CHURCH INFORMATION CHURCH STAFF Ross Shelton, Pastor rshelton@fbc-brenham.org
Annette Guenther, Comptroller aguenther@fbc-brenham.org
Troy Sikes, Associate Pastor tsikes@fbc-brenham.org
Donella Peevler, Church Receptionist dpeevler@fbc-brenham.org
Charles Covin, Music Minister ccovin@fbc-brenham.org
Jodi Beckendorf, Graphic Designer jbeckendorf@fbc-brenham.org
Chad Marrs, Minister to Students cmarrs@fbc-brenham.org
Stephanie Sheffield, Custodian Manager ssheffield@fbc-brenham.org
Alex Morrison, Minister to Children amorrison@fbc-brenham.org
Nancy Jahns, School Administrator njahns@fbcsbrenham.org
Stacey Strickland, Preschool Ministry sstrickland@fbc-brenham.org
Kristie Mendoza, Mother’s Day Out Dir. mdo@fbc-brenham.org
Teresa McGlasson, Office Manager tmcglasson@fbc-brenham.org
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Fri: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. Brenham’s First Baptist Church Contact Info: Ph: (979) 836-2807 Fax: (979) 830-0122 info@fbc-brenham.org Mailing address: PO Box 600, Brenham, TX 77834
LINKS TO CHECK OUT ONLINE CHURCH WEBSITE: www.fbc-brenham.org CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/Brenhamfbcs 2
I N THI S I SSUE:
Special Announcements...................................................page Church-wide Calendar .....................................................page From Pastor Ross ...............................................................page Music Ministry ....................................................................page Adult Ministries .................................................................page Bible Studies & More ........................................................page Encore Ministry ..................................................................page A Letter from Reba . ...........................................................page Student Ministry ................................................................page Children’s Ministry ............................................................page Preschool Ministry ............................................................page FBC School & EEC ..............................................................page From Troy’s Heart ..............................................................page
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
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CHURCH-WIDE CALENDAR
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Easter Services- 9am & 11am (No Bible Study) Piece Makers 9:00am Precept Bible Study 9:00am Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Relocation Committee Meeting 6:30pm FBCS - UIL Competition 8:00am Klub House Clean Up 8:00am Lord’s Supper - Both Services Evening of Worship & Prayer 4:00pm Precept Bible Study 9:00am Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Precept Bible Study 9:00am Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Encore Luncheon 11:00am Precept Bible Study 9:00am Hope Sunday School Class Party 4:00pm Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Apps Over Apps 6:30pm World Hunger Offering - Both Services
Student Center Pahl House Sycamore House Sycamore House Room 112 Entire Campus Gym Sanctuary Pahl House Sycamore House Sycamore House Pahl House Sycamore House Sycamore House Pahl House Pahl House Sycamore House Sycamore House Sycamore House Student Center
For more information on any of the above events please visit the church website: www.fbc-brenham.org www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch
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FROM PASTOR ROSS Thom Rainer is the CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, which provides, among many things, our Sunday School literature. Dr. Rainer has written many practical books about church growth and health. His most recent book is Becoming a Welcoming Church. While I haven’t read this book, I saw an article he wrote from the findings of his book titled, “10 Reasons Guests Don’t Return to Your Church.” It is a helpful article and a reminder that being a welcoming church comes from its members being intentional and flexible. Think about this: a guest will have numerous experiences with people before they ever hear me preach the sermon. If one of us is cold, unfriendly, or rude, the person may not only be turned off by our church, they may, if they are not a believer, be turned off to God. For example, if someone is sitting in “your seat,” NEVER ask them to move. This is not only rude and selfish, but it assumes we have a right to something. As Christians, we must be willing to give up our rights/conveniences for others (1 Corinthians 9:12). I’m thankful that I haven’t heard too much about something like this happening here. Troy Sikes, a number of volunteers, and I have been working over the past few years to help us be a more welcoming church to guests. Here are some of the things we have started doing in the past few years: -Provide a Guest Welcome Table in our foyer manned with volunteers -Provide directional signage around the church that leads people to the Guest Welcome Table -Started a parking lot team that helps welcome people as they walk to our buildings and provides security: (By-the-way, we need more people on this team. If you are interested, please contact Troy Sikes at tsikes@fbc-brenham.org) -Provide a changing table for babies in the men’s and women’s restrooms in the foyer -Alex Morrison and Stacey Strickland have developed electronic check-in for children in their ministry areas to enhance security -Updated and enhanced our website and Facebook pages These are only a start, and we want to improve continually on being a welcoming church. Doing these things may not seem like a big deal to those of us who’ve been church members most of our lives, but in today’s world it is a big deal for someone to visit a church. Let’s continue to work on being good hosts… especially when it inconveniences us. This being said, here is the helpful information from Dr. Rainer about why guests did not return to a church, which can help us learn to be a friendlier church: 1.) The stand-and-greet time in the worship service was unfriendly and awkward. Some guests saw it as only a ritual for the members while others felt totally ignored or inundated with superficial greetings. 2.) Unfriendly church members. Most church members don’t usually speak to guests because they don’t know them and instead retreat to the comfort of the holy huddles of the people they do know. 3.) Unsafe and unclean children’s areas. If your church does not have clear safety and security procedures, and if the children’s area is not clean and sanitary, young families will not return to your church. 4.) No place to get information on the church. Guests are trained to look for a central welcome and information center, however, some churches didn’t have one or it was hidden or unmanned. 5.) Bad church websites. The two critical items guests want to see on a church website are the physical address of the church and times of the services. From Pastor Ross Continued on Page 10.
