CrossTie - Spring 2022

Mardi Gras Pancake Fundraiser

Join us on March 1st for a fundraiser for our Smoke Rise youth music and missions team!

This will be a wonderful time of fellowship before we begin the journey to Easter.

For more information see page 9

Prayer Retreat

On March 26th, we will gather for a one-day prayer retreat at the Marriott Evergreen Conference Center in Stone Mountain.

Registration is due by March 9th.

For more information see pages 12-13

Celebrate Life Musical

The presentation of this beloved musical, presented by our Sanctuary Choir, includes a special invitation to folks to return to the 70s and “sing along” in this special performance on Sunday, April 10, at 7:00 pm.

For more information see pages 23

CROSSTIE Your Smoke Rise Baptist Church Magazine l Spring 2022

Journey to

Lenten Sermon Series The Road Less Traveled

Weekly Devotionals

Easter

During Lent, we will be posting short devotional videos. You can find them on our facebook page and our website at smokerisebaptist.org/journey-to-easter/

Important Dates A Mardi Gras Celebration Tuesday, March 1 at 5:00 pm

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 pm

Palm Sunday Service

Sunday, April 10 at 11:00 am

Celebrate Life Musical Sunday, April 10 at 7:00 pm

Maundy Thursday Service Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 pm

Good Friday Friday, April 15 from 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Easter Sunday Service Sunday, April 17 at 11:00 am

Connect with

Stop by Our Office

5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Give Us a Call 770.469.5856

Follow Us on Facebook facebook.com/smokerise

Visit Us Online

smokerisebaptist.org

IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Pastor

5

Celebrate Life Musical

6-7

Missions Signing Day

8

Waiting for Spring

9

Fundraiser for Youth Missions

10

Journey to Easter

11

You've Got Our Back

12-13

Being a People of Prayer

14

Commit to Give

15

A Reflection for Good Friday

16-17

Looking Back at the 12 Days of Christmas

18

Sunday School Reflections

19

The "Wow" Factor

20

Youth Winter Summit

21

Senior Spotlight

23

Academy of the Arts Spring Show

Our Ministers B e c ky C asw el l - Spei gh t

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

Ch r is George

Senior Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org

8

WA ITIN G O N SPRIN G

During this time of the year. winter can seem endless with its often cold and dreary weather. It’s difficult to maintain a positive attitude when the sun isn’t shining.

Here in the Peach State at this time of the year, I find the topic of “chill time” intriguing.

13 B EIN G A PEO PL E O F P R AYER

I greatly value times of prayer together in worship and in other settings at Smoke Rise. My memory is punctuated with meaningful and life-changing family prayer times. Recently, I have grown to appreciate the prayer practices of my grandchildren. While these are all vital, none substitute for or rise above one's personal prayer life.

14 CO MMIT TO GIV E

At Smoke Rise, we ask our members to continue to worship, learn, care and serve and to make giving to support the general fund of our church a high priority.

Whether your financial resources are large or small, we encourage each member to prayerfully consider God’s call to give as you have prospered to support and sustain the worship, fellowship, ministries and missions of our family of faith.

Bar t McN ie l

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

James S mith

Pastoral Care Associate jsmith@smokerisebaptist.org

D anny Vancil

Minister of Music and Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org

From the Pastor Lent: A Season for Reflection

by Chris George, Senior Pastor During the season of Lent, I encourage you to join me in reading and praying through the Psalms. We find verses that urge us to walk down a road long-since forgotten: the pathway called patience. The Psalmist writes, “I waited for the Lord” (Psalm 130:5). In case we missed it the first time, the writer repeats it again, forcing us to slow down and listen.

As most of you can undoubtedly guess from my impressive physique, I have done a lot of weight lifting in my time. Once upon a time, I did join a gym and committed to improving my health and increasing my muscle mass. After working out a few days at one gym, when I was not satisfied with my results. I approached one of the professional trainers and explained to him that I had worked out for almost five days and expected to see more results. He looked at me and said, “Well, I know part of your problem. Patience. You need to wait.” Now, I had postponed working out for several years and it had gotten me nowhere. However, he explained that good physical conditioning not only involves intense training, but also carefully scheduled times to patiently wait for the body to recover and to renew one’s strength. He was advocating for a balance and a rhythm.

