November 2017 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

NOVEMBER-

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Men’s Prayer Breakfast 6:00am Sycamore House Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore House Early Commitment Dinner 6:00pm Gym Young Married Casserole Swap 10:00am Kitchen Lord’s Supper - Both Services Bracy Bledsoe’s 100th Birthday 2:30pm Gym Deacon’s Meeting 2:00pm Room 111 Church Council Meeting 4:00pm Room 112 Piece Makers 9:00am Student Center Men’s Prayer Breakfast 6:00am Sycamore House Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore House FBCS- Veteran’s Day Program 10:00am Sanctuary Commitment Sunday - Both Services Connecting @ FBC 4:00pm Room 112 Operation Christmas Child Syc. Garage Men’s Prayer Breakfast 6:00am Sycamore House Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore House Handbells play at 8:30 Service Budget Q&A Meeting 4:00pm Room 112 Finance Committe Meeting 6:30pm Room 111 Men’s Prayer Breakfast 6:00am Sycamore House Thanksgiving Holiday- Church Office Closed Preschool Postal Service Begins- Sunday School Hour Budget Q&A Meeting 4:00pm Room 112 Men’s Prayer Breakfast 6:00am Sycamore House Ladies Bible Study Fellowship 9:30am Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer 10:00am Sycamore House 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

Sunday, November 12th will be an important day in the life of our church.

November 12th will be “Commitment Sunday,” which will be the Sunday we first ask for your commitment to the Faith Building capital campaign to build the first phase of our relocation. As you prepare for November 12th, I want to encourage you to do two things:

-First, I want to encourage you to pray. Hopefully, you’ve already heard me say this numerous times, “This process is not just about facility building but also about faith building.” For this process to ultimately be about us experiencing God in ways His power is made manifest, then it will be because the whole process has been bathed in pray. Please ask God how He wants you to be involved and give. Also, pray for the health and growth of our church now and the future. Let this process be about prayer.

-Second, after praying, discern what the Lord is leading you to give to this three-year campaign. The starting point for this is asking God what He wants you to give over-and-beyond your normal giving/tithing. This is important because our normal giving/tithing fund the ongoing ministry of our church. I believe whatever God calls you to give will be over-and-beyond this. The next step is to ask whether there are some creative ways to give. Creative ways to give include, but are not limited to, selling an item and giving the proceeds to the church, giving or selling appreciated property, taking advantage of tax reduction strategies for those 70 ½ and older, etc. If you have some interest in learning about or talking with someone about creative ways to give, please contact me at rshelton@fbc-brenham.org or 979-836-2807, and I can direct you to some people who can help. It is also important to consultant an accountant and/or attorney.

The reason I want you to pray and discern on these two items has to do with more than building a building. It has to do with a prayer that as you and I step out in faith, we will experience God work through us to accomplish what He wants to do. When this happens, people become more excited about the Lord and more trusting of Him. I’ve seen this happen time-and-time-again. This capital campaign and building Phase One can be a wonderful time of experiencing God work if we’re willing to seek and follow Him. I hope you’ll be a part of this process. I look forward to seeing how God will work through this process. Thank you!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017 A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN THE LIFE OF BRENHAM’S FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

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MUSIC MINISTRY

November is going to be an exciting month for the music ministry!

-Please be in prayer for the FBC Praise Band as we lead worship at the Baptist General Convention of Texas Annual Meeting in Waco on November 13th.

-We will not have Kids’ Choir rehearsal on the week of Thanksgiving (Nov. 22nd). We WILL, however, have Christmas Choir & Praise Band rehearsal on TUESDAY of that week, Nov. 21st.

Mark your calendars for December 9th and 10th at 7PM for our annual Music Ministry Christmas Presentation! We’re working hard and are so excited to share with you the music and the message of Christmas. You’ll be hearing our Kids’ Choir, Handbells, Christmas Choir, and orchestra in these CAN’T MISS nights of songs filled with the message of great joy which is for ALL THE PEOPLE. This year’s event, entitled, “Sing Gloria”, was written by composer David Hamilton and reflects both the joyous and intimate moments of Christmas. Please invite your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and have your hearts made ready for the Christmas season!

