Issuu

The First Baptist Church of Redlands

T A PE S T R Y

Nov 2020

Wo v e n To g e t h e r I n L o v e : C o l o s s i a n s 2 : 2

The Neighbor A Message from Pastor Shawn

I preached on this passage a couple of weeks ago, but it seems that we can’t talk about loving our neighbor too much, especially in times like these. Jesus links this commandment with the one that everyone knows is the greatest: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. Jesus says that these two commandments pretty much sums it all up. The idea that these two go together is not really that shocking. Many rabbis over the generations would put these together. When we love God completely it extends to loving others. The problem is that loving others is hard to do. Because of that we like to come up with ways to be let off the hook. There was one guy, a lawyer, who asked a typical “lawyer” question, “So who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ answer was a story about a guy that gets beat up and mugged on this rather dangerous road. After two religious professionals notice him but don’t stop to help, finally someone stops. Now the kicker of the story is the guy who stops is a Samaritan, who in that time would never be the hero of the story. Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along AT ALL….for generations. And Jesus makes him the hero of the story who stops, gathers the poor guy on his donkey and takes him to an inn. The Samaritan takes care of the guy and then pays the inn keeper to see that the beat-up guy has everything he needs. Then Jesus turns the question around and asks the lawyer, “So who was the good neighbor?” The one who helps. We can come up with all sorts of arguments for not loving a particular “neighbor.” Maybe they are an inconsiderate neighbor who is noisy late at night or cuts the trees on your side of the fence without asking. Maybe they are a family member who has hurt you or someone close to you and you just can’t forgive them. Maybe they are “a sinner” who is involved in a practice or a lifestyle that goes against your beliefs. Maybe they are of a different political party and they are particularly obnoxious about it. Or maybe, just maybe we don’t notice them. We can’t see past our own circle to know who they are or what life is like for them.

Issue No. 11

“…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 39

The song that Mister. Rogers sang on his show every day, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” is going through my head as I write this. I am struck by the fact that he is inviting me—and anyone else listening—to be his neighbor. It is not a chore or a sacrifice. It is an invitation he is hoping the person will accept: I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you So let’s make the most of this beautiful day Since we’re together, we might as well say Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please Won’t you please Please won’t you be my neighbor? Could it be that Mr. Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, was thinking about Jesus’ words about loving neighbor and not just singing a kid song? Is it possible that we can love people like that? In a time of tension and polarization like the one in which we find ourselves? Will people look at us and see us as good neighbors? See us as people who love our neighbors? People who actually invite people into the relationship of being a neighbor? It is in striving to love the Lord our God with all of our being and that we are empowered to love our neighbor as ourselves and actually love doing it. And so let us love! Pastor Shawn

COVER

MISSION 7 Worldwide Prayer Concerns: Pakistan, China, Brazil

1 A Message from Pastor Shawn: “The Neighbor” 2 Staff and Contents

F E L LOWS H I P 8 Gregg Sneller: “Global Servants Our Church Family is Supporting Update Part 2”

MINISTRY 3 Pastor Nick : “Who Do I Love?”

NEWS

4 Richard W. Steffen: “Neighbors” 5 Prayer: “Neighbors”

10 Church News

6 Children’s Ministry: “Good Neighbors: How To Be A Good Neighbor To Children”

11 November Calendar

S TA F F

Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows Senior Pastor

Nathan Jones Youth Director

Nicholas Quient Associate Pastor

Angel Florence Office Administrator

Rev. Cheryl Sneller Director of Children’s Ministry

Isa Terrell Communications Specialist

Richard W. Steffen Minister of Music

Richard Colunga Buildings/Grounds

The Tapestry is published monthly by The First Baptist Church of Redlands, 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373. All material for the Tapestry should be typed and emailed no later than the 15th of each month to tapestry@fbcredlands.org. If you would like to be added or removed from the Tapestry mailing list, please email tapestry@fbcredlands.org. Current and previous Tapestry issues are available in digital format at issuu.com/fbcr.

Contact us: admin@fbcredlands.org 909-793-3289 www.fbcredlands.org Due to the coronavirus shutdown, our office remains closed until further notice. However, we are receiving mail and phone messages. Staff can be reached by email (see above).

