CrossTie: March 2021

Cross ie MAGAZINE

Vol 5 | Issue 3 | March 2021

SpecialWorship WorshipOpportunities Opportunities Special AnAn Active ActiveHoly HolyWeek WeekExperience Experience

Saturday, March 2:30-5:30 Saturday, March 2727••2:30-5:30 Intergenerational (Detailsononthe theFamily FamilyPage) Page) Intergenerational (Details

Palm Sunday Worship Palm Sunday Worship Sunday, March 28 • 9:00AM and 11:00AM

Sunday, • 9:00AM 11:00AM (SundayMarch School28schedule on and Growing Page) (Sunday School schedule on Growing Page)

Maundy-Thursday Communion Service In-person Worship (and live streamed) in the Sanctuary Maundy-Thursday Communion Service

Thursday, 1•7:00PM• Thursday, April 1•7:00PM In-person Worship (and live streamed) in April the Sanctuary

Easter Worship Sunday, April 4Easter •In-person Worship in the Sanctuary Worship

8:00AM •9:30AM (with childcare) •11:00AM (The 11:00AM service will be live streamed.)

Sunday, April 4 •In-person Worship in the Sanctuary 8:00AM •9:30AM (with childcare) •11:00AM (The 11:00AM service will be live streamed.)

C ON N EC T W ITH U S

SMOK ER IS EB A P T I ST. OR G OUR MINIST E R S

CO N T EN TS

Be c k y C a s we l l - S pei gh t

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From the Pastor

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Worship

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Growing

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Serving

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Caring

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Sabbatical

Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection rspeight@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0546

Je re m y C o l l i v e r

Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications jcolliver@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0551

Chris G e o r ge

Senior Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org 770.469.5856

Bart McNiel

Associate Pastor of Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0540

J a me s S m i th

Pastoral Care Associate jsmith@smokerisebaptist.org 404.405.5467

Danny Va n c i l

Minister of Music and Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0560

10 -11 Generosity 12

Connecting

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Easter at Smoke Rise

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Family Ministry

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Youth

facebook.com/ smokerise

smokerisebaptist.org

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F RO M THE PASTOR

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SERV IN G

Throughout Christian history, Lent has been a time for repentance, contemplation and sacrifice. We look at our own sins and enter into a season of confession. We look at the life of Jesus and contemplate his message and its meaning in our lives. We look at the sacrifice of Jesus and understanding God’s calling for us to live selflessly and give generously.

The missions ministry of Smoke Rise Baptist Church is robust by both funding and serving locally and around the globe.

Over the course of the next several months, we want to highlight some of the many ways the mission ministry at Smoke Rise is the hands, feet and mouthpiece of Christ to the world.

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SA B B ATICA L

Under Chris' leadership during the pandemic, even as many other churches have declined in a number of ways, we as a congregation have continued to worship together and to serve our Lord in many creative ways. Now, we as the church, have the opportunity to affirm Chris by supporting his desire—and his need—for a time in which to study, rest and renew.

A B O UT S M O K E RIS E 5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Tel: 770.469.5856 Fax: 770.498.3598 Office Hours M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Smoke Rise Baptist Church is a loving and caring faith community where people come to grow spiritually, worship communally and serve faithfully. We are committed to fostering authentic relationships and engaging in meaningful ministry in our congregation, our community and around the world. We partner with others in an effort to be about God’s work. We commit to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds and all our strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We seek to proclaim the Good News of Christ in all that we say and do.

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FRO M TH E PASTO R

CHRIS G E ORGE - Senior Pastor

In the church calendar, Lent is the season that begins with Ash Wednesday and culminates with Easter.

We are two weeks into Lent, but it is not too late for you to make this season meaningful. March can be a month that reshapes your perspective. Deborah Girard challenges us, “Perhaps the comfort we seek is not the consciousness we need.” God may be calling us beyond comfort.

Throughout Christian history, Lent has been a time for repentance, contemplation and sacrifice. We look at our own sins and enter into a season of confession. We look at the life of Jesus and contemplate his message and its meaning in our lives. We look at the sacrifice of Jesus and understanding God’s calling for us to live selflessly and give generously.

Many Christians have chosen to give something up during this season of Lent. This sacrifice reminds them of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Other have chosen to add something to their lives like a new commitment to prayer or a new dedication to reading the Bible each day. Whatever you choose to do, I hope you will set this time aside to reflect on the life and love of Jesus.

