MARCH
Author and activist Parker Palmer wrote, “I will wax romantic about spring and its splendors in a moment, but first, there is a hard truth to be told: before spring becomes beautiful, it is plug ugly, nothing but mud and muck. I have walked in the early spring through fields that will suck your boots off, a world so wet and woeful it makes you yearn for the return of ice. But in that muddy mess, the conditions for rebirth are being created.”
What perfect words for this season. We are transitioning from winter woes to spring hopes. We have begun the heavy, messy journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. And we have just recently plucked our boots out from the mud and muck of the past three years of pandemic and pastoral challenges to birth a new chapter at FBC JC.
DEAR CHURCH, Pastor
Thanks to our Creator, none of our journey’s “muddy mess” is wasted. We know what God can do with dust. God has been at work, preparing, tending, and nourishing us. It is from this very soil that a new spring and splendor will be born.
Friends, I am excited to see what blooms among us for the glory of God and the good of the world. One of my core beliefs is that we are better together. Each of us will make the soil of FBC JC the most fertile for the rebirth God has planned.
I’m deeply grateful to be tending the fields with you, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, even when we’re knee-deep in a muddy mess because we know the splendors of rebirth are on the horizon.
March 5
New Lead Pastor Begins
March 12
Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 17-19
DNOW Weekend
March 29
No Children or Youth Activities due to JCPS Spring Break
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH JEFFERSON CITY, MO
FBC CONTACT INFORMATION FBC STAFF INFORMATION
573.634.3603
fbcjc.org
youtube.com/fbcjc
info@fbcjc.org
facebook.com/fbcjc
twitter.com/fbcjc
Instagram.com/fbcjcmo
STAN FARMER Church Administrator stan@fbcjc.org
CARA HARRINGTON Interim Children’s Weekday Minister cara@fbcjc.org
MELISSA HATFIELD Lead Pastor melissa@fbcjc.org
MARY HUHN Administrative Assistant mary@fbcjc.org
CONGRATULATIONS!
MARK LEESMAN Interim Youth Minister mark@fbcjc.org
JEANIE MCGOWAN Interim Pastor of Worship jeanie@fbcjc.org
ALICE SATTERFIELD Administrative Assistant alice@fbcjc.org
DANI SCHMIDBAUER Accountant dani@fbcjc.org
DEBORAH SCOTT Interim Senior Adult Minister deborah@fbcjc.org
ROBIN STULL Maintenance Supervisor robin@fbcjc.org
Congratulations to James Woodland on celebrating 22 years of employment at First Baptist Church! We appreciate you and your work as a member of our maintenance team.
Sundays, March 5 – March 26 / Sundays in Lent
9:00 am | In-Person and Live-Streamed Worship 10:15 am | Bible Teaching Groups
Sunday, April 2 / Palm Sunday Service
9:00 am | In-Person and Live-Streamed Worship
10:15 am | Bible Teaching Groups
Thursday, April 6 / Maundy Thursday Service
7 pm, Sanctuary. Lord’s Supper observed.
Sunday, April 9 / Easter Sunday
9:00 am | In-Person and Live-Streamed Worship
10:15 am | Bible Teaching Groups
LENT DAILY DEVOTIONS / Lenten devotions will be sent via email Monday through Saturday. We hope the words and images provided by our church family will invite you to amplify God during this season. If you didn’t receive our Advent devotions but wish to, email mary@fbcjc.org to sign up.
SYMPATHY
Family and friends of Jennie Hirschman
Ray and Pat Bly in the death of their son
Elizabeth Odum and family in the death of her father
Colleen Riley and family in the death of her brother
Nicole Petty and family in the death of her father
Family and friends of Delores Shirley
Family and friends of Ken Zuver
Penny Murphy and family in the death of her mother
Come join the food service ministry team at FBC!
Do you want to be a part of a hardworking, fun-loving ministry that serves the Lord? (John 21:17)
Through the ministry of feeding others, you can share your gifts and talents. We have part-time and immediate salaried positions for salad prep, line servers and clean up team. No previous experience neccessary - just a willingness to serve.
For more information about available positions along with job duties and hours, contact First Baptist Church at 573-634-3603 and ask for Chef Michael.
MUSIC REHEARSALS
Orchestra: Wednesday at 5:20 p.m.
Choir: Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
Praise Team: Wednesday at 7:15 pm
FRIENDSHIP SINGERS NEWS
Friendship Singers will present their season of concerts at the following places in March: Heisingers, Primrose, Oak Tree Villa and The Baptist Home in Ashland.
RESERVED PARKING PRAYER REQUESTS
Sue Martin and family will park in the spot reserved for the Lead Pastor. Proceeds to youth mission trip. THANK YOU!
If you have prayer requests, contact the office or email prayerteam@fbcjc.org
This group continues to enjoy bringing the gospel through music to residents in various care facilities each spring and fall. What a joy it is to see the response of so many—even those who cannot respond much anymore! As we sing an old familiar tune, they often join in. What a privilege to serve these dear senior adults!
MISSIONS: IT’S NOT JUST FOR ADULTS.