MI NI S T RY

Whom Do I Love? Pastor Nick Quient

Unity is a tricky thing. Hold it too tightly and you risk suffocating creativity and genuine dissent. Hold it too loosely and you might end up losing it all together. Such is the age we live in. And yet, as I reflect on the Book of James and what the writer has written for us, my heart is strangely warmed. Despite our differences—and there are genuine differences to be had—we are to “fulfill the royal law found in Scripture, love your neighbor as yourself.” Of course, this implies that we are to also have a healthy sense of self! We are to consider ourselves as valued and as loved by God, and so we can then see others in that light. We are to count others as worthy of the love shown to us in Christ Jesus, who gave up everything for the sake of all of humanity. James 2:8 (CEB) You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself

I confess I do not know what this looks like when it comes to politics or public policy. But I do think, if we keep the church in mind, that there is something quite radical at play. If we begin to cultivate a place of humbleness, then we will be willing to hear and to listen rather than shout and demand our way. Part of loving our neighbors and friends is being willing to be wrong about what we think or believe— we are not called to force ourselves against others, to be an unmovable object set against an unstoppable force. Rather, we are to operate from a place of radical deference and love. We must be willing to give up for the sake of others, to be empathetic. We regard our neighbors as persons of value, far more than ourselves. After all, Jesus valued us so much he gave up everything for us. How much more should we be willing to do for the sake of our neighbors and even—dare I say—our enemies? May we live into that tension with hope and reverence.

Neighbors by Richard W. Steffen, Minister of Music “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (New International Version, John 13:34). We have been interacting with others in a different way these last 7 months, and we have had opportunities to consider our understanding of very important concepts. Justice, kindness, humility, hospitality, openness, and neighborliness are a few. And how our perception of neighborhood has changed! Throughout our church’s history, we have learned from and been inspired by our global servants. Our denomination and our church have always sought to have a “heart for missions.” Last month we were inspired by the Rev. Deliris Carrión-Joseph in a YouTube worship service, and the words of our scriptures, prayers, and songs in our worship services prompt us to see God’s work being done in all corners of the world. November this year will be different. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will happen but it will be different. There will still be generous offers in Black Friday sales promotions but getting things will be different. Turkey will still be a menu item but it may be smaller. We still have neighbors and some of them who are far away seem even closer. Technology has continued to make distant places appear nearby. Jesus spoke about neighbors. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:42-44). When asked about which commandments should be kept, Jesus said, “ ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Matthew 19:19). In the Gospel of Mark, we read that one of the teachers of the law interacted with Jesus about the commandments and neighbors. He said, “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:32-33). And on one occasion, an expert in the law asked Jesus, “ ‘Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?’ He (Jesus) answered, ‘What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?’ He said, ‘That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.’ ‘Good answer!’ said Jesus. ‘Do it and you’ll

live’ ” (The Message, Luke 10:25-28). When asked to define “neighbor,” Jesus gave the parable that we know of as “The Good Samaritan.” When we sing in worship, we also ask: “And who is my neighbor?” (NIV Luke 10:29) A Scottish missionary to Africa gave us a song that we have used in our worship services: “Jesu, Jesu.” Tom Colvin (1925-2000) was trained as an engineer and worked in that profession in Burma and Singapore in the 1940s. After studying theology at Trinity College at Glasgow University, he was ordained in the Church of Scotland, and he served as missionary in Nyasa land (now Malawi) and in Ghana for nearly 30 years. His work there included preaching, education, and community development. After completing his missionary work, Colvin became a minister and served at an inner-city church in London. He then returned to Africa in 1984. In 1963 Colvin wrote the words and music to this song. The tune for the song (tune name Chereponi) comes from a town in northern Ghana, where the hymn was written. The melody is adapted from a Ghana folk song that he heard during his ministry there. While he was attending a laytraining course in agriculture, development, and evangelism, new Christians from Ghana had brought a folk melody to this meeting which they thought might be appropriate for a text about Christian love. Colvin reflects on his song. “Sitting there in the moonlight, I felt it simply had to be about black and white, rich and poor. I was ashamed of the wasteful affluence of my people but proud of the Gospel that transforms us into servants of one another.” Here are his lyrics. Chorus: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you. Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, Master who acts as a slave to them. Chorus Neighbors are rich and poor, neighbors are black and white, neighbors are near and far away. Chorus These are the ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love; all these are neighbors to us and You. Chorus Serving puts us on our knees, serving as though we are slaves, this is the way we should live with You. Chorus Kneel at the feet of our friends, silently washing their feet, this is the way we should live with You. Chorus

by Pastor Nick Quient

Holy and Loving God We come to you at this time to pray for one another We pray for healing We pray for hope We pray for one another Loving God, you are the one who unifies and holds us together We ask that you would preserve and protect us That you would bind us to yourself and hold us close Your love, O God, sanctifies and purifies us May we live into that sanctity and purity as we seek justice May we live into your righteousness and your calling Your gifts and calling are as irrevocable as your love Amen

