March 2024 Tapestry

The First Baptist Church of Redlands

TAPESTRY

Woven together in Love: Colossians 2:2

mar 2024 Issue No. 3

What Does Jesus See – In the Wilderness

At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him. (Mark 1:12-13)

We are in the middle of the season of Lent. I feel led to reflect a bit about being in the wilderness. The season of Lent is structured around Jesus being in the wilderness for 40 days. Lent is 40 days (if you don’t count Sundays). The passage in Mark doesn’t give us a lot of details about Jesus’s time in the wilderness, and yet it is interesting what details are there. I like the brevity of it as it invites me to imagine what it was like for Jesus in the wilderness.

I wonder if Jesus considered his losses during those lonely days in the wilderness. Did he think about those people who were dear to him that had already passed away? Or the people that he would like to spend more time with, but his calling did not allow it? I wonder if he ever got tired of having people who didn’t like him?

I wonder if he found joy in watching the animals around him about their daily doings. Was he picturing a scene from his time in the wilderness when, later, he talked about “the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Did he sit and laugh out loud at the antics of squirrels chasing one another up and down a tree? Did the wonder of nature around him nourish him?

I wonder if in the quietness of the wilderness, or maybe in the midst of a thunderstorm, Jesus contemplated whether or not he was cut out for the work ahead of him. Did he think about what a normal life would look like? Did he wonder if he would be strong when he needed to be? Did he wonder if his friends would be able to make the journey with him?

I wonder, in the midst of the storm or in the quietness of the morning when the sun reflected off the wet plants and rocks around him, what the angels said or did that brought Jesus comfort or encouragement. Did they become familiar voices that he would sense even when he left the wilderness? Did they remind him that he was not alone?

I wonder if it was hard for Jesus to leave the wilderness when it was time. I wonder if Jesus would reflect on his time in the wilderness in the busyness of his ministry.

May we find in this time of Lent, a challenging, yet nourishing, time in the wilderness, which brings new focus to who we are and Whose we are. May we find healing and wonder that will bring clarity to the life God is calling us to live. May we be reminded of our time in the wilderness in the busyness of our days.

Grace and peace to you, in Jesus,

Pastor Shawn

Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows Senior Pastor shawn@fbcredlands.org

Glenn Molina Associate Pastor of Arts in Worship and Community Life glenn@fbcredlands.org

Rev. Karen Mazzeo Interim Pastor of Children’s Ministries karin@fbcredlands.org

Angel Florence Church Administrator angel@fbcredlands.org

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 www. fbcredlands.org

Sally Rehfeldt Organist playitbach@verizon.net

Jennifer Winter Communications Specialist jennifer@fbcredlands.org

Rhiannon Fisher Youth Director youth@fbcredlands.org

Jared Sumners Intern for Young Adult Ministry jared@fbcredlands.org

Saul Cruz Senior Maintenance/Custodian

GROWTH IN WORSHIP ARTS

The ability to lead worship for church is both a gift and privilege granted by God. However, as most singers and instrumentalists know, musicianship is a craft that can always use opportunities to grow and strengthen in knowledge and technique. In early February, a group of eight people from our worship band were able to attend the Angeles Worship Summit, an all-day conference hosted by Azusa Pacific University. Worship team members from around southern California gathered for a time of fellowship, workshops, networking, and teambuilding. The conference had numerous breakout sessions related to vocal training, tips for instrumentalists, training for audio and visual media, and strategies for worship leaders/ pastors. Here are some reflections from some of our worship band members…

MARTIN KAMEYA: “I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to attend the Worship Summit this year. Through this Worship Summit, I was able to participate in a vocal workshop where vocal assessments were performed on select individuals. I personally did not know much about head/chest voice and the blend that exists between the two. It was amazing to see that demonstrated through various individuals. Now, I am very conscious of these two types of voices and able to tell what kind of voice a particular song would require for me and intentionally practice for it, specifically the head voice. I will definitely go back next year.”

WILT KISHIMOTO: “In the first of my two sessions at the Worship Summit we discussed how the rhythm section can work together to create a balanced experience. In the tech session we learned how visuals and sound design can enhance the worship experience for those in person and online. Overall, it was a great experience connecting with worship teams from throughout Southern California!”

LISA OLSON: “I’ve been singing on worship teams for decades and have never had any formal ‘continuing education’, so I greatly appreciated this opportunity. I learned a variety of ways to relax the muscles in my throat and jaw while singing. I think it will prevent my voice from getting tired while singing but also improve the quality of the sound.”

