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 Thank yous and Sympathies . ..........................................page Bible Studies and more ....................................................page Encore Ministry and Piece Makers ................................page A Letter From Reba & Sweet Hour of Prayer ...............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
AUGUST2 2 3 5 7 8 9 9 10 12 12 16 16 16 19 19 20 23 30 31
Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore Hse Kidz Klub Bak 2 Skool Partee 8:00pm Aquatic Center FBCS Student Packet Pick-Up 7:15am-1:00pm Lord’s Supper - Both Services Piece Makers 9:00am Student Center Summer Fun Day- Preschoolers 9:30am Stone House Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore Hse Relocation Committee Meeting 6:30pm Room 112 FBCS- Back to School Swim Party 5:30pm Aquatic Center An Evening of Worship & Prayer 4:00pm Sanctuary Bro Chad’s Back2School Bash 5:30pm Horseshoe Junction Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore Hse FBCS- Meet the Teacher 4:00pm Classrooms FBCS- New Parent Orientation 6:00pm Room 112 Promotion Sunday Bible Study Leadership Luncheon 11:45pm Gym FBCS- First Day of School Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore FBCS- College Colors Day 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 One of the privileges we have each week is to gather on Sunday morning for corporate worship. Ideally, this is a time for us to turn away from ourselves and give our attention to God. While this is the ideal, it can be difficult at times. Sometimes we show up with a consumer focus that says, “The church better give me what I want, or I will have a bad attitude.” Sometimes we show up and the burdens of the week seem so heavy that is hard to give our attention to something else. Sometimes we show up and we feel scattered and overwhelmed by the busyness of life. Sometimes we show up feeling spiritually empty after a week of compromising or giving little attention to our relationship with Jesus. Therefore, some guidance about how to turn our focus to God in corporate worship can be helpful. Preparation For you to experience a God-focused, God-exalting, God-enjoying time of corporate worship, you need to begin preparing before Sunday morning. Here are some ways to prepare: -One pastor I follow on Twitter likes to tweet, “Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision!” Make a commitment to be here on Sunday morning before Sunday morning arrives. -Along the same of line of making a commitment before Sunday arrives, make a broader commitment to make corporate worship - along with other ways God grows us (small group community, time in the Word, prayer) – an important rhythm of your life/your family’s life. For example, what would it look like to commit as a family to miss no more than _________ Sundays a year? This way when something else comes up, you can say, “We already have something scheduled.” -Spend time growing in your walk with Jesus each week. When you spend time all week growing in your relationship with Jesus, you will come to corporate worship from a place of spiritual abundance instead of depletion. -Allow God to stretch and discipline you in areas of compromise. The areas of compromise may be lust, anger, pride, etc. Closing ourselves off to God’s disciplining and cleansing work will dull our relationship with Jesus, and we will arrive unprepared for coporate worship. -Pray for the service on Saturday or Sunday morning. Pray for lost people to come into a relationship with Jesus. Pray for God to work powerfully in the lives of people. Pray for the leadership of the church. Pray! Participation As important as preparation is, what happens once you are in corporate worship is just as, if not more, important. Here are some ways to participate: -Move away from an “audience mentality.” When you are in an audience, you are usually watching what is happening on the stage. If what is happening on stage is not interesting or to your liking, it is easy to become passive, disengaged, and/ or critical. Therefore, move away from passively or critically watching what is happening on the stage to being fully engaged in each aspect of the worship service. Please go to fbc-brenham.org and scroll to the bottom of the page to read the entire article.
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MUSIC MINISTRY
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THANK YOUS & SYMPATHIES
Dear BFB, Scott and I want to thank you for the use of the facilities for our dad’s funeral. We also want to thank you for printing up the bulletins for the service and to Troy who delivered the obituary and shared our dad’s life so eloquently. Thank you all, Scott and Tricia Schroeder Keith and Sherrie Foerster and family Dear Church Family, Thank you for sending the Peace Lily in memory of Clyde. We appreciated your thoughtfulness and the many expressions of love and support through visits and cards. Sincerely, Elaine Sommers
SYMPATHIES:
-George & Mary Helen McDaniel and family in the loss of their grandson, John McDaniel. -The Fleming Family in the loss of Debra Fleming.
