February Newsletter

Volume 15, Issue 2

First Baptist Church 102 Bishop Ave. Coldwater MI 49036 www.fbcofcoldwater.org “A Place to Call Home”

GIVING THANKS

I know it’s not November….and Thanksgiving is still about 10 months out, but it was just yesterday we honored the life of another long-time member of FBC who has gone home to be with Jesus. And I am feeling a mix of emotions.

Heaven is richer because of 3 saints that have gone home.

The hymn writer put it this way:

“OPEN WIDE THINE ARMS OF LOVE; LORD I’M COMING HOME.

Dorothy Barton, Buss Bassage, and Tommy Olmstead.

As a pastor, how do we process that kind of loss? 3 of our “senior-saints”, so dear, so beloved, so engaged in the Lord’s work with the local church, right up to where health limitations required them to step back, and get ready to go “home”.

Sweet Dorothy was our “coffee lady”, along with her friends for so many years. Always kind, with a gleam in her eye and with her keen sense of humor. Dispensing the coffee and cookies. She fell on Christmas Eve of 2018, broke some bones and spent her last year either in the hospital, in convalescent care or at home, in her comfortable cottage. With the company of friends and family, she was “waiting at the station” for the call to come and then was ushered into the presence of her Lord. Boy, we miss her!

Buss was such a vital part of the serving ministry here at FBC for so many years. Serving on Boards, like the Diaconate, and serving “unofficially” at so many of our social functions and dinners. Buss always had a warm smile and handshake for anyone and everyone. It was sad when his bouts of vertigo began to affect his balance and activity, and a sad, but necessary event when he moved to Maple Lawn for the continual care he needed. He sure enjoyed the visits, and what a birthday party he had a year ago when he turned “90”! But we know, that “to everything, there is a season” and his family was ready to let him go when the Lord called him home. Absent from the body---present with Jesus! Keep Margarette and his family in your prayers.

Tommy’s funeral (as I write this) was yesterday: January 30. It’s still so fresh in my mind. I told her family at the graveside that as I sat in the hearse I was thinking how people often comment at a funeral, “May she rest in peace!” And it made me laugh, right there in the front seat. Tommy was perpetual motion. What a life and ministry she had as a teacher of the Bible and God’s Word.

…Continued on page 2

From the Pastor’s Desk…

Worship Service Times

Sunday Traditional Worship: 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School:

9:45 a.m.

Sunday Contemporary Worship:

11:00 a.m.

What’s Inside...

From Pastor Dan’s Desk…………………..….2

Announcements…………………………………….3

Birthdays & Anniversaries……..4

Calendar of Events…………………..4

Schedules………..…..5

OCC Update...........6

ABW Update……….7

Kids Page……….….…8

What a friend and counselor she was to so many, here at FBC in her classroom, home Bible studies and jail ministries she taught. How many people she brought to faith in Christ! What a great gift to the church and to me as a friend and counselor, too.

We who are “alive and remain” as Paul said, just need to figure it out and get along. And we should learn from their examples! All 3 exhibited fruit of the Spirit. Let’s draw some lessons from these lives and emulate them as they modeled Christ in their lives.

“For out citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly await for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble estate into conformity with the body of His glory…” Philippians 3: 20-21

See you on Sunday! Pastor Dave

“This month, I would love to share a wonderful sermon Rainee and I listened to! I hope it will guide you as you seek to honor both God and your family obligations!”

“Tell Your Children Why” by Colin S. Smith

“In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?’ tell him: ‘We were slaves of Pharoah in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.’” (Deuteronomy 6:20-21)

If you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, what will be the impact on your family? If I extend myself in serving the Lord, will it hurt my children?

This is a very real question for many parents and grandparents. You love the Lord and you want to serve Him. You want your life to count for Him, but you also have a family.

You feel a tension between these two things. You love your children and you want to be a good

mother, a good father. What does it look like to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength, when you are married, and when you have children?