This was the second year that worship team members from FBCR were able to attend. During the summit, our group of eight had an impromptu brainstorming and reflection session where we explored other ways to further enrich our weekly worship services. Many of the things we learned and discussed have already begun to be put into practice. We are grateful to the Worship Commission for arranging for our group to participate in this training event, and we look forward to continuing to explore ways to curate and lead worship services in ways that continue to bring honor to God and help our church family to draw close to the Grace and love of our wonderful Lord and Savior!

Worship Leader Tanya Decuir leads the conference in energetic worship and praise.

Vivi Molina receives some valuable vocal tips from professional singer and APU professor Aretha Scruggs

Soli Deo Gloria. Glenn

Welcome to our Church Staff

It is with great pleasure that we want to make sure that you know about the additions to our church staff over the past couple of months. Please join us in making sure that they feel welcome and supported as they serve our church in these areas of ministry.

JENNIFER WINTER has been serving as the Interim Communications Specialist since the beginning of November 2023. She worked hard to help get us through Advent, Christmas, and the Annual Meeting, along with the usual Tapestry and Sunday Bulletin. We were excited that she said YES when we asked her to take the position permanently!

The REV. KARIN MAZZEO joined our staff in the middle of January as the Interim Pastor of Children’s Ministries. She comes to this part-time position with 18 years of experience in the areas of children, youth, administrative and spiritual formation ministries at Church on the Hill (formerly First Baptist Church of Riverside). She is currently an academic advisor at California Baptist University.

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

ALGERIA

OpenDoors.org

Open Doors requests prayer for Christians in Algeria, where the government has been closing church buildings and threatening church leaders with prosecution if their church did not stop gathering. Whereas there had been 47 churches that were part of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Algeria, now there are only 4. The laws in Algeria prohibit doing anything that would “shake the faith of a Muslim.” The vagueness of this wording is used to target Christians and pressure them into being silent about their faith. Pray that Christians in Algeria would find communities of other believers who can encourage them in their faith. Pray for a future where Christians can worship freely and do not face persecution for following Jesus.

KASHMIR REGION

Voice of the Martyrs

The Voice of the Martyrs recently wrote about the church in Kashmir, which is a disputed region of India that borders neighboring Pakistan. They talked with Ahmed, who came to faith in Christ after a pastor visited him when he was in the hospital. He began believing in Jesus and experienced physical healing, which gave him the confidence to completely rely on Christ. He became an evangelist and traveled throughout the region, despite experiencing death threats and violent beatings. He has had to move his family 185 times in the past two decades, but believes God is calling him to plant house churches in each of Kashmir’s 10 districts. So far, there are churches in four of the districts, and he is determined to keep working to spread the gospel. Pray for the work of Ahmed and other fearless believers like him who are willing to share about Jesus even if it may mean that they are killed. Pray for Christ’s love to shine into all parts of Kashmir and draw people to His light.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ABC International Ministries

Please pray for Ketly and Vital Pierre, our global servants in the Dominican Republic. The past six months have been full of loss, as Ketly’s mom, Vital’s stepmother, and their dear mission colleague Madeline Flores-Lopez all have passed on to be with Jesus. Despite all of these events, they have experienced God’s peace and comfort, and have been able to extend that to others as well. Pray also for their ministry to Haitians in the Dominican Republic. In her words, “Please keep praying…that God will help us proceed with hope in the midst of despair.”

If you have information to share about the persecuted church or newsfromthemissionfield,pleaseshareitwithJonathanPeske

Community Art Installation & Exhibition

Submissions accepted through March 18

Exhibit open week of March 24-31 (times TBD)

We are inviting individuals in both our own church family and among the local population to submit artistic presentations that connect with the theme, “What Does Jesus See?” That question might sound a bit broad and abstract for some, and it is answered in different ways for different people, but we ask that people feel free to interpret and answer that question in a multitude of ways: through paintings, sketchings, sculpture, photography, or other types of visual media. We will gather submissions and display them in an exhibition in our Chapel that will be on display on Palm Sunday and throughout Holy Week for the church and the community at large, and will be integrated into our worship throughout the week.

