etidings April 1 2008

New Faces

It has been a blessing to see so many new faces in worship of late. God is bringing people to our door and we need to be faithful to welcome them and invite them to stay. I have long believed that God is the one who grows the church and that He uses us to do the work of inviting, sharing, loving, welcoming, and encouraging people in that process. Often I am asked what we can do to be more welcoming and more encouraging of folks to become a part of our family of faith. Well, here are a few ideas:

Be nice.
• I know that sounds strange, but your mother’s advice is best. Simply be nice and courteous to folk as you meet them.
• Give up your seat. I know we all have our favorite places; but if someone is in yours, let them have it.
• Give up your parking spot. We need parking close to the church for our guests. If you are able, park in the lot at the YMCA or at Daniel’s.

Be proactive.
• Get to know new folks. This is especially true during fellowship times in worship and Sunday School. We all like to see our old friends, but make sure we try to make new ones as well.
• Introduce yourself. Yes, you may meet someone who has been a church member for 30 years, but you didn’t know them either.
• Learn names. Calling someone by their name is a great form of respect and shows you care.
• If someone looks like they have a question, ask if you can help.

Be positive.
• Guests pay close attention to what we say, how we say it, and especially, how we respond to things. Give them a positive example.

Be engaged.
• If you aren’t into what’s going on, they will not be either.

Be the loving family of faith you are.
• They will know we are Christians by our love. If we love one another, they know we will love them as well.

I hear from most of our guests about how warm and welcoming you all are. I agree. I just thought this would be a good reminder. And one more thing, be realistic. Not everyone who worships with us will join with us. People have different needs and expectations from churches and we will not fit every person. Trust that God will lead those to us He chooses and be faithful with every opportunity we have to welcome them.

Blessings,
Monty

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Worship Ministry
Chancel Choir
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear our Chancel Choir lead in worship at Dykes Creek Baptist Church at 7:00 PM on April 6. Pastor Monty will deliver the message. Join us and receive a blessing.

The Joyful Singers will continue their ministry into the community retirement centers April 10 and 24. Join us for either of those dates and see what a difference you can make in people’s lives.

Youth Choir to Sing at Winthrop Court Following the Youth Luncheon on April 6, our Youth Choir will lead the music for our monthly service at Winthrop Court. Charlie will bring the message. Come to Youth Choir for more information.

Trustees Workday Saturday, April 5
Everyone is invited to meet for breakfast at 8:00 AM and do general spring cleaning until noon.

Women’s Ministry Brunch 10:30 AM, Saturday, April 12
Fellowship Hall
Tickets are $7.00 each. Our theme is missions oriented and ladies who have clothing from other countries are encouraged to wear your foreign dress. Entertainment by special guests: the Just As I Am Choir.
Would you decorate a table? See Ann Milam for details.

God’s Gift Shop Saturday, May 3, 1-3 PM
Fellowship Hall
The Women’s Ministry is searching for members willing to donate their talents to share with our community. All money raised goes towards the Second Century Campaign. Donations are due April 20. Call Rebekah Molyneux for more information.

Ladies’ Night Out—6:00 PM Second Monday of each month.
Ladies of all ages: Come for fellowship and dinner. Our focus is on prayer partners, service projects, and workshops. Kids are welcome. Call or email Rebekah Molyneux.

Cookbooks Arriving May 1
SABC cookbooks will arrive on or before May 1. The cost is $10 per cookbook. A sign up sheet is posted on the first floor bulletin board. All proceeds from cookbook sales will be given to the Second Century Campaign.

Home Missions Offering
This year’s goal is $7500 and you are asked to direct your gifts either to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for the North American Missions Board (SBC) or the Global Missions Offering of the CBF (mark your envelope or check accordingly). A flowering cross has been placed in the Sanctuary that will blossom as we meet our goal. Contributions as of March 30: $5884.45

Save the Date
Pictures for a new church directory will be made August 9 and 10.
More details coming soon.

Family Ministry
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who helped with the egg hunt this past Saturday. 89 children registered, 56 families attended, and of those, 41 were from the community. Our folks did a great job greeting and serving.

Youth Lunch: Sunday, April 6
Youth: Meet at Fuddruckers following morning worship. Parents are welcome.

Hang Time: Wednesdays at 4:30 PM
Youth are invited to “hang out” or play games in the Youth Suite for one hour before supper.

