belong | believe | become
If you are a first-time guest, please complete a guest card from a pew pocket or Friendship Register and drop it in the offering plate so that we may get acquainted with you. Also, text “Explore” to 816-355-4736. We would like to communicate with you via text and email with some brief informational messages over the next few weeks. Please see an usher if you’d like a listening aid. Each Sunday in the Welcome Center (just inside the Kansas Street entrance on Level 1), our Hospitality Team is waiting to help you get connected. This may include finding a Bible study class, showing you where children and student ministries meet, or sharing the day’s activities and schedule. You may also enjoy a cup of coffee at the Welcome Center’s coffee bar and get to know others at Second. Your entire family is welcome here! Children’s worship bags filled with books and activities are available at the Sanctuary entrances. If you’d like an alternative for your children, childcare for birth through Pre-K is available on Level 2 at any point in the service. Our Welcome Center is also available for those with restless infants, and you can view the service on a monitor there. In addition to placing your offering in the offering plate, you can give online at 2bcliberty.org/give or via your smartphone by scanning this QR code.
Take a moment to prepare your heart for worship…
Bernard of Clairvaux (AD 1090-1153), the abbot of a Cistercian monastery in France, was perhaps the greatest Christian leader and writer of his day. In his great work, Loving God, Clairvaux describes four degrees of love: 1. Loving Ourselves for our Own Sake 2. Loving God for God’s Gifts and Blessings 3. Loving God for God Alone 4. Loving Ourselves for the Sake of God The highest degree of love for Bernard was simply that we love ourselves as God loves us — in the same degree, in the same manner, and with the very same love. We love the self that God loves, the essential image and likeness of God in us that has been damaged by sin. —Gillian R. Evans
We have “online giving” cards in the pew rack that you can place in the offering plate to represent your gift if you choose.
Jason Edwards, Senior Pastor | Mike Lassiter, Associate Pastor, Missions & Community Care Connie McNeill, Associate Pastor, Discipleship & Equipping | Charles Smith, Associate Pastor, Student Ministry Gwen Phillips, Children’s Pastor | Ann Posey, Organist David Fulk, Interim Worship Leader | Don Brown, Interim Choir Director
August 28, 2016
8:30 and 11:00 a.m. (+ indicates to stand if you are able)
Gathering Music
Hope Peck
Invitation to Worship
Christy Edwards
Candlelighting Prelude +Hymn of Praise 2
Caroline Dilts “On Eagle’s Wings”
Charles Callahan
“Come Thou Almighty King”
ITALIAN HYMN
Children’s Moment
Gwen Phillips
Hymn 495
“Step by Step”
STEP BY STEP
The Psalm
Psalm 139:1-16
Connie McNeill
(Pew Bible, page 448, Old Testament)
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God!
Practicing the Presence of God +Worship in Music
An invitation to silent prayer ”Be Still My Soul” Sanctuary Choir
arr. Benjamin Harlan
Prayers of the People
Mike Lassiter
Hymn 397
“Come, Holy Spirit
The Gospel Lesson
Luke 4:1-13
CHAPLIN
Charles Smith
(Pew Bible, page 46, New Testament)
Leader: The Good News of Our Lord. People: Praise be to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sermon
KNOW YOURSELF THAT YOU MAY KNOW GOD
+Hymn of Response 504
“I Am Thine, O Lord”
Jason Edwards
I AM THINE
The worship of the living God invites our response. Those who wish to profess faith in Christ and/or to unite with the church are invited to come forward and share your decision with the pastor.
+Offertory Prayer
Nick Bartlow (8:30) Michele Peck (11:00)
Offertory
“Aria”
+Presentation of Offerings 600 O how He loves He gave His life, O how He loves O how He loves
“Oh How He Loves You and Me”
John Dixon
PATRICIA
you and me, O how He loves you and me, what more could He give? you, O how He loves me, you and me.
Words and Music © 1975 Word Music, LLC.