Submissions will be collected throughout Lent through Monday, March 18 to be included in our exhibit. Please email fbcrworshiparts@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Register for free using THIS LINK :

https://forms.gle/Kicx7KVXg3Bm5XQY7

2nd Annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival

Friday, March 22

Saturday, March 23

Members of the community are invited to join our church family in creating a chalk art mosaic along the sidewalks that border our church on Olive Avenue and Cajon Street. All are invited to contribute, regardless of your level of art skills! We will have chalk available, though you are welcome to bring your own chalk supplies as well. Please email fbcrworshiparts@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Register for free using THIS LINK:

https://forms.gle/nZrqUvrU2TRwUR7k9

Easter Sunday Children’s Schedule

Junior Disciples (3rd-5th grade)/

Youth Easter Egg Hunt

9:00 am

Toddlers/God’s Kids (K-2nd grade)

After 10:15 Worship Service

Easter Egg Candy Donations

Christian Ed Commission is looking for candy and other fun (non-candy) items for our annual FBCR Children’s Easter Egg Hunt. Items do NOT need to fit into an Easter egg. Please make sure candy is nutfree. There will be a basket in the Narthex for your candy donations.

FBCR Youth Fundraiser to Iona Abbey in Scotland 12:00 PM, MARCH 3RD, 2024

FBCR FELLOWSHIP HALL

Come join us for a “baked potato bar” lunch provided and prepared by the Youth at no cost. Here they will share about their upcoming spiritually focused trip to Scotland and Iona Abbey this July. During lunch, there will be additional opportunities for guests to provide donations that will help our youth experience the Iona community.

Donations can also be made online by scanning the QR Code

A Lenten Book Discussion

Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free by Linda Kay Klein

Monday Nights 7:00-9:00 PM

First Baptist Church of Redlands, Lounge

Facilitated by Holly Morrell, Bethany Kronberg, and Sunny Hyon within our Lenten theme of, “What Does Jesus See?”

Christian author Brian McClaren says this about Pure: “More and more young adults are speaking openly about the harm done to them by churches that treated sex as if it were an illicit drug. When ‘Just say no’ was their only message, and the language of purity was their main ethical category, deep and lasting personal damage were inevitable. That’s why Linda Kay Klein’s new book is so important. It pulls back the covers on ‘purity culture’ and the harm it has done to a whole generation.”

Additional reviews of the book can be found here: https://lindakayklein.com/pure/#reviews

The book can be purchased at various online book retailers.

Enchanté

I was sitting next to her.

She seemed to look at me in a curious way. So, I smiled at her.

She smiled back joyfully.

We smiled and almost laughed together. She reached out her hands towards me.

I reached out one hand to her.

Her little fingers encircled one of mine. She was six months old. I was enchanted.

Carolyn Codd

(On an encounter with Blair Lucille Hansen)

February 28, 1931-February 18, 2024 Volunteers Needed!!!!

Worship Commission is looking for volunteers to help with decorating the church for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. If you can help Saturday March 23rd at 1pm to decorate for Palm Sunday AND/OR Saturday, March 30th for Easter Sunday it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Jennifer Winter.

Thank you,

Worship Commission

The Flower Calendar is starting back up!

Are you interested in purchasing a flower arrangement for Sunday Worship Service?

Please sign up in the church office on the flower calendar. Flower arrangements are $75. Checks are made out to the church, and you can place them in the offering plate. Contact Angel in the office if you have any questions.

In Memory of Lloyd Howard

Celebration of Life Lloyd Howard

Saturday, March 16th

10 a.m., Church Sanctuary

Anne

18 Tom Kirkpatrick

March 27 - Chicken and cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice and refried beans, salad, with lemon cake for dessert. 1 Zelda Sumners

Ellie Huynh

Sarah Whitley Mary Wolfe

Daniel Reade 20 Dorothy Somers

Joseph Peske 22 Shelby Caballero

Marion Jensen 25 Lily Applebee 26 Wendy Peske 28 Shannon Pleiss 29 Andrea Zureick 31 Cheryl Sneller

March 6 - Meat and Veggie Lasagna, garlic bread, salad, with brownies for dessert.

March 13 - Tamale pie, Spanish rice, fresh fruit, with pineapple upside down cake for dessert.

March 20 - Oven fried chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, biscuits, with berry cobbler for dessert.

Lillian Peske

Ashley Hansen

Don Craw

Aaron Zureick

We meet on the first Tuesday of the month from 11:30am to 1:00pm downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a salad to share with 6-8 people. No reservations required. If you have food allergies or challenges, please feel free to bring your own lunch and come join us at the tables for lunch and wonderful conversation.

Here are the upcoming dates for the next four months:

March 5, 2024

April 2, 2024

May 7, 2024

June 4, 2024

Questions? We have answers! Please talk with Anne Sandel, Barbara Ford, or Caroline Ray.

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