In this Lenten Season, may the words of Frederick Buechner challenge and inspire us: In many cultures there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of each year's income to some holy use.

For Christians to observe the forty days of Lent is to do the same thing with roughly a tenth of each year's days. After being baptized by John in the river Jordan, Jesus went off alone into the wilderness where he spent forty days asking himself the question what it meant to be Jesus. During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means to be themselves.

If you had to bet everything you have on whether there is a God or whether there isn't, which side would get your money and why?

When you look at your face in the mirror, what do you see in it that you most like and what do you see in it that you most deplore?

If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be in twenty-five words or less?

Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you most like to undo? Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?

Is there any person in the world, or any cause, that, if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?

To hear yourself try to answer questions like these is to begin to hear something not only of who you are but of both what you are becoming and what you are failing to become. It can be a pretty depressing business all in all, but if sackcloth and ashes are at the start of it, something like Easter may be at the end.

- Frederick Buechner from Listening to Your Life

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WOR S H IP I N G AT S M OK E R I SE

DANNY VANC IL - Minister of Music and Worship

From

Hosanna to Hallelujah

and the valley in between The Music of Holy Week • Presented by the choirs of SRBC

Palm Sunday Worship • Maundy Thursday Communion with Tenebrae • Easter Worship

The Valley in Between— Holy Week is approaching, and soon we will be joining our voices in the joyful hosannas and hallelujahs of Palm Sunday and Easter. But, often during Lent, just as in the season of Advent, we want to rush through the contemplative darkness of Lent and move directly to the festivities.

If we will take the time to truly experience the life of Christ, His ministry, and His journey to the cross, surely our hallelujahs will be more exuberant when we ultimately celebrate His resurrection.

No, our worship is not going to become a dirge. Because we are an Easter people, we celebrate the risen Savior every day. But our music and worship during this season will reflect the flow of Christ’s ministry and the sorrow that He bore.

You are encouraged to be a part of all of our worship experiences as we move through this sacred season.

Mark your calendars now for the Holy Week services.

Danny 5 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

GROWING AT S M O KE R I SE

BECKY CAS W ELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection

In-Person Sunday School Schedule

Monday Night Book Club

March 7 Open Circle - Fellowship Hall Crossroads - Room 223 Journey Class - Gym Faith and Issue - Choir Suite Preschool - 204, 210 Children - Children’s Suite Youth - Youth Basement

Current book under discussion: I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

March 14 Berean Class - Fellowship Hall Faith Class - Gym March 21 Cambian Class - Room 230 Friendship Class - Gym Pairs and Spares - Fellowship Hall March 28 Seekers - Gym Fellowship, Agape, Koinonia - Room 223 Joy Class - Fellowship Hall

Journeys Join us every Wednesday nights at 6:00 pm at smokerisebaptist.org/wednesday-evening-activities Zoom and In-Person - Joyful Conversations - A Lenten Study on Joy written by Cynthia Insko inspired by Susan Sparks

A group of interested people has been talking about stories this year - how we understand our own experiences in the context of that of others. We are exploring ways to understand and bridge racial divides within the church and within our world from a Christian perspective. This book is the author’s personal account of growing up black, Christian and female and what that means in our world today.

Join us Monday nights at 7:00 pm for a Zoom book club. Find the zoom information at smokerisebaptist.org.

Connections March 28th at 5:00 pm Smoke Rise Baptist Church Gym Loft Connections is a once a month gathering for individuals and couples in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.

Connections occurs during preschool, children, and youth activities.

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S ERVIN G ON M I S S I ON

J E R E MY C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications

The Stories of Service The missions ministry of Smoke Rise Baptist Church is robust by both funding and serving locally and around the globe. Over the course of the next several months, we want to highlight some of the many ways the mission ministry at Smoke Rise is the hands, feet and mouthpiece of Christ to the world. The first group in this series are three young missionary families that our mission dollars go to support.

Nathan and Carrie Dean are the founding pastors at our partner church, Edgewood Baptist Church, established 12 years ago. They have created a space of acceptance, grace and love for the Edgewood community for those who had been overlooked and forgotten. As the city became more gentrified and pushed people out, Nathan and Carrie led Edgewood to welcome them in.

