June/July CrossTie 2021 by Smoke Rise Baptist Church

Summer at Smoke Rise

Cross ie MAGAZINE

Vol 5 | Issue 6 | June/July 2021

June 6th

June 13th

Gary Furr

Rob Nash

June 20th

Summer at Smoke Rise While our Pastor will be away finding rest and renewal with family and spiritual nourishment to be better prepared to lead our congregation into God’s bright future for Smoke Rise, we are excited to welcome some gifted preachers into our pulpit who will provide spiritual nourishment for our congregation.

Molly Marshall

Retired Pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama

Senior Pastor of Heritage Fellowship in Canton, Georgia

Interim President of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

July 4th

July 11th

August 1st

Gerry Hutchinson

Retired Endorser of Chaplains and Pastor Counselors, and Retired Naval Chaplain

Meredith Stone

Executive Director of Baptist Women in Ministry

Bo Prosser

Speaker, Coach, and Adult Educator

In-Person Sunday School

On June 6, we will again be hosting in-person Sunday School for all classes at Smoke Rise. We will continue to work with classes to stay connected with members on Zoom who are unable to join us in-person. We are excited to return to our classrooms and we are grateful to our Sunday School leaders and classes for the patience and faithfulness you have modeled during the pandemic. Faith - 116 Friendship - Fellowship Hall in June Room 115 beginning in July Faith and Issues - 125 Fellowship/Agape/Koinonia - 230 Good News - 123 Ideas in Action - 305 The Journey - 131/133 The Joy Class - 309 Pairs and Spares - 126

Open Circle - 306 Seekers - 223 Berean - 310 Cambium - 308 Discovery - 106 Crossroads - 307 Youth - Gym Loft Elementary - Children’s Suite Preschool - 204 & 210

C ON N EC T W ITH U S

SMOK ER IS EB A P T I ST. OR G OUR MINIST E R S

CO N T EN TS

Be c k y C a s we l l - S pei gh t

From the Pastor

Worship

Growing

Caring

Serving

Connecting

Generosity

New Spaces and Places

Family Ministry

Youth

Monthly Snapshot

Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection rspeight@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0546

Je re m y C o l l i v e r

Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications jcolliver@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0551

Chris G e o r ge

Senior Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org 770.469.5856

Bart McNiel

Associate Pastor of Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0540

J a me s S m i th

Pastoral Care Associate jsmith@smokerisebaptist.org 404.405.5467

Danny Va n c i l

Minister of Music and Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0560

facebook.com/ smokerise

smokerisebaptist.org

F RO M THE PASTOR

CA RIN G

Like Moses, we have been on a wilderness journey and we are almost at our destination. As the world begins to reopen, returning to in-person church feels a little like the hillside where Moses looked toward a promised land of new possibility and hope. Getting to that hillside was not an easy journey.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned in shifting gears. Even today, in every direction we turn, it seems the events of today force change upon us. As we move into post-pandemic days as a church, how do we shift gears and make the changes needed for the challenges of this time?

SERV IN G

Eastern Kentucky has experienced disastrous flooding in recent months, leaving more than 200 families with uninhabitable homes. One of our mission partners, God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP), has assisted over 70 families during this time.

A B O UT S M O K E RIS E 5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Tel: 770.469.5856 Fax: 770.498.3598 Office Hours M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Smoke Rise Baptist Church is a loving and caring faith community where people come to grow spiritually, worship communally and serve faithfully. We are committed to fostering authentic relationships and engaging in meaningful ministry in our congregation, our community and around the world. We partner with others in an effort to be about God’s work. We commit to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds and all our strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We seek to proclaim the Good News of Christ in all that we say and do.

