2023 February Tapestry

The First Baptist Church of Redlands

TAPESTRY

From Epiphany to Lent

A Message from Pastor Shawn

For much of January we have been in the season of Epiphany. As we have explored the passages of scripture describing various encounters with Jesus, we are discovering more and more about who Jesus is and the Kingdom he has initiated with his coming. As February continues, we will find out more about this Kingdom of Heaven in the sermon that we have in Matthew, which is referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount.”

By the end of February we will enter into the season of Lent, which will culminate in Holy Week and Easter. During the season of Lent we will be guided in our discovery of Jesus by the book, Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence, by Diana Butler Bass. We will begin with an Ash Wednesday service designed and led by our youth. At the end of March we will actually have a Zoom gathering with Diana Butler Bass, who will discuss her book, but also answer questions.

We will begin Holy Week by providing a very special event for our church and our community: a sidewalk chalk festival! We will invite people of all ages in the church and community to share their imaginations by creating art on the sidewalks all around our church. We will do this on “Palm Saturday!” More information will be coming soon about this event, but put it on your calendar now! We will have a Maundy Thursday service at our church and we will partner with our neighboring churches once again for our Good Friday Service.

There are many other events and activities we are looking forward to this year! We are returning to Catalina Island for our All-church Family Retreat, June 10-12. At the end of June we will be taking a group from our church to the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit, to be held in Puerto Rico. The group will attend the Convention and then stay to participate in a service project before coming home.

In July we will be partnering with First Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church of Redlands in a Vacation Bible School. Last year several of our families joined in and enjoyed the experience and so this year we will make it an “official” partnership!

Keep an eye out for more information on all of these events and activities! In the meantime, continue to keep our church in prayer as we work to provide “connect-grow-serve” opportunities for our church family, as well as make an impact in the community and world as we share the Good News Jesus came to bring. Let us continue in the long tradition of our church to make a difference in people’s lives as we follow Jesus. As we were in the past, may we be innovative and open to the leading of God’s Spirit, looking for new and effective ways to make a difference in the world.

From Epiphany to Lent…and beyond!

Grace and peace in Christ, Pastor Shawn

Jesus said, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15 CEB

COVER

1 A Message from Pastor Shawn: “From Epiphany to Lent”

2 Staff and Contents

MINISTRY

3 Glenn Molina: “Gotcha”

4 Sara Tharpe: “Children’s and Youth Ministries”

MISSION

6 Kay Kallander and Tom Kirkpatrick: “NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness”

8 Worldwide Prayer Concerns: India, Zambia, Nicaragua

FELLOWSHIP

9 Dianne Creech: “Heritage Room“

NEWS

10 Church News

11 February 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

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.

Sally Rehfeldt Organist

Isa Terrell Communications Specialist

Rhiannon Fisher Youth Director

Abby Kishimoto

Children’s Ministry Associate

Jared Sumners Intern for Young Adult Ministry

Office Hours

by Glenn Molina Gotcha

In our family, the first day of February is a very special occasion that we celebrate every year. This was the day when, in 2010, Olivia (Vivi) and Jacob first joined us in our home as foster children. Many families who have gone through the adoption process remember this event as “Gotcha Day”, the day when new family units are created. From the very beginning of our relationship, Shanti and I had always considered adoption as a viable option for starting a family together, knowing of the great need for the thousands upon thousands of children in the foster system who never end up finding permanent, adoptive parents. Our desire was to help make a difference in the life of a child who desperately needed love and stability, (Little did we know, back in late January of 2010, that we would get a “two-for-one deal” when a sibling pair of munchkins were in need of a home!) Yet we did not anticipate how much my wife and I would be transformed and healed by Vivi and Jacob’s constant presence and love in our lives. We received far more in blessings than we feel we have given.