It is very significant that when Moses says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” (6:5), he immediately goes on to describe the impact on the family. Far from destroying your family, I want you to see from the Scripture today that if you choose to love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength, your family will be blessed.

The best way to serve your family, the best way to love your family is to live for the Lord. Indeed, any other choice will be destructive to the people you love. Here’s the principle: Love the Lord first, and the family will be blessed. Love the family first, and the family will suffer. I want you to see how this works out in practice.

The great irony of putting family first

Moses is speaking to a new generation of God’s people on the verge of the Promised Land. Forty years earlier God had called their parents to step forward and enter the land. You remember the story: They sent out spies, and the spies reported, “It is a good land, but there are giants there, and the cities are massively fortified.” When these parents heard the report and turned back, they wandered in the desert for the next 40 years.

Why did they make this decision? Why did they refuse to go up into Canaan? There must have been many factors, but we get a fascinating insight into what they were thinking, “The little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children… will enter the land” (1:39).

You see what was happening: The spies came back and said, “There are giants in the land.” And the parents said, “This is far too great a risk. We have little children. We have to think about what’s best for them. If we go into the land, our children could be taken captive.” That is what they said. I understand that. Don’t you?

“The risk is too great. We can’t do what God says, we have little children.” They put the children first. And what was the result? The children they tried to protect spent the largest part of their lives wandering in a desert.

Here is the great irony: If the parents had put the Lord before the children, the children would have been raised in a land flowing with milk and honey. But because the parents put the children before the Lord the children spent the largest parts of their lives wandering in the desert.

(Continued on pg. 7)

FBC NEWSLETTER PAGE 2

FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR DAVE

(Continued from pg 1…)

FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR DAN (Pt. 1)

Children’s Classes: Sundays 9:45 a.m.

Tiny Timers ages 2-4 in Rm. #6 Pre-K—3rd grade Rm. #18 4th—5th grade in Rm. #15 6th -12th grade, Drop-In Center

Youth Classes: Sundays 9:45 a.m. 6th-12th grades Wednesdays

Jr. High from 4:30-6 pm and enjoy supper from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm. High School will enjoy supper at 6:00 pm and then from 6:30-8:30 p.m. will have their Youth Group

Adult Classes: Sundays 9:45 a.m.

Discipler’s Class — Conf. Rm. off gym Crusader’s Class — Room 16, downstairs Kids Over 50 — Room 9, upstairs LifeLine — Room #17, downstairs

Third Annual Ladies Winter Retreat

Saturday, February 8, 2020 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Theme: “20/20 Vision”

Join us and be encouraged and challenged by inspirational speaker and author, Marlene

Lawson. With her own brand of humor and candid style, Marlene will take us on a journey to discover

the exciting adventure God has for us as REAL WOMEN, living REAL LIFE and experiencing REAL

FAITH. Vendor Tables -- Luncheon

Cost $20 advanced $25 at the door

Annual FBC Congregational Meeting Sunday, February 16th, 2020

9:55 am in the Activity Center (No Sunday School)

Annual Reports, last year’s annual meeting minutes, and a copy of the agenda for the meeting are

available for your review in the foyer and can be picked up at any time prior to the meeting.

Join us in the exciting opportunity to intercede for our church family and our community.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God says: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Are you in?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

We will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm in Room 9 on the following are the dates: FEBRUARY 12TH & 26TH MARCH 11TH & 25TH APRIL 8TH & 22ND MAY 13TH & 27TH

PAGE 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS

WHAT’S HAPPENING

CLASSES

“PRAY FOR SUCH TIME AS THIS”

