Summer 2024 CrossTie by Smoke Rise Baptist Church

CROSSTIE

Your Smoke Rise Baptist Church Magazine | Summer 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

Creating

Exploring

4 FROM THE PASTOR

My grandparents were farmers in Western Kentucky. Each summer, they would plant corn and soy beans, then pray and patiently wait for the harvest. Sometimes, the rains came too early and drowned the crops. Other times, the summer sun was too severe and scorched the ground. It was not an exact science. It was a life that required living with a little faith and a lot of hope.

6 FOUNDATION FOR FELLOWSHIP

Smoke Rise Baptist is host to seven wonderful special fellowship groups. But there are two groups that started it all: Sadie’s Ladies and the Fite Circle. In the 1980s, the church staff took a poll of the women, seeking out what times these women would be available to gather for fellowship. Solely based on the convenience of time, the “Circle” groups were formed.

18 WEEKDAY SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL NIGHT

My heart overflows with joy, and it feels as if my life is coming full circle, living into my calling more deeply than I have in a very long time. When I was a young girl, I said I wanted to be a missionary doctor in Africa. In my teen years, I felt undeniably called to ministry. I assumed my life and work would be that of missions somewhere in the world

Church in Conference

Join us on June 9th in the Fellowship Hall after the worship service for our quarterly Church in Conference meeting and luncheon.

RSVP with the church office at mabner@smokerisebaptist.org or 770.469.5856.

Meal Pricing: Adults $7; Children (10 and under) $3; Vegetable Plate $6; Takeout $7.50; Immediate Family Maximum $20

Our Ministers

Becky Caswell-Speight

Minister of Families and Faith Formation

rcspeight@smokerisebaptist.org

Page Fulgham missions@smokerisebaptist.org Missions Associate

Chris George Senior Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org

Bart McNiel

Associate Pastor of Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care

bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org

James Smith

jsmith@smokerisebaptist.org Pastoral Care Associate

Danny Vancil

Minister of Music and Worship

dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org

Hannah Vassar

Minister of Youth and Congregational Connection

hvassar@smokerisebaptist.org

From the Pastor

Sowing Seeds of Hope

By Chris George, Senior Pastor

A few years ago, I went back to Kentucky on our Men’s Appalachia Mission Trip. On the trip, I made a visit. I was sitting in Miss Sue’s living room, as she awaited her daughter’s return from the hospital. She had gone to the hospital because the pain of her inoperable cancer was so severe she couldn’t bear it at home. They had adjusted some medicines and promised to make her as comfortable as possible. Hospice had been called in to help. Her daughter’s birthday, which would be her last, would come the following week. I sat with this mother, listening to her sad story. Her husband worked in the coal mines and had died of lung cancer. Now her daughter would soon die from brain cancer. I was struggling to come up with words. I needed to say something.

I had no words, but the mother did. She said, “You know, Preacher, God has been good to me. Oh, we have hardship, but God keeps sending folks like you. They come with hammers and nails, you know, and they built that ramp in the back. Come out here and look. Every day I thank God.”

I think the calling of the church in all seasons is to sow seeds of hope. Jesus said, “A sower goes out to sow seeds.” He reminds us that some of the soil is rocky and some is covered in thorns. But the sower says, "My part is to

woods, across the old family cemetery to a clearing on the far side. It was an untended cemetery where many of the tombstones had fallen down or washed away. It was hard to tell where it started or ended. It was right out of Halloween or a horror movie. It was a long walk to find the mule and to bring him back. One day, this tedious task fell to this little boy. Now, the boy was more than a little worried about walking through a graveyard. Ghosts, goblins and evil spirits were sure to get him. It was spooky and he was scared.

So, he asked his mother, “Do I have to go through the graveyard?” And, she responded, “There’s no other way.” Then, she added, “Be careful about the graves; they are sacred ground.”

Well, the poor little boy was even more worried now. His mother’s warning had only increased his anxiety. He looked up at his mother and said, “Mama, I can’t tell where they are. I can’t tell what part is sacred.”

