:: First Baptist Church of North East, MD ::

I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12

The Lamplighter

September 2009

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COMBINED SERVICE & Concert

Sun Sep 20—starting @ 10am

Let’s gather together

We’re planning to have a combined worship service on Sunday, September 20, 2009, @ 10am. There will be NO 8:30am and/or 11am service. There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL that day. We’re pleased to announce that BARBARA SANDBEK will be here in concert for this special service and at the 6pm service, as well. There will be a love offering for Sandbek.

Let’s ALL gather together for a special time of fellowship and worship.

BARBARA SANDBEK has been singing since she was 6-years-old. She and her husband, Dale, a certified Sound Engineer, work as a team.

Barbara has made several appearances on TV. Her concerts have been broadcast live on the radio. Two of her songs have made it to the nationwide Christian Country Chart—her rendition of the song, The Secret Place (#25) and Making Plans For a Better Day (#32).

Your love offering will be used to help fund the Sandbeks’ radio outreach in the U.S., Canada, Belize, Guam, and also South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa through Trans World Radio’s short wave broadcasts.

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Worthy of Praise

by Pastor Dan Mohler

The Creator became like His creature; then He became the servant of His creature and died for His creature, for love of His creature; so that His creature could become like his Creator!

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving- kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3b NIV).

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV).

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MD/DE STATE MISSIONS OFFERING

Tell The Story of Hope

“. . . And we rejoice in the hope

of the glory of God.”

Week of Prayer:

September 13-20, 2009

He is our hope, our only hope. That message of hope desperately needs to be shared in our multi-state region . . . A major portion of our offering targets the expansion of our cooperative work in the Wilmington, Delaware area. We need to plant churches. We need to strengthen our existing congregations.

Spend time reading (www.bcmd.org/offering) about the other areas of focus this year. Every dollar you give to the State Missions Offering goes directly to fund the ministries listed.

David Lee,

Executive Director

Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware

The state offering goal is $215,000. Our church goal is $900.

Sun Sep 6—Sunday School Promotion Day

Teachers’ Dedication, 8:30 & 11am services

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$Budget time is approaching!

We are approaching that time of year again—time to begin discussing the church’s budget for 2010.

If you are a leader of a ministry in the church, you will receive a “budget request letter.” The Finance Committee would like you to write down your plans for your ministry for 2010 and how much you would like the church to budget for your ministry.

Here are some dates to keep in mind:

Wed Sep 30 All budget requests are due into the church office.

Oct The Finance Committee will be reviewing all the requests and will prepare a proposed budget for 2010.

Sun Nov 1 The proposed 2010 budget will be available for the church members to review.

Wed Nov 11 (regular Business Meeting)

The proposed 2010 budget will be discussed at the Business Meeting. Any changes to the proposed budget will be voted on at this Business Meeting. This is YOUR opportunity to ask questions and suggest changes to the proposal.

Sun Dec 6 The 2010 proposed church budget will be voted on at a special Business meeting after Sunday worship.

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FOR THE RECORD:

C.J. Johnson-Aremu caught the largest fish (31”) on the Youth/Men’s

Fishing Trip on Aug. 12. C.J. is 13 years old. Everyone caught fishes!

DVD Showing Sun., Sep 13

The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye

Featuring

Dr. David Mention

This unique presentation received a standing ovation at Creation 2003. Anatomist Dr. David Menton escorts you on a journey into the marvelous intricacies of the human ear and eye, which both have the clear stamp of the Creator and leaves skeptics speechless!

David Menton earned a Ph.D. in cell biology from Brown University. He serves as a biomedical research technician at Mayo Clinic and then as an associate professor of anatomy at Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis). Dr. Mention is a popular lecturer throughout the U.S. and Canada on the creation-evolution controversy.

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WOM will elect new officers

Women On Missions (WOM) will be meeting at 7:00 pm on September 21, 2009, at the home of Betty Jackson. If you need directions, you can call the church office or check the bulletin board by the library for directions.

Our September meeting is a very important meeting as we are going to be electing officers.

Officers positions are as following:

Facilitator
Assistant Facilitator
Secretary
Treasurer
Prayer Chairman
Program Chairman

In our Women on Missions meetings we have a time of sharing, praying for each other, our church and missionaries around the world. We have a time for fellowship, snack and a time for missions business.
Ladies age 18 or older are welcome to attend our meetings. We would love for you to come and share what is on your heart.

WOM is involved in the Angel Tree ministry, Thanksgiving baskets, baby bottle banks for the Cecil County Pregnancy Center, Lottie Moon Offering, and other missions projects.

We would love for you to be a part of Women On Missions here at First Baptist. See you there!

