September 2017 color

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September 2017

Volume LX No. 7

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By: Dr. Paul Baxley, Senior Minister This month I take this space to let you know about a series of sermons and midweek gatherings that will begin very soon, because I want you to start prayerfully preparing for it, and I also want you to have some sense of where it ďŹ ts in the life of our congrega$on. The series of sermons is called Reforming Ques ons. I will begin the series in worship on September 17 and it will conclude November 12. The ďŹ rst two sermons are introductory, but then beginning October 1 through the end of the series we will be in a format very much like last fall’s Let’s Talk series, where the Sunday sermon begins a conversa$on that will con$nue in small groups through the week. On page 7 of this newsle+er you will ďŹ nd more informa$on about those groups and how to sign up for them. I have decided to preach this series of sermons and encourage the conversa$ons they will produce a,er prayer and extensive conversa$on with our ministerial sta and deacons. We are approaching a transi$on moment in the life of our congrega$on. As we move back into our renovated space, we are essen$ally comple$ng implementa$on of almost all of the vision implementa$on report that we adopted in 2013. Back then we iden$ďŹ ed a series of ďŹ rst steps we could take toward a vision of being a thriving community in Christ where we all par$cipate in worship and are all transformed by mission. My sense, shared by other church leaders, is that this vision we developed in 2013 s$ll is a compelling one for us, that we do not need a new vision. But we do need to prepare for a process through which we will iden$fy Next Steps in the realiza$on of that vision. So early this fall, a leadership team will be formed to ďŹ rst develop and then implement this process, which will likely occupy our a+en$on during the winter and spring. The Reforming Ques ons series of sermons and conversa$ons is being designed to prepare us for that work of discerning next steps. We believe there are some basic ques$ons about faith we need to ask to refocus us on the essen$als of our faith before we ac$vely seek next steps. And we also think there are some profound changes in our culture that we need to begin to discuss before seeking those next steps.

TUESDAY NOON BIBLE STUDY TO RESUME SEPTEMBER 5 The Tuesday Noon Bible Study will resume on Tuesday, September 5 at noon. For the ďŹ rst several weeks, the class will meet under the Sanctuary in the Karen Sunday School classroom. Once work is concluded in the Branyon Foyer we will move to our new regular room, which will be the new Farrall Conference Room o that Foyer. The Tuesday Noon study will also focus this fall on The Rise of David as described in I Samuel. This study is also oered on Wednesday evenings, where it began on August 16. Please contact Paul Baxley if you have ques$ons.

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

Emily Harbin Minister of College Students

Anne Bri,ain Organist/Music Associate

Alan McArthur Pianist

Church oďŹƒce: 706.548.1359 www.firstbaptistathens.org

I have $tled the series Reforming Ques ons because this fall marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reforma$on. That Reforma$on began when Mar$n Luther asked the Catholic church to have conversa$ons about a series of topics he thought were essen$al if the church were to be more faithful. When he nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wi+enburg, Germany he had no idea what would come from his proposal for conversa$on. Now, as Protestant Chris$anity marks our ďŹ ve hundredth birthday, it is widely recognized that Protestant Chris$anity in Western Europe and the United States may well need another reforma$on, because of changes around us and changes within us. So I ask you to begin preparing for this fall series because it will challenge you and I to think again about very basic things in our faith, while also asking us to help one another with some profound changes in the world around us. I hope and pray the Spirit will use it to prepare us to discern incredible next steps in our life together when that conversa$on begins in the winter. Watch other church publica$ons in the coming days for more informa$on about this series. I look forward to sharing it with you and discovering all that God has for us as we con$nue our journey of faith together!

Submit items for inclusion in the October 2017 edi?on of FBC news by noon on September 21.

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The renova$on of the facili$es of First Bap$st Church con$nues at a very intense pace. Here are a few items of note: First, we are pleased to announce that work on the third oor will be completed during September as carpet and other ooring will be installed throughout. Once that is ďŹ nished, we will be able to assign new rooms for classes that will be located on that oor. As is obvious to those driving or walking by, signiďŹ cant progress is also being made in the new entrance and arrivalhood at the Branyon Foyer. We an$cipate that the regular entrance to the church oďŹƒce should be func$onal very soon, even as the work is being ďŹ nished outside in that area. Work inside the Foyer will begin as the outside work concludes and be done by the $me the Sanctuary reopens for worship.