She said, “Well, I know it all looks the same. But if you’ll just treat it all as sacred, you will never miss.” So it is with our calling. When we treat it all as sacred, we never miss.

I was looking at one of the cracks in my driveway last week. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but apparently a seed had fallen into this crack and I saw that something was growing there. The soil in that crack is not what I would have called good soil, but it was good enough for this plant to sprout and grow.

As I sat across the room from that woman in Kentucky, I don’t know how it happened. But in the midst of a conversation filled with sorrow and sadness and despair, I saw a glimmer of hope. While it wasn’t what I would call good soil, hope was growing through the cracks of this easilyoverlooked soul.

We are in the business of sowing seeds each day, every day. So, this summer, look at each encounter as an opportunity, each conversation as a moment of ministry, each person not just as a soul or as soil, but as sacred ground.

Fred Craddock told a story about a little boy who grew up on a farm. His family had a red mule that would help to plow the ground. But the family was poor and the fencing around their property was weak. So often, this red mule would get out. Invariably, the mule would walk through the back

We change the world by planting seeds of hope and trusting in the God of the harvest.

For Every Good Gift

Celebrating your generous gifts to our general fund and beyond.

By Bart McNiel, Associate Pastor for Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care

As we approach the end of the first quarter of this fiscal budget year at Smoke Rise, there is much to celebrate as we look back on the budget year that ended in March 2024.

In the previous fiscal year, giving to our general budget fund totaled $2,373,065.87 with expenses of $2,405,622.82. We encourage our members to consider making their first and best gifts to our budgeted ministry plan each year, since the operations of our church depend on strong giving to our general fund.

We are also grateful for the many designated and special gifts above and beyond regular tithes and offerings that so many make to Smoke Rise.

Below are some of the other ways Smoke Rise gave above regular giving to the general fund in the last fiscal year.

Annual Missions Offering

Families in Need (FIN)

Building & Grounds Care

Sanctuary Lighting

Other Designated Gifts

$58,780 (In support of the God's Appalachian Partnership

$23,407 (Confidential financial aid and care for church members in difficult circumstances.)

$289,118

$43,000

$109,964

“Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). Thank you, Smoke Rise family of faith, for your faithful giving and service.

Wednesday, July 3rd

Join us Fellowship Hall at 6:00 PM for a time of good food, fellowship and singing.

Creating a Foundation for Fellowship

A Celebration of our Women's Circle Groups.

By Rebecca Caswell-Speight, Minister to Families and Faith Formation

Smoke Rise Baptist is host to seven wonderful special fellowship groups. But there are two groups that started it all: Sadie’s Ladies and the Fite Circle.

In the 1980s, the church staff took a poll of the women, seeking out what times these women would be available to gather for fellowship. Solely based on the convenience of time, the “Circle” groups were formed. After 35-plus years Sadie’s Ladies and the Fite Circle are still gathering each month to support one another, missions and their church.

The Sadie’s Ladies Circle Group was named after Sadie Davis, the wife of McConnell Davis, former Smoke Rise Associate Pastor. When Sadie entered the nursing home, the group cared for her and loved her, and Sadie cared for them. She taught them about her time on the mission field and how as her life changed so did her mission field. In her last days, she made the nursing home her place of service. This spoke to the Circle group in a profound way and from those conversations, they named their group Sadie’s Ladies. To this day, the group gathers to hear about how people are making the world around them their mission field just as Sadie Davis taught them through her own life.

Finding Your Circle of Women

Fite Circle (all ages welcome)

Stitchers Circle (all ages welcome)

Meets second Tuesday of the month

10:00 am - Church Parlor

Contact: Alecia Reed

Sadie's Ladies Circle

(all ages welcome)

2:30 pm - Room 223

Contact: Lois Jernigan

770-978-1616 | aleciareed@yahoo.com

Meets second Monday of the month

678-438-6658 | bobnlois@bellsouth.net

The Breakfast Club (empty nesters)

Meets second Saturday of the month

8:30 am for breakfast

Contact: Cathy Decuir

770-688-7949 | didecuir@yahoo.com

Meets third Tuesday of the month 5:00 pm - Room 304

Contact: Jan Sloan

This group makes quilts for newborn babies in the church and donates them to organizations in need. "Caring quilts" are also given to members who are homebound, in nursing homes or severely ill.

