August 2014 newsletter

Welcome the Covin Family!

IN THI S I SSU E :

Church Announcements ...........................................page 2 Church-wide Calendar ................................................page 3 A Letter from Pastor Ross ..........................................page 4 Summer Highlights......................................................page 6 Welcome the Covins ....................................................page 8 Music Ministry .........................................................page 9 Adult Discipleship ......................................................page 10 Senior Saints Ministry ...............................................page 12 Youth Ministry ............................................................page 14 Children’s Ministry ...................................................page 15 Preschool Ministry....................................................page 16 FBC School -The Lion’s Roar .......................................page 17 Special Announcements...........................................page 18 From Troy’s Heart ...................................................page 19

CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

September 8 - November 3, 2014 This Class will be meeting on Monday’s @ 6:30pm, Sycamore House www.daveramsey.com/fpu Facilitated by Dave & Kacy Kuespert Informational class will be August 18 @ 6:30pm in the Sycamore House.

Debt is not a tool. The borrower is slave to the lender. A study by Dunn and Bradstreet showed that the credit card user spends 12 to 18% more when using credit instead of cash.

Where does your money go? Learn this and more at Financial Peace University. More than a debt elimination program. It is a money management method as Dave says “teaching God’s and Grandma’s way to handle money, only we keep our teeth in.”

Kacy and I are excited to share how God built margin into our lives the day we “accidentally” wandered into this class.

- David & Kacy Kuespert.

CHURCH STAFF

Ross Shelton, Pastor rshelton@fbc-brenham.org Troy Sikes, Associate Pastor tsikes@fbc-brenham.org Charles Covin, Music Minister ccovin@fbc-brenham.org Alex Morrison, Minister to Children amorrison@fbc-brenham.org Chad Marrs, Minister to Students cmarrs@fbc-brenham.org Stacey Strickland, Preschool Ministry sstrickland@fbc-brenham.org

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Teresa McGlasson, Office Manager tmcglasson@fbc-brenham.org Annette Guenther, Comptroller aguenther@fbc-brenham.org Lindee Knowles, Graphic Design / Media lknowles@fbc-brenham.org Donella Peevler, Church Receptionist dpeevler@fbc-brenham.org O’Dell Merryman, Facilities Manager omerryman@fbc-brenham.org Nancy Fritz, School Administrator nfritz@fbcsbrenham.org Kristie Mendoza, Mother’s Day Out Director mdo@fbc-brenham.org

CHURCH-WIDE CALENDAR AUGUST: Aug 3 Aug 5 Aug 5 Aug 6-7 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 18 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 24 Aug 25

Deacons Meeting 2pm in room 111 Joy Class at 2pm Sycamore House Personnel Committee 6pm - Sycamore Garage 2:4 The Mission - overnight at Klubhouse & Gym Small Group Leader Training - 9am-noon in the Gym Charles Covin First Sunday at FBC Brenham!

Financial Peace Class Info 6:30pm, Sycamore House Finance Committee Meeting at 6:30pm Back 2 Skool Partee - Kid’s Klub - 5:30pm Nancy Fritz - 30th Anniversary Promotion Sunday (Movin’ On Up - 1st grade, 12:00pm - Gym) First Day of School for FBCS

Sept 1 Sept 2 Sept 2 Sept 2 Sept 6 Sept 7 Sept 8 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 15 Sept 18 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 24 Sept 28

Church Office Closed MDO begins fall semester Joy Class at 2pm - Sycamore House Personnel Meeting at 6pm in Sycamore House Garage Handbell Clinic (New Ringers) 9am - 1pm, Room 112 or Gym Deacons Meeting 2pm in room 111 Financial Peace (1st class) 6:30pm Sycamore House Conversation Dr. John Morgan – 5pm Gym Widow/Single Ladies Home Team at 6pm Koenig house Finance Meeting at 6:30pm Senior Saints Luncheon 11:00 -Pahl House Handbell Clinic (Directors) 9am to 1pm - Room 112 Christmas in September - 8:30am - Sanctuary Coffee with the Pastor at 6pm in the Gym Business Meeting at 5pm in the Gym

SEPTEMBER:

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Fri: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

First Baptist Church Contact Info: Phone: (979) 836-2807 Fax: (979) 830-0122 Mailing address: PO Box 600, Brenham, TX 77834 email: info@fbc-brenham.org LINKS TO CHECK OUT ONLINE CHURCH & SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.fbc-brenham.org CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/Brenhamfbcs

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FROM PASTOR ROSS

My first summer here at First Baptist Church has been great. I loved going on the mission trip to Honduras, being a part of our different Wednesday night activities, and seeing our children and youth connect with God at camp. As we prepare for August and the beginning of the school year, let me go over a few things.

