March 2025 Beacon

MARCH 2025

BEAC N WE LEAD PEOPLE INTO LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHRIST AND EACH OTHER.

UPCOMING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 Ash Wednesday Service 6 pm, Sanctuary THURSDAY, MARCH 6 Lent Bible Study begins 10 am, Room 326 Facilitator: Sondra Allen SUNDAY, MARCH 9 All Church Meal 11:30 am, Fellowship Hall MARCH 14-16 Youth DNOW Weekend WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 No children or youth activities due to JCPS Spring Break MARCH 26-30 Oklahoma Mission Trip

Dear

Church,

I recently had the joy of visiting the home of members of our congregation who faithfully watch online each Sunday. Health no longer permits them to join us in person, however, they continue to worship with us through our live stream ministry.

They are deeply grateful to continue to participate with their church family.

Stories like these make my day and warm my heart. They are possible because many give generously of their time and finances as we live out our mission to lead people into life-giving relationships with Christ and each other.

We closed 2024 with nearly $7,000 more donations given than was estimated when the budget was approved. We also had an increase in average giving of $236 this past year. We had 17 donors who made donations in 2024, but did not give anything in 2023. More people are investing in what God is doing in and through FBC JC. You also gave $152,425 in 2024 to various mission partnerships and initiatives from Ukraine to South School, from Mission JC to Kenya, from Common Ground to persons unhoused in our city, and so much more. $40,272 of that total was given to Benevolent needs in our community!! Wow. When I tell people that FBC JC is a generous congregation, I have the facts to back it up.

Before we get further into 2025, I want to thank you for your faithful generosity as givers and volunteers. Every hour, volunteer, dollar, prayer, and person matter.

Together, God builds God’s Kingdom by inviting (and commanding) us to be a part of God’s redemptive work. Together, we’re better than we’ll ever be on our own. Great days are ahead as we continue to build on FBC JC’s great legacy, a legacy you are part of making.

As we prepare our hearts for the season of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 5, may we continue to be people who live “full to the brim!” You may read more about the Lenten season at FBC JC on page 2.

For the glory of God and the good of the World,

Pastor Melissa

LENT: FULL to the Brim "Full to the Brim" invites us into a Lent focused not on scarcity but on abundance, encouraging us to live fully and give freely, grounded in the assurance of God’s grace. When we allow ourselves to be “full to the brim” with God’s lavish love, that love spills over into our relationships with others.

While Lent traditionally emphasizes restraint, confession, and preparation, this year, we will be challenged to embrace the surprising grace of God as a constant presence—not something to earn or wait for.

LENTEN MEMORY PASSAGE - Ephesians 3:17-19 CEB I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers.

I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.

LENTEN SEASON SCHEDULE March 5– Ash Wednesday | 6:00 pm Loved As We Are

March 30 – Fourth Sunday in Lent | 9:00 am Love Leads to Grace

March 9 – First Sunday in Lent | 9:00 am Loved in Our Wildernesses

April 6 – Fifth Sunday in Lent | 9:00 am Love Leads to Worship

March 16 – Second Sunday in Lent | 9:00 am Loved Even When We Resist

April 13 – Palm Sunday | 9:00 am Love Leads to Justice

March 23 - Third Sunday in Lent | 9:00 am Love Leads to Love

April 17 – Maundy Thursday | 7:00 pm Love Leads to Transformation

LENTEN DEVOTIONS

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY

Lenten devotions will be sent via email Monday through Saturday, beginning Wednesday, March 5, through Easter Sunday.

We hope the words and images provided by our church family will invite you to enter the season of Lent in deeper and more reflective ways as we journey together toward Holy Week.

If you didn’t receive our Advent devotions but wish to, email mary@fbcjc.org to sign up.

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GROW FAITHFULLY WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES 5:20 - 6:00 pm | Orchestra Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 5:45 - 7:00 pm | First Kids and First Friends 5:45 - 7:00 pm | Youth Grades 6 -8 (Refuge Room) 5:45 - 7:00 pm | Adult Book Study (Room 326) 5:45 - 7:30 pm | Pickleball (FBC Gym) 6:00 - 7:00 pm | Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 7:15 - 8:00 pm | Praise Team Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 7:30 - 9:00 pm | Youth Grades 9 - 12 (Refuge Room)

WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES Who: Women Dates: Mondays Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm Room 101 with Alice Satterfield, Facilitator Study: “The Names of God” by Melissa Spoelstra

Who: Adults of all ages Dates: Wednesdays Time: 5:45 - 7 pm Room 326 with Sondra Allen, Facilitator Study: “The Grace of God” by Andy Stanley

Who: College Young Adults (ages 18-25) Dates: March 12 and 19 Time: 8:15 - 9:30 p.m.

