 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
THE CELEBRATIONS
Vol. 56, No. 50 March 12, 2008 Vision Statement We are building on our heritage and approaching the future with a vision relevant to our changing world while creating an atmosphere where Christ can bring healing, hope, and joy to all.
For the past ten years I have celebrated Easter at the First Baptist Church of Fairport, New York. While there have been some changes over the years I knew who was likely to show up, who would sing, who would usher, who would take Easter Lilies to the shut-ins. There has been some comfort in knowing what was going to happen and that there was a certain amount of predictability, but that is so unlike what that first Easter was all about. Nothing happened the way it was “supposed to”. Jesus was dead and he was buried and that was the end. But when they go to the tomb there are lots of surprises. The tomb is empty, and then things get so confusing that there seems to be a lack of consensus about what actually happened. Was the tomb open or did the angel roll away the stone? Was Mary Magdalene alone or were there others? Did the women see Jesus or just speak to an angel? Easter was a surprise, but sometimes we have turned it into a routine. My hope for you this Easter is that you will be open to the surprises God has in store for you. I hope that your faith will find a freshness that will bring an excitement to your walk with God. I am looking forward to sharing with you in the new things God is doing here at First Baptist Evansville. I am looking forward to celebrating the resurrection together. Grace and Peace, Pastor George
EASTER CANTATA The choir will be presenting the Easter cantata, "Once Upon a Tree" on Palm Sunday morning, March 16th. Dr. Huffsmith will again narrate as Luke. This is a unique and beautiful retelling of the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and is a sequel to the cantata shared this past Christmas. Invite your friends and neighbors to come and share this powerful message of Christ.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING
CROSS
WALK At the beginning of Holy Week, join others in remembrance of Jesus’ cross and in prayer for the needs of the world. The Downtown Churches will again sponsor a Stations of the Cross over the noon hour down Main Street on Monday, March 17th. Meet on the steps of the Civic Center at Noon for the walk beginning at 12:05pm. This will conclude at the river overlook about 12:45pm. Those who have participated in walk and prayer in the past have found it meaningful.
APPLEBEE’S NIGHT The next Youth Applebees night is Tuesday, March 18th. Grab your friends and family and have a meal out and support the youth group at the same time. A portion of your receipt will come back to the youth group. Carry-outs count too!
MAUNDY
THURSDAY SERVICE FBC Sanctuary
GOOD FRIDAY
SERVICE
Trinity United
Methodist Church A soup & sandwich lunch will be served immediately after the service in Craig Hall. There will be a reasonable fee charged for the food items.
“PASSION OF
THE CHRIST” (FBC Sanctuary) Soup & Sandwiches --6:30pm (Fellowship Hall)
EASTER
SUNRISE SERVICE Breakfast will be served at 8:00am in the Fellowship Hall
QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING 6:00pm dinner 7:00pm meeting
REGION
MISSION CONFERENCE Alexandria First Baptist Church Alexandria, Indiana Registration forms are in the church office.
Please
bring in pictures of the Military people we have on our prayer
list,
FBC has the APARTMENT FOR RENT which was rented for Pastor Dixon. It rents for $500 a month with utilities at $105. Our lease ends in August. Call the church office (425-8296), if you are interested.
March 22nd, 1:00 -3:00pm in the Fellowship Hall there will be a Baby Shower for Amber Dillon. Everyone welcome!
FOOD PANTRY TABLE If you’re coming to the church for any reason through-out the week, bring a non-perishable food item and put it on one of the tables in the Sanctuary. The food items are taken to Patchwork Central which distributes it to those in need. Hunger is not a seasonal or random thing, it’s an on going thing. FBC CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
PORK ‘N BEANS FBC will be collecting cans of pork ‘n beans to help the Evansville Rescue Mission provide Easter dinner to area families through March 14th. Please place your cans on the table by the elevator. Let’s show our community that we care about them.
EASTER EGG HUNT FBC will host the annual Easter egg hunt this year with Forest Hills Baptist Church children as our guests. The hunt will be March 22nd at the Hollis home (8305 Hogue Road) at 10:00am. You still have time to donate candy to fill the eggs. Please bring individually wrapped (non-chocolate) candy. (Chocolate melts sitting in the sun after the eggs have been hidden!). There will be a basket in the Koffee Klatch area to receive your donations.
BIG THANK YOU! The Euvenice Class
SUNDAY
MORNING BREAKFAST
MARCH 9 - - Dry Cereal, Fruit & Juice 16 - - Eggs, Bacon, Toast, fruit, Juice & Milk 23 - - Waffles, Sausage, Juice
CONGO DONATIONS Cheryl Bingemer is going on a mission trip to the Congo from June 5-20 with a Baptist Church from Nashville. We can help the children there by collecting the following items:
Reading glasses (not
prescription)
School Supplies:
Medical/first aid supplies: ALL donations must be in by Sunday, March 16th!!!!
FBC HEALTHY EATERS All ages are invited to our FBC Healthy Eaters group. We meet on Thursday evenings in the Fellowship Hall. Weigh-in is from 6:00-6:30pm with our meeting from 6:30-7:15pm. Our focus is on one change a week. Each person is asked to pay $10.00 each for materials. Join us as we become healthier!
