2022 December Tapestry

TAPESTRY

For Unto You – Hope, Peace, Joy, Love

A Message from Pastor Shawn

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11 KJV

And we begin again. Another new year is here – liturgically speaking. It is Advent and we are going to hear the words again: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. But can we ever hear them too many times? Especially with the promise, “For Unto You!

Advent is the season of waiting, anticipating, longing. We remember times that people waited for God to act in history. We anticipate the coming again of Jesus and the establishment of the new heaven and earth. We long for God’s comfort and peace and justice in our daily lives. Advent is the time that we are reminded that God is faithful–that we have hope! In Christ we experience peace, joy, and love.

There is a song from the musical, “Mame,” called “We Need a Little Christmas” that talks about bringing out all the Christmas decorations early because everyone needs some cheering up. “We need a little Christmas, right this very minute…” Well, I say, we need a little Advent, right this very minute! It has been a tough year for many of us–preceded by a couple of tough years. As we enter

this Advent, let us be reminded again that through Jesus Christ we have hope, even when everything feels hopeless. We have peace that passes all understanding. We have joy, no matter the circumstances. And we have love, that goes beyond our accomplishments, position and even disposition.

This Advent season and this Christmas, may people see Jesus through us, as he truly is. May we immerse ourselves in the knowledge that God has brought us hope, peace, joy and love. May we carry the message to all we meet, “For Unto You - Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.”

Each week of Advent, take a few moments at the end of each day and write down where you see Hope (the first week), Peace (the second week), Joy (the third week), and Love (the fourth week). Be sure to share your lists with someone who will be blessed!

Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love be Unto You this season!

Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas!

Pastor Shawn

COVER MINISTRY

1 A Message from Pastor Shawn: “For Unto You –Hope, Peace, Joy, Love”

2 Staff and Contents

3 Sara Tharpe: “Introduction and Get to Know Sara“

4 Abby Kishimoto: “Children’s Ministry Update”

MISSION

5 Worldwide Prayer Concerns: Ukraine (World Central Kitchen), Nagaland (India)

6 Message from the Roberts Mission School

7 Submitted by Gregg Sneller: “Global Servant: Rev. Toya Richards”

FELLOWSHIP

8 Kay Kallander: “Family Service Association of Redlands”

NEWS

10 Church News

11 December Calendar

STAFF

Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows

Senior Pastor

Glenn Molina

Associate Pastor of Arts in Worship and Community Life

Sara Swift Tharpe Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Community Life

Angel Florence Church Administrator

Stephen Stark Senior Maintenance Custodian

Sally Rehfeldt Organist

Isa Terrell Communications Specialist

Abby Kishimoto Interim Director of Children’s Ministries

Rhiannon Fisher Interim Director of Youth Ministries

Jared Sumners Intern for Young Adult Ministry

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

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Introductions

by Sara Swift Tharpe

Greetings New FBCR Friends!

I am so excited to be your new Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Community Life! It has been a journey for you and for me but I believe that God has brought us together at this time, in this place. I am eager to meet those of you I have not already met and begin getting to know each of you and this wonderful community into which my family and I have been so warmly welcomed.

It is a tradition for many to send out holiday cards. I decided early on in my marriage that even if I could not keep up with faraway friends and family regularly, I would make it a point to send out a holiday letter each year. As life grew busier and we added children and pets and activities to our lives, my letters grew shorter and shorter and eventually turned into several photos accompanied by the “Swift Tharpe Family Top 10 List.” I figured these lists hit the highlights and they prompted me (and my friends/family) to follow up and share the fuller stories of our lives. So, I will share my current “Getting to Know Sara Top 10 List” in hopes that we will seek one another out, both for you to get the fuller story on me and for me to learn more about you!

I am so excited to join you on the journey and to see what God has in store for us! The strong breeze blowing through the patio on my first Sunday with you reminded me of the mighty winds of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is stirring. God is at work among us. I’m in for this wild, amazing ride!

Let’s see each other soon!