+A Time of Greeting Commissioning: Romania Mission Group
Jason Edwards Mike Lassiter
+The Sending Forth 566
“O God, Our Help In Ages Past”
ST. ANNE
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while life shall last, and our eternal home. Postlude
“Rejoice the Lord Is King”
All Songs UBP CCLI #1091036 Organ: Ann Posey Sanctuary Sound: Dave Heston, Gary Pennington Worship Leader: Don Brown
Rick Deasley
All Video UBP CCVI #502497070 Piano: Angie Fuller (8:30) . Linda Greason (11:00) Media: John Hilton, Alex Trischler
NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL Steve Sealock, knee replacement rehab KU MED CENTER Cathy Cole’s brother, Mike; cancer VILLAGE SHALOM Jimmy Nickell HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL Mary Arnold OTHER PRAYER CONCERNS Denny Anderson, recent move to Cameron Veterans’ Home Gary Armstrong’s parents, multiple health issues
WORSHIP LEADERS TODAY Nick Bartlow has been a member of Second since 2000. He is Director of Brand Strategy at Barkley. Nick and wife Carrie have three children: Wakefield, Ramsey, and Deacon. Caroline Dilts is a fourth grader at Lewis and Clark Elementary. She is the daughter of Jen and Jason Dilts.
Christy Edwards is married to Pastor Jason Edwards. They have three children: Jackson, Luke, and Norah. Christy is in the CPE chaplaincy program at St Luke's Hospital. She is a member of MOPS and is Chair of the CBF Missions Council. Mike Lassiter is Associate Pastor for Missions, Community Building, and “Fun” (Mike’s word, not in his official job title!) and has been at 2BC for 26 years. He and wife, Debbie, raised four children here, and they are now grandparents to five. Mike enjoys building simple furniture, gardening, enjoying the outdoors, and exploring simple living.
Jennifer, one of our Miller Management partners; husband had heart attack after taking daughter back to college
Connie McNeill is the Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Equipping. Her connections include the Missouri Baptist Convention, Central Seminary and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. After being away for nine years, she returned to the Liberty area in 2014.
ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Schumacher Elementary School students and staff
Michele Peck is a teacher in the Liberty School District. She and Brad are the parents of two daughters, Ally and Hope.
Mason Barnard, 3rd grader at EPIC, cancer
Charles Smith grew up in the Kansas City area and attended 2BC as a student at William Jewell College. Charles is married to Stephanie Swanson, who also attended 2BC and Jewell and is now pastor of Crossroads Church in midtown. They are parents of a five-year-old son, Finn, and are expecting twins in early 2017. Charles enjoys playing Frisbee sports, making music, and going to Royals games.
SEPTEMBER 2016 MONTHLY A NOTE FROM PASTOR JASON Of all the apparatuses female Olympic gymnasts compete on, the balance beam seems to be the scariest and most precarious. The beam is four inches wide, and gymnasts are asked to do extraordinary flips and turns on it during a routine. Falling off one side or the other is an ever-present threat, but even just maintaining balance on it requires practiced poise. My mentor, Dr. George Mason, recently observed three things involved in maintaining this balance that seem applicable to the life of faith in the church. First, you have to maintain your core as a kind of centering principle. Arms and legs can flail about, but they must emanate from a solid center. Our center as people of faith is our relationship with Jesus. Everything we do must extend from there. When that wavers, our center is lost and our balance is in jeopardy. We’ve moved into Fall with an emphasis on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, and opportunities to pursue this on Sundays, Wednesdays and daily in your devotional life. May these serve as ways for each of us to renew and strengthen our centers. Second, the eyes of the gymnast have to remain steady. The body will go where the eyes tell it to. When walking straight ahead on the beam, the eyes need to be focused on a single point and not wander. When flipping upside down, they have to find the beam and hold their gaze. Likewise, as we move into the future together, we are always called to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He will take us to unexpected people and places, but as long as we find Him there, we will stay balanced on the beam. In the days ahead, may