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te a i c o FRO M TH E Ass PASTOR

BART MCNIEL - As s o ci a t e Pa s t o r o f A dm i n i strati on, Mi ni stry Support and Congregati onal Care

Dear Smoke Rise Family of Faith, Like Moses, we have been on a wilderness journey and we are almost at our destination. As the world begins to reopen, returning to inperson church feels a little like the hillside where Moses looked toward a promised land of new possibility and hope. Getting to that hillside was not an easy journey. After days, weeks and months of wearing masks to get food and turning on computers to worship, we have had plenty to grumble about along the way. And now the time is almost here. There is a glimpse of something new and exciting on the horizon. On June 6, we will return to in-person Sunday school. As we look ahead, the path to a new future will be even more fulfilling if we pause, reset and embrace lessons we learned in the wilderness. As we return parts of the building that have been vacant for so many Sundays during the wilderness of the COVID pandemic, our pastor continues to be on sabbatical. Many years ago, Smoke Rise adopted a sabbatical policy for minister renewal and restoration. Before we could even imagine a pandemic, our pastor was already working closely with the personnel committee to step away from the 24/7 task of pastoring to pause from his usual responsibilities as he too seeks to discover how the lessons learned in the wilderness will impact his leadership going forward. During his 10-week sabbatical, Chris will visit ministers in Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee, all of whom have specific areas of expertise, as he seeks to learn new ways to include and

expand technology, creative ways to navigate administration, fresh outlooks on preaching, systems analysis skills, strategic thinking, visioning processes and approaches to help navigate difficult conversations. All along the way. he will seek to find spiritual nourishment and to discover new models for healthy life and ministry as he looks to a bright future for his ministry at Smoke Rise. Chris will travel with his family to the Alaska wilderness, disconnecting from technology. It will afford the family a wonderful opportunity to experience the grandeur of creation and to remember the promises of God for a future beyond the wilderness. They will realize this blessing in the three simple words spoken by God in Genesis 1: “It is good!” Later, he will travel with his wife to California for a family retreat led by Bo Prosser. Finally, he will return with his loved ones to St. Louis to see the church where he first committed his life to Christ, was baptized and answered the call to Christian ministry (First Baptist Church of Ellisville). As we return from this season of wilderness and our pastor withdraws from the crowd, our personnel committee is asking us to be steadfast in prayer. As we stand on the precipice and face new challenges on the horizon, our task is to answer the call with hope. We know too well the early grumblings that divided many at the height of the COVID pandemic. So many in our world continue to strike the proverbial rock in anger, just as Moses did on that hilltop long ago. Over the last year, my role at the church has shifted and expanded to 4 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

include oversight of all church administration. In our pastor’s absence, I will also assume a larger pastoral care role along with Jim Smith who continues to serve Smoke Rise as our pastoral care associate. During this time, the personnel committee has arranged for Jim to serve additional hours as needed. In an emergency, please know that our technical capabilities will allow me to receive forwarded voicemails seven days a week from my office phone (770.469.5856, ext. 1221). You may also leave emergency messages on my cell phone at 251.232.1548. Jim Smith and I are committed and prepared to meet with members to assist with and officiate funeral services. We will also keep Chris updated and aware when a member or their loved one passes away. The personnel committee has a detailed calendar of staff schedules and their respective responsibilities for the entire 10 weeks the pastor is on sabbatical. As our pastor takes time to pause and reset, our ministry staff and church leadership remain committed to reopen well, to renew our commitment to worship, to learn, to care, to serve and to give as God leads us into a bright future. In God’s peace and with love for the Smoke Rise family of faith. Bart McNiel

Associate Pastor

WOR S H IP I N G AT S M OK E R I SE

DANNY VANC IL - Minister of Music and Worship

On May 30th, our associate pastor, Bart McNiel preached (or will preach, depending on when you read this article) on one of my very favorite passages of scripture, the sixth chapter of Isaiah. It is from this lesson that I began learning how to plan and prepare a worship service: 1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. .3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7. And he laid it

upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me. Since you can see that this passage is quite full of drama, it should come as no surprise that it is one of my favorites. While this passage is not a rule for planning congregational worship, it serves as an inspirational guide. In his book, Jubilate! Church Music in the Evangelical Tradition, Dr. Donald P. Hustad offers the following: Check this account of a single individual’s worship experience against the anticipated events in a Sunday morning service, and also with the macrocosm of God’s self-revelation and human response in all history. •

with smoke”). At Smoke Rise, these ideas are incorporated in our worship in the prelude, introit, opening litany, hymn and invocation. •