C hil dr e n ’s ministry

Good Neighbors How To Be A Good Neighbor To A Child How to be a good neighbor to a child. Make sure they can hear the squeak of your door when you come outside. After the door squeak is heard receive any questions they might have to engage your attention. “Do you know that I can jump off the ladder into our (play) pool?” I answer: “Does your Mom know about this?” (I didn’t think so). Pause from outdoor tasks and say a resounding YES to their question: “Can I tell you something?” Answer them with honesty and add a bit of fun if appropriate: “I love that you remind me of a monkey when you swing on the bars of your swing set.” Take great interest in their prized possessions like a bicycle, super hero pajamas or a toy. Greatly admire their creations. Acknowledge their accomplishments but PRAISE their efforts. Invite them over to pick a peach. Mask up and invite them to climb the steps up into the tree house. Share with them the love of your dogs and let them feed them treats. Commission them to babysit your tomato plant when you are gone on vacation. As they age you may have to engage them and initiate the questions. Don’t lose sight of who they are or where their interests lie. And remind them they are still a person of interest and value to you as they head toward maturity.

Blessings To You All, Pastor Cheryl

Children’s Sunday School Update The Children’s Sunday School is a joyous gathering every Sunday at 4:00. By that time usually a family computer is available and they are settling in for the evening. The curriculum has a 4 to 6 week theme and midweek resources I mail out. Our theme presently is “Made in the Image of God”. A video worship song starts our gathering and we sing and follow along with the movements. Next is the Bible story on video that sets the stage for our break-out room discussions. Sometimes we learn how to draw the main character of our story. Our Zoom wizard, Pastor Nick, sets up the break-out rooms by age with 1 or 2 adults present and off we go swirling around until we land in a room of our peers. I, Pastor Cheryl, have the ability to fly between rooms to join in on their discussion. Near the end of our time together the adult concludes with a group game. The first to log off are our Toddlers and Preschoolers whose attention span is 15-20 minutes. Next is the First and Second graders and they gather for about 2030 minutes. Last to leave are our Junior Disciples (grades third through fifth grade). They have been known to Zoom for over an hour! They share a lot of good observations and enjoy the fellowship of each other. One Sunday we all said “good-bye” to each other and clicked the red leave button. After a short visit with one of the teachers I clicked the button and found myself in the main room and many of the Junior Disciples were visiting with the adults and peers. It was like the outdoor patio time without the cookies and the punch. Please pray for the Children’s Sunday School time. Our intention is not to entertain but to build up the love for God, the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the hope and help available through the power of the Holy Spirit. In this time of pandemic separation it is so important for our children to remember they have a Church family that loves and cares for them.

missions

Worldwide Prayer Concerns

“But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.” –Hebrews 10:32-33

This month we offer prayers of praise for the way the Holy Spirit has been at work around the world:

pakistan www.persecution.org Praise God for the release of Sawan Masih after spending six years in prison while sentenced to death under Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws. The case was appealed all the way to the High Court in Lahore, where it was determined that the prosecution had not proven the charge of blasphemy. The court reversed the death sentence and set Masih free. Praise God for his mercy towards Sawan! Please pray for Sawan and his family, as extremists in Pakistan sometimes will attack individuals in blasphemy cases even after they have been released. Pray that this law can be changed so that it does not continue perpetuating injustice.

china

www.persecution.org International Christian Concern reported that in September, Chen Yu, a Chinese Christian who ran an online bookstore, was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined approximately $30,000 for “illegal business operations.” His iPhone was confiscated and all the Christian books from his bookstore will be destroyed. He had been detained in 2019 for selling unapproved religious publications from Taiwan and the United States. According the report, the police went through the bookstore’s sale records to find who the customers were and confiscate the books. Pray that despite the efforts of the Chinese Communist Party, the gospel message will continue to spread and grow in China.

brazil www.worldvision.org Pray for the work of the medical boat Solidarity, which is operated by World Vision and has been traveling along the Amazon River in Brazil to bring food, first aid, and medical care to isolated communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The ship’s crew includes a doctor, two dentists, and three nurses, along with others. They have provided medical care to 1000 families, distributed 1400 food boxes, 800 Hygiene Kits, 400 Tenderness Boxes, and 2100 masks. Pray for these remote communities who don’t have many resources to draw on. Pray that this effort would bring them hope and healing. Praise God for the way these workers are being the hands and feet of Jesus! - Jonathan Peske If you have information to share about the persecuted church or news from the mission field, please share it with Jonathan Peske.

f e ll o ws h ip

Global Servants Our Church Family is Supporting Update I Part 2 by Gregg Sneller The American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, now known as International Ministries has been around since 1814. We as a church are privileged to partner with the work of International Ministries as they touch lives around the world. At our September Missions Commission meeting we made a decision to distribute funds to 13 individual Global Servants or couple teams in the amount $11,700 over the next year. Who are these people we will support as a church family? Last month you learned about the first five, here are four more and in some cases personal notes of thanks...

