June 2014 newsletter

IN THI S I SSU E :

Church Announcements ...........................................page 2 A Letter from Pastor Ross ..........................................page 4 Summer Activities........................................................page 6 Church-wide Calendar ................................................page 8 Music Ministry .........................................................page 9 Adult Discipleship ........................................................page 10 Senior Saints Ministry .............................................page 11 Student 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 WE WILL BE COLLECTING CHANGE IN JUNE FOR THE WORLD HUNGER OFFERING This month’s 5th Sunday World Hunger Offering will be June 29th.

Pick up a Texas coin bank at church and fill it up and bring it back to church for the June offering.

The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering supports many specific ministries around the world. These ministries provide: food and meal distribution, agriculture and livestock initiatives, clean water and sanitation, micro-enterprise development, and job training.

One hundred percent of your gifts go directly to support hunger relief and development ministries in Texas and around the world.

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATIONS ARE STILL OPEN! CAMP TEJAS - For kids who have completed 3rd - 6th grade. Pick up registration forms at the church office or download them from our website: www.fbc-brenham.org/kids-kamp-2014 STUDENT LIFE CAMP - For Students who have completed 7th - 12th grade. Only a few spots are available. Sign-up online, www.fbc-brenham.org/event/558423-2014-07-07-student-life-camp-2014 or contact Chad Marrs - cmarrs@fbc-brenham.org, 836-2807.

CHURCH STAFF

Ross Shelton, Pastor rshelton@fbc-brenham.org Troy Sikes, Associate Pastor tsikes@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 Teresa McGlasson, Office Manager tmcglasson@fbc-brenham.org

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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

COMING THIS FALL...

September 8 - November 3, 2014 This Class will be meeting on Monday’s @ 6:30pm, Sycamore House www.daveramsey.com/fpu/ locations/org/4819/class/255482 Facilitated by Dave & Kacy Kuespert FINANCIAL GIVING IN THE SUMMER MONTHS: FROM PASTOR ROSS

Traditionally, the summer months for churches are a season when expenses go up (summer camps, A/C, etc.) and giving is down due to people traveling. As we prepare to enter the summer months, let me encourage you to remember your faithful financial giving during the summer months. The ministry that God has given us continues full speed during these months. Also, God willing, we will be calling a new music minister soon, and I believe it is essential that we be in a strong financial position when we extend the call. If you would like for a set amount to automatically be given each month, automated debit withdrawal forms are available on the front pew where the pastor sits. Thank you for your generous financial support during the spring! I am excited to see how God is working throughout our church, including in our finances. – Pastor Ross 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

Things continue to move forward in the life of Brenham’s First Baptist Church. The Music Minister Search Committee of Bud Lovell, Gregg Workman, Pam Young, Sami Rahman, Ron Kirby, and I continually discern prayerfully who to present to the church as our next music minister. During each step of this process, we ask, “Is God calling us to take another step with this candidate?” At this point, we have gone deep into this process with a particular candidate, and we will see if this candidate, his family, and we believe God is calling them to our church. Please continue to pray for this process. Throughout this process, we are committed to (1) prayer and (2) to discerning the person who will joyfully accept the opportunity to our lead our two worship services and the entirety our music ministry.

All the signatures are in, and we now officially own the 33 acres across from Tractor Supply on S. Market St! Thank you again to our Facilities Committee of Brandon Musser, David Baker, Will O’Brien, Jesse Ladd, and Terry Roberts and to Bill Betts for all his consultative work. The next step was to vote in our May 25 business meeting, to select Caldwell Companies, who will help us sell the 51 acres we own along 290 and Market St. Thank you to everyone who was involved in helping us purchase the 51 acres a number of years ago. As we move forward, here is a tentative, general action plan for the next steps: 1. Sell the 51 acres!

2. The Building Committee, voted at the September 2013 business meeting, will begin meeting. The Building Committee includes Robert Haydon, Arlen Thielemann, Stephen Puckett, Heather Kirby, David Baker, and Brandon Musser. They will be charged with presenting to the church for approval how we want to do the design/build process.