It is not only our bodies which need for us to find balance. Our minds, often running even faster than our feet, also require us to find a few moments to slow down and center ourselves.

If we fill our lives with things, we rarely have or take the time to process and understand our experiences. We are constantly in overdrive, with stress consuming us and pressures mounting around us. We want immediate solutions to our problems. Instead, we must step away from our situations, look carefully at our lifestyles, and embrace a new awareness.

If we are willing to slow down during these 40 days of Lent, we will experience a blessed renewal. If we are less demanding that our prayers be answered on our own timelines, we may discover that the purpose of prayer in our lives is not only to provide answers. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I do not pray because it changes things. I pray because it changes me.”

So, let us take time this Lenten season to rest, to relax and to allow God to renew us. In your prayers, devote a few moments to simply listening for God to speak to you. After reading a psalm, wait for God’s living word to move in and through you. Patience is a virtue. Holiness happens when we least expect it. Our most precious commodity is not money, but time. When we have patience, when we are willing to wait, we place our most precious gift on God’s altar.

4

Return to Me Ash Wednesday Service March 2, 2022 • 6:00 pm

From dust you come, to dust you shall return.

5

Signing Day

Reigniting our passion for missions.

by Page Fulgham, Interm Minister for Missions

Former Atlanta Brave and Parkview High School hometown hero, Jeff Francoeur, hit a home run at Smoke Rise on our first annual signing day for missions. Many of our local mission partners were present at this historic event to welcome dozens of new and returning volunteers. Jeff Francoeur, described to the crowd what it means to “sign” for the team, whether a sports team or mission team.

Commitment is essential to success.

All our mission partners, local, national and international, benefited from Jeff ’s inspirational words about commitment to team play with many volunteers making commitments to support Smoke Rise missions through prayer, financial giving and hands-on labor. If you missed this significant event, you can sign up by emailing your commitment to Heather Huff, missions associate, at hhuff@smokerisebaptist.org.

Each year, our wide array of mission opportunities at Smoke Rise offers as many as 300 volunteers a place and opportunity to minister in Jesus’ name by giving a cup of cold water or a warm hug. Hundreds of other Smoke Rise members are also key to our successful program through offerings of prayer and financial support.

Missions at Smoke Rise is truly a team effort. Join the team! GO SMOKE RISE!

Local Partners 1

NETWorks Cooperative Ministry – Located in Tucker, GA, this ministry also serves the food insecure by providing food assistance and budgeting education for those in need. Smoke Rise has also supplied the efforts of many volunteers along with solid financial support for NETWorks.

Director David Fisher and his staff are giving great leadership, with a vision for future and much-needed expansion. Mike and Martha Holt are the team leaders.

4

2

Lilburn Co-op Ministry – Serving the food-insecure of our area, Lilburn Co-op supplies much-needed assistance with food, clothing, rent and other help to people nearest to Smoke Rise. Many of their most faithful volunteers are Smoke Rise members. The ongoing need for food staples and volunteers is at the top of their list. Director Sharon Foster leads a large team of staff and volunteers. Lilburn Coop is a key partner in ministering to our Smoke Rise Families-in-Need ministry.

Mike and Martha Holt are the team leaders.

Friends of Refugees – Located in the center of the nation’s most diversely populated square mile, Clarkston, GA, FOR ministers directly to the new refugees resettled by the United States government program. In addition to the assistance provided by other agencies, FOR supplies needed support for education, job application and coaching, English as second language (ESL)instruction, and fields many more requests from these new arrivals. Needs for housing, furniture and household necessities are addressed. Volunteers are rewarded by the grateful appreciation of the refugees who benefit from the help in adjusting and navigating to life in a strange land.

Executive director Kendra Jeffreys’ leadership for the ministry is visional and exciting. Rudy Wilson is the 6 team leader.

5

3

Family Heritage Foundation – Established by Bennett Ekandem, who himself was once a refugee from Nigeria, FHF ministry centers on children and their immediate need for help with schoolwork, afterschool snacks and care, and assimilation in their new homeland. Volunteers help with tutoring, providing snacks, and other needs of children and parents. Mary Wilson is the team leader.