Seeing God as he is, we see ourselves as sinners---people “of unclean lips”---and confess the same (v.5). In our worship, these concepts are expressed in the call to prayer, quiet meditation and confession, choral interlude, prayer of intercession or pastoral prayer

•

God removes the sin and guilt, and individuals are reconciled to the holy One. In our worship, these are demonstrated in the assurance of pardon and the hymn.

•

God calls for volunteers who will do his work in the world (v.8). This call is reflected in the scripture reading, the choral anthem and the sermon.

The revealing of a transcendent God, • The cleansed and reconciled believers all holy (v.3, “Holy, holy, holy,” which respond affirmatively (v.9). The hymn is the basis of the historic church of response, the offertory prayer, the song, Sanctus), all powerful (v.4, “the offertory and the postlude frame this threshold shook to its foundations”) response. and still mysterious, inscrutable and incomprehensible (“the house was filled • The volunteers are commissioned to “Go and tell;” in doing so, they have a part in continuing the self-revelation of God. At Smoke Rise, this happens during the parting words and the commission. I hope that my passion for planning worship with a purpose at Smoke Rise is obvious. My prayer is that our worship is acceptable to God, glorifies God, and draws worshipers closer to God. Thank you, Smoke Rise Baptist, for being a worshiping church. Soli Deo Gloria, Danny 5 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

GROWING AT S M O KE R I SE

BECKY CAS W ELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection

Digital Learning Center Wrap Up With Words from Our Parents

Thank you to an exceptional team of teachers who provided a safe, loving, nurturing, affordable virtual school program for local families. What an ambitious outreach and what a success it has been! I can whole-heartedly say that I don’t know where my family would have been without this program this year. As it appeared for a time that we were going to become a “one-income” family, we were panicked, not knowing how that would work. The short time during which we tried to assist our kids with virtual school was a disaster. We considered pulling them out of school for the year just not really knowing how to maintain the peace at home. We were miserable trying to get our kids to sit in front of a computer all day and knew that we couldn’t continue that way. I saw your post on Facebook. It was an answered prayer. We felt hopeful. When we met Rebecca and the teachers involved (Mrs. Heather, Ms. Rosemary, Ms. Janet, and Mrs. Edna) we were so relieved. We felt so welcomed and the kids took right to it. I was able to continue my business and have peace with my children. I thank God for your knowledge, for your service and mostly for the LOVE. Thank you, Smoke Rise community, for your support and giving. 6 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

As life as we have known it during the past long months is slowly changing, and our kids got to return to what we have always called “a normal school day,” I want to truly thank and praise each and every teacher who was there to assist our young ones. Not only have you and the exceptional teaching staff blessed us with your good grace, but you made the priceless affordable! In my personal opinion, it is always challenging to put a price tag on education; but you have made it affordable to each parent in these struggling times and for that, we truly cannot say THANK YOU enough.

