January 2018 newsletter

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 Design 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

JANUARY-

1 Church Office Closed - Holiday 3 Handbell Practice 5:00pm 4 Sweet Hour of Prayer Resumes 10:00am 5 FBCS - PTO Movie Night 5:00pm 9 Precept Bible Study Resumes 9:00am 10 Wednesday Night Activities Resumes 11 Ladies Bible Study Fellowship Resumes 9:30am 15 Church Office Closed - MLK Holiday 16 Precept Bible Study 9:00am 18 Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am 19-21 Disciple Now Weekend 21 Connecting @ FBC 4:00pm 21 Deacon Ordination Service 5:30pm 22 FBCS - Fine Arts Week 25 Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am 27 FBCS - 40th Anniversary Celebration 3:30pm 28 Churchwide Business Meeting 4:00pm 28 Men’s Cake Bake 5:00pm 30 Precept Bible Study 9:00am

Sanctuary Sycamore House Gym Pahl House Sycamore House Pahl House Sycamore House Room 112 Sanctuary Sycamore House Gym Sanctuary Gym Pahl House

SAVE THE DATE - JANUARY 28 MEN’S CAKE BAKE & AUCTION - 5PM IN THE GYM MEAL TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE DROP OFF CAKES @ 4PM FOR JUDGING 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 I always like the beginning of a new year because it provides time to pause and look ahead concerning what God may have in store for our church. One of my prayers for 2018 is for God to continue to bring increased health into our church. My prayer for increased health is for at least two reasons. First, just as healthy children grow so do healthy churches. Pastor Rick Warren and others have noted that it is important to focus on church health and not solely focus on church growth. The reason for this is that growth, more often than not, is the byproduct of health.

Focusing on health is also important because the Bible makes it clear that we don’t make a church grow; God makes a church grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Therefore, as much as I pray for God to bring growth to our church in the number of people coming to faith in Christ, Christians experiencing renewal, etc, I first am asking God to help us be healthier.

The second reason I’m praying for increased health is that I believe it will be important for us to be as healthy as possible when we relocate to our new facilities. I believe moving to our new facilities in the next couple of years will be an important and pivotal moment in the life of our church.

I also believe the healthier we are as a church, the more joyous, exciting, and faith building our facility relocation will be. Therefore, will you to join me in praying for our church to continue to be healthier in every facet?

This is always an important and needed prayer, and it is especially important as we continue to take steps of faith in 2018.

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MUSIC MINISTRY

Happy New Year!

I would like to thank all of you who worked so faithfully and passionately to make our Christmas presentation of SING GLORIA such a powerful evening. It is always my desire and conviction that what we present to the Lord should be done with excellence and attention to detail. It is, after all, a gift not just to the community, but to THE KING OF KINGS! I am confident that He was honored in the countless hours of practice, planning, and presentation, because it was done with a humble heart of worship.

As always, there were SO many people involved (including the biggest choir I’ve ever conducted) that I am so very grateful for. If you sat in the audience, sang in the choir, played in the orchestra, decorated the sanctuary, ran sound, computer, lighting, or video, hauled chairs, passed out programs, helped with food, or any other of a multitude of tasks, THANK YOU. Your work has made a difference and I appreciate you so much!

Also, I would like to say a special word of “thanks” to Ralph Kirkland and Bob Young for being willing to share their amazing testimonies of God’s redemptive power and grace in their lives. Thank you to Jodi Beckendorf and Bonnie Covin for helping me capture and tell their stories in such an engaging way. Amazing!

If you’ve been on the fence about being a part of what God is doing in and through the music ministry, let 2018 be the year that you say “yes”!

Jump in and get involved! We have a place for you.

So blessed, Charles Covin

ADULT MINISTRIES PIECE MAKERS Piece Makers celebrated the end of 2017 with a Soup and Salad Luncheon for FBC church and school staff and made a donation of 59 baby quilts and 54 mommy bags to New Beginnings Life Ministries. Representative Carol Holloway spoke of the importance of this ministry to our community. 2018 holds bright new opportunities for Piece Makers to serve locally and abroad. Quilt patterns have been chosen, fabric has been cut and new quilts are being stitched for 2018 projects. Come join us and learn to sew or help cut fabric on our new GO cutter. There is something for everyone to do!

We meet in the Student Center on the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am until 2 pm. Bring a lunch and enjoy serving the Lord with needle and thread.

First Impressions Parking Lot Greeting Team.

Each Sunday, We have greeters in the parking lots guiding people to a worship service or Sunday Bible Study. With bright yellow vests and friendly smiles, they will also be there to give you a helping hand with anything you need.

Presently we need more people on the Parking Lot Greeting Team and our Welcome Guest Greeter Team, if you would like to help us make a lasting impression by serving on our First Impressions Team.

Contact Troy at: tsikes@fbc-brenham.org or call the church office at 979-836-2807 if you are willing to serve as an Usher, Welcome Center Greeter or Parking Lot Greeter.

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BIBLE STUDIES & MORE

Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “The 10 Commandments” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage Pastor’s Bible Study “Pastor’s Bible Study & Prayer Time” Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112 Ephesians: Faithful Followers at Full-Tilt!

Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111 NEW!!! Mom’s Bible Study Begins January 10th, “Mom Set Free” Wednesdays, 6:30pm Upstairs in the Sycamore House

Ladies Bible Studies Resumes January 10th “Unshakeable: Thriving No Matter What Hits You” Ladies Bible Study Fellowship Class Studying the book of “Romans” Meets on Thursdays, 9:30- 11:30am, in the Sycamore House ***Resumes January 11th.*** Precept Bible Study New Teacher: Kim Lytle Studying the book of “Galatians”.

Meets on Tuesdays 9:00am in the Pahl House; Begins 1/9/18

HOME TEAM GROUPS UPDATES! 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, Resumes January 7th Atkins – Prayer and fellowship 9250 Lake Dr. Various times and subjects Houston/Antolin -”Romans” 808 Spinn St. Every other Sunday at 5:30pm.

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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS

CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Grace Cockrell Cecil Hammer, Jr Freda Martin Willie Eaton Bill McAdams, Jr George McDaniel Russell Doty Timothy Culliver Esther Culver Ruth Le Doux Carolyn Brown Judy Dutile Darlene Welty Scott Cole Roy Kolar Sally Van Dyke Angela Dalrymple Teresa Lewis Nelda Snow Jeanine Presswood Jane Sonnenburg Sharon Whitaker BJ Mayeur Paula Betts

1 1 2 2 3 3 5 6 9 9 9 10 11 11 11 12 14 14 15 15 18 19 20 21

Kenneth Hetzel Jesse Ladd, III Mike Arth Jeannine Bailey Barbara Vandever Sue Dixon Joan Newton Don Wilkey Billy Graham, Jr Gerald Bennett Lowell Nix Carol Marshall Wesley Whitman Sara Byman

23 23 26 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 30 31 31

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A LETTER FROM REBA Here we are at the beginning of another year. Every new year, we tend to ask where did that year go? Do you ever sit down and really reflect on what has happened during the past year? I know that if I do, I find way more blessings, than troubles.

SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH: “BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES; THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY; THEY WILL WALK AND

Sometimes I think we forget to give God the glory in all things., and we also forget to count those blessings. My NOT BE FAINT.” prayer for your new year is that you see ISAIAH 40:31 God in any and everything you face in this new year. I pray for you to have good health and that you will hold God close to your heart every day.

When we do that, it will be seen all over Washington County as we go out into the community.

Blessings, Reba Pair

Thought of the Month:

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STUDENT MINISTRY January is a big month for the Student Ministry. January 19-21 is our Disciple Now weekend, “Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Please be in prayer for our students, leaders, and host homes as we study the book of Galatians in a jam-packed weekend. Please join us for the church-wide worship service on Sunday at 11:15 am at the Brenham Junior High auditorium.

We’re thrilled to have Ty Haguewood back and you won’t want to miss hearing him speak. If you feel led, I still could use some scholarships for Disciple Now. The cost for the weekend is $35 and I have a number of students who would really be blessed by this.

Another super-important Student Ministry event will be January 28, 2018 – our annual Men’s Cake Bake. Tickets are on sale for $5 a person with a $20 family max. I’ve been practicing all year and have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to cakes. I’m bringing my A game.

Last year I attended Cake School Basic Training with the talented Merlene Schumacher and I’m ready for Advanced Training this year.

This event is our only fundraiser for the Student Ministry and proceeds go to helping kids get to camp and mission trip. Every year we are blessed by the overwhelming generosity of our church family and the many talents of the guys donating cakes. Remember there’s also a silent auction so don’t leave empty-handed.

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Good Morning, How was your Christmas? What did you do for the New Year holiday? Did your team win the bowl? Who is the new national college football champ? When do the kids go back to school? These are all questions that may be echoing through your days as you start the New Year. They are safe conversation starters.

They give you an open door into the lives of those who touch your own life. Another great question that is no doubt to be asked at least once is, “What are your New Year’s resolutions?”

Why do we ask these questions? Why do we attempt to jump into the homes of the lives (or at least glimpse through an open window) of our friends, co-workers or even strangers? Are we that curious or nosey? Do we really care for what stories their homes hold to tell or are we just making small talk? One time in the past, I was walking down the hallway, and in the course of greeting a man walking toward me, I asked how he was doing as I passed him. He then asked me, “Do you really want to know?” Convicted, I stopped in my tracks, threw my schedule into reverse, and came back to him.

Looking into his eyes this time, I assured him that I did want to know how he was doing. He smiled a half-grin, and began unpacking the latest of his life’s happenings. It didn’t take longer than a minute, but in that minute a relationship began between that would carry until the day he died.

People need other people to care. They want to be heard by others. We all know this when we ask the safe conversation starters. Sometimes we ask them as if we are knocking on the door of their homes hoping to be allowed in. Other times we start the conversation by opening the door to our own life’s home. Either way, God made us to have fellowship with each other.

People will open up if you show that you care. When they do allow us into the homes of their lives we should then bring them a house-warming gift. This can be the gift of the Gospel, or careful words of comfort, or welcomed words of encouragement, or possibly even a shoulder to lean upon or cry into. This year no matter why someone opens their door to you, please remember to bring gifts of the Spirit to leave as house warming surprises.

