Contact us at: 402-391-0820

www.sunsethillschurch.org sunset@sunsethillschurch.org

Sunset Hills Church 9416 Pacific Street Omaha, NE 68114

Upcoming Events at Camp Moses Merrill

Women’s Getaway 2020

March 6 - 8

Register at www.campmerrill.com

Spiritual S. P. A.

(Seek, Pray, Act)

Spring Youth Retreat

March 13 - 14

Middle School and High School

The Greatest Treasure

Sunset Hills Baptist Church

February 2020

Newsletter

Pastor Paul Ponders It’s February! February makes me think about Winter being on it’s last stand! It’s also the time of year when a lot of people think about love. It must be the Valentine mystique. In 1 Corinthians 13 (the Love chapter), Paul leads our thoughts through the fact that without love, anything we do has no real value. He concludes his chapter on love with these words; “And now, these three remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is”… you guessed it… “LOVE!” I am reminded about Paul’s assertion in vs. 8 that, “Love Never Fails.” This declaration applies to all of us, even when we struggle. What happens when people reject family, or life, or belief in something greater than themselves? Love never fails. What happens when we burn out and our faith doesn’t seem strong any more, when we are about to give up on God? Love never fails. What happens when all you’ve known or cared about is crumbling all around you and you feel as if you don’t have any reason to live? Love never fails. ‘These three remain… faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.’ Love binds all Christ’s virtues together in perfect harmony as they are worked out through his body, the Church. What are those virtues? Paul tells the Colossians (Chapter 3) that these virtues are compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. These virtues send us right into the middle of the Peace of Christ that we experience best in the body of Christ, the Church. Peace brings thankfulness and thankfulness issues forth in teaching each other with wisdom. That’s discipleship.

(Continued on Page 2)

(Continued from Page 1) Let’s learn and share together who God is and what God means to each of us. If we talk about God and what He is doing, we understand LOVE for what it really is… the Greatest!

Upcoming Sermon Schedule

February 2 The Antique Hammer I Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:7

February 9 Calling All Servants Romans 12:8, I Corinthians 12:28

February 16 What Moves Your Mountain? Romans 12:8, I Corinthians 12:9

February 23 How to Spot Counterfeit Christianity I Corinthians 12:10

March 1 The Barnabas Factor Romans 12:8 Join the Sunset Stitchers

We would love to have you join us on

the first Sunday of the month as we sew

quilt squares and just have fun together.

The quilt squares are for Benson Baptist

Church’s charity quilting mission. All

supplies are provided for us. Please talk

to Lillian Richards if you are interested.

February Prayer Meeting

Monday evening

February 3

6:30 p.m.

Coffee with the Pastor will resume this month. We’ll continue to meet on the 4th Thursday of the month, February 27, at Hy-Vee on 90th and Center. All are invited to join Pastor Paul at 10:30 a.m.

Dinner and a Movie will be held starting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12. We’ll have hamburger patties and mashed potatoes for dinner and enjoy the movie Encounter. All are welcome for either or both.

December Income $26,082 December Expenses $15,741 YTD Income $221,778 YTD Expenses $211,730 December Pledges 159% YTD Pledges 97%

SHBC Financial Scoreboard

2 Alainah White 3 Jack Welch 7 Scott Darden 12 Rita Ray 13 Doug Larsen 17 Jason Rich 21 Sara Gade 23 Jill Gilliland 23 Pat Martin 24 Charlotte Lowrance (100 Years Young) 26 Nicole Loeffler 28 Linda Kilpatrick 28 Jenica Nallathambi 29 Nancy Berney

January Attendance Giving

5 99 $2,823.56

12 105 $4,328.00

19 85 $2,460.13

26 106 $3,033.00

Men’s and Women’s Breakfast Saturday, February 15 - 8:30 a.m.

14 Pam & Alan Whitebread 30 years 24 Telly & Shawnda Woods 19 years

Happy Anniversary!

2020 Birthdays and Anniversaries If you have been attending Sunset Hills for a while and have not received a birthday or anniversary card, it might mean we don’t have you on the list. If this is the case, please leave a message with Pam Hamlin, either by phone or email or jot a note on back of the Sunday Connection Card. Birthdays need not include the year, but anniversaries can so we will know if it is a hallmark year. We would love to honor your special day with a card!