CARI NG AT S M O KE R I SE

JA ME S S MIT H - Pasto r al Car e Asso ciate

Shifting Gears My father had an old pickup truck that he parked in the lane by the barn. Since we lived in the country, he would leave the keys in the ignition. When my brother was about 14 years old, unbeknownst to our parents, he decided he needed to learn to drive. (I was almost three years younger.) My brother mastered shifting gears in short order. At first, we drove in pastures when our mother went to the beauty shop or grocery store in town. Then we got out on the dirt roads. We placed a rock by each tire to make sure we parked the truck back in the exact spot every time. It was our secret. We focused on learning learn to shift gears. We didn’t think about the fuel gage moving from “full” to “empty” over time. But Dad noticed and the jig was up. At dinner one evening, he said to Mom, “I think someone is stealing gas from the truck.” They continued the conversation while we squirmed. Then they talked about calling the sheriff. Almost chocking on our food, I quickly offered the confession my dad expected, “We’ve been driving the truck!” My brother added, “It’s just me. I needed to learn to shift gears. Jim can’t even reach the clutch.” There are a lot of lessons to be learned in shifting gears. Even today, in every direction we turn, it seems the events of today force change upon us. As we move into post-pandemic days as a church, how do we shift gears and make the changes needed for the challenges of this time? Basic automotive mechanics teaches us that vehicles generally have between four and five gears. The first gear maximizes power in exchange for speed. As you move through the gears, you continue to go faster, yet without using any more power, And before you know it, you are cruising along. So, what do we learn from shifting gears? When we want a breakthrough or when we want to achieve a new direction, we have to take the first step! Change comes after putting all your focus and all your initial energy into that initial gear! It may take all your strength; it may seem like you are moving soooo slow. But be encouraged; because once you start moving, you’ll be able to shift gears. And before you know it, you’ll be sailing along and may even need to check your speed and slow down! The first steps are always the hardest, but they are necessary for change. I fully expect to breakthrough with the power of God empowering our church into the days ahead. Let’s go for it! With so much work to be done, our church will not stay in neutral. You will notice in this newsletter some gradual changes away from COVID restrictions over a period of time. We will start shifting into greater use of technology and altered use of our space. Sunday school will be able to meet in person again. Mission activities as well as children’s and youth programming and other events such as Vacation Bible School will happen. Wednesday evening schedules will return in the fall. Sunday evening activities will return for many groups. Before you know it, we will get in gear! We’ve started shifting already. There are great places to go ahead. Perhaps your family needs to shift gears or God is calling you to make some needed changes or adjustments. Romans 15:13 reminds us that God supplies the power we need. Ask God’s help in getting started and moving forward. Our Lord’s plans for your future are full of hope. I’m praying for blessings in our journey. - Jim

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S ERVIN G ON M I S S I ON

J E R E M Y C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications

Flooding in Eastern Kentucky Eastern Kentucky has experienced disastrous flooding in recent months, leaving more than 200 families with uninhabitable homes. One of our mission partners, God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP), has assisted over 70 families during this time. Smoke Rise’s construction team ministered with GAP the week of April 25th. The team included Page Fulgham, Charlie Scott, Bob Jernigan, Cliff Mueller, Ron Smith, Gary Prophitt, Mike Holt and Bill Blanton. They took a trailer-load of furniture to GAP and used their construction skills to repair the home of William Paxton. The flood left William, a disabled veteran, with over two feet of water in his home. He had been living with relatives for two months. Our team replaced drywall, paneling, insulation and tile flooring. During the week there, Christian love was shared with William as this group were the hands and feet of Christ. Thank you, Smoke Rise, for your continued prayers and financial support of our missions program.

CBF Mission Bite: As if You Were with Them

Through Facebook campaigns, Enoch’s friends came to believe he may have been arrested by police. One of our church members went Police arrests of Black people in this missing in November. country are becoming an anxious He had come to my country in problem for many members of our Northern Africa from his home church community. Enoch’s friends in the Democratic Republic of the searched many different police Congo several years earlier and had stations, but no one was willing to finished his university education give them any information about here. While he was a student, his Enoch. passport expired and when he graduated, his student visa expired. I joined their efforts in the hopes that my presence would lend some But, as with many students in influence to the conversation. We precarious financial situations, he didn’t have the resources to get his spent all day in waiting rooms at the embassy and police station and left paperwork in order, although he feeling frustrated and discouraged, had moved to the capital city and without answers about Enoch’s started making down payments whereabouts or condition. Other on a passport renewal at the DRC pastors in our church and Enoch’s embassy. 8 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

extended community in Congo and all over Northern Africa joined the search efforts. We finally found Enoch! The church quickly delivered some warm clothes, a blanket and a Bible to his jail cell. We supported him through prayers and helped pay for his legal defense. Enoch is safe at home now, surrounded by a community of brothers and sisters who are willing to risk their own security in search of a friend. Thanks be to God. Hebrews 13:3 “Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place.” (CEB) - Karen, CBF field personnel in Northern Africa

