February
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At A Glance
Lord’s Supper - Both Services Piece Makers 9:00AM Student Ctr Men’s Cake Bake 4:00PM Gym FBCS- Enrollment open to church members Handbells play @ 8:30 Service Texas Celebration 5:00pm Fair Grounds
For more information on any of the above events please visit the church website:
www.fbc-brenham.org www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch
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
One of the joys of pastoring our church is watching how our different small groups (Sunday School classes and home groups) serve and care for one another. Recently, I have watched members wait with a spouse in a hospital waiting room while her husband was having surgery. I have seen members care for someone in their class who became widowed. I have heard stories of people sharing their struggles with their small group and receiving love and grace instead of critique and judgement. I could go on. The key is this: our Sunday School classes and home groups are essential! It is in these communities that you will find friendship, care, opportunities to care and serve others, times to study the Bible together, etc. If you have not yet found a small group, please reach out to our associate pastor, Troy Sikes, at 979-836-2807 or tsikes@fbc-brenham.org. Our small group ministry of Sunday School classes and home groups is under his leadership, and he does an excellent job.
Pastor Ross
What is the best way to do small group community? This has been answered in different ways throughout the history of the church. Beginning in the 1800s, churches began to have Bible study classes specifically for children. This was a way to teach the Bible and other subjects. This concept morphed and grew to what we now have as Sunday School classes for all ages. While Sunday School classes have not been the dominate means of small group community throughout church history, the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, like ours, were often the quickest to adopt this means and have been its biggest enthusiasts. More recently, many churches, especially newer churches, have adopted the means of home groups for small group community. Sometimes this was done out of the conviction that this was a better way to do small group community and other times out of necessity (i.e. a new church does not have the education space to do Sunday School). In our church, the primary means of small group community is Sunday School, while also having a number of home groups.
From
One of the ideas I have often heard concerning churches is the following: “As you get bigger, it is important to get smaller.” What this means is that as churches grow, the small group takes on increasing importance. This becomes especially true as churches grow past the 100-150 mark in worship attendance. The reason for this is that it becomes impossible “to know everybody” in the church. It also becomes impossible for a pastor to provide all the pastoral care of the church. Therefore, the small group community becomes the primary place for fellowship, care, and interactive Bible study.
A Letter From Reba Here we are in the month we sometimes call the month of Love. It is a special for Doc and I as we were married in February and we will celebrate 52 years in a few weeks. We have had some hard times, and we’ve had some great times, but we have always had time for God to lead us on our journey through life together. Looking back we can see His hand in every decision we have made over the years. Every move, every job, every church we belonged to. We have found life has been much easier when we let Him be in charge of our direction we take in life . This is one of many hymns that tell of Jesus’ love for us so deep that He died for each one of us!
“And Can It Be”
“But by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? This should help us to understand how great a love He has for us! Let’s show our friends, and neighbors God’s Love this year as we go out into the world near or far! Blessings, Reba Pair
Encore Ministry News
Thank yous
And Sympathies
Dear Church Family, We thank you for the beautiful poinsettia plant in memory of my mom. It brought beautiful color to our home at a dark time. We have been blessed beyond measure by the outpouring of love, prayers, sympathy and support from our church family. With heartfelt thanks, Linda & Ron Upchurch -Please include Fred Tanner and family in your prayers after the loss of Louise Tanner. -Please include Debbie & David Yeager in your prayers after the loss of Debbie’s Mom, Bonnie Beyer.
Join Us For Bible Study
BIBLE STUDIES: Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “Joshua” , Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House
Promises of the Bible Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Room 111
Ladies Bible Study “Trustworthy”, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Sycamore House Upstairs
Ladies In-depth Bible Study “1 Peter” , Tuesdays, 9:00am, Pahl House
Pastor’s Bible Study, “Know the Creed and Councils”, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Room 112
Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage
Women’s Bible Study, “Right in the Eye”, Wednesdays, 6:30pm,
Sycamore House Downstairs
HOME TEAM GROUPS: ·Scott and Tricia Schroeder – 620 Country Place W., Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 5pm. Call: 979-451-0915 ·Ronnie and Debbie Fathauer – 1607 Longhofer, Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 6:00pm. ·Sean & Mindy Holster – 2291 Strangmeier, 1st & 3rd Sunday at 5pm ·Shane & Erin Nelson – 5000 Beckermann, 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 6pm
·Troy & Kirby Gor – Sycamore House (307 Sycamore), Meets 2nd Monday at 6:15pm.