Edgewood is now sending out Nathan, Carrie and their family to start a new church in North Georgia. This new church will not be a replica of Edgewood, but will be built on the same principles of loving and caring for those that the community has forgotten and overlooked. Nathan and Carrie are called, capable and willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary to being missionaries. We cover them in prayers as they begin this journey in anew place.

Lesley-Ann Hix Tommey is a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel serving in New York City, N.Y., as ministry facilitator for Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries.

Carson and Laura Foushee are Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel serving in partnership with the Japan Baptist Convention (JBC) in Tokyo.

For their first three years, they served alongside JBC churches in Kanazawa and Toyama through leading English ministries. They then moved to Tokyo to begin comprehensive Japanese language studies. After graduation from language school and welcoming their daughter, Ada, to their family, they entered into a practicum period of service alongside Tokiwadai Baptist Church.

Through this experience, Carson and Laura are bearing witness to Jesus Christ through regular opportunities to preach and teach in Japanese.

They also continue to seek ways to use their skills in both Japanese and English to be a bridge between their local community and the Church as they cultivate beloved community in the Tokyo-metro area.

Carson and Laura are working with the JBC to develop long-term projects that will use their ministry and language skills to empower and equip congregations as they serve in their local contexts.

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The Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, supports a highly diverse community, including vibrant Hispanic and Latino populations comprising nearly 20 percent of residents. On the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, entertainment industry executives, homeless veterans and young professionals work alongside Port Authority operators. Metro Baptist Church is a consistent and life-giving presence among the city's most marginalized white, black and Latino communities, and founded Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries in 1995 to serve as home for their many social ministries.

Rauschenbusch seeks to encourage the social, educational, spiritual and economic growth of the Hell's Kitchen community, offering non-sectarian, multifaceted educational opportunities and services to community residents through Metro Baptist Church, area residents, missions organizations and community service providers.

Lesley-Ann partners closely with Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries, offering support and leadership for their programs and investing in the lives of veterans who have experienced homelessness, survivors of domestic violence and students seeking greater educational opportunities.

CARI NG AT S M O KE R I SE

JA ME S S MIT H - Pasto r al Car e Asso ciate

Lent: A Season of Preperation Our daughter was the perfect bride-to-be. Her wedding was not the proverbial nightmare for the mother- or father-of-the-bride. Most decisions were taken in stride.

She and her mother were super organized and had it all under control. During the months of preparation our life was filled with joy. And the big day itself exceeded our expectations because of the steady pace of preparation leading up to the event.

By the time you are reading this newsletter we will have moved beyond Ash Wednesday and well into the season of Lent. It can be a meaningful time of spiritual preparation as we pace ourselves toward Easter.

The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word, “lengten,” which simply means spring— when the days lengthen and new life springs forth. I look forward each year to moving from shorter, darker days to longer days with more light. It is also a time when we anticipate the victory of the light and life of Christ over the darkness of sin and death. It is, to borrow a phrase from C. S. Lewis, a season of “happiness and wonder that makes you serious.”

It is my prayer that as we progress from Ash Wednesday to Easter, you would be reminded of the reality of our broken humanity. It is also my prayer that as the days grow brighter, you will experience and become more keenly aware of the abundance of God’s redeeming grace.

Grief Support Our in-person group will gather in room 230, and our Zoom link can be found on our website.

We will be meeting at 6:00 PM on March 17, April 21 and May 26.

Our gatherings are led by Adam Arnold and Jim Smith

Just as we prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or a graduation, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Susan Sparks, author of the Dick Brown journal many in our church are Joined January 20th following for Lent, speaks of how we are bombarded every day by the world around us and can lose a sense of self. The negative words and experiences that come our way in life can tear us down and cause us to feel less than the beloved children of God that we are. We need to find a place of grace, a place of grounding and a place of belonging.

New Member

Sparks’ “joy journal,” entitled “Grace-filled Gratitude,” helps us cut through the noise, stress and negativity of life so that we might listen to what God and scripture have to teach us in fresh ways. The season of Lent is about deep soul work. Sparks says it’s about “a house cleaning of the heart.”

Let us concentrate on shifting our perspective during Lent. May we gain a perspective that allows us to let go of things that block us from gratitude and joy. In the pastoral care weekly devotional and the Smoke Rise prayer concerns time each week, we will hope to ponder and reflect grace-filled gratitude along the way.