His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex This Month’s Big Idea: Commitment—Making a plan and putting it into practice.

Weekly Bottom Lines (Bible Story in Parenthesis): 1. Practice hearing and doing what God says. (Matthew 7:24-27).

2. Practice praying to God. (Luke 11:1-4).

3. Practice talking about God. (Matthew 16:13-20).

4. Practice living for God. (Mark 12:41-44).

January 10 - RESTART WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES Sunday Mornings in January Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

Key Question: Who can do anything?

Bottom Line: jesus can do anything.

Memory Verse: “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 The Christmas Season has flown by so quickly and as I sit here trying to figure out what I want to write, it has made me stop and reflect on what an amazing holiday season we had. I am honestly bummed it is over! It was such a wonderfully busy and crazy time! With all the running around and functions like: Christmas parties, visiting schools to bring the Core Essential message of Generosity, parade, basketball games, field trips, a Great Christmas Choir program (which the Lord used in so many ways I am sure) and of course…..I cannot forget the beautiful snow day, (Oh, my goodness I was as giddy as my kids!) I had to sometimes remind myself to be present and focus on the reason for the season. To celebrate Jesus and what His birth has meant to the world! After all that was what we were teaching our preschoolers all about, this special baby named Jesus. I truly hope that you were able to remember to be present and see this Christmas through child-like eyes.

Now, it is the start of a New Year and we are off and running. I hope that this 2018 year is full of such AMAZING things for you. Try to remember to be present and not let it just pass you by. That is my plan this year for sure. Enjoy the little things, the big things and everything in between. Hugs to you all!

Stacey

Thank you

We had so much fun this year delivering Christmas Cards. I know our kids could not wait to get out there and visit you all. And from the number of cards we got, WOW! You must love it too. Thank you for supporting our little ones in bringing joy to others.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

SAMUEL VASQUEZ 1/07/15 CHARLEY EBERLY 1/12/12 KAMIELL EVANS 1/22/11 BENTLEY DRESCH 1/31/16

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FBC SCHOOL & EEC Happy New Year!

The school is making preparations for our 40th Celebration on January 27th at 5:30 in the gym. We are seeking to get out the word to former students, staff, and anyone else who has had a part in growing this ministry!

Please help us pass the word. We would love for you to come, too! Tickets are $12 each.

Please contact the school office for more information or tickets.

Thank you to our FBCS Staff.

They go above and beyond every day!

In addition to our anniversary, we are deep in the planning stages for Texas Celebration.

The event will be held on Friday, February 23, at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Ticket sales begin January 22. Please watch for announcements concerning this event.

It will be fun time of food, fellowship, and fundraising! If you would like to help with the event or donate auction items, please let us know. We are always appreciative of extra help!

Serving Him, Nancy Jahns We are gearing up for Texas Celebration on February 23, 2017. Please be in prayer for the event. We are collecting live and silent auction items as well as monetary donations. Please contact Judy Hyman at 836-6411 with questions, to make a donation, or to volunteer. You may also reach her through email at jhyman@fbcsbrenham.org .

UPCOMING EVENTS January

1 2-5 5

FBCS & EEC closed EEC open; school closed PTO movie night in the gym @ 5:30

8 Students return to class; PTO meeting Rm. 112

11 Core Essentials – “Courtesy”

16 MLK Holiday – School closed; EEC open

18 Core Essentials

19 6th to BN&R

22 Texas Celebration ticket Sales begin

27 40th Celebration 5:30 in gym

February 2 Re-enrollment for CURRENT students begins 6th grade to Austin

5 100th Day of School

PTO Meeting @ 5:30 Rm 112 12 Enrollment for CHURCH members

13 Enrollment opens to the PUBLIC

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FROM TROY’S HEART Happy New Year!!

As a kid, it seemed that everything took so long to happen but the older I get, it seems that everything happens so fast.

I know that time is always constant, but our perceptions change the older we get.

The older I get I experience the world differently. Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes it isn’t.

The older I get I enjoy people more because I realize our days are numbered.

However, the older I get I dread saying goodbye to people I love.

The older I get I enjoy sitting and watching. However, getting up from sitting and watching takes longer and hurts more.

The older I get I enjoy routines and consistency.

However, the older I get, people don’t always comply with my schedule.

The older I get, I enjoy teaching the next generation.

However, I know the next generation doesn’t always value the past.

The older I get, the more I realize there is more good in this world than bad.

However, it bothers me when I focus on the bad.

The older I get the more I talk about memories.

However, my memories can dominate what could be now and tomorrow.

Each of you could probably add your own aging and learning statement, but here is my closing thought: Do not let your time left on this earth be wasted on yourself. My days ahead are not mine, they are the Lord’s! He gave me yesterday, today and if He wills, tomorrow. I must make it about Him! Give Him 2018!

I love you, Troy

SYMPATHIES: -Tom Messick and family in the loss of his mother.

-J.T. Davis and family in the loss of his brother in law, Jim Parker.

-The Bufkin family in the loss of David Bufkin.

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Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600

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