Issuu

The First Baptist Church of Redlands

T A PE S T R Y

May 2021

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

Issue No. 5

The Spirit Celebrates! A Message from Pastor Shawn

If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your human bodies also, through his Spirit that lives in you. (Romans 8:11 CEB)

As more and more of us are getting vaccinated, we are finding ourselves inching our way out of our houses. Grandparents are able to hold and kiss their grandchildren. Friends are able to play with one another, eat together, and maybe even hug each other. We are able to look at the possibility of traveling for a vacation in the not-too-distant future. We as a church family experienced this joy as we gathered together for an early morning Easter celebration on the lawn of the church. We look forward to other opportunities to meet inperson, including being able to meet again in our sanctuary on Pentecost Sunday, May 23. For me, gathering together on the lawn brought an unexpected sense of joy that I felt deep inside of me. I could definitely say that my spirit was celebrating! With each step we take out of the confines and sadness of COVID-19, our spirit stirs within us with life, freedom and joy. When we read in scripture about the Holy Spirit we read about experiences of the Spirit “falling” on people. These occasions seem to be filled with excitement and power. Though the word “celebrate” is not used, I think that there is an element of celebration that is taking place in the worship of God. I always think of Pentecost as a big party (in fact

some thought that the disciples had been drinking!). The Spirit has many functions as it interacts with our spirits. The Holy Spirit comforts us, walks along side us, empowers us, guides and directs us, reads our hearts and prays for us and even lets us know when we are going the wrong way or doing the wrong thing. But the Holy Spirit helps us to worship and celebrate, too! As we anticipate more and more in-person activities, let us allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into our “new” reality. May the Spirit enable us to be compassionate, effective, relevant, and open to what God wants to do with and through us from this time forward. May we celebrate new opportunities for ministry and growth, with doors opened for us by the Holy Spirit! May our spirits celebrate!

Grace and peace in Christ, Pastor Shawn

COVER

MISSION 8 Worldwide Prayer Concerns: Myanmar, India, Indonesia

1 A Message from Pastor Shawn: “The Spirit Celebrates!” 2 Staff and Contents

F E L LOWS H I P 9 Rainbow Acres Patio Update: The Mission Commission

MINISTRY

3 Pastor Nick : “Spirited Goodness”

“Courtesy of My Lemon Tree”: Carolyn Codd

4 Richard W. Steffen: “Let’s Celebrate” 5 Prayer to God

NEWS 10 Church News

6 “Joyous Easter”: photos by Cheryl Sneller

11 May Calendar

S TA F F Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows Senior Pastor shawn@fbcredlands.org

Nathan Jones Youth Director youth@fbcredlands.org

Rev. Nicholas Quient Associate Pastor nicholas@fbcredlands.org

Angel Florence Office Administrator angel@fbcredlands.org

Rev. Cheryl Sneller Director of Children’s Ministry cheryl@fbcredlands.org

Isa Terrell Communications Specialist isa@fbcredlands.org

Richard W. Steffen Minister of Music rwsteffen@gmail.com

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

Spirited Goodness Pastor Nick Quient

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NRSV) One of the more exciting and neglected aspects of Paul’s letter to the Romans is how practical it is. Sure, we often get hung up on the first eleven or so chapters, with discussions of election, predestination, Adam, metaphor, Jewish identity, and all sorts of things—and yet, by the time we get to Romans 12-16, we are exhausted. I imagine Paul was a bit exhausted as well! However, Paul then spends four chapters explaining how all of this works, and what it all means for the church.

The mission, therefore, is a mission of hope and peace— both of which are in short supply in this time. Praying to the Spirit is also a great value—the Spirit is a person and worthy of worship and intercession (1 Cor 3:17). The Spirit breaks down barriers and calls us into a new family of adoption (Rom 8:18-29) where goodness reigns. Such goodness is centered on right action (righteousness) via hope. Hope is not a fancy feeling or a nebulous concept—it is anticipation.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is, in some sense, like that. The Spirit involves us, captivates us challenges us, and empowers us to be the people of God. Rather than being centered on evil thoughts or impossible ideals, the mission of the Spirit is to help us begin to articulate and participate in the life of the Spirit. Sometimes that might look a little different given any situation, but the goal is simple: the Spirit gives life and we offer that same life to others.