Once the design/build process is selected, the committee will work with the architect and receive input from the congregation about the design. The result will be a master plan broken down into phases (i.e. not everything will be built at once).

3. Once we see the first phase design, we will enter into the fundraising phase. As you hopefully know by now, I am proposing that we

complete this process debt-free. I appreciate the input and questions I have already received. Sometime in the fall, I will call a special business meeting for us to vote on building debt-free. Before that happens, though, we will have opportunities to discuss and pray about this faith-building process. We will also have the opportunity to have Dr. John Morgan, Senior Pastor, at Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston come speak with us. They recently completed a 29 million dollar sanctuary debt-free. Since the 1970s, they have built debt-free and seen God work in miraculous ways throughout this process. Dr. Morgan will be here on Sunday night, September 14 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm in the Gym to discuss and answer questions with us how a debt-free building process works.

These are exciting times in the life of our church. I am so thankful to see how God is beginning to bring renewal to our church. Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor.

-Ross

OUR NEWLY PURCHASED 33 ACRES LOCATED ON S. MARKET STREET!

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WEDNESDAY NIGHTS THIS SUMMER

JU NE

June 4: Vacation Bible School • Time: 5:15 – 8:30 pm

• No choir practice or adult Bible studies June 11 • 6:30 – 7:30 pm: Choir practice and adult Bible study in room 112.

• No potluck dinner and no children or youth ministries.

June 18: Girls Grill Competition • What to bring? (1) Women bring some kind of meat they grilled. An “expert panel” of men will judge who did the best. (2) Bring a side or dessert with enough to share.

• Time and Location: 5:30 – 7:00 pm in the Gym • All ages are invited!

• Choir practice at 7:00 pm.

June 25: Homemade Ice Cream Social • What to bring? Homemade ice cream and enough to share. The church will provide the fixings for the ice cream.

• Time and Location: 5:30 – 7:00 pm in the Gym. • All ages are invited!

• Choir practice at 7:00 pm

For more information on these events, please call the church office: 979-836-2807 or visit our website: www.fbc-brenham.org or find us on Facebook!

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

JU LY

July 2: Church Family Picnic at the New Property

• What to bring? A side dish. There will be directions about what to bring closer to this event.

• Time and Location: 6:30 pm at our new 33 acre property across from Tractor Supply on Market St. • Hamburgers and hotdogs will be grilled by our deacons.

• No choir practice.

• All ages are invited!

July 9

• 6:30 – 7:30 pm: Choir practice and adult Bible studies.

• No potluck dinner and no children or youth ministries.

July 16

• 6:30 – 7:30 pm: Choir practice and adult Bible studies.

• No potluck dinner and no children or youth ministries.

July 23: Family Movie Night

• 6:00: Choir practice.

• 6:30: Coffee with the Pastor to go over questions about Sunday’s business meeting.

• 7:00: Potluck dinner in the Gym. Please bring a main course, side, or dessert with to share with the group.

• 8:00: Movie in the Sanctuary parking lot.

• What to bring? Bring a chair!

• All ages are invited!

July 30: Church Family Pool Party

• Choir Practice at 6:00 pm.

• Time and location: 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center (outside pool only).

• Church will provide desserts.

• Please wear appropriate swimming attire.

• All ages are invited!

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CHURCH-WIDE CALENDAR JUNE: June 1-5 June 1 June 2 June 3 June 3

June 10 -17 June 16 June 18 June 22 June 25 June 28 June 29 June 30

VBS 2014 for K-6th grade- Evenings @5:30pm Deacon’s Meeting at 2:00pm in Room 111 VBS at 5:30 in the Gym - June 5 Joy Class Meeting at 2pm in the Sycamore House Personnel Committee Meeting at 6pm - Sycamore House Garage Mission Trip to Honduras Finance Committee Meeting - 6:30pm - Pastor’s Office Girls Grill Competition - 5:30 - 7:00pm - Gym Transition Team Meeting - 2:30pm - Sycamore House Homemade Ice Cream Social - 5:30 - 7:00pm - Gym Mission Arlington - mission trip (5 & 6 graders) - July 4 Plackes Speaking at 5pm in the Sanctuary Senior Adult VBS @ 9:00am in the Gym - July 2