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MUSIC MINISTRY
Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to help make our Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services such powerful times of worship and celebration! How special to have our Kids’ Choir jump in with the adult Worship Choir to commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus! We are looking forward to the next few months in Worship Choir as we prepare for our annual associational music festival (details below), as well as our God and Country Sunday coming in July. If you’re looking for a place to plug in and love to sing, come join us!
Independence Baptist Association Music Festival Sunday, May 6th @ 5:30pm FBC Chappell Hill Join us for a great time of worship, featuring music from choirs and soloists throughout the association, as well as a meaningful time of congregational singing.
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ADULT MINISTRIES PIECE MAKERS Piece Makers provided a place for the Sewing Wives of Volunteer Christian Builders to sew for a couple of weeks in February. Seven of them were able to attend our March Piece Makers meeting and enjoy a salad luncheon in their honor. It was delightful to share ideas with another Christian group focused on charity and missions. Doddie Messick presented our program on making Touch Quilts for Alzheimers patients and Liz of the Sewing Wives shared how to crochet waterproof mats from plastic bags for the homeless. A good time was had by all. Piece Makers meet the first Tuesday of every month from 9 am until 2 pm in the Student Center. Everyone is welcome to sew with us or come and visit! No sewing machine or experience required.
Mary Helen Charette Zach Nanney Robbie Gail Charette Dusty and Missy Robinson
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BIBLE STUDIES & MORE
Precept Bible Study New Teacher: Kim Lytle Studying the book of “Galatians”. Meets on Tuesdays 9:00am in the Pahl House; Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “The 10 Commandments” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Pastor’s Bible Study “Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out” Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112 What’s a Baptist? Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111 NEW!!! Mom’s Bible Study “Women Living Well”- Begins 4/4/18 Wednesdays, 6:30pm Upstairs in the Sycamore House
NEW!!! Ladies Bible Studies “Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough” By Kay Warren Meets on Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Downstairs in the Sycamore House Ladies Bible Study Fellowship Class Studying the book of “Romans” Meets on Thursdays, 9:30- 11:30am, in the Sycamore House Registration during the month of April for the Fall study “People of the Promised Land – Part 1” Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage
HOME TEAM GROUPS Widows & Single Ladies – Various Topics. Pahl House 1st & 3rd Monday 6:00pm. Schroeder – 620 Country Place W. Dr. Meet on the 1st & 3rd Sunday at 5:00pm Atkins – Prayer and fellowship 9250 Lake Dr. Various times and subjects Houston/Antolin -”Romans” 808 Spinn St. 1st & 3rd Sunday at 5:30pm.