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BIBLE STUDIES & MORE
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “Deuteronomy” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Pastor’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112 Bible 101: How It Fits Together Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111 Young Mom’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Upstairs in Sycamore House
Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage “Undaunted” by Christine Caine Women’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm (Begins September 12th)
Intentional Living
Speaker: Heather Thielemann September 5th 6:15-7:30pm $5 workbook cost Please RSVP to the church office.
HOME TEAM GROUPS
The Fall semester of Home Teams will start in September! Right now, leaders are prayerfully considering what to study and when to meet. Please be looking for more information in the September newsletter regarding Home Teams.
Home Teams & addresses
·Scott and Tricia Schroeder – 620 Country Place W. ·Roger and Juanita Atkins – 9250 Lake Dr. Chappell Hill ·Rick and Diane Houston – 808 Spinn ·Ronnie and Debbie Fathauer – 1607 Longhofer ·Widows & Single Ladies – Pahl House
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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS
CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Suzie Anger Herma Loy Smith Cecil Stephenson Pat Williams Glinda Blank Linda J. Schumacher Harry Jones Ronnie Fathauer Kennith Marshall Gary Holmes Jackie Holmes June Mullenax Daniel H. Goss Teresa Kirkland Nelson Byman David Baker Liz Goss David Korth Jere Longhofer Nanette Zernial Larry Watson Cindy Eberly Wendell Brown Henry Behne
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James N. Cato Hal Machat Jerry McLennan Pam Mossbarger R.D. Houston Louise Newman Barbara Loesch Sharon Allen Joan Rothermel Dr. Robert L. Haydon William (Bill) Windle Walt Edmunds Paul Cardarella David Clinkenbeard John Lacy Sherald Bell Barbara Abshier Eddie Van Dyke Kathy Groover Sunne Wheaton Mickey V. Walker Ebert Steele Lester Yeakley
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PIECE MAKERS Trunk Quilts are comfort blankets kept in the trunks of patrol cars and given to children and adults that troopers and police officers encounter in the line of duty. This is a new 2018 ministry for Piece Makers. Reba Pair makes our first presentation of fleece Trunk Quilts to Texas State Trooper, James Reaves, who happens also to be her son-in-law. Piece Makers meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 2 pm in the Student Center. Come join us!
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A LETTER FROM REBA As I write this afternoon, I am thinking of our mission team members who are preparing to go to Honduras. I am sure they must be busy preparing the supplies they need to take whether it is construction tools, food items needed, or things for the children. I know they will also take “AND WE, WHO WITH UNVEILED FACES with them the glory of the Lord, in their heart as well on their faces with ALL REFLECT THE LORD’S GLORY, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS WITH a smile. Let us take time to search our own hearts on what kind of reflection EVER-INCREASING GLORY, WHICH COMES we show those around us right here FROM THE LORD, WHO IS THE SPIRIT. in Brenham, Texas. I would encourage 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 you to read 2 Timothy 4-1-14. My dad marked this in his Bible right before he died at a very early age, and it has always meant a lot to me knowing he was ready to meet his Savior face to face. This scripture is true today more than ever before. If we are not on the mission team we can still participate by praying for them before and during this time they will be serving God by serving others. May you all be a blessing to others who cross your path in your daily life. Blessings, Reba Pair
SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH:
SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
“Just a closer walk with thee, oh, please dear Lord let be!” Our Father God desires a relationship with each of us, not just a nod on Sunday morning. He wants all of you. He redeemed you, justified you, and He has a purpose and a plan for your life. Don’t you think you should talk to Him about it? How can you do this? Prayer! Prayer is personal conversation with our Heavenly Father. He loves the time you spend with Him. Where do you start? Psalms is a book of prayers, and God loves it when you pray His word back to Him. Psalm 3:4 says, “To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill.” Pray the Psalms back to Him. Psalm 8 is a good place to start. Psalm 8:1, “Lord, oh Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth”. First praise, then confession, then request. Psalm 100:4. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.” Psalm 4:8 is a good way to end, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” With each praise, each word of devotion, as you go to Him, you will draw closer to that relationship with our Lord and His Son Jesus Christ. And in return He gives grace, peace, comfort, healing, calmness, compassion, mercy, love, wisdom and a closer walk with Him. 10
