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VOLUME 58 April 1, 2015 NO. 13

Weekly Activities

Thursday, April 2, 2015

7:00 Long Range Planning

Friday, April 3, 2015

Good Friday Church Office Closes at Noon

Saturday, April 4, 2015

7:00 Runnin’ Disciples

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Easter 8:30 Worship Service

9:45 LifeGroups

11:00 Worship Service in the

COAC

Monday, April 6, 2015

Easter Monday

Church Office Closed

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

7:00 Mary Parker Group

7:00 Visionary Circle

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

5:15 Fellowship Meal

6:15-7:45 AWANA 6:30 POWERHOUSE – in Room

B-201 (Men’s SS Class)

6:30 The Basement for 6th – 12th

Graders

6:30 Wednesday Night LifeGroups

7:30 Stewardship

7:35 Sanctuary Choir

Saturday, April 11, 2015

7:00 Runnin’ Disciples

8:00 – 2:00 AWANA Fun Day

Sunday, April 12, 2015

THE VISITOR

Phone 803-222-3216 Web site: www.fbcclover.com

8:30 AM in the Sanctuary

9:45 LifeGroups (Sunday School)

11:00 AM in the COAC

Pastor Mike Stafford preaching

Hallelujah!

First Baptist Church 117 South Main Street

Clover, SC 29710

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid

Clover, SC 29710

Permit #12

STAFF

Rev. Mike Stafford Minister of Outreach &

Evangelism

Rex Simon Interim Worship & Music

Director

Rev. Kevin Dix Youth Director

Karen Barr Children’s Director

BUILDING FUND REPORT

Receipts to Date $1,467,001.47 Paid to Principal 1,008,135.08 Paid to Interest $431,457.74 Building Fund on Hand 27,408.65 Cost of Bldg. Renovation $1,629,100.80 Paid to Principal 1,008,135.08 Loan Balance Owed $620,965.72

Sanctuary Renovation Fund Balance: $25,336.00

STEWARDSHIP STATEMENT 3/29/2015

ATTENDANCE

Sunday School Attendance .................................. 277

8:30 AM Worship Service...................................122

11:00 AM Worship Service ................................ 202

Designated Offerings:

Building Fund ......................................... 1,007.00

Designated Offerings .............................. 1,727.47

Expense Reimbursements ................................. 20.00

Wednesday Dinner .......................................... 290.00

................................................................................. Tithes for the Week ................................... 19,606.37

Weekly Budget .......................................... 17,175.00

Year to Date Tithes Received ................... 241,947.63

Year to Date Expenses Paid ..................... 213,853.93

Year to Date Budget ................................ 223,275.00

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and

there remember that your brother has something

against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your

brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

Deadline for articles in the Visitor is NOON on Tuesday.

Honorariums / Memorials

Contributions to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering have been

received in honor of the following:

Marguerite Phillips Danny Sipe

Contributions to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering have been

received in memory of the following:

Kenneth Price Horace & Mary Nivens

Dot Biggers Norman & Grace Biggers

Bill & Catherine Penley

A contribution to the Sanctuary Renovation has been received in

memory of the following: Dan Wall

Serving this week April 5, 2015: In The Pond... A Time of Fellowship...

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEAL

April 8, 2015

Pasta Bake; Salad; Drink & Dessert

Please call to make reservations or cancel by noon on Tuesday.

VAN DRIVER

Joey Bradberry

DEACON VISITORS Steve Myers Eric Burkhart

Todd Moser Zack Lester

TELLERS – (Tuesday) 4/7/15

Shirley Broadwell Ida Tenney

DISCIPLES OF THE WEEK

Zack Lester Joey Lark

VOLUNTEERS 8:30 Service: Nancy Hester

11:00 Service:

Tadpoles: Jimmy & Darleen Sutton

Frogs: Crystal Dix & Chelsea Rackley

Fish: Andy & Tammie Carter

Turtles: Clint & Elizabeth Boyd

Thoughts from our other staff...

Our church will be collecting items to send to a special needs home in Guatemala. These items are given to the Mothers who arrive with special needs children who need surgery. They stay for weeks, by the side of their children, with no clothes other than the ones on their backs. We will get these items to Kathy Wheeler, Nancy Lester's sister, who spends 6 months a year as a volunteer there.

