– Pastor Shawn
Grace and peace in Christ, Pastor Shawn
As we move into September, we will begin again the “routines” from which we generally take a break during the summer. Though it means a bit of gearing up and getting ready, it is always good to get back to the gathering, learning, and connecting opportunities that we have beginning in the fall.
TAPESTRY
On Sunday, September 11, we will have our “Kick Off Sunday” in which we begin a new season of gathering during the Sunday School hour for learning and growing opportunities. On that day we will enjoy refreshments and fellowship all together, beginning at 9:00 AM. The children will be guided to their meeting rooms and the adults will find out about the learning opportunities available to them on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and other times, in person and online!
Woven Together In Love: Colossians 2:2Sept 2022 Issue No.9 A Message from Pastor Shawn
On September 14, we will begin our “Wednesday Nights at FBCR.” We will start with connect and grow gatherings for all ages at 5:30 PM. At 6:30 PM we will have dinner together on the patio. Choir rehearsal will begin at 7:15 PM for all who are interested. We will be letting you know what other Connect, Grow and Serve opportunities that are coming our way this fall, as all the details come together.
As the routines begin again, may they become a support to help us Connect with each other, Grow in our relationship with God, and Serve God by serving each other and the wider community and world!
For many of you that is what September brings, a return to the routines that are relaxed during the summer. The transition often is a challenge, but once back in the routine we are often energized.
It is with sadness that I share with you that, after nearly six years of service on our staff, Nathan Jones is resigning as Director of Youth Ministries. He has served with distinction, creativity, compassion, and devotion. There will be an opportunity to express our thanks to him soon. His letter to the congregation is included in the pages to follow.
One of the things I loved about fall when I was doing ministry at Purdue University is that Monday through Friday the band would practice in preparation for performances at football games. The band members would gather outside of Elliott Hall of Music and line up. At 3:30 PM they would march in formation, playing either the fight song or one of the pieces that they were working on for the next game, down 3rd Street to the practice field. At 5:30 PM they would do the same, only in the opposite direction, back to Elliott Hall. Our ministry building was in between 2nd and 3rd Streets. I could hear the band from my office, and I knew what time it was. It was a routine of fall that I truly enjoyed. Sometimes I would even hear the band and run over to 3rd Street to watch them go by, like a mini parade.
Fall Routines
The First Baptist Church of Redlands
In my years of doing campus ministry August was a very stressful time for me. When August hit, I would realize that there were so many things that I wanted to get done in the summer that had not gotten done yet. It meant that very soon I would be going from a more loosely scheduled time (maybe that is why so much didn’t get done) to the more scheduled routine which came with a new school year and the students returning. It wasn’t long into the routines of fall that I could stop long enough and remember that this is why I liked my job!
10 Church News
Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows
NEWS
1 A Message from Pastor Shawn: “Fall Routines”
9 Presented by Gregg Sneller: “Baptist School of La Concepción”
MISSION
4 Nathan Jones: “Resignation”
Abby InterimKishimotoDirector of Children’s Ministries
Contact us: Mondaywww.fbcredlands.org909-793-3289admin@fbcredlands.orgOfficeHours-Thursday:9a.m.-4p.m.Friday:9a.m.-12p.m.
5 Kay Kallander: “The Meditation Garden of Plymouth Village”
Isa CommunicationsTerrell Specialist Stephen Stark Senior Maintenance Custodian
11 September Calendar
The Tapestry is published monthly by The First Baptist Church of Redlands, 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373.
7 Book Fiesta / Photos from Royal Family Kids Camp
3 Abby Kishimoto: “Children and Youth Ministries Summer Updates!”
COVER MINISTRY FELLOWSHIP
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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.
2 Staff and Contents
STAFF
All material for the Tapestry should be typed and emailed no later than the 15th of each month to tapestry@fbcredlands.org.
Senior Pastor Glenn AssociateMolinaPastor of Arts in Worship and Community Life
Sally playitbach@verizon.netOrganistRehfeldt
Angel Florence Office Administrator
8 Worldwide Prayer Concerns: Mexico, Congo, Ethiopia
Children and Youth Ministries Summer Updates!