announce a projected date for return to the Sanctuary for worship! SigniďŹ cant progress was made over the summer in the area used by our preschool and early elementary Sunday School classes and also Live Oak Morning School. Live Oak is now opera$ng in unďŹ nished space and in the weeks ahead Sunday School classes will move back in that area and use it unďŹ nished. Final ooring and carpet will be installed in those rooms late in the fall. Work on the ďŹ rst oor and the second oor in the newer por$ons of the building will begin as soon as Sanctuary work is completed. As that work begins we will announce a projected schedule

We are grateful for your exibility during this $me of renova$on and also for the generous contribu$ons that have made the work possible. During this $me in our Work progresses well in the Sanctuary. In August that work church’s life it is important that we con$nue to make gi,s included ďŹ nal framing of the new chancel area and to the Regenerate campaign while also fully funding our signiďŹ cant HVAC and ďŹ re protec$on work. By the end of regular opera$ng budget. Thank you for your con$nued August (a,er the deadline for this publica$on) we will support of the life and work of First Bap$st! 2

2018 P 7 8 B68L At their regular mee$ng August 21, the Deacons of First Bap$st Church unanimously approved a proposed budget for the fiscal year 2018. That proposed budget is included in this newsle+er for your review. If you have ques$ons about the proposed budget or would like to learn more about it, Finance Commi+ee Chair Steve Barton will make a presenta$on and respond to ques$ons on Sunday, October 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Then, on Sunday, October 15 the congrega$on will be called into conference at the close of worship to vote on the

proposed budget. The proposed 2018 budget reflects a decrease from the total budget for 2017. The decreases in expenditures reflect savings in opera$ng costs we expect to experience a,er renova$on of the facili$es is completed and also savings related to increasing efficiencies in other areas of the church’s opera$ons. If you have ques$ons please plan to be present October 8, or contact Steve Barton, Finance Commi+ee Chair, or Paul Baxley, Senior Minister.

2017 Annual Budget

MISSIONS COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP FBC MISSION PROJECTS LOCAL MISSION PARTNER(S) SLOVAKIA MISSION PARTNERSHIP MISSION TEAM DISCRETIONARY GEORGIA CBF MERCER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY SAREPTA ASSOCIATION ATHENS AREA EMERG FOOD BANK ATHENS AREA HOMELESS SHELTER OUR DAILY BREAD THE ARK RADIO BROADCAST SAMARITAN COUNSELING ADULTS IN MISSIONS NURSES CLINIC MERCY CLINIC IHNA HOST EXPENSES YMCA SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS SALVATION ARMY DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL-BAPTIST HOUSE ASSOCIATED BAPTIST PRESS EDUCATION COLLEGE MINISTRY LITERATURE EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES YOUNG ADULT/COLLEGE DIVISION FAMILY MINISTRY LIBRARY-MEDIA CENTER LEADERSHIP TRAINING DISCIPLESHIP/GUEST SPEAKER YOUTH/CHILDREN DIVISION YOUTH DIVISION CHILDREN'S DIVISION PRESCHOOL DIVISION MUSIC MUSIC LITERATURE GUEST MUSICIANS/SUPPLY NEW MUSIC SUPPLIES/EQUIPMENT/MAINTENANCE AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS MUSIC EVENTS SPECIAL CONCERTS

2018 Proposed Budget

ANNUAL BUDGET $ 12,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 9,000.00 $ 11,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 12,000.00 $ 4,500.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 8,400.00 $ 2,200.00 $ 2,500.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 105,600.00

PROPOSED BUDGET $ 12,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 9,000.00 $ 11,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 12,000.00 $ 4,500.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 6,500.00 $ 8,400.00 $ 2,200.00 $ 1,500.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 104,600.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

3,500.00 10,200.00 5,400.00 5,900.00 1,200.00 900.00 1,800.00 3,600.00 32,500.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

3,500.00 10,200.00 5,400.00 5,900.00 1,200.00 900.00 1,800.00 3,600.00 32,500.00

$ $ $ $

15,000.00 8,400.00 3,400.00 26,800.00

$ $ $ $

15,000.00 8,400.00 3,400.00 26,800.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

1,400.00 5,850.00 4,575.00 7,045.00 500.00 1,500.00 2,520.00 23,390.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

