Messenger The

First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa

We are a

body of

believers

united in

Christ to

proclaim,

live, and love

according to

God’s Word.

Messenger The

First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

225th Anniversary 1

Birthdays and

Anniversaries 6

Budget & Finance 3

Book Bound 4

Calendar 7

Children’s Choir 5

Childcare Needed 2

Choir 2

Church Mouse

Nursery School 5

Congregational

Event 1

Deacons 3

Fall Festival 2

Falling Leave 5K 4

Library 6

Special Business

Meeting 1

Summer Lunch

Program 4

Upcoming Dates 2

Youth Groups 2

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 9

225th Anniversary Celebration Plans

By Vallee Albert

First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa is

celebrating a real milestone this year as

we acknowledge our 225th anniversary.

We praise God that we, as a church

family, have been able to worship and

honor Him since 1791. What an

accomplishment!

In recognition of that, our church has

announced this to the community at

large with a beautiful sign in the front of

our church on Milton Avenue. We have

a core committee in place making plans

to celebrate this marvelous relationship

with God for so many years and

personally invite you to save the dates,

attend the celebratory events, and

continue the spirit of fellowship and our

relationship with God through our

upcoming events.

Saturday, October 15 and Sunday,

October 16, 2016 will be the dates of

our special recognition and you are

invited! On Saturday, we will begin with

a musical/ historical program of our

church’s long relationship within the

Ballston Spa community, directed by

Darryl and Rita Drew, followed by a

reception catered by the Front Street

Deli and the Next Door Kitchen. On

Sunday, our worship service will be a

dedication in honor of 225 years of

history as well as a re-dedication to

God's promise to us.

We encourage you to save the dates,

invite your friends and family to

celebrate an accomplishment many

churches and organizations never reach,

and to bring honor and glory to Him.

We are also open to committee

members, helpers and background

assistants and invite you to contact

Vallee Albert for more details. Email

contact is: valbert53@earthlink.net and

phone contact is 587-2872.

Look for more details as we approach

our date and plan to be in attendance,

bringing praise and celebrating our faith

and our future at First Baptist Church.

JOIN US!

CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS

FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS Sunday, September 11, 2016

Hosted by the Transition Team immediately after worship.

Light luncheon provided.

SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING September 25

There will be a Special Business Meeting after worship service on Sunday, Sept. 25 to act on the recommendations of the Transition Team, to add Kim Sprenger to the Christian Education Board and to elect the Pastor Search Committee. The nominees for the PSC are: Troy Filburn, Colleen Pierre, Kevin Porter, Keith Sprenger and Terry van den Heever. Light lunch will be served.

P A G E 2

YOUTH GROUPS

The school year is starting up again and so are the youth groups. There are two oppor-tunities for youth to learn about God and the Bible.

Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. High School Bible Study meets at the Episcopal Church, 15 West High St. Please contact Laura Marino for specific dates and if you have any questions, 581-2456, marinolaura@yahoo.com.

Most Thursdays, from 6-7:30 p.m. Youth Group meets for worship and Bible Study at the Presbyterian Church, 22 West High St. It is open to all students between 6th and 12th grade. Please contact Tom Carter for specific dates and if you have any questions, 522-5541, tcarter_bsyg@hotmail.com.

UPCOMING FALL DATES

September 11 Worship Service Time

changes back to 10:30 a.m.

Congregational Event: Spiritual Gifts

September 18 Fall Festival after Worship Service

September 25 Sunday School starts, 9:00 a.m.

Special Business Meeting: Transition Team Recommendations

FALL FESTIVAL AND COOK OFF EXTRAVAGANZA September 18, 11:30 a.m. (after worship service)

Please join us for our Annual Fall Festival and Cook Off Extravaganza. Please bring a favorite fall crock-pot dish to share. Salads, fall drinks, and apple cider donuts will be provided. Come bounce around in a Bounce House, get your face painted, bob for apples, get your picture taken in a fun fall photo booth, and enjoy other fall activities! Learn about Sunday School opportunities for the year! Don’t miss it! Please sign-up in the gathering area if you are bringing a crock-pot dish so that we can plan accordingly. We hope to see you there!

CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED

To continue with our Children’s Worship program starting back up in September we’ll need more volunteers. We also need child care volunteers during Sunday School and worship service.

Please contact Sherry Hoffman at 369-2127 or sherryhoffman64@gmail.com.

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS

School will be starting soon! We ask children and youth to bring their backpacks to church on September 4. A special prayer and blessing will be given for the children and youth for the school year during the 9:00 a.m. worship service.

SINGERS!

Calling all singers! Do you love the Lord and desire to serve him through music? Come and join our choir! We practice every Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. First rehearsal will be September 7.

Contact Darryl and Rita Drew for more info: dddmusik@nycap.rr.com, 399-3468.