01 — Margie Carrington 15 — Ken Kurtz 02 — Brianna Blankenship 16 — Dennis Babjack 02 — *Hosea Erwin 16 — Derek Coats 03 — *Abigail Harmon 17 — Lance Kistler 05 — Robin Creel (F) 18 — Gretchen Ennis 05 — Melissa Sussex 19 — Binky Ennis 06 — *Brahn Heminger 19 — David Luke 06 — *Mckenna Stewart 19 — Bill Smith 06 — *Claudel Wischmeyer 20 — Lori Groholski 09 — Kristi Gatke 21 — Bill Carlson 10 — *Blade Bovee 21 — Paige O’Grady 10 — Tim Lynch 22 — Lowell Maxson 10 — Doris Lyon 23 — Kathy Ferguson 11 — Pam Cole 25 — Linda McLaughlin 12 — Duane Furney 26 — Steve Covell 12 — Katy Hermann 27 — Nancy Roby 13 — Sue Rubley 27 — Eric Sussex 15 — *Dayton Ennis 27 — Jim D. White 15 — Rainee Erwin

(F) = Female (M) = Male * = Under 18 yrs. Old √ = Turning 18

05 — Dennis & Vicci Waters 09 — Chris & Sue Pierce 14 — Terry & Suzanne Edmonds 14 — Glen & Nancy Roby 14 — Bill & Sue Trebilcock 22 — Joe & Sonya Wilkins

Feb. 2nd: 8:45 am Traditional Worship Service 9:55 am Sunday School 10:55 am Contemporary Worship

Feb. 3rd: 7:00 pm ABW “Personal Protection”

Feb. 5th: 4:30 pm-6 pm Jr. High Youth Group

6:00 pm Family Dinner 6:30-8:00 pm Classes 6:30-8:30 pm H. S. Youth Group

Feb. 6th: 10:00 am Ladies Bible Study

Feb. 8th: 8:30 am Ladies Alive Feb. 9th: 8:45 am Traditional Worship Service

9:55 am Sunday School 10:55 am Contemporary Worship

Feb. 10th: 6:45 pm Board/Team Meetings Feb. 12th: 4:30 pm-6 pm Jr. High Youth Group

6:00 pm Family Dinner 6:30-8:00 pm Classes 6:30-8:30 pm H. S. Youth Group

Feb. 13th: 10:00 am Ladies Bible Study

7:00 pm Praise Team Practice Feb. 15th: 8:00 am Men’s Breakfast Feb. 16th: 8:45 am Traditional Worship Service

9:55 am Sunday School 10:55 am Contemporary Worship

Feb. 17th: 6:30 pm Circles Meet Feb. 19th: 4:30 pm-6 pm Jr. High Youth Group

6:00 pm Family Dinner 6:30-8:00 pm Classes 6:30-8:30 pm H. S. Youth Group

Feb. 20th: 10:00 am Ladies Bible Study

7:00 pm Praise Team Practice Feb. 23rd: 8:45 am Traditional Worship Service

9:55 am Sunday School 10:55 am Contemporary Worship

Feb. 26th: 4:30 pm-6 pm Jr. High Youth Group

6:00 pm Family Dinner 6:30-8:00 pm Classes 6:30-8:30 pm H. S. Youth Group

Feb. 27th: 10:00 am Ladies Bible Study 7:00 pm Praise Team Practice

Happy Birthday to All Celebrating in February!

Happy Anniversary to All Our FBC Couples!

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES/CALENDAR PAGE 4

CALENDAR

USHERS 8:30 AM FEBRUARY

2nd: David D; Tom V; Joe W; H-Dewey H 9th: Bree B; Arn R; Glen R; H-Dewey H 16th: Mike B; Leroy D; Dave K; H-Dewey H 23rd: David D; Terry E; Jerry F; H-Dewey H

USHERS 11:00 AM FEBRUARY

2nd: Kendall L; Al R; Dave S; H-Nick S 9th: Roger B; Brian S; Pete T; H-Ralph P 16th: Al C; Kevin S; Dan T; H-Nick S 23rd: Crit J; Kendall L; Al R; H-Ralph P

INFORMATION STATION 8:30 AM FEBRUARY 2nd: Jack & Kathy F. 9th: Julie G. 16th: Susan M. 23rd: Deanna S.