First Baptist Church values missions. It was apparent in our 2018 strategic planning discussions. It is demonstrated by the congregation’s generous support of mission projects. It is confirmed by the participation of many individuals in local, regional, and global missions.
Perhaps one reason FBC values missions is the early age at which our children learn about how to share Christ’s love in words and deeds. First Friends (ages 3-5) and First Kids (grades K-5) meet Wednesday evenings from 5:457:00 pm in the children and preschool areas. The primary goal is to help children grow in and share their faith with others through words and deeds. A focus on Scripture through weekly memory verses teaches children to love God and to love our neighbors.
Coordinator Cara Harrington emphasizes that to do missions, one must know what the scriptural message is about. “Missions” is defined as “any endeavor aimed toward the goal of reaching beyond the needs of the local congregation for the purpose of sharing Christ’s love and hope in word and deeds.” Many activities and experiences are geared toward learning about various mission projects. Some examples of First Kids mission activities include the following:
• Learning about Afghan resettlement and nurturing empathy and understanding. The children provided support by writing notes, making language learning games for the children, and praying for the Afghan families.
• Speaking with and learning from missionaries who are serving abroad.
• Helping to prepare teacher boxes for South School as well as making and writing greeting cards for each teacher. Children learn about helping the children and their teachers.
• Lory Feeler spoke to the children about Project Homeless Connect, the annual program to aid the local unsheltered population. In additional to prayer, children helped to prepare an item for the project.
• Completing a unit about Creation Care in conjunction with a sermon series on the same topic.
• Rand Swanigan spoke to the children and shared a video of “The Well,” our mission partner in Kenya. The children made prayer cards for the mission team.
• Homebound members have received cards from the children, as well as prayers.
• Learning about CBF global missions.
Through these and other experiences, children increase awareness of the needs of others and explore ways to be in mission. Age-appropriate activities are provided for the pre-school children. FBC First Kids and First Friends learn about how the Spirit is at work in the world and the role that they can play loving and caring for all God’s creation. To learn more or get your child involved, contact Cara Harrington at cara@fbcjc.org.
The Great Rivers Council is excited to once again partner with the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri to help benefit young students, K-12. More than 49 million Americans experience hunger & food insecurity every day. Of those 49 million, 16 million are children. That means 1 out of every 5 children suffers from hunger & food insecurity every day. In Central and Northeast Missouri alone, more than 45,000 children suffer from hunger & food insecurity daily.
One core tenet of the Scout Oath is always to help others. The Boy Scouts of America have a long tradition of helping to feed others. The Scouting for Peanut Butter concept is simple: the goal is to get as many jars of peanut butter as possible. While the Great Rivers Council will accept other food, the focus will be on peanut butter. This food will then be distributed by the food pantries to hungry students, K-12.
^ 2023 YOUTH MISSION TRIP
July 9-16 | Washington D.C. |
Cost: $350
A nonrefundable deposit of $50 is due by April 1 to register for the trip. Scholarships are available for individuals as well as families with 3 or more youth attending. Contact Alice at alice@fbcjc.org. There are limited seats available for this trip. A waiting list will begin after those spots are filled. Details and links are available at www.refugejc.com/ymt.
INTERIM YOUTH MINISTER HIRED
We’re thrilled to announce Mark Leesman has been hired as our part-time Interim Youth Minister to lead Refuge during this transition time.
Mark and his wife, Kailey, have three children and have been active leaders in our Refuge Youth Ministry for 11 years. Mark recently completed his term as Chair of Deacons at First Baptist. Mark is employed full-time with Hawthorn Bank and is actively involved in our community.
Mark’s official first day is March 1. He will help oversee our youth ministry, partnering with volunteers and parents to continue our vibrant ministry to youth in grades 6-12. Thank you, Mark!
You can reach Mark at mark@fbcjc.org or 417.894.8402.
DNOW 2023 | March 17-19 | Higher Love
Our annual DNOW weekend is coming up soon. The 1980s brought us some of the most amazing love songs and romantic movie scenes the world has ever known, but several decades later we still don’t have a full grasp on what exactly we mean when we talk about love. So, what exactly is love? We’ll look at the words of Jesus and his closest followers to discover that love is not something we should have to earn, or something only meant for a few. Instead, we are free to love others and we are free to be loved.
Cost: $60
Who: Youth in grades 6-12 Register online at www.refugejc.com/dnow
FOR YOUTH IN GRADES 6 - 12
Get text updates: RefugeJC to 573.606.4123 refugejc.com
SUNDAYS FOR YOUTH
Worship | 9:00 am (Sanctuary)
FIND US ONLINE @refugejc
Basecamp | 10:15 am (Refuge Room)
Donuts and Bible Study
MARCH MIDWEEK SCHEDULE
Wednesdays, Refuge Room (2nd Floor)
5:45-7p | Grades 6-8
7:30-9p | Grades 9-12
No Midweek March 29 due to JCPS Spring Break.
SAVE THE DATES
March 17 - 19 - DNOW Weekend
April 23 - Youth Sunday
April 30 - Mission JC
May 7 - Graduate Sunday
July 9 - 16 - Youth Mission Trip