P A G E 3

BUDGET AND FINANCE

Through the month of July, our Pledged giving was behind by $7,041, and Non-Pledged giving was ahead of budget by $244. It should be noted that at this time last year, our Pledged giving was behind by $19,718; so relatively speaking and due to the normal summer lag, we are doing fine. With the arrival of fall, our pledges generally catch up. Through July, we had an income of $132,014 and expenses of $140,133; giving us a deficit of $8,119.

It was pointed out in the July/August Messenger that FBC’s Trustees approved, on the Budget & Finance Committee’s recommendation, that FBC move its endowment to NBT Bank from Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB). Over the summer the appropriate paperwork has been started to complete this transition, and should be completed sometime in September or October.

Also during the summer, the Budget & Finance Committee selected an organization to provide the FBC congregation with online giving options, using credit cards, monthly ACH bank withdrawals, etc. More information will be coming to the congregation this fall regarding this option.

At our most recent Budget & Finance Committee meeting, there was a very good discussion about God’s plan for the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, recognizing what God wants us to do with the gifts he gives us, and what he wants for us as a congregation. As a committee, we do our best to keep this in mind, and act in what we believe to be a prudent and Christian manner to help FBC walk in God’s path. We are just a part of FBC’s congregation, so please share with me any questions or thoughts you may have regarding FBC’s budget and finance issues.

In God’s Service. Troy Filburn

THE BOARD OF DEACONS

Wow, it seems like it was the end of June just yesterday and summer was beginning. I was writing the article on behalf of the Board of Deacons for the July and August Messenger and now here it is, September, the month when things in our Church seem to ramp up from the summer months. I am not really sure why we seem to slow down but considering that it is now September, I am wondering where the time has gone. I am also not sure that it does or actually did slow down for the members of the Board of Deacons.

During the summer months there have been plenty of activities that members of the board of Deacons have found themselves involved in. We helped plan and we participated in Sunday Worship Services. We visited with and called shut-ins. We responded, when called upon, to the needs of the members of our Church. During the months of July and August the Board administered the Ballston Area Clergy Association Fund, responding to requests for assistance from members of our local communities. I am thankful that we have a membership that supports this worthy ministry by contributing faithfully to the Fellowship Fund. In case you are unaware our church receives a generous offering from our congregation the first Sunday of every month. Individuals who receive help from this fund are very surprised and have remarked about the generosity shown to them. Our members have been consistently generous toward this fund for the many years that I have served as a Deacon at our Church. Your faithful giving has consistently allowed the Deacons to exceed our community’s expectations.

Fall is a busy and exciting season here at our church. The Board encourages all to pray and read God’s Holy Word daily. Pray specifically for our church and our members and our activities.

Sincerely, Bob Staulters

P A G E 4

SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

As we write this article, the Summer Lunch Program is entering its final week. We are happy to report that the program has run pretty smoothly this year. We have had a few growing pains and mix- ups, but the way that the Lord has blessed us is wonderful! We have been making about 180 lunches a day this summer, and delivering them to four locations besides the church. The expansion of the program is always a challenge, but the devotion of all of our volunteers has made it a success.

We have the most wonderful and dedicated volunteers possible. Thank you to everyone who prayed for the success of the program, donated financially, or worked as a volunteer in any capacity. This year every church in the village was represented either by volunteers or by financial support for the program. What a wonderful testimony to the faith and caring of the Village of Ballston Spa! May God bless all of you for your loving assistance. Because of you we have been able to touch the lives of many children this summer.

We are already beginning to plan for next year, so please pray for the success of the program, and for the necessary volunteers and funds.

With Great Thanks, Pat Rogers and Karen Jones

9TH ANNUAL FALLING LEAVES 5K RUN Saturday, October 8, 10:00 a.m.

Come join in this fun 5K fundraiser! Start and finish at Kelly Park on Ralph St. in Ballston Spa. Hosted by United Methodist Church, proceeds

will benefit Vet HELP program earmarked for the Vet House and Guardian House for male and female homeless Veterans. Registration forms are available on the UMC website ballstonspaum-church.org/falling-leaves-5k-run.html

All registered participants will have a chance to win gift cards donated by local businesses!

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

Unbroken

Laura Hillenbrand

OCTOBER 10, 2016

A Red Herring Without Mustard

Alan Bradley

NOVEMBER 14, 2016

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor

Lisa Kleypas

JANUARY 9, 2017

Life in a Jar

Jack Mayer

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

The Little Paris Bookshop, A Novel

Nina George

MARCH 13, 2017

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls

APRIL 10, 2017 The Red Garden

Alice Hoffman

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BALLSTON SPA BOOK CLUB

BookBound!

All are welcome!

Come each month or just once.