Edgewood Baptist Church – Smoke Rise members in days past volunteered at the old Memorial Drive Baptist Shelter sponsored by the Atlanta Baptist Association. Eventually, the ministry center closed and Nathan and Carrie Dean established a ministry on that site, founding Edgewood Church, reaching out to the neighborhoods surrounding the church, including homeless men and women and serving countless other human needs. The Deans’ ministry took root and the church has done well. The old shelter building was demolished, and a new ministry center was built on its foundation. The ministry is alive and well today because of the support that Smoke Rise has provided.

The Deans have now moved to a new ministry in north Georgia, with co-pastors Joy and Marquette Bugg continuing the work at Edgewood. Colin Harris and Charlie Scott are the team leaders.

International National Partners Partners 9

6

HOI – Honduras Outreach International is a ministry to Central America, operating primarily in Honduras. Smoke Rise has been a key partner for over 25 years and, although we cannot presently travel to Honduras because of travel restrictions, we remain faithful in our financial commitment. Smoke Rise played a key role in developing the One Egg program for the families in the Agalta Valley, Honduras, which provides seed money for the poultry industry. Laurie Willing, director, gives direction and leadership to the Honduras team. She said this about Claudio and Blanca Aguirre, the egg producers: “In 2021, they produced over 81,000 eggs for the 1000 Day Egg/ Nutrition program. What a blessing for the families!

We are all grateful that this project that was started by the church [SRBC] continues to impact so many lives.” Page Fulgham is the champion for this effort.

7

Centro Shalom - Located in Tijuana, Mexico, this ministry to the poorest of the poor in Tijuana, was founded as a result of finding people living in a garbage dump and drinking contaminated water. Centro Shalom ministers in word and deed, providing food, education and hope for the hopeless. Presently in a leadership search, the ministry is currently led by retired SBC missionaries, Jim and Sharon Smith. Our next trip to Tijuana is planned for 2023. Roy Vreeland is the team leader.

8

African Children’s Mission – In this ministry to villages in central Uganda, Smoke Rise has partnered to feed and educate the children as well as share the gospel. Our support of ACM , as well as our work trips, has been significant in the growth of this ministry. Because of the distance and expense, we are able to travel only every few years.

But 2022 is our year! A trip is tentatively planned for this summer. In addition, volunteers for child sponsorships are welcome. Director David Symeyn ably leads this ministry and was our featured speaker for World Mission Sunday 2021. Paula Rowell is especially enthusiastic about the upcoming trip and has established Linda’s Legacy Fund at Smoke Rise in honor of her mother. This fund provides funding for programs aimed at girls’ and women’s health in Uganda. Wilson Echols and Paula Rowell are team leaders for the children’s and women’s ministry respectively.

God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP) - Smoke Rise makes make three trips per year to this ministry located in Floyd Co, Kentucky, one of the lowest economic areas in the nation. Two of these trips are for construction and home improvement and one is a women’s trip to work specifically with the women. Collectively, we have made over 60 trips to GAP. This is a wonderful time of ministry and fellowship and the costs are reasonable. Any skill level is welcomed. Director John Morris, born and raised just a few miles from GAP headquarters in McDowell, understands the great needs of the area and has a heart for the desperate plight and spiritual needs of so many of the residents. Bill Blanton and Jenny Brannan are team leaders for the men’s and women’s work respectively.

New York – Our partnership with Metro Baptist Church in NY is one of our oldest. We actually helped purchase their present building in 1983, and have continued to support their work with families in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. Our trips each summer center on work with the children in day camps sponsored by the ministry. Our next mission trip is scheduled for 2022 in early summer. Director Tiffany Triplett Henkel has given solid leadership and direction to this ministry. In addition, we also partner with Greater Restoration Baptist Church, co-pastored by Ken and Bettye Bogan, who began this vital work in Brooklyn. This ministry continues to touch many lives, helping people with huge spiritual and physical needs. Lynne Felton is the team leader.