1,400.00 5,850.00 4,575.00 7,045.00 500.00 1,500.00 2,520.00 23,390.00

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OPERATING EXPENSE

2017 Budget

2018 Proposed Budget

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

8,400.00 78,000.00 7,800.00 6,600.00 7,200.00 16,000.00 7,200.00 4,400.00 6,300.00 400.00 4,200.00 3,600.00 402.00 201.00 8,000.00 2,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 750.00 1,500.00 1,200.00 750.00 1,500.00 174,250.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

8,000.00 70,000.00 8,200.00 6,600.00 7,200.00 14,000.00 7,000.00 4,400.00 6,300.00 400.00 8,000.00 1,500.00 400.00 200.00 7,000.00 2,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 750.00 1,500.00 750.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 162,200.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

38,000.00 35,000.00 57,000.00 5,088.00 13,000.00 9,400.00 8,900.00 19,000.00 4,000.00 189,388.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

25,000.00 35,000.00 57,000.00 5,200.00 14,000.00 13,000.00 8,900.00 19,000.00 4,000.00 181,100.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

400,537.00 190,035.00 39,354.00 6,847.00 20,200.00 120,500.00 777,473.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

405,270.00 189,568.00 38,927.00 7,052.00 20,000.00 128,602.00 789,419.00

CREATIVE MINISTRIES SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICES CHILDCARE WORKERS SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL STEWARDSHIP RECREATION ADVERTISING/MARKETING UNDERGRAD MINISTRY INTERNSHIPS FINE ARTS IMMERSION CAMP

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

4,000.00 702.00 19,000.00 1,008.00 2,500.00 402.00 1,500.00 2,940.00 8,000.00 1,800.00 43,852.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

4,000.00 702.00 14,000.00 1,008.00 2,500.00 402.00 1,500.00 2,940.00 8,000.00 1,800.00 36,852.00

TOTAL

$ 1,373,253.00

UTILITIES - GAS UTILITIES - ELECTRIC UTILITIES - WATER/REFUSE UTILITIES - TELEPHONE OFFICE SUPPLIES *IT (COMPUTER) EXPENSE POSTAGE OFFICE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE OFFICE - LEASED EQUIPMENT FLOWERS - SANCTUARY WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEALS FOOD SERVICE-SPECIAL EVENTS MISCELLANEOUS AUTO EXPENSE-OFFICE CHURCH PUBLICATIONS CONVENTION EXPENSE CONTINUING ED-PASTOR CONTINUING ED. - ED. MIN. CONTINUING ED. - MIN. MUSIC CONTINUING ED. - ORGANIST CONTINUING ED. - YOUTH MINISTER OFFICE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CONTINUING ED.- CHILDREN'S MIN. SENIOR MINISTER OUTREACH

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE BUILDING REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE INSURANCE JANITORIAL SERVICES RETIREMENT-CUSTODIAL JANITORIAL SUPPLIES SECURITY SERVICES LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE-A KITCHEN REPAIRS

ADMINISTRATIVE MINISTERS' SALARIES ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES RETIREMENT - MINISTERS RETIREMENT - SECRETARIAL SOCIAL SECURITY PERSONNEL INSURANCE

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

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$ 1,356,861.00

WORSHIP AND MUSIC NEWS CO S O

By: Randy Bri.ain, Music Director

In this season of new beginnings we welcome four UGA music students who will be serving as Choral Scholars for the 2017-2018 church year. This is our seventh year of providing Choral Scholarships to students to be mentored in our Music Ministry at FBC. These scholarships and internships are made possible through church budget funds and anonymous donors. The Choral Scholarship for Rachel Eve Apfelbach has again this year been given in memory of Helen McArthur and her long$me service to the Music Ministry of FBC. Please take a moment a,er worship in the next few weeks and welcome these students to FBC Athens. Rachel Eve Apfelbach, soprano, has been a Choral Scholar since 2015 and will finish her Doctor of Music Arts degree in Opera at UGA in 2018. She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and Colorado State University with degrees in vocal performance. Rachel Eve is from Jonesboro. She had a busy performance schedule this summer singing Lae$$a in MenoS’s The Old Maid with the St. George Opera, Utah; Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen with the Capitol City Opera, Atlanta; and Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the Stafford Opera Troupe in Stafford, Virginia.

Ryan Bra,on, tenor, is a freshman Music Educa$on major and his principal instrument is tuba. Ryan comes to us from one of our sister CBF churches, FBC Asheville, NC. Ryan’s father, Tommy, is Minister of Chris$an Forma$on at FBC Asheville and his mother Laura is also an ordained minister. Ryan spent part of his summer on a 12-day mission pilgrimage to Cuba with 31 students and adults from FBC Asheville. Ryan writes of his experience, “One of the most important things I took from the trip was the reminder that everyone is a child of God no ma+er where they come from and that embracing differences is what brings us all together.”

