Smoke Rise Baptist Church CrossTie April 2017

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Cross ie

MAGA ZI N E

VOL 1 | ISSUE 1 | APRIL

PALM SUNDAY

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9:00am: Worship in the Chapel 9:45am: Sunday School 11:00am: Worship in the Sanctuary

Children’s Processional of the Palms WEDNESDAY

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Your Guide to Holy Week 2017

Regular Wednesday Schedule MAUNDY-THURSDAY

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6:00pm: Reflection Stations Sanctuary and Parlor 7:00pm: Holy Communion GOOD FRIDAY

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7:00pm: Community Good Friday Worship Service Mountain Park United Methodist Church RESURRECTION SUNDAY

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9:45am: Sunday School 11:00am: Easter Worship

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SMOK ER I S EB A P T I ST. OR G O UR M INIST E R S

C O N TENTS

T im Ad cox Minister of Missions tadcox@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0570

B e c k y C a s w e l l - S p ei gh t Minister to Families with Children rspeight@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0546

Jeremy Colliver Minister to Families with Youth jcolliver@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0551

Kat hy D obbi n s Minister of Spiritual Formation kdobbins@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0548

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From the Pastor

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Worshipping

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Growing

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Connecting

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Caring

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Serving on Mission

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Family Ministry

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Youth

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Snapshot

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Back Cover

Chris G e o r ge

Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org 770.469.5856

Bart McNiel

Associate Pastor bmcneil@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0540

F RO M THE PASTOR 3

At Smoke Rise, we are celebrating God’s wonderful new work among us. Our church has been Dreaming New Dreams, reaching into our community with God’s love and grace.

WO RSHIPPING 4

A particular highlight of April is the performance of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Oratorio, “The Creation.” This masterpiece depicts and celebrates the creation of the world described in the Book of Genesis.

FA MILY MIN ISTRY 9

Jesus’ words call us to expect more than children sitting and listening in sanctuary worship on occasion or removing them from the larger corporate worship experience to learn by themselves.

CON N EC T W IT H US

Danny Va n c i l Minister of Music & Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0560

C H UR CH LOCATIO N 5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087

facebook.com/ smokerise

twitter.com/ smokerisebaptist.org SmokeRiseBC

Smoke Rise

A BOUT S M O K E RIS E We are a faith community which is developing an increasingly realistic and hopeful view of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We stand ready to embrace a future that builds on the strong legacy of reaching out with Christ’s love to the community and the world.

Tel: 770.469.5856 Fax: 770.498.3598 Office Hours M-F 8:30am - 4:30pm

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FRO M TH E PASTO R CH RIS G E ORGE - PASTOR Dear Smoke Rise Church Family, In Isaiah 43:19, the prophet writes, “See, I am doing a new thing!”

At Smoke Rise, we are celebrating God’s wonderful new work among us. Our church has been Dreaming New Dreams, reaching into our community with God’s love and grace. Through our Refresh Campaign, we have enhanced our campus with improvements to the exterior and interior of our buildings as well as the creation of a beautiful new playground. We have launched two new Sunday School Classes: the Sunshine Class to reach out to those with developmental disabilities and the Ideas and Action Class to reach out to seminarians and the youngest adults in our congregation.

In March, we are starting new community initiatives which reach across generations, impacting children in public schools and connecting with those in nearby retirement community. We began a new ministry to the students at Smoke Rise Elementary School through the “Shine” Club, teaching Biblical values and building relationships with the children in our community. At the same time, we began a new ministry at Park Spring Retirement Community by inviting residents to worship with us through “streaming” our 11 o’clock worship service.

This month, I am excited to share with you our new Cross Ties Monthly Magazine. This new publication will replace our former bi-weekly newsletter and help to enhance our congregational communications. In this first edition, you will discover that this new format enables us to include more feature articles and to keep our congregation better informed of all of the wonderful worship experiences, events, programs and activities that are taking place at Smoke Rise.

On the inside cover, at the top of the page, you will see our new Smoke Rise Baptist Church logo. At the center of the image, you will notice the image of smoke rising. While this image immediately connects with our church’s name, it is also a Biblical reminder of fellowship, sacrifice, and worship. Some have said, the logo looks like shadows of people. Others have mentioned tongues of fire, pointing toward the Spirit’s work in our church. Still others have commented it looks like stain glass, pointing toward our church’s rich history and heritage. These different interpretations simply point toward the power of this simple picture and the blessed creativity and diversity present in our congregation.