Small Groups
Big News
During the Christmas holidays, several of our classes reach out to local organizations to help bless others. Our Adult 4 department and Men’s Prayer Breakfast partnered with URIZE, a local ministry, to provide gift bags and hygiene items for 40 men at Adult Teen Challenge!! I also want to give a big “shout out” to a group of people in the Agape Life class and Young Married class who spent a day at MDAnderson with Adam’s Angels Ministry as they hosted a Christmas Party for kids and families dealing with childhood cancer. So many of our small groups are doing incredible ministry. Please take the time to email me at tsikes@fbc-brenham.org to let me know. I want to celebrate the work of Jesus among us.
Piece Makers
Piece Makers will be contributing two quilts to the FBC School Texas Celebration live auction on February 28, 2020. These quilts will be displayed in the church hallway the end of January and most of February. The Robot Quilt won a Grand Champion ribbon at the 2019 Washington County Fair. Piece Makers also made a Hungry Caterpillar quilt for the New Beginnings Silent Auction scheduled for March 5, 2020. You can come to Piece Makers meetings and help make projects for worthy causes in our community and abroad. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 4 pm in the FBC Student Center. All are welcome!
Student Ministry February is here and it is a SPECIAL month here in the Marrs family. It was in February that Bobbye and I had our first date. February 19, 1993, seems like just yesterday. My sweetheart and I enjoyed a romantic dinner at The Texas Burger in Hempstead, Texas. We shared a super nacho and that was it…she had my heart for good. I also became a father for the first time on February 25, 2000. And then two years later on February 9, 2002, my second child was born. (For those of you that may be math-challenged, that means this month I have 2 adults kids – a 20 year old and an 18 year old!) In the last several years February has also become special to me for other reasons and that is because of you, my church family! You have been so supportive of our annual Student Ministry fundraiser, the “Men’s Cake Bake.” Men, you have surpassed every hope I ever had for this event with your awe-inspiring cake baking and cake decorating. Church, you have made this event such a great success with your laughter, smiles, and opening your hearts and supporting our students by purchasing cakes. THANK YOU for your continued support of our students and me. Even though I have not yet won, I have faith THIS IS MY YEAR! In Him, Bro. Chad
Music Ministry
In recent days, through the guidance of some great teaching resources, the Worship Choir and Praise Band have been reminded, and ultimately affirmed in our call to be used by God to encourage people to be actively engaged in our worship gatherings. One of the ideas the Praise Band learned while studying Bob Kauflin’s, Worship Matters, is the concept that, as worship leaders, we are merely signposts pointing people to Jesus. The very best we can be as leaders is pointers and signposts. If you’re trying to get somewhere and you see a signpost telling you where to go, you don’t stop at the signpost and just look at it for a half an hour going, “Wow. That’s a beautiful signpost. That is amazing. I love that signpost. Look at how artistically it’s done. Look how aesthetically pleasing it is.” No! You look at where the signpost is pointing and then you head off in the direction it’s going. Well that’s what we are when we stand in front of people leading them to worship God in Jesus Christ for who he is. We’re signposts. It’s the best we can be. That’s the goal of our leading. In Worship Choir rehearsal, we discussed the importance of our unique role in worship gatherings, as detailed in Keith & Kristyn Getty’s book, Sing. While we enjoy hearing anthems and special performance music, what we appreciate most (and what we think is the central calling of the church choir) is a choir’s ability to help the congregation sing better, as those with strong vocal ability help everyone else sing out familiar tunes and navigate newer ones. If you sing in a choir, you are a musician, serving a congregation with your gifts. If you are interested in joining us in this exciting task of pointing our church to Jesus through our various music or media team opportunities, we would be thrilled to speak with you about how to get started!
Contact Charles for details ccovin@fbc-brenham.org.