10

11

Kentucky Tornado Disaster Relief – Our disaster relief team will assemble for a possible trip this fall (October 2022) to the Mayfield, Kentucky, area devasted by a tornado in December 2021. Our work, in conjunction with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Kentucky, will minister to under served areas, specifically people left out of other relief efforts, including the uninsured and under-insured. Bill Blanton is the team leader.

12

Family Missions Project – Since most of our mission projects are for adults only, we initiated a project for families, specifically including children of all ages. The trips are designed to be within a 200-mile radius of Atlanta, with housing suitable for families, including work projects in which children of all ages can participate. Serving the mission hunger needs of dozens of Smoke Rise families, this opportunity for involvement in meaningful mission projects has increased mission awareness and participation for multiple generations. Our next family missions trip is scheduled for 2023. Becky Caswell-Speight is our minister coordinator for this endeavor.

Waiting for Spring Finding rest before new life grows.

by Danny Vancil, Minister of Music and Worship During this time of the year. winter can seem endless with its often cold and dreary weather. It’s difficult to maintain a positive attitude when the sun isn’t shining.

Here in the Peach State at this time of the year, I find the topic of “chill time” intriguing. We are told that it is important for a peach tree to have a certain number of hours below a specific temperature in order to be productive and bear fruit. This chill time of dormancy is known as a period of rest.

Sometimes, in an usually warm winter, peach growers are concerned that there hasn’t been enough of this dormancy.

Admittedly, I find myself wanting to my own chill time (often to my detriment) and jump ahead into spring. Maybe it’s better during this winter season for all of us to rest our bodies and renew our spirits so that we may “spring” into new life and service.

Kurt Kaiser (1934-2018) was a prolific Baptist composer. In 1970, he wrote a song that was made popular by such artists as Evie Tornquist Karlsson and George Beverly Shea.

When in the spring, the flowers are blooming bright and fair, after the grey of winter’s gone. Once again the lark begins his tuning, back in the meadows of my heart.

Lord, to my heart bring back the springtime. Take away the cold and dark of sin. And, oh refill me now, sweet Holy Spirit: May I warm and tender be again.

Lord, make me like that stream that flows so cool and clear down from the mountains high above; I will tell the world the wondrous story of the precious stream filled with your love.

Lord, to my heart bring back the springtime. Take away the cold and dark of sin. And, oh, refill me now, sweet Holy Spirit: May I warm and tender be again.

(Bring Back the Springtime) A blogger who goes by the title, The Hesitant Prize Fighter, writes: “So in this new year, let us bring back the springtime in our faith; let us continue to wait on the Lord; let us pray to ask God to bring back the springtime as we are facing life’s difficulties.”

While we may not be able to rush the winter season away, we can pray for a rekindling of the soul in order that we may bear fruit in due season.

8

Fat Tuesday A MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION

Pancake Dinner March 1 at 5:00 pm LIve Jazz Band PROCEEDS SUPPORT SMOKE RISE YOUTH MUSIC AND MISSIONS TRIP

Yonder Gospel Music Night Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 PM in the Chapel

Featuring Scott Roark singing "I'll Be On My Way"

Pancake Dinner March 1 | 7:00 PM

Ash Wednesday March 2 | 6:00 PM

Palm Sunday April 10 | 11:00 AM

Maundy Thursday April 14 | 7:00 PM

Good Friday

April 15 | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Easter Celebration April 16 | 2:00 PM

Easter Sunday April 17 | 11:00 AM

easterTide Picnic April 24 | 12:00 PM

This year, throughout Lent and Easter, we will have many curated at-home activities and in-person events.

Similar to the ways in which the events of Lent and Holy Week build toward Easter, our at-home activities and in-person events will build upon each other during the course of this Lenten season.

To begin our journey, we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pancake dinner fundraiser to help our youth who will travel this summer for their annual music and missions trip; this will be followed the next evening with our Ash Wednesday services for adults and children.

On the first Sunday of Lent, we will begin sharing a weekly intergenerational video devotional hosted by the Smoke Rise Baptist staff. This will be a time of reflection and prayer based around the three events of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Throughout the Lenten and Easter seasons, there will be a table in the narthex each week where families will find devotionals, games, resurrection eggs and gifts just for families. Be sure to check back each week for something new.