770-595-0023 | jan.sloan@att.net

The Fite Circle group is named after Reverend Clifton and Ruby Fite. Clifton was a former minister at Smoke Rise Baptist and after Clifton and Ruby came to speak to the circle about their missions experiences in the early 90s, the circle group decided to name their circle after them. The Fite Circle meets monthly in the parlor and they too do their best to live out the ideals of their namesakes. They are a group that supports and learns from one another. Each time they gather they give to a local Cooperative Ministries or Families in Need and they bring in people to help them learn about missions around the world and ministries within the church.

The reason we have such a strong set of fellowship and ministry groups at Smoke Rise is because of the great example these two original Circle groups set for us. Today, along with Sadie’s Ladies and the Fite Circle, we host the Young Adult Fellowship, Connections, Men’s Prayer Lunch, Nancy’s Heart Stitchers, and the Breakfast Club. Because of the original two groups, there is now a place for anyone who enters the doors of Smoke Rise to belong.

Living Water

An Excerpt from the Sermon on April 7th

Delivered by Chris George, Senior Pastor

Frank Zeitler, a devout Catholic, painted “Living Water” in 1924. He was born in Germany in 1874 and died in Milwaukee in 1940. His works are showcased in churches and museums around the world. Celebrated for his historical works like “Marquette and Juliet exploring the Upper Mississippi,” he is best known for his religious paintings and sculptures. It appears, based on research, that Smoke Rise is the only Baptist church that houses one of his works. Here is the story: “Living Water” was originally installed in the chapel of the Good Shepherd Home for Unwed Mothers in Memphis, TN. This home had been established by a group of nuns shortly after the Civil War. In 1963, when the Good Shepherd Home closed, Rev. Carl Hart, who was then chaplain at the Shelby County Penal Farm, was offered anything in the chapel that he could use in his ministry in the prison. Carl asked the Mother Superior if that included the painting hanging on the wall behind

the altar. She laughed and said, “It’s glued to the wall. It’s yours if you can get it off.”

Carl Hart took four prisoners with him the next day and with putty knives, they scraped the painting off the wall. It was rolled-up in an old army blanket and placed in a wooden box where it stayed for the next 35 years. In 1998, Carl had it put on a canvas stretcher and hung in their home.

In 2008, Carl and his wife Janie gave the painting to their church, Smoke Rise Baptist. The painting underwent a complete restoration and was framed for the first time. The fact that our church even has this painting is nothing short of a miracle.

When I think of the many women at the Good Shepherd Home who must have stared above the altar and felt a connection to this Samaritan woman and found comfort in the compassionate face of Jesus—this Samaritan

woman who had been judged by her society just as these women in Good Shepherd had been judged by their society—I am moved almost to tears by what this painting must have meant and the message embodied in this work.

The painting is displayed in a prominent place at Smoke Rise in our foyer. It reminds us that those who were once rejected are now accepted; those who were once left out are now drawn in; those who were once outsiders are now welcomed.

All of us in some season and some of us in this very hour, are thirsty—thirsty for attention, acceptance, forgiveness, friendship; thirsty for peace and purpose, for strength and hope. Thirsty for “Living Water.”

You will likely meet someone this week who is thirsty. Remember the painting. Resist the urge to cast judgment. Offer her water. Offer him water.

Living water is most often shared in a chalice called love.

Exploring Atlanta's Sacred Spaces

A Journey of Faith and Fellowship

By Jim Smith, Pastoral Care Associate

Our Travel Team plans times that are fun, educational and rich in fellowship and that can develop deeper relationships within our congregation.

In our day trips for 2024, we have toured some of the sacred spaces in Atlanta that reflect the faith traditions of those we encounter in the communities and neighborhoods where we live. Two destinations were chosen for this spring.