Blessings, Sara

“Getting to Know Sara” Top 10 List

1. I am Texan-born, though I call Mill Valley, California home (where I went to the same high school as Tu-Pac).

2. I love french fries and coffee and BLAT’s and ice cream (not necessarily all mixed together, though I might be persuaded to try it sometime).

3. I have a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies, a master’s degree in Counseling and a seminary degree. It has been exciting to discover over the years how these learnings intersect and inform my life’s work.

4. Ann Patchett and Hafiz, the great Sufi Master & poet from the 14th century, are two of my favorite writers.

5. My family and I love to travel. We have made several cross country road trips and we have tried to hit the big National Parks closest to us with our camping gear.

6. I find names fascinating - the process of naming, the origin and meaning of names, how we connect or not with our given name, how our names connect us to others, and the value of calling each other by our preferred names. I have always loved my name (Sara with no “h”) and I hope you will share what you love to be called with me.

7. I am a very novice, self-taught quilter. I love to put fabrics together and see the beauty that emerges.

8. My favorite color is blue and I can never pick just one favorite animal, though I think sea otters are about the most precious creatures around.

9. I am married to Brad, whom I met in college, and we have three children, Jonah, Eli & Lilla. Artemis, our diluted calico kitty, joined our family just over a year ago.

10. The water, in any form, feels like home to me. I grew up on the swim team and surrounded by the San Francisco Bay and I LOVE the rain.

This is our family camping at Big Sur this past April. Can you see our outline on the rock?

Children’s Ministry Update

by Abby Kishimoto

It has been an exciting Fall season for our Children! It has been exciting to see our kids involved in worship in the drum circle, acolytes, singing and more! As we enter the Advent season, you can expect to continue to see our children involved in many ways!

All of our classes have been learning about God’s love in their Sunday school classes, and it is exciting to continue to see them connect, learn, and grow with the help of all of our amazing volunteers! None of this would be possible without the help of so many of our congregation members!

Wednesday nights have also been a fun time of art and fellowship between God’s Kids, Junior Disciples, and even Toddlers! Faith Expressions through Art have been a time for kids to explore different styles of arts and crafts while also learning about different scriptures from the Bible. Since we have varying age groups working together on Wednesday nights, it is exciting to see the older kids step up to help the younger ones with their art!

We also had a Halloween Party back in October with Children and Youth combined! We had games, cookie decorating, trick-or-treating, and of course costumes! The youth group was set up in the classroom doors for the kids to run around and trick-or-treat from door to door; it was chaos, but the good kind! For some of our little ones, it was their first time trick-or-treating and a great practice run for the “real thing” on Halloween!

Looking forward into the Advent season, we will have our Christmas movie night and Fiesta dinner on Wednesday, December 21st. So, come for fiesta dinner and then make sure to stay after for a movie, beard decorating, hot chocolate, and maybe even a visit from Santa (wink wink)! Wear Christmas pajamas or Christmas sweaters and be prepared for the fun!

Catalina Church Retreat!

We are excited to announce that we will be having a Church Retreat this Summer at Campus by the Sea in Catalina!

The retreat will be Saturday, June 10th, 2023 - Monday, June 12th, 2023.

We hope that you will join us to kick off your Summer vacation!

More information to come very soon!

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

Uk R a I ne (World Central KitChen)

Wall Street Journal Magazine

A recent piece in the WSJ magazine spotlighted the creative charity World Central Kitchen, which is not a Christian ministry, but has been feeding people in Ukraine and in disaster stricken locations around the world for 12 years. The World Central Kitchen estimated that it had already served over 165 million meals to Ukrainians by early October. The organization was founded when chef Jose Andres mobilized chefs and restaurants to feed people in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake. They then continued to mobilize volunteers in other locations when disaster struck. For example, after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, the WCK organized 20,000 volunteers, food trucks, and kitchens to produce 3.7 million meals. They are able to accomplish these amazing results by looking for local cooks and available kitchens to use. They make meals that taste good, since the many of the people who make the food are trained chefs. At one location, they were serving meat stews, potato and cabbage salad, and apples. The Ukranian soldiers were even stopping by because the food was better than their army rations. The WCK staff looks for low cost food sources that can stretch their budget. For example, in Ukraine, they are buying Moldovan apples that were being sold to Russia before the invasion but now were going unsold. At one facility, they were churning out a sandwich every 22 seconds by repurposing a conveyor belt and having volunteers standing in an assembly line. The World Central Kitchen is able to offer its support and know-how as leverage to help local volunteers accomplish many times more than they could on their own. Praise God for the way he is using this organization to help feed the hungry in Ukraine and other places. Pray that this kind of thinking could be applied in other ways to bless those who are in need.