This new logo is a simple reminder of a great truth. God is doing something new and exciting at Smoke Rise Baptist Church. Of course, the church is more than a set of programs. The church is the people of God who are worshipping, learning, caring, giving, and serving together. As we enter this new chapter in the life of Smoke Rise Baptist Church, I hope and pray that you will be praying about your part.

God may be calling you to renew commitments, or to volunteer in one of our new ministries, to take your first mission trip or to invite your friend to church for the first time.

May the God of new things continue to lead and guide us…Pastor Chris

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WORS H IP P I N G AT SM OK E R I SE It is officially spring, and things have definitely sprung into life in the music ministry of our church. Please take notice of the many presentations being offered this season.

A particular highlight of April is the performance of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Oratorio, “The Creation.” This masterpiece depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis. The Sanctuary Choir will present parts one and two of this great work, along with readings, prayers and congregational hymns. Three stellar soloists will join our April 30th performance: Richard Clement, Tenor, Maria Valdes, Soprano, and Alan Higgins, Baritone. I hope you will make every effort to be in attendance for this inspiring evening of music.

The Music and Worship Ministry of Smoke Rise is a vibrant, multi-generational avenue of service. If you are interested in making music with us, contact one of the people listed below.

The Creation Franz Joseph Haydn

Smoke Rise Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra featuring

Richard Clement, Tenor Uriel

Maria Valdes, Soprano Gabriel

Alan Higgs, Baritone Raphael

Sunday, April 30, 2017 • 7:00 PM 5901 Hugh Howell Road • Stone Mountain, Georgia • 30087 Admission is Free

CH U RCH M U S IC O F F I C E

77 0- 469- 5 85 6

DENISE BURCHAM Handbell Director artsacademy@smokerisebaptist.org

DANNY VANCIL Minister of Music & Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org

LYNNE GINN Music & Worship Administrative Assistant lginn@smokerisebaptist.org

MARY LYNN WEATHERLY Church Organist mweatherly@bellsouth.net

HEATHER HUFF Music Assistant & Church Pianist LHHuff@bellsouth.net

SPRING CHILDREN’S MUSICAL SUNDAY, MAY 7TH

MARY & RUDY WILSON Instrumental Coordinators orwilson44@yahoo.com

DA N N Y VANCIL

MINISTER OF MUSIC & WORSHIP

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GROW IN G AT S M O KE R I SE CAN WOMEN HAVE IT ALL?

LADIES’ SPRING EVENT

April 25, 2017, at 6:30 pm featuring American journalist, television host, and sportscaster, Julie Moran. Julie, the first female anchor of ABC’s wide world of sports and former Entertainment Tonight host tackles this subject with humor, very personal stories, celebrity insight, and revelations from her 2 decade long career in sports and entertainment. This mother of two girls and wife of 30 years found a way to balance it all and concluded…Yes, Women can have it all, just maybe not all at the same time!!! $20.00 per person. Tickets will go on sale beginning March 26. If you would like to host and decorate a table, contact Kathy Jollay at (770) 9259493.

JOURNEYS 2017 - SESSION 5

WEDNESDAYS AT 6 PM Mark Twain Alive at Smoke Rise!

Experience the wit of one of America’s greatest humorists when Richmond’s David Bailey presents Mark Twain. Dr. Bailey is president of David Bailey Associates of Richmond, Virginia. A former college history professor, he is a veteran of more than 500 performances in 13 states of Mark Twain, Alive.

April 26th in Fellowship Hall Post Easter Study: Lingering Questions of the Disciples The disciples had many questions to ponder after the resurrection of Jesus. Dr. Greg DeLoach, Director of Development for McAfee School of Theology and Penfield College of Mercer University, will lead the sessions on May 3rd and 10th in Fellowship Hall.