CONNEC T I N G AT SMOK E R I SE Ballin Blazers When walking through the gym on a Wednesday night or Sunday morning you have most likely seen the “Ballin’ Blazers” banners hanging from the railing and standing in the corner of the gym and might have wondered who this group might be. If you come through the gym on most any night other than Wednesday or Sunday, you will hear shoes squeaking, whistles blowing, balls bouncing, and the chatter of practice emanating from the gym. The Ballin’ Blazers are a basketball organization that call Smoke Rise Baptist Church home. Basketball is the primary way that the Ballin’ Blazers gather, but they are about much more than that. “The goal of our organization is to provide a safe and productive environment that enables children to learn and apply the principles of teamwork, discipline, dedication and sportsmanship. We facilitate the development of strength and character in every child that participates.” The Ballin’ Blazers are about basketball; they have sent eight players to compete at the collegiate level and have former professional basketball players who serve as coaches and trainers. The basketball that you will see when you walk into the gym at Smoke Rise is at a high level. The Ballin’ Blazers are also about academics. To play for the Ballin’ Blazers, team members must carry a “B” average. It doesn’t matter how good they are at basketball, if they don’t make the grades, they don’t play. Players must submit grade reports and if they don’t meet the “B” average requirement, they must bring their work to practice and study while the rest of the team is practicing. Their players have received over $500,000 in academic scholarships after playing basketball. The Ballin’ Blazers also give back. Once a quarter, the players, coaches and trainers participate in some type of activity that gives back to the community. The Ballin’ Blazers have repainted the Smoke Rise gym, held food drives, sponsored art shows and participated in community clean-ups, just to name a few. They want their players to realize that basketball provides an opportunity for them to be leaders, and that giving back to the community is a part of leadership. Most of what you will see with the Ballin’ Blazers is on the basketball court; but the impact that these young women and men have goes beyond the court. So, the next time you come through the gym, say a prayer for the young women and men that are being formed within the lines of that court.

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G ENEROS I T Y BART MCNIEL - A ss o ci a t e Pa s t o r o f A dm i n i s t r a ti on, Mi ni stry Support and Congregati onal Care

From the Finance Office At the close of April, contributions to the fiscal 2021 Ministry Plan/Budget totaled $184,533.65 and expenses against budget were $230,892.77. Through the first three Sundays in May, tithes and offerings tracked close to that of the previous year. In May, the air handler unit that services the sanctuary failed and was patched by the AC maintenance contractor for the church. Repairs to bring it back into full service for the future are approximately $48,000.00, a sum not anticipated or included in the budget. The finance committee has approved payment for this major repair from church reserves. Endowment Earnings Slated to Help with Renovation and Reopening Expenses In anticipation of reopening in-person Sunday school on June 6, we undertook renovations to expand two Sunday school rooms to accommodate growing classes. During this same time, we also invested in media and computer equipment to allow Sunday school classes with streaming ministries to continue to live into a new future where we connect with others who cannot be present in the building each week. On a motion from Building and Grounds committee, trustees for the Endowment released $48,934 in realized earnings from last year to help pay a significant portion of the costs for these projects. The Academy of Arts also contributed more than half the cost for the renovation of Room 220, which will now provide additional meeting and hosting space on the second floor, as well as a studio-style space for Academy dance classes. On the Horizon Sanctuary lighting has been inadequate and in need of renovation for many years. We are in the process of evaluating bids and proposals to update lighting that will brighten the altar, pulpit, choir loft and organ area as we worship each week and stream our service online. In addition to these lighting changes, we are pricing upgrades and expansion of our cameras and streaming equipment to allow for higher quality production. Projected costs are expected to exceed $100,000 for these projects and our timeline will be largely dependent on the availability of funding separate from budgeted receipts.