nagaland (india)

International Ministries

In November, the Baptists in Nagaland, which is a state in northeastern India, celebrated 150 years of Christianity in their region. Rev. Keyho of the Nagaland Baptist Council said “Ever since the advent of Christianity in 1872, the Nagas have been led from grace to grace & great blessings have been bestowed upon the land. The love & mercy of God has kept our land.” And our own director of International Ministries, Rev. Koh, issued a statement of congratulation: “We celebrate your strong leadership, effective evangelism, church growth, leadership training and theological education, and we are particularly inspired by your participation in God’s global mission by sending Naga missionaries worldwide. Thank you for your continuing effort to build peace and to transform political and tribal conflicts. We pray that our rich shared history of participating in God’s mission in Nagaland will inspire all of us to look forward to what God will do in our midst in time to come.” Praise God for his work among the Naga people!

- Jonathan Peske

Ifyou have information to share about the persecuted church or news from the mission field, please share it with Jonathan Peske.

Message from the Roberts Mission School

May the Grace of the Lord be with you always. What you and the church have done for Roberts Mission School is deeply appreciated. Dear Pastor Shawn, here,I would like to tell you the current situation in Bamaw. After the military coup the Senior General Min Aung Hlaing seized the power of the country on February 1, 2021, some Burmese groups and ethnic minorities rebelled against the military coup. And again, Burmese groups from the central part of Myanmar joined the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and formed People Defense Force (PDF) to build Democracy and Freedom.

Currently, military troop has been fighting KIA and PDFaround Momauk township, 30 minutes drive from Bamaw (my own town) since last October. Residents are killed and houses are burnt in Momauk, therefore many people have to abandon their places and move to Bamaw for the security reasons. Now Military Council is conducting door to door inspection in Momauk and Bamaw including Roberts IDP Camp (Internally Displace People Camp) in Bamaw. At October 31, night 10:00 PM, the Officer Commanding in Bamaw ordered to inspect the Roberts IDP Camp and took 8 young men without reason. The next day, they were all released because of the attempt of Church leaders. Therefore our days are filled with fear, terror and pain. In the midst of the challenging situation of Bamaw area, Roberts Mission School of Bamaw Kachin Baptist Church is running for this 2022-2023 schoolyear.

We pray honestly about our distress and earnestly ask for God’s intervention to save us from evildoers and our suffering in our country, Myanmar. We strongly believe that one day, all horror will be over. We don’t give up hope. We don’t give up on God. There will be a better day. Please pray for us, the church, the school, ministry and country.

Grace and Peace in Christ, Hkun San Awng

Rev. Dr. Hkun San Awng Pastor/Secretary

Bamaw Kachin Baptist Church

Bamaw

global

rev. toya richards

by Rev. Toya Richards

of apartheid are still quite visible and additional harms like xenophobia run rampant. Nothing in these two places is isolated, and my charge as a Christian is to help facilitate healing, recognizing that when one gets better, we all get better.

Each of us is called to do that healing, restorative work in spaces assigned by God, and my post is in South Africa, and more specifically at Cape Town Baptist Seminary (CTBS). There, in tandem with faculty and staff, I’ll be teaching church and ministry leaders with limited formal training who are doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God in communities hungering for hope.

Since being endorsed in 2021 as a Global Servant with International Ministries (IM), I have often been asked why I’m going all the way to South Africa to serve when there is so much work to be done right here in the United States. It’s a valid question that calls for an answer.

My response: Ubuntu!