STUDENT MINISTRY By the time you read this, I will have just gotten back with the Honduras Mission Team and I want to tell you we had a great time and saw God work in many ways. Does that seem a little presumptuous? Maybe it is, but you know what? We should expect our God to do great things because He is at work all around us. We should look every day expecting God to amaze us in so many ways. I do want to THANK all of you who gave to our mission budget. This helped many that were able to go and “Be On Mission.” I also want to THANK our children’s ministry for the money they raised to help purchase beans and rice. The small gift of food helps open the door and be invited into the homes where we can share the Gospel. And that is what it is all about! At the end of this month, I will be making an eighteen-hour flight and ten hour drive with two other people to bring clean drinking water to east Africa. Can I ask you to do two things for us? First, we, as Brenham’s First Baptist Church can do some amazing things, but I want to see our God do even greater things through us. I believe that starts with prayer. We so covet your prayers and need them in so many ways. Second, after our student ministry and FBC School kids raised money, and we auctioned two African paintings we are still short the funds to pay the entire cost of a well in East Africa. Would you prayerfully consider giving to this project to help us finish out a well?
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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
“Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.” (Acts 15:17 CSB) Good Morning,
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without fin-ding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5
There are two possible ways to look at your life: 1. I am part of a bigger story and contribute my part for a greater end, or 2. I am the center of my story and without me everything will fall. Honestly (and shamefully), I operate out of the second viewpoint too often. I micro-manage and oversee the people around me with the excuse of “quality control.” It is not really about maintaining pride in my work but being prideful about the result. “Hey look at what I did, and how great I must be to accomplish this.” As Bryan Regan has comedically labeled it, the “Me-Monster” erupts from within and dominates my being. However, this past week at camp, the “Me-Monster” was restrained by the constraints of responsibility. Thursday nights at camp usually holds surprises for the leaders of each church. With regularity each one of has some issue that arises which needs our direct attention. This Thursday night was no different. For this reason, I missed our last night of worship. I had to trust the leaders I had trained (and more importantly, God) to provide spiritual direction for the children. Five decisions to follow Christ as Savior that night and three subsequent similar decisions the day we returned from camp proved that I did not have to be present for God to work and for lives to be changed. God chooses to use us, but He doesn’t HAVE to use us. He can use others to accomplish His will and sometimes He uses no one, but speaks straight to the hearts of the lost. Still, He does choose to use me if I will allow myself to get out of the way for Him to work. Does the “Me-Monster” rage within you and rear his ugly head at times? Do you report for duty to the Lord with your own task list or do you report with work gloves and a humble attitude? I am glad that God showed Himself capable especially in my absence. His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex
Upcoming Events: August 2nd- BackPackin’ – the Bak 2 Skool Partee: Brenham Aquatic Center - 8pm 12
PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES
Wow, a new school year is preparing to start and it is so exciting. This time of year can be bitter sweet. I love the feeling of fresh starts and having everything back to a schedule. Do not get me wrong the summer can be great too, but it sometimes gets me out of sorts. Now, in the HATTIE NELSON 8-25-13 preschool world, it can be exciting because our 3 LUKE MCCORKLE 8-06-15 year olds get to move up into a completely new GAIUS PHILLIPS 8-28-13 area in the Preschool Ministry. We are super KINSLEY WALLACE 8-31-12 excited to bring them in with the older preschoolers! They are going to have so much LIZ GOSS 8-10-** fun learning about God, His son Jesus and all kinds of amazing stories from the Bible. Now they have gotten to enjoy Bible stories down in their class with Mrs. Bearden and they love it. She is so wonderful. However, there is always something different when they get to come upstairs and be with the bigger kids. Then we have the sad goodbye of our kindergarteners who are now 1st Graders! WOW, where has the time gone? This is the part where I am sad but so excited at the same time. I am sad because each little one no matter how long they have been