On March 21, 60 members of Smoke Rise toured the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, learning interesting facts about the history of Catholics in Georgia. These members heard about an outdoor worship held during the Spanish Flu Pandemic, a historic visit from Mother Theresa of Calcutta, and a firebombing that occurred in 1978. At that time, a nearby neighbor of the church was the Baptist Book Store.

Our second destination, in April, was the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Briarcliff area of Atlanta. Organized and founded in 1905, it was first home to a small group of Greek immigrants. Today, the Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of the Metropolis of Atlanta in the southeastern United States. Known for its rich background and extravagant interior and exterior decoration, it is also known for its humble immigrant beginning and the commitment to remain true to the Greek Orthodox faith and cultural traditions.

A third excursion, scheduled for the fall of 2024, is a visit to a Jewish Synagogue. (There are 38 synagogues in Atlanta today.) Two additional excursions, with tentative plans to visit a Muslim mosque and a Hindu temple, will complete the series.

Each setting can inform us about rich architecture and fascinating history. But more importantly, we will learn first-hand from our hosts and neighbors about their faith traditions and practices. Most of us can see from our front doors the homes of neighbors whose faith traditions are Jewish, Muslim and Hindu or Christian whose practices differ from those of our own Baptist roots. Our purpose is not to challenge their theologies or persuade them to our way of thinking, but rather to understand their traditions and practices so that we might show respect for their beliefs and be good neighbors to those of other faith traditions and practices around us.

Meet Our Missionaries

Smoke Rise has an inspired vision of sharing the Gospel around the world through our direct partnerships, through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and through chosen mission teams to specific people groups. Read the stories of commitment, faith, calling and service to the “least of these.”

Rick and Lita Sample

California

The Samples, who live in the Freemont, CA, area, have been CBF field personnel since 2002. Their ministry looks different from typical mission work as they focus on being the presence of Christ through relationship building, church starting, evangelism and outreach. More than 100 different languages are spoken in the San Francisco area where diversity is displayed throughout. The Samples minister holistically to the international community, including immigrants and refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, India, Turkey and other Asian countries. Their outreach is to international students, families resettling in the USA, and others. They offer refugee assistance, tutoring, ESL, citizenship classes, prayer events and hospitality through dinners and holiday events like Easter Egg Hunts to teach cultural practices. The Samples engage churches in their ministry through prayer, on-site visits, leading outings, ESL, hospitality gatherings, culture outings, etc.

Our support: $2000 annually.

Stella Perrin Larnaca, Cyprus

Stella was commissioned by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) in June 2023 as one of the new field personnel, arriving in October to her assignment in Cyprus. Stella is from NC and had served on church staff as an associate pastor as well as being a school counselor.

Stella’s gifts are being used in Cyprus as she works with and ministers to refugees who are arriving there. She is just beginning her work with unaccompanied minors by teaching ESL and offering pastoral care and counseling.

Stella is partnering with a mission organization called All for Aid, whose focus is refugee work and resettlement.

Our support: $2000 annually.

Ahmed & Amira

Real names withheld for security Kurdistan, Iraq

We became acquainted with this couple through Friends of Refugees, one of our partners in Clarkston. Born in the Midwest, Ahmed received a call to serve in the local church, and later felt called to international missions. He and Amira met in Greece while on mission assignment; both are passionate about their opportunities to serve in Iraq.

After language and cultural training with the Kurdish people, the missionary couple will concentrate on church planting among a people who are mostly Islamic, with only a small percentage of Christians. They have a heart for unreached people groups. Work in Iraq will be tedious and challenging, and our financial and prayer support is essential as they join what God is doing in Iraq.

Our support: $3000 per year for three years.

Carson and Laura Foushee Kanazawa, Japan

The Foushees' ministry focuses primarily on two things: Serving alongside Kanazawa Baptist Church in supporting the physical and spiritual needs of our international neighbors in the area and equipping the Japanese church to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

Carson writes, “We have actually taken on more roles in our local church than we had expected due to sudden resignation of our pastor over a year ago. This has been a growing and humbling experience, but it has brought us even closer to the church body as we move forward in faith together.”

