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 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
MAY-
1 Piece Makers 9:00am 3 Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am 3 Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am 3 Relocation Committee Meeting 6:30pm 4 FBCS - Field Day 6 Graduate Sunday - Both Services 6 Deacon’s Meeting 2:00pm 6 Church Council Meeting 4:00pm 6 Associational Music Festival 5:30pm 9 Wired Camp Parent/Student Meeting 6:30pm 10 Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am 11 FBCS - PreK Memory Verse Program 10:30am 13 Parent Child Dedication - Both Services 17 Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am 17 Encore Luncheon 11:00am 20 Connecting @ FBC 4:00pm 21 FBCS - Kindergarten Graduation 6:00pm 21 Finance Committee Meeting 6:30pm 22 FBCS - 6th Grade Graduation 6:00pm 23 FBCS- Last day of school/Water Day 24 Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am 28 Memorial Day - Church Office Closed 29-31 Senior Adult VBS 9:00am 30 Church Picnic 5:00pm 31 Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am
Student Center Sycamore House Sycamore House Room 112 Room 111 Room 112 FBC Chappell Hill Gym Sycamore House Sanctuary Sycamore House Pahl House Room 112 Sanctuary Room 112 Sanctuary Sycamore House Gym 33 acres Sycamore House
VBS Planning & Training Meetings-
May 10 @ 9AM May 17 @ 9 AM (Planning) & 5PM (Training) May 24 @ 9AM May 31 @ 9AM 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’ve been given the opportunity to write a monthly article for the Baptist Standard in their “Voices” section. My articles will usually come out on either the last Thursday or the first Thursday of the month. These articles are for their website, www.baptiststandard.com, and will not be in their printed publication. As you have the opportunity, I hope you’ll read the articles. Below is my article from March: In January, one of our church members, Bracy Bledsoe, passed away at the age of 100. I had the privilege of being his pastor for a little over four years. Bracy was a retired pastor, WWII veteran, and a Purple Heart recipient. The Baptist Standard did an article about him in the fall of 2017: ‘Retired pastor testifies to a century of God’s faithfulness.’ In February, Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99. I never had the privilege of meeting Billy Graham or hearing him in person. Nevertheless, I’ve read numerous biographies about him and have watched him preach on TV and the internet many times. Like so many others, I felt like I knew him.
Bracy and Billy
In some ways, Bracy and Billy are different. Bracy was not famous and pastored faithfully, mostly in the Temple and Austin areas, and was known by the churches he pastored, by his family, and by his friends. Billy was famous the world over. Bracy influenced thousands through the churches he pastored and the people he impacted. Billy influenced millions and impacted world leaders. Bracy’s funeral was attended by hundreds. Billy’s was attended by thousands with thousands more watching. As I think about their lives, though, I’m struck not by how different they are but by how similar they are. Their similarities continue to impact my life. Therefore, as an exercise to process how these men impacted my life, directly and indirectly, I wrote a list of how these men were similar. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I pray you’ll find it as encouraging, inspiring, and helpful as I did. The pastor and the evangelist 1. They were faithful over the long haul. Both men ran the race of faith as a marathon and not a sprint. They were faithful decade after decade and not just for a few months or years. 2. Their public and private lives were aligned. These men were not the stereotypical, hypocritical preacher who preaches one thing and lives another. The faith they proclaimed in the pulpit was lived in the privacy of the home. This alignment is most importantly seen by the ways their wives and children reflected on their lives. When I heard the families of Bracy and Billy talk about their lives, I was struck by the fact that, while the men were not perfect, there was a genuine alignment between their public and private lives. 3. Their humility was about exalting Christ. As I’ve read and listened to the stories about Billy Graham, one thing people constantly spoke about was his humility, especially for a person of such fame. What I noticed about both Bracy and Billy was that their humility had a purpose. Their humility was not humility for humility’s sake; their humility served the purpose of pointing people to and exalting Christ Jesus. 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
Independence Baptist Association Music Festival Sunday, May 6th @ 5:30pm FBC Chappell Hill Join us for a great time of worship, featuring music from choirs and soloists throughout the association, as well as a meaningful time of congregational singing.