JULY: July 1 July 1 July 2 July 6 July 6 July 14 July 14 July 23 July 23 July 27 July 30

Joy Class at 2pm Sycamore House Personnel Meeting at 6pm in Sycamore House Garage Family Picnic on the 33 Acres - 6:30pm Student Life Camp - July 12 Deacons Meeting 2pm in room 111 Finance Meeting at 6:30pm Kid’s Kamp at Camp Tejas - July 18 Coffee with the Pastor at 6pm in the Gym Drive-In Movie at 8pm - FBC Sanctuary Parking Lot Business Meeting at 5pm in the Gym Family Pool Party - 7pm - Blue Bell Aquatic Center

WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY

CHOIR & PRAISE TEAM REHEARSALS

WEDNESDAYS Worship Choir – 6:30 to 7:45 pm THURSDAYS- Praise Team Rehearsal – 6:30 to 8:00 pm

>> PLEASE CHECK OUR WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES PAGE FOR SPECIAL REHEARSAL DATES & TIMES! << 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.

MUSIC MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE

The members of our Music Minister Search Committee are: Gregg Workman Ron Kirby Bud Lovell Pam Young Sami Rahman Please keep these people in your prayers as they seek the Lord’s direction.

At any point, if you have a question, you can call or email the pastor.

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

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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)

Sunday Bible Study Directors & Teachers: We know summer is a busy time, so in advance, thank you for your faithfulness to organize effective class ministry and teach inspiring Biblical truths. Keep up the great work God has started in our small group ministry.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES & FELLOWSHIP CHECK OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR SPECIAL WEDNESDAY NIGHT EVENTS “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 Pastor’s Bible Study: Next class is June 11, 6:30-7:30pm, Room 112, Ist, 2nd & 3rd John.

New Wednesday Bible Study thru the summer: Heroes of the Faith, O.T. Character Studies. next class meets June 11 @ 6:30pm in room 111. Taught by Troy Sikes.

Activities are also available on Wednesday nights for: Nursery & Preschool,

Children, Youth and Worship Choir from 6:30-7:30pm Sweet Hour of Prayer:Thursdays, 10-11am – Sycamore House Garage SUMMER BREAK: Wednesday Women’s Bible Studies and Precept Bible Studies will be on summer break. New classes will begin in September. Also, several Home Teams take a break during the summer and will resume with new groups in the fall.

Marriage Tune Up 2 Conference w/Jeff & Debbie McElroy – Friday, January 30-February 1, 2015 – We will be forming a planning team over the summer. If you are interested in helping in one of the following areas, contact Troy Sikes. Areas: Publicity, Food, Childcare, Greeters, Registration, Prayer and Hospitality.

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SENIOR ADULT VBS

FORWARD from

HERE!

June 30-July 2, 2014 What is Senior Adult VBS? This VBS is a three day event focusing on the spiritual needs of our Senior Adults. Activities include music and singing, discipleship, crafts, mission focus, games and fellowship.

What is the purpose of Senior Adult VBS? The purpose is to foster healthy relationships within the church body. One primary objective is to introduce and enhance the relationships between youth, children, young adults and senior adults. It also provides an opportunity for the staff to serve our seniors and build stronger relationships.

Who can attend?

All Senior Adults are welcome and are encouraged to invite friends and family.

When & Where is Senior Adult VBS? VBS is June 30-July 2, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. All activities will take place in the church gym.

If you would like to particpate in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senior Adult VBS, Please pick up a registration form at the church or church office, fill it out & return it to the church office or call 836-2807. 11

SENIOR SAINTS NEWS SPONSOR A MEAL FOR SENIOR VBS

If your Sunday Bible Study would like to adopt our Seniors by sponsoring a lunch during the VBS week, contact Troy @ 836-2807. Flyers are available in your Sunday School box.