in the preschool ministry has put a little mark on my heart. I have been a part of this preschool ministry here at BFBC for about 14 years. I have had the privilege of watching so many little ones grow up and even graduate from High School. WHAT? Crazy to think. This is definitely one of the best jobs out there. I know for some people working with children can make you want to run the other way screaming, but I actually love it. Nothing can compare to the loving hugs, joyful smiles, the giggles and even the tears when they are having a rough day. I love all of them probably more than they will ever truly know. Now, that was the sad part. The exciting part is to see them move up into the Children’s Ministry and watch how they find themselves. How they mature in the Lord and how they blossom into the amazing people God has created them to be. What a JOY! What a GIFT! To all our kindergarteners moving up! You are such a blessing to me and I love you dearly. I will continue to pray for you and I am always here ready for a hug. Parents thank you for trusting us with your precious treasures. Stacey
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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FBC SCHOOL & EEC
AUGUST
I have to brag on our fabulous church staff. During summer, many projects are planned and We are in need executed for the church as well as the school. This of scholarships for summer is no different. The nursery area project involved painting all four rooms and replacing the the 2018-2019 school year. flooring. This by itself is a pretty big task, but when If you would like to contribyou add in moving furniture and children into other ute to the scholarship fund, rooms you add a whole new layer to things. Our church staff has been more than accommodating please come by the school to help make this project happen. From physically or church office. moving stuff to temporarily giving up their space , they have shown His grace and service. This project not only benefits the church, but it does the school, too. Thank you so much! There are other projects, too, like cleaning carpets. This is a big building with lots of carpet. Our maintenance staff has out done themselves. The BFBC office staff is such a help with HR, accounting, and graphics. They are willing to help if we need it. What an amazing team our church staff is! If you pop in during the week, you will notice a “new” face in our office. We want to welcome Kelley Sikes to our office staff. She will be serving in Debbie Patranella’s place. Debbie retired after 19 years of service to FBCS. Good wishes to them both in their new roles! Our teachers are beginning to get their rooms set up for our August 20th start date. Many of them attended workshops during the summer. They will be such a blessing to their students! Please be in prayer for not only our staff as we prepare for and begin the new school year but also for the families we serve. Pray for wisdom and discernment as we seek to teach and love the kids! We are still accepting enrollment for next year. Our nursery through 2’s are full, but we have limited space in our 3’s and up. Please help spread the word about this oppor- We are looking for qualified employees for our preschool program. tunity to join the Please pray for God to provide people with a heart for Him so they FBCS & EEC family. can love, care and serve like Him! In His Service, Nancy
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Student packet pick up (7:15-1:00) Back to School party at Blue Bell Aquatic Center @ 5:00pm– sponsored by PTO 13-17 Staff Development – school and EEC closed 16 Meet the Teacher 4:00-6:00 New Parent Orientation Rm. 112 6:00 20 First day of classes 28 Elementary Parent Workshop 6:00 30 Preschool Parent Workshop 6:00
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FROM TROY’S HEART If you are like me, you find that the older you get, the more thinking you do. Your mind and your calendar seem to have a little more freedom so you put a little more thought into things like life, faith and friendships. The other day, I got to thinking about the number of people I marry and sadly, the number of people I bury on a yearly basis. It seems as though the numbers of both of those goes up each year. Each of those groups, the married and the deceased, represents a relationship investment of love. Many of the married are those young people who I have poured my life into and for the deceased, more often than not, they are the people who have provided for me an example of faith, service or friendship. Either way, the investment is great and the honor to be a part of those moments is immense. I guess what I am saying is that relational investment always pays out a great return. In addition, when we invest in multiple generations the return is exorbitant. So, find some time to make friends with those older and younger than yourself. You will be glad you did!! I Love you, Troy
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Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600
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