F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R

SUNDAY

10:30 am sermon

Truth seekers 4 pm Sept. 13, 2020

MONDAY

Mens group 6:30

Ladies study Sept 14, 2020

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Exercise 9Am

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Exercise 9Am

Inside this issue:

Front desk Sept Oct Birthdays TV 7 schedule

2

Pastors pen cont. Mens group Facebook Website Meetings Truth seekers

3

Teens to tiaras 4

Military support Invite your one Choir Bell Choir

5

Paint the building

Trim bushes

Ladies bible study

6

Pray n Go

inspiration

steeple

7

Love n Grace

healing centers

8

2020

One of the most intriguing books in the Bible is the book of Ecclesiastes. It is also known

by its Hebrew title, Qohelet (pronounced koh – HEL – it). The title Ecclesiastes comes to

us from the Greek title of the book, when it was translated into Greek from Hebrew in the

century or so before the birth of Jesus. We get our words “ecclesiastical” and

“ecclesiology” (the doctrine of the church) from this word. Simply put, the book purports

to be a “sermon” or a message from “the preacher” about the nature of life on earth, as it is

lived “under the son.”

Ecclesiastes is one of the most enigmatic books of the Bible. At times it says

things that appear to be quite politically incorrect, if not outright offensive! For example,

Ecclesiastes 7:28 says “while I was still searching but not finding-- I found one upright

man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.” Really?! It’s a good

thing this guy was not running for political office, especially in this day and age! But other

things found in the book make perfect sense, such as what many believe to be the key

theme of the book, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God

and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

So how can one book of the Bible, written by the same author in its entirety, send

such seemingly mixed messages? At times, the author seems to despair of understanding

anything about life, and he even seems to impugn God himself. Note, for example, his

assertion that “Vanity of vanities, . . . All is vanity!” (1:2) and “It is an unhappy business

that God has given to the children of men to be busy with.” (1:13b). At one point, the

author concludes “So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me,

for all is vanity and a striving after the wind.” (2:18). “I hated life”? Really. Today, we

would probably think someone who uttered or wrote such words to be suicidal!

But this fascinating book ends with the following injunction: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Essentially, the author states that our responsibility is not to figure it all out; our responsibility is to obey God, and to keep his commandments. That is, our job is not to understand or figure out things. Our job is to fear (i.e., respect) God, and to do what he says. That is the sum total of all that we have to do. As for righting the wrongs, and exercising proper judgment, and revealing every secret thing – that is God’s responsibility and his alone. As I tried to state last Sunday, Jesus does not promise us an unending litany of favorable circumstances; he promises to be with us throughout each and every circumstance. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, the very last words of Matthew’s Gospel).

Prayer request ? call

Phone: 231-773-5476

Email:

firstbaptistmusk@frontier.com

(Pastors pen continued on page 3)

Page 2 September Birthdays

1 Jeff Craigie

3 Linda Wood

5 Jerry Peterman

7 Patrick McGettigan

8 Ione Krueger

11 Barbara Fore

14 Warren Wezell

16 Bob VanderWal

21 Eric Hannon &

Tim Her

23 Tim Rogers

24 Karmin Wezell

27 Shirley McCarthy

29 Buster Davis

30 Juanita Loss

October Birthdays 2 Judy Wilcox

3 Joanne Hall

4 Karen Poland

6 Elaine Harkeness

7 Marty Levandoski

8 Jason Jeffery

13 Cindy West

16 Alberta Schram

17 Terri Gleason

20 Darene Anderson

Jill Wezell

22 Julie Grinwis

23 Jill Lacy

26 Stephanie Montalvo

26 Nancy Farrin

If your birthday does not

show up on our list ,

please let the office know.

