May 2017
Volume LX No. 5
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By: Dr. Paul Baxley, Senior Minister
Just a year ago we were preparing for Commitment Sunday in our Regenerate capital campaign. Now twelve months later, we have not only celebrated a successful culmina#on of that campaign, we are also well into the “regenera#onâ€? of our facili#es that is being made possible by the congrega#on’s generous support of that campaign. Along the way, we pray that the physical transforma#on of our facili#es is just an outward manifesta#on of a deeper renewal going on in our life together. This summer and early fall will be very dierent at First Bap#st. Beginning May 21, our worship services move to the Fellowship Hall to allow for the summer renova#on of the chancel area of our Sanctuary. I hope you will join us for our ďŹ nal services in the Sanctuary as it is presently conďŹ gured and oer God thanks and praise for all that has happened since the Sanctuary chancel ďŹ rst came into its current design in the late 1960s. As you have seen in the renderings published during the campaign and renova#on proposals, the work about to begin will restore the Sanctuary to its original dimensions while also preserving key elements of the renova#on conducted nearly ďŹ 6y years ago. I hope you will join me in eagerly an#cipa#ng our return to the renovated Sanctuary in late summer. In the mean#me, please plan to join us as we worship in Fellowship Hall. As summer has drawn near, I’ve heard so many of you speak of how our other opportuni#es to worship in Fellowship Hall over the years have been very (Pastor’s Reflections, continued on page 2)
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B S , M 21 As previously announced, beginning on Sunday, May 21 we will move our Sunday worship services to the Fellowship Hall so that renova#ons of the chancel area of the Sanctuary can begin promptly and take place during the summer months. We hope to return to our renovated Sanctuary in late August or early September. Further updates will be provided as we move through the summer. Please plan to join us for worship when you are in town during the summer months!
Pastor’s Reflections, continued from page 1
M Paul Baxley Senior Minister
Frank Granger Minister of Christian Community
Randy Bri.ain Minister of Music
Brandon Pendry Minister of Youth and Mission
Janet Cleland Minister of Children, Families and Outreach
Amanda Lewis Minister of College Students
Anne Bri.ain Organist/Music Associate
Alan McArthur
meaningful for you. We will certainly be giving a high level of energy and prayer to preparing these services this summer, and I hope you will be present for Sunday School and worship whenever you can. The move to Fellowship Hall for worship is only one of the changes we will be making over the next several months as we enter the most extensive phase of the renova#on. Changes like these can be challenging, but they are also an extraordinary opportunity to try new approaches and discover new rela#onships. We are conďŹ dent that the ministry plans we are making for the summer and early fall will provide wonderful opportuni#es for us to grow in faith together. If you want to know more about all of the renova#on and more about our summer and early fall ministry plans, I hope you’ll be in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday night, May 3. We will make a full presenta#on and also allow space for ques#ons. I look forward to seeing you in worship Sunday and throughout May!
Pianist
Church oďŹƒce: 706.548.1359 www.firstbaptistathens.org
Submit items for inclusion in the June/July 2017 edition of FBC news by noon on June 8.
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The results of our recent Deacon Elec#on have been compiled. We welcome our latest class of deacons: Mary Conley, Jill Dawson, Pam Dillard, Jim Ebert, Daniel Haygood, Joanna Hill, Bill Hopper, Connie Ivester, Shaun O'Rear, Je Randa, Alan Reddish, and Amy Young. Watch upcoming edi#ons of FBC News for biographical sketches of each new Deacon. Chris Conley has been elected to a four year term as a Founda#on Trustee.
AB L C M 14 As previously announced, on Sunday, May 14, our congrega#on will have the privilege of ordaining Amanda Lewis to the gospel ministry. In March, the Deacons unanimously aďŹƒrmed the recommenda#on of the ordina#on council that our congrega#on take this step of faith. The service May 14 will include hymns, Scripture lessons and prayers appropriate for this occasion and will also include the ancient rite of laying on of hands.