Volunteers Needed If you would like to consider being a greeter this year, we could use your help. All it requires is a friendly handshake, a smile and a heart to serve. Please talk to Kellye Deane or call the office to let us know that you’d like to be on the monthly rotation. Thank you!

Prayers for Health, Healing, and Strength

Rick Wheatley Linda Wheatley Amber Dale Barbara Ganey Nancy Quinnette Pat Martin

On-going prayers of well-being for shut-ins and military personnel

All-Age Adult Sunday School February 2020 News If you would be interested in leading a study for our Father in this class, please contact LaShawnda Woods at mrs_lwoods@icloud.com. On the heels of one of the best attended studies, in February we will have the 3-part DVD study ENCOURAGEMENT by Dr. Charles Stanley. The study begins by listing all of the qualities that makes God our great Encourager and then explains how He uses those attributes to motivate us. The second part explores God’s intention that we also be encouragers and includes steps we can take to inspire others. Finally, Dr. Stanley reveals how we can encourage ourselves by going to the Lord for guidance when we have no where else to turn. He is our Shield and Protector in difficult times, and He promises to be our Counselor whenever we ask. We all need hope and encouragement. Please consider attending this presentation and class discussion beginning February 9. This all-age adult class meets in the upstairs classroom from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. We would love to have you grow in faith and fellowship with us.

The Men’s Study Group February 2020 News The study of Reading Romans Backwards A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire by Scott McKnight continues. We read the assigned text ahead of our meetings and have open discussion of the material in the Tuesday 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. time frame. Please consider this opportunity to grow with us in faith together.

Stewardship Ministry 2020 Team February News The repair of our hail damaged roof will finish up early in this coming spring’s warmer weather. Our 2020 team has a few openings for others to help serve God with occasional exterior grounds work. Please see Wade Gilmer, Bob Slechta or Ron Reed to learn about how you may help. Thanks to each of you who have committed to serve our Father.

Sunset Hills Baptist Church

Ministry Council Meeting Minutes

January 20, 2020

Attendees: Pastor Paul; Gina Slechta, Moderator; Scott Darden, Treasurer/Vice Moderator;

Don Zak, Worship Ministry; Traci Gilmer, Mission/Outreach Ministry; LaShawnda Woods,

Discipleship Ministry; Jason Rich, Pastoral/Staff Relations Ministry; Telly Woods, Clerk

Devotion and Prayer (Pastor Paul): Romans 12: 6-8—We have different gifts, according to

the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with

your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give

encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to

show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Treasurer Report: Scott Darden presented the treasurer’s report for December 2019. A

motion was made and seconded to accept the report as given; motion passed.

Ministry Council: The Ministry Council reviewed each teams’ goals for 2020 in preparation

for the annual business meeting. The council will begin to walk through the book, Spiritual

Leadership, on a monthly basis.

On Saturday, February 29, 2020, the Ministry Council will convene part II of our 2020

leadership training and development workshop.

If you are interested in working on or with a ministry team, please feel free to contact one of

our Sunset Hills Baptist Church ministry team leaders or members for more information.

Gina Slechta, Moderator Scott Darden, Vice Moderator/Treasurer

Ron Reed, Stewardship Ministry Traci Gilmer, Mission/Outreach Ministry

Pastor Jason Workman, Safety/Security Ministry Pam Hamlin, Shepherding Ministry

Don Zak, Worship Ministry LaShawnda Woods, Discipleship Ministry

Telly Woods, Pastoral/Staff Relations Ministry

The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2020.

Complete copies of all Ministry Council meeting minutes are available in the church office.

Holy Hotlines

Worry Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Peter 5:7

Fear Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaiah 41:10

Temptation Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Corinthians 10:13

Doubt Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Romans 10:17

Sickness Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaiah 53:5

Depression Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Psalm 34:18

Loneliness Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deuteronomy 31:8

Lines Are Open 24/7

Please prayerfully consider

what you can give to the 2020

America for Christ Offering

coming up in March. Our

church goal is $1,700.00.

Charlotte Lowrance’s family has planned a celebration for her 100th birthday on Sunday, February 23 from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. They will be having cake at her assisted living facility, Lakeside Village, and would love to invite Charlotte’s church family. The family has requested no gifts please. If you cannot attend but would like to send Charlotte a card, her address is listed in the church directory.