CELEBRATE OUR JUNE BIRTHDAYS! Neatha Muery Carole Gessner

Roy May Martha Haydon Doyal King Rita Saulsbery Barbara Norman Bob Cook Charles Cottingham Dixie Rutledge Kathleen Brown Arretta Gallagher David Doelitsch John Hermann Linda Ware Wayne Brown

6/4 6/7 6/7 6/8 6/8 6/9 6/10 6/13 6/14 6/14 6/15 6/15 6/16 6/18 6/19 6/20

Jean Miller Joyce Burchfield Billie Cooper Larry Groover Gene Cooper Sallie Moody Gayla Lambert Don Loesch Mike Doebler Kay Gregory Gary Hamaker Johnnie Hamilton Mary Jackson Gary Sonnenburg Bob Billington

GOD BL ESS YO U R SU MM ERTIM E! 12

6/20 6/21 6/21 6/21 6/22 6/22 6/24 6/24 6/27 6/29 6/29 6/29 6/29 6/29 6/30

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Friends,

As I sit here thinking about the upcoming Father’s Day it takes me back to when I was a child. I was very definitely a daddy’s girl. I always thought my dad reminded me of Jesus in his life as well as the pictures of Jesus in Sunday School. I always wanted to please my dad and that is the way we should feel about God. We should always be ready to do what God leads us to do so as to please Him. I remember a man in our church in Austin when I was about 8 or 9 years old named. Mr. Airhart. Every time we had share your favorite scripture at Sunday or Wednesday night services he would quote the same one. John 14:2-4. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” What a promise that is to each of us, that our room will be ready upon arrival into heaven. No fixing up will be necessary.

I pray that each of you has a great summer whether it be traveling, visiting with family or staying close to home. I will look forward to our first meeting back in September. Don’t forget we will still find our senior page in the church newsletter all summer long. I understand there are going to be some fun activities over the summer to bring our church family closer to one another, try to come and participate as much as you can.

Happy Father’s Day to all of our men, and thanks for being a Godly example to our younger family members.

Blessings, Reba Pair

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STUDENT MINISTRY

CONGRATS TO OUR 2014 GRADS!

After an extra long winter of dormant grass and not having to mow the yard, spring arrived and rushed right into summer which means weekly yard work. The end of the school year and beginning of summer is always exciting with leaving behind the hectic schedule of school and bringing on the lazy days of summer. NOT!

There are no lazy days in the near future. Anticipation for the Honduras Mission trip has been building for almost a year. We started making plans for this trip last year while we were still in Honduras. I always look forward to that moment when the plane takes off and we are finally on our way there. Please be in prayer for us as we travel and minister and bless others.

Student Life Camp is also coming up in July. All money and paperwork is due by June 15, 2014. (Note: This is a week later than I originally said.)

Thank you so much to the church family for making Graduate Sunday a special day for me as well as the graduates. I enjoyed so much having the opportunity to baptize one of my students, sing with the youth choir, and bring God’s Word to the congregation.

In Him, - Bro. Chad

MARK YOUR CALENDARS • Honduras Missions Trip - June 10-17 Several of our students and parents are preparing to go serve in Honduras. Please keep our mission team in your prayers as they prepare for their trip.

• Student Life Camp - June 7-11 There are a few spots still available for students to go to camp with us. Contact Chad Marrs to sign-up a student or sign-up on our website: www.fbc-brenham.org/event/558423-2014-07-07student-life-camp-2014/ Camp scholarships are needed for a number of students. Several students have a critical need. There is also a need to Sponsor a Counselor. If you feel led to help this ministry there are several ways to help. A full scholarship is $509.

A half scholarship would be $254.50. A quarter scholarship would be $127.25.

Any amount will be prayed over and applied where there is the greatest need.