Our church will be making skirts and collecting the following items for mothers and children:

Small or medium tops (No plunging necklines or sleeveless ones, please).

Sandals or flip flops in size 6 or 7. Lightweight towels, wash cloths. Trial size: soap, shampoo, crime rinse, deodorant. Hair brushes, pony tail or headbands. Receiving blankets and onesies.

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. Psalm 96:3 (NKJV)

Annie Armstrong TOTAL: Year to date: $7,641.89 Our Goal: $8,000

I recently came across this article and I felt as if it challenged me in my own views of singing and worshipping God. I wanted to share a part of this article, but feel free to find the article in its entirety at www.crosswalk.com as an article written by Todd Pruitt. Thanks and hopefully this article will at least challenge us in the way we think about music and singing.

Smile, Rev Kev

In his helpful book True Worship Vaughan Roberts offers four consequences of viewing music as an encounter with God. I will summarize them. 1. God’s Word is marginalized. In many Churches and Christian gatherings it is not unusual for God’s Word to be shortchanged. Music gives people the elusive “liver quiver” while the Bible is more mundane. Pulpits have shrunk and even disappeared while bands and lighting have grown. But faith does not come from music, dynamic experiences, or supposed encounters with God. Faith is birthed through the proclamation of God’s Word (Rom 10:17). 2. Our assurance is threatened. If we associate God’s presence with a particular experience or emotion, what happens when we no longer feel it? We search for churches whose praise band, orchestra, or pipe organ produce in us the feelings we are chasing. But the reality of God in our lives depends on the mediation of Christ not on subjective experiences. 3. Musicians are given priestly status. When music is seen as a means to encounter God, worship leaders and musicians are vested with a priestly role. They become the ones who bring us into the presence of God rather than Jesus Christ who alone has already fulfilled that role. Understandably, when a worship leader or band doesn’t help me experience God they have failed and must be replaced. On the other hand, when we believe that they have successfully moved us into God’s presence they will attain in our minds a status that is far too high for their own good. 4. Division is increased. If we identify a feeling as an encounter with God, and only a particular kind of music produces that feeling, then we will insist that same music be played regularly in our church or gatherings. As long as everyone else shares our taste then there is no problem. But if others depend upon a different kind of music to produce the feeling that is important to them then division is cultivated. And because we routinely classify particular feelings as encounters with God our demands for what produce those feelings become very rigid. This is why so many churches succumb to offering multiple styles of worship services. By doing so, they unwittingly sanction division and self-centeredness among the people of God. Scripture is full of exhortations to God’s people to sing and make music to the Lord. Our God has been gracious to give us this means to worship Him. But it is important to understand that music in our worship is for two specific purposes: to honor God and to edify our fellow believers. Unfortunately, many Christians tend to grant music a sacramental power which Scripture never bestows upon it.

Our Christian sympathy is extended to the family of Adora Howe following her recent

death.

From the Children’s Dept.: Beginning Easter Sunday, April 5th -June 21, during the 11:00 Worship Service - all 1st and 2nd graders will remain in the Worship Service with their family.

Hospital Care Packages

News

Dick Whisenant would like to thank our church family for the

cards, visits, and most of all, their prayers during his recent

knee surgery recovery. He sends his love and gratitude for

your outpouring spirit of love and concern.

(Ladies In Fellowship Together)

April 16, 2015 6:30 PM

Introducing Funny Lady Speaker Author Bible Teacher

Frankie is a national speaker, author, and Bible

teacher for women’s conferences, retreats, and events. Listening to her message, one might think

she is watching a scene from Steel Magnolias as Frankie reminisces about growing up in the days of “Big Hair” and “Elvis”. She is hilariously funny

and “as southern as sweet tea”!