we be open to all that Christ has for us. The Spirit is alive and well in our midst. Finally, gymnasts can’t let the crowd get in their heads. What people think of their performance is entirely out of their control. They must do what is right and stay in the moment. If they get worried about the judgment of those who are watching, they will become anxious and lose their footing. Similarly, the church can’t allow itself to be thrown off its mission by worrying about what other people think of us. We have to pursue the mission of God with single-minded purpose. May we all resist the urge to let anything distract us from our continual calling to be catalysts for God’s dreams to come true at Second Baptist, throughout greater Liberty, and around our world. Like the balance beam, our life together isn’t always easy. But when we become centered, remain steady, and stay focused on our ultimate purpose, it can be so good. With love and hope,
Jason Jason Edwards, Senior Pastor
CHURCHWIDE NOTE: The Church office will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, in observance of Labor Day. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO START THE EHS DEVOTIONAL We’re in a new sermon series called “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality,” and our church family is encouraged to purchase the accompanying book that will lead us through 40 days of devotions to enrich our study. The book, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day-by-Day,” is sold out in the church office but can be purchased through other booksellers. NOMINATIONS FOR MUSIC PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE The Leadership Development Committee would appreciate nominations for individuals to serve on the Music Pastor Search Committee. To make a nomination, email Committee Chair Amy Duncan at amybduncan1@gmail.com or contact the church office at 816-781-2824. MOPS CHILDCARE WORKERS NEEDED MOPS is looking for helpers who can provide childcare from 9:15-11:45 one Friday a month from September through May. We pay $25 per morning. Please email us at mops2bc@gmail.com if you would like to help in this important outreach ministry. MOPS@2BC is also accepting applications for participants for the 2016-17 year for moms of children from birth through Kindergarten. Visit 2bcliberty.org/mops to fill one out. NOW RECRUITING ADVENT WRITERS It's time to flex your head, heart, and finger muscles and get on the 2BC's Advent Booklet Writers’ roster. Rookie or old pro, we want you. No try-outs necessary. Just agree to respond by way of reflection or a story to a scripture we assign for one day of Advent. We're looking for all ages and even family teams to take a date. What finer gift than your own words put to paper to make these holy days even more meaningful. Ready to get started? Email booklet editor Sue Wright at suewrights@att.net, or call 781-1568 if you need more info or a pep talk.
FOOD SHARE SUNDAY IS NEXT WEEK The first Sunday of every month is FOOD SHARE SUNDAY, when we support the Link Food Pantry of In As Much Ministry by donating items to stock their shelves. Collection bins will be inside each entrance. Needed items include: Canned beans and fruit, rice sides, sugar, cake/ brownie mixes, Jello and pudding, vegetable oil, tea, coffee, shampoo, paper towels, toilet paper, deodorant, lotion, soap, toothpaste/ brushes, laundry/ dish soap For a complete list, visit 2bcliberty.org/foodsharesunday. FALL FESTIVAL HOSPITALITY Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24 We will once again have the opportunity to serve our community through providing parking for those with disabilities and a hospitality space for visitors to the Fall Festival. Watch for more details on how you can get involved! WEDDING COORDINATOR NEWS Roxann Brenton will assume the job of wedding coordinator in January 2017. She follows Doloris Forman, who served in this capacity for over 20 years. We want to thank Doloris and welcome Roxann! SENIOR ADULTS CATFISH FRY SEPT. 19 Monday, Sept. 19 | noon (note time change) | Social Room For our second Coffee & Conversation of the month, we are having a catfish fry at noon! All senior adults are welcome. So we know how much fish to prepare, RSVP to the church office by Sunday, Sept. 18, and please bring a side to share. Coffee & Conversation will not meet Sept. 5 because of Labor Day.
If you’ve never joined us for great food, relaxed fellowship and engaging development opportunities, why not give it a try now?