Carson served as an intern at Smoke Rise while a student at McAfee before he and Laura were commissioned to serve in Japan. We have been supporting Carson and Laura since 2017. Our support: $2000 annually.

Joshua and Amy Pun Nepal

We met Joshua and Amy through our own Dr. Jimmy Cobb, retired missionary to Canada. Josh is from Nepal and is active in a local Atlanta church. He, Amy and their three small children (under age five) are called to serve in Nepal to minister to an unreached people group. Their original commitment was for a ninemonth tenure, but they may extend their stay.

One of the goals of their service to the villages is to meet health needs and quality of life issues through providing an economical and safe indoor stove. Most homes have open fires with no ventilation. Josh and Amy had a vision of building inexpensive stoves to sell and install.

Sharing the gospel, improving living conditions, and encouraging economic growth has been achieved by a small metal factory Josh and his Nepalese associates have built. The business produces stoves which are sold to local pastors for $7.00 each who in turn sell and install them in homes. This provides a safe home environment and a small income for pastors.

Our support: $5000 (one-time gift).

Summer Adventures

Kids' Summer Activities

Vacation Bible School

June 10-13 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

Details Below

Wonderful Wednesdays

May 29 | 6:00 PM End of School Party

June 26 | 6:00 PM

Family Game Night with a Pizza Dinner

July 10 | 6:00 PM

Pool Party at the Heys Raffield's House

The church will provide hamburgers and hot dogs. Please bring a side.

July 31 | 6:00 PM

WaterWorks with Chick-fil-A Weather Permitting

PassportKids

July 14-17

As I write this article, I am 59 days away from my sabbatical; but who's counting. In the office, we are busy planning and preparing for our families and children to explore and learn together this summer.

Beyond our preparation, Harrison Litzell, former children's ministry intern, will return to coordinate the weekly activities which include Wonderful Wednesdays, Ascension Group and Passportkids. Since completing his internship, Harrison has been one of the directors of our Weekday School and now serves at the Baugh Center for Baptist Leadership at Mercer University. Harrison is well acquainted with the ministry and will do a wonderful job covering while I am out.

Besides Harrison, we are also bringing back Summer Bucket lists. Bucket lists will provide all families connected to Smoke Rise with ideas and resources to connect to God no matter where we are. One thing it will include is a “God Is Here” sign. We are encouraging families to share pictures holding their God Is Here signs with the congregation by sending their photographs of their summer activities and travel throughout the season. These can be sent to either Grace Staggs at gstaggs@smokerisebaptist.org, or Nikki Young at nyoung@ smokerisebaptist.org. I will be taking my own God Is Here sign with me as I travel this summer too. I look forward to the different ways each of us will get to see God this summer.

- Rebecca Caswell-Speight, Minister of Families and Faith Formation

Summer Adventures

June 5 | 9:30am Donuts and Hiking Stone Mountain

June 19 | 10am Braves Game

July 17 | 10am

July 1-5

Partnering in Ministry and Mission

By Bart McNiel, Associate Pastor for Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care

As a church family committed to ministry and missions rooted in the call of Christ to love God and others above all else, it is fitting that Smoke Rise has partnered with and shared common mission with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) for more than 30 years. As a denomination-like network, CBF champions the autonomy and freedom of its partnering churches and supports a wide range of ministries and missions that expand the individual and collective reach of churches like Smoke Rise Baptist Church.

On Mission for Christ around the World CBF missionaries are mobilized as field personnel to share the love and compassion of Jesus Christ in 17 countries as well as the United States. In response to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the call of Jesus to love as he loved, field personnel embody a missionary mindset rooted in relationship-building and in transformational development. CBF field personnel invest their very lives as they seek to be living witnesses to God’s love in the places where they serve with a special focus on people who have been forgotten or forsaken by others. Currently, our Smoke Rise missions efforts include sending direct support to CBF field personnel in Cypress, California and Japan.