Day Camp Information

Applications and information forms are available outside the church office. If you have taken an application home, we look forward to your returning those to Charlie, our Day Camp Director. We still have slots that need to be filled.
Volunteer Training Session: May 17, 8:30 AM –12 Noon
Fellowship Hall -This session is mandatory for all day camp volunteers.

Family 2 Family Service Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 - 1:00
Calling Our Family of Faith to Serve as a Family. We will serve our community missions partners: Habitat for Humanity, William Davies’ Homeless Shelters, and Rome Action Ministries. Details to come.

Rome Action Ministries and the Rome Braves Champion Charity Challenge:
From Cathy Aiken-Freeman or Rome Action Ministries
During 2007, Rome Action Ministries’ food pantries were visited 10,021 times by members of our community in great need.183,000 total lbs. of groceries were distributed through the Garden Lakes Baptist Evening Food Pantry and the South Broad Methodist Daily Food Pantry. It was a record breaking year for us, more than doubling 2006’s, 4,000 visits and 80,000 total lbs. served. 2008 looks to be even bigger. The difficulty of making ends meet in a hard economy is sending people who have never previously sought help into our pantries each day. If the trend continues, we are on track for 15,000 visits this year.

What does this have to do with baseball? Rome Action Ministries is one of the charities chosen by the Rome Braves to participate in their 1st annual Champion Charity Challenge. On May 16, half the price of every ticket we sell to watch the Rome Braves in victory over the Hickory Crawdads, goes to our organization. Tickets are $6. The game starts at 7:00 PM. The four charities which sell the most tickets, thereby raising the most funds for their mission, will compete in a pre-game and between-inning field day for the prize of Charity Champion. This doesn’t come with a trophy—but with something far better. $500 and Eternal Bragging Rights.

SABC has pre-purchased 75 tickets. $3 of every ticket sold goes back to RAM. Tickets are $6 and available in the church office.

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Upcoming Events

April 5, 8:00 AM - Noon Trustees Workday

April 6, 7:00 PM SABC to Worship at Dykes Creek Baptist Church

April 12, 10:30 AM, Fellowship Hall Women’s Ministry Brunch

April 14, 6:00 PM Ladies’ Night Out

April 15-16 Fun and Fellowship’s 2nd Annual “Showtime in the Smokies” Trip

April 26,10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Family 2 Family Service Saturday

May 3, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Fellowship Hall God’s Gift Shop

May 11 and 25 No Evening Activities

May 12, 6:00 PM Ladies’ Night Out

May 17, 8:30 AM Day Camp Volunteer Training Session

May 25, 4:00 PM Family 2 Family Year End Celebration at Lock and Dam Park

Homebound Members
March 30:
Ora Youngblood

April 6:
Betty Bennett

Sympathies
The Congregation and Staff would like to express sincere Christian sympathy to the family of Sara Thomas.

The Congregation and Staff would like to express sincere Christian sympathy to the family of James Harper.

New Member
Rebecca Cauthen
Family Deacon: Charlie Ables

Giving for the Week of 3/23/08
Budget Goal to Date $162,600.
Budget Gift to Date 110,466.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 9,904.

Attendance for 3/23/08
Sunday School 207
Morning Worship 348

Giving for the Week of 3/30/08
Budget Goal to Date $176,150.
Budget Gift to Date 119,139.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 8,673.

Attendance for 3/30/08
Sunday School 188
Morning Worship 205

Weekly Schedule
Sunday, April 6
9:00 am Women’s Prayer Time
9:45 am Sunday School
11:00 am Morning Worship
Youth meet for lunch at
Fuddruckers, following worship
7:00 pm SABC to Dykes Creek Baptist Church for worship

Tuesday, April 8
4:00 pm Meals & More

Wednesday, April 9
5:15 pm Family Night Supper
5:30 pm Personnel Cmte. mtg.
5:45 pm Trustees Cmte. mtg.
6:00 pm Prayer Time—Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Preschool Choir
6:00 pm Children’s Choir
6:15 pm Adult Bible Study—Fellowship Hall
6:15 pm The Foundry—Youth
6:15 pm Illuminate—College/Career
6:30 pm Chancel Bell Choir
6:45 pm Children’s Mission Groups
7:00 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, April 10
7:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast
10:30 am Joyful Singers lead in worship location TBA

Friday, April 11
9:30 am Ladies’ Bible Study

Saturday, April 12
10:30 am Women’s Ministry Brunch