SECOND SERVINGS | Food and Fellowship 5:45-6:30 p.m. | Social Room | Reservations are requested by Monday noon and there is a small cost. Visit 2bcliberty.org/Wednesdays for info. SECOND SESSIONS (Spiritual development opportunities for kids through adults) ADULT OPTIONS | 6:30-7:15 p.m. | 4-week sessions
MISSIONS | PRE-K–5TH GR. 6:30-7:15 P.M. Missions education includes the active care for others and Jesus’ example of humbly serving those around us. Kids engage in hands-on activities and learn about the Biblical foundation for missions. Mission Friends | Pre-K and Kindergarten Girls in Action (GAs) | 1st–5th Grade Girls Boys in Action (BAs) | 1st–5th Grade Boys STUDENTS
Formation (Grades 6–8) 6:15-7:15 p.m. | Student Ministry Room Watershed (Grades 9–12) 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Charles Smith’s House (429 Wilson St.)
MID-WEEK MUSIC Our adult music groups rehearse on Wednesday evenings. Sanctuary Handbell Choir 6:15 p.m. in the Music Suite, Room 501 (begins after Labor Day) Sanctuary Choir 7:15–8:35 p.m. in the Music Suite, Room 501 Beginning Handbells 4th and 5th grade 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. in Room 502 To join any of the music groups, simply come to a rehearsal!
SEPTEMBER FUN NIGHT: SKY ZONE Sept. 9 | Meet at church at 5:30pm/Return by 10 p.m. | Sky Zone in Shawnee, KS | Cost: $20 | Our September Fun Night will be a trip to the bounciest (and glowiest) place in Kansas City. Sky Zone is having a Glow Night, where they turn off the lights for glow-in-the-dark trampoline fun. The cost of the event is $20, which will include 90 minutes of jumping, a pizza party for our group, and special jumping socks. Wear white or neon colors so we can see each other! Register at 2bcliberty.org/students.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING WITH SONYA RICHARDSON-THOMAS Sept. 10 | 9 a.m.—noon | Student Ministry Room | Calling all former, current, and potential Student Ministry Volunteers! You are the foundation for everything we do in Student Ministry, and we want to help strengthen that foundation. We have an opportunity to enhance our ministry and relationship skills with a training session led by Sonya Richardson-Thomas. We will engage in a lively workshop focused on learning about the best ways to relate with teenagers, developing the tools we already use in ministering alongside students while adding new ones, and encouraging each other in this important and meaningful work we do! MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCK-IN Sept. 16-17 | 2BC and around KC | Cost: $30 (includes breakfast and activities) | Register at 2bcliberty.org/students For our Middle School Lock-in, we are planning events around the KC area that will recapture the spirit of summer - we won't go into too many details yet (but get excited)! This will be a great opportunity for our rising 6th graders to get to know people, make some new friends, and have fun as a group! Register at 2bcliberty.org/students.
Questions about Student Ministry for grades 6-12? Visit 2bcliberty.org/students or contact Student Pastor Charles smith at 816-781-2824 ex. 314 or csmith@2bcliberty.org.
Children’s Pastor: gwen Phillips 816-781-2824 ext. 313 ; gphillips@2bcliberty.org
Make plans to be part of an important conversation this fall! As our church evolves and grows, questions about baptism are common. Several years ago, our deacon body began an indepth study of baptism, its role in our personal faith journeys, and its relationship to church membership. After a workshop with a guest speaker and a meaningful book study, the deacons agreed that everyone in our church could benefit from the same opportunity to explore baptism. Over the past year, a deacon task force has designed a dynamic and interactive experience for the fall that includes guest speakers, church-wide book study, story sharing, allchurch Sunday morning Bible studies, and reflection sessions.
