopp with questions.

MONDAY, JULY 4: FOURTH OF JULY PARADE Join the Fraleys to watch the Fourth of July parade on Main Street! Meet at their house (503 Estill Ct) at 10:30 a.m. and walk to Main Street together. After the parade, they'll be cooking hot dogs at their house! If you're staying to eat, bring a chair and a side dish or dessert to share. SATURDAY, JULY 9: FISHING Rick Hawthorne invites you to bring your rod and reel and go fishing with him at the Midway Sportsmans Club (4989 Ironworks Road, Georgetown). The lake is

great for fishing, but if fishing’s not your thing, there is lots of grass for games and a playground for the kids! They also have picnic tables and grills if you want to bring food and supplies for a picnic. Rick will be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come for as long or as little as you like and spend some time together outdoors! Balloons will mark the parking lot so you know where to go. SUNDAY, JULY 17: WORK AT AMEN HOUSE Inspired by an idea from a congregant, after church on Sunday, we'll put our worship into action as we volunteer at AMEN House. Lunch will be provided in the RA from 12 to 1 p.m., then we'll work at AMEN House from 1 to 3 p.m. (or however long you can stay) doing sorting projects in both their clothing and food sections. This is a family-friendly service project open to people of all ages and abilities. To remove any barriers you might have to serving, feel free to wear your work clothes to church that Sunday!

Pastor William, Kathy Fraley, Mike Niedwick, John Blackburn, and Pat Blackburn helped build a house for the Crabtree family. Previously, the family was in such cramped conditions that Kholson, the 4-year-old boy, shared his "room" with the living area. When he learned that he was going to be in one of the smaller bedrooms, he responded with a big smile, “Big room, little room, it doesn’t matter. It will be MY room!”

We had so much fun last month being together, learning about the Apostle Paul, making fun crafts, and so much more at VBS 2022: Passport to Peace! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make it happen! “I have said these things to you so you can have peace in me. You’ll have troubles in the world, but cheer up. I have conquered the world!” John 16:33

Join us on Wednesday, July 13, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for a fun morning with your preschooler as we come 2x2 to hear the story of Noah’s Ark, sing songs, and travel through fun interactive stations to explore the story together! Ages 3 to 5 are invited and must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Register for this event at www.familyoffaith.net/preschool by Friday, July 8, and let Piper know if you have any questions!

We continue to pray for Pastor Amanda and the Langlands family as they explore Italy as part of her sabbatical.

“The boat ride around Capri was stunning and it is amazing the wonders that nature has given us. A heart carved into the Stone Mountain side perhaps to remind us that love always wins. It is inherent in nature and can be seen by creation all around. All we have to do is choose it.” -Amanda

3 THANK YOU does not seem adequate! Your support through prayers and financial gifts enabled us to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and serve alongside Del Sol church in meaningful and kingdom ways. Partnering together, we helped open doors for the church to continue a presence throughout the summer in the park for the families we met, begin conversations about working and partnering in a school to help with literacy and so much more, as well as connect with the community surrounding their church. The youth and adults who served in New Mexico represented you well! They were the hands and feet of Christ loving on families and children. I hope you will begin praying about going with us next time! There is more work to do! Passport is just around the corner! We will take 11 youth and two adults for the week in Berea, Kentucky! Please pray for God to work in the lives of our youth. Passport is celebrating 30 years this summer and Faith has been there since the beginning! I met with David Burroughs, President and founder of Passport, at CBF in June. In the 30 years we’ve been connected to Passport, they have given over 2 million dollars to Global Missions, trained over 750 young leaders, taught 1.1 million hours of discipleship, volunteered 1.1 million hours of mission service work, and had over 126,000 campers from all over the world! They began in 1993 as an alternative youth camp where women were fully valued and called by God for all positions within the church and every camper could volunteer to serve. I’m so thankful that Faith has made such a worldchanging investment in this ministry! Our youth and adults have been impacted and are making an impact every year! Carter has been a great addition to our staff this summer! He has led our youth in New Mexico, been on pastoral visits, taught Bible Study at VBS, read poetry to the JOY group, offered the Children’s moment, and been growing relationships with members young and old! If you haven’t had a chance to get to know Carter, take him to lunch or coffee, ask him to house or pet sit, or just come with us on a youth outing! He’s a pretty great young adult! Look for more information soon about these upcoming events:  High School Mystery Trip  Thursday Hang-Outs through July and August