Melissa Hatfield’s Home Bible Study. Topics vary.

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Women's Monday Night Bible Study will begin September 16. We'll be doing "Luke in the Kristie purchased McLelland.

Bryan andLand" Dulceby Stevens Landra Collins and family in the death of her mother 6:30-8 pm in room 101. the Lead Pastor’s parking spot for Sundays this month. Thanks for Janice Ross and family in the death of her mother RESERVED your generous donation to the Youth PARKING Family and friends of Margaret Langley Mission Trip.

SYMPATHY

Family and friends of Pat Cramer Family and friends of Jake Phillips

PRAYER REQUESTS

If you have prayer requests, contact the office or email prayerteam@fbcjc.org.

CONNECT WITH US 573.634.3603 fbcjc.org youtube.com/fbcjc info@fbcjc.org

facebook.com/fbcjc

@fbcjcmo

Stan Farmer Church Administrator stan@fbcjc.org

Mark and Kailey Leesman Interim Youth Ministers mark@fbcjc.org

Dani Schmidbauer Accountant dani@fbcjc.org

Preston Feeler Interim Praise Team Leader

Rev. Jeanie McGowan Associate Pastor of Engagement jeanie@fbcjc.org

Deborah Scott Senior Adult & Pastoral Care Minister deborah@fbcjc.org

Alice Satterfield Interim Worship Leader & Administrative Assistant alice@fbcjc.org

Robin Stull Maintenance Supervisor robin@fbcjc.org

Rev. Melissa Hatfield Lead Pastor melissa@fbcjc.org Mary Huhn Administrative Assistant mary@fbcjc.org

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^ L-R: Ron Medin, FBC Missions Coordinator; Scott Johnston, Housing the Community Jefferson City; Rev. Melissa Hatfield, FBC Lead Pastor; Mark Kiekhaefer, Transformational Housing

KEYS TO HOPE: UNLOCKING HOUSING TOGETHER We need to go no further than First Baptist Church’s doorstep to encounter God’s children in need. Nearly six years ago, a tornado ravaged nearby neighborhoods and disproportionately destroyed the homes of some of the most vulnerable in our community.

It greatly exacerbated an already severe lack of decent, affordable housing in Jefferson City.

FBC JC has joined with others in responding to the housing shortage in various efforts since 2019, but recently, we committed ourselves to doing more. Much more.

Pastor Melissa Hatfield joined leaders of Housing the Community Jefferson City and Transformational Housing in signing three-year covenants at the worship service on February 23rd. As part of each covenant, First Baptist pledges to contribute up to $50,000 to each organization over the next three years, support them with volunteers, and educate our congregation about the community needs they address.

The new initiative, “Keys to Hope - Unlocking Housing Together,” is underway. Church members are volunteering with the two groups and have begun making donations to help fulfill FBC’s promised financial help for them.

The first in a series of educational opportunities will be a poverty simulation workshop at First Baptist from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 12th. Participants at the workshops will be asked to step into the lives of Jefferson City’s most vulnerable and wrestle with the daily decisions they must make in meeting the costs of housing, food, and medical care.

Pastor Hatfield says, “I never really understood the almost impossible choices people in poverty face until I participated in a workshop like the one in April. I hope many in our congregation will join us for a short walk in their shoes. They will never look at these issues the same again.” Register today at fbcjc.org/ps.

Both organizations offer many opportunities for church members’ involvement.

Transformational Housing accepts renters who, for one reason or another, are rejected by other landlords. Volunteers are needed to coach the residents on finances and other life skills to make them eligible for commercial rentals.

Transformational Housing has a five-unit building on Cherry Street and is constructing/renovating two similarly sized buildings at 1112 East McCarty Street and 101 Jackson Street. Volunteers with construction skills are needed at both sites.

Housing the Community Jefferson City is the parent organization of two missions in which FBC JC is already involved: Project Homeless Connect, which each fall connects people to services and systems of care that are otherwise difficult to access, and Jefferson City Room at the Inn, which offers a cold weather shelter from December to March in the upper floor of FBC JC’s gymnasium building. Both of those missions require an almost endless supply of volunteers.

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BIRTH - GRADE 5

WEDNESDAYS FOR KIDS | 5:45 - 7:00 pm First Friends is for preschool children and meets in the 3rd-floor preschool room.

First Kids is for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. They meet in Room 201.

NO First Kids on March 5 due to Ash Wednesday service, but First Friends will meet.

NO First Kids or First Friends on March 26 due to JCPS Spring Break.