Contact Charles at ccovin@fbc-brenham.org with any questions.

Thank you

Staff of BFBC, Thank y’ all so much for going above and beyond in hosting the Varsity Football Team dinner after the parade last week. It is a blessing to serve alongside of y ‘all. The set up drinks and all the “extras” were so helpful. The team really appreciated the dinner. God’s blessings to you!

-The Football Senior Moms

SYMPATHIES: -Kim Crenshaw and family in the loss of her dad Johnny Kubezcka.

-Kelley Sikes and family in the loss of her stepmother Helen Rea.

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ADULT MINISTRIES PIECE MAKERS The ‘What Cancer Cannot Do’ quilt made by Piece Makers was dedicated in memory of Aubrey Groover and hung in the Baylor Scott & White Healthcare College Station Cancer Center on October 26, 2017.

Piece Makers thanks all those who have donated fabric and sewing notions. We find a purpose for all of it and appreciate your gifts. We meet the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 2 pm in the Student Center.

Come join us and stitch something for someone to love.

Welcome New Church Members Ralph and Teresa Kirkland Ann Brier Johnnie L Pitts Troy, Kirby and Olivia Gor

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 Command” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage

Ladies Bible Studies Studying “Finding I Am”

by Lysa TerKeurst.

Wednesdays 6:30pm Sycamore House

Pastor’s Bible Study “Pastor’s Bible Study & Prayer Time” Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112

Ladies Bible Study Fellowship Class Studying the book of “Romans” Meets on Thursdays, 9:30- 11:30am, in the Sycamore House

Ephesians: Faithful Followers at Full-Tilt!

Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111

Precept Bible Study Tuesdays, 9:00am - Pahl House Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Pahl House

NEW! Young Married Bible Study: You and Me Forever, Marriage in a light of Eternity

by Francis & Lisa Chan Sunday Mornings at 9:45am in room 203

HOME TEAM GROUPS UPDATES!

Widows & Single Ladies – Various Topics.

Pahl House 1st & 3rd Monday 6:00pm.

Schroeder – “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere 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

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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS

CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Catherine Cook JT Davis Jerry Ann Moore Carrol McGehee Sandra Martin Bracy Bledsoe Lisa Atkinson Alan Pittman Mike Gonzales Jr. Eileen Rehor Joyce Graham Carol Morris Mary Glenn Langston Rodney G. Foerster Betty Windle Sue Cottingham Ken Baker Karen Kramer Sam Sizemore

Ellen Wiese Bill Snow Vicki Roberts Brenda Allen

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Marilyn Steele Judy Bishop Allan Wells Wesley Porter Carol Miller Joe Baker Marilyn Williams Jolene Koenig Cindy Foerster Billie Ferguson Nancy Tahaney

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SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 7th Christmas Banquet - 11:00am

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A LETTER FROM REBA As I was preparing to write this, my thoughts were all over the place. Do I write about fall, do I write about Thanksgiving, do I write about our THOUGHT Capital campaign that we are now entering? They are all perfectly good OF THE MONTH: subjects to address this time of year, but the one God has laid on my heart is faith.

FORWARDING ALL Doc and I have moved around enough ISSUES TO HEAVEN to belong to several churches the last 50 years. We have also been through many building programs, served on many committees during these building programs. I can tell you that without Faith and a spirit of giving none of these would have been successful programs. In Hebrews 11:1 we find the definition of what our faith should be. “An assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It is considered the most concise definition of faith found in the Bible. Without faith there would be no hope.

I will finish off saying I hope you all have a great fall and holiday season as it begins on Thanksgiving. As children of God, and as Americans we have so much to be thankful for.

I want to say a big thank you to our veterans also this month. Note the date change on our meeting this month to Friday the 10th of November to come to our school’s Veterans day program and lunch hosted for us by the school. If you have never seen this program you are missing out.

Make plans now to attend.

Don’t forget to get those Operation Christmas Child boxes turned in.

With so many needs recently, it might be easy to say I have given all I can to others. I hope you will not neglect the gifts for children around the world. This small thing gives so many the hope they need to carry on.