Sarah Deal, soprano, is a junior Music Educa$on and Music Therapy major and her principal instrument is flute. In the summer of 2016, Sarah volunteered with our Fine Arts Camp and began a+ending our church. She is an Intern with the Georgia Children’s Chorus and will be our Children’s Choirs Intern with Teresa Granger, direc$ng the Brownie Bear Choir. Sarah’s home church is FBC Roswell where she began singing in the preschool choir at age 3. Sarah writes of her career goals, “I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in both music educa$on and music therapy. I am very interested in elementary music educa$on specifically, but I am also interested in music therapy to help young children as well. I hope to one day combine both careers and become a music therapist and music educator at one school.

Alan Hester, tenor, is a freshman Music Educa$on major and his principal instrument is trumpet. He comes to us from one of our sister CBF churches, FBC Rome, GA. For the past three summers Alan has played with the 150 member Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps out of northeastern Ohio. In the summer of 2016 the Bluecoats won the DCI World Championship. Alan says about our Choral Scholarship ministry, “This internship will aid me in my studies as a music major, for it will give me more experience in performance and will strengthen my rela$onship with God. This opportunity will give me the ability to worship God with the gi,s he has given me, and to share his beau$ful work with others.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS TO G A8T 6 : CO 8 D T L G 8 UR: J C

8, M F Q , CO 8 8 O6 O August has been a month of new beginnings. We started o on the ďŹ rst Sunday of August with our children being promoted to their next grade. We celebrated together with a family breakfast and then a parent mee$ng about the year to come. We began a new Sunday School year in workshop rota$on and our theme for the year is God’s Amazing Love.

well. This group will spend the year going through the Bible and diving deep into it’s stories.

A new year of Children’s Choir and Mission Kids began on August 16 as our choirs kicked o the theme All Crea on Sings. Our Mission Kids began with their theme Growing and Showing Love. Their mission project this month is to collect crayons for the The focus for the month of August crayon recycle program. This program was on Jonah, a very ďŹ shy story recycles old crayons and makes new ones to supply to shelters for children indeed! This is a great story of God’s in need. It also keeps crayons out of amazing love for the people of Nineveh. Our 5th & 6th grade program our landďŹ lls and is one way our “submergeâ€? kicked o on August 6 as children can care for crea$on.

Our September mission project will be to collect books and make book marks for the Blue Cart Ministry and also for the Athens Nurses Clinic. You can help donate books on Wednesday evenings or Sunday mornings and place them in marked container in the lobby. We have a great start to a new year of children’s ministries with much to look forward to. Our preschool space is under renova$on and soon our elementary space will be complete. We are excited for the great adventure of enjoying new space with our children!

N P Q O Y 6 L A86 M R By: Frank Granger, Minister of Community Listening to the radio a few weeks ago I heard a comment about the typical ďŹ rst wri$ng assignment in English class. With school now in full session, at most all levels, I am sure there have been a few of these assignments handed out. Not long a,er I turned o the radio (probably because I had arrived at my des$na$on), I had the idea to share the ac$vi$es of our Young Adult group from the summer months, June through August. The book ends of these ac$vi$es are diner events. (Well, to be honest, every $me we got together we ate food). Here is a quick look-back of our summer ac$vi$es. What is one of your Big Theological Ques?ons? A,er dinner at the Granger’s we gathered to share and explore our big theological ques$ons. We shared an open, honest, and inspiring discussion. Rook & Pawn Trivia The local game spot near the church oers trivia most every Tuesday. When we didn’t know the answer – which this evening was too o,en – we gave conďŹ dent guesses. There is no penalty for wrong answers. A Blockbuster Movie Went to the University 16 Theatres to see the move Wonder Woman. The Kayak Trip that turned into Board Games Indoors Planned a kayak trip and picnic here in Athens at Big Dogs on the River. But, believe it or not, we had to adapt our plans because the river was too high. (Yes, you read that correctly. Too much water!) So instead, we met at the Granger’s house for some board games and a cookout.