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Though most of the service leadership will come from within our congrega#on, several close friends of Amanda’s will also par#cipate and we are expec#ng many members of her family to join us as well.
Following the Wednesday evening meal on May 3, all are invited to the Fellowship Hall for an update regarding the progress of our renova#on and also a preview of how the ongoing renova#on will impact our summer and fall ministries. The most intense periods of renova#on of our campus will take place in the summer and early fall months. Our goal is take full advantage of the opportunity for innova#on and agility being oered by this #me of renova#on. So come prepared to learn more about the renova#on itself and also about the unique ministry opportuni#es coming in the summer and early
Please be present in worship on May 14 as we celebrate God’s call in Amanda’s life and also reect on God’s call for each of us.
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Calm. Peaceful. Prayerful. These words are descrip#ve of some of the experiences which walking a labyrinth can provide. These words are accurate of the experience I had during Holy Week when we had a labyrinth set up for use in our Fellowship Hall. A good number of people from our church, along with a few guests, also came during Holy Week to walk the labyrinth. Sharing this experience with others was also meaningful and spiritual. Observing silence with others who are moving along a path and praying is powerful. There was a feeling of awe and an#cipa#on in the air as people were walking the winding path of the labyrinth. Labyrinths have been around for thousands of years. The actual origin of them is not known. However, in the twel6h and thirteenth centuries, seven pilgrimage cathedrals were iden#ďŹ ed so that Chris#ans could make their pilgrimage there as an alterna#ve to the Holy Land, and would conclude their pilgrimage by walking the labyrinth in these places. Chartres Cathedral in France was one of those, and the labyrinth built into the oor there is s#ll in use today.
Walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight into the spiritual journey. It urges ac on. It calms people in the throes of life transi ons. It helps them see their lives in the context of a path, a pilgrimage. They realize that they are not human beings on a spiritual path but spiritual beings on a human path. To those of us who feel we have untapped gi"s to oer, it s rs the crea ve ďŹ res within. To others who are in deep sorrow, the walk gives solace and peace. The experience is dierent for everyone because each of us brings dierent raw material to the labyrinth. We bring our unique hopes, dreams, history, and longings of the soul. Dr. Lauren Artress, Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool.
Dis#nct from a maze, which has mul#ple paths and dead ends, a labyrinth has only one path, with one entrance that leads to the center. The same path is walked back out to the entrance. With its winding path that leads back and forth and around to the center, the labyrinth is seen as a sacred place which provides opportunity for an experience with God. It is a spiritual tool meant to awaken us to the deep rhythm that unites us to ourselves and to the light that calls from within. The labyrinth opens up imagina#on, it invites rela#onship, it oers a whole way of seeing. With our labyrinth experience during Holy Week, we oered various guides for prayer and reec#on while walking the labyrinth. People chose to use a scripture for reec#on, a psalm to pray, or a guide to follow the fourteen Sta#ons of the Cross. Some chose to walk in silence listening for God. There are some labyrinths available in our Athens area if you are interested in seeing one, and walking one. Piedmont Athens Regional has a small one outside in a park area behind the Loran Smith Cancer for Center Support. Emmanuel Episcopal Church has one located within an interior courtyard that was installed in 2014.
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WORSHIP NEWS B- S./012 31 .4- L0/6: C ’ C 2016-2017 As our children’s choir ministry concludes another choir year in May, I want to take this opportunity to thank our music leadership for their dedica#on in providing a quality music and worship educa#on for our children. These leaders and helpers are here week in and week out from August to May, teaching our children to sing, to read music, to sing in parts, to cherish hymnody, and to lead worship. It is a huge task, but one that is done with great love and devo#on for the sake of our children and their faith development. We will join together as a congrega#on to thank these leaders and also the leadership of children’s missions on Wednesday, May 10, at 6:00 p.m. during our Music and Missions Recogni#on Program.