Words from William As you read this article, I am probably on my way back or just home from CBF General Assembly in Dallas. It’s been good spending a week with colleagues, making new friends, and being inspired by all of the kingdom work our church is directly and indirectly a part of. Nearly all of you were not able to be here this week, so I’m using my space in the newsletter to let you know what I’ve observed during my time in Dallas so far. One of the most refreshing things about this week has been the emphasis on worship. CBF is structured in such a way that the dramatic fights we see at other denominations’ meetings just don’t happen. Neither the national nor state level organizations make any sort of prescriptive theological claims that churches must hold. Therefore, there aren’t debates on what the group believes or who the group welcomes. Without having to spend so much time fighting in business meetings, the schedule is freed up to focus on worship. These meaningful, diverse worship services have been the highlight of my time in Dallas. They are a good reminder that the body of Christ is drawn together as we seek the will of Jesus at our center rather than build artificial fences to determine who is in and out of the “good pasture.” On that note, I’ve been struck this week just how diverse this fellowship we are a part of is. In general, CBF as a group seems to highly value a diversity of Christian thought. I have spoken to people who are celebrating and others who are mourning the overturning of Roe v Wade. I am having meaningful conversations with people who see the increasing acceptance of LGBTQ people as a weakness of Western Christianity and attended a worship with hundreds of other welcoming and affirming Baptists. I’ve shared meals with pastors in red, blue, and purple (because they still exist) congregations as we’ve talked about how to talk about all that is going on in the world around us. People have not hidden or ignored the vast differences present in our fellowship, but have also not let those differences stop us from celebrating the ways that together we are living into God’s dream for the world. And there is much to be able to celebrate! It’s hard to be here this week and not feel hopeful about the potential the church, both local and national, have to change the world. I’ve seen countless examples of people sharing God’s love in a spirit of hope. I’ve heard about the incredible work missionaries are doing around the world to make disciples. I have witnessed incredible work churches have been able to accomplish in their local contexts to alleviate poverty, feed the hungry, care for the sick, and melt the artificial divisions that wreck communities. Hope has been a constant refrain this week. As Amanda Tyler, Director of the Baptist Joint Committee, said in response to religious liberty struggles in light of the latest Supreme Court decisions, “As Christians, it is a theological requirement for us to hope.” Whether through worship, presentations, or conversations, I’ve been reminded time and again that there is so much to be hopeful about and so much that needs our hope. That is my ultimate takeaway this week: that we are a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of faith currently sharing God’s love in a spirit of hope. Hope found not in what we as individuals or a denomination can do, but hope as we witness what God is doing in our midst. As the hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but only lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Branson Wren was baptized in June after coming forward to join the church in May. We are so glad to have Branson in our family of faith!

Anyone who is interested in knowing more about handbells is invited to stay after worship on Sunday, July 31, until 1 p.m. for Handbell Explorers! We’ll explore handbell techniques and try ringing a hymn or two if we have enough people. No experience is necessary, but experienced ringers are welcome. A curious mind and a willingness to give something new a try are musts! We have a limited number of spots so please sign up by calling the church office or emailing Natalie Kopp.

The JOY group has several events happening in July, including a trip to Buc-ee’s in Richmond on Friday, July 15. We will leave the church at 9 a.m. and, after shopping for a little while, we will have a fabulous lunch prepared by Buc-ee’s! You are sure to enjoy this outing! Our Movie Night on Friday, July 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the RA features Secondhand Lions, a delightful comedy about a young boy whose mother drops him off to stay with two old crabby uncles for the summer. This is a great story and movie, and one you will not want to miss. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Our JOY Luncheon on Monday, July 18, will be a little different this month as we are combining our meal with a meal for the family of Darlene Drake following the memorial service in the Faith sanctuary at 12 p.m. You are invited to the service as well as a visitation from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Darlene was a charter member of Faith and her family is looking forward to joining together with us for lunch. The meal will be prepared by the Bereavement Committee and you are asked to bring a dessert if you are able. Last month we ran into horrible traffic on our way to the Belle of Louisville boat ride and were unable to make it. To make the best of a bad situation, we stopped for dinner at Johnny Carino’s in Frankfort and enjoyed good food and fellowship. We have rescheduled the boat ride for Friday, July 29, and we hope you’ll join us to take a cruise down the Kentucky River. We will depart the church promptly at 3:30 p.m. so please arrive at 3:15. The cost of the trip is $15. Please sign up on the board if you did not participate in June. Payments and sign-ups are due by Sunday, July 26. Blessings, Rick Grillmaster Mike Niedwick cooked up some delicious hamburgers for June’s JOY luncheon!