Please Consider Joining an Usher Team

If you are interested in serving with renewed commitment “after COVID,” we have a significant and immediate need to add team members to our Sunday ushers and greeters. Please send an email to tmoore@ smokerisebaptist.org or contact the church office if you are interested and able to serve on this team. Ushers and greeters are the first faces our church family and guests encounter when attending worship. Help us make this season our best one yet for this important service team at Smoke Rise.

Answering the Call to Serve on Committees

Our committee on committees will be working over the summer to begin filling major committee vacancies for 2022 ahead of schedule. Due to the pandemic, many current committee members and committee officers graciously extended their terms of service during this time. Please pray for the committee on committees and stand ready to answer the call of service, as we are seeking to fill double our normal slate of vacancies before the end of the year.

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N EW S PAC E S A N D NEW PLAC ES Renovations are Underway

Media Equipment/Infrastructure Upgrades for Sunday School On June 6, we will again be hosting in-person Sunday School for all classes Classrooms at Smoke Rise. As we prepare for this During the pandemic, we welcomed important step toward a “new normal,” new participants in Sunday school we are faced with exciting challenges classes who do not live near Smoke and opportunities. During the Rise, but who have become active pandemic, many of our class rolls have participants in a class through grown to an extent that requires us to streaming and Zoom technology. undertake strategic reconfiguration Many of these have expressed a desire and removal of walls to create larger to continue to connect and worship classrooms to accommodate our at Smoke Rise through live remote needs. These renovations have been Sunday school and the streaming underway for several weeks. We of worship. To that end, we are removed an old wall and set in a new working to equip our classrooms wall in Room 220. This renovation with the necessary technology and will provide expanded space to host improvements to make this possible. small receptions and other events. Modifications and technology The cost of renovations in Room 220 upgrades to our classrooms will help are being shared by the Academy of us not only to embrace a new reality Arts. The Academy is fitting the room that will meet current needs, but will with bars, mirrors and new flooring also prepare us for a future in which that will be used by dancers for years we are able to extend our fellowship to come. We are grateful to share the and connection to the community and cost of expanding and renovating beyond. Room 220 with the Academy and We are in the final stages of putting welcome the expanded hosting space together new mobile media units for of our second-floor hallway. To make Sunday school classes that will meet room for an expanded Room 220, live and virtually each week. Each we shifted the church archive room mobile media unit includes sound, to a new storage space adjacent to it. microphone, camera, television and This new space will provide better streaming computer capability that is access and help us assure the best substantially better than the temporary care for archives going forward. We units we pieced together for rotating also added a wall to Room 225 as new Sunday school class meetings. As office space for Ashley Litzell and for part of this project, we will also be additional storage for new portable adding direct data network wall jacks media units for Sunday School classes. in classrooms. Expanding hardAs this newsletter goes to print, we wired network access will help classes are beginning work to remove a wall obtain the most reliable internet between classrooms 115 and 119 in and streaming signal going forward. order to accommodate a growing adult Finally, because we use Room 223 Sunday School class. for major committee meetings and 11 | SMOKE RISE BAPT IST.ORG

Thank you to our demolition and construction volunteers who have been working on renovations ahead of our on-site Sunday school reopening date of June 6. Thank you to the many cleaning teams who are putting in time to make our spaces fresh and bright for when we return. other matters, we are updating media, sound, and streaming capability in Room 223 to more fully include remote participants in meetings and upgrade our live and remote teaching capacity in this frequently used classroom space. Gym Loft Enclosure For many years, the Gymnasium Loft has served as a space where youth, children and families often gather. Because of safety concerns, the space has not been transitioned to a dedicated youth space in the past. Walling in the loft will resolve a preexisting safety issue and free up space on the first floor for expanded adult Sunday School, as the youth will make a permanent move to the new loft space as a classroom and gathering space.

FAMILY M I N I ST RY AT SMOK E R I SE

BE C KY CAS W ELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Family, Faith Formation and Connection

There are so many exciting events happening this summer. Make sure to mark your calendars!