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, 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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ADULT MINISTRIES PIECE MAKERS Becky Placke of Go Drill International spoke at our recent Piece Makers meeting and we prayed over her as she ministers to women in Tanzania by teaching them to sew for themselves, their children and others. Piece Makers will be sending sewing supplies as well as other items she can use as she teaches these women about Jesus while showing them how to sew and support their families. You can be a part of Piece Makers and make a difference through sewing for the Lord. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 2 pm in the Student Center of First Baptist Church, Brenham. For more information, call or email Sara Byman at 979 830-8555 or sara@kangablue.com
THANK YOUS Thank you to all who supported the MDO fundraiser at Chili’s Restaurant. We collected $510 for our program and it will be used toward new playground equipment in the future. Kristie Mendoza, First Baptist Church Mother’s Day Out Director Thank you, to all for the cards, phone calls and all the prayers. I really appreciate all your kindness. God bless, Aleta Thistelwaite Our sincerest appreciation for your encouragement, financial support, and friendship! The core & ministry of Go Dril continues to thrive & impact southern Tanzania. With 27 wells drilled in 2017, a growing fish farm study groups, etc. we saw many lives changed. Good things are going on! Thank you on behalf of Go Drill & our village neighbors. Asante sana! Scott & Becky Placke Dear Church Family, What a wonderful church family you are indeed. We so appreciate all the deeds done to get Midge’s celebration going. What a blessing to many it was. The plant is simply beautiful and is a reminder of God’s beauty of nature. We love you and we thank you, Sincerely, Phyllis Glasscock, Pam Sanders, Tim Munz Friends of First Baptist, Thank you for partnering with us to provide a Hope and a Future for our girls. Susan Blanchard, Hope Rising Thank you so much for the green plant you gave us for Colt’s memorial service, your love and support to us, my mom & sister and family is greatly appreciated. Thank you, 7 Mark, Debbie, JC, Tara & family and Layton Kripstein
BIBLE STUDIES & MORE
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “Deuteronomy” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Pastor’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112 What’s a Baptist? Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111
Ladies Bible Study Fellowship Class Studying the book of “Romans” Meets on Thursdays, 9:30- 11:30am, in the Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage
HOME TEAM GROUPS 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 Atkins – Prayer and fellowship 9250 Lake Dr. Various times and subjects Houston/Antolin -”Romans” 808 Spinn St. 1st & 3rd Sunday at 5:30pm.
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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS
CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Rosie Harris Carol Holmes Diane Suenkel Wallace Atkinson Roxie Cowan Debbie Featherston Harold (Lefty) Yarnold Gregg Appel Nancy Low Gayla Viebig Helen Hart Shirley Giese Billy Barnes Michael Little Leann Bennett David May Robert Taylor Edward Draus
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Louise Draus Marlene Fairlie Tracy Gonzales Danny Dahlquist Deborah Ann Boerninghaus Allyne Machat Patsy Hermann
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Katherine Hewett Earl and Eloise Hudspeth
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A LETTER FROM REBA As I was thinking of what to say today I was still enjoying the beautiful wildflowers of our county. One of which gets much more attention than the others. The state flower of Texas the Bluebonnet, also known as Lupinius texensis. That doesn’t mean the Indian Paintbrush, Indian Blankets, Sunflowers, Poppies, Buttercups or Winecups are any less beautiful. It just means they are different and all beautiful in their own way.
THOUGHT OF THE MONTH: HE IS THE HAPPIEST, BE HE KING OR PEASANT, WHO FINDS PEACE IN HIS HOME.
Just like flowers, we each have our own unique features and gifts that God has blessed us with. What we do with them is up to us, but shouldn’t we be using them for God’s glory? I think we should. In Job, it says that God judges the just and the unjust, as he does the rich and the poor. We, like the flowers of the field, are all equal in Gods eyes. Let us make sure that when He looks down on us that He is well pleased. I am thankful today for a Godly mother who showed me the way to God! Happy Mother’s Day to of our mothers . Blessings, Reba
Scripture of the Month: “Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her saying: Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29
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STUDENT MINISTRY
In twenty years of ministry, I’ve been blessed to be a part of many missions teams serving both my local community and internationally. God has allowed me to be part of His work on three different continents. I’ve had the opportunity to share God’s love for me and His story of love for the world. I’ve witness the change that the Holy Spirit can have on my own life and in the lives of those I’ve been privileged to serve. I count it a great joy to not be able to put a specific number on how many people I’ve shared the gospel with. I’ve planted, watered, and harvested for His glory countless times. One of the really cool things about going to other countries is being ministered to by the local people and the missionaries in those countries.