It sounds like a perfect Hollywood ending, yes? Well, the realities of adoption–at least in our case–were much more complex. While going through foster parent training, our foster agency made sure that we were keenly aware of the immense loss that children experience in the foster system. Children being torn away from their birth parent(s), even when the circumstances demand it, is a devastating experience that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. Even if their eventual “forever” home is nurturing and safe, the memories and effects of that loss should never be overlooked. Vivi and Jacob had just turned three and two years old on Gotcha Day in 2010, and we still see how the trauma related to their transition from one family to another is inseparably woven into their development and personalities. Shanti and I still remember to factor in all of this as we struggle to be the best parents that we can be.

It’s been just over half a year since beginning my time here at First Baptist Church of Redlands. My own emotional state last June was one of many layers. On one hand, there was immense joy to be back in church ministry, and the deep gratitude that our family had finally found a faith community to join. We had never really settled into a permanent church home after moving from the Pasadena area almost five years ago, and being welcomed and embraced by the FBCR community was a true answer to prayer.

But I was also experiencing the pain of having left my former job and ministry, teaching middle school students. The sadness of leaving behind students that I loved was compounded with my dissatisfaction with a working environment that had become more challenging and conflicting with my own values and philosophy. (If you see me sticking my head in BYF meetings from time to time, you can now know that I still enjoy connecting with youth!)

Of course, this is all from MY own perspective and point of view. The church’s search to fill the new Assistant Pastor positions was a long process–perhaps much longer than preferred before Pastor Sara and I were finally called to serve. In times of transition and waiting, it can be very difficult to have to wait in anticipation for “what comes next”. In six months’ time, I have had conversations with many people in the congregation about their hopes and dreams of where they hope FBCR will go as we move into the future.

My own experience from the adoption process has helped me to see that our “Gotcha Day” is not onesided, as if it was the day that Shanti and I got the kids, or when Vivi and Jacob got new parents, It’s the day that we got each other. We have forged a life together, with a LOT of bumps and challenges along the way. Thirteen years later, and we are still trying to work on a plethora of issues. Similarly, my prayer is that we can continue into 2023–and onward–together. A church family isn’t very different than a genetic (or adopted!) family: it is filled with different perspectives, different opinions, different personality types. Perhaps every idea that comes to the table about how to move forward as a church cannot be executed. Perhaps NONE of our ideas about the future may come to fruition, and God has something exciting and challenging in store for us instead. But if we can look to the future with mutual respect for one another, compassion regarding our own separate journeys that led us to First Baptist, and remembering our common bonds through the Grace of Christ, I believe the Holy Spirit will stir our hearts and minds to make a true difference in our own church family and the community around us.

Soli Deo Gloria (“Glory to God Alone”), Pastor Glenn

Children’s and Youth Ministries

by Sara Swift Tharpe

Special Events

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 22nd 5:30 p.m.

Please make plans to join us as we begin this year’s Lenten journey to Easter.

Our youth will be leading us in worship on this special evening.

Kids Night In (aka Parents Night Out)

Coming in March

Children are invited to come to church for dinner, games, and fun with friends!

… and we’re going to send the parents away … shhh …

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Sunday Worship Volunteers

Please join us on Sunday, February 5th @ 11:45am in the JD classroom to explore alternate worship opportunities for 3rd-5th graders. We are hoping to begin inviting children out of worship during the sermon time twice per month and we need your help to make this happen!

BYF Lunch Volunteers

Please consider providing lunch for our hungry youth at BYF on Sunday afternoons. We will gratefully welcome all food - home-cooked, take-out or otherwise! See Rhiannon for available dates.

Children’s Ministry Visioning Group

Are you interested in being a part of a small, short-term working group to carefully consider the overall Children’s Ministry? Join us as we consider and explore the possibilities for our children.

Training for All Children and Youth Volunteer

If you help with children and/or youth in any capacity, please plan to join us for a special training meeting in late February. We will be discussing church safety protocols, 1st Aid/CPR training, and Livescan Screening for all volunteers.

Vacation Bible School 2023

We have a date! Mark your calendars for this special week, July 10-14, 2023! More information will be coming soon about this summer’s VBS with the Redlands First United Methodist Church!

Please contact Pastor Sara at sara@fbcredlands.org or 336-354-8194 to volunteer or to learn more about these opportunities.