On Palm Sunday, our children will participate in the traditional palm processional. On Easter, we will add our flowers to the cross, pray, and celebrate. And we will end this journey on the second Sunday of the Easter with a family picnic.

Our hope is that through these simple practices and experiences, we will build spiritual momentum as we journey through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. At the same time, we will be honoring the heart of the Christian faith. We look forward to journeying with you during this time.

You Have Our Back

Thank you for offering support and care for all of our community.

by Harrison Litzell, Weekday School Co-Director Smoke Rise serves as a school for many families who enter our facilities during the week. The children learn about their ABC’s and 123’s and how to interact with other students and teachers. These families are grateful to our program because of the way we not only provide a caring place during the day, but also how we prepare the students for their next steps as they move towards kindergarten.

This has been especially so during the past couple of years as COVID has impacted every facet of a family’s life. Many of our students have the opportunity to interact with other children in an organized way for the first time. They may have never been in a place without their families and they are learning how to engage under a new set of routines and habits.

Even then, we are still more than just

a school. The letters and numbers become secondary at times as we focus on emotions, playing and shared space. We talk about what it means to share, take turns and hear what friends say when they are talking. We work on participating in circle time and knowing the boundaries set by teachers and friends.

Even still, these are the functions of a school. And for many families, this is what they need.

are often raised in the Sunday school classes here at the church.

Families often go through major life events, whether happy or sad, and need to find a way to explain it to their young children. Sometimes, this means a need for resources, and other times it means engaging with professional counselors or ministers.

The ministerial staff here at the church provides that help.

Families look for ways for their children to further engage their faith.

They are able to join with the church for special events and to participate in giving projects that join them to a larger community.

There are other families that move beyond these functions of our ministry. They love us for being a school, but they also find support from the church itself. Some of these families may not have another community supporting them, or may experience unexpected needs.

We are a school. We are a ministry.

We are able to serve families in what they need and be a place that cares for them. Families hear the invitation to join in our community. They believe we are a place that cares. They trust that when the big life moments come, they will be supported and loved.

Some families have received scholarships to support their child’s education. These scholarship funds

Thank you, Smoke Rise, for having our backs. Thank you for being a ministry to this community.

1 19

Being a People of Prayer

by Jim Smith, Pastoral Care Associate

Thinking About Prayer Months ago, we were thinking, dreaming, and praying about 2022 at Smoke Rise Baptist Church. Now it is here!

I was challenged to think of what would strengthen pastoral care and move us toward being all that is in the heart of God for the people of Smoke Rise this year. I kept returning to thoughts about growing in prayer— both as a congregation and in personal spiritual formation.

At about the same time, our senior pastor, as a result of his experiences during his sabbatical, was thinking about Smoke Rise being “A People of Prayer.”

As a result, we are asking you to commit with us to being “A People of Prayer” in 2022.

On three Wednesday evenings in January, I shared about prayer during the 30-minute Journeys Bible Study time. In this series we explored a historical perspective of prayer, what it means to pray in the name of Jesus and perspectives on intercessory prayer, the model prayer, reading the Bible prayerfully and prayerful worship.

I will also be sharing these thoughts and practices of prayer when appropriate in three of our Sunday Bible Study classes as I follow in the teacher rotation. I invite those who were not able to join us to go back and watch these lessons at smokerisebaptist.org/journey/.

10

Prayer Retreat March 26

Marriott Evergreen Conference Center – Stone Mountain, Georgia 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Lunch and breaks included with $25 registration fee (scholarships available) Conference Leaders: Jim Smith and Mitzi Ethridge-Cantrell

Retreat Emphasis •

Develop Your Personal Prayer Narrative

•

Explore Prayer Practices

•

Finding God in Solitude and Stillness

•

Consider Examples of Prayer in Scripture

•

Explore Personal Rhythms of Prayer

•

Fellowship and Share With Others

Pick up a registration form at the welcome desk.

Submit your form and payment to the church office to secure your spot!

Registration Deadline March 9

Prayer is Personal Whatever we learn and experience together of the principles and precepts of prayer, in the final analysis, prayer is personal. I would not minimize public prayer times, family prayer times or praying with a prayer partner. I greatly value times of prayer together in worship and in other settings at Smoke Rise. My memory is punctuated with meaningful and life-changing family prayer times. Recently, I have grown to appreciate the prayer practices of my grandchildren. While these are all vital, none substitute for or rise above one's personal prayer life.