Bill and Ann Clemmer wrote from Eastern Congo: Bill and I are truly touched by your willingness to partner with us in the work God is doing in eastern Congo and South Sudan! We are encouraged... especially in light of the trials we understand churches are facing in the US... that you would think of us. As you may know, the Ebola epidemic has ended, and thus Bill is moving on to a new challenge. He left last week for South Sudan (where we lived from 2011 to 2015). Now that the epidemic has come to an end, Bill has moved on to a new challenge. Maternal and child mortality has increased significantly in South Sudan over the last few years, compounded by a prolonged civil war and now Covid-19. South Sudan has some of highest rates of mortality in the world for women and young children. Bill has been asked to help start a program to address these issues. He will be in South Sudan until Christmas, while I continue my work with children and women in eastern Congo. We so appreciate the prayers and support of our family, dear friends and churches back home… and we thank God for continued opportunities to serve. We are stronger in partnership! Together. Love, Ann and Bill

Corenne Garrison and Phiip Smith serve in Brazil In Brazil, poor youth often choose life on the streets to escape the poverty of the slums and, more often, to escape abusive families. On the streets, they are exposed to HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, child prostitution, substance abuse, and violence. With the blessing of the National Baptist Convention of Brazil, Corenne and Philip minister to children who are

part of a residential program that rescues homeless street children and youth ranging in age from 8 to 18. The program provides guidance, education, and training for future employment. All students have completed a paid internship and are employed before they leave the program. Corenne works mainly with the older children, working with them on life skills so that they can eventually transition away from a boarding school to independent living. Corenne also serves as a surrogate mother to many of the children, sharing with them the love of Jesus. After experiencing day-to-day living in a safe, caring Christian environment, most of these children make decisions to follow Christ. Sarah Nash serves in Bolivia and wrote back: What wonderful news! I am so amazed by this generous increase for this next budget cycle. I’m truly blessed by the love and support I have received from Redlands First Baptist for the past two years. I am extremely grateful for Redlands First Baptist Church to continue and to increase giving to God’s mission around the world especially in these difficult months of COVID-19 where a lot of churches face a decrease in giving. The quarterly gifts will enable me to continue to design, write lessons, and train Bolivian women for the Girls Club projects that we will pilot in 2021. The Girls Club project in Santa Cruz will be the first ministry of the House of Hope’s new extension location in Santa Cruz, BO! Being able to offer this program to empower underserved 8-12-year-old girls will be life changing for the girls and give them the tools and spiritual care they need to overcome their difficulties. Due to COVID-19 we are adapting the training program to also be on a virtual platform. Barb Bolick and I would appreciate your prayers as we work with a web design team and create training videos. This will allow the Girls Clubs to be able to get started virtually before they can meet in person safely. Thank you again for praying and giving to God’s mission in Bolivia. Blessings, Sarah

Adopt a Family Ingrid Roldan-Roman Ingrid works together with the staff at the Federación de Asociaciones Bautistas de Costa Rica (Federation of Baptist Associations of Costa Rica). As a social extension of the Centro Teológico Bautista del Caribe Panameño (Baptist Theological Center of the Panamanian Caribbean) in the community of Changuinola, Bocas del Toro, Panamá, she directs a tutoring and feeding program for elementary and high school students who have fallen behind in their studies. The program is held at Ingrid’s house, and many of the students come from a nearby slum that is without running water and electricity, and where the houses have mud floors and walls made from bamboo. She works with the students and their relatives in evangelism, social development and pastoral care. Ingrid wrote to us: I´m very happy about your support on behalf my missionary work in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro, Panama. We had 83 students in our Tutoring Program but now we have 53. The Health Department is in charge of the quantity that we can have. Blessings: Ingrid Ingrid is one of the most giving people in the world according to Karen Yee who is the head of Ingrid’s Mission Partnership Team. She has taken out loans on her retirement to build a place so students can come and learn. She has also used some of those funds to help others with housing.

To be able to partner with each of these Global Servants as they share God’s love with others is an incredible privilege and honor. Thank you church family for your care for others as we work together to bring some “heaven on earth” to others. Next month we will tell you about more of our partners we support It’s a gift to be able to support and care for many people who are tangibly touching lives around the world with the love and care of Christ.

Family Service will continue this year, with the Adopt A Family program, for Christmas. FBC is offering an opportunity to anyone who wants to support the families. Family Service is accepting monetary donations. Checks may be written to the church or electronically deposited. Please designate your gift is for the Adopt a Family, at Family Service. Thank you!