Please take note, as indicated on this page, that our grief support will resume for March, April and May meetings in person and by Zoom, as the policy for use of our building by small groups during the pandemic allows.

-Jim

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Dear Smoke Rise Baptist Family, As many of you will recall, our pastor, Chris George, joined us as senior minister in April, 2013. That means that next month, we will mark his eighth anniversary as our senior pastor.

And what a blessing he has been to this church— especially during the challenges of this past year!

Under his leadership during the pandemic, even as many other churches have declined in a number of ways, we as a congregation have continued to worship together and to serve our Lord in many creative ways. Now, we as the church, have the opportunity to affirm Chris by supporting his desire—and his need—for a time in which to study, rest and renew himself spiritually in a season of sabbatical this summer.

We tend to think of sabbatical in academic terms, as a school year free from teaching duties that can be devoted to research, travel and writing, traditionally occurring every seventh year. Because of this scholarly context, we may easily miss what is hiding in plain sight: that sabbatical is related to Sabbath, which refers to the biblical day of rest, or the seventh day. We trace the origins of both sabbatical and Sabbath to the Greek word sabbaton. Sabbaton itself traces to the Hebrew word shabbāth, meaning “rest.”

The idea of sabbatical leave is not a new concept for Smoke Rise in that the church wisely approved a sabbatical leave policy for our ministers some years ago. Now, in compliance with the guidelines in our Personnel Handbook, Chris has submitted to the personnel committee a proposal for a sabbatical leave for May 16-August 3, 2021. This proposal has been unanimously accepted by the personnel committee, the finance committee and the fellowship of deacons. It is the consensus of these groups that our church, as well as our pastor, will benefit when he returns in early August, refreshed and renewed in spirit. This sabbatical will provide the opportunity for him to have uninterrupted family time, as well as study time, and time to probe new areas of ministry in carefully-planned sessions with well-known pastors and theologians. There is no doubt that the congregation will reap the rewards as Chris incorporates themes and stories from his sabbatical in his preaching and teaching for months and years to come. Discoveries gleaned from colleagues with various areas of expertise will inspire new approaches to ministry as well as cast visions of new mission endeavors for our congregation and community.

The Personnel Committee feels confident that, with the talented staff of associate ministers at Smoke Rise, as well as the access to excellent outside resources, we will continue to worship, study and serve our Lord during the time Chris is away.

Please join me in affirming Pastor Chris as he prepares for and anticipates this special season of study, writing, resting and preparing for God’s continued blessings on his ministry, his family and our church.

Blessings to all, Melinda McChesney, Chair, Personnel Committee

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GENER OS I T Y 2021 Ministry Plan

Total Budget for Fiscal 2021

$2,139,568.00

Funding Our Budget

Operating Expenses and Equipment

$410,600.00 19.2%

Insurance, Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water), Vehicles Waste/Recycle, Phone/IT, Webpage, Office Supplies, Office Equipment/Leases, Custodial Supplies, Database Support, Financial Services/Fees

Facility Contracts, Repair and Maintenance

$183,530.00

8.6%

Monitoring Services, Mechanical Services, Grounds Care, General Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, Custodial Services, Facility Improvement, Facility Repair

Salaries

Increase in total salaries and adjustment due to underbudgeting ($28,000)

$288,003.00 13.5%

Health Insurance Adjustment (29,000), Senior Pastor Sabbatical ($18,000)

Life, Health, Disability, Taxes, Payroll, and Other Personnel Support/Benefits/Expenses

Worship Ministries

HVAC Preventative Maintenance Contract, Restructured IT Contract and Support Services ($25,000)

$911,879.00 42.6%

Ministers and Support Staff

Benefits and Personnel Expenses

Significant Adjustments or Increases Custodial Supplies, Insurance, Webpage, Utilities, Fees ($15,500)

$53,800.00

2.5%

$81,416.00

3.8%

$30,340.00

1.5%

$180,000.00

8.5%

Music and Worship Programs, Supplies and Support

Faith Formation and Education Ministries Nursery, Children, Youth, College, Adults (Learning, Supplies, Acivities, and Support)

Outreach and Connection Ministries Community Care, Outreach, Programs, Events, Women's Ministry, Recreation Support

Missions 8.5% of the lesser of total budget or total contributions dedicated to mission funding and support

Total

$2,139,568.00 100%

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Last year's budget: $2,046,748.00

Dear Smoke Rise Members, The finance committee and fellowship of deacons have approved this proposed church budget for fiscal year 2021. It is now ready for your review.