Disaster Response

Over many years, Smoke Rise has answered the call to disaster relief response from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi to the other side of the world. Over the last two years, Smoke Rise has partnered with CBF to send money to CBF field personnel working directly on the ground in Ukraine with war-torn families and refugees. To date, Smoke Rise has given more than $40,000 dollars of relief for Ukraine, as CBF field personnel serve as the hands and feet of Christ amid much turmoil and crisis.

Chaplaincy Care and Support

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship currently has 886 endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors. These dedicated people serve in each branch of the United States Armed Forces as well as in medical centers, correctional institutions, hospice organizations, police, fire and rescue departments, colleges and universities, businesses and industries, retirement communities, with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Civil Air Patrol. By supporting pastoral care in all these varied settings, the reach of God’s love is never far from the front lines of human need in times of war, medical crisis, special needs and humanitarian emergencies.

Student Ministry Internship, Service and Vocational Calling Support

Since the very inception of CBF student ministry support and ministry internship placement, Smoke Rise Baptist Church has been a partnering church, often receiving stipend funds to help pay students who serve as children and youth interns at Smoke Rise. The CBF branch for this ministry currently operates under the rubric of Student Serve. For many years now, CBF student field ministers have answered the call to Christian ministry as a vocation while serving at Smoke Rise. Many of these young ministers have been formally ordained at Smoke Rise and have gone on to their first fulltime ministry or mission positions after completing their period of service at Smoke Rise.

To learn more about all the ways CBF empowers Smoke Rise and other partnering congregations to expand the reach of their ministries and missions in the world, we encourage you to visit cbf.net online.

ACADEMY OF

A RTS

Our recent production of Willy Wonka allowed audiences to step into a world of pure imagination as they were captivated by the whimsical charm and dazzling performances that brought Roald Dahl's beloved tale to life on stage. From the eccentric Willy Wonka to the endearing Charlie Bucket, each character was portrayed with heart and flair, delighting both young and old alike. But the magic doesn't end there! Mark your calendars for our next spectacular show, running July 19-21. Get ready to be transported to another enchanting world as we present a timeless classic filled with laughter, music, and unforgettable moments.

June 10-13 12:30 - 4:30 PM | Ages 5-13 Registration $25 Camp Tuition $110

Weekday School International Night

Welcoming the World at Smoke Rise.

by Rebekah Edmonds, Weekday School Assistant Director

My heart overflows with joy, and it feels as if my life is coming full circle, living into my calling more deeply than I have in a very long time.

When I was a young girl (active in GAs for all you diehard Baptists out there), I said I wanted to be a missionary doctor in Africa. In my teen years, I felt undeniably called to ministry. I assumed my life and work would be that of missions somewhere in the world. I stayed busy with church, particularly Acteens for teenaged girls. I dreamed of one day being the next Dellana O’Brien, who was then head of National Woman's Missionary Union. The world was alive and full of possibilities that I got to experience firsthand as I traveled to Ajloun, Jordan, and Israel on an international mission trip! After, I headed off to college at Samford University where my eyes continued to be opened to the needs of the world through travels to China, Burma, Thailand, Morocco, Russia, Spain, France and England. I loved experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and the thrill of the adventure! I was still certain through it all that God was calling me to the world, not one specific place or people, but to the world as a whole. I even got a tattoo of the world as a symbol of that calling.

Life post-college brought a pivot from international service to church work and chaplaincy. The deeper I got into chaplaincy, the more it felt like my home. I was forging my own path, doing all of my Clinical Pastoral Education prior to seminary. In order to complete my chaplaincy journey, I had to get a seminary education. That next step brought me to Atlanta and to McAfee School of Theology.

Seminary was tough. I did not want to be there. Sitting in a classroom made me crazy after all the hands-on work I had already been doing. Somehow though, I graduated. Before that could happen though, I adopted José and got married. Life is crazy. All of that came out of nowhere and I still wonder how it all fell into place.