Carol Ann Singleton, Facilitator

P.S. We have nearly 20 baby bottles still in circulation that we used for the Pregnancy Center missions project. Please return them A.S.A.P.

P.P.S. Many of our women will be attending the Women of Faith Conference in Philadelphia, PA on September 18 & 19. Have you PAID for your tickets (including the extra $16.00)? A few tickets are available.

DVD Showing Sun., Sep 13

The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye

Featuring

Dr. David Mention

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Where is Roy?

During VBS I couldn’t find a secluded place to hide. There were so many boys, girls, and adults EVERYWHERE. Things deteriorated (in my opinion) on VBS Family Day—there were s-o-o-o-o many people. I decided to hide in the stairwell leading to the baptistry. Good idea! No, bad idea! On the other hand I wouldn’t have been able to catch a first hand observance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here’s the scoop.

Tina Gibson, VBS Co-director asked Roy Crouse to dress up like Peter (you know Peter in the Bible). Roy asked Patricia Culver, the queen of drama, where the costumes were—they were in a dressing room by the baptistry. Roy proceeded to the dressing room to dress up like Peter—while the program was going on. The only hitch was that Roy (Peter) locked himself in. He couldn’t yell for help. That would interrupt the service. He couldn’t go to the dressing room on the opposite side as the congregation would see him pass through the baptistry. That would have been really funny. He tapped on the door—not loud enough for anyone to hear except me—hee, hee. Peter just didn’t want to disturb the presentation. He was up the creek without a paddle.

Finally, it was noticed that Roy was missing. Tina Gibson and her co-director, Vicki Chestnut, started a search party. What could have happened to Roy? They needed Peter! They finally discovered Roy (Peter)—locked in the stairwell and freed him from his dilemma. I got a good hee, hee. And, the program continued without a hitch. (I love being a mouse.)

KAT, The Resident Church Mouse

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We poured out our hearts—by Betty Jackson

Nancy Hudler and I began sharing our desire to see God do a mighty work in our church approximately two years ago. We decided to meet together on Thursday mornings to just pray for our Church family. We did not quite know how or where God was going to lead us. At first it seemed God was not working, but we soon found out He was changing us. We poured out our hearts to Him and little by little He began to show us things in our own lives that we needed to clean up. Psalms 66:18: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" became a verse that had special meaning and we knew we needed a pure heart before Him. Another verse that was special to us is found in James 5:16: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".

Satan has tried many times to throw hindrances in our way, but we have stayed faithful. Soon Jane Hopman joined us and now there were three ladies praying each week. Nancy mentioned to me about a book she had read called, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. I got a copy and could not put it down. Jane got a copy and could not put it down. It was so uplifting and encouraging to read what God can do with a people who desire to seek His will. Many months after we had read the book and just kept sharing with each other about things in the book that were so uplifting and encouraging Nancy said, "I would like for other ladies to join us and read this book together, sharing each week how God speaks to us individually as we read".

Jane and I agreed. Eight books were purchased and the announcement went out. All books have been taken. Each week we average five to six ladies. It is one of the highlights of our week. We get so excited when we see God working and answering. For instance: We had been praying for someone to work in our nursery. We knew this was a serious need. One Thursday Barbara Gaylord came to our Prayer Time and she and Nancy were talking about the nursery and Barbara said, "I would love to work in the nursery. I just didn't realize who I needed to speak to about it"! Nancy nearly shouted she was so happy. Now we have a full staff of nursery workers!! We sincerely pray for God's Holy Spirit to revive the hearts of all our church family, to bring us together in love and unity, for all of us to be willing to allow Him to lead us in all we do and for us to follow His leadership. In essence, we are praying for REVIVAL to fall on First Baptist of North East. I believe it will ,"If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV). This is our prayer and we believe God will hear and answer!! Praise His Name!! If there was ever a time for Christians to stand up to the plate and do what God has gifted us to do under His leadership, it is NOW. When we were born again God gave us a gift to be used for Him. Are you using yours? What has He gifted you to do? If there is a place that you could share your gifts and talents we pray you will step out and make that commitment and then God will equip you. You are not left on your own, He will guide you. LET HIM!

If you have a burden for our church and have the desire to see God work in our midst, please come and join us at 10:00 am, on Thursday morning at the church in Room 3. We will order new books as they are needed. Just let us know. I must emphasize that this time is more of sharing and praying than actual study. You will be blessed.

Editor’s note: We still have a need for nursery workers for the 8:30am Sunday service.

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Church Picnic &

Informal Worship

North East Town Park

Crouch Pavilion

Sun September 27

4pm-sunset

Please bring plenty of food and drink to share.

The church will provide paper products & utensils.

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