But this last month I had a unique opportunity to go and serve and minister to a mission team who is from Colombia and sharing the gospel here in the United States. My friend, John Pritchett, and I went to Brookshire, Texas, to cook lunch for the mission team. While we were preparing the meal and sitting in on their discipleship training, we got to meet a guy who had just given his life to the Christ. He had been hanging around the mission group all week. He was covered in tattoos and his English was sometimes hard to understand, but man, what a beautiful sight to see this young man broken over his own sin. I got to baptize him right then and there in an old horse trough. What a fantastic experience and lesson this was for me. The mission team had been re-energizing and preparing to go out in the neighborhood later that evening, but God was already at work in our midst. This reminds me of Hebrews 7:25, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because is alwayslives to intercede for them.” You never know what God is doing, but He is always at work around you.
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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
“It Is Finished.” -Jesus Good Morning, It is Finished.” Such a small, short statement A Huge THANK YOU to to with so much density and intensity has never been the Ward and Chovanec phrased in all of history. With these three words families who came to the Jesus’ physical anguish and torment was ended. KlubHouse Clean Up day He would feel no more physical pain. The physical to get our stage in working throws of fatigue would not tire Him again. order for the Kids Klub Human hands could no longer bruise Him. He XTreme Show. would never feel the sting of His beard being pulled out, nor the disgusting warmth of spittle on his face and eyes. He was finished being scorned and beaten by humans. His earthly existence reached its end. He would die and return to His Father’s side after a short stint in the grave. He would no longer have to escape from angry crowds. He would not have to keep explaining God’s truths to His band of bewildered brethren or speak in parables to the self-righteous, serpent-like Sadducees and poisonous Pharisees. He would no longer have to hide for a moment of peace and quiet away from the miracle seeking masses. He was finished being misunderstood in His ministry. His earthly assignment from the Father was finished. He completed a physical life as a man without a spiritual spot, blemish or sin. He had lived the perfect life and at the cross that life was laid on the altar to propitiate for imperfect mankind. His spilled blood cleansed the sordid sins of humanity. Once and for all the reign of sin was no more. What was thought to be the death blow and finish of God, became the victory. As Jesus dwelt among us, He accomplished what the Father sent Him to do. He defeated sin with the death of His perfect life, and three days later He would defeat death and the grave with His resurrection. He was finished with His incarnate mission. The redemption of our lives was finished. Yes, what Jesus accomplished on that cross almost 2,000 years ago was not just closing chapters written up to that point in time, but also, concluding chapters that had not even been penned to paper yet. Even though our lives may have not been inked on the pages of history yet, does not mean that the Author, God, did not have our stories in His mind and heart. He knew that we would curse His name. He even knew we would cuss His name. He knew what our thoughts were going to be when we were looking where we shouldn’t. He knew the greed, lust, arrogance, hate and lies that would fill our hearts. He knew when we would fall and when we would deceive, and He still said, “It is finished.” Jesus finished sin. “It is Finished.” Heavy, right? Of course no one can know what Jesus really thought when He said these words, but we can know that the significance of His death was greatly felt throughout eternity past and future and upon all humanity. So, how does His finish affect you? Have you accepted His gift of new life from His forgiveness of your sins? Are you sharing His great story to share His new life with others? Are you living in the new life or are you allowing sin to drain you even though it has been defeated for you through His death? Live in the new life Christ has given you through faith in Him and stop trudging through life because Jesus has commanded sin with, “It is Finished.” His Servant & Your Bro. Alex
VBS Volunteers can register online @ fbc-brenham.org 12 and click on the Event Registration page.
PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES Sunday Mornings in May Basic Truth: God made me. Key Question: Who has a plan for you? Bottom Line: God has a plan for me. Memory Verse: “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever” Psalm 33:11 Have you ever thought about how when people make things there is usually a plan for whatever they make? For example when Johannes Gutenberg made his version of the printing press, the plan was to make books accessible and affordable to all people not just the rich. I would say his plan was pretty successful. How about the Wright brothers when they made the airplane. The plan was for people to be able to travel by air. Turns out it was a great and much faster plan. Now you can say the printing press and airplane are both works of art. Their makers put a lot of imagination, detail, and care into making these things. What an amazing day it must have been for Gutenberg to see those very first pages printed or the Wright brothers to actually fly in the air. But, what if they had made those things and they were never used. What if the printing press never printed anything or the airplane was just parked in a barn somewhere never to fly. Our lives would look very different today. Thankfully, it wasn’t enough to make those things their makers knew there was a plan and purpose for each of them. Now we see other works of art every day that also have a maker and a plan. We pass them on the street, at work, and every Sunday they run around our feet. YES, people! People are God’s works of art. He is our maker and He has a plan for each of us. Every neighbor, every preschooler, every parent, God has a plan for all of us, because He made us and He loves us. This month we will be teaching our preschoolers that God has a plan for them. What better story to tell then Joseph. God had a plan for Joseph and he had to learn to trust that God had a plan for him early on in his life. Joseph also had to deal with hard circumstances, but God was with him even in those times. God even used Joseph and others to help save an entire nation from starvation. Not to mention forgiveness, one of the toughest things to have to do. Joseph forgave his brothers for hurting him because he trusted that God’s plan is always the best. We want to teach our little ones this month that God has a plan for them. Imagine how much better the lives of our littles and, well, all of us could be if we lived like God has a plan for us, and that God’s plan is always the best. We would be complete Works of Art that God created us to be. Blessings, Stacey
HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAGAN HOWARD
5/10/12 MACY HOLSTER BRYCE YELDERMAN 5/31/14
5/11/12
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FBC SCHOOL & EEC This month for missions, we will be raising funds for Go Drill! Students will be learning about the Placke family and how they are serving others in Tanzania. Although our school year is coming to a close, it doesn’t mean we are slowing down! We are already planning our next school year. Please pray for discernment as we plan. Please be in prayer for the families and staff members God is calling to FBCS for next year. We are ready to welcome them with open arms! Serving Him, Nancy Jahns
Thank you to the church member who have faithfully helped with the set up and tear down for lunch while Larry has been unable to work. The school sincerely appreciates this act of kindness!
P.S. Our students raised over $500 dollars for the Annie Armstrong Mission Offering last month!
We continue to be in need of scholarship donations for the 2018-2019 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.
MAY
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2nd grade to Minute Maid Park Mrs. LouLou for preschool Core Essentials National Day of Prayer 6th grade to BJHS & lunch out Elementary Field Day at Jackson St. Park 11:30 dismissal for Maifest; EEC open PTO @ 5:30 in Rm. 112 FBCS staff meetings @ 3:30 & 5:30 PK Memory Verse Program 10:45 in Sanctuary 5th grade Wax Museum 4th grade to Ag Day 3’s to fire station FBCS Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon - Pahl House (11-1 come & go) 6th grade to Splashway PK to Silver Wings Kindergarten Graduation - 6:00 in Sanctuary 6th grade breakfast – 7:00 in gym 6th grade Graduation – 6:00 in Sanctuary Water Day in gym parking lot – all day Last day of school – regular dismissal times School staff work day EEC closed In-service for all staff EEC closed for Memorial Day EEC summer program begins School Committee meeting
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FROM TROY’S HEART Preparation should lead to expectation. Let me explain by examples. * If I prepare my mind for a test, I should expect to do well. * If I prepare my body for a physical action, my expectation is to succeed. * If I prepare a financially sound budget, I expect to have my financial goals met. Preparation usually determines the level of our expectation. However, the reverse isn’t always true. Expectations do not always lead to preparation. Again, here are more examples. * I may expect to pass a test, but I may not prepare proper notes to study. * I may expect to run faster than last year’s race, but I may fail to prepare my body by training faster than last year. * I may expect to have money at the end of the month, but I may choose to squander money during the month. All of this leads me to these questions: What are our spiritual expectations? What will we do to prepare ourselves to see those expectations met? Our faith should lead us to spiritual preparation. Spiritual growth and experience comes hand in hand with spiritual preparation. When we come to worship on Sunday, have we prepared ourselves spiritually? When we come to small group Bible Study, have we prepared ourselves to listen and obey? If we haven’t prepared spiritually, we probably shouldn’t expect much to occur spiritually, should we? Let’s get into the spiritual preparation habit and see what God can do! Read I Kings 18:17-39. As you read through the verses, see how Elijah prepared for and expected God to move. I Love you, Troy
SYMPATHIES: -Chandler family in the loss of Marguerite Chandler. -Donella Peevler in the loss of her husband, Greg. 15
Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600
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