Dealing with Dementia Do you have a friend or loved one dealing with dementia? Sylvia Dodson will share her experience with this heartbreaking condition and what she learned from it on May 3rd in hopes it will help others. Room 223

K AT HY D O B B IN S

WO MEN ’S RET R EAT

COMING THIS FALL OCTOBER 13-15, 2017 It’s been many years since the women of Smoke Rise have set aside time to spend quality time away together, make new friendships across generations, and focus on our spiritual life. The upcoming retreat will be at the Twin Rivers Resort in Demorest, Ga – less than 2 hours from Stone Mountain.

Retreat Co-Chairs: Mazi Kathy Jollay and Deborah Reeves Robinson will lead our sessions. She is a licensed professional counselor in Atlanta specializing in helping women discover their true voice.

Set aside this weekend in October to join us in the beautiful North Georgia mountains.

Look for more details in the next issue.

Adults 55 & Over May Prime Time will feature pianist Jeff Cleghorn playing your gospel favorites.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at 11:30 am. $8.00 - includes lunch. Deadline for reservations is April 28th Call the office at (770) 469-5856.

MINISTER OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION

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CON N EC T I N G AT SMOK E R I SE New Park Springs Satellite Worship Service For many years our church has enjoyed the service and fellowship of members and friends who live at the nearby retirement community of Park Springs. On April 2, 2017, our will launch a new ministry and partnership at Park Springs when we kick off a live Satellite Worship Service broadcast to large screen. Each week at Park Springs, two or three SRBC volunteers will attend the satellite service to greet worshippers and distribute bulletins. On Communion Sundays, our ministers will attend on a rotating basis to oversee communion.

With the assistance of Park Spring residents and church members, Charlie and Mame Hooper, and David and Shirley Riggs, Dr. Chris George, and our technology support team acted on the opportunity to host the service. Dr. George sees the Park Springs partnership as a reflection of a renewed commitment to care for each other and our community: “Smoke Rise has always been a church without walls. We are committed to meeting and ministering to people where they are. This new ministry is a natural expression of our desire to connect with our community,” said Dr. George.

Church member and volunteer, Brian Abner, agreed to serve as the leader of the Park Springs Worship Support Team, and Associate Pastor, Bart McNiel, is the ministerial staff liaison for the team. “We are welcoming all to join us for worship, regardless of denominational background,” said Rev. McNiel. “We are confident that residents will feel at home, since our worship draws from a rich well of traditional music, liturgy, and word. As we worship and receive communion with followers of Jesus across various traditions, we will be blessed to experience the unity of the Spirit.”

SATELLITE WORSHIP SERVICE AT PARK SPRINGS 11:00 AM Sunday Morning “We are welcoming all to join us for worship, regardless of denominational background.”

Thank you to Mike Danishek, SRBC Manager of Multimedia and technology team member, Jim Farmer, who spent many hours helping to launch the new ministry, providing set up and electronic media support. If you are willing to greet worshippers and hand out bulletins either once a month or once a quarter at Park Springs, please contact Rev. Bart McNiel at bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org or call 678533-0540 and leave your name and phone number.

HOW TO VO LUN T E E R AT PA R K SP R IN G S Would you be willing to greet worshippers, handout bulletins, or provide hospitality at Park Springs? It wouldn’t have to be every Sunday, just once a month, or even once a quarter. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Bart McNiel at bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org or call 678.533.0540 and leave your name and best way to contact you.

BA RT McN E IL

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

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CAR IN G AT S M O KE R I SE TO UCHPOIN T U P DAT E

Our prayer card team is presently sending cards to nearly 60 people each month who are under home or facility care. If you have not picked up your Spring card kits for our Spring rotation, please stop by the table just outside Rev. McNiel’s office.

Thank you to Fredolyn Stitt for her assistance with our Spring card kits.

The Nancy’s Heart Stitcher’s team has delivered multiple caring quilts over the Winter months, and our Visitation Team has also been actively visiting members in facility care who are most vulnerable, alone, or facing transition.

P R AY E R CA R DS Card Ministry Team

Sending personal cards to home and facility bound members to encourage and brighten days.

C ONTAC T TOU CH POI N T

For more information or to volunteer to serve on a TouchPoint Ministries team contact: Rev. Bart McNiel, Associate Pastor bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org To update address or contact information for Home & Facility Care members contact: Merrilee Brock, Communications Coordinator mbrock@ smokerisebaptist.org

ST ITC H E R S

Quilting & Blankets Team

Sharing the warmth of Christian love with handmade quilts and blankets during difficult times.