And last but certainly not least, our youth group has had a busy Summer as well! We started off our Summer with a trip to the Redlands Bowl to watch “Drumline Live!” together. Then, some of our youth spent the weekend with Rhonda Bauer and Glenn Molina at Music Camp. Finally, we wrapped up the Summer with a trip to Six Flags hosted by the ABCOFLASH. It was a great day of rides, fellowship, fun, and we even survived the hot weather!
Our Toddlers and God’s kids continued to enjoy time of play and learning with our volunteer teachers and childcare workers! They enjoyed time at the church picnic playing with the lawn games, bubbles, and even getting some temporary tattoos!
3 MINISTRY
We have a few more Summer events planned for our youth and are excited to get back to fall programming after Kickoff Sunday on September 11th! Lastly, none of these fun activities would be possible without the help of our amazing volunteers, so thank you, and I look forward to the Fall!
It is hard to believe that it is already September and most of our children and youth are back in school full swing! It was a busy and eventful Summer for all ages, so here is a peak inside what we did this Summer.
The Junior Disciples have been spending their summer with different guest speakers exploring topics like prayer, sermon, worship, communion, baptism, hospitality, and so much more. It has been an exciting time for them to learn more about what it means to be a member of the church and engage with members of our congregation!
by Abby Kishimoto
Greetings First Baptist Redlands. I have the sad duty to inform you that I will not be returning to the role of Youth Director in the fall. When I began this journey nearly six years ago, I had a vision of working for FBC Redlands as a long-term career following the bi-vocational model I grew up seeing in the work of our Minister of Music, Richard Steffen or our Associate Pastor Dr. Deena Barwick. I was excited to have a chance to lead a program that could create opportunities for Christian fellowship, faith development, and service for our youth as a way of giving back after having benefited from such experiences myself as a youth at FBC Redlands. I’d even explored whether the church might recognize a bi-vocational call to ministry and commission my work with our youth as I continued my educational work. Though at a secular, public university, I am committed to the missional work of seeking equity, inclusion, and the empowerment of students comprising the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire, the vast majority of whom are the first generation in their families to pursue postsecondary education. Sadly however, I have instead found myself experiencing burnout. My family obligations have continued to grow as both my children are now in school and we’ve taken on the care of my grandmother in our home, and both my responsibilities at FBCR and the university have continued to grow to require ever more time and energy.
A message from Nathan Jones
The COVID era posed many unique challenges, but it also came with the unexpected blessings of extensive time spent with our youth online in addition to my having much more time with my family, even as Jesica and I spent many long, sleepless nights and weekends completing work displaced from the weekdays’ daylight hours. Emerging from COVID has proven even more challenging as we’ve all sought to find a new balance of time, life, and work in a changed world with changed and changing perspectives and expectations. Our youth are busier than ever and with the reversion of our programming model, losing the time we’d grown accustomed to spending together has been difficult. Spending increasing amounts of time returning to doing things in the same old ways has been difficult. Losing the time I’d grown accustomed to spending with my family has been especially difficult.
When I came in June to face the prospect of putting together another intensive summer schedule after three years without a pause or break in programming, I found that I simply couldn’t do it. While I’ve never really intellectually understood burnout as a metaphor in terms of what’s burning and why it’s going out, I do now understand it from within. I’m just exhausted, having been overwhelmed by stress for too long while failing to be able to see or imagine a way that things might improve or change. I asked the church for a leave of absence for the summer season through August 28 with the hope that some time away would help me to rest, heal, and discern what lies ahead. In the beginning of August when it became clear that the church wanted to be able to begin to plan for the resumption of fall programming, I was not and am still simply not feeling able to resume the pace and carry the weight I have maintained over recent years.
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The realization of the rupture of my ability to fulfill my vision and desire to work with our youth has been disorienting and painful. This isn’t when or how I wanted to leave the position. The idea of losing my time learning, growing, and laughing with the youth alongside Jesica and Hilary is unthinkable and has been such an important part of my life. I ask that you please be in prayer for me and my family as we continue to seek healing and discern what lies ahead.
Resignation
FELLOWSHIP
First Baptist to Partner with A.K. Smiley Library’s Annual Family Day BOOK FIESTA!
Please meet at the church at 7:30am to leisurely walk over to the library. Bring a water bottle, hat, and snacks. Lunch is provided afterwards for volunteers. Sign up in the church office. Contact Hien Huynh or email hiencommunity@gmail.com with questions.
Book Fiesta
Opportunities to learn and celebrate our beautiful diversity together.