Sometimes the database

does not have complete

Watch our service on Comcast

channel 7

Tuesday 7:30

Saturday 12:30 and

Sunday 11am

As we head into fall, we are looking at a different fall season. We have restrictions that will need to be worked into our routine. One of the changes we have is taking care of our building and grounds. The group from MOKA used to come once a week to clean restrooms and empty trash. They are not starting that program up at this time. So, we need help. If you use a room, please clean up and empty trash. If it is needed, please vacuum. We have a couple of mice that you are making very happy. It is important to look around the room before you leave to be sure you have left it looking nice and clean for the next group that uses it. One of the rooms that has had some issues is the Lounge at the end of the Family Center Hallway. It has had a lot of trash in the trash cans and crumbs on the floor. We have some of our people who are trying to help, but it is so much better if you clean up after your meeting is done. Some of our women have taken on trying

to get the two kitchens in order, again you can help by cleaning up after an event. Thank you!

Painting

We hope in the next couple of months to start painting the outside of the church. We have a challenge to work through with the flowering bushes and the ornamental grass. We do have a few areas that can be started on. John Ramones can give you the information. It is the area by the pear tree. It will need to be power washed, then painted. Let John know if you are willing to

help.

Yard Work

There is a lot of brush and foliage that needs to be trimmed or cut away. The area that has gotten overgrown is in the back of the church. It looks bad and is a potential fire hazard. Thinning it out will help also help with the problem of the homeless trying to sleep and camp back there. Joe Lihan picked up a lot of trash from the area. We need a few saws and rakes to work in

that area. John Ramones or Joe Lihan can point out the area we are concerned about.

The Wendy’s Property

The Wendy’s Property will now we known as the former Wendy’s property. We finally have the deed. It is an area on the other side of the swale. The swale is that depression in the ground that we had to dig for rain runoff when we built. It was a dream to someday develop the former Wendy’s property into a picnic area for church picnics and outdoor events. This area also was one where a few years ago we used one end of it to put snow so that the main parking lot could be open. We will publish plot drawings so that you can get a better feel for how much of the area back there belongs to us. We also have a smaller piece back there that has an easement out to West street. Let’s dream big that someday we can develop a picnic area. Some of you probably don’t know that there is a circle area back on this side of the swale that was developed for taking pictures. It was surrounded by bushes called burning bushes. It has gotten overgrown and needs tender loving care. A couple of the bushes have died and the others need trimming. We have so many areas that we can do ministry. This church is incredibly blessed. We have the main church building, the Lighthouse and its grounds, the former Wendy’s property, and the property with access to West St., the road that is behind us on the East. And we have an area that could be beautiful again to use for family pictures. Let us give thanks to God for all he has given us to

share with the community.

Like our public page on Facebook

First Baptist Church ABC or

https://www.facebook.com/1st.Baptist.Muskegon/

Diaconate meeting

Sept 13th, 2020

@ 12:00pm

Be sure to check in on Facebook ,

while you are here!

Trustees

meeting is

Sept 20 , 2020

@12:00 (noon)

And now watch our Sunday sermon live on our

public facebook page at 10:30am

if you attend our church,

and are not on our private

Facebook group (FBC family !!!)

please let pastor know so he can add you.

(Pastors pen continued here.)

So what are we dealing with now? Well, first of all, a pandemic – the first one we’ve experienced in 100 years. We

have societal upheaval at a rate and an intensity that we have not seen since at least the late 1960’s. We have an

election coming up in a little over two months, with an electorate that is as divided as I can ever remember.

Whatever your political thoughts, there is absolutely no doubt that the two major parties are sending out very, very

different political philosophies, and the contrast between these two ideologies and their candidates are stark and

very different. So what are we to do? Again, I would remind us all of that final message in Ecclesiastes. Even when

life does not make sense, at least to us, it is our responsibility to serve God, and to keep his commands. When will

the pandemic be over? I don’t know. When will the societal upheaval, the protests, the looting, the violence, all

end? I don’t know. What will be the outcome of the November 3 election, both at the top of the ticket, and down the

ballot? I don’t know. But I know that God’s people have survived war, revolution, upheaval, famine, peril, sword,

exile, imprisonment, and even death in the Coliseum in Rome.

