March Newsletter 2021

For more information on any 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

Beginning in March, we will begin showing videos of different people in our church talk about why they are excited about our relocation and what they are anticipating God will do. I believe it will be good to hear from different people in our church and what God has placed on their heart about our relocation. These videos are part of our “Forward in Faith” campaign, which is a continuation of the Faith Building Capital Campaign (December 2017 – December 2020). Here is some information about this campaign:

What are the primary areas of funding needed to complete Phase One? The two main items that still require funding are the Audio/Video/Lighting (A.V.L.) for the Worship Center and the Youth Building. Our prayer is that the funding for these items will come through strategic cost reductions in our current construction and additional funding.

How much additional funding *might* be needed? This will become clearer as we continue into the spring of 2021 and see where strategic cost reductions have happened. This being said, the most conservative, “worst-case scenario” additional funding need is 1.5 million (once again, we praying and working hard for the number to be much below this).

Are we going to do pledges? No. While we did pledges with the three-year Faith Building Campaign, the Forward in Faith Campaign will take place by the church being provided information on funding needs and then asking the church to pray and give as the Lord leads.

How can I give? There are two opportunities to give. First, if you pledged to give to the three-year Faith Building Campaign but were not able to complete your pledge during the three years, the Faith Building designated fund will remain open in 2021. Second, if you are a new giver and/or did not make a pledge to the Faith Building Campaign, you can give to the Building and Growth Designated Fund.

When is the projected completion date? If the weather cooperates and funding needs are met, the main building should be completed by mid-to-late summer.

We also hope that there is enough funding to begin construction of the Youth Building sometime in late spring or early summer.

Questions? Need more info? You can learn more about our relocation and read updates at www.fbc-brenham.org/about-us/relocation/. You can also contact Pastor Ross Shelton at rshelton@fbc-brenham.org or 979-836-2807.

From Pastor Ross

What is the Forward in Faith Campaign? The Forward in Faith Campaign is a one-year capital campaign that tags onto our three-year Faith Building Campaign (December 2017 - December 2020) and serves two purposes: (1) provide funding to complete Phase One debt-free and (2) provide the initial funding (architect costs, etc.) for Phase Two (school, fellowship hall, etc.). The ultimate purpose of both campaigns is the same: this is an opportunity for God to be glorified and our faith strengthened as we trust Him.

A Letter From Reba As I sit down to prepare the newsletter, we have just been through a week like no other for some of us. We are normally on vacation during the week of Valentines in Hawaii where Doc usually draws a heart with the date of our trip in the sand. This year he wrote the date with our names and the date in ice on our front porch only a foot from our front door. You might say what is the fun in that? Well, I would not call the ice fun, but it was the thought that he felt it important to do again this year in any way possible. You see we celebrated our 53rd wedding anniversary last week during our ice storm.

In a few short weeks we will begin to see the hills of Washington County awaken to springtime. Color will be everywhere. but I also love fall and winter. I am not fond of the summer heat in Texas though. But as I think about each season, I think of the special things of each one. Springtime is flowers, green grass, rain showers that bring rainbows.

Summer brings trips to the beach to watch the power of God through the ocean waves. Then we go into fall with all the beautiful colors of fall popping out everywhere. Then the holidays begin.

Thanksgiving to Thank God for all His Blessings he bestows on us. Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Then the New Year when we pledge to try to do better in the new year with a clean slate.

Then comes Valentines followed by the Lent season and finally Easter. I always tell kids that Easter is the continuation of the Christmas Story. It was part of God’s plan so we could spend eternity with Him. I pray that you have a wonderful springtime filled with beauty of God’s creation.

Blessings, Reba Pair

Sympathies

-Carole Burton and family in the loss of her husband, John.

Sweet Hour of Prayer Thanks to everyone who has prayed for my husband Jim as he has gone through covid, pneumonia, anemia from internal bleeding, and beginning dialysis. How has he made it, only because of your prayers and God’s answers. To God belongs all the glory, honor , praise, and thanksgiving.

The a Bible is full of prayers. The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13, the benediction prayer of Hebrews 13: 20-21, David’s prayer for the deliverance of Israel, I Chronicles 16:35-36, Paul’s prayer for knowledge and power in Ephesians 1:15-19A. And when we dont know what to pray for the Holy Spirit prays for us “with groans that words can not express”. God says, In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continually.” You know that is one thing we never run out of, occasions to pray. This even includes praise and thanksgiving of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As David prayed in I Chronicles 17:20, “There is no one like You, O Lord, and there is no God but You”.

We at Sweet Hour of Prayer would love for you to join us each Thursday at 10:00-11:00 in the garage of the Sycamore House. If you need prayer please call me, Jeanine, at 713-898-3151 or the church.

All is kept very confidential.

May the God of Peace bless you with the peace that passes understanding. You all are loved in Christ Jesus.

Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursday 10:00-11:00 Sycamore House Garage

Piece Makers

Piece Makers has supported the First Baptist Church School since 2016 by donating quilts to the Texas Celebrations fundraiser. Two large quilts have been made by members of Piece Makers for the March 5, 2021 auction benefiting the school. Our Pineapple Quilt is a vintage pattern sewn in modern colors and the Crumb Quilt is a collection of bright and cheerful fabrics that will make you smile. Piece Makers meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month in the FBC Student Center from 9 to 4. Come join us! No sewing experience necessary. Ironers needed, too.

Spring is on our doorstep!! Pretty soon flowers will appear, temperatures will warm and tourists will be arriving to take pictures in our fields. Haha.

From Troy's Heart

Spring is a time of renewal from the deadness and dreariness of winter. It also brings a new attitude within us, doesn’t it? I know for me the spring time brings an eagerness to get out and do new things.

Although Spring only comes once a year, but the renewing of God is available at all times. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV reminds us, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God is forever Spring! He is always alive and working new things around us. My prayer is that we(me too) are spiritually ready to see His work and join Him. Being spiritually ready means: · I am asking God in prayer to show me where He is working. · I am reading the Bible and looking for what He will say to me. · I am involving myself in the lives of people and listening to what they say. God will give us chances to lovingly meet needs, pray for and give His message to those we meet. · I am ready change my plans for His plans. He over me.

So, be ready, a spiritual springtime is budding every day. Enjoy.

I love you, Troy

Thank Yous Dear Church Family, Our family is grateful for your kind words of sympathy, prayers, and memorials made to honor Ed’s mom, on the death of Ed’s mom.

Sincerely, Ed and Louise Draus Dear BFBC, As we move into a new year, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your faithful giving to HIAOM. Your investment in our waiting children and the families who step out in faith for them is truly life changing. We are extremely blessed to count you as a partner. Thank you for serving with us!

In His Service, Brittany Here I Am Orphan Ministries

We are still amazed and thankful for the awesome way our church worked together to build a record 508 shoeboxes for OCC last November and that doesn’t even include the many who built their shoeboxes online! Praise to our Father for each hand and heart who made it all possible. Our boxes were delivered to Liberia, Colombia, and Mexico. It’s never too soon to start thinking and praying about shoeboxes for 2021. Please continue to lift up prayers for this coming season and let’s start collecting now for the fall.

Focus of the Month: Prayer and Collection Gloves and Scarves: If you can knit or crochet, consider making these items. Handmade items are cherished. Suggestions for boys and girls of all ages: Gloves, scarves, hat, mittens. Quality Crafts Ask yourself what items would be fun, creative, and helpful. Colored pencils, crayons, coloring books, markers, drawing pads, watercolor sets with paper, picture/activity books, make-it-yourself craft items or kit, playdough (maybe add cookie cutters for making shapes), stickers, glue stick, small adhesive tape, building blocks, puzzles, chalkboard and chalk, binoculars, magnifying glass, jump rope, tool kit, sewing kit, fishing kit

Preschool Ministry Memory Verse: “Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, The Lord reigns.”

1 Chronicles 16:31

Happy Birthday:

Harrison Turnbill Jolene Whitman Eden Phillips Tyler Ogden

Student Ministry Church Family! What a month we had here in Brenham in February. I felt like I was living back in Albuquerque, NM, with all the snow and cold weather. I can’t remember a time when we had two snows in the State of Texas that actually was not just a dusting and then gone the next day. I hope you all weathered the storm okay and managed to somehow stay warm.

One positive thing that came out the Snow-pocalypse was getting together with my neighbors to help each other out. It was crazy how six homes around me all had the same pipe burst on the outside garage wall. My house was the last one so by the time it happened I had already helped our neighbor’s son-in-law (who was a plumber!!) with everyone else’s. I prayed over that little spigot hoping it wouldn’t be next, but since I was inspecting it every half hour or so, I knew exactly when it happened and I felt confident enough (from the previous 6) to cut into the wall and disconnect the pipe. The Lord provided spectacularly when my new neighborhood friend came by the next day with the exact part needed to fix it.

Truthfully, I’ve been a little bummed that multiple mission trips have been canceled this year due to COVID-19. It’s been a year since we traveled to Honduras for spring break. When we returned home last year, the world as we knew it had changed and it has not returned to “normal” yet. A huge part of my personal walk of faith is sharing the gospel. But I felt convicted when pulling together with my neighborhood. I don’t have to go 10,000 miles to share the gospel or to be the hands and feet of Christ. I just had to engage with the people around me.

I feel so blessed to be in a neighborhood with great people who look out for each other. I praise God for putting my family here in Brenham. It’s a great place to live and do life with others.

Don’t forget: this is the final month to sign up your student to go to summer camp this year. The final deadline is Sunday, March 7, 2021. If you have a student or know of one that would benefit from a week of studying God’s Word, worshiping, and just being in a God-bubble for a week, please let me know. We will be heading to Panama Beach, Florida, this year to FUGE Camp. We are leaving on June 13, 2021, and returning on June 18, 2021. Please be in prayer for the students that will be on this trip.