INFORMATION STATION 11:00 AM FEBRUARY

2nd: Bill & Wendy O. 9th: Gretchen E. & Mary Jo J. 16th: Steve & Vicki K. 23rd: Volunteer Needed

COOKIE PROVIDER 8:30 AM FEBRUARY 2nd: Laurie VanDosen; Yvonne Harris 9th: Sonya Wilkins; Susan Merkle 16th: Renee White; Carol Fredericks 23rd: Jodi Eichler; Carol Brown

COOKIE PROVIDER 11:00 AM FEBRUARY

2nd: Pat Babjack; Susie Feasel 9th: Sheila Taylor; Sherryl Bowers 16th: Kaye Kolb; Cheryl Covell 23rd: Vicki Kasperski; Joyce Hawver

COFFEE CONCESSION 10:30 AM FEBRUARY

2nd: Marie Love 11th: George Hawver 16th: Kaye Kolb 23rd: Scott & Pam Boyer

Love-ly Superlatives

To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances, to seek him the greatest adventure, to find him the greatest human achievement.

--St. Augustine

ids’ today love to be on their phones and electronics. Since children like to play apps—why not give them one that’s not only fun, but also encourages them to

explore the Bible and follow Jesus! To fulfill that vision, we’ve developed an app called GREATEST JOURNEY.

GREATEST JOURNEY is a fun, exciting way for kids to explore the Bible and learn how to follow Jesus! Aboard a time-traveling spaceship that players captain, Greatest Journey gives kids a bird’s-eye view of the Old and New Testaments, introducing them to major events in the Bible and focusing on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. GREATEST JOURNEY is based on the international discipleship course created by Samaritan’s Purse for children who receive Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and is FREE, with no in-app purchases or advertisements.

It's now available (English only) on the Apple App Store and Google Play in more than 140 countries.

K

PAGE 5 SCHEDULES

SCHEDULES FREE RESOURCE

GOOD NEWS! I received an email letting us know that our shoeboxes are going to the countries of Ukraine and Chile! It takes quite a while for the shoeboxes to arrive in these countries as they are shipped by boat and then the team will have to deal with taxes, etc. It could take the shoeboxes up until June to reach the children. So, let’s keep praying for each child who will be receiving a shoebox! Let’s get ready for another successful year of ministry with OCC! There are a couple of additional items that will be added to our collection for this year. We will be adding more school supplies, such as child safety scissors, erasers and pencil sharpeners. We will also be adding hats, scarves, gloves and socks! This year we will start what I call COLLECTION CALENDAR! While we will continue to collect all the items we have collected in previous years (soap, washcloths, matchbox cars, etc) all year long, we will “Showcase” certain items each month. You may continue to donate whatever items you can each month, the “showcase” items are just to introduce new items and keep OCC in your minds all year long. FEBRUARY we will showcase the following items: Hats, scarves, gloves and socks! Keep in mind that we are filling shoeboxes for boys and girls ages 5-9. I would like to once again sincerely thank everyone who helped in any way with OCC 2019. I could not have done with without you! It is a wonderful ministry that the Lord continues to bless as we spread the Good News of Jesus to children all over the world! With that being said, I would like to extend the invitation to anyone interested in joining my team for FBC/OCC 2020! If you are interested in volunteering alongside me please contact me at

517-320-5177 or email me at cevonj19@hotmail.com. There are specific team positions such as: Prayer Leader, Church Relations Leader, and Student Relations Leader. Prayerfully consider these positions and if you feel the Lord leading you in this direction please contact me! Once again, thank you to everyone who volunteered in any way to make OCC 2019 a success! Cheryl Evon OCC Director

We are gearing for the Packing Party in

November of 2020. We are now collecting these items.