C : R B , M M Children’s Choir Coordinator: Teresa Granger UGA Children’s Music Intern: JoAnna Barrow Brownie Bear Preschool Choir – ages 3 and 4 years old Director: Margaret McDonald Choir Worker/Choir Moms: Trish Hogan, Menda Lambeth, Nancy Lee Wilbanks Robe Mom: Caroline DuVall The Brownie Bears focus on learning about God through beginning musical experiences with music in the areas of singing, listening, and the playing of instruments. Music Makers Choir – Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 Director: Jennifer Baxley Accompanist: Emily Gertsch Choir Workers/Choir Moms: Joyce Reynolds, Debbie Hargrave, Jenny Lumpkin, Ashley Whiteley Robe Mom: Sharon McKillip The Music Makers focus on learning about God through the development of the child’s singing voice, beginning music reading skills, moving, and the playing of instruments. Joyful Singers Choir – Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 Director: Teresa Granger Accompanist: Margaret Earnest Robe Moms: Jennie De La Vega, Emily Bailey The Joyful Singers focus on learning about God through the development of the child’s singing voice, music reading skills, beginning two-part music, hymn studies, moving, and the playing of instruments.
COMMUNITY NEWS T G A — C D G C : J C
, M C , F B O Children’s Ministry is all about discovering God. On Sunday, May 7 we will experience ďŹ rsthand our children discovering God as they lead us in worship on Children’s Sunday. Not only will the children be discovering God but we will all be doing our own discovery right along with them. They will be singing, praying, reading scripture, playing instruments, and giving a tes#mony. Our theme verse for Children’s Sunday is Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are siHng around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are geHng up.â€? As we worship together we will be reminded that our “Great Adventureâ€? is discovering God as we daily journey through life. An adventure in receiving God’s amazing love for us and loving God with all that we are.
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In the month of May we will experience the story of Ruth. Our children will learn that the story of Ruth is all about following God and loving our family. Our unit verse will be – “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.� Ruth 1:16. Our children will experience the story of Ruth through par#cipa#ng in a variety of workshops on Sunday mornings. 4
Join us on Wednesday, May 10 for our Music and Missions end of the year recogni#on night. We will recognize and thank all of our children and leaders who have par#cipated throughout the year. There will be ice cream sundaes for everyone! You won’t want to miss this special night as we wrap up our Wednesday Night Adventure for the year.
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E V M H S Did you know that there is a Catholic Monastery just a short drive from Athens? The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is located in nearby Conyers, Ga. and was founded in 1944 by Trappist monks from Kentucky. The members originally lived in an old working barn on the Honey Creek Planta#on. According to their website, the Catholic Diocese at the #me was located in Savannah and the en#re Catholic popula#on of Georgia consisted of one family, who lived in Rockdale County. Currently, the Monastery houses 35 monks — of all ages — who have dedicated themselves to the worship of God under the Rules of St. Benedict. They live in solitude and silence, praying ceaselessly. St. Benedic#ne also stated that the monks should live in a self-sustaining environment — and the Monastery strives to live up to this rule, with gardening and baking central to monastery life. The Abbey Church reects architectural details that enhance the monas#c approach to life. Because of their focus on contempla#ve prayer, the architecture is clean and stripped of unnecessary distrac#ons. The Monastery’s building are uncluQered and beau#fully simple. The building materials include brick, stone, and unďŹ nished wood. There are many wonderful elements to enjoy at the Monastery including a collec#on of stained glass designed and built by Father Methodius Telnack —who began his life’s work in Conyers in 1949. The monks make leaded-glass windows in a Method very similar to the work of French ar#sans in the Middle Ages. Fr. Methodius’ work can be seen from Conyers to Arizona and many points in between. The Abbey Garden is home to a bonsai nursery and Garden Center and the en#re grounds are lovingly cared for by the resident monks. The Seekers will be taking a day trip to tour the Monastery of the Holy Spirit on Tuesday, May 23. The tour will provide an interes#ng insight into the lives of the men who live and work quietly and prayerfully at the facility. The group will travel by bus, leaving FBC at 10:00 a.m. and returning about 5:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided and we will picnic on the Monastery grounds. The actual tour should take 2—3 hours. Par#cipants should wear comfortable shoes as there will be a bit of walking. The no-cost trip is limited to the ďŹ rst 20 people who sign up. A lunch will be provided by the Seekers’ Group and your selec#on of sandwich choice is needed upon registra#on (roast beef, chicken salad, ham, turkey or vegetarian). Please contact Heather Swank (heather@ďŹ rstbap#stathens.org) in the church oďŹƒce no later than May 13 if you’d like to join the tour.