How can we put a price on that?

Blessings, Reba Pair

SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 NIV

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STUDENT MINISTRY Well here we are in November and I’m still trying to figure out where October went! But as we head pedal to the metal into the holiday season at least we get some cooler weather. Notice I did not say cold weather. I can hardly wait for chilly nights and chili nights and since I’ve got some New Mexican in me, this time of year is also for chile nights. Good luck interpreting that.

We have some “cool” things going on in the student ministry, too! On Friday the 13th, the Cubs pulled out a miraculous and exciting win again Tomball-Memorial. After the game, we hosted a 5th Quarter. The gym was full of inflatables, half-court basketball, karaoke, and chili cheese dogs. We had a great turn out and I got to meet some new kids. I love this type of event that may seem small, but can play a large part in giving our students something fun and safe to do on a Friday night.

Over the next couple of months we are preparing for DISCIPLE NOW WEEKEND!!! On the weekend of January 19-21, 2018, we will host a large number of students. Every year this event is a coordinated effort of a lot of people and I’m so grateful for the love and support we’ve had every year.

As we prepare one of the main resources we will need is HOST HOMES. If you are willing to open your home for students for this event, could you email me at cmarrs@fbc-brenham.org. And if you’re unsure what being a Host Home is all about feel free to contact me and I’ll give you the details.

I hope to have a Host Home meeting before the end of the year and I’m looking for ten homes.

Hey guess what church? I’ve officially been on staff here for 5 years! I’m not sure who to congratulate: myself or YOU, church for putting up with me! Bobbye and I love Brenham and we look forward to the next five years!

In Him, Bro. Chad

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Good Morning, Look around you right now. Are there people near you? Is there evidence of people in your life within your direct vision? This may look like your husband’s dirty shirt on the floor at the end of your bed, your children’s toys under the couch, pictures of friends hung strategically in your sitting area or even your wife’s favorite coffee mug that you borrowed for this morning’s coffee. More than likely there are those evidences around you. As humans we hunger for relationships. This goes back to the garden. In the beginning, Adam was lonely. He sought for someone like him and found none. So, God created a mate for him. This someone would listen to his heart, share his hurts and rejoice in his success.

We all need someone (at least one someone). This someone doesn’t have to be a spouse. It can be a good friend. It can be your parents or siblings. Maybe it is a favorite uncle or the nice lady two houses down. Sons need fathers. Daughters need mothers. Students need teachers. Congregants need pastors. No matter what the relationship, one truth is evident and empirical: People need people. We each need another human who will listen to our hearts, share our hurts and rejoice in our success.

Hebrews says that we are not to give up “…meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb10:25). This week I received an extravagant gift from an unlikely source. It was a high quality photo of the barn from my sabbatical (please refer to Apr. 2017 newsletter) with the Milky Way in the background. The photo is breathtaking, but there was more to the gift. The manager of the retreat had read my entry in his logbook, which spoke of my God-experience with the barn. He had this photo imprinted on a piece of metal and made into a beautiful piece of wall art. He then quoted an excerpt of my writing on the back to remind me of the significance of this old barn. I was blown away. This was specifically targeted for me. However, when I saw it, I wanted to share it with everyone with whom I had previously shared my barn experience. This was a moment between God letting others and me, but my heart wanted to share with know you see how other people. People need people. they’ve helped We are about to build a new building down the road for our church to meet. The best part you. of the building is that it will afford us a better space to meet with other people - people who are our friends; people who share our faith; people who are curious about faith; people who need people to tell them about God. What will we do now that will invest in this future ministry of people needing people? What will we do that will build a place where people can listen to each other’s hearts, share each other’s hurts and rejoice in each other’s success? What will we do that can be used to build the kingdom of God, which is filled with people?

His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex 12

november’s big idea: Gratitude –

PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES Sunday Mornings in November Basic Truth: God made me.

Key Question: Who can you thank for everything?

Bottom Line: I can thank God for everything.