We are looking for someone who has a desire to teach 11th & 12th grade Sunday School class. Please contact Chad Marrs if interested Thank you so much to the Church Family for bringing breakfast for the Graduating Seniors. Your generous and tasty donations made Graduate 14 Sunday special for the Student Ministry, graduates and their families.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

BFBC Kids Klub Monthly Virtue: Friendship Treating others the way you want to be treated.

“’Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.’” -Matthew 7:24

“The right tool for the right job.” Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I heard that phrase frequently. I thought the right sized Vise-Grips and a Crescent Wrench could fix anything. However, as I grew older, I learned another truth that my father bestowed upon me: “The older I get, the wiser my father becomes.” I learned how the right tool does a better job, and even makes the job easier.

Fast-forward to when I am a father, and it is time for me to pass on the same wisdom I received as a kid. One night as we were hanging some lights on our back porch, one strand would not light (typical). So, the first place to look is the fuse. The fuse is in a tiny compartment within the plug and usually has a tiny door that slides out with the use of a very small flathead screwdriver. So, I sent one of my children for the right tool. While growing impatient, stalled in my work, I began using the wrong tool for the job – a pocketknife. The knife successfully opened the fuse door. However, in my extreme efforts to control the blade, I overcorrected when the door came free, and upon returning in the correction I sliced through the meaty flesh on the back of my thumb. I now call that my “stupid scar.”

If I had only acted upon the words I had heard repeatedly from my father, I would have one less scar. Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) with this instruction. People gathered as He instructed them about how to live a life of faith in this world. He was dropping mad wisdom and they did hear. However, would they act on it? It is not enough to know Christ’s commands. If we hear, and don’t live it out, then we are as foolish as a man who builds his house on the sand. Yet, if we take it in and live it out, then we will be as wise as a man who builds his house on the solid foundation of The Rock.

Dad, thanks for the wisdom that you instilled in me. Happy Father’s Day! Father God thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus, the internal dwelling of The Spirit and for the wisdom that You provide me through the Bible. Happy Father’s Day! -Bro. Alex

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES • VBS@FBC-2014: June 1-5, As you are reading this please be praying for all those involved with this summer’s VBS program!

• The OuterMission for InnerMission: June28-July 5th, 5th & 6th graders will go to Mission Arlington for a week of missions.

• Camp Tejas: iServe.2014 “Lovin Like Jesus”, July 14-18, Kid’s Camp for 3rd-6th grade students, Sign-up and fundraising is in full swing.

• 2:4 The Mission: July 30-31, 1pm-1pm, 24 hours of mission fun, games and projects for 1st & 2nd graders.

Contact Alex Morrison for more info - amorrison@fbc-brenham.org

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PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES SUNDAY MORNINGS IN JUNE

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

Key Question: What is better than gold?

Bottom Line: The Bible is better than gold!

Memory Verse: “Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.” Psalm 119:72 NCV

AHO Y MATE Y!!!

We are about to set forth on a 2 month pirate adventure!

Do you know what would be better than gold?

Aye! The Bible is better than gold!

For the next two months we are going to be learning that the Bible is better than gold.

Each week we will be introducing our preschoolers to a different snippet of truth from God’s Word and unpack what that means to them.

Week one, preschoolers will discover this amazing treasure – God’s teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver,” Psalm 119:72, NCV. As they continue to hunt for Bible treasures, they will learn that they were wonderfully made, that God loves them all the time, and that they are part of God’s family. They’ll conclude the month with spyglasses to help them look for ways to help others. It is going to be EXCITING for sure!

Captain - Stacey Strickland Mother’s Day was such a great day for Baby Dedication! We had three wonderful families bring before us their adorable little guys. And yes they were all boys this year. Make sure you stop them in the halls and let them know you are praying for them and share some of your old stories about your kiddos growing up.

Happy Birthday to:

L-R: Roy Family, Vaughn Family & Turnbill Family)

Jake Conarroe

MOTHER’S DAY OUT

06/04

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/ .