#MOMS As we look forward to summer fun ac#vi#es, the #MOMS group will begin with dinner at White Tiger Restaurant and dessert at Mary Conley’s home on Thursday, June 1. Mark your calendar and plan to join us! We will be planning other ac#vi#es for the summer months as well.
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G S 2017 Hannah Brown Dillard Hannah is the daughter of Doug and Pam Dillard and a graduate of Athens Academy. Hannah leQered in varsity soccer 3 years, club play, cross country, cheerleading co-captain, president/founder of the Spanish club, started and par#cipated in the diving team, camp counselor at Athens Y camps, Extra Special People volunteer, volunteer soccer coach at AUSA, Na#onal Honor Society, and the Na#onal Spanish Honor Society. Hannah was in the FBC youth choir, aQended Passport Camps, Fall Retreats, ski trips, youth evening ac#vi#es, volunteered at the NE Georgia and Athens Area Food Banks, and mission trips including the upcoming trip to Slovakia. Hannah will aQend the University of Georgia and major in Poli#cal Science.
Amelia Catherine Graves Amelia is the daughter of David and Cathy Graves, granddaughter of Bob and Janet Harrison, and a graduate of Oconee County High School. Amelia is a member of the Beta Club, Na#onal Honor Society, FCCLA, OYSP Dance Company, and she has been in 19 plays at OYSP. Amelia was in the FBC youth choir, a VBS and fall fes#val volunteer, par#cipated in fall retreats, ski retreats, summer missions trips 2013-2017, Passport camps, Athens Area Food Bank volunteer, and volunteered for Smart Lunch-Smart Kid. Amelia will be aQending the University of Georgia where she plans to major in Interna#onal Aairs.
Asa Jones Hill Asa is the son of Bert and Joanna Hill and a graduate of Athens Academy. Asa is a member of the golf team, varsity basketball team, chess club, Care Club, FCA, and Young Life. He par#cipated in the In Their Shoes Walk, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Extra Special People Volunteer, Athens Area Homeless Shelter Volunteer, and the JDRF Walk. Asa is an ac#ve member of the FBC youth group and has par#cipated in youth mission trips to Louisiana, Mississippi, Slovakia, and Atlanta. He went to Passport Camps 2 years, Fall Retreats 3 years, and volunteered for IHNA setup/take-down, Athens Area Emergency Food Bank, MLK Day of Service, and Smart Lunch-Smart Kids. Asa plans to aQend the University of Mississippi where he will major in Geological Engineering.
Lucy Claire Smith Lucy is the daughter of Ches and Kim Smith and a magna cum laude graduate of North Oconee High School. She is in the Beta Club, Na#onal Honor Society, Rho Kappa Na#onal History Society, Varsity Cheerleading Captain, and a Titan Ambassador. Lucy was in the FBC Youth Choir, a VBS volunteer, par#cipated in mission trips, youth representa#ve for the capital campaign commiQee, and a fall fes#val volunteer. Lucy plans to aQend the University of Georgia and major in Business.