Children's Ministry Good Morning, “Life is Good.” I saw this message on the back of a Jeep while driving down the road. Typically, I don’t give second thought to automobileposted messages. However, on this particular day I found myself giving second and third thoughts to this simple three word phrase. “Life is Good.” Why is life good? Is it because of the experiences one faces? If so, is life good only when the experiences are favorable? Is life still good when you fail that exam? Is the goodness of life contingent upon the frame of experiences with which you currently contend or enjoy? “Life is Good.” Maybe instead of “Why” the question is, “What makes life good?” Is life good because of the freedom found by living in America? Is life good because you have a comfortable home, reliable vehicle and food in the fridge? Is it the things of life that make it good? Can life be good in a shack, with a car that may or not make it to school and a pantry that is as empty as the stomachs that are in the same house? “Life is Good.” If “Why” nor “What” answers the question, maybe it is, “Who makes life good?” Is life good because of the people you work with, the friends on your FB or the family at home? Can life be good for the person who has lost their best friend, spouse, parent or sister to the ravages of cancer? Can life be good for the teen whose Instagram is just a source of cyber-bullying to them? “Life is Good.” This is a simple phrase, and I think some use it casually without thinking about what they are really saying. Or, maybe they don’t have to think about it. Maybe it is just a knee-jerk, but honest, response to declare the empirical “goodness” of life. We can bog ourselves in the negative experiences and people around us as we judge our surroundings the things of our lives. It is easy to get down on life. However, Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians that we are to “Rejoice … always.” He is so emphatic about this point that he repeats himself and says, “Again I say rejoice.” He goes on to command that we be anxious for nothing, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” He finishes his order with, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” “Life is good.” Did you notice the “…” in my quote above (“Rejoice … always.”)? The “…” should be “in the Lord.” There is the answer to the “Why,”“What,” and “Who” makes life good. It is the Lord. God the Father, Jesus the Son, God the Holy Spirit makes life good. He did it in the beginning in Genesis (“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Gen. 1:31). Life is good – truly good – only because of the Lord. Rejoice in Him today and say, “Life is good.” His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex
FBC School and EEC
Thank you for allowing FBCS & EEC to serve our community! Our aim is to love Him and others well.
We are currently re-enrolling current students for the 2020-2021 school year. Enrollment for church members begins on February 10th, and enrollment to the public begins on February 11th. If you, or someone you know is interested in learning more about the school, please contact the school office. We would love to share our story and give a tour! We invite you to come to Texas Celebration on February 28th at the Washington County Fairgrounds Event Center. We will have good food, fabulous company, and many neat things to bid on! Contact a student or the school office for tickets. The kids are selling tickets until Friday, February 14th; the school office will have them available until Monday, February 24th. So many good things are happening at First Baptist Church School! Check out our Facebook page. We share activities, announcements, and our weekly Bible verse. You may follow us at https://www.facebook.com/Brenhamfbcs/. Serving Him, Nancy Jahns
FEBRUARY
Please pray for our re-enrollment process. Pray specifically for the families as they make educational decisions for their children, God’s leading for our staff, and give thanks for what He has and will continue to do!
3 PTO mtg. @ 5:30 4 100th Day of School Ms. Lou-Lou for preschool 5 Ms. Lou-Lou for elementary 4-5 Class pictures 10 Enrollment open for church members 14 End 4th term TX Celebration $ due 17 President’s Day holiday – FBCS closed/EEC open 20 Report cards go home 24 Athletic Recognition @ 2:00 in gym 26 School Committee meeting 28 **Texas Celebration**
Preschool Ministry Look at some of our cutie little shepherds. We are having such a great time on Wednesday nights here in the Preschool Ministry.
Memory Verse:
“After you have suffered a little while, … God … will himself restore … you.” 1 Peter 5:10
Big Picture Question: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet?
God speaks to us through Jesus.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! JILLIAN BRANNON
Tina Turner sang a song back in the 80’s entitled, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” The answer to that question is “love has everything to do with it!” The Bible tells us in 1 Cor. 13 that love is the greatest of all gifts, greater than faith and hope.(vs. 13). We can interpret all language on earth and heaven, gain all knowledge, speak prophecy, exercise faith or sacrifice in service, but without love as our motive, they are good for nothing! (vs. 1-3). So, in the month of February, the month of celebrating love, we need to ask ourselves, “Am I loving well?” God told us the greatest commandments are about love: Love Him. Love Others. How are we doing with those commands? Have those “loves” generated a different heart focus? In last month’s newsletter article, I wrote that I had some things brewing in my head and heart, but they weren’t fully developed yet. What has been brewing is this question: Will I take something I love and put it into loving action? With that question in my heart during October of last year, I began to take my love of running into a new direction, one of purpose, to make a difference. I began to train for an event that I have entitled, 24 hrs of Hope for Kids. This event is a personal one, it is a way to bless kids and families with cancer. Sometime around mid-February, I will go to Hohlt Park in Brenham and for 24 hours see how many laps I can complete. With a goal of at least 100 laps, I will ask for financial pledges with the proceeds going to Adam’s Angels Ministries (www.adamsangelsministry.org). People can pledge per lap or a flat financial gift. It will be one day to make a difference! For over 30 years running has benefitted me, I figure it should do more! If you agree and want to love kids through 24hrs of Hope, email me at tssikes@sbcglobal.net with your pledge per lap or donation. I love you, Troy
24 Hours Hope for Kids
From Troy's Heart
Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600
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