A (Sad) Good-bye dinner for Judith DeFoor Kelli & Steve Smith hosted us in July for dinner and a chance to share our best wishes to Judith DeFoor who was moving to Kentucky for graduate school. Hiking Trip to Tallulah Gorge & Bluegrass under the Stars At the end of July we met early on a Saturday morning and traveled to the Tallulah Gorge and followed the trail down, over the suspension bridge, then back up. Great views and a beau$ful day. A,er a quick lunch in Clayton, we crossed the state line into South Carolina for some hand-dipped ice cream. On our way back into Georgia we stopped o at the Cha+ooga River and more beau$ful views in nature. We capped o the evening in the town of Tallulah Falls at the Tallulah Falls Opry House for bluegrass under the stars. Bingo night at Ted’s Most Best Another downtown venue close to the church is Ted’s Most Best. Once a week they host Bingo out on their pa$o. We were much more successful at Bingo than trivia. Many of us had the thrill of calling out “Bingo.â€? One in the group had a hat trick (she won three $mes). Taco Bar and Movie Night Newlyweds Zach and Rachael Graves hosted us at the end of the summer for a taco bar and movie night at their new home. Fun $mes and great food; we even got to pet Rocket, their new dog. Though summer is over, our ac$vi$es are not. In September we will be mee$ng regularly for dinner and Bible study. Steve and Kelli Smith will be our hosts, serving up dinner with excep$onal hospitality. Our Bible study will be focused on the book of Genesis. 6

R01234567 Q90:;526:S0350: S4<== G329? D5:@9::526 By: Frank Granger, Minister of Community partners, including Taziki’s and Carrabbas. The meal cost to you will be the same cost structure as our Wednesday evening dinner: Adults meals $7.00/person; Children 3.50/ child; College students/free. When signing up for the Wednesday small group, you will be automa$cally signed up for all seven weeks and the meals. Any cancellaBons for a speciďŹ c week can be made by contacBng the church by 12:00 Noon on the Monday prior.

The Reforming Ques ons Series will be a fall preaching series that will extend into small group discussions during the following week. Small group opportuni es are being oered on Wednesday evenings (during the season when we will be out of the fellowship hall), and Sunday a0ernoons. Informa on is provided here for further explana on of the mes AND places for these small group discussions and informa on about signing up to par cipate.

Child care will be available, by request, for children birth through Pre-K. ALL child care will be provided at the church. (Those requiring child care will be in groups mee$ng at the church). When signing up for the Wednesday small groups you are asked to select a 1st choice and a 2nd choice for loca$on preference.

Brief Overview for Discussion Groups in the Reforming Ques?ons Series • Time Frame: 7 Weeks in October and November • 2 Op$ons for Mee$ng Times for Discussion Groups: Wednesday Evenings 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. Sunday a,ernoons 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. • Sign Ups Needed: Individuals are asked to sign up for par$cipa$on in the small groups. Make a choice for par$cipa$on on either Wednesday or Sunday. Sign up online, by email, or by calling the church. • Child care will be available, by request, for children birth through age 4. ALL child care will be provided at the church. (Those requiring child care will be in groups mee$ng at the church).

Op?on 2: Sunday A`ernoons, 4:30 – 5:45 pm • Dates: Sundays, October 1 through November 12 • All groups mee?ng on Sunday will meet at the church (See below: this will be during the same $me as the children’s choirs and mission groups will be mee$ng). • NO MEAL will be served on Sunday evenings • Child Care will also be available during this $me by request Overview of the Mee?ng Time in Small Groups The length of the small group session is 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes total). The Format and Schedule for the session each week will be as follows: • Gathering (15 minutes) • Opening: scripture and prayer (3 minutes) • Meal and conversa$on (44 minutes): Allowing for people to eat together, and have conversa$on focused on the topic for the evening. *Sunday sessions will not have a meal, and will proceed directly to the $me of conversa$on. • Prayer and Closing (3 minutes): A concluding prayer • Clean up (10 minutes) (Wednesday sessions only)

Op?on 1: Wednesday Evenings, 5:30 – 6:45 pm Dates: Wednesdays, October 4 through November 15 Mee$ng loca$ons for Wednesday sessions will be: • Home of Tom & Debbie Brown 1320 Broadlands Dr., Watkinsville, GA 30677 • Home of Helen & Milton Mills 445 Forest Rd., Athens, GA 30605 • Home of Rick & Jill Dawson 290 Lullwater Rd., Athens, GA 30606 • First Bap$st Church A Meal will be served at each loca$on with these Wednesday groups. Meals for the Wednesday evening small group discussion are being coordinated through the church and provided by a few of our local restaurant