THANK YOU! “Your kind expression of sympathy and friendship will always remain in our memories. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. From the Family of Leon Sherrill”
NEW EXERCISE CLASSES Several new exercise classes are beginning at First Baptist. These are free and everyone is welcome, men and women of all ages. Just meet here at the church to enjoy the fellowship, exercise, and learn the art of healthy eating.
Mondays: 6:00pm – Aerobics Contact person: Beth Gilles Tuesdays: 11:00am – Walking Contact person: Joanne Huffsmith 6:00pm – Walking Contact person: Jenny Fenwick Thursdays: 11:00am – Walking Contact person: Joanne Huffsmith 5:30pm– Sweatin’ to the Oldies Contact person: Julie Lauer
OLD TIMER’S BASKETBALL GAME A big thank you goes out to all who participated in and volunteered for the Old Timer’s Basketball game. The winning team was “The Gladiators” coached by Rich Gore. The final score was Gladiators 43 and Bombers 35. The Most Valuable Players was the Bomber’s Steve Winternheimer with 16 points scored and no fouls. Our free throw contest winners are Ethan Wilkinson in the under 21 group, Mindy Turley in the 21-54 group, and Howard Knopfmeier in the 55 and older group. What a great time of fellowship!
SOCCER SHAK SEASON It’s time for the spring Soccer Shak Season. Our youth group provides concessions for the soccer teams that plan on Vann Avenue each Spring and Fall. The 6-week season begins on April 7th. We need volunteers to help us staff the Soccer Shak each day. Volunteers can sing up on the poster in the lobby. This is a great way to support the youth group and have fun!
AMERICA FOR CHRIST OFFERING We will be collecting our annual America for Christ offering beginning Palm Sunday and continuing through April 6th. Special envelops are available in the pew racks or mark your check for this offering and turn them into the office.
HIGH SCHOOL POW All high school students are invited to a POW (programs on weekends) on Saturday, April 5th at 6:00pm. It’s a pizza and movie night. Bring your friends!
MIDDLE SCHOOL POW All middle school students are invited to their POW on Friday, April 25th. Meet at the church at 6:00pm and bring your friends!
PRIMETIME WEDNESDAYS All children and youth are invited to join us on PrimeTime Wednesdays. Children from Kindergarten to 5th grade are welcome in our Children’s Choir as they begin work on their spring musical. Middle School, High School, and College aged youth have a choice between basketball or youth choir. Dinner is served at 5:00pm and programs begin at 5:45pm. Adult choir, as always, beings at 7:00pm. Every is welcome!
INSTALLATIONYour Transition Team’s final task is to formally install the candidate chosen as Senior Pastor. The purpose of this article is to announce arrangements that are finalized up to this time. Some changes may occur as installation date approaches. The formal installation of Rev. Dr. George A. Huffsmith as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church will occur Saturday April 19 at 3:00 PM CDT. A Saturday date was selected to allow more persons employed in the ministry to participate and still meet their regular Sunday commitments. The celebration is expected to last about ninety minutes, and will be followed by a banquet in Fellowship Hall at about 5:00 PM. Participants presently committed to worship and celebrate with us include Dr. Larry Mason, Executive Minister of the Indiana-Kentucky Region of American Baptist Churches, Rev. Dan Barringer, Southwest Area Resource Minister, Dr. Bob Johnson, Intentional Interim Minister, Rev. Don Dixon, Intentional Interim Minister, George P. Huffsmith (the pastor’s father), Tasha, Chelsea, Janelle Huffsmith (the pastor’s daughters), Rev. Ralph Wagner (the pastor’s mentor), and Rev. Posey Gaines (FBC Pastor Emeritus). Please plan now to worship and celebrate with us. We will provide you with more details as additional arrangements are completed.
FELLOWSHIP FUND The Fellowship Fund is in need of donations. This is a very worthy endeavor that FBC uses to help our community. Please pray about any donations.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES at
NURSERY
THE WELL
JUNIOR HIGH
SENIOR HIGH
SEEKERS
(Spares & Pairs)
CHALLENGERS
COME DOUBLE
CLASS
EUVENICE (If anyone was mistakenly left off the teachers list, please contact the office.)
Church Staff: Dr. George Huffsmith - Reverend, H. Posey Gaines - Pastor Emeritus, Julie Lauer - Music Director, Olivia Yates - Organist, Marge Baker - Pianist, Beth Bloss/Sarah Bloss - Nursery Attendants,Tom Kinner - Sexton, Rhonda Wilson - Financial Secretary, Vada Chrockrem - Church Secretary, Donna Waller - Saturday Secretary, Nelya Palamarchuk - Custodian |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Easter
is just around the corner. It comes early this year, but we will be
as ready as we are able and I am looking forward to celebrating with
you. As this is my first time celebrating with you there is a
certain amount of uncertainty about what may happen. I don’t know
your customs and habits as a church, but then again you don’t know
mine either. We may both find ourselves in uncharted water and the
recipients of some surprises, and maybe that is what Easter should
be all about. 