It seemed like my calling to serve the world was lost; but I had been given the gift of a family of my own. The need for income and yet trying to be a mom to a special needs child was complicated. I was onboard to become a chaplain at the children’s hospital in Atlanta. But the demands of caring for José made that impossible. That led me to teaching preschool at The Glenn School for Young Children. (A true gift to prepare me for what was to come!) The need for more income and an offer to work for Developmental Disabilities Ministries took me on yet another detour on my journey. While there, Charlie was born, and José got incredibly sick. I wasn’t able to work any longer because the needs were so great with the boys. Eight years went by, and I wouldn’t trade anything for the opportunity to stay home with the kids and be a mom (another childhood dream). But I also felt very lost. I felt I wasn’t leaning into the calling God had placed on my life.

In 2022, I was given the opportunity to join Smoke Rise Baptist Weekday School as the assistant director. I told Bart McNiel at the time that I was leery. I hadn’t worked in so long and the demands of family were still great. I told him I would try it for a few months as the interim so I wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed. I was excited about the possibility but not feeling much support as I made the decision.

Now, a year and a half later, I have no doubt that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Yes, juggling family and life and work is tricky. I do the best I can, as we all do. Not to sound too cliche, but God has orchestrated every moment for such a time as this. When I first started at the weekday school, I was blown away by its diversity. Families from all over the world were finding our little school as a safe and welcoming space for their children. Inklings of that calling to the world were resurfacing! I had found my place and all the life experiences had prepared me for the moment.

On February 29, we celebrated International Night at the preschool. My expectations were low because it was a new event for many of us and in the evening. Sign-ups for the event were slow, but we pushed forward. I had some ideas about what to do, but no set agenda. Things began to flow; I remembered that I had boxes of international treasures that could be used for decorations. A spur-of-the-moment idea to have all the students paint a picture of the world and finding the perfect music to play in the background—it was all falling into place.

Six p.m. on the designated evening rolled around and families started to arrive. They wore their national dress and brought their favorite foods for all of us to sample. One after another, the room began to fill. As parents were setting up their stations, the kids and I read stories; the theme “we are all alike, but we are all different” ran through the stories. Once the food was ready, everyone joined hands in a circle around the entire room. Our prayer was: “God welcomes all, strangers, and friends. God’s love is strong, and it never ends.”

As I stood on the stage and looked around the room I was overwhelmed by the goodness of God. It was hard to speak as I was so choked up by the beauty before me and how life had come full circle. The world was standing before me. My calling had not been lost.

It is an honor and privilege to love these children and their families. And it is an incredible blessing that my coworkers have become my friends. Thanks be to God!

Smoke Rise Weekday School is excited to host six weeks of summer camp for ages one-completed 5th grade.

Camp runs Monday-Thursday from 9:30-1:30. The weekly rate is $150 per child.

Extended camp hours are available until 3:30 pm for $50.

Daily rate are available for $50 a day and $25 for extended care.

If you are registering siblings, use the code sib15 for each child at checkout.

If you need a playment plan (40% up front and two additional payments of 30% each), please let us know.

Register at

smokerisebaptist.org/srbws/

We have three options for care the week of VBS, June 10-14:

1) One and two-year-olds, or children who are not yet potty-trained are invited to join us for the week of VBS for $75.

2) One-year-olds through completed 5th graders can stay after VBS until 1:30 pm for $50.

3) One-year-olds through completed 5th grade can stay after VBS until 3:30 pm for $125.

Finding Rest

A Note for Caregivers

by Jim Smith, Pastoral Care Associate

The Psalmist speaks of finding rest in God. I think of the need of God's rest for those who are receiving care and for those providing care to others. Rest is needed in many ways. Soul rest is found in God alone.

Psalm 62:1 reminds us, "Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him."

There are a large number of caregivers at Smoke Rise. Spouses, children, other family members, friends, deacons and Sunday school class members offer support and provide care in numerous ways each day.