The goal is for our church (individually and collectively) to answer three key questions as we study, converse, and explore: 1. What is the relationship between baptism and Christian faith? 2. What does 2BC believe about baptism, and why? 3. What is the relationship between baptism and church membership? You may be wondering… Is there an expected change regarding baptism and membership? Not necessarily. A policy change is not a goal of this process, though the relationship between baptism and church membership will likely generate some lively discussion. If there appears to be interest in making changes, that would come forward separately for church action. What is the intended outcome? The objective of this “conversation” is truly in the process of exploring the three questions through dialogue, sharing, exploration, and study. Based on the experience of the deacons, personal reaffirmation of our various baptism experiences was a tremendous outcome. Do the deacons have a particular position on baptism? No. The group benefited from the in-depth study described earlier and wanted to extend the experience to the whole church. If I’m comfortable with my baptism, is this for me? Yes! Studying spiritual practices is an important part of discipleship and participating in this conversation is sure to be worthwhile. Feel free to contact any members of the Deacon Baptism Task Force with questions. We are excited about all that the fall holds for our church! Check out the individual details on the next page…
Deacon Baptism Task Force: Blane Baker, Chris Sizemore, Becky Gossett, Rolland Yoakum, Amy Duncan, Mark Hilton, Debbie Lane, and Greg Duncan (chair)
The deacons have designed the baptism conversation with several components, each important on its own but stronger when combined with the others. We encourage you to participate in as many ways as possible. All sessions will be video recorded for those who are unable to attend.
All-church lunch Sunday, Sept. 18, after 11 a.m. worship. Mark Wingfield, Associate Pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Tex., will introduce our three core questions (see previous page) and will provide background and context for our month of conversation and study. Childcare provided with reservations to the church office by Wednesday, Sept. 14. Parents will need to bring a sack lunch for their children.
Sundays, 9:45 am., Sept. 25-Oct. 9 David May, Professor of New Testament at Central Baptist Seminary, will lead a Biblical study of baptism open to all on Sunday mornings in the Social Room during our regular Bible study time on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. On Oct. 9, we will return to regular classes where our teachers will guide us through a final session using material created by Dr. May. We believe this will provide rich context for study and discussion.
Wednesdays, 6:15 p m., Sept. 21-Oct. 5, Social Room Sherry McLaughlin will guide a study of John Tyler’s book, Baptism: We’ve Got it Right & Wrong. Sherry is a former 2BC Education Minister and currently serves as Pastor of Blue Ridge Boulevard Christian Church. This is the book deacons studied two years ago, and we believe it provides excellent information to further the conversation. Buying the book is not required, but copies are available for purchase in the church office, online, or in bookstores.
We want to hear from you! How was your baptism meaningful to you? What does it continue to mean to you today? Where, when, and how were you baptized? All of these components, and others, make up your baptism story. As we have worked together to create this emphasis, members of the task force have taken turns sharing our baptism stories. We have been surprised at the wide variety of experiences represented in our group! We would like to hear your stories as well and invite you to submit them in 500 words or less either via email to Blane Baker (bakerb@william.jewell.edu) or in person to the church office. As we collect stories, we will share them with the congregation in a variety of ways.
Wednesday, Oct. 12; Sunday, Oct. 16 (9 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.) As the conversations wrap up, you are invited to reflect on your experience during one of our deacon-led sessions.
MISSIONS
CBF’S RESPONSE TO FLOODING IN LOUISIANA Mike Massar, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinator for Louisiana, has sent this to CBF Churches concerning the severe flooding in Louisiana: Several of you have connected with me about the horrific flooding we have here in Louisiana. It is the worst flooding recorded, much worse than Katrina. Many families have lost everything, and that becomes exponential in the poorer places. It is hard to assess damage and develop strategies until things clear a bit and, in this case, the waters recede. CBF has a team on the ground; and from what I understand, teams wanting to come and help would be greatly appreciated. People will be going back to their homes and will need physical, moral and spiritual support. More than anything please know of our gratitude for your thoughts and prayers.