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE As the Fall/Holiday Season comes upon us, Local Outreach arrives again to our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive which helps the Family Service Association of Redlands provide Thanksgiving food boxes for families in need. This year looks a lot different for collecting the food. We are requesting you to donate food by bringing your food donations to the church on Wednesday, November 4 5:15 PM-6:30PM Wednesday, November11 5:15 PM-6:30PM This is in conjunction with the FABULOUS DRIVE THRU DINNER NIGHT which could be easily combined with the food drop off! It is also a chance to check in with friends whom maybe you haven’t seen in awhile, of course with masks and social distancing. If you have questions or cannot bring the food on Nov 4 or Nov 11, please contact Barbi Carpenter at: Phone: 909-289-3457 by text preferably, or call. Email: bcarpenter1948@gmail.com and pick up arrangements will be made. Thanks to all of you for your help in helping and supporting our community during these difficult times. 24 oz. bottle of cooking oil Stuffing Can of pumpkin mix Canned yams/sweet potatoes Can of cranberries Can/box of turkey broth Can of cream of mushroom soup Gravy Frosting Cake mix Can of condensed milk

Box of Jello Bag of rice Bag of beans Rice a Roni Pasta a Roni Sugar Flour

Ne ws HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS TO... 2 Mitchell Carpenter

14 James Creech

3 Jennifer Winter

16 Jesica Jones

5 Patty Craw

19 Scott Medlin

5 Debbie Troxel

19 Keith Niss

5 Katherine Yocum

19 Eve Tompkins-Fisher

7 Robert Best

21 Melissa Miller

10 Toby Morgan

21 Teri Ferris Ullon

11 Caitlynn Brown

26 Wilt Kishimoto

11 Ethan Brown

27 Lindsay Roderick

11 Paul Hansen

30 Shawn Zambrows

13 Olivia Miller

Submissions for the Tapestry should be sent to tapestry@fbcredlands.org by the 15th of each month.

ADVENT SEASON PAINTINGS As we prepare our hearts for Christmas this year, we invite you to participate in creating a mural in panels of the words of the Advent season: Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. Isa Terrell, our wonderful graphic designer and artist on staff, is designing the mural inspired by the meaningful and fun Advent coloring projects we've created in recent years. We invite you to sign up to reserve some painting time during the upcoming weeks as we continue this festive and creative tradition together at a distance! We plan to display the panels during advent to share Hope, Peace, Love and Joy with our community and in our worship together. Paint and painting tools will be provided. Please dress accordingly as it relates to the creative movement of the spirit and joyful spilling of paint. We'll have one station to paint each of the four panels (one per word), each socially distanced from the others, so up to for individuals/families/COVID bubble groups may sign up to paint during each time slot. Additional details, time sections, and progress reports are forthcoming in our weekly emails. Contact Nick and Nathan for more information.

Tombstone

Marcia Kovacic ( February 15, 1940 to October 24, 2020) ~

WEDNESDAY DRIVE-IN TAKE-OUT 1. Order in advance online at tinyurl.com/FBCRTakeOut. **NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MIDNIGHT** - All orders must be made in advance. (If ordering online is not an option, call the church office and leave a message with a phone number to reach you) 2. Make payment online on the donation page of our website or write a check to be given to server upon pickup. $7 adult; $4 child (11 & under) 3. Come to the church parking lot between 5:45 and 6:15 PM, park in a designated space and remain in your car. 4. Place a paper with your name on it on your dashboard. 5. Wait for someone to bring your order to your car. Your meal will be packaged to-go. Please wear a mask for the safety of your server. For those unable to drive-in, delivery is available. MENU November 4 – Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Vegetables, Cobbler for dessert November 11 – Teriyaki Chicken served with Chow Mein with vegetables, Lemon Bars for dessert November 18 – Agape Dinner November 25 – No Wednesday Drive-In Take-Out

Agape Dinner Agape Dinner will be on November 18, 2020. We will have a Drive-In Take-Out meal to be picked up on Nov. 18th, at 5:45 p.m. Agape Dinner Program will start at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. The link will be sent closer to the date. We are looking forward to a joyful celebration of thanksgiving and faithfulness!

Pray for Fellowship

Pray for Students

7:30 p.m. Young Adult Fellowship

7 p.m. Acts: Going Deeper

23 Pray for Corenne Garrison and Philip Smith

7:30 p.m. Young Adult Fellowship

7 p.m. Acts: Going Deeper

-First Sunday of Advent-

4 p.m. Children’s Sunday School