- Kristie Mendoza, MDO Director

FBC SCHOOL & EEC

School has ended, and we are already preparing for the next school year. In the meantime, we are gearing up for our Summer EEC program. Please call Leslie Tolopka, our Early Education Center (EEC) Supervisor, for information about our summer program. ~Nancy

SUMMER EEC PROGRAM!

We are gearing up for our summer program here at FBCS and EEC! We have some exciting adventures being added to our schedules each week. The first day of summer begins May 27, 2014, and the final day of summer EEC will be Friday, August 15, 2014. We look forward to having your child(ren) enrolled in our program!

EEC summer enrollment is $50.00 for students who are not enrolled in this current school year or $25.00 for those currently enrolled. The Summer EEC rates will be $400.00 for June and $400.00 for July. August’s payment will be $200.00.

The payment is due on the first of the month and late after the tenth. If your child will not be here for one or more weeks, you will not be responsible for that week’s payment; it may be deducted from the monthly payment or credited the next month.

A week consists of Monday through Friday. One or two days attendance in a week still counts as a full week’s attendance. We do not offer part time summer rates.

We hope you will consider placing your child in our EEC summer program.

We are busily planning and preparing for a great summer! Call the school office to register your child.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Our Sympathies To: • • • •

Lisa Atkinson in the loss of her mother Jane Minter.

BJ Mayeur in the loss of her brother, Merle.

James Carter and David May in the loss of sister and niece, Melissa.

Sandy Batt in the loss of her mother Irene Coker.

Church Thank Yous: Tom & Pamela Murski Our deepest gratitude for your prayers, love and continued support. Your thoughtfulness in sending a “Peace Lily” for Dad’s service, the beautiful music by Martha and Catherine and the lovely message by Troy will forever be etched in our hearts RL and BJ Mayeur Thank you to our church family for the beautiful plant you sent in memory of my brother. Thank you for the cards, prayers, and kindness during our loss. We will always appreciate it.

Bracy Bledsoe Thank you to my church family for all of the cards, visits, food & prayers during my recent fall and hospital stay.

Wallace & Lisa Atkinsion Thank you church family for the beautiful plant and phone calls.

Your prayers and kindness has truly been a blessing to me and family at this time. Our God is Great. Blessings to each of you.

Alex Morrison & Family Thanks to everyone who showed your love to me and my family through letters/cards of encouragement, personal encouragement and monetary donations. Your extreme generosity was overwhelming. Thank you so much for allowing us to serve here for these past ten years.

New FBC Members: Calvin and Irene Hendrickson Lindsay Boriack Samantha Kellerman 18 Troy and Raquel Brown

Jake T. Patrick Brooke Hire Ashley Vaughn Jack Vaughn

FROM TROY’S HEART

There is a quoteable line from the movie, “Shawshank Redemption”, that says, “Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’”.Have you ever heard it? You can probably figure out what it means.

Basically, we make a choice about how to use our days on Earth. Each one of us is given a gift of 24 hours each day. How we use those seconds, minutes and hours is a testament to “livin’ or dyin”. Will we make choices that add to the quality of our life? If not, we have made the choice to move closer to our figurative, and sometimes, our literal death.

A few weeks ago, I had the joy of taking the Senior Saints on a trip to see the Painted Churches in the Schulenburg area. The churches were beautiful and inspiring and the tour guide was very informative. One of the details the guide elaborated on was that each small town in the Schulenburg area was faced with a decision on whether to allow the railroad to pass through the town.

Several of the small communities decided to prohibit the railroad from passing through due to the volume of strangers it would bring.

The result of that decision over time brought decline to each community. They could have chosen the vitality of new people, but instead they saw strangers. They enjoyed the comfort of the seen and known over the uneasiness of the new.

Each Sunday, we as a church face the same decision those small towns faced, will we open up our arms and hearts to new people? If we do, we will get busy livin’. If we don’t, well, you know the rest.

Let’s be the church of the livin’!!!

I love you, Troy

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

Return Service Requested

SUNDAY JUNE 15th!

MAIL TO:

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