As our Lord said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Mens group will be meeting

on Monday nights

6:30pm

(we will be social distancing )

Sunday afternoon bible study

@ 4pm starting Sept 13, 2020 Truth Seekers

This is going to be more like a conversation. Do you have questions? Let's find the answers together. Bring your questions. We will put topics out from the list, the week before, so you can study... and then bring your bibles, so we can all share what we found and discuss our thoughts.

We are planning our annual meeting for October 14, 2020 @ 6:30 pm If you would like to be on the trustees board let Steve Bradish know. (trustees handle everything to maintain the

grounds) If you would like to be on the Diaconate please let Bob Vanderwal know. (diaconate handles

everything to do with the people , ministry helping and outreach.)

You must be a member to serve on either board.

Page 4

Teens to Tiaras Wow what a great event! Thank you all so much for your help.

This year was alittle more expensive due to COVID-19. We had less donations and less workers. Plus we bought each girl their own makeup instead of risking the accidental re-use of the disposable applicators. We bought sanitizers to take shopping with us, and Nancie Made these

beautiful masks for the girls, And she made masks for all the mentors and helpers.

We were expecting 11 girls but 3 of them couldn't make it. We ended up with 8 girls 9 mentors , Although a couple of mentors had other stuff to do also, ( like Bonnie K was doing hair) so our extra mentor helped with a few kids. Four of our Mentors were from other churches, Ladies I met through the Decolores movement. They would like to help again next year, and I have a few that couldn't make it this year that would like to help next year. So maybe we can handle even more kids next year. Breakfast was bagels and fruit. We had the melons donated by one of our mentors from Decolores. At breakfast we presented the girls with a huge bag of gifts that included shampoo ,conditioner, body wash , deodorant , toothbrush , toothpaste , dental floss , mirror , washcloth , loofah , puma stone, wet brush , comb, their own make up , nail kit, etc.

and a 31 bag to keep that stuff in.

Then we went shopping at Walmart for socks undies & bra and lanyards for our masks.

Their fitting rooms were closed so then we ended up with 1 bra that was too small,, she said she

will give it to her little sister. Walmart gave us 10% off. & we were tax exempt.

Then to Maurices, they looked for 1 pants 1 shirt. Maurices had a 25% off every thing. Plus we used

10 military discount and a 10% discount for putting it on a Maurices charge card, which we paid off right there at the counter.

Plus Brandy, let us use her $5 loyalty rewards plus we

were tax exempt.

Then anything that we could not find the other stores

we went down to JCPenney to buy. We had two girls

that were really small so they bought most of their stuff

at JCPenney. I am still confused about the discounts we

received. There were some things on sale that we got a different percentage discount than

the rest. So when you figured the first discount on the total bill ,it was 41%. Then we got

another discount that was 32% Plus we were able to use Brandy’s $10 rewards. And of course we were tax exempt there as well.

Then we went back to the church for lunch. This year we were having the “invite your one “ celebration at church the next day, so we were lucky to be able to dip into the tacos that were meant for the after church dinner. That saved us a huge expense. We were so thankful for our

wonderful kitchen help! The girls made up a thank you card just for them. And they made a thank you card for all of First Baptist church.

Then we split into groups we did manicure and pedicures, complete with polish. We offered haircuts although I do not believe anybody took us up on that. So we had a lot of hairstyles and then we did make up. Some of the girls opted to put their own make up on. And then we took the girls one by one into the boutique where they were able to pick out one set of jewelry , a necklace , bracelet and earrings. Then we gathered and went to the sanctuary. We listened to our guest speaker Brandy. This year we let the parents come in for the last part of the event which was the “fashion show”,

where each girl was called up and their mentor introduced them to us and told us a little bit about them , favorite color , birthday, that sort of thing.

Then we presented them all with a tiara. As they are daughters of the one true king. they are princesses! and then we were able to give them a bag that had a pen , a daily devotional and some candy and best of all a beautiful Bible that was signed by their mentor. I hope that each one of

the girls remembers the love that we shared with them that day , Gods love.