Hope beckons us to wait and see, based on what we have already witnessed. Because God is good, we can rest assured in the work of the Spirit in our own lives—whether we see every little detail or not. The Spirit is on the move, sowing goodness wherever there is need. As Emily Dickinson has said, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.”

“Let’s Celebrate” by Richard W. Steffen, Minister of Music Celebrate through the Spirit

Celebrate through Song

A discipline that I began last January is to read the entire Bible this year with a friend. We are using the New Living Testament version, and once or twice a month we talk about what we’ve read. Our reading on March 9 from Psalms caught my attention: “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10-11 NLT) Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Scriptures? I remember the passage of Creation: “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2 NLT) As they gathered together, the disciples needed assurance that they wouldn’t be alone after Jesus was crucified. Jesus told them, “I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:25-26 NLT) And then that exhilarating experience: “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.” (Acts 2:1-3 NLT). Pentecost: our celebration of the Holy Spirit being poured out on people from all over the world.

We have an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful work of our church organist Linda Gentile through song. Easter 2020 was going to be Linda’s final Sunday with us. We were excited to hear her play again “Hallelujah” from Messiah by G. F. Handel on the mighty Austin organ in our sanctuary that day. And we were planning a farewell reception in Linda’s honor on Palm Sunday 2020 after worship.

We are planning to celebrate soon in a special way on a special day: in-person worship in our sanctuary on Pentecost! For 14 months we have joined together for worship with the First Baptist Church of Redlands. And through technology and the marvelous skill of our Tech Team, our worship has been empowered to happen at any time after the service has been released and over and over again! (Any guess how many times I have worshipped while watching the video of our kids sharing “Kids of the Kingdom” on Palm Sunday this year?) Worshipping again in-person in our sanctuary is an answer to many prayers. And we will experience it on “the birthday of the church.” It will be a celebration. During that time, if we give and receive elbow bumps instead of hugs, that’s okay. If we sit farther apart than before, that’s okay. If we sing in our hearts instead of with our voices, that’s okay. Say a prayer, give a wave, and sing on the way home, all the time giving God the glory.

Linda inspired us musically and touched us with her friendship for 10 years. Her dedication to her art, her warmth at rehearsals, and her smile are treasures that we will always remember. On Sunday, May 30, 2021, at 4:00 pm, there will be a recital given in the sanctuary by Linda and a few of her friends as a tribute to her. You are invited to attend this event. And you are encouraged to share your words of appreciation of her through cards to her that can be placed in a basket on a table in the Church Narthex that afternoon.

by Pastor Nick Quient

Blessed Holy Spirit Only you can empower us Only you can give us light and life We thank you for lifting us up from the dirt And giving us our calling and purpose You are good and just Empower us Give us the eyes to see how you are working in our world You are great We celebrate your work and ministry and your sovereignty Give us hope Give us peace In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen

C hildr e n ’s ministry

Joyous Easter Photos by Cheryl Sneller

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

MYANMAR Please continue praying for a peaceful resolution to the military coup in Myanmar. International Ministries has been working with the Myanmar Baptist Convention to help support those whose lives have been upended by the coup. Money from the One Great Hour of Sharing has gone to assist civil servants who are engaged in the Civil Disobedience Movement, which is a strike by government workers in protest of the junta. Additional funds are going to support those who are jobless or need medical care. The Burma Refugee Commission is advocating with political leaders to ask for intervention and support and is holding monthly prayer meetings. Since the number of protesters killed by the government forces has exceeded 700, the Wall Street Journal reports that some in the resistance movement are reaching out to the ethnic militias for weapons and training, which risks a broader escalation of violence. Pray for God to displace the military rulers and allow for a return of a peaceful civilian government that respects the rights of its people.