We get to learn AND eat together? This summer's book study group will read Falling Upward by Richard Rohr and gather around the dinner table at Pastor William's house. We'll meet on Monday, July 11, to consider the background and context of the book. Then we’ll meet again on Monday, July 25, to actually discuss what Rohr has to say. Dinner will be provided both times so please tell William if you're coming. Also, go ahead and get the book. Falling Upward presents "a spirituality for the two halves of life." One review says, "Most of us tend to think of the second half of life as largely about getting old, dealing with health issues, and letting go of life, but the whole thesis of this book is exactly the opposite. What looks like falling down can largely be experienced as ‘falling upward.’ In fact, it is not a loss but somehow actually a gain, as we have all seen with elders who have come to their fullness." The author Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest in New Mexico who has provided deep commentary on spirituality and the Christian life through many books, interviews, and sermons.

All are welcome to join Prayers & Squares on the second Tuesday of each month in the church basement at 6:30 p.m. to work on prayer quilts. No quilting or sewing experience is necessary; there are plenty of jobs! Contact Kathy Fraley with questions. David Baird received a prayer quilt last month following his open heart surgery. David loves his quilt and is improving every day!

Glenna Metcalfe Roger Ward

Mike Collins

Dewayne Johnston

Independence Day

Jo Rashleigh Mallory Thompson

Mattie Katz

Eric Lookadoo

Pam Duenas Jacque Hukill

Glenn Williams

Jasper Cain Karson Knoblock

David Bugg

Max Ward

Hollis Dudgeon

Mary Hutton

Sophia Cook

Beth Thompson

Joseph Hatch

Peggy Blanton Joanna Hawthorne Bill Robinson

Marolyn Hale

We are a family of faith,

Kelly McEuen

sharing God’s love in a spirit of hope.

7 One of our members, Jawanna Herd, and one of our friends, Ed Boden, are currently featured in an art gallery at the public library! You can see their pieces in the Lens, Lines & Lineage gallery during normal library hours. Several Faith members helped an AMEN House client with her garden so she can have vegetables this summer. Lia Cate knew just what to do from helping in her mom’s garden!

I’m writing to notify the Faith family of the June 20, 2022, death of my father, Walter Ziegenhals, in Burlington, North Carolina, at the age of 93. He so enjoyed the 13 years that he was able to visit Faith Baptist whenever he and my mother visited us, and then for the two years that Dad and Mom lived in Georgetown. The community at Faith was so incredibly hospitable to Dad and he remained in contact with folks for many years.

FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF PASTOR William Reilly william@familyoffaith.net ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF STUDENTS Sharon Felton sharon@familyoffaith.net ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF CHILDREN & EDUCATION Amanda Langlands amanda@familyoffaith.net MINISTER TO SENIOR ADULTS Rick Hawthorne rick@familyoffaith.net CHOIR DIRECTOR Natalie Tilford-Kopp natalie@familyoffaith.net OFFICE MANAGER Angela Earwood angela@familyoffaith.net CUSTODIAN Linda Johnston ORGANIST Charlotte McFarland PIANIST Judith Williams

— John & Pat Blackburn — Melissa Ward, Lynn Mayo — Chris Cutter, Dale Stowe — Molly Sigmon, Jane Cutter — Jim Land, Joyce Baird

NURSERY WORKERS Suada Derakovic Melisa Custard Church Office: (502) 863-1537 M-F, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

116 Pocahontas Trail Georgetown, KY 40324 502.863.1537 www.familyoffaith.net

stay connected {sign up on our website}