Volume 32
April 2019
No. 4
NEWS & VIEWS OF WILLIAMS Church Phone: (256) 435-5020 Church Email: fbcwilliams@cableone.net
Daycare Phone: (256) 435-8313 Church Website: fbcwilliams.org
"The resurrection of Jesus was simply God's unwillingness to take our 'no' for an answer. He raised Jesus, not as an invitation to us to come to heaven when we die, but as a declaration that he himself has now established permanent, eternal residence here on earth. He is standing beside us, strengthening us in this life. The good news of the resurrection of Jesus is not that we shall die and go home to be with him, but that he has risen and comes home with us, bringing all his hungry, naked, thirsty, sick prisoner brothers with him." ~ Clarence Jordan
The words above are easily among my favorite from Clarence Jordan (a man whose work and words continually shape and influence my understanding of “the God Movement” Jesus began). I reflect on those words every Easter, and I ask myself, “What does it mean for Jesus to be alive, to ‘come home with us’?” After all, Easter is more than a date on the calendar determined by “the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox.” Easter, the resurrection of Christ, is more than a singular event that we are simply called to acknowledge like any other holiday on our calendars—it is the powerful truth of God’s limitless love that can even overcome the grave and the power of death itself! That ought to do something to us! A few weeks ago, I was listening to a theologian speaking to a group of folks gathered in a small theatre. Apparently, this theologian had been accused of denying the resurrection of Jesus and someone in the crowd asked him if it was true, had he really denied the resurrection of Jesus? The question obviously disturbed the theologian, so he ran his hands through his hair, paced up and down the stage, and then he spoke. He said, “I’m going to set the record straight right now about whether or not I have denied the resurrection of Jesus. Yes, I have denied the resurrection of Jesus; everyone who knows me knows I deny the resurrection. Every time I do not serve my neighbor, every time I walk away from people who are poor. I deny the resurrection every time I participate in an unjust system. And I affirm the resurrection every now and again when I stand up for those who are on their knees, and I affirm the resurrection when I cry out for those who do not have a voice, when I weep for those people who have no more tears to shed…” I heard another preacher say one time, “Jesus could have been raised one thousand times from the dead, but if it doesn’t change you, it doesn’t matter a lick.” We could celebrate Jesus’ resurrection every Sunday, we could recite creeds affirming our belief in the actual event of Jesus’ resurrection, but if it doesn’t change us, if it doesn’t call us to love our neighbor with the love of Christ, does it matter? How will you affirm the resurrection of Christ this Easter and every day hereafter? Grace and Peace, Chris
Ministry & Missions Budget Needs Monthly $ 26,006.68 Year to Date $ 78,020.04
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY SCHEDULE NURSERY HELPERS
Receipts $ 20,725.00 $ 59,947.00
TOTALS ARE THROUGH 03/24/2019
“A special thank you to each and every one of you for your monetary support and hard work that enables First Baptist Church of Williams to touch lives by sharing the love of Jesus”. ~Finance Committee
COUNTING COMMITTEE FOR APRIL
Apr 7 Apr 17 Apr 21 Apr 28
Nursery helpers will assist one of our regular nursery workers each Sunday morning for Sunday School and Worship. Our regular nursery workers are: Terri Harris and Sharon Williams. Nursery Helpers if you need to reschedule your day to work, please contact Nikki Haynes. ======================
Jeanie Floyd & Diane Freeman
3 & 4-YEAR OLD HELPERS
GREETERS & USHERS FOR APRIL Thomas Downing, Stacy, Hattie & Callie Ewing
Apr 7 Apr 14 Apr 21 Apr 28
JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTER
CHILDREN’S CHURCH Apr 7 Apr 14 Apr 21 Apr 28
QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING
Nikki Haynes Kate Hamby & Sharhonda Duncan Nikki Haynes & Tyler Teal IN CHURCH ======================
ADULT GAME NIGHT: Bring your favorite snack foods and join us on April 4th for our game night. This will be the only date we will meet in April due to Holy Week.
Our Quarterly Business Meeting reviewing the 1st Quarter finances for 2019 will be held next Wednesday, April 10 th immediately following supper. ================================================
Callie McFall & Maggie Hedgepath Sharon Williams Sallie Thomas Cailynn & Abbi Steele ======================
Our church is scheduled to provide the following items to the J.C.O.C. for the month of April: Dry Beans, Macaroni & Cheese, Jello and Soap. Please take your donated items DIRECTLY TO the JCOC located just behind McDonalds.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday Sunday School 9:00 am Morning Worship 10:00 am Choir Practice 4:00 pm Tuesday Bible Study 10:00 am Wednesday Supper 5:30 pm Devotion 6:00 pm
Jamie Davis Bonnie Johnson Lori McFall Beverly Almaroad
CHILDREN’S STORY Apr 7 Apr 14 Apr 21 Apr 28
Nikki Haynes Lynnelle Barker Jason Teal Kate Hamby
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER We begin serving at 5:30pm. Cost is $5 per person (age 6 & up), $2 per child (age 2-5) and no more than $20 per family. April
3
Bill Prickett Team Taco Salad, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice and Dessert
April 10
Patsy Boozer Team Baked Ham, Au Gratin Potatoes, Salad, Roll & Dessert
April 17
NO SUPPER – HOLY WEEK
April 24
Sarah Ann McGinnis Team Hamburgers, Hotdogs, French Fries and Dessert FOOD PANTRY
Our food pantry distribution for April will be held on Friday, April 26th beginning at 3:00pm.
April 2019
FBC WILLIAMS ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
Wednesday
2
3
10:00 AM BIBLE STUDY Happy Birthday Charlie Whitaker
7
8 Happy Birthday Ashley Barker
9
Happy Birthday Jerry Green & Jannie Thomason
Thursday
4 5:30 PM Supper
Happy Birthday Brent Thomas
Saturday
5
6
6:00 PM Adult Get-together
6:00 PM Devotion, Children & Youth Activities
10
10:00 AM BIBLE STUDY
Friday
Happy Birthday Caroline Whitaker
11
12
13
18
19
20
5:30 PM Supper 6:00 PM Devotion, Children & Y outh Activities 6:00 PM Qtrly Business Mtg Happy Birthday Emily Duncan, Kenny Duncan & Sarah Thomason
14
15
16
17
CMC RESERVED-Edwards
10:00 AM BIBLE STUDY
6:00 PM Easter Egg Hunt
Happy Birthday Frances Higginbotham
Happy Birthday Kenny Freeman & LeAnne Hamby
NO SUPPER NO SERVICE
H
21
22 Happy Birthday Jack Ponder & Lauren Whitaker
O
L
23 10:00 AM BIBLE STUDY
Y
6:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service
W
E
24
E
26
Happy Birthday Levi Duncan
5:30 PM Supper
1:00 PM CMC RESERVED-Quinn
K
25
6:00 PM Devotion, Children & Youth Activities
6:00 PM Tenebrae Service
27
Happy Birthday Louis Swenson
Happy Birthday Stacy Ewing, Doyle Green & Jake Green
Happy Birthday Hattie Ewing, David Hedgepath, Sr. & Michelle Thomas
28
29 Happy Birthday Jason Johnson
30 10:00 AM BIBLE STUDY Happy Birthday Penelope Quinn
Mar 2019 S M T W T 3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
May 2019 F S 1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
S M T W T 5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
F S 3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25