India International Christian Concern Pray for religious freedom in southern India, as several states have been moving to enact anticonversion laws over the past few months. The laws are being passed by Hindu nationalists who fear that Hindus are being compelled or coerced to convert to other faiths. These laws have emboldened some to violently attack Christians and churches in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Madura Pradesh states. Pray that Christians would be able to gather in their churches without fear of violence. Pray that people in these states would have the freedom to worship God and respond to the call of the Spirit.

Indonesia International Christian Concern and Voice of the Martyrs On Palm Sunday, a husband and wife team of suicide bombers detonated a bomb outside the Catholic Church in the city of Makassar. The explosion injured about 20 church members, shattered windows on a nearby hotel, and killed both of the attackers. Miraculously, none of the victims have died, since the Mass had ended a few minutes earlier than usual and fewer people were present. The attackers were members of the Islamic State linked terrorist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, or JAD. They had been married only six months earlier and a neighbor reported that the wife was four months pregnant. They had been heavily involved in a small group within JAD that prepares people for suicide bombings. Praise God that despite the damage, the casualties were much less than what could have happened. Pray for the healing of those who were injured. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be working in the hearts of those in the JAD, helping them see that this is not what God wants them to do. Pray that young people involved in JAD would find a new hope that would lead them away from this evil ideology. - 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 wship UPDATE

RAINBOW ACRES PATIO As I met for the Monday night Ephesians study, the subject of the church patio came up in conversation this week. Life before the patio covering at our church was discussed and what a gift that patio has been. I am sure the same conversation is already taking place at Rainbow Acres. The new patio cover that we helped to fund provides a large shaded space for the first time at Rainbow Acres. Jeff P was one of the very first Ranchers to make Rainbow Acres his home, within a few months of its opening in 1974. He was only 18 when his parents placed him in the care of Rainbow Acres. They were not sure why they felt compelled to make this life-changing decision, since they were still relatively young. It just seemed the right thing to do for Jeff. The following year, Jeff’s sister died from leukemia. And three years later, both of Jeff’s parents passed away. Before succumbing to cancer, Jeff’s mother told his caregiver at Rainbow Acres, “Now I know why we were led so strongly, and I am at peace knowing that Jeff is in a caring, happy home.” Jeff took to life in the rustic conditions of those early years on the ranch, riding his motorcycle and helping to develop the grounds. Today, his friendly greetings each morning make everyone smile! Thanks for making Jeff’s life better with the patio cover at Rainbow Acres and for our church’s annual gift to support the work. The Missions Commission: Mark C., Barbara S., Holly M., Jose M., Garrett Z., Herb D. & Gregg S.

Courtesy of My Lemon Tree By Carolyn Codd One dark and dismal wintry day, in the midst of a pandemic, I approached my lemon tree, led by a small bee. There I found a tiny bunch of beautiful blossoms. It was exciting----I even told my husband! A day later, no blossoms were to be found. “What happened?”, I wondered, searching for them. There was a light breeze, the leaves were rustling. “Spirit blossoms those were”, whispered the tree, “Subtle signs that hope is on the way.” And so, the wait began. A few weeks later, the tree was laden with blossoms. As I moved towards it, drawn by its fragrance, the glittering tree proudly proclaimed, “Here are my real blossoms-Now, with patience and some care, in a while, beautiful fruits there will be.” Happily, hope had indeed arrived.