Featuring award recognized and renowned illustrator Rafael Lopez.
A meal served to every minor under 18yrs.
Posing all together for a group photo
A new book for every child K-5th grade.
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Photos from RFK Camp
Gathering at Grandma’s Cottage
Our church is requesting 15 volunteers to lead activity stations from 7:30-1pm. Volunteers will be instructed what to do as we have fun serving over 800 children and their families at this annual community event.
A sponsored event by Local Outreach Commission
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 from 9-1:00 pm
Dedication comments by Kay Kallander, former Executive Director of Plymouth Village:
The Meditation Garden of Plymouth Village by Kay Kallander
As Julie and I spoke, I learned of the connection with Charles Coggins, Jr. a former resident of Plymouth Village and his important influence on citrus. Along with Arthur Gregory Jr. and Sr., these men were instrumental, in very different ways, but their work impacted citrus growing locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The dots connected once more as both the Gregory(s) and the Coggins, at different times, were all members of the First Baptist Church of Redlands.
As we have seen with all the projects, other people and organizations have joined into the effort of creating something very special and larger than originally imagined.
We were so pleased to connect the history of Arthur Gregory, Jr. and Sr. and their love of citrus to this Plymouth Village project to be in an old abandoned citrus grove on the campus.
Gregory Gifts
“Last year, I had the privilege of coming to Plymouth Village, on behalf of First Baptist Church of Redlands, with nothing but a question. When I asked Executive Director, Julie Michaels, “What is something that would benefit Plymouth Village but is not possible because of lack of funding?” She didn’t pause, but immediately said, “During this time of Covid, people are wanting a place of peace and calm. They need a place for meditation and reflection.”
On behalf of your friends at First Baptist Church of Redlands, we are delighted to be here today to help dedicate this garden for years of peace, reflection, and beauty.
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Dedication comments by Julie Michaels, current Executive Director of Plymouth Village:
Words of Dedication
• May you honor the divinity and gift of your body, caring for it with kindness and compassion.
• May you devote time and energy to your soul’s work of forgiveness, gratitude, healing, and selfkindness.
• May you learn to love and own your messy, complicated beautiful life story.
• May you breathe in the beauty and joy of our days with a sense of awakening and awe.
When Plymouth Village was granted this gift, we knew we needed to reach out to someone to address the growing issues of this garden. UC Riverside was the logical place and shared with us what we needed to do. Major preparation had to take place before the garden could be developed. The gift from the church, additional funds from Plymouth Village and the expertise of UC Riverside came together into one project, into one miracle.”
I had the honor or attending the memorial service for Mr. Coggins in 2019. As I listened to the executives from the California Citrus Quality Council and Sunkist share the impact that he made, I was in awe. It was said during his service that Mr. Coggins’ research is described as the single most economically beneficial research for citrus of the last century.”
• May you surrender all that no longer serves you and embrace more loving choices.
• May you take time to silence the noise, tune into your heart whispers and listen to their wisdom.
• And may you find this space, our meditation garden, a place to do so.
“The connections to this project continued to link Plymouth Village, the church, citrus and even UC Riverside. Charles W. Coggins, Jr. was a professor emeritus of plant physiology and known for groundbreaking citrus research that extended the growing season for citrus that is now a standard horticultural practice used not only on oranges and lemons in California, but throughout the United States and in most other citrus-producing countries of the world including Israel, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Morocco, Turkey, and Cuba. Before his groundbreaking discovery, citrus seasons would rotate with a full four months producing zero fruit at all. Now, citrus growers enjoy year-round production benefiting both the industry and those of us that love citrus.
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Worldwide Prayer Concerns
Last month marked the one year anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Under the rule of the resurgent Taliban leadership, living standards have declined precipitously for most Afghans. According to the International Rescue Committee, 97% of the entire population is expected to be living below the poverty line by the end of the year, with many families that once were able to support themselves now reliant on relief aid. High food prices mean that 90% of income is spent on food, and 43% of the country is eating only one meal a day. One woman shared that the only way she can feed her six children is by finding food in the garbage and brushing off the hair and dirt. Women are unable to work due to the Taliban’s rules, so families have less income.. Girls cannot go to school beyond sixth grade, which will deprive them of the chance to fully develop their potential. Pray for relief to get to the millions in Afghanistan who so desperately need it and for a change in leadership. Pray for God’s mercy on all the people in that country.