JUNE SUN

MON

7 ADVOCACY CAMP

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

2 3 WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY PICNIC AND GAME NIGHT

Join us for VBS this summer. We have an at home and two in-person options, a morning and evening session. The morning group will meet 9:30 AM 12:00 PM, and the evening group will meet 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. We only have 30 spots in each group to maintain proper COVID guidelines, so register soon to get your spot!

----------------------------------------------------------------- ADVOCACY CAMP

23 24 25 WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY LEGO CAMP --------------- LEGO CAMP WATER WORKS AND PIZZA

JULY SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

7 8 WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY ART NIGHT AND CFA

19 20 21 22 23 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL ------------------------------------------------------------------ VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

PASSPORT KIDS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PASSPORT KIDS

smokerisebaptist.org/children/advocacy-camp/

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YOU TH AT S M O KE R I SE

J E R E MY C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications

Time Together I am more appreciative than ever of the time that our youth get together. Over this past year, it has been hard, if not impossible, to be together in person. As life begins to open up and we are getting to see and be with each other more, I get excited. I love hearing the laughter and the smiles that hide behind the masks. I love to hear the whispers as they share secrets with each other, building trust. I love seeing them throw a football across the parking lot or sitting and coloring with chalk. All of this is needed time together. These are shared experiences that build friendships and trust. These are moments that they will reach back for during the school year when it is hard. These are times of joy. These are also the moments that lead to conversations of a depth that doesn’t come without trust and acceptance. These are the conversations that lead to transformation. Summer has come to be one of the most important times to me because of the extended time that we get to be together. While I’m exhausted by the end of summer and ready for the routine of school, I wouldn’t trade those summer days for anything else.

PASSPORT July 5th-10th Furman University

Please pay the remainder of your balance online. We will meet at Smoke Rise at noon to leave by 12:30.If you are meeting us there, please meet us at 3:00 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy and/or Naomi.

WITS

Wednesdays In The Summer June 2nd

July 14th

June 9th

July 21st

June 30th

July 28th

All WITS will be from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM 13 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

MON THLY S N A P S H OT

Children's Sunday

June Dates

July Dates

2 WITS and Wonderful Wednesday 6 All In-Person Sunday School Resumes 7-10 Advocacy Camp 9 WITS 17-19 Sing and Serve (Youth) 23 Wonderful Wednesday 24-25 Lego Camp

5-10 Passport 7 Wonderful Wednesday 11-14 PassportKids! 14 WITS 18-24 New York Mission Trip 19-22 Vacation Bible School 28 WITS

30 WITS

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Looking Forward to Fall As we begin to look forward to the fall, we are getting excited about returning to our new normal. The pandemic allowed us to step back from the way we have done church, and reimagine a new schedule and new ways to grow. Wednesday Night Schedule Beginning August 11th 5:15 pm

Dinner

6:00 pm

Nursery Care

6:15 pm

Journeys in the Fellowship Hall Children Fellowship Youth Fellowship Preschool Choir

7:00 pm

Sanctuary Choir (resuming August 4th)

Sunday Night Schedule Beginning August 15th 4:00 pm

Liturgical Dance Handbell Choir

5:00 pm

Children's Choir and Activities Youth Choir and Activities Grief Support (once a month on every 3rd Sunday) Preschool Activities (once a month on every 4th Sunday, beginning August 22nd) Connections (once a month on every 4th Sunday, beginning August 22nd)

Monday Night Schedule Beginning August 16th 7:00 pm

Journeys - Racial Justice Study Group

Leadership Meeting Schedule Fellowship of Deacons

Every second Sunday following worship

Personnel Committee

Once a month on a Sunday evening

Finance Committee

Every 3rd Thursday

Chuch in Conference

September 12th and November 14th

KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH...

POOLOOZA August 8th 5:00 - 7:00 PM

June 6th All are welcome to return for weekly in-person Sunday school.

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