On March 7, those church members who are physically present in worship will vote on the budget immediately following the service. Others will be able to vote electronically that afternoon through an online link that will be posted on the church website after morning worship.

As chair of the finance committee, I am grateful for the hard work of our budget subcommittee with the assistance of our associate pastor and finance manager. The budget we present to you represents many hours of work and careful review.

I urge you to prayerfully respond to the leadership of our stewardship committee by pledging your support to our ministry budget plan in the new fiscal year that will begin on April 1.

With gratitude, Charlene Echols

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CONNEC T I N G AT SMOK E R I SE Connecting with the Smoke Rise Baptist Weekday School

Smoke Rise Baptist Weekday School has been a part of the local community for 48 years. The school began as a way to serve a growing community and provide quality education in a safe environment for the young children of our growing neighborhood.

Forty-eight years later, we continue to grow, adapt and listen so that we can make available what is needed. We want to provide community for families who may live close by or who drive to be a part of our school. We want to teach the young children entrusted to us not only their ABC’s and 123’s , but help them understand that they are wonderfully made and loved by God. This year, in a year unlike any other, we have continued this mission. We have counted days of school whether they be at home or in person. We have learned new ways of doing music when singing isn’t available to us. Each week in chapel, whether it be in one of our church’s original worship spaces or scattered in our own sacred spaces, we have lighted a candle together to remind us that God is with us.

And we are preparing for next year. We are taking the skills we have gained and the lessons learned from these 48 years, condensing and combining them all to make the next one even better. We have fundraisers, like our Virtual Fun Run, which support our community in fun and innovative ways so that we never have to let lack of financial resources inhibit our mission. We are expanding our classes to offer a place for children as young 12 months with faith that this is our calling in our community. We do all this because it is what Christ commanded, and because it is what our community needs.

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EASTER AT S M O KE R I SE

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FAMILY M I N I ST RY AT SMOK E R I SE

BE C KY CAS W ELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Family, Faith Formation and Connection

PALM SUNDAY

PARADE

MARCH 28 CHILDREN WILL GATHER AT THE PORTICO STAIRS AT 9:40 AM

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YOU TH AT S M O KE R I SE

J E R E MY C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications

Joy comes in Faces “You’re really excited to see us, but you might need to calm down a little bit.”

Saturday Texts

This is what a youth who shall remain nameless expressed to me as I greeted them very enthusiastically at our recent Super Bowl party. I was indeed excited to say the least.

I am excited when I get to see our youth face-to-face. I am extremely grateful for the technology that allows us to connect virtually, enabling us to safely keep up with what is going on in each other’s lives. But seeing someone’s face through a screen isn’t the same as seeing them in person. I’ve missed that, and I am overwhelmed with joy when I get to see our students. I no longer take it for granted that we get to be together on Sunday nights. The time together seems to be more sacred now and more precious after the long weeks when it was denied us. There is a sense of joy when we are together.

Joy is what we’re going to be focusing on throughout Lent. That might seem a little odd when you consider that Lent is a time to prepare oneself for the events of Holy Week. But we know that joy was a part of the life of Christ.

Smoke Rise Youth

Every Saturday you should be receiving a text reminding you about what is happening Sunday night.

If you aren’t getting these texts, we might need your updated information. Please send us your updated cell number so you can receive our Saturday texts.

I imagine Jesus being joyful as he met with the disciples as they sat around tables, eating and telling stories and as he encountered people that had little hope or who had been excluded. As he lay on a boat during the middle of a storm. Jesus brought joy. I envision that he was most joyful when he got to see and be with the people he loved.

During this season of Lent, I encourage you to seek out those faces that bring you joy. I encourage you to bring joy to those who might not experience it regularly. We can all be agents of joy this Lenten season.

-Jeremy

Joy Journal Online “Joy comes in the morning” or whenever you check your Instagram— throughout Lent that is. Follow along with us on Instagram or Facebook for your daily Joy Journal prompts. You may leave your thoughts in the comments, or create your own journal as you go. After you “journal” for the day, remember to share our Joy post across your social media platforms.

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PASSPORT 2021 JULY 5-10 FURMAN UNIVERSITY

Great is Thy Faithfulness Pledge Sunday March 21st

Address Correction Requested