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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS
CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Gordon Dutile Hank Suenkel Greg Cooper Ronnie Peddy Fred Tanner Bill Arnold Bill Whitaker Mike Cowan Bruce Drummond Jane Moorhead Geneva Walker Rod Viebig Joyce Ruley Dan Bishop Helen Yeakley Debbie Fathauer Shirley Herring Ray Campbell Jane Barnett Beverly Whitman Marilyn Brown Jennifer Eckermann
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Marilyn Beardslee Rita Schneider Connie Poffenberger Charlie Matejowsky Teresa Peddy Lori McCracken Louise Tanner Daphne Baker Bill Betts, Jr Waverly Craft
THANK YOUS
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Dear Friends of FBCB, We want to take this moment to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to speak at your Sunday Worship and also for your generous donation. We are more than grateful for your partnership to change broken lives, Susan Blanchard - Hope Rising 9
A LETTER FROM REBA As I sit down to write this today, I have just come from a dear saints homegoing service. We have lost so many wonderful seniors in the past year that have shown the way to salvation to many people over their THOUGHT OF lifetimes. I think of our hills in Washington County THE MONTH: becoming colorful hills with all the new spring colors, especially our wildflowers. Our friends and brothers 1 CROSS + 3 NAILS = and sisters in Christ are walking on beautiful streets of 4 GIVEN gold with their Savior now. Can we say that we are a blessing to others as they have been? Is there something we need to do differently? Let’s make sure that when our time has ended that God will say “well done thou good and faithful servant.” Have a Blessed Easter season, and think of these words when you look out and see our beautiful blue, red, and yellow hillsides. Blessings, Reba
Scripture of the Month: “Praise is to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:15
FROM PASTOR ROSS
6.) Poor signage. Guests get frustrated when they don’t have clear directional signage for parking, the worship center, the children’s area, and others. 7.) Insider church language. Listen carefully to the words and conversations in the worship service. See if members say things that a first-time guest would not understand. 8.) Boring or bad church services. In the digital age, with so many affordable resources, no church is allowed that excuse. 9.) Members telling guests they were in the wrong pew or chair. In fact the most common comment was, “You are sitting in my pew.” 10.) Dirty facilities. A dirty church communicates to the guest, “We really don’t care.” 10
STUDENT MINISTRY
April is here - that means bluebonnets, prom, and summer plans are in full swing because it will be here before we know it. I still haven’t recovered from Daylight Savings – how can losing that one hour wreak such havoc? Summer planning for me means camp, Honduras mission trip and another trip to Africa and the one thing I’ve learned I can’t live without is a To-Do List. Marking through things on a To-Do List can be very satisfying and staying on track is super important, but I have discovered that sometimes I get a little too task-focused and forget the people who make those tasks worthwhile. I have to remind myself and I’m reminding you, too, to slow down and focus on people. Spiritually engaging with people is much more gratifying than checking things off a list. I encourage you to find out what’s going on in the lives of those around you and figure out how you can help them. Impacting someone eternally is worth it. Let’s slow things down and reach people for God’s glory.
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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Good Morning All, “Here is your mic.” I was handed an over-the-ear microphone connected to a “body pack” A Huge THANK YOU to transmitter. I was about to preach the first of two Must Be Heaven, sermons. As most of you remember, Pastor Ross the Mendoza family, had asked me to fill the pulpit in his absence while Horseshoe Junction and he was on vacation with his family for Spring Break. Westwood Cinema 6 for I took the microphone given to me and started to their generous donations place it on my ear to run a sound check. However, provided for the door when I began to unravel the mic cable, I noticed prize at our first Kids Klub something peculiar about its condition. At first XTreme in February. glance I noticed a break in the plastic coating that was supposed to cover the thin braided shielding that guarded the actual wire inside. Then, as I inspected further, I noticed the plastic coating had several breaks along the wire. In fact, I would venture to say that the wire braiding was more visible than the exterior coating. I pointed out the very worn mic cable to the sound guy and after being told to run with it, I was super careful in hopes to not break the mic while the pastor is out. I did make it through the first sermon without any adverse event, and I didn’t give the cable another thought - until I had to put it on again for the second sermon. Then, as I prepared to replace the microphone over my ear for the next sermon, I thought about how we have gotten all of our money out of that mic cable. Then, a sudden thought crossed my mind - “I want to be like that mic cable.” Immediately, my heart cried out to God with this hope fresh in my thoughts. Quickly, I prayed that God would use me until I had no more viability. I looked at the tattered mic, and now admired its wear and tear. Again, I laid myself on the altar and begged the Lord to use me to my fullest. I don’t know why or when I had pulled myself from the altar, but all of the sudden I felt as if I have been pacing myself so as to not wear out too soon. Now, I’m not saying that I should be haphazardly placing myself into harm’s way. However, it’s like I tell the girls on the basketball team that I coach, “Play with all your heart for the whole game. Don’t bring any of your energy off the court. Use it all in the game.” I was now apologizing for holding back. Again, don’t become busy to be busy, but go where God calls you, when He calls you and run hard when you’re in the game. Let God get the most out of you that you have to give. How tattered are you? Are you wearing out for God’s purposes or are you tearing apart for your own will and goals? As for me, I wish to voice this prayer: God allow me to play long into the game, and when the game is over may I be so spent, they have to drag me off the court. Bro. Alex Registrations for Camp Tejas and VBS are open online. Visit the church website to sign-up. The Summer Activities Meal Fundraiser has begun. Please find a 3rd - 12th grader and ask them for tickets. This will support kids to go to Camp Tejas or youths to go to camp/Mission Trip, and as a bonus, you get to enjoy a meal from Bush’s Chicken. Ticket sales are from 3/21-4/18. Kids Klub XTreme – The Core Essentials are coming to FBC families and getting amped. April 18 @ 6-7:30pm (1st – 6th graders & families) in the FBC Gym.
PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES Sunday Mornings in April Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Key Question: Who can tell others about Jesus? Bottom Line: I can tell others about Jesus. Memory Verse: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19
EXTRA! EXTRA! We have some BIG NEWS! JESUS IS ALIVE!
I cannot wait to share this exciting news with our little ones. Jesus lived, died, and came back, just like He promised. This truly is BIG NEWS! And, not only do we want our preschoolers to know this BIG NEWS, but we want them to feel comfortable telling others the BIG NEWS as well, and we are going to practice doing just that all month long. We will be learning so much this month in Sunday school, like how the early church didn’t just tell others the big news about Jesus. They showed them by taking care of one another. Telling others the BIG NEWS doesn’t just have to be shouting it in our outside voices. We can show others Jesus’ love in many ways. How about the amazing story of how Saul changed when he met Jesus. He went from hurting people who loved Jesus to telling everyone about Jesus! Talk about a change! Saul’s change to Paul was a drastic one, but everyone changes when they learn about Jesus. We want everyone to have the chance to know Him and be changed by His love.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLER DEAN 4/10/16 CALEB HOLSTER 4/12/16 ANDERSON NELSON 4/16/15 BENJAMIN REYNOLDS 4/19/13 OLIVIA GOR 4/20/16
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FBC SCHOOL & EEC We are beginning our last six weeks for the 2017-2018! For some of our kids, they will be moving on to a new school. Please pray for FBCS to keep trying to make an eternal impact until their last day with us. May the school and church continue to work together by sharing Jesus with the community and world every day! We are still enrolling children for next school year. If you know of someone who might be interested in the education FBCS provides, please tell them to give us a call. We would love to meet them and show them around the campus. Serving Him, Nancy Jahns
Thank you to our congregation for the encouragement and prayers!
P.S. Thank you to FBC for donating items, buying tickets, and purchasing items at Texas Celebration. We raised a little more than $60,000! To God Be the Glory! We are in need of scholarship donations for the 2018-2019 school year. Please consider a gift to this fund. It helps families to send their child to FBCS. The scholarships are for need-based students, and they are selected through a committee.
APRIL
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UIL – school & EEC closed Elementary Spring Performance 2:00pm in sanctuary Report cards sent home 12 5th grade to Waco 13 Kindergarten PE Showcase Night School 16-20 Achievement Tests 20 Kindergarten to Houston Zoo PK to the movies 25 School Committee meeting 26 5th to BN&R 27 UIL Incentive Day 14
FROM TROY’S HEART
A few weeks ago, I responded to a medical crisis with a family in our church. The prognosis was not good and the family had to consider some very hard questions about the next steps in their loved one’s life. As I sat with the family and listened to their discussions and questions of one another, I saw this moment as a very holy one. Yes, this situation was grave. Yes, the subject was unenviable. Yes, no family ever wants to be in this situation. Yes, as a minister, I have my own struggles, limitations and questions. However, in that consultation room, the Lord showed me that I was in a unique position to walk with a family through the holy struggle of faith. They wanted and needed a miracle. They lovingly spoke in agreement and we earnestly prayed. Twenty-four hours later, I received a phone call that I will never forget, a miracle. Tears, laughter and a rush to the hospital ensued where I witnessed it for myself. We all rejoiced and celebration filled the hallways where heaviness once persisted. Another holy moment experienced! As I have talked to God and He has clued me in about these moments, He has reminded me of a few of truths: 1. 2. 3.
He is always at work around me. Miracles are everywhere. If I will look with spiritual eyes, I will see the wondrous around me.
Happy looking my friends! I love you, Troy
SYMPATHIES: -Johnnie Hamilton and family in the loss of her grandson, Colt Knipstein. -Lubbock family in the loss of Midge Lubbock. -Betty Bradley and family in the loss of her daughter, Sally Rost. -Hermann family in the loss of their nephew, Trey Hermann. -Dan Bishop and family in the loss of his brother, Morris Bishop. 15
Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600
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