Ebenezer Baptist Church September 2016 Newsletter People of God, Reaching Everyone with the Love of Christ

"Keep Your Eyes on Jesus" How do you eat an elephant??? Before PETA and other friends react negatively to my question, understand what I really am asking is this: How do you accomplish a mammoth task? How do you cross the finish line of a long race without going crazy during the run? Watching our new worship center as it is built has been a great lesson in life. On many levels. As our builders quickly approach their "finish line" (the contracted deadline), they are constantly stressed by each other. Four groups are waiting on one to finish his job so they can finish theirs. One guy messes his part up, and the rest have to wait until he fixes it before they can proceed. (Don't worry, these are just the normal pressures of a building project!!) How do you eat an elephant?? Sometimes when I run, I have to run mailbox to mailbox. If I think about the total distance and total time of my planned run, it can become overwhelming. When my body is saying "Hey, dude ... A little walk would hit the spot right now" I have to just focus on the next mailbox. The next marker or milestone. If I try to focus on the end for the entire run, I will slow down or stop. How do you eat an elephant?????? ONE BITE AT A TIME. I believe that is what Paul is telling us when he wrote in Hebrews 12:2 that we need to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith..." No matter how large or small the task or calling might be, JUST FOCUS ON JESUS. HE will give you what you need to make it to the next marker!! To finish the race!!! And to run it well!!!!!! David

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Schedule 9:15 am Morning Worship (in the FLC) and Children’s Church

10:30 am Sunday School Beginning September 11th: Children’s Bible Skills at 6:00 pm

Beginning September 18th: Evening Bible Studies at 6:00 pm Wednesday Night Activities for families will begin September 14th at 5:00 pm

CentrikidBBQAtRogersBBQ

Tuesday,Sept.27thLunch:11-2

(DineIn,TakeOut,orDeliveryof10ormoreplates)

Dinner:5-7(DineInorTakeOut)

September 14th – First Wednesday night !! 5:00p.m.Supper–everyoneguestofthechurch;6:00p.m.ParentsandtheirchildrenmeetintheSanctuaryforChildren’sMinistryUpdate,followedbyvisitstochildren’sclasses;CHILDRENWILLSTAYWITHTHEIRPARENTSTONIGHT.7:15p.m.parents&childrentoFLCforicecream,cookiesANDFELLOWSHIP;7:45p.m.dismissal

Inthenameofprogress,thegravelparkinglotwillbeclosedthisSunday,Septemer4th!!Pleaseparkintheballfieldandridetheshuttle!Also,THISWEEKONLY(Sept.4th)wewillworshipat9:15intheoldSanctuary(thechapel).Theparkinglotwillbeclosedforpavingnextweek(Sept5th-9th),sowewillhaveNOPrayerMeetingonWednesdaynight(Sept7th).REGULARWednesdayactivitieswillresumeSeptember14th!!!

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Please conta

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Download our Youth Ministry Summer brochure at

www.ebenezeryouth.com

D:groups begin on Sunday, September 11th

At 5:30 pm

Prayer Breakfast on Friday’s at 7:00 am

The Middle

Wednesday’s at 6:00 pm

Operation Christmas Child “Item of the Month” for September: Hard Candy

AgingWithJoyAndGraceConferenceScheduled

EbenezerBaptistChurchofFlorencewillbehostingafreeconferenceforadultsage45andupSaturday,September24.Theconferencewillbeginat8:30a.m.andendat2:00p.m.Afreelunchisincluded.TheconferencewilltakeplaceatEbenezerBaptistChurchlocatedat524S.EbenezerRoadinFlorence.

Thoseadultswhowouldliketoattendareaskedtopre-registersothatadequatepreparationscanbemade.Individualscanpre-registerbyobtaining,completingandreturningaregistrationform,bycallingthechurchofficeat843-669-1802orbyregisteringonlineatwww.ebcsc.combeginningAugust1.Registrationisfree.FormoreinformationcontactRev.HaroldD.Watson,SeniorAdultAssociateatEbenezerBaptistChurchat843-669-1802x118orharoldwatson@ebcsc.com.