Our goal is 2,000 each (EXCEPT FOR

MATCHBOX CARS, GOAL IS 800)

139 Matchbox Cars 1,226 Washcloths 1,254 Toothbrushes 816 bars of soap

FEBRUARY “SHOWCASE” ITEMS

We will be collecting the following:

Hats; Scarves; Gloves; Socks

Please keep in mind these items are for the ages 5-8 years old and for boys and girls.

Goal:

800 boys 800 girls

Thank you for your continuous support for this ministry!

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD CORNER PAGE 6

OPERATION SHOEBOX

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 2020!!

COLLECTION CALENDAR

ABW resumes in February – and a lot going on. Monday, February 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm in the conference room, ABW will be hosting our own Jerry Frederick. He will be giving tips for personal safety. Obviously, an important issue in our world today. We need to be aware of our surroundings and how to keep ourselves protected. Plan to join us!

Saturday, February 8, 2020 is the Ladies’ Retreat at the church. Comes spend the day with women of all ages to refresh your soul. Get your reservations in now.

Circles will meet on Monday, February 17, 2020.

Watch the bulletin for another “work day”. Last month, we enjoyed 3 hours of time with friends and accomplished a good start on shoebox projects.

Remember…GOD created you in HIS image…You are awesome!

Julie Pierson ABW pres.

Circles Meet Monday, February 19th, 2017

Martha Circle: 6:30 p.m. at FBC Conf. Rm. Mary Circle: 7 p.m. Charlene Woodard, 769 N.

Union City Rd.

The parents put the children first, and it was devastating for the children. Yes, if they had gone into the land, some families would have lost their sons and their daughters. Obedience always has a cost. But by putting the children first, these parents did themselves and their children a great disservice.

Don’t Live For Your Spouse or Your Family.

Putting your children first is the worst thing you can do for your children. The best way to serve your family is to love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. The same is true of marriage.

Marriage: Who holds first place?

Think about this. It is so different than the culture around us. Wives, don’t desire to be first in your husband’s life. Desire that Christ will be first in your husband’s life.

If he loves Christ with all his heart and soul and strength, he will love you well, even when you are most unlovable. If you are first in his life, then you have taken the place of God. Taking the place of God is a burden that you cannot bear. You can only fail, and you can only disappoint if you are there.

Husbands, by all means, buy a card for your wife that says, “I love you.” But don’t buy a card that says, “I live for you.” You will find many cards that say something like this out there. That’s idolatry.

If you live for your wife or live for your husband, you make yourself an idolater, and you place on your spouse a burden that they cannot possibly sustain. That is not love. That is destroying the very thing that God is seeking to build. Only God can be God to you. Your spouse does not have that capacity.

Children: How much do you love them?

The same principle holds true for children: The first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before me,” and that includes your children. That is why our Lord said, “Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37). People read that and say, “How could He say such a thing?” When Jesus said this, He was simply applying the first commandment.

If you let your children take first place in your heart and first place in your life, and have first claim on your money, you have made them an idol. If you make them an idol, what are you teaching them to do? You are teaching them to worship themselves.

When Satan came into the garden, he said, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5), and paradise was lost. When the Lord came down on the mountain, He said, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Deuteronomy 5:7), and the Promised Land was gained. Don’t live for your spouse or for your family. Then you can say with the apostle Paul, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Align Your Life Around One Consuming Passion For the Lord

Forty years later, the little ones whose parents tried to protect them from the risk of full obedience, are now mature adults in middle life. Their parents had put them first. They had suffered as a result.

(Watch for conclusion in March Newsletter)

PAGE 7 ABW

FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR DAN (Pt. 1)

(continued from page 2)

ABW UPDATE

Just for Giggles…

What did the farmer give his wife for Valentines day? (A: Hogs and kisses.)

What did one calculator say to the other calculator on Valentines Day? (A: Let me count the ways I love you.)

KID’S CORNER PAGE 8

First Baptist Church 102 Bishop Ave.

Coldwater MI 49036 517-279-7912

www.fbcofcoldwater.org