Memory Verse: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.� Psalm 111:1

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

I just love this time of year and so do our preschoolers. I am so excited we get to share with our new 3 year old class that moved up this past August all the fun of Preschool Postal Service. Oh they are going to have so much fun coming and visiting your Sunday school class rooms this Holiday season. You are just going to adore these little cuties. So make sure you start working on your Christmas cards, it is never too early to get those done. We want to deliver them to all your friends and family here at FBC. Remember our gift to you is a lot of cute little smiles, along with a candy cane or two and saving you a little bit of postage this holiday. You can start dropping off your Christmas cards to our Nursery area mailbox or the church office on November 19th. We are hoping to start delivering them the following week, November 26th giving we have Sunday school that day. The last day to get them turned in for delivery will be December 13th. This is so we will have time to sort them and get all that we can delivered that last Sunday before Christmas Eve. We will mail out all those that have not been delivered so that they are received before Christmas. We look forward to visiting you soon!

Stacey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

CHARLIE ROYALL 11/05/13 HUDSON TURNBILL 11/07/13 JON MICHAEL MOSER 11/15/01 THOMAS VASQUEZ 11/16/11 GARRETT SHELTON 11/20/12

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FBC SCHOOL & EEC Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4 We have so much to be thankful for, and not just in November! One of the things I’ve discovered is it next to impossible to be grumpy or negative when I’m truly thankful. When I begin feeling negative, I know it is a sign I need to be more grateful. One of my favorite quotes is from Ann Voskamp. She says, “Being joyful isn’t what makes you grateful. Being grateful is what makes you joyful.” I keep that statement on my fridge at home. It’s my daily reminder to choose thankfulness. My hope is that the FBCS students and staff will catch this idea and hold on to it. HE alone is worthy of our thanks and praise!

We are so grateful to have Judy Hyman on our team.

She has taken the lead with our marketing and fundraising efforts. She has great energy and passion for this ministry.

Thank you, Judy!

Veteran’s Day Program will be November 11 at 10:00 in the sanctuary. I hope you will plan to come. The students and Mrs. Steen have worked very hard on the program and hope to bless the community through it. Thank you, Veterans.

Your service allows us to worship freely and have the choice to receive a Christian education. We are thankful for each of you and your families.

We invite the FBC Encore members to join us for lunch following the Veteran’s Day program. We will serve lunch and entertainment from our 6th graders immediately following the program!

Blessings, Nancy Jahns

UPCOMING EVENTS November 1 50th Day of School Ms. LouLou @ chapel for elementary only 3 End of the six weeks

Jump Rope for Heart

6 Grades due @ 8:00 a.m.

PTO @ 5:30 in Rm112

7 Ms. LouLou @ chapel for preschool only 8:10

9 Thank you Luncheon in the Gym; plan a picnic or eat in the rm

10 Veteran’s Day program @ 10:00

Encore luncheon in Pahl House

15 2nd grade to Space Center

17 Elementary to Blinn play

20-24 School closed for Thanksgiving

20-21 EEC open

22-24 EEC closed for Thanksgiving

29 School committee mtg.

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FROM TROY’S HEART Since this month is one in which we highlight being thankful, I thought I would give thanks for the moments and things that go unnoticed: Thank you God for silence. Have you ever heard it? When you do, it is amazing!

Thank you God for good hair days. Those days for me are long gone.

Thank you God for smells like coffee, vanilla, bacon and rain.

Thank you God for our favorite t-shirt, jeans or shoes.

Thank you God for the perfect movie…the one that inspires us or makes us laugh or makes us forget.

Thank you God for cartoons or cereal…the ones that make us a kid again.

Thank you God for silly moments that make us laugh until we cry.

Thank you God for a teenager pulling in to the driveway at night.

Thank you God for the stories we tell over and over and over & never get old.

Thank you God for sleeping children.

Thank you God for a starting car.

Thank you God for a phone call that makes everything alright.

Thank you God for that life-changing moment. It has made us who we are.

Thank you God for the joy of a pet.

Thank you God for the moment when we “re-thought”. That moment saved us some heartache.

Thank you God for colors, even gray.

There are a million more “thankful” moments that pass us by many times.

Take some time and write your own list and share it with me. I would love to be grateful with you.

I love you, Troy

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

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