FBC Carthage E-News
January 21, 2013
Good morning,
There is a renewed sense
of excitement from those I have talked with after the Youth and Family Ski
Retreat. The two words that seem to be
used consistently are fun and laughter.
With over eighty people on the Ski Retreat it sounds like an exciting
time. Shane Ray and several from
Hillcrest Baptist in Lebanon led in the services on Saturday. A special thank you to all the leaders and
parents who helped make this event happen.
Check out the news section
for other upcoming youth events scheduled in the coming months.
Yesterday’s message from
James 2 helped us to focus on the importance of our welcoming people as they
attend services and activities at FBC Carthage.
If you missed the service, you can listen to it online on the media page
of our website www.fbccarthage.com.
Here are a few of the
practical suggestions to improve our welcome:
·
Come to each
service with an expectation of meeting people and saying “Hello.” Friendliness begins with each of us as we
greet those around us, members and guests.
May FBC Carthage be known as a friendly church to everyone who walks
through our doors.
·
Have a welcoming
attitude that says to people, “Welcome, I am glad you are here today.” Facial expressions, body language, as well as
your words must communicate “Welcome.”
·
When you see someone
you have not met, get up and go to that person.
Introduce yourself and welcome them.
If they have not found a seat, invite them to sit with you. Ask them their name and make a point to
remember and use it when talking together.
It may help to write it on your bulletin or a piece of paper.
·
A friendly
handshake, a genuine greeting, and a warm smile says a lot about our
church. It takes all of us working
together to communicate how glad we are to see people and make them feel
welcome.
·
Invite guests to
join you in Sunday School. Our Sunday
School classes are the best places to build relationships with people.
On a personal note before
we go to the news for the week; my Doctoral Thesis has been completely approved
and is now posted online by Liberty University.
If you would like to see it, go to http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/635/. To read the entire thesis, simply click the
Download button.
Here’s the News:
1.
Our
Mission Trip to the Brentwood Baptist Children's Home is less than two weeks
away (Friday, February 8)! We will meet
at the FBC Carthage parking lot that Friday afternoon at 4:30 PM and travel
together on the church bus. Check out
the sign-up lists in the Connection Point and get involved! You can also help before we go by shopping,
cooking, cutting wood pieces for bird house kits, cutting fleece for pillows,
or buying and organizing supplies for crafts. There are so many great ways to
be involved as we Exalt Christ, Establish Connections, and Express Compassion
to the children and adults at the Tennessee Baptists Children's Home in
Brentwood. Get involved! We'll be as blessed as they are through this missions
effort (Sponsored by the FBC WOM).
2.
Through the month
of January we have been collecting a special “Baby Bottle” offering for the
Pregnancy Help Center located at 108 College Avenue W. The Pregnancy Help Center serves as a
resource for women during their pregnancy and as an advocate for the life of
the unborn child. In addition, the
Pregnancy Help Center works with Barbara Kannapple and the Youth Resource
Center in teaching the benefits of sexual abstinence to students in the local
schools. This Sunday, January 27 will be
our Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in which we will receive the baby bottles
back and focus of life. There will be an
opportunity for you to give a special offering for life if you did not receive
a baby bottle. Bring your baby bottles filled
with coins and/or bills to the morning services this Sunday, January 27.
3.
Wednesday nights
have had two weeks of great attendance since we restarted the Wednesday Night
Family Meals at 5:00-6:00 PM in the Christian Life Center. Make your plans to join us for dinner and the
Wednesday night services this week. The
services begin at 6:30 PM with mission
groups for the children, Bible study and activities for the youth, and Prayer
time and Bible study for the adults.
There is something for everyone.
Following the services, the Sanctuary Choir meets at 7:30 PM.
4.
Speaking of the
Sanctuary Choir, they did a great job this past Sunday leading us in
worship. Thank you choir and
musicians. This is a great time for you
to join the choir and be a part of the Worship Team. Simply come to rehearsal this Wednesday night
at 7:30 PM, immediately following the Prayer Service in the Sanctuary.
5.
Here are several
youth events coming up in the coming weeks.
More information and sign-ups are available in the Youth Room on Sunday
mornings and Wednesday nights:
Saturday, January 26 Sports Fellowship with Hillcrest
Baptist
The youth will gather
at9:30 AM on Saturday morning and
travel to Lebanon
for this annual fellowship with the youth
from several churches in our area.
Saturday, February 9 Winter Jam Nashville
Check out the information,
videos, and more at:
Friday-Saturday, March 1-2 Youth
Evangelism Conference (YEC)
This is the premiere
Baptist youth event of the year. Check
it
out at
Monday-Friday, June 17-21 Student
Life Summer Camp, Myrtle Beach
Summer Camp is
life-changing for many students and adults.
Mark your calendar for this
year’s main event. Check out
the details
at
6.
Don Pierson,
Prayer Coordinator for Tennessee Baptist Convention, will be our special guest
on Sunday, February 3. Don will be
sharing on the importance of Connection Groups and how they are being used
throughout the state to reach lost people for Jesus Christ. In addition to the morning services, Don will
be leading an afternoon training session at 3:00 PM on the specifics of leading
a Connection Group. We have been talking
and praying for these groups for over a year.
Now is the time to see the groups begin throughout Carthage and Smith
County; in our homes, our businesses, at school, and anywhere we can gather
people in the name of Jesus.
7.
Volleyball continues on Thursday afternoons at 4:00 PM for a
couple more weeks. Stop by and join in
the fun.
8.
Each year we emphasize
that January is “Make Your Will Month.”
If you do not have a will or need to update your will, this month is the
time to take care of this important matter.
A will is a matter of Christian stewardship. The Lord has entrusted you to care for the material
possessions you have and the care for your family. A will is your final act of stewardship which
will make a difference in your family, perhaps for years to come. Here is a good article from the Tennessee
Baptist Foundation explaining why one young couple felt a will was important
for their child: http://www.tbfoundation.org/TBFArticle.asp?ID=71.
Contact
your lawyer and take care of this basic item of
stewardship this week.
9.
In commemoration of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and in honor of President Barak Obama’s Inauguration, here is
a historical video excerpt of Dr. King’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream” : http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=92JB21NU