G RI EF SU PP ORT

V I SI TAT IO N

Reaching out to others after the loss of a loved one and walking with them into the future.

Visiting homes and facility bound members with smiles, prayers, and personal touch.

Be r e a ve m e n t Te am

Home & Facility Care Team

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FA M ILY TOUCH

Working Families Team

Connecting working families through fellowship, service, and mutual support.

SERVIN G ON M I S S I ON NEW YORK CI T Y What comes to mind with the song, New York, New York is Times Square, Madison Avenue. But maybe you don’t immediately think of a mission trip to this environment. In July, we will send a mission team again, as we have for the last 11years. Our long-term partnerships are Metro Baptist Church on Manhattan Island and Greater Restoration Baptist in Brooklyn. Both churches are part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The culture is different in this city that never sleeps. Everyone is in a hurry. We have learned from our mission partners how to minister in this environment.

Our mission teams stay in the Metro location and ride the subway 45 minutes to work at the Brooklyn site. We are assisting both of these congregations with a day camp. There is time for a day of site seeing and even a few evening meals in this exciting town.

New York, New York!

It may seem early, but it’s really not! The New York Mission Trip will be July 15 – 22. You may register on line at www.smokerisebaptist.org/missions and pay $100 deposit. Then get prepared for a great week working in children’s day camp at Metro Baptist Church and Greater Restoration Baptist Church! Cost will be approximately $300 plus airfare. For more details, please contact Carol Garner at 404-402-0123 or nycsmokerise@gmail.com.

Because of our long-term partnership, we have built many relationships over the years. This year we will take part in celebrating the retirement of Ronnie Adams, a CBF missionary of many years. Ronnie originally connected us with both of these churches. We will celebrate his many years of faithful ministry and wish him the best in his retirement.

Third Annual World Mission Offering Thank you for your support of the third AWMO and the goal of $40,000. To date, there have been 51 pledges made, $16,605 pledged, and $36,120 given. Remember that your AWMO should be above your regular giving to the church.

Benefit for Lilburn Co-op On Saturday, April 22, 2017, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Parkview Church, 4875 Lilburn Stone Mountain Road, will host a Spring Garage Sale and Free Car Wash to benefit Lilburn Co-op. Please plan to be a part of this community effort to assist our Mission Partner, Lilburn Cooperative Ministry.

GAP Construction Trip in May The next GAP construction trip will be May 21 – 26, 2017. To register, please go to www. smokerisebaptist.org/missions, click on Appalachia, complete the registration, and pay the $100 deposit. Total cost of the trip is $300. For more information, please contact Bill Blanton at wmblanton12@icloud.com or at 678-510-9390 or contact the Missions Office.

TIM A DCOX MINISTER OF MISSIONS

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FAMILY M I N I ST RY AT SMOK E R I SE WH E N CH IL DRE N L EA D At Smoke Rise our philosophy of children in worship revolves around Matthew 19:14:

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

Jesus’ words calls us to expect more than children sitting and listening in sanctuary worship on occasion or removing them from the larger corporate worship experience to learn B EC KY by themselves. At Smoke Rise children are fully integrated CASWELL-S PE IGH T leaders in worship. On any given Sunday child lead through prayer, give testimony, usher, sing, or play instruments.

MINISTER TO FAMILIES According to Danny Vancil, “This is important for children WITH CHILDREN because through leading they are learning the traditions and heritage of our faith. They are taking ownership of their faith and not on outside looking in.

Because of this their faith grows with them and is not discarded as adults.”

I believe that Jesus’ call for inclusion was to bring children into the fold was important for the children. It is in worship that children see their leaders and mentors model the practices of their faith. I also believe that Jesus called the children into the crowd he gave the adults opportunities to learn in ways that they had not experienced before. Recently I was talking to Carol Palmer and asked her what she enjoyed about children leading worship. She said, “Their simple but personal prayers are meaningful to me. [Their prayers] show me that children are spiritual beings and provide reminders of my spiritual journey.” As one of the adults in our congregation that works most often with children I could not agree more strongly; children provide me with spiritual guidance each and every week.