A CO 8 ’ CO 8 M K 8 F Q Our Children’s Choirs and Mission Kids program are o to a great start! There will be a change in schedule due to our remodeling of our building. From Sunday, October 1 through Sunday, November 12 our Children’s Choirs and Mission Kids program will move from Wednesday to Sunday. The schedule will be as follows: 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm 5:15 pm -6:00 pm

Children’s Choirs – Brownie Bears, Music Makers and Joyful Singers Mission Kids – Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade

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YOUTH NEWS O O6 T Like other beginning walkers, our daughter Emerson o,en is on her $p toes, as many of you have observed. When we try to walk on our toes, we realize how diďŹƒcult it can be, forcing us to use our calves and foot muscles more and to focus on balance. It’s much more comfortable to walk with our whole foot, se+ling into our heels for balance and security. There’s a movement in running that encourages runners to land more on their mid-foot or ball, leading to some of the same strength building in our feet and calves. And this style of running is also taxing, at least when you’re used to running the tradi$onal way where you land on your heels the majority of the $me. But what if being on our toes and expending that extra energy like runners or young children was seen as a forma$onal event rather than a challenge? This fall, many groups in our congrega$on will be forced to meet o-site or in new loca$ons and at new $mes due to the renova$on of our facility. The youth are no dierent, moving our main Sunday night $me together to Tom & Molli Goggin’s home — beginning September 10 and staying un$l our room is ďŹ nished back at FBC. There will be some challenges inherent in this, but I propose we see it as God keeping us on our toes. Newness forces us to re-engage the familiar, recommit to what we thought we knew, and reminds us that even our regular commitments shouldn’t be immune to being remade. I’m excited about the new rela$onships we’ll forge in a dierent seSng, the new youth who might feel more comfortable being at someone’s home than a church, and the chance to live out our faith dierently this fall. Like walking or running on your toes, it’s hard if not impossible to do it for a long $me. But like this reloca$on, a short $me of being on our toes is sure to bring a renewed sense of strength and focus to our commitment to Christ and to loving and serving the world.

Youth Ministry Intern: Abigail Pierce Abigail Pierce is a sophomore at UGA from Macon. She is an exercise science major and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi at UGA. She is a member of Highland Hills Bap$st Church in Macon and worked there in children’s and preschool programs, as well as par$cipa$ng in many service organiza$ons. She is excited to get involved with the church’s youth and get to know the congrega$on. Please welcome Abigail as she con nues growing in her own faith while helping the growth of our own youth. Messy Games, FBCAthens Youth Style 8