Habits of Heart and Mind Distinguished historian and author, Jon Meacham, recently spoke of the importance of habits of heart and mind during an interview. I can think of no more important habits of heart and mind in the life of a Christian than those related to prayer. I hope you will join me with a hunger for a fresh look at prayer.

May the intentional focus on being “A People of Prayer” be a blessing to Smoke Rise Baptist Church and our service to Christ.

13

Pledge Sunday

The importance of pledging and giving to our general fund.

by Bart McNiel,Associate Pastor of Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care Smoke Rise observes a budget year (known in accounting terms as our fiscal year) that runs from April to March each year. We are currently in the fiscal 2021/22 budget year. The best way to assure that we meet our budget is to contribute a regular and recurring gift to Smoke Rise each week or month. We encourage our members to consider pledging to give toward our budgeted ministry plan beginning in February. Our pledge campaign culminates on Pledge Sunday on March 27th in support of a newly-presented budget that will govern anticipated spending beginning in April when we start a new fiscal year.

General gifts to the budgeted ministry plan at Smoke Rise sustain our family of faith by fully funding our wonderful campus, facilities, staff and ministries every day, week and month of the year. Designated gifts are welcome, and we receive many such gifts at Smoke Rise. But without general and regular gifts in support of the budgeted ministry plan as a primary and core commitment of our membership, the worship, fellowship, ministries and mission work of our church would not be as vibrant or sustainable.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew people were encouraged to give a tithe as a tenth of their increase to support the religious institutions and leaders among them. Although people often cite the tithe from the legal code as the basis for Israelite giving, careful Bible readers have noted that the Abrahamic families gave tithes even prior to the giving of the law in the days of Moses.

14

Abraham and Jacob gave tithes prior to the giving of the law at Sinai. Israelites also gave free-will offerings and other gifts to support the religious work and service of their family of faith above and beyond regular and recurring gifts.

As recorded in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul encouraged early Christians to give as each one had prospered, calling all to give prayerfully, according to their ability, and with joy. Early Christians gave not only on special occasions as there was need (such as benevolent offerings to support the poor throughout the wider and emerging Christian community), but also made regular recurring gifts on the first day of the week—a priority when Christians remembered in worship the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

There is no greater example of stewardship than the sharing and selling of possessions in the early days of the Jerusalem church, where gifts became part of a wide and general fund that was distributed throughout the church where there was need.

At Smoke Rise, we ask our members to continue to worship, learn, care and serve and to make giving to support the general fund of our church a high priority.

Whether your financial resources are large or small, we encourage each member to prayerfully consider God’s call to give as you have prospered to support and sustain the worship, fellowship, ministries and missions of our family of faith.

Spring Gatherings for Our Grief Support Group Grief Support meets one Sunday a month from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.

The group is led by Adam Arnold and Jim Smith.

March 20, 2022 Room 223 April 24, 2022 Room 223 May 15, 2022 Room 223

A Reflection for

Good Friday

The chapel will be open from 8:00 am - 9:00 pm on Friday to provide a space for prayer and reflection.

A couple of years ago, I was taking my daughter, Emma Pearl, on one of our nightly drives to help her fall asleep. It was a late night and a dark drive. She was holding a plastic “Lion King” toy from McDonald’s in her hands.

She pushed a button and the toy began to speak the words from the movie, the words of a father addressing his child. “Look… everything the light touches is our Kingdom…”

Emma spoke, “Daddy, I can’t see the face.”

I responded, “I know. It is night. It is dark.”

Emma said, “That’s okay; I can still hear it and feel it.”

Exhausted, I replied, “Good. Now go to sleep.”

Then, I heard something fall and her little voice saying, “Daddy, I dropped it. Can you find it?”

“No,” I replied. “I am driving. Is it gone?”

Emma answered thoughtfully, “No. He is still here. Just being quiet.”

- Chris George, Senior Pastor

15

We continued our Active Worship Experiences this year with the Twele Days of Christmas.