FBC School and EEC

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ” Isaiah 52:7 “As I write this, we are working fast and furiously on Texas Celebration. Although I have no idea how we will do, I do know that it will be enough. God has blessed the church and the school for many years, and He will not withhold care for us. So with that, I say, ‘Thank you, Lord. You are faithful!’” ~ Those were words I wrote a year ago. The words are still true. God has been so very faithful to our church and school. Thank you for continuing to pray for this ministry as we strive to serve our community!

We are working on using our time to share God’s love with the children and families in our care. This is a charge I do not take lightly. We want the important part to be the important part! We are still enrolling for the 2021-2022 school year. Please guide families interested in private education to FBCS & EEC. We would love to meet them and share about our school! Our website is https://www.fbcsbrenham.org/ , and our phone number is 979-836-6411.

Serving Him, Nancy Jahns Thank you to our FBC family for supporting the school through Texas Celebration.

We appreciate the donations, purchase of tickets, and items purchased.

You are a blessing!

Scholarships Needed

We are in need of scholarship donations for the 2021-2022 school year.

Please consider a gift to this fund.

It helps families to send their child to FBCS. The scholarships are for need-based students, and they are selected through a committee.

CALENDAR

March 1 PTO @ 5:30

2 Ms. Lou Lou for Preschool @ chapel

3 Ms. Lou Lou for Elementary @ chapel 5 TEXAS CELEBRATION 15-19 Spring Break 23 Graduation pictures

Children's Ministry Good Morning, Thank you. Two words probably taught by every parent to every child that has ever lived. Two simple words that can be so weighty with sentiment and appreciation. It is a simple phrase that can bring peace to someone in a moment of frustration or push the metaphorical clouds away on a foggy day. “Thank you”often is met with a smile and stored within warm cockles of the hearts of the recipients.

Today, I received a“Thank you.” This message was well-received, and lifted my spirits on a day that I needed lifted. I could justifiably blame my seasonal allergies that have not allowed me to see clear (no matter what medicine I take), or I could blame the medication I take to relieve my allergies assaulted by the cedar in the air, but, for whatever the reason, today was a day when the mind awoke in quicksand (no matter what you do to shake it, you sink deeper in), and my head longed for the pillow 30 seconds after rising from it. Despite the dreariness of my inner outlook, I decided to“adult”today, and went to work. I made it through the halls, where inevitably people ask,“How are you doing?”, and I answer,“Well, thank you.”With an immediate confession to myself and God that I just lied in order to avoid a self-divulging conversation. I make it to my office and open my e-mail, with the my mental“To-Do List”rattling in my head to keep my eyelids upright and my tasks mindful. Then, I see it. It is buried beneath spam informing me about this day in 1979, updates on the company that repairs my check-in printer and the latest deals only available to me and only available today (just like the one I deleted yesterday). I recognize the name in the Inbox window and determine it safe to open.

The message was not lengthy but it was full of appreciation and encouragement. If it was a cake it would have been heavy and dense (like my cakes made from the English recipes from last year – don’t trust an English recipe). However, unlike my last year cakes it was sweet to my soul and just made me want to come back for another serving. I read it over and over. The words seemed well picked and intentional. It hit the spot for my hungry spirit which has been on a survival diet of proteins and fiber – just what it needs to survive. Then, I was allowed to open this Valentine’s box of delectable words and I bit off a piece from this one, and that one, and kept repeating until they were all gone, and I sat there with a chocolatey smile. Thank You. So, now I pass it on to you. Thank You – to all the people who work in the Children’s Ministry to share the gospel and God’s love with kids each week, or each year through an event. Thank You to all the faithful in our church who obey God’s leading to teach His Word and love God’s people. Thank You to all who allow me to call them“Friend,”and even more to those who permit me the privilege to be called“Friend.” Thank You to an amazing team of staff and ministers who not only put up with me in work, but care for me and my family as they would their own family. Thank You to the kids who laugh at my jokes and the Youth who put up with my jokes. Thank You to my kids, Joshua, Matthew, Timothy, Mariah and Luisa, who have made sacrifices to allow me to have the best job in the world. Thank You to my wife, Nicole, who loves me even when I am unlovable. Thank You, God, for showing me This Month’s Big Idea: Your great love in that while I was still sinning Patience – Waiting until later for what you want now.

You sent Jesus to die for me so that I may not perish but have eternal life when I Weekly Bottom Lines: confessed that He is Lord and believed in my heart that You raised Him from the grave

1. When you have to wait, remember God is with you. in order to save me from my sins for which I

2. When you have to wait, remember what’s true. deserved eternal separation from You but Your

3. If you don’t wait, it could cost you. free gift of grace through Jesus Christ allowed me life eternal. Now, it’s your turn.

4. You can celebrate even when you’re waiting.

Who will you thank?

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

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