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MISSION NEWS I M P U
C : B P , M Y M The main work we’ll do in Vazec with our partners Jekh Drom (meaning One Way) is two-fold: teaching English lessons in the local school to both Slovak and Roma students and then leading ac#vi#es for elementary age Roma students at the Samuel Kids Club and Community Center in the a6ernoons. The work we go to do is an extension of the long-term presence of Jekh Drom in the community, and of its faithful leaders Danka and Mar#na, as well as our CBF Mission partners the McNary’s — and of the previous teams of people who have gone before us. From the McNary’s‌ Thanks to your support and hard work, there is a building Our students and adults have spent the past 8 months in Vazec to house the Samuel Kids Club and other ac#vi#es raising money and working behind the scenes to get and to serve the community as a Community Center (this is prepared. As mission-centered Bap#sts, we believe strongly in Jesus’ command for us to go into the world in a speciďŹ c dis#nc#on in Slovak law which enabled the his name, oering grace, love, and hope to all God’s Center to have access to grants and government people. This is the calling that 19 of us have taken on this funding). However, for the past several months, the mayor and city council have done everything they could to summer. Pray for us, by name. Our names are below and we encourage you to keep this list in your home before block Jekh Drom from receiving cer#ďŹ ca#on on their and during our trip. This is the greatest gi6 you can give us. building to serve as a Community Center. Though local inspectors approved the building for use, the mayor refused to sign and insisted that minor issues with the building be addressed ďŹ rst. Then the mayor insisted that a local inspector's opinion is not suďŹƒcient and that the inspec#on needed to be performed by a regional authority. All of this is highly unusual and meant only to cause Jekh Drom expense and #me. The 2017 Team Lucy Smith Youth Through all of this, Jekh Drom completed every repair and Kelly Anderson John Thomason now has the most up-to-code building in Vazec! It was Livy Baxley Zeke Williamson #me to ask the Mayor's approval. He balked once Hannah Dillard Adults again. Then Danka, most of you have met her, informed Amelia Graves Cait Haygood the Mayor that because of what he and the city did in the Hollin Hargrave Cindy Haygood case of reloca#ng the family and destroying their home, Asa Hill Daniel Haygood the Plenipoten#ary for Roma issues along with the OďŹƒce Breanna Mar#n Debbie Hargrave of the President of Slovakia had taken no#ce and were Laura Mar#n Joanna Hill ready to address what was going on in Vazec. Immediately Jack McLanahan Brandon Pendry the Mayor signed the approval for Jekh Drom's building to Elli Scarborough serve as a Community Center in Vazec! Ministry Update: Over the past months, there has been a na#on-wide push in Slovakia to relocate the Roma people under the auspices of helping them. But in reality, it’s being done to dump them in a set loca#on and then ignore them. One family in Vazec took the deal and their shack in the village was immediately bulldozed. As expected, the new loca#on’s promises fell through, and they returned to Vazec without a home. This is where Jekh Drom comes in‌
For those wan#ng to par#cipate by providing items for the trip, please visit our Interna#onal Bulle#n Board in the main hallway outside the sanctuary at FBC. It will have a con#nually upda#ng list of both tangible goods needed and ďŹ nancial op#ons that you can grab to help us take care of the last few pieces of the puzzle. To make it even more convenient, the McNary’s have put together an amazon wish-list which you may purchase items on that will help our trip and those a6er us. Whatever way you would like to par#cipate with us, we welcome your contribu#on!
This, my friends, is what persistence a dedica#on looks like. We are thankful for our local partners in Vazec and for their hard work. We are thankful for you and your partnership in this ministry. We're excited to begin a new season of ministry in Vazec and in Slovakia/Czechia. InternaUonal Mission Trip to Slovakia Our youth and adult team will depart on June 10 for a 12 day trip to Slovakia. The trip includes stops in Krakow to visit Auschwitz and also a stop in Budapest.
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P E A B L C B A M O L Do you have skills in literacy, English, reading, communica#on, or simply teaching? Do you have even a day or two you could go to Atlanta? Would you like to experience Atlanta in a new and fresh way by engaging in a local mission project our church has history with? If you have any #me the week of June 11, even a single day, we hope you’ll consider being a part of an Adult Mission Team to Atlanta! Our youth had their summer mission trip at Park Avenue Bap#st Church in Atlanta, GA last summer, helping prepare for the literacy camp that happens each summer on their campus, staed by Passport camp students and adults. This summer’s 1st session of camp is being ďŹ lled by adults, and we’re hoping you’ll be a part of it! CBF Field Personnel Trey Lyon and his wife Jen, who pastors PABC, would love for us to partner with Passport to make sure their ďŹ rst week of camp can s#ll happen this year. If you have any interest in this, please contact Brandon Pendry, minister of Youth & Missions, (brandon@ďŹ rstbap#stathens.org) to ďŹ nd out how we can use you!