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Sunday Nights starting in September Beginning September 18th at 6:00 pm there will be 4 different Sunday Night Study options for Adults:

1. Sharing Your Faith in Today’s World: Led by Pastor David

2. New Members Class: Led by James & Debbie Trussell

3. Financial Peace: Led by Dean Lisenby

4. Evening Bible Study: Led by TBA

We pray you will take advantage of the Sunday Nights for Adults.

Food Pantry Ministry Our Food Pantry is EMPTY. We have had to turn a number of families away recently because our pantry was empty. Beginning in September the Older Adult Ministry will be coordinating the Food Pantry Ministry. Food baskets will be placed outside the Library, in Pettigrew and in the Family Life Center. For the month of September we are having a general non-perishable food collection. Please bring family size canned vegetables, soup, macaroni/cheese, peanut butter, jelly, rice, canned fruit and canned meats. Please bring items that most people will eat and make sure they are not expired. In subsequent months we will promote a certain food item of the month depending on our needs. As you and your family shop for groceries please pick up several items. We have many people in our community who are hungry and in need and the Food Pantry is a vital ministry. Please contact Carol Enzor or Harold Watson if you have any questions.

Ebenezer Baptist Church 524 S Ebenezer Road Florence, SC 29501 Return Service Requested

Bottles will be available in the

Family Life Center. We will be collecting them thru

October10th!

Sunday Schedule: Worship…………………………………………...9:15 am Children’s Church……………………………….9:15 am Sunday School………………………………….10:30 am

Wednesday Evening Schedule : Prayer Meeting…………………………………..6:30 pm Youth ……………………………………………..6:30 pm (Regular Wednesday Activities begin September 14th with Supper at 5:00 pm)

Non-Profit org. US Postage Paid Florence, SC Permit No. 32

Financial Report – Through August 28, 2016 Year-to-date Needs ......................................... $843,408.30 Year-to-date Receipts ..................................... $771,336.80 Raising our Ebenezer ……………………..$1,740,586.94

David R. Wike, Pastor Ed Self, Associate Pastor/Worship & Discipleship

Andi Hill, Minister of Children Nathan Neighbors, Assoc. to Students

Harold D. Watson, Senior Adult Associate Dusty Kertis, Church Administrator Omerea Privette, Weekday Director

Marcia Watkins, Ministry Resource Coordinator Melinda Miller, Receptionist/Ministry Assistant

September Events

04. Worship will be in the Chapel (old Sanctuary) at 9:15 am; Promotion Sunday in Children’s Sunday School 05. Labor Day. Church Office and Weekday Closed. 06. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew. 07. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Ladies Dinner Planning Meeting at 6:30 pm in the Mears House; No Wednesday Activities for Adults and Children. Youth will meet at the YAB. 08. Betty Mears Group 10:30 am in the Mears House. 09. Youth Prayer Breakfast 7:00 am in the YAB 11. Morning Worship at 9:15 am in the FLC followed by SS at 10:30 am. D;groups begin for youth at 5:30 pm; Ministry Team Meetings at 6:00 pm; Children’s Bible Skills/Rec at 5:45 pm in the FLC. 13. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 14. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; All Wednesday Night Activites resume with supper at 5:00 pm. 16. Youth Prayer Breakfast 7:00 am in the YAB. 18. Morning Worship in the FLC at 9:15; SS at 10:30 am; Sunday Evening Bible Studies at 6:00 pm; Children’s Bible Skills/Rec at 5:45 pm. 20. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 21. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Wednesday Night Activities with Supper at 5:00 pm. 24. Aging with Joy Conference 8:30 am – 2:00 pm. 25. Morning Worship in the FLC at 9:15; SS at 10:30 am; Sunday Evening Bible Studies at 6:00 pm; Children’s Bible Skills/Rec at 5:45 pm. 27. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Childrens’s BBQ Fundraiser at Rogers BBQ. 28. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Wednesday Nights Activities with dinner at 5:00 pm. 30. Youth Prayer Breakfast 7:00 am in the YAB.