Here are our God’s Kids acting out the Baptism of Jesus. Look at the group photo and then see if you can find the wardrobe changes in the individual photos below. These changes mirror the changes of hearts and lives after deciding to follow God. Let us know what you find!

Gregory Gifts

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

by Kay Kallander

As we continue sharing about the Gregory Grant Gifts, a topic that was clearly of concern in the focus groups was mental health/illness.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness would like to thank the First Baptist Church of Redlands for their generous donation given through the Gregory Legacy Grant. The San Bernardino affiliate received $8,600 to help support its programs:

Our local NAMI chapter is working to establish an Emotional Support Line that would provide support and resources for anyone who calls needing emotional support and connection. This type of support line offers intervention before things reach a “crisis” stage for someone with mental illness. Someone experiencing anxiety, depression, or loneliness can call and talk with a trained volunteer who understands their situation and can direct the caller to additional local resources if appropriate. This money was made available to purchase the hardware and software needed to make this support line possible.

Thank you to Tom Kirkpatrick for his dedication to this topic and the information about NAMI below.

If you or a person you know are in need of support, please see the ways to contact NAMI at the bottom of the next page.

Who We Are –

NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Vision Statement –

NAMI envisions a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.

Mission Statement –

NAMI provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives

Values:

HOPE We believe in the possibility of recovery, wellness and the potential in all of us.

INCLUSION We embrace diverse backgrounds, cultures and perspectives.

EMPOWERMENT We promote confidence, self-efficacy and service to our mission.

COMPASSION We practice respect, kindness and empathy.

FAIRNESS We fight for equity and justice.

What We Do:

We Educate Offered in thousands of communities across the United States, our education programs ensure hundreds of thousands of individuals, families and educators get the support and information they need.

We Advocate NAMI shapes national public policy for people with mental illness and their families and provides volunteer leaders with tools, resources and skills.

We Lead NAMI leads public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week and NAMIWalks. We successfully fight stigma and encourage understanding.

We Listen Our national toll-free NAMI HelpLine provides free referrals, information and support, a much-needed lifeline for many: 800-950-NAMI (6264)

• Main: 703-524-7600

I National website: www.nami.org

• San Bernardino affiliate website: www.namisb.org

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

RealClearPolitics.com

Pray for the Catholic Church in Nicaragua which is facing a worrisome trend of restrictions and repression from the government of President Daniel Ortega. Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who has protested the government’s silencing of political opponents and limiting of civil rights, was arrested and jailed in August. In the past year there have been about a dozen other priests who have also been arrested. In March 2022, the Vatican’s diplomatic envoy to Nicaragua was expelled and over the summer a number of Catholic television and radio stations were shut down. In December, a procession that was planned to celebrate the Immaculate Conception was canceled by the National Police. Many of these crackdowns are part of a larger effort by the government to limit dissent towards President Ortega’s regime. The US State Department has recognized Nicaragua as a violator of religious freedom. Pray for all Christians in Nicaragua to be able to worship freely and work for justice without being arrested. Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would be ministering to those in prison, filling them with hope and peace despite their situation.

NICArAGuA AfGhANIStAN

Redlands Daily Facts/ Associated Press

Pray for Afghanistan as the decisions of the Taliban led government continue to cause harm. Following up on prior orders that denied women the ability to go to school or work professionally, an edict issued in December prohibits aid groups from employing women. This has caused an estimated 85% of the aid organizations to suspend work in a country where 97% of the population is either at risk of, or already living in poverty. Without female workers, it is impossible for aid organizations to help women, since the Taliban’s strict rules also prohibit contact between unrelated men and women. Pray for the leaders in Afghanistan to see the harm their decisions are causing and repent. Pray for all who are suffering as a result of these decisions. Pray for a solution to be found so that help for women and children in need can resume.

BOlIVIA

www.InternationalMinistries.org

Pray for the House of Hope in Cochabamba as they seek to raise $20K to purchase supplies for their medical and dental clinics. They partner with local doctors and dentists to bring monthly mobile clinics that serve vulnerable populations, and treat about 500 people per year. In addition to providing care, they do preventative screening and provide instruction in dental hygiene and nutrition while patients wait to be seen by the doctor. Many of these patients are children. Pray for this ministry to successfully help those in need and build relationships between the House of Hope and those who partner with them.