It was a meaningful worship and learning experience for everyone who participated.

The Discovery Class

Sunday School Reflections The Discovery Class

by Colin Harris Reflection on Sunday School For me, our shared Sunday school experience weaves together three important aspects of our life as a part of the faith family: 1. Fellowship. A Sunday school class is where a smaller, more intimate group provides a place for more personal interaction within the larger congregation. This reflects features of “immediate family” within “extended family.”

2. Education. It is a time in which we have the opportunity to explore and deepen our understanding of the biblical testimony and our place in its ongoing story.

3. Ministry. Sunday school is one of the places in which our fellow members attend to each other’s needs and concerns and in which they go into their various places in the community, serving and reflecting a Christ-like vision of the world and its people.

These three features reinforce and complement each other in our ongoing “Discovery” of what it means to be followers of Jesus.

18

The "Wow Factor"

“All Star” performers from within the group. After the Our Award Winning Theater Troupe adjudication, the students get to hear

by Denise Burcham, Director of the Academy of Arts the judges’ remarks We did it! We really, really did it! and receive some coaching from Our troupe of drama students from them. the Academy earned another big Upon the conclusion of our trophy for their OUTSTANDING performance, the first judge got PERFORMANCE at the Junior Theater up and said, “Give me a minute to Festival 2022. After a one-year hiatus compose myself.” After she wiped due to the COVID pandemic, over 6000 her eyes, she made glowing remarks thespians from across the USA, Australia and confessed she really didn’t see and the UK came together at the Cobb anything needing correcting! Gasp!

Center to celebrate what they love to The second judge stood and said, “I do most—sing and dance on stage. The don’t think I have cried in the past 15 110 troupes were placed in ten different years, until now!” He, too admitted pods to perform before three judges to being touched by their tender (professional actors and teachers) for performance. This judge helped adjudication and observations. choreograph and also had performed Under the expert direction of Janet Chadwick and her daughter Greyson Chadwick, our own troupe of 38 students (ages eight– 18) prepared a 15-minute performance that tells the story of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast for adjudication. Judges scored the storytelling, musical precision, appropriate dance, choreography, acting techniques and more. They award a bonus for “Wow Factor” (for a performance that transcends and inspires) and deduct a point for each 15 seconds over the allotted 15 minutes!

The judges also select two outstanding

in Beauty and the Beast for many years at Disneyland. He was happy to see our student’s fresh take on the lead of Gaston. The third judge, who dealt with many of the vocal/

phrasing elements of previous groups we observed, offered a brief exercise to help actors stress the important words of a phrase. She then admitted it was a very minor detail, as our group really “nailed it!” Our excited students were overwhelmed!

We leaders had prepared ourselves to have to tell the kids that the weather was too uncertain for us to return for the Sunday portion of the festival.

All that changed Saturday afternoon when we learned of the win of OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE from among the dozen groups rated by our judges. Along with this recognition, came the invitation to perform at the closing Awards Ceremony on the big stage in front of the entire 6000-plus attendees.

All the chaperones jumped to the challenge and contacted parents and then lined up hotel accommodations for all 59 Smoke Rise Academy attendees! What a weekend to remember!

Get Your Ticket You are invited to see our wonderful teen actors on our Fellowship Hall stage, March 25-27 performing Lionel Bart’s "Oliver!"

On January 14-15, the Smoke Rise Youth attended the CBF Winter Youth Summit at First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL. The event was a weekend full of worship services and group gatherings, a variety of engaging breakout sessions, and plenty of free time for games and conversation. Our group was able to participate in a number of breakout sessions, where they learned about missions, created birdhouses, robots and clay sculptures, played new games, and met other youth from across Georgia and Alabama. The weekend's theme was "Dwell" with the worship messages each day centered around a different way to dwell— whether in God, in Christian community, or in the world.

Although we were forced by threatening winter weather to leave for home early, we had a great time learning more about God, our unique gifts, and growing closer to one another!

-Jonathan Hall

20

Graduting Seniors

Jonathan Gutknecht, Madison Catoggio, Lily Burton, Greenlee Martin, and Dora Lee

Madison Catoggio is going to Point University in southwest Georgia on lacrosse and academic scholarships. She plans to major in Exercise Science. She loves running and spending time with her friends and family. She was invited to play lacrosse this summer in London and Scotland. Madison has been working on her Girl Scout Gold Award this year as well.