I've learned that both the ones receiving care and those giving care need spiritual and physical rest. I am paraphrasing

Thomas A Kempis, who said: Anything God bestows on me or reveals to me or promises to me, is too small and unsatisfying if I do not see or meet God in it. For surely my heart cannot truly rest or ever be fully contented unless it rests in God.

Caregivers have taught me a lot. I have learned from one particular caregiver that "it's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." That particular caregiver carries a big load with an amazingly positive spirit and an obvious joy in her life. Among the demands of caregiving, she has somehow discovered the rest that God gives.

Caregiving is humbling and fulfilling. Those who face the arduous tasks of caregiving as they draw strength and rest from the Lord seem to carry the load in an amazing way. I am truly inspired by the caregivers I see in action. I am inspired by their depth of love, spirit of serving and genuine care that flows from God through them.

Thanks be to God for those receiving care. They are precious in God's sight. Thanks be to God for those providing care. They embody the spirit of Jesus every day.

Thanks be to God for those receiving care. They are precious in God's sight.

Thanks be to God for those providing care. They embody the spirit of Jesus every day.

A Newsletter for Caregivers

We're thrilled to introduce a new quarterly newsletter, Caregivers Connect! This valuable resource for caregivers will feature uplifting messages from our ministers and congregants, along with useful caregiving tools and information. Look out for the inaugural issue coming your way in July!

When In Our Music God Is Glorified

The 2024-2025 Smoke Rise Baptist Church Music Ministry Year

If you would like to be a part of our wonderful music ministry, please contact the music department.

Music Friends (Preschool)

Wednesdays at 6:00PM in the Children’s Suite beginning August 14

Children Choristers (Grades 1-5)

Sundays at 5PM in the Children’s Suite beginning August 18

Youth Orchestra (Grades 6-12)

Sundays at 4PM in the Youth Orchestra Room beginning TBA

Youth Choir (Grades 6-12)

Sundays at 5:45 PM in the Choral Suite beginning August 18

Sanctuary Choir (Adults)

Wednesdays at 7PM in the Choral Suite beginning August 7

Sanctuary Handbell Choir (High School and Adults)

Wednesdays at 6PM in the Handbell Room beginning August 7

Monday Morning Music and Missions (Geared toward older adults)

Every other Monday starting on September 9

Connect and Engage at Smoke Rise Baptist Church

Summer Events Streaming

Find Sunday morning Sunday school zoom links and worship live stream at smokerisebaptist.org/streamingatsmokerise/

See the Wednesday evening live stream at smokerisebaptist.org/wednesday-eveningactivities/

In addtion to streaming on our website, you can access our worship and Wednesday evening livestreams on YouTube and Facebook.

Weekly Communications

Stay up-to-date with upcoming events with our The Tie that Binds

Lesson Archive

While there will not be a Wednesday Evening livestream in June and July, access years worth of Bible Studies on our website at smokerisebaptist.org/journeys/.

Since 2017, we have been archiving each sermon. We hope this resource will be uplifting and inspirational. Access the sermon archives at smokerisebaptist.org/2024-sermon-archive/.

To learn more visit smokerisebaptist.org/journeys/

The Radical Gospel

August 14 - September 4

Wednesdays at 6 PM | Fellowship Hall

Led by Bart McNiel

Understanding Racial Justice Resuming September 9

Mondays at 7 PM | Zoom Meeting

Questions? Contact Page Fulgham at missions@smokerisebaptist.org.

Address Correction Requested

Resuming

August 25th

Connections is a once-a-month gathering in room 308 for young and middle-age individuals and couples. Light snacks and drinks provided. Childcare drop-off is in the gym beginning at 5:00 pm.

NEURODIVERSITY CAREGIVERS GROUP

Resuming August 27th

We meet monthly in room 308 at 7:00 pm. During this time, we share in the joys of neurodivergence and act as sounding boards and support to help caregivers provide the best care possible to their family members.

Resuming August 4th

We will kick off with a breakfast at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. We hope to see you there for a time of renewed fellowship and prayer.