- Jonathan Peske

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

heritage room

by Dianne Creech

2022 - What a very unique and different year for all of us. The Heritage Room has been a place to appreciate, reflect, go back in time and still move forward.

Many church families have given the Heritage Room photos, newspaper articles and things associated with the past. When you find something at home which has been part of FBCR, please don’t throw it out. The item may be an old ushers name badge or an old newsletter from 50 years ago. The Heritage Room would like to have these items. We keep files on “Orders of Service” for many events such as memorial services, weddings and events in the community where FBCR members participate.

Family files have been established on members in the past as well as current members. We also have membership cards going back to the early 1920’s. If you would like to check on a former member, please ask me and I will try to find information.

Field Hall has beautiful art work hanging on walls that were painted by past FBCR members. Judson Hall has a stained glass window hanging on the east wall. This stained glass piece was from the sanctuary building prior to our current 1952 building. Also, the 1952 Sanctuary building and the 1926 Education building have some original furniture still being used today.

Would you like to have a FBCR History book published for our centennial? We have copies for sale. We just celebrated our 135th Anniversary with a combined service with Second Baptist Church for their 130th Anniversary. Our history of combined services goes back for many years. On our day of anniversary celebration a display of awards presented to FBCR was set up in the narthex. Over the years many awards have been presented to FBCR for many reasons. All of these awards are in the Heritage Room with the most recent being awarded by Family Service of Redlands.

When you come to church on Sundays or for mid-week dinner and study, look at the room were you are seated. Notice the woodwork, the stained glass windows, the furniture and crosses. How long have these items been in these rooms? Heritage wise, who were the people who gave these items and what did they sacrifice so that we can enjoy our place of worship?

If you have questions or want to talk with me regarding our church family and facility, please get in touch. FBCR is a very special place for all of us.

h APPY fEB ru A rY BI rth DAYS t O...

1 Robert Hayden

2 Ron Kallander

2 Matthew Meelker

3 Victoria Hansen

4 Karen Olson

6 Colby Estey

6 Joshua Morgan

7 Kathleen Alexander

8 Joseph Allen

9 John Baker

10 Winter Martin

11 Matt Applebee

13 Berva Smith

14 Danielle Daniels

17 Kaye Espinosa

18 Elizabeth Laine

20 Neely Estey

22 Walker Price III

23 Tuesday Martin

28 Lloyd Howard

W EDNESDAY D INNE r M EN u

February 1

Parmesan Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Veggies; Assorted Brownies for dessert.

February 8

Spaghetti with meat and marinara sauce, Garlic Bread, Salad; Pistachio Cake for dessert.

February 15

Chicken Enchiladas, Refried Beans and Spanish Rice; Banana Pudding for dessert.

February 22

Barbeque Chicken, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw; Cookies for dessert.

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

SMAll GrOuPS

We want to start community groups at FBCR and we need your help!

One of the most important things we’ve all learned since Covid is the importance of community and so we thought a cool way to connect and grow together would be to start some small groups, so we’re asking for your input! We are considering more permanent groups that would meet weekly or monthly, as well as some short-term groups. People could meet in person, online, or a combination. Whatever works! For example, we are considering having an LGBTQ+ support group/ bible study that would be more long-term, and then a six-week bible study on a specific book or subject, like Revelation or the Psalms, that would be more short-term.

If you’re interested in participating in these groups in any way, please think about the following questions:

1. Is there a need you see in our community that could be filled by a small group/club/ bible study?

2. Would you be willing to lead a group or help with planning?

3. Would your group be a long-term or shortterm thing?

If you’re interested please send an email to sara@fbcredlands.org. Sending an email isn’t a guarantee that a group will get formed, we are just trying to gauge interest at this time, but please send us any idea you have that you think would benefit our community, whether that be Bible study or a baking club or anything in between!

There will be more opportunities for your input in the near future.

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