First, Charles and Bonnie Covin and their five kids will be here for their first Sunday on August 17. I am excited about Charles coming as our next Music Minister.

I believe God is going to use Charles and his family greatly in our church. Thank you for all the ways you welcomed the Covin family during the in-view-of-a-call weekend. You will be informed about some ways we are going to welcome them when they get here. Be sure and pray for First Baptist Church, Edna as they begin their transition, and pray for the Covins as they begin their relocation to Brenham.

Second, here are some items to keep you informed about our relocation planning: • We will find out about the possibility of selling the two acres behind our youth building on July 31st. The selling of the two acres is contingent upon the developer out of Houston receiving tax credits from the state, which will be announced on July 31st. If the developer receives the tax credits, the two acres will be sold for $200,000.

• Per church vote in the May business meeting, we have signed with Caldwell Companies out of Houston as our broker in the marketing and sale of the 51 acres we own between 290 and Market St. Pray for God to bring us the right buyer(s).

• The Building Committee1 ; composed of Brandon Musser, Stephen Puckett, David Baker, Heather Kirby, Arlen Thielemann, and Robert Haydon; has begun meeting and listening to presentations from architecture firms. The committee will hopefully bring a recommendation to the church in the fall about which firm we believe God is calling us to use.

The Building Committee is an ad-hoc committee focused on guiding the process of bringing to the church all the elements, steps, and processes of the design and building of our new facilities during the relocation. The Building Committee is different from the Building and Grounds Committee, which is a standing committee that provides administrative guidance in determining our current facilities’ needs and ensuring they are properly maintained. The Building Committee is also different from the Facilities Committee, which is an ad-hoc committee that has overseen the process of presenting to the church the concept of selling the 51 acres and buying the 33 acres. Once the 51 acres are sold, the Facilities Committee will no longer exist.

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• I want to remind you that on September 14th at 5:00 pm in the Gym, we welcome Dr. John Morgan, pastor of Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston. He will be speaking to us about building debt-free. Sagemont has seen God work and provide in their church since the 1970s after they committed to building debt-free. Sagemont recently completed their 29 million dollar worship center debt-free. I encourage you to be here that night and bring your questions. You will be blessed.

Once again, I am excited about what God is doing in our church! Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor.

-Ross

CHURCH FAMILY PICNIC

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM SUMMER

SENIOR ADULT VBS

KID’S KAMP!

5TH & 6TH MISSION ARLINGTON

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WELCOME THE COVINS! Introducing Charles & Bonnie, Wesley, Garrison, Sabrina, Paisley, & Benjamin Charles grew up in a music minister’s home. His dad is currently the music minister at First Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, TX. He graduated from Edna High School in 1999 and the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in 2003 with a Bachelor of Music in Church Music. He is married to Bonnie (UMHB graduate), and they have five children: Wesley (2005), Garrison (2006), Sabrina (2009), Paisley (2012), and Benjamin(2014). Bonnie is also a musician (keyboard and vocals) and is active in the music ministry.

During high school and college, Charles was active in music and music ministry: Texas Baptist All State Choir, TMEA All State Choir, Edna High School Band, Member and Co-director of UMHB vocal ensemble “One Voice,” UMHB Concert Choir and section leader, was awarded most outstanding bass in the UMHB choir in 2001 and 2002, UMHB handbell ensemble. He is an experienced vocalist and guitarist with a heart for leading worship through different musical styles.

Charles served in numerous part-time ministry positions at FBC Academy, FBC Lolita, and FBC Yoakum.

FULL-TIME MINISTRY POSITIONS: • First Baptist Church, Edna, TX: Minister of Music & Media: October 2007 – present • First Baptist Church, Lorena, TX: Minister of Worship & Young Adults: June 2004 October 2007 • Licensed to ministry: January 28, 2007; Ordained: June 9, 2013

WELCOMING THE COVINS One of the ways you can welcome the Covins over the next few weeks is by providing a gift card to one of the grocery stores or restaurants. If you would like to include a card expressing your welcome to them, that is great too. You can bring the gift card, with a card if applicable, to the church office or mail it to the church office at PO Box 600, Attn: Charles Covin, Brenham, TX 77834. Thank you in advance for the ways you are going to welcome them!

WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY THANK YOU TO THE MUSIC MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE AND INTERIM MUSIC MINISTERS Thank you to our Music Minister Search Committee: Gregg Workman, Sami Rahman, Pam Young, Ron Kirby, and Bud Lovell. You did a great job in allowing God to lead in finding our next Music Minister, Charles Covin.

Thank you, as well, to Bud Lovell and Chad Marrs for leading our Sunday morning worship services. We appreciate the time, effort, and quality you gave over these past months. We are a blessed church!

CHOIR & PRAISE TEAM REHEARSALS

Rehearsal times return to their regular schedules this Month WEDNESDAYS Handbell Choir – 5:30 to 6:30 pm, Worship Choir – 6:30 to 7:45 pm THURSDAYS- Praise Team Rehearsal – 6:30 to 8:00 pm WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF OUR PRAISE & MEDIA TEAM FOR THE 11:00 SERVICE? Volunteers are needed to help with sound, computer presentation, and video. Please contact Ross Shelton if you are interested.

If you are a singer or musician interested in participating on the praise team, please contact Chad Marrs.

JOIN US SUNDAYS

8:30 am - Traditional Service 9:45 am - Bible Study 11:00 am - Contemporary Service

TUNE IN YOUR RADIO Listen to our service every Sunday @ 10:00am on KWHI AM 1280

TURN ON YOUR TV

Watch the Traditional Service every Sunday @ 8:30am - Cable Channel 9 9

ADULT MINISTRIES SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASSES

At BFBC we offer fifteen different Sunday Morning Bible Studies for YOU! Each Sunday @ 9:45am, you will find people eager to meet you and engage you in friendly discussions of faith and life from the Bible.

Marriage Builders - Family Ties (young couples/families) Agape (various ages) Virtuous Women (Ladies - various ages) Life Applications (various ages) Family Life Class (various ages) Choices (various ages) CSI: Brenham (Open to All) College Class (young adults)

Adult 1 (Sr. Adults) •Joy (Ladies) •Friendship (Ladies) •Scripture Searchers (Men) Adult 2 (Sr. Adults - all ages) •Hope Class (Ladies all ages) •Covenant Keepers Adult 3 ( 60’s) Adult 4 (50’s & 60’s) Adult 5 (50’s)

S.M.I.L.E. (Single Moms Impacting Lives Eternally) New Sunday Morning Bible Study starting Sunday, September 7th @ 9:45am.

Especially designed for Single Moms with children still at home.

Led by Mary Sparks who firmly believes: “God is stronger than our struggles we face. We will SMILE at the uncertain future not because we are strong, but because Christ in us is stronger than all our struggles.”

This new class is a great opportunity for our church to reach out to single moms and minister to their unique needs.

“Ordinary women becoming extraordinary in the arms of God!” Marriage Tune Up 2 Conference w/Jeff & Debbie McElroy – Friday, January 30-February 1, 2015 – If you would like to help serve on one of the following teams, contact Troy Sikes @ 979-836-2807 - Publicity, Registration, Hospitality, Greeters, Food Service & Prayer. We will have our first coordinating team meeting in September.

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BIBLE STUDIES & MORE SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY & HOME TEAM LEADER TRAINING Saturday, August 16 9:00am-12:00pm in the Gym All small group leaders in all ministry areas from Preschool to Adult will meet for inspiration and training as we begin a new year of Sunday Bible Study and Home Teams.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN AUGUST Pastor’s Bible Study & Prayer – 2 & 3 John – Room 112 @ 6:30 Heroes of the Faith – Joshua, Elijah, Samuel & David – Room 111 @ 6:30,

taught by Troy Sikes

Weekl y Bi ble St udi es & Fel low sh i p “1st place 4 Health” Group: Tuesdays, 5:30-7:00pm, Sycamore House Rm. 201 Men’s Study/Prayer Breakfast: Wednesdays, 6:00 AM, Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer: Thursdays, 10-11am – Sycamore House Garage - Open to all

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (niv)