The moment Jesus welcomed the children into the crowd both groups were enriched. On Sunday May 7th we are inviting people of all ages to be enriched through a deeper experience of worship. The children will lead worship through song, word, and deed. I hope that you take the time to be welcomed into the fold this Children’s Sunday.

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YOU TH AT S M O KE R I SE STEPS A LO N G T HE JOU RN E Y Discipleship is a lifelong journey that doesn’t start, or stop, when you profess your faith. In the ministry to our students at Smoke Rise we try and provide building blocks that will be foundational to a lifelong commitment to a life lived for Christ. At the beginning of each new year we reflect back on the previous year by telling stories and reading through our journals that we keep in the Youth Room. Then we set spiritual goals for the next year based on where we have been and what we want to do in the next year.

For some youth that means reading through the entirety of the Bible or to study the Gospels. For other youth it means beginning a quiet time and choosing a book or spiritual discipline to guide them through their quiet time. One of our youth decided that he needed to pray more regularly, but he also needed accountability as he began praying. He asked if I would text him regularly to check in on him to see how he is doing.

So I set an reminder on my phone to make sure I did this for him. Sometimes when I check in, I get a text back that says, “Just did.” But there are other times when I get a text back that says, “No.” and that leads to a conversation about what is going on.

There’s another one of our youth who decided to write notes to people in her school that don’t get the recognition that they deserve and how she sees God in their life. Other students mark up their bulletins on Sunday morning, not with notes to their friends, but in the ways that they see God in scripture and how they see God in the world around them.

It’s not just individuals that are taking their faith deeper, a group of our high schoolers came to me and asked if they could have a Bible study only for them where they could dig deeper into questions of faith that they have and have the time and space to ask questions that they might not want to ask with other people in the room. So, we’ve started a time together called “Can I Ask That?”

Where we explore things that they might have previously thought were off the table to ask, or that they ask, and talk about other places but haven’t talked about church before.

Our youth are beginning to see how their faith is more than just a one time event, or something that happens when they are together on Wednesdays and Sundays, they are beginning to see, and live out their faith in their daily lives. They come back and share where they saw God throughout the week. They talk about things that they struggle with and are encouraged by their fellow youth. We even get to see the glimmer that they get in their eyes when they realize, “This is my gift and I can do it!” It’s not always easy. It’s most often messy. There’s no single way for our youth to grow, but they are blossoming into some pretty awesome people.

J EREMY COLLIVER MINISTER TO FAMILIES WITH YOUTH

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MON TH LY S N A P S HOT

The budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year totals $2,310,197. This represents a decrease from the current year of $104,645 and is a realistic view of anticipated expenses and opportunities. In this new fiscal year these funds will be used to pay for our work in God’s Kingdom in the following ways:

9.1%

Caring for Congregation and Community

15.4%

Worshiping and Glorifying God

23.2%

Equipping for Ministry and Service

20.6%

Cherishing Our Sacred Space

W E E KLY S C H E DUL E Sunday 9:00 am 9:45 am 11:00 am 2:00 pm 4:00 pm

16.9%

Making and Growing Disciples

14.7%

Sharing the Good News

A PRIL EV EN TS

Worship in the Chapel Sunday School Worship in the Sanctuary Matupi Christian Baptist Church Worship Service Youth Handbells Choir Worship

Monday 10:00 pm Women’s Bible Study Mother’s Bible Study Wednesday 5:00 pm Wednesday Night Dinner 6:00 pm Journeys The Broken Way Sanctuary Handbells Preschool Music and Mission 1st-5th Grade Music and Mission Youth Gathering 7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir

4 T H 11:30 AM Prime Time Luncheon and Program 4 T H - 9 T H Baton Rouge Mission Trip 9 T H Palm Sunday 12:00 PM Deacons’ Lunch and Meeting 1 3 T H 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Worship 1 5 T H 10:30 AM Easter Egg Hunt 1 6 T H Easter Sunday 2 0 T H 7:00 PM Finance Committee 2 3 R D 8:30 AM Relay for Life Breakfast and Silent Auction

1:00 PM Messy Art Day

2 5 6:30 PM Ladies Spring Event 2 6 T H 6:00 PM Building Committee Meeting 2 9 T H Smoke Rise Car Show 30 T H 7:00 PM Hayden Creation Concert TH

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