C B H E A M T June 27-July 2
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
EQUIPMENT/FURNISHINGS:
Paper Towels (210) Plas#c spoons (1700) Sunscreen (5) 2-gallon zip bags (3) Hand sani#zer (5) 6 oz.-10 oz. Styrofoam cups (210) Trash Bags: 39+ gallon size (170) Dish Detergent (1) Printer toner Black Sharpie Pens (7) Paper plates - Divided/Sturdy (1250) Colored Copy Paper (1 ream) Dryer Sheets (3) 1-Gallon Zip bags (3) Copy Paper (2) Liquid Hand Soap (4) Tall Kitchen Size Trash Bags (335 bags) Bug Spray (4) Laminate Sheets (50) Liquid Laundry Detergent (2 XL) Disposable Bowls – Sturdy (210) 16 oz. Plas#c Cups (1700) Toilet Brush Sets (15) CDs for loading photos (25) Toilet paper (85 rolls) Wipes (5 boxes) Latex-free sterile gloves (1 box M, 1 box L) Kitchen Sponges (2) D baQeries (7) 9-Volt BaQeries (3)
Commercial Vacuum Hand Vacuums (2) Thermal Blankets (10) Flashlights (15) Life Guard Stand Pool Cover Color Copying Machine Ice Cream Maker (2) Pressure Washer Bush Mower Sleeping Bags (9) Room size Trash Cans (5) Microphone Stands (2) New Pillows (25) FiQed Twin-Size Sheets (20) Flat Twin-Size Sheets (20) Pillow Cases (40) Therapeu#c Swing Flat Panel TV (2) w/ DVD Player Beach Towels (40) Heavy Duty Shower Curtain (11) Smoke Alarms (15) Wall Clocks (5) Pots and Pans/Dish Sterilizer Rocking Chairs for Porch (2) Wheelchair-Accessible Van Work Pick-up Truck Large Screen (for movies in gym) Digital Cameras & Memory cards, BaQeries and Cases (10) New MaQresses
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Last summer a large group of adults spent a week living at Camp Hawkins serving people with developmental disabili#es, They taught Bible study, music, and games and helped provide three meals a day. This is a crucial GA Bap#sts ministry that serves the camp par#cipants as well as their families by giving the campers #me to experience summer camp and the families a respite from being a caregiver. As we head back to Camp Hawkins this summer, please consider dona#ng any of the items you see listed le6 and by praying for our team of adults, the families, and campers who will par#cipate. In addi#on to the list, we will also need cookies or pound cakes with no nuts or peanut buQer. Gi6 cards to Ingles, Walmart, Kmart, Lowes, Home Depot and BP are also welcome. We are grateful to Carol Reddish and her team for geHng this wonderful ministry going last summer and con#nuing strong this year. All donaUons need to be at FBC by June 25.