Lily Burton is a senior at Brookwood High School. While in high school, she has been involved in Science Olympiad, orchestra, fencing, honor societies and student leadership positions. She plans to attend Rollins College in the fall. She is interested in studying psychology, participating in study-abroad, and having the opportunity to work with primates.

Greenlee Martin is a senior at Brookwood High School, where she is an honors graduate and an AP scholar. She serves as a editor-in-chief of the high school yearbook, and is active her Girl Scout troop. She also works as a hostess at Biba’s Italian restaurant. In her free time, Greenlee enjoys baking and spending time with family and friends. She will be attending Auburn University in the honors program in the fall, majoring in hospitality.

Dora Lee will graduate from Brookwood High School this spring as an AP Scholar and Tri-M Music Honor Society member. She plays trombone in both the marching and symphonic winds bands. Dora was a member of her high school swim team. In her free time, she loves to read and cook. Dora plans to attend college in the fall to study sports communication and management.

Help us celebrate all of our graduates on May 22nd, Graduation Recognition Sunday.

21

Showtimes

Mark Your Calendars March Dates 1 Mardi Gras Pancake Fundraiser (page 9 ) 2 Ash Wednesday Service (page 5)

Friday 7:00 pm Saturday 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm The Academy of Arts Teen Cast Presents

Sunday 2:00 pm

The Academy of Arts Elementary Cast Presents

$5 ticket donations greatly appreciated!!

Oliver! – March 25-27 Oliver!, JR – May 6-8

13 Deacon Lunch 20 Grief Support Group (page 15) 25-27 Academy of Arts Show 26 Prayer Retreat (pages 12-13) 29 Ladies Spring Event

April Dates

Ladies Spring Event March 29th at 6:30 pm

Purchase your tickets for dinner, fellowship, and to hear from humorist Bruce Goddard.

10 Palm Sunday 10 Deacon Lunch 10 Celebrate Life Musical (page 23) 14 Maundy Thursday Service

Children's Sunday May 1st

15 Good Friday (page 15) 16 Easter Celebration 17 Easter Sunday 24 Eastertide Picnic 24 Grief Support Group (page 15)

May Dates

Growing Strong Youth Choir Spring Concert May 22nd

1 Children's Sunday 1 Deacon Lunch 1 Naomi Black-Bass' Ordination 6-8 Academy of Arts Show 11 Yonder 15 Grief Support Group (page 15) 17-20 North Carolina Trip 21 Car Show 22 Graduation Recognition 22 Youth Choir Spring Concert

May 21, 2022

Sunday, April 10 at 7PM

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Christian musical “Celebrate Life!” Commissioned by the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, Ragan Courtney wrote what turned out to be a Baptist blockbuster among youth choirs across the country. It is a retelling of Jesus’ life through the witness of disciples Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The memorable music was composed by the extraordinary Buryl Red. There are many people in our own congregation who have sung in this beloved musical in past years, with some having even directed performances. Presented by our Sanctuary Choir, a special invitation is extended to folks to return to the 70s and sing along in this special performance on Sunday, April 10, at 7:00 PM. If you would like to join the choir to sing in Celebrate Life, please contact the music office.

All Sunday rehearsals will be held from 6:30-7:30PM in the choir suite Rehearsal dates for Celebrate Life: February 27, March 6, March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3 Saturday, April 9 (Dress Rehearsal) from 9:00AM-12:00PM in the Sanctuary Sunday, April 10: 6:00PM (Call Time) 7:00PM (Performance)

Address Correction Requested

USe the QR Codes to learn more about the events and register!

Advocacy Camp June 6-9 | 9:30am - 3:30pm Registration Cost: $50

Focus: Hunger and Food Insecurities For rising 4th-8th Graders

VBS 2022 | June 27-30 | 9:30-12:00pm Ages 3 - Rising 6th Graders

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Lego Camp

July 5-8 | 5:30-8:00 pm Rising 3rd-6th Graders Registration Costs: $30