2nd Monday of each Month, 4:30-5:30

(except Sept 19th)

Join a diverse group of women to discuss books, share a cup of tea, great fun, fellowship and laughter. Childcare is provided (please call in advance so we can staff appropriately). Contact Sarah Watkins 321-5831 or fahylois@gmail.com

P A G E 5

CHURCH MOUSE NURSERY SCHOOL

Usually it is pretty quiet at the Church Mouse during the month of July. This July however, has been a busy one. Peter Mazucca has been hard at work painting

and tackling various projects set before him. The fresh paint in Room #1, Room #2, the bathroom outside of Room #1 and the hallway really bright-ened things up. He installed touch free faucets in all of our classroom bathrooms, brand new lights in Room #2, and new sinks and a vanity in Room #1. We also

had the storeroom completely redone with new rolling shelving units, and storage for paper and other materials that better utilizes our space. Cynthia Pritchard will be decorating our newly painted hallway with wall decals.

Jennie and I were back in the office the beginning of August. We are so excited as all of our morning classes are full, and we have an afternoon 3 year old class, and an afternoon 4

year old class. The afternoon 4 year old class has several openings. We continue to get calls, so that will probably be full by September.

The teachers will be working in their classrooms September 6-9. Orientation days are September 12 and 13. Parents will accom-pany their children on those days as they meet their teacher, some new friends, and become acquainted with their classroom. Regular classes begin September 14 and 15.

This year the church will be housing Time 2 Learn, a program for 2 year olds. They will be meeting in the Children’s Worship room on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30—11:00 a.m. We are hoping this program will be convenient for some of our parents with younger siblings, and will also feed

into the 3 year old program the following year. The class is taught by Joan Faraone (who had 2 children attend the Church Mouse), and Nicole Eddy. We are happy to share our space with them.

Please join us in praying for a safe, fun-filled exciting year at the Church Mouse.

Serving Christ with love, Cheryl Dunkelbarger

LIBRARY CORNER

Since school begins in September for most children, these books and the books with CDs (which help children learn pronunciation

skills on their own) all relate to school getting ready for school beforehand and what happens when children get there.

Children’s Books: 1. The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing 2. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School?

By Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson 3. Ready for Kindergarten, Stinky Face? By Lisa

McCourt 4. Kindergarten Rules! By Catherine Hapka 5. Kindergarten, Here I Come!

By D. J. Steinberg 6. On the Way to Kindergarten

by Virginia Kroll 7. Look Out Kindergarten, Here

I Come! By Nancy Carlson

8. Tom Goes to Kindergarten by Margaret Wild & David Legge

9. Miss Bindergarten and the Best Friends by Joseph Slate 10. The Night Before First Grade by Natasha Wing 11. Amelia Bedelia’s First Field Trip by Herman Parish

Children’s DVD: 1. Toby: Adventures with Jesus 2. Meet the Letters 3. Franklin Camps Out 4. Adventures in Odyssey: The

Knight Travellers

Adults Books: 1. Through My Eyes:

A Quarterback’s Journey by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker

2. America the Beautiful by Ben Carson, M.D. 3. Church: Why Bother? By Philip Yancey 4. Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling

5. Echoes of Titanic by Mindy Starns Clark & John Campbell Clark

6. Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman

Adults DVDs 1. Ragamuffin based on the life of Rich Mullins. 2. The Perfect Stranger the man told the lawyer he was Jesus Christ… the lawyer decided to call his bluff. 3. Revelation Road The Beginning of the End then it happened… a flash in the sky

Enjoy! Mary Morelock

P A G E 6

September Anniversaries

2nd Thomas and Susan Martin 5th Lee and Joan Anderson

9th Daniel and Julie Hinckley 17th Bob and Jennifer Staulters

25th Mark and Deborah Hodgkins 30th Mark and Cailin Rabideau

September Birthdays

1st Bobby Staulters 6th Leah Crannell 8th Jason Kersch 9th Sanford Becker 11th Amelia Appell 11th Carol Gerbing 12th Brendan O’Connell 13th Laura Wright 15th Karen Cox 15th Clinton Juracka 17th Joy Hanchett 18th Darryl Drew

18th Laura Johnson 20th Louis Zalar 23rd Amanda Desroches 27th Cheryl Hensler 29th Brant Patnode

If we missed your birthday or anniversary, please let the church office know! bspabaptist202@gmail.com

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The First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa

202 Milton Avenue

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

The First Baptist

Church of Ballston Spa

202 Milton Avenue

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

(518) 885-8361

www.BSpaBaptist.org

Church Office Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Church Staff

Rev. Dr. Bill Tatum, Interim Pastor DRWCTATUM@YAHOO.COM

DARRYL DREW, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC DDDMUSIK@NYCAP.RR.COM

RITA DREW, CHOIR DIRECTOR DDDMUSIK@NYCAP.RR.COM

JUSTINA DANISON, OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR BSPABAPTIST202@GMAIL.COM

CHARITY BUCKBEE, CHURCH SEXTON CHARITYBUCKBEE@YAHOO.COM