You can make a direct donation to CBF’s efforts on the home page at cbf.net or at www.cbf.net/louisiana-flood-relief. 2BC will explore a trip if there is interest. Contact Mike Lassiter mlassiter@2bcliberty.org if interested in going to Louisiana soon. WOMEN ON MISSION Sept. 6 | 9:30 a.m. | Assembly Room 9:30 a.m. Rick Lumm, Islam, Refugees in KC 10:30 a.m. Refreshments 11:00 a.m. Rachel & Ben Walagorski, Siberia MISSION PROJECT: Collecting for Love INC : baby shampoo, lotion, wipes (125 babies being served) Rick Lumm requests help with New Refugee Welcome Packs: bring 1-2 lb bags of rice, salt, cooking oil, pot holder or tea towel. YOUTH MENTOR OPPORTUNITY AT SCHUMACHER ELEMENTARY The start of the 2016-2017 school year is here and the School Connections Team is inviting us to consider becoming Youth Mentors to support the students at Lillian Schumacher Elementary. Last year Second Baptist had nine individuals become Youth Mentors, and this year our goal is to add another 10! Mentoring has been shown to benefit children in many ways. Here are just a few: · Better attitude toward school · Improved interpersonal relationships · Improved academic performance · Increased graduation rates · Improved attendance · Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence · Improved behavior at home and school Mentors can choose from a number of in-school activities in which to participate. You might have lunch with a student, tutor, read, or simply be a good friend who listens. This can be done one-on-one with a child or with children in a small group. Interested persons need to complete a Youth Mentor application, available in the 2BC Welcome Center Desk. Completed applications should be mailed to Colleen Jones at Liberty Public Schools Central Office. All applicants undergo a background screening, attend an interview and a short training session. If you have questions about the program, contact Colleen Jones, coordinator of Liberty’s mentoring program, at cjones@liberty.k12.mo.us., or Debbie Lane, facilitator of the School Connections Team, at debbielane71861@gmail.com.
MISSIONS
SATURDAYS 9AM—NOON 2BC ANNEX (20 N. LEONARD)
JUST $50 BRINGS WATER THAT LASTS! Runners from 2BC have joined Team World Vision and are training for the Oct. 15 Kansas City marathon! You can be a part of this important effort as churches across the world unite in Christ to bring clean water to those in sub-Saharan Africa. Just a $50 donation brings clean water that lasts to one person. Would you commit to change one person’s life through your donation? Donate to a runner or the 2BC team: visit the website above, click “Donate to this event” and enter a runner’s name or Second Baptist Church in the search box.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
STEPHEN MINISTRY TRAINING STARTS IN OCTOBER Mondays Starting Oct. 3 | 2BC | Seven reasons why YOU should consider becoming a Stephen Minister. Reason # 7: Stephen Ministers feel needed (because they are!). Reason # 6: Stephen Ministers are skilled caregivers! Reason #5: Stephen Ministers learn to listen. Do you think listening, I mean real listening, is simple? Many people do! But listening is actually a complex and powerful caregiving tool. Using Jesus as our model, Stephen Ministers learn the skill of active listening, which involves commitment, patience, and attention to body language. Stephen Ministers learn to listen for more than just words – they seek true understanding and empathy. You can learn that, too! Stephen Ministry Training starts on Monday, Oct. 3, and will take place on Monday evenings, at the church. For detailed schedule, questions or more information, please contact Mike Lassiter (mlassiter@2bcliberty.org or 816-781-2824) or Carol Kingery (ckingery@kc.rr.com or 816-916-8407). VISIT 2BCLIBERTY.ORG/STEPHENMINISTRY FOR MORE INFORMATION.
All-church lunch with Mark Wingfield from Wilshire Baptist Church Sunday, Sept. 18, after 11 a.m. worship. See pages 12-13 for information on our upcoming baptism emphasis. Mark will introduce our three core questions and will provide background and context for our month of conversation and study. Childcare provided with reservations to the church office by Wednesday, Sept. 14. Parents will need to bring a sack lunch for their children.
300 E. Kansas | Liberty, MO 64068 | 816-781-2824 | 2bcliberty.org Join us on social media: @2bcliberty WiFi: 2BC-Guest Password: 2bcguest#01