MISSION NEWS R

, R T a R

By: Brandon Pendry, Minister of Youth & Missions

Nearly 3 years ago, conversa$ons began between FBC and Ac$on Ministries — the parent ministry for Our Daily Bread (ODB) — about the future poten$al for renova$ons of the fellowship hall at FBC where ODB carries out the bulk of their ministry. This was part of the large renova$on project FBC would be undergoing. But long before those conversa$ons began, hands and feet from FBC took meals to Oconee St. United Methodist Church where ODB had been born and raised for over a quarter century. When I arrived more than 5 years ago, one of the ďŹ rst ministries I par$cipated in was taking one of those meals with the Young Couples Sunday School class, serving, and ea$ng with guests of ODB. And it was clear in my ďŹ rst visit the importance of the one place that oered a free, no strings a+ached meal to anyone who wanted it. This was the gospel, lived out by churches, civic groups and families who oered this meal as Christ oers love to us — freely. We could never have known that those years of serving one meal per month at ODB would later become serving daily meals in our own fellowship hall. We also couldn’t have known that the tragedy of a ďŹ re and forced reloca$on would eventually come full circle, and that one day, the ministry would return to the congrega$on where it all began. And we now arrive at a date on the calendar — September 8 — when those aforemen$oned renova$ons of the fellowship hall space at FBC will again force ODB to relocate. But in a way, reloca$on isn’t the best term, for it is indeed a restora$on of sorts. Oconee St. UMC has graciously oered its newly renovated space to ODB for the dura$on of the renova$on at FBC. As we work to oer ODB a beau$ful and more func$onal space, Oconee St. UMC is witnessing the gospel — to us at FBC, to the guests of ODB, to Ac$on Ministries, and to the Athens area — that Chris$ans aren’t just about renova$ng spaces or reloca$ng ministries, but more about restoring commitments and restoring rela$onships. You see, it was never a ques$on of IF Oconee St would host ODB again, but WHEN and for how long. Oconee St. UMC’s commitment to ODB didn’t end when the ministry transi$oned permanently to FBC, but rather it con$nued in the form of meal prepara$on and support. It will now transform again. Building on their tradi$on of being an open, community-centered church that puts the needs of others above their own, Oconee St. UMC is restoring a long-standing ministry. As they restore the ministry of ODB to its original home — even if only by temporary reloca$on — they allow us to complete our renova$on and restore our commitment to ODB as we look forward to welcoming them back to a space speciďŹ cally tailored for ODB to be a central part of our ministry for the long haul. One of the beau$ful stories that has gone under-the-radar during our renova$on is that the changes to the fellowship hall and surrounding structures, while necessary, may not have been priori$zed or even carried out in the same manner without the presence of ODB and the ďŹ rm commitment of this congrega$on to its con$nued success. Reorien$ng the bathrooms toward the fellowship hall will not only work be+er logis$cally, but will allow volunteers to spend more $me in meaningful, rela$onship building rather than monitoring halls and giving direc$ons. Adding dis$nct storage for ODB will help alleviate the challenges of shared space, making it easier for both ODB and FBC to carry out our ministries. The new ďŹ nishes, furniture, A/C and technology will not only make our fellowship hall one of the best equipped rooms in Athens for large group gatherings, but will also convey to our guests that they are worthy of the best—not something many other community kitchens around the country are able to oer through their spaces. A tragic reloca$on led to new rela$onships and radical shi,s in FBC’s ministry ďŹ ngerprints in Athens. A renova$on will con$nue that trajectory as the en$re building becomes more accessible and open to use by the community — most likely for something else we can’t see that God has in store for FBC’s future. And a restora$on of the commitments of both Oconee St. UMC and FBC through this process give us hope and convic$on that when the body of Christ bands together, Christ’s love is shared and all God’s children get a glimpse of Jesus’ powerful prayer, “your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.â€? 9

S T L T L O

J 6 W O 7 S 7 QU

Co-Deacons for the Weeks of:

Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sundays Reminder: Un l we return to the Sanctuary, we will hold services in Fellowship Hall at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, with the excepBon of Sunday September 3 when we will have only one service at 11:00 a.m. due to the Labor Day Holiday

Aug. 27 — Sept. 2: Marcia & Phil Caskey September 3 —9: Amy & Fred Young September 10-16: Mark Sanders, Andy Ullrich September 17-23: Kim & Wayne Rogers September 24-30: Alan Reddish, Je Randa

Fellowship Team for September Sallyanne Barrow, Steve Barton, Phil & Marcia Caskey

Usher Team for September Brad Las$nger, Doug Dillard, Ches Smith, Kevin Price, Bill Horton

Welcome Team September 3: September 10: September 17: September 24:

Teresa Granger, Chris$ne Lo Becky Adams, Amy Young Wanda Grogan, Al Henderson Tom & Debbie Brown

Sunday, September 3 – The 13th Sunday a0er Pentecost Sermon: by Frank Granger Texts: Exodus 3:1-15, Jeremiah 15:15-21, Romans 12:9-21,Ma+hew 16:21-28 Sunday, September 10 – The 14th Sunday a0er Pentecost Sermon: “Unlikely Heroes� Texts: Exodus 1:8-2:10, Ma+hew 16:13-20 Sunday, September 17 – The 15th Sunday a0er Pentecost Sermon: “GeSng on with the Journey� Texts: Exodus 14:5-22, Acts 16:6-11 Sunday, September 24 – The 16th Sunday a0er Pentecost Sermon: “Reforming Ques$ons� Texts: Joshua 4:1-7, Isaiah 6:1-8, Ma+hew 16:13-20

Coun?ng Commi,ee: September 3: September 10: September 17: September 24:

Lane Chason, Jackie GriďŹƒn Bill Hopper/Buddy Snow, Michael Jenkins Michael Jenkins, Al Lee Roy Segars, Steve Barton

CO6 O F Q R N P Sympathy We extend our Chris$an love and sympathy: •to the family of Frances Thurman, who passed away July 31. •to Pam GriďŹƒn and her family in the loss of her mother, Marie T. Hilton, on August 1. New Members We welcome new members: • Roger and Lynn Hanson who joined July 2. • Tray and Sarah Li+leďŹ eld who joined August 13.