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H C E C C : B P , M Y M Four years ago, our congrega#on made allevia#ng hunger in Clarke County its number one mission priority coming out the vision process. At the #me, we knew full well this was a grand vision — but when you’re dreaming, you don’t dream small. We named several ways to con#nue and expand our eorts, including expanding our roles with current partners Our Daily Bread (ODB) and Smart Lunch Smart Kid (SLSK), which feed people daily year-round and daily during school closures respec#vely. We also wanted to expand our engagement with underserved partners — groups we knew about and worked with, but wanted to up our engagement or start new engagement altogether. Since then we’ve grown our partnerships with ODB as we con#nue sharing space with them daily. We have also increased our footprint at SLSK, taking on days not just during the summer but also during school-year breaks including Christmas and Spring Break. The spring, our children and families went to the Emergency Food Bank and worked extremely hard, falling in love with that ministry and making plans to go back in the summer. Our youth have worked with the North East GA foodbank in the summers as well as the Athens Area Emergency Foodbank (AAEFB) and many in our congrega#on con#nue to work at the AAEFB for the four days each month for which we are commiQed. Other church members, such as Wayne and Mimi Dill have been highlighted locally for their work with Meals on Wheels and s#ll others of you give your #me in ways we don’t know about. While we haven’t completely alleviated hunger, we won’t give up on feeding people because we believe Jesus was serious to his own disciples, and to us in turn, when he told them, “You give them something to eatâ€? and when he told the parable of the sheep and goats, that when we do it for one of the least of these, we do it for Jesus. As summer approaches, it’s easy to take a break from church with vaca#on, camps, and all the great things summer brings. But as our building renova#on con#nues, we are reminded of the commitments we made early on to allevia#ng hunger as a main missional tenant of our vision. The mission team is puHng together a summer chocked full of chances to con#nue the work of Allevia#ng Hunger in Clarke County, to be ready for sign-ups in May, with opportuni#es spanning the summer. I hope you will consider this a key part of your summer plan, to con#nue the work of Christ we commiQed to and to personally challenging yourself to be the hands and feet of Christ by oering a meal, sor#ng and coun#ng cans, or simply praying for all in our area and around the world who suer from hunger. May our work be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, the bread of life that we oer every #me we serve in Christ’s name.
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E J 18-25 H E H U Our ďŹ rst host week using the Hancock House was a success, thanks to all who par#cipated as we began on Easter Sunday for a week of hos#ng families experiencing homelessness. Don’t forget that we have another coming up quickly in June and will deďŹ nitely need all the help we can get! Begin making plans to sign-up early, as the sign-up is available now on our mission webpage.
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Please bring dona#ons of Hamburger Helper, Cold Breakfast Cereals, and Rice to FBC to be delivered to the Emergency Food Bank. Place these dona#ons in the marked container in the Branyon Foyer. 9
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S T Co-Deacons for the Weeks of: April 30– May 6: May 7-13: May 14-20: May 21-27: May 28– June 3:
Mary and Steve Barton Sallyanne Barrow, Tom Brown Fred Young, Andy Ullrich Ches Smith, Erica Spackman Beth and Mark Sanders
Fellowship Team for May Phil & Marcia Caskey, Carol Cofer, Kathy Coleman
Usher Team for May AnneQe BarďŹ eld, Larry Divers, Wilson Denney, Julie Jenkins, Bert Hill, Joanna Hill
Welcome Center Team May 7 Branyon Foyer: Fanning Foyer: May 14 Branyon Foyer: Fanning Foyer: May 21Branyon Foyer: Fanning Foyer: May 28 Branyon Foyer: Fanning Foyer:
Connie Ivester, Martha Ivester Beth Sanders, Janice Love Margaret Earnest, John Marshall Sherri Divers, Pam Dillard
Sunday, May 14, 2017 – The 5th Sunday of Easter Ordina#on of Amanda Lewis to the Gospel Ministry Title: Rekindling the Gi" of God Texts: I Samuel 3:1-18, Luke 4:14-21, II Timothy 1:3-7 Sunday, May 21, 2017 – The 6th Sunday of Easter Graduate Recogni#on Sunday Sermon: Easter Life: No Fear Texts: Psalm 66:8-20, I Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 Sunday, May 28, 2017 – The 7th Sunday of Easter/Ascension Sermon by Dr. Michael Cleland Texts: Acts 1:6-14, I Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11, John 17:1-11
WEDNESDAY MENUS
Beth Sanders, Janice Love Connie Ivester, Martha Ivester Sherri Divers, Joan Beckham Margaret Earnest, John Marshall
Adults $7.00; Children $3.50
May 3 Hot Meal: Children: Salad Bar:
CounUng Commi.ee: May 7 May 14 May 21 May 28
Sunday, May 7 – The 4th Sunday of Easter/Children’s Sunday Music by Children’s Choirs Readings and Prayers by the Children of First Bap#st Sermon: Guides for a Great Adventure Texts: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Luke 18:15-17
Heather Stover, Lewis Shropshire Brad Las#nger, Bevan Hopper Dallas Cannady, Joyce Fleeman Mike Lacy, Buddy Snow
May 10 Hot Meal: Children: Salad Bar:
Barbecue, Bun, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Fruit Jello, Dessert Pizza Baked Irish or Sweet Potato
Chicken Fingers, Macaroni & Cheese, Broccoli Spears, Fruit Cup, Breads#cks, Dessert Hot Meal Baked Irish or Sweet Potato
F C C March 26 April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23
$20,892.50 $19,227.00 $23,830.32 $33,472.33 $30,584.01
Make reserva<ons and view supper menus on the church website. You may also call the church oďŹ&#x192;ce to make or change exis<ng reserva<ons. All reserva<ons or changes should be made no later than noon on the Monday prior.