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SENIOR SAINTS NEWS

THANK YOU FROM EL SALVADOR: ‘The children were very polite and were very thankful for our visit and for the items that we left them. All of the younger girls received a new dress that was sewn by the Senior Adult VBS program at Brenham’s First Baptist Church. All of the boys received t-shirts and the older girls received backpacks. All of the children also received lambs that were handmade by Lila’s Lambs, who made dresses the past 2 years. We are so grateful for these donations.’ - Debbie Fathauer

CELEBRATE OUR AUGUST BIRTHDAYS! Suzie Anger 8/1 HermaLoy Smith 8/1 Jerry Blazier 8/2 Cecil Stephenson 8/2 Pat Williams 8/2 Kennith Marshall 8/4 Gary Holmes 8/6 Jackie Holmes 8/6 Danny Goss 8/8 Nelson Byman 8/10 Marguerite Chandler 8/10 Jack Newton 8/10 Anna Marye Curry 8/12 Jere Longhofer 8/12 Nanette Zernial 8/14 Wendell Brown 8/15 Hal Machat 8/16

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Jerry McLennan Barbara Loesch Louise Newman Sharon Allen Robert Haydon Joan Rothermel Bill Windle David Clinkenbeard John Lacy Barbara Abshier Eddie Van Dyke Sunne Wheaton Mickey Walker Dave Cook Ebert Steele Lester Yeakley

8/16 8/17 8/17 8/18 8/21 8/21 8/22 8/23 8/24 8/27 8/27 8/29 8/30 8/31 8/31 8/31

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Friends,

Today was an exciting day in the life of our church when we called Charles and Bonnie Covin to join our family as Minister of Music and Worship. I am excited that we are beginning to see so many wonderful things happening here at First Baptist Church and in our community as well as abroad where our mission teams have traveled to.

Our senior VBS was once again a big hit with all who attended. The only complaint I heard was on the last day, that everyone wanted it to go longer. We had some great Bible teaching, Mission moments, as well as crafts. If you were not able to come this year, we made lap throws for local nursing homes, gourd birdhouses with Merlene and E.J. Schumacher’s help.

Some of the guys made a wood truck hot wheel shelf for the little boys in their lives, while some of us made pillowcase dresses for an orphanage in El Salvador. We decided since we had nothing to really take to the boys in the orphanages we would collect T-Shirts for them. We made 60 dresses and collected 58 shirts to send.

We had excellent meals served for lunch everyday by three Sunday School Classes, Agape Class, Family Ties & Choices Class, and Family Life Class. Thanks again for all of you and the delicious meals.

Then as a church family we met on our new property for a picnic on July 2nd. A great time was had by all I believe and it showed me what a beautiful place that will be for our new facilities. We will be a light on the hill for all to see as they come into Brenham, so let us make sure our lights are shining brightly.

Our Senior Council will have met by the time you receive this newsletter, and we will have some great things planned for you starting in our kick-off in September. This fall I hope you will encourage others to come join us.

As I close let us always remember this, “We will praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that is to come.” I feel like great things will be coming for us in the next few years.

Blessings, Reba Pair

Attention Senior Saints! We are forming a team to help plan, organize and implement ministry activities for Sr. Saints in 2014-15. If you are interested in serving, please contact Troy Sikes @ 979-836-2807.

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STUDENT MINISTRY

Remember way back - like months ago - when we had the Men’s Cake Bake?

Some of you men labored over wonderful cake masterpieces. So many of you showed up and supported the Student Ministry with our delicious fellowship BBQ meal. And many bid on cakes directly financing scholarships for our students. I just want you to know how much I APPRECIATE every egg cracked, every beater licked, every potato baked, and every calorie consumed - you directly invested in the lives of our students!

We had the best time in Durango, Colorado at Student Life Camp!! Now I know you may have heard some crazy stories and seen some wild things on Facebook and I’m hear to tell you - it was all true! I’ve been in ministry for fifteen years and in all that time I’ve only been to the Emergency Room twice. But Brenham’s FBC Student Ministry made me earn my keep this year. We took 4 trips to the ER in just ONE day at camp. Wow thank you to everyone who was praying for us while we were far from home.

The good news is that the devil could not steal our joy. God was still working.