It’s a word that has its origins in several of the Bantu languages of Southern Africa, including Zulu and Xhosa. Loosely translated it means “I am because you are,” or “I am because we are.”

Ubuntu is about our common humanity, and emphasizes the interconnectedness and interrelatedness of humankind. The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said Ubuntu means, “A person is a person through other persons.”

When I said “yes” to God’s call to full-time global mission service, I did so with the understanding that I was to serve with and on behalf of my neighbors all over the world. I have a responsibility to them, just like I do to my “kin” around the corner. And, in fact, there’s no way I can successfully live an individual, local life and calling without ensuring the collective, global “we” is lifted up too.

I am because you are. I am because we are. Ubuntu!

What happens in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of America’s epicenters for racialized trauma and where I most recently lived, is directly connected to what happens in Cape Town, South Africa, where vestiges

To put it in perspective, Africa is presently home to roughly 685 million Christians, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Yet only 1 percent of all African churches have trained pastors, said Rev. Dr. Godfrey Harold, CTBS’s principal and chief executive officer. Pastors and lay leaders in South Africa and throughout the continent need to be fully equipped so they, in turn, can effectively reach those in the communities they serve. These ministry leaders also need to be empowered agents of change and transformation who usher in justice, equity and reconciliation for all of humanity.

When students at Cape Town Baptist Seminary thrive, we all thrive – from the Bridgetown community where CTBS is located, to the very bench you inhabit within your own church house. Ubuntu is the through line that connects us from heart to heart and breast to breast, and it is why I am eager to go to The Mother City (Cape Town) to be of maximum service.

I pray you will be inspired to join me on this journey, and that you will see how the place you’ve been called to serve intersects with your kindred in Cape Town. You can join my Mission Partnership Network with a donation of any amount, and I would specifically ask you to consider a reoccurring gift that will help me maintain financial stability during my four-year assignment.

I also covet your prayers for the ministry I’ll be engaged in, and particularly for the students, faculty and staff at CTBS. My sincere thanks in advance for your partnership, and I pray God’s immense blessings as we move forward in the Holy One’s will.

Rev. Richards will be our guest preacher on Sunday, December 4, 10:15 AM

Gregory Gifts

Family Service association of Redlands

by Kay Kallander

With almost 125 years of history in Redlands, Family Service stands today as a well governed, safety net agency in the region, providing basic yet vital assistance to low income, at risk homeless and homeless families in crisis. Eligible populations include households with children under 18 and elderly disabled on fixed incomes that reside in the East and Central Valley of San Bernardino County.

With an overall goal to fight homelessness in the region, the Housing Assistance Program provides emergency rental assistance, move in deposits, motel vouchers and case management for families who are either facing eviction or already homeless. Utilizing most components of a “Housing First” HUD approved model and with contracts from various cities and counties, in 2021, Family Service provided assistance to 105 families - paying a total of 127 months of rent. Of the 105 families served, 35 were homeless when they entered the program and considered “housed” and stabilized when they exited.

Through the Gregory Legacy Grant, First Baptist Church of Redlands has given Family Services $35,000 to explore the possibility of building up to 12 tiny houses as transitional/ affordable housing. This money will go towards the fees and reviews required by the city.

At the Family Service Association Annual Donor Reception, held at the Mission Gables House on October 26, 2022, FBC received an Alfred H. Smiley Philanthropic Award for “Answering the Call.”

“First Baptist Church of Redlands is honored for volunteerism and financial support, highlighting a Legacy Grant bestowed to Family Services to complete exploratory work on an affordable housing construction project.”

In addition, there was a Certificate of Recognition presented to the church (right).

“Supervisor Dawn Rowe, of the Country of San Bernardino, State of California, does hereby thank you for your support of the Family Service Association of Redlands. Your commitment to assisting in serving the vulnerable populations in our community is greatly appreciated.”

Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows and Debbie Crowley received the award on behalf of the church.

“The First Baptist Church has been a supporter and partner with Family Service Association in Redlands throughout its nearly 125 year history.  What a pleasure for me it was to represent our church as it was recognized for that partnership--all those who have gone before us as well as those presently who support Family Service through their time, talent and treasure, as a congregation and as individual members. What an impact Family Service has made on our community.  It is truly a blessing to be a part of that as a church.”