SUNDAYS FOR KIDS Children grades K-5 gather in Room 211 at 10:15 am for games and snacks before heading to their classes. K-2 meets in Room 201. Grades 3-5 meet in Room 204. Bible Teaching groups meet from 10:15 -11:15 am each Sunday.

Extended Care during worship for children ages birth to kindergarten is available on Sundays from 8:30 am until Sunday school ends at 11:15 am. ^ First Kids prepares sweet treat bags for the staff at South Elementary School as part of our partnership!

SAVE THE DATES March 5 - No First Friends or First Kids.

Everyone is invited to our Ash Wednesday service at 6 pm in the sanctuary.

March 26 - No First Friends or First Kids due to Jefferson City Public Schools Spring Break.

April 13 - Palm Sunday Donkey Parade with First Christian Church. Time TBD. April 27 - Children’s Sunday at FBC JC. We’ll collect a noisy offering on this Sunday to go toward our Keys to Hope Housing Initiative at FBC JC.

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CONNECT WITH US TEXT UPDATES Text RefugeJC to 573.606.4123 refugejc

GRADES 6 - 12 DISCIPLENOW - MARCH 14-16 Disciple Now (DNOW) registration is now open! DNOW is one of the biggest weekends of our year! It is a weekend of small groups, worship, service, and fun for youth in grades 6 -12.

refugejc.com mark@fbcjc.org

SUNDAYS | 10:15-11:15 am Every Sunday, we dig deep into God’s word and grow in our faith.

DNOW begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and ends at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday. Cost is $50 through March 2nd, then increases to $60 on March 3rd. Go to refugejc.com/dnow to register!

MIDWEEK ON WEDNESDAYS Games, Worship, Small Groups Grades 6-8 | 5:45-7:00 pm Grades 9-12 | 7:30-9:00 pm

Join us on Wednesday nights in March for two exciting series: On Your Own and Invited. These gatherings are designed to inspire and connect as we dive into meaningful discussions and

Pictures from our amazing youth that helped lead the FBC congregation in Youth Sunday, January 26th

growth together.

March Midweek brings a couple of different schedule changes.

Please make note of the following dates.

March 5th: Ash Wednesday service at 6:00 PM. Middle School Midweek will meet in the Sanctuary that evening to participate in that service. High School will meet at their regular time in the Refuge Room.

March 26th: No Midweek due to JC Schools Spring Break.

SAVE THESE DATES March 26

No Midweek

April 5

No Midweek (Easter)

May 4

Graduate Sunday

May 14

End of Year BBQ

Celebrating Super Bowl Sunday with some Chiefs themed waffles made by the McGeorge Family

Sign up to bring 3-dozen donuts for Basecamp 10:15 a.m. Sundays

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SENIOR ADULTS FRIENDSHIP

FRIENDSHIP

Monday, March 24 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Fellowship Hall

Friendship Singers resume rehearsals on Monday, March 3 at 9:30 am in the choir room.

Program: The Boomer Generation musical program

Beginning March 10, rehearsals will be Mondays from 10-11 am.

HOMEBOUND

SINGERS

CLUB

BIRTHDAYS Eric Ruhaak (3/3) Vernell Williams (3/6) Candace Hawkins (3/15) Marie Colvin (3/17)

Menu: Catered by Madisons Lasagna Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken Salad Bread Dessert

SEND A CARD! Our Homebound members love to receive cards! If you’d like to send a birthday card, contact Mary at mary@fbcjc.org or 573.634.3603 for addresses.

The important ministry of the church continues as we fulfill our vision to be Christ's love and hope in our community and around the world.

Our faithful giving is a spiritual discipline we practice as we trust God's abundant provision. We are grateful to partner with you and with God in Kingdom work.

ATTENDANCE Bible Teaching Attendance

162

244

Feb 9

169

255

Feb 16

148

209

Feb 23

159

241

@fbcjc

fbcjc.org/give 301 E. Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101 On Sundays in the Offering Boxes

REVENUE & EXPENSES

In Person Worship Only

Feb 2

WAYS TO GIVE TO FBC JC

2025

2024

Increase (Decrease)

Jan

Year to Date

Jan

Year to Date

Jan

Year to Date

Tithes & Offerings

$66,958

$66,958

$86,353

$86,353

($19,395)

($19,395)

Other Revenue

$18,339

$18,339

$17,740

$17,740

$599

$599

Total Revenue

$85,297

$85,297

$104,093

$104,093

($18,796)

($18,796)

Total Expenses*

$108,845

$108,845

$191,541

$191,541

($82,696)

($82,696)

Net Operating Total

($23,548)

($23,548)

($87,448)

($87,448)

@fbcjcmo 301 E. Capitol Ave. | Jefferson City, MO, 65101 | fbcjc.org | 573.634.3603 | info@fbcjc.org