MISSION“But
Hebrews 10:32-33
Rescue.orgorg/clean-water-news-stories/clean-water-opens-doors-new-spiritual-life-ethiopiahttps://www.worldvision.
WorldVision.org
8 - Jonathan Peske
Ifyou have information to share about the persecuted church or news from the mission field, please share it with Jonathan Peske.
BuaFGEThiOPiahaniSTanRMa
Pray for our partnership with the Roberts school. Brang Ying shared with me in a recent email that he has been working with the students for more than two months now and the textbooks are really helpful. He rejoiced in a recent fishing trip that resulted in 40 lbs of fish, but also shared that there have been some explosions in his city. Thankfully he is ok, but please continue to pray for him and our other partners. Pray also that things can improve so that Ja Seng is able to return to Burma safely. The military government is showing no sign of backing down, since former democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced in August to six more years in prison on alleged corruption charges, on top of the eleven year sentence she is serving. Pray for justice and peace in Burma.
Last month I started to share the story of how life in an Ethiopian village had changed after World Vision began working there. You read about how before, girls had to travel for hours to fetch water for their families, and the water sometimes made them sick. Also, the schools were overwhelmed, with students crowded three to a desk. Now the story continues… In 2020, a team from World Vision drilled a borehole well, making the girls’ trip to obtain water a matter of minutes, instead of hours. This has made it so much easier for girls to go to school and have the energy to learn. In addition, World Vision built two blocks of eight classrooms, which lowered the class sizes down to about 25. World Vision also partnered with local churches to provide training and materials. There has been a tremendous response as more people are coming to church and learning about Jesus. The testimony of lives transformed by the gospel are leading formerly Muslim families to encourage their children to embrace Christianity. Praise God for this holistic expression of the Good News and for the fruit that it is bearing. I encourage you to read the whole story at:
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.”
First Baptist Church of Redlands has been providing support to Colegio Bautista of La Concepción, Nicaragua, since the year 2000 when a small group of Church members along with a couple of dentists from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry started an Annual Mission Trip that lasted about 20 years. This Mission work made an important change in the dental health for hundreds of Children attending the school. That work coordinated by Dr. Mark Carpenter and the Foundation for Worldwide Health was also done in collaboration with several Nicaraguan organizations including Mount Sinai Baptist Church and CEPAD. Our congregation continues to provide financial support for the education Ministry at Colegio Bautista in La Concepción. We are grateful for the churches commitment to bring care to beloved people in other parts of the world.
Teacher’sDay
Baptist School of La Concepción
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During the celebration of Teacher’s Day, Prof. Gilberto Aguirre, the founding president, was remembered. He passed away on June 18, 2020. The following week a Math fair was held also to honor him as he was a Physics and Math teacher at the beginning of his career. We are grateful to God for the vision that Prof. Aguirre had about providing education of quality to children and youth of La Concepción.
The first semester closed having received the 53 % of the income projected for the entire year and implementing 46 % of the expenses projected for the year. Seventy-seven percent of the income received was generated at the School from tuition and activities promoted by the staff and parents. Three percent was received from national offerings and twenty percent from international friends.
Presented by Gregg Sneller
Mercedes Ampié-Álvarez Principal
Earth Day
On July 21 the second semester started with 272 students the same number of the beginning of the year. Highlights from the first semester include: There are 21 students in kindergarten; 131 in primary or elementary school and 120 in secondary or high school. 228 out of the 272 students passed all their classes, which means 84 % of the total students. During the second semester, emphasis will be given to those students who presented difficulties, especially those in the secondary or high school.
Between semesters, the teachers were trained on different methodologies of teaching spelling and writing as well on strategies of didactics to keep up the School’s quality.
We trust in God that all goals will be met. Our gratitude to all who give offerings to the School. May God bless you all.
The following events were held during the first semester: Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Children’s Day, Father’s Day and Teacher’s Day. Children, youth and parents participated very happily in all of these special events. Our gratitude to the parents and staff for their efforts, preparations and the programs for these days.
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Decorating : A crew of people to plan and make decorations for the dinner. We will meet in September to plan.
Pre-Washing Dishes : We will need a crew of people to pre-wash the church dishes and silverware on Saturday morning, November 12 .