We are preparing a package for

Langlois, Sidney, A 3rd Battalion 12th Marines

Unit 36100 FPO AP 96385-6100

She likes the color yellow, she needs socks,

she likes perfume that is sweet or smells like vanilla, she likes those adult coloring books with markers

And Nutella, pb & J, pretzels, fruit snacks, granola bars, trail mix We would like a bunch of letters and card to fill the box too. We

have a basket set up in the narthex for anything you might want to donate. Lets show her Gods love!

If you want to donate toward mailing, please let someone in the diaconate know. She is overseas but all postage is the normal domestic prices. There are restrictions like “no sanitizer” “no hazardous material.” “ no perishable items, like fresh fruit” keep in mind it usually takes a good 3 weeks or more to arrive.

More info at ...

https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm

choir rehearsal will resume

with socially distanced rehearsals

in the Sanctuary not the

choir room on September 3.

Bell Choir practice will

start

Sept 24th at 5:30pm!

Invite you one event went pretty good considering we

kept having to change the date. We had at least 10

new people at church, assuming I counted right.

I forgot to count at lunch, but I think we had 35 to 40

that stayed for dinner. We gave out some pretty cool

door prizes. It was a enjoyable Sunday.

I hope you all consider what an

important ministry

it can be to support our Military.

When my kids were young we did not

attend church much. We started attending when

Steph was in her junior or senior year.

Stephanie usually worked on Sundays so she

did not really attend with us. In 2010 she joined

the navy. First Baptist started sending

care packages. By the time she was done with

the navy, she new she was coming home

to a church that loved her.

Page 6

Ladies group will be meeting

on Monday nights @ 6:30

Starting September 14th, 2020

You'll Get Through: Hope and

Help for Your Turbulent Times

In this six-session small group Bible study. pastor Max Lucado offers refreshing assurance. Max reminds participants God doesn't promise that getting through trials will be quick or painless.

1. You’ll Get Through This

2. Down and Out, But Never Alone

3. Stupid Won’t Fix Stupid

4. Is God Good When Life Isn’t

5. Now, About Those Family Scandals and

Scoundrels

6. God Can Use This for Good

Ladies age 17 and up

whether you attend

First Baptist Church

or not are welcome!

If you want the study guide or

book please order it .

Otherwise just attend FREE!

Please help if you can. We will be painting the outside of church on

Sept 19, 2020 @ 10 am

Please let John Ramones or Donna Scott know if you will be available

to help , so that we can plan to have enough brushes and rollers.

Refreshments provided

Note: If it is going to rain, we will do it the

next Saturday at the same time.

Plus we need to Trim the sea grass and bushes so we can paint,

We will do this the week before. So Saturday September 12, 2020

We will do this at 9 am to beat the heat.

Again please let John or Donna know if you will be available.

Acts 1:8 The disciples were taught early on, to pray and

then go.

That is what we are going to do. We ask that all of you are praying for our church and our

community. And that you join us for this movement.

. Please let us know if you would like to be a part of this “behind the scene“ movement.

We will be gathering on Saturday

September 12, 2020 to begin the pray and go program.

We will start at the church, at 10:am watching a couple of videos. And then go out (2 by 2)

to specific streets, then pray for a household, leave a

door hanger, letting them know that we prayed for

them. And then go to the next house.

We love our community so we pray for our community.

We will continue the 2 by 2 praying after that with a

sign up schedule, so we achieve our goal.

In July we had

the steeple

power washed,

Look how great

it turned out.

Each of us have our own struggles.

And yet other people are struggling with the same thing.

Just know that you are not alone, God is with you & God is good.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 12

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13

No

temptation[a]

has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is

faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b]

beyond what you can bear. But when you

are tempted,[c]

he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Page 8

1070 S. Quarterline Rd. Muskegon, MI. 49442

Phone: 231-773-5476 Email: firstbaptistmusk@frontier.com

CELEBRATING FREEDOM IN CHRIST

We’re on the web

Mifbc.com

Or on Facebook

First Baptist Church ABC

http://www.easytithe.com/givetofbc

or Text to give +12316741112

If you, or someone you know, are

Looking for someone to talk to, call us 231-767-3403.

Biblically based and supported

by donations.

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