Purchase your tickets this Sunday on the Adult Hall between services, or contact Tammie Bradberry at

803-627-2858 or tam4him4031@gmail.com. Tickets with meal are only $10.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... HAPPY ANNIVERSAY TO... HOSPITALIZED: HOMEBOUND:

April 5 Sarah Denton

6 Brad Behrends

Ashley Moore

7 Daniel Moses

Anita Pocci

8 Teresa Behrends

Jenny Clary Rhonda Simmons

9 Hudson Adams

10 Gene Jenkins

Savannah Kellett

Kaila Lewis

11 Judy Walker

12 Laura Grace Howell

John Ludwig

13 Allison Williams

14 Mary Robinson

R.L. Davis Susan Hill

Dakota Smith

Steven Thomas

Shannon Wagner

15 Michael McAfee

Amy Koewing

Synthia Thomas

Stewart Wood

16 Rose Adams

17 Caden Clatterbuck

Kalan Holbrook Billy Turner

18 Stacey Thomas

19 L.T. Matheson

Bobby Queen

Kristin Sadler

Danny Sipe

Angela Smith

20 Sheena Stewart

Wilson

21 Chris Carroll

22 Frank Falls Helen Ware

23 Chip Maier

Brenda Brodmerkel

24 Camden Dix

Connie Ludwig

25 Joey Bradberry

Amanda Humphries

Andrew Humphries

Lauren Simmons

Corbin Woodham

26 Raegan Ashley

James Hall LeRoy Pendleton

Greg Walker

27 Jude Bechtel

Peggy Bowers

Slade Brackett

Portia Jones

28 Joshua Broome

Ethan Clatterbuck

Carolyn Franklin

29 Daniel Ballew

Margie Smart Glenda Swart

Gladys McCarter

Belvedere Commons of Seneca

515 Benton Street Apt. 115

Seneca, SC 29672

864-882-4571

Adora Howe

Autumn Care of Saluda

501 Esseola Drive Saluda, NC 28773

Jack Funderburk

1631 Lawrence Rd. Clover, SC 29710

222-4793

From the Sunday School Office:

Answers Bible Curriculum: The Great Commission...God reconciles sinners to Himself

through the gospel of Christ. (Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 1:16–17, 10:14–17)

Bible Studies for Life: Resurrected Like No Other...When were you excited to

experience something firsthand? (Matthew 28:1-10)

Explore the Bible: The Declaration (Luke 24:1-12)

April 11 Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Cranford

4/15 Mr. & Mrs. Tim Boggs

4/17 Mr. & Mrs. Burnett Jenkins

4/18 Mr. & Mrs. Donald Thomas

4/20 Mr. & Mrs. Chris Clary

4/21 Mr. & Mrs. Richard

Whisenant

4/21 Mr. & Mrs. Ron Barker

4/27 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Elliott

4/28 Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Howell

Spring Bible Studies

We have received some excellent Bible study materials

that we would like to share with our congregation. What

we lack are the people to lead the studies. Here is a list of

the courses we would like to share this spring. If the Lord

speaks to your heart about sharing His Word, please see

Pastor George Miller about your interest. You may contact

him at 614-783-7804 or preachergrm@carolina.rr.com.

Ladies Bible Study: “Breathe: Making room for Sabbath”

by Priscilla Shirer

Evangelism Challenge: “Come Home: A Call Back to

Faith” by James MacDonald

Prayer: “Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual

Reformation” by D.A. Carson & Brian J. Tabb

Parenting: “Ready to Launch: Jesus-Centered Parenting

in a Child-Centered World” by J.D. & Veronica

Greear

Doctrine: “Saved: Life in the Face of Death” by Ed

Stetzer & Trevin Wax (Doctrine of Election)

Discipleship Training - one on one: "The Beginning:

First Steps for New Disciples" (If you would like

to be involved leading a new believer in spiritual

growth using this material, see Pastor Mike)

April 11, 2015 9:00 am-1:00 pm Parents join us for a fun-filled family day to cheer your Sparkie or T & T

Awana Clubber. They will be playing fun, team-oriented games, and meeting new friends from other area churches.

Please be sure to sign your family up at SignUpGenius website -www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A45ACAB2EAAF94-awana

Parent volunteers are needed for this day, please contact Karen Barr if you can volunteer.

Thank you! *Free Hotdog meal will be included.

An Announcement from the

Worship Committee...

The Worship Committee has made a decision to have Rev. Mike Stafford to continue as Interim Pastor until

Father’s Day. Please join us in prayer for Rev. Mike and for our search in filling the position of Senior Pastor.

Thank you.

You are invited to New Hope Baptist Church

Ladies Jubilee Saturday, April 18th

1:00 – 4:00 PM Featuring Singer, Debra Perry

Call 803-412-8151 for tickets or more information.

Bruce Benfield – Piedmont Medical

Leonard Burton – Gaston Memorial