Pastor Shawn

Tejeiro

Charlie Zureick

Allison Kishimoto

Lyla Schultz

Ethan Tejeiro

Applebee

Dillow

Scott Nelson

Katie Zabaleta

Colin Melcher

Ross Melcher

Giselle Martinez

Melody Wolfe

Chris Keierleber

Erin Estey

William Sullivan 31 Carol Townsend 31 Ellen Tseng 31 Maja Whitley

events at FBCr

Joint Anniversary Celebration wtih 2nd Baptist ChurchNov. 13, 2022

Wednesday d inner Menu

December 7 – Lemon Herb Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Veggies; Hot Fudge Cake for dessert.

December 14 – Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread; Pineapple Upside Down Cake for dessert.

December 21 – Fiesta Mexican Dinner and Assorted Desserts.

December 28 – No Wednesday Night Dinner

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

Agape DinnerNov. 16, 2022

Pray for Job Seekers

hursday

10 Pray for Missionaries

7 a.m. Walking for the Health of It 9 a.m. Finance and Property Commission Retreat, Kallander home

Pray for Global Servants

Christmas Eve7 a.m. Walking for the Health of It

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31 Pray for the New Year

New Year’s Eve -

Pray for the Youth

8 Pray for Understanding

16

21 Saturday

23

6:30 p.m. The Corner Booth on Zoom 6:30 p.m. The Corner Booth on Zoom

7 Pray for the Ill

Pray for the Pastoral Staff

6

5

Pray for Refugees

Pray for Single Parents

29

5:30 p.m. Fun Activies, Fiesta Dinner, Family Movie Night with Santa 7:15 p.m. Choir Practice Young Adult Gathering 5:30 p.m. Ornament Craft Night 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:15 p.m. Choir Practice Young Adult Gathering

Pray for the Prosecuted

5:30 p.m. “Hanukkah, Festival of Lights,” Rabbi Reznick 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:15 p.m. Choir Practice Young Adult Gathering

7 p.m. Commission Meetings

Pray for the Worship Team 1 Pray for the Tharpe Family 7 p.m. Local Outreach Commission (zoom)

9:00 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship in-person: Sanctuary and Livestreamed Rev. Toya Richards, preaching 11:45 am BYF

Pray for Righteousness

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22 2022 Sunday Monday t uesday Wednesday t

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20 Pray for the FBCR office staff

28

(Dark) Church Building Closed for Termite Eradication

(Dark) Church Building Closed for Termite Eradication

26 Pray for Peace

9:00 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship in-person: Sanctuary and Livestreamed 11:45 am BYF

(Dark) Church Building Closed for Termite Eradication

Pray for those struggling with addiction

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9:00 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship in-person: Sanctuary and Livestreamed Christmas Musical Celebration 11:45 am BYF

Pray for a deeper relationship with God

10:15 a.m. Christmas Day Family Worship, in-person (only), ChapelChristmas Day -

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

The First Baptist Church of Redlands 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands CA 92373-5243 909-793-3289 | www. fbcredlands.org

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advent and Christmas 2022

Sundays of Advent 10:15 AM, Sanctuary

Nov. 27: “For Unto You: Hope”

Dec. 4: “For Unto You: Peace” Guest Preacher - Rev. Toya Richards

Dec. 11: “For Unto You: Joy”

Dec. 18: “For Unto You: Love” Christmas Musical Celebration

Christmas Eve Worship Dec. 24, 7 PM

Sanctuary, In-person and live-streamed

Wednesday Activities and Dinner 5:30PM

Nov. 30: “Hanging of the Greens”

Dec. 7: “Ornament Craft Night”

Dec. 14: “Hanukkah, Festival of Lights” Rabbi Lindy Reznick

Dec. 21: “Fiesta Dinner” and “Family Movie Night with Santa”

Christmas Day Family Worship Dec 25, 10:15 AM Chapel (In-person only)