8 Connie Chambers
Submissions for the Tapestry should be sent to tapestry@fbcredlands.org by the 15th of each month.
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22 Abraham Nelson Carolyn Codd Don Forden Christina DeRoulhac Hillary Aguirre Michael O’Neal
29 William Jones Matthew Winter
9 Jeff Kirkpatrick
3 Tammy Herron
Setting Up : We will need a crew of people to set up the tables, chairs, and dishes for the dinner on Tuesday evening, November 15.
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Please contact Wendy Peske to help!
10 N EWS ha PPY S EPTEMBER B i RT h D aYS TO... FOR YO u R C a LE n D a R
hope by Carolyn Codd
3 Kathy Economen
4 Sabrina Chenevert
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Spring arrives. The gardener plants zinnia and marigold seeds; seedlings of pansies, petunias and other flowering plants. With a bit of care, in summer her small garden will be full of color for her and the bees and butterflies to enjoy.
1 Tim Lowe
4 Mark Carpenter
Save the Date for the a gape Dinner Wednesday, November 16 at 5:30pm Fellowship Hall
Cleaning Up : We will need a crew of people to help clear the tables and wash the dishes on Wednesday, November 16 7:00pm ish to 9:00pm.
In the well-planted vegetable patch, tomato, pepper and cucumber plants will be offering up the makings of refreshing salads and savory sauces. The squash, pumpkins and chrysanthemums wait ‘til autumn to do their thing; and the gardener plants bulbs of crocuses and Eventually,daffodils.
This annual dinner is a time for the church family and friends to gather to remember God’s goodness and love in our lives.
the garden fades. Winter sets in. There will be cold, dark days; blustery days of sun and blizzardsclouds,andsnow shovelling to endure. But through it all, the gardener will be there, anticipating the revival of spring.
Welcoming and Serving : We will need a crew of people to assist with welcoming people and serving dinner on Wednesday, November 16 5:00pm to 7:00pm ish.
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h elp n eeded for the a gape Dinner!
15 Patricia David Vicky Miller
Tickets will be sold from October 23 to November 9 .
2022SEPTEMBER Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
11 in-person:Worshipa.m.10:15 LivestreamedandSanctuary SundayOffKicka.m.9:00 Celebration in-person:Worshipa.m.10:15 LivestreamedandSanctuary SchoolSundaya.m.9:00 Classes in-person:Worshipa.m.10:15 LivestreamedandSanctuary SchoolSundaya.m.9:00 Classes in-person:Worshipa.m.10:15 LivestreamedandSanctuary
theforWalkinga.m.7 ItofHealth CouncilExecutivep.m.7MeetingsCommissionp.m.7 Gatheringsp.m.5:30 Dinnerp.m.6:30 PracticeChoirp.m.7:15 Gatheringsp.m.5:30 Dinnerp.m.6:30 PracticeChoirp.m.7:15 Gatheringsp.m.5:30 Dinnerp.m.6:30 PracticeChoirp.m.7:15 theforWalkinga.m.7 ItofHealththeforWalkinga.m.7 ItofHealth
27 WorkersforPray 26 theforPray Broken-hearted 28 FairnessforPray 25 theforPray ChoirWorship 22 EthiopiaforPray 21 RefugeesforPray 29 ConfidenceforPray 30 SafetyforPray 23 theforPray Homeless 24 forPray MissionariesInternational 20 WearytheforPray 17 forPray FamilyClemmerthe 18 TeamAVforPray 19 TrustforPray 16 PositivityforPray 15 InmatesforPray 6 forPray FamiliesFoster 14 theforPray Displaced 5 thoseforPray depressionwithdealing 7 BurmaforPray 8 forPray Respectfulness 9 StudentsforPray NeedsSpecialwith 10 AfghanistanforPray 11 theforPray StaffPastoral 12 HopeforPray 13 forPray MeetingsCommission 4 MissionariesforPray 3 NonbelieversforPray 2 SerenityforPray 1 ofStudentsforPray AgesAll OutreachLocalp.m.7 (zoom)Commission theforWalkinga.m.7 ItofHealth
The First Baptist Church of Redlands 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands CA 92373-5243 909-793-3289 www. fbcredlands.org
fall Kic K off September 11 9 a.m. • Fellowship and Refreshments • Introduction to children and youth classes • Information about adult connection and grow opportunites
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