C F B N Sympathy We extend our Chris#an love and sympathy to: â&#x20AC;˘ BeQy Woolbright and her family in the loss of her sister, Bea Brown, on March 29. â&#x20AC;˘
BeQy Woolbright and her family in the loss of her brother, Rev. David Stewart on April 5.
â&#x20AC;˘
The family of Lois Cobb who passed away on April 6.
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MAY 2017 1 2:00 p.m. Staï¬&#x20AC; Mee#ng
2 6:30 p.m. Young Adult Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop
3 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Dinner 5:45 p.m. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir 6:00 p.m. Adult Discipleship 6:00p.m. Youth Ac#vi#es 6:00 p.m. College Ac#vi#es 6:30 p.m. Mission Kids 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
4 10:30 a.m. Homeless and Poverty Coali#on 11:00 a.m. The Seekers 50+ Team
5 9:00 a.m. Samaritan Counseling
6 2:30 p.m. Piano Recital
7 Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunday Sunday Worship and Ac vi es 8:30 a.m. Founda#on Mee#ng; Discipleship Team; Mission Team 5:00 p.m. Adult Sunday School Leadership Mtg. 6:00 p.m. Youth Ac#vi#es
8 10:00 a.m. AIM Board 2:00 p.m. Staï¬&#x20AC; Mee#ng 6:00 p.m. IHNA Training
9 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop
10 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 p.m. Property Management CommiQee 6:00 p.m. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir and Mission Kids Recogni#on 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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14 Mothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day/ Sunday Worship and Ac vi es 3:00 p.m. Piano Recital 6:00 p.m. Youth Ac#vi#es
15 2:00 p.m. Staï¬&#x20AC; Mee#ng 6:00 p.m. Deacons Mee#ng
16 6:00 p.m. IHNA Training 6:30 p.m. Virginia Appleton Circle 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop
17 18 5:15 p.m. Finance CommiQee 5:30 p.m. VBS Volunteer Training 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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21 Sunday Worship and Ac vi es/ Senior Recogni on Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mission Team Mee#ng
22 10:00 a.m. Embroidererâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guild 2:00 p.m. Staï¬&#x20AC; Mee#ng
23 10:00 a.m. The Seekerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conyers Monastery Trip 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop
24 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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28 Sunday Worship and Ac vi es
29 Church oï¬&#x192;ce closed
30 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop
31 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
25 6:00 p.m. IHNA Training
Sunday Schedule 9:15 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
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Coï¬&#x20AC;ee, Donuts, Fellowship Sunday School Worship Youth Ac#vi#es
First Baptist Church (USPS 193-040) 355 Pulaski Street Athens, Ga 30601
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID ATHENS, GA 30601
FIRST BAPTIST NEWS (USPS 193-040) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT NO CHARGE BY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 355 PULASKI STREET, ATHENS, GA 30601-2860. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ATHENS, GA. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO FIRST BAPTIST NEWS, 355 PULASKI ST., ATHENS, GA 30601-2680
VacaUon Bible School June 5-9 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Rising Kindergartners through 6th graders
Online registration is now open on the FBC website (register by May 15 to select t-shirt size) Adult Volunteers are needed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Contact Janet Cleland to volunteer 12