Food Bank Needs: Canned Soup, Canned Pasta, Peanut Bu,er Please place items for dona?on in the marked bins in the Branyon Foyer.

WEDNESDAY MENUS Adults $7.00; Children $3.50 September 6 Hot Meal: Scrambled Eggs & Bacon, Cheese or Plain Grits, Fruit Salad, Biscuit, Dessert Children: Hot Meal Salad Bar: Baked Irish or Sweet Potato September 13 Hot Meal: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas, Pear Salad, Biscuit, Dessert Children: Hot Dog & Tater Tots Salad Bar: Baked Irish or Sweet Potato September 20 Hot Meal: Chicken & Rice Casserole, Broccoli, Fruit Salad, Rolls, Dessert Children: Hot Dog & Tater Tots Salad Bar: Baked Irish or Sweet Potato Make reservaBons and view supper menus on the church website. You may also call the church oďŹƒce to make or change exisBng reservaBons. All reservaBons or changes should be made no later than noon on the Monday prior.

F C U6 YTD July 30, 2017 Weekly July 23 July 30 August 6 August 13 August 20 10

$19,618.32 $13,533.00 $18,984.60 $15,156.30 $16,554.14

Needed: Received: Expenses: Balance:

$915,502.00 $774,713.57 $838,900.17 ($64,186.60)

SEPTEMBER 2017 Sunday Schedule 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Coffee, Donuts 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:15 p.m. Youth Choir 6:30 p.m. Youth Ac$vi$es

Wednesday Schedule (un?l 9/20) 5:00 –5:45 p.m. Wednesday Dinner 5:45 p.m. Children’s Choir 6:00—6:50 p.m. Adult Discipleship 6:00—7:15 p.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

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5 12:00 noon Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop

6 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Activities

8 7 10:30 a.m. Seekers Team Mtg. 7:00 p.m. Prayer & Bible Study at Chestnut Grove

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10 11 2:00 p.m. Sunday Worship & Staff Meeting Activities 5:00 p.m. Walking Group — Oconee Veterans Park

12 12:00 noon Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop

13 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Activities 5:15p.m. Finance Committee 5:30 p.m. Property Management Committee

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17 18 2:00 p.m. Sunday Worship & Activities Staff Meeting 8:30 a.m. Mission Team Mtg. 5:00 p.m. Walking Group — FBC Parking Lot

19 12:00 noon Tuesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Virginia Appleton Circle 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop

20 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Activities 6:00 p.m. #MOMS

21 12:00 Noon Newsletter Deadline

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24 Sunday Worship & Activities 5:00 p.m. Walking Group — Oconee Veterans Park

26 12:00 noon Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop

27 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Activities

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3 Sunday Worship & Activities No 8:30 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Walking Group No evening activities

4 Church Office Closed for Labor Day

25 10:00 a.m. Embroiderer’s Guild 2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting

#MOMS Our #MOMS group is gearing up for our first fall gathering. We will meet on Wednesday, September 20 at 6:00 p.m. on the third floor, Room 11. Moms of all ages and seasons of life are invited to join us as we share refreshments, have fellowship, and gather ideas for future mee$ngs. Hope to see you on the 20th! 11

Watch your inbox for our weekly electronic news THE MIDWEEK MESSENGER which is sent each Wednesday. If you would like to receive our weekly e-news, contact Sharon Jenkins (sharon@firstbap$stathens.org) to be included. Items to be included should be submi+ed to Sharon by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.

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

M O77 6 P O 7 P O CO 6 G T B 7 On August 27 we had a wonderful congrega$on from our church join our brothers and sisters in Christ at Chestnut Grove Bap$st Church for a joint worship service and fellowship meal. That was a signiďŹ cant ďŹ rst step in the beginning of a strengthened rela$onship between our congrega$ons. A,er the ďŹ rst of 2018 we will announce a date for another Sunday a,ernoon joint worship service and meal here at First Bap$st. We want to make sure our renova$ons are essen$ally complete before we host that gathering. But in the mean$me, we will oer a monthly Thursday evening opportunity for Bible Study and prayer for interested members of both congrega$ons. The fall dates are: September 7, October 5, November 9 and December 7. Each of those nights we will gather at Chestnut Grove at 7:00 p.m. In the winter and spring we will hold those monthly gatherings at First Bap$st. So mark your calendars and plan to join us at Chestnut Grove on September 7 for an evening of Bible Study and prayer. 12

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