Ne ws

HAPPY May BIRTHDAYS TO... 1

Nick Miller

Lacey Marie Wardschenk 14

Stela Salia Katelyn Zabaleta

1 Jacqueline Williams-Reade

Liam Fisher

Martha Hone-Warren

Virginia Chapman

Claudia Brown

Shellie Skinner

Henry McLaren

Neera Daniels

Bobby Warren

Mike Aguirre

Jessica Terracciano

Abigail Kishimoto

Miletta Updegraff

Doris Stephens

Deborah Crowley

Garrett Zambrows

Bruce Laycook

Barbi Carpenter

Moumita Baidya

Glenda DelRosario

Jason Lowe

Jim Hollenberg

Janet Roberts

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

“A WALK IN THEIR SHOES” A Virtual Evening of Awareness Youth Hope Thursday, May 13 Starts at 6:30 P.M. For more information and the Youtube link for the event, please visit youthhope.org/walk-in-their-shoes.

WEDNESDAY DRIVE IN TAKE OUT 1. Order in advance online using the form attached to the weekly email. **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 the 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 MAY 5 Chicken & Cheese enchiladas, Rice and Beans, Apple Crisp for dessert MAY 12 Meat and Veggie Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Veggies, Lemon bars for dessert MAY 19 Oven Fried Chicken, Baked beans and veggies, Brownies for dessert MAY 26 Stuffed Bell Peppers, Spinach salad and dinner rolls, Cookies for dessert

Pray for the Video Production Team

Pray for Hope

Pray for Redlands

10:15 a.m. Worship

4 p.m. Children’s Sunday School 7:30 p.m. Young Adult Fellowship

7:15 p.m. Bible Study for College Students

7 p.m. “Ephesians” Study

9 a.m. Sunday School classes online (check with leader)

10:15 a.m. Worship in-person: Sanctuary and Livestreamed

24 Pray for India 31 Pray for Wisdom

23 Pray for Humbleness 30 Pray for Summer Plans

7:30 p.m. Young Adult Fellowship

7:15 p.m. Bible Study for College Students

4 p.m. Children’s Sunday School

Pray for Students Returning

Pray for the Cooks

Tuesday

Pray for Executive Council

7 p.m. Executive Council online

17 Pray for the Homeless 18 Pray for Leadership

7:30 p.m. Young Adult Fellowship

7:15 p.m. Bible Study for College Students

7 p.m. “Ephesians” Study

7:30 p.m. Young Adult Fellowship

7:15 p.m. Bible Study for College Students

7 p.m. “Ephesians” Study

Pray for Neighbors

Pray for Bible Studies

7 p.m. “Ephesians” Study

Monday

9 a.m. Sunday School classes online (check with leader)

10:15 a.m. Worship

9 a.m. Sunday School classes online (check with leader)

4 p.m. Children’s Sunday School

10:15 a.m. Worship

9 a.m. Sunday School classes online (check with leader)

Sunday

27 Pray for

6:30 p.m. “Corner Booth” Class online (check with leader) 7 p.m. Youth Group online

5:45 - 6:15 p.m. “Drive-In Take-Out” Dinners - Prkg Lot 7 p.m. Bible Study in John

Courage

7 p.m. Youth Group online

6:30 p.m. “Corner Booth” Class online (check with leader)

26 Pray for the Youth

7 p.m. Bible Study in John

5:45 - 6:15 p.m. “Drive-In Take-Out” Dinners - Prkg Lot

19 Pray for Indonesia

Pray for Healthcare Workers

7 p.m. Youth Group online

Pray for Teachers

7 p.m. Bible Study in John

6:30 p.m. “Corner Booth” Class online (check with leader)

Pray for Safety

5:45 - 6:15 p.m. “Drive-In Take-Out” Dinners - Prkg Lot

7 p.m. Youth Group online

Pray for Myanmar

7 p.m. Bible Study in John

6 6:30 p.m. “Corner Booth” Class online (check with leader)

Pray for Openness

5:45 - 6:15 p.m. “Drive-In Take-Out” Dinners - Prkg Lot

Wednesday Thursday

Pray for those battling addiction

Pray for Struggling Families

28 Pray for Community

7 Pray for Prayerfulness

Friday

Due to current coronavirus safety protocols, all meetings and services are online unless otherwise indicated.

M ay 2 0 2 1

Pray for FBCR

the Persecuted