Students lives were changed! (And isn’t that what all the Men’s Cake Bake hoopla was really about?) In the midst of the cool mountain weather, many students made life changing decisions and commitments and two of our students gave their lives to Christ.

A highlight of my week was getting in a boat with 8 students to brave the rapids.

You learn about your team’s work ethic, coordination, and “follow-ship” on board a rubber boat soaring down the freezing river. One student kept “lily-padding”. That’s where your paddle barely breaks the water surface during a paddle stroke. You have to dig deep. We learned that paddling together is crucial and it’s a real challenge.

But we figured it all out and faced the rapids together.

I wonder what the Lord can do with Brenham’s FBC if we all got in sync, dug down deep, not “lily- padding, and worked together to reach our city for the Lord? The task may be too big for one person, but together we could see revival spring up. I look forward to another start to a school year and what the Lord has for our students and our church. I’m on board! Are you?

-Bro. Chad

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

AUG 6,13, & 20 The youth center will be open for student to hang out.

6:30-7:30 pm.

AUG 27 We will have no youth activities because of “Meet The Cubs” SEPT. 3 “All In” Start up with a Back to School Party, 6:00pm doors open

for food, 6:30-7:30pm Worship & Bible Study. Doors close at 8pm.

SEP.17 We will have No youth activities, Fair Night OCT. 17 Fifth Quarter in the FBC GYM. Following the Cubs football Game till 11:45pm.

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY BFBC Kids Klub Monthly Virtue: Respect Showing others they are important by what you say and do.

By the time you read this, summer will practically be over for most of us with children. August is here and the school schedules have begun. Even though I am not a big fan of the activities that encroach upon our kid’s summers, I welcome August. I see it as a finish line to a fast and hard run race. Summertime for children and youth ministry is extremely fast paced and bloated with activity. All of it is good, but all of it is physically, spiritually and mentally taxing. Summer’s end brings a much-needed rest.

This summer has been more action-packed than most. Within 7 weeks I have conducted VBS at our church, in Honduras and with Mission Arlington. I have planned and conducted a 5-day camp for 3rd-6th graders. Out of those 49 days I have lived out of a suitcase for 24 days. In my spare time between activities I have led a community devotional for Faith Mission, organized for the next event, helped prepare for our new music minister, planned for next year’s Core Essentials and other regular office duties like newsletters, receipts and business meeting reports. I am winded, but that is good.

Last week at camp, I was out for a run. It was one of those mornings that you have to talk yourself out of bed, force yourself to put on your shoes and coax yourself out the door to put one foot in front of the other. During the run I was justifying reasons for why I could run only twenty minutes instead of thirty. However, I pushed on for the thirty.

Traditionally at the end of my run, I sprint for about the last 30 seconds to a minute.

Again, I thought that it would be OK to just finish. However, my heart kicked my mind in the pants and I did finish with a sprint. Then, I about died. I was winded, but it was good.

As I was recovering, Holy Spirit brought my mind to think about finishing the race of my life the same way. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.”

God doesn’t want us to just finish the race. He encourages us to race the race of life in a way that we could win. As we cross the finish line in glory, we should be exhausted and ready to collapse. We should hold nothing back. We will be winded, but it will be good.

-Bro. Alex

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES • August 6-7 - 2:4 The Mission, 1pm-1pm, 24 hours of mission fun, games and projects for 1st & 2nd graders.

• August 13 - Game Time in the Gym, 6:30-7:30 in the gym for 1st-6th grades • August 20 - Bak 2 Skool Partee, 5:30-7:30 @ Horseshoe Junction for 1st-6th • August 24 - Movin’ on Up (Promotion Sunday) , 12:00 -2pm in the gym for New 1st graders • August 27 - Wednesday Night Restart, 6:30-7:30 for 1st - 6th graders Contact Alex Morrison for more info - amorrison@fbc-brenham.org

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PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES SUNDAY MORNINGS IN JULY

Basic Truth: God Made Me. God Loves Me. Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever.

Key Question: Who loves you?

Bottom Line: God loves me.

Memory Verse: “Nothing can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:39 NIrV August is the start of our new year and we are excited to be able to reintroduce our 3 basic truths. We want every child to know that God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever. And, we want them to embrace it firmly in their little hearts.

We will start the month off by reminding our preschoolers that God made them. He made each little eyelash and each little freckle, and that makes them so very special. Then they will hear how much God loves them and that He has a plan for each and every one of them just as He had a plan for Abraham. In fact, God loves them so much He will always seek them out just as the shepherd looks to find the lost sheep. Finally, they’ll hear the story of Zacchaeus and how Jesus loved him no matter what. He wanted to be Zacchaeus friend forever and He wants to be our friend forever too. Our little ones will finish up the month with a fun review of all three basic truths to make sure they’re ready for the year ahead. We are looking forward to an awesome new year.

- Stacey Strickland

Our Cute Little Pirates!

I cannot believe that it is August already.

This summer has flown by so quickly and soon we will be starting a new school year.

I am so sad to say goodbye to our fun loving kindergarteners (or should I say new 1st graders). It has been such a privilege to watch them grow up. I am also so excited for our 3 year olds that get to move on up to their new preschool Sunday school class.

They each get to venture into a whole new world. Thank You parents for allowing us to love on your children. Parents remember that August 24th is our promotion Sunday, where all our kids move on up to their next class.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Kate Ward 08/27 Kinsley Wallace 08/31

CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER! COMING SOON! More details will be announced at church!

FBC SCHOOL & EEC FBCS and EEC has had a great summer for our EEC students – from taking various field trips around town to water days, library days, and chapel days, and even a live audio on Brenham’s KTEX 106, our students have been exposed to some many fun things this summer.

We also have a few new things that will be “popping up” soon. We will have a new preschool playground flooring and fence and will have a new FBCS and EEC LED communication sign installed near the school’s entrance. Hopefully, all of this will be completed before school starts.

School starts August 25th, and our staff will be here ready for in-service on August 18th. It’s still not too late to enroll your child for school. Some classes are closed and have waiting lists, so don’t delay. Give us a call or come by.

Remember, our school summer office hours are 8:00-1:00 M-F. Thank you for your continued financial and prayerful support!

Nancy

MOTHER’S DAY OUT

We are registering for the fall semester. Enrollment packets can be picked up at the church office or on our website: www.fbc-brenham.org/connect/mothers-day-out/mdo-enrollment/ .

We are also in need of passionate and kind teachers to join our team as we minister to families in our community. If you feel led to serve in this way please contact me at your convenience, mdo@fbc-brenham.org.

- Kristie Mendoza, MDO Director 17

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Our Sympathies To: • • •

Bracey Bledsoe and family in the loss of his sister.

Commander family in the loss of Dr. Allen Commander.

Glasco family in the loss of Troy Glasco.

Church Thank Yous: Bro. Gray Mason Cindy and I want to thank you for the opportunity to be part of the Senior Adult Vacation Bible School. We were blessed again with your hospitality and generosity. We experienced a sweet spirit there and openness to God’s Word and plan. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made the week a great time of ministry and fellowship. We will continue to pray for you as First Baptist Church of Brenham moves “Forward from here”.

Debbie Fathauer Seniors of BFBC,Thank you so much for providing the dresses and t-shirts for the orphans we will visit in El Salvador! It is amazing how new clothing brings such a sparkle to their eyes! I will send photos via email to Sara so that you can put a face with this awesome project! Thank you for being a blessing to these children.

Over the last three or so weeks a group of people used their skills, knowledge and hard work to refinish the front doors of the Sanctuary. The church would like to recognize Doug Baker, Bill Holmes, Bill Standley, Tup Chovanec, and Jim Turner and thank them for their service to the church.

New FBC Members: Christina Branecky

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Lowell and Janette Johnson

FROM TROY’S HEART August is the time to begin again. As summer ends, August begins...

• A search for new school clothes.

• New friendships as classes resume.

• New teams prepare for athletic contests.

• Learning new concepts and information from new teachers.

• Parents meet new parents at “open houses”.

• New campuses are learned by jr and sr. high students hoping to not get lost.

• New school supplies fill store shelves.

August is also a new beginning at the church.

• We will have new classes forming and a new Sunday Bible Study year starting on Sunday, August 24.

• We will welcome our new Minister of Music, Charles Covin, beginning on August 17th.

What will be new for you this August? A new attitude? A new commitment? A new relationship? I would encourage each of us to take a look at our lives and ask good questions of ourselves. Maybe the answers to the questions we ask will point us in some new directions? From what I know, new directions lead to some new destinations!! Happy traveling!

I Love you, Troy

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P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600

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