Second Avenue Baptist Church

                                                                                       February 20, 2007                Volume XXIV  Issue 4               

On the Lenten Discipline

As Lent begins this Wednesday many Christians around the world will use this time to prepare for celebration of Easter to come.  Here are some thoughts on how to approach this time.

“To come to the pleasure you have not you must go by a way in which you enjoy not.”                                                                 St. John of the Cross

The discipline of Lent is a novel concept to most of us Baptist. We do not think of giving up things as a way to receive from God.  Yet for centuries Christians have practiced self-denial during Lent to approximate even in the least ways the sacrifice of Christ. Surely giving up some luxury like dessert cannot begin to help us understand the Cross, but it can begin to develop a certain body-spirit connection most of us lack in our fragmented lives.  Consider using this period of Lent as a time to bring your more physical appetites under the scrutiny and discipline of your Christian life.  You might discover a joy in the Lord you have not before.

“Do not forget that the value and interest of this life is not so much to do conspicuous things…as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.”                                                                                        Teilhard de Chardin

We like the grand gesture.  The testimony that speaks of something done great for God is always a favorite.  However, most of us live normal lives of work, friends, and family.  During the reflection of Lent, we can come to see God’s presence in each moment of our lives.  We can come to understand that things of eternal value happen every day.  The discipline of Lent is about bringing the ordinary into the light of the extraordinary.  It is about the divine presence of God taking up residence in our every thought and act.  So, take a leap into the ordinary and ask God to meet you there.

“Joy and suffering are two equally precious gifts both of which must be savored to the full, each one in its purity, without trying to mix them.  Through joy, the beauty of the world penetrates our soul.  Through suffering it penetrates our body.”                                                                                             Waiting for God, Simone Weil

The death and suffering of Christ was a real, physical experience for Jesus.  Our faith teaches us that Jesus was fully human and that is good news for us, because we are too.  However, too often we compartmentalize our faith as an act of the intellect or of the spirit only.  Just like the sacrifice of Christ was bodily, so should our remembrance of it be.  The Lenten discipline helps us to let not only the beauty of the world, but also of the sacrifice of Christ penetrate our body as well as inspire our soul.

I hope these thoughts on the Lenten discipline will help you on your journey.

Blessings,

Monty

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Worship Ministry

The Chancel Choir is accepting new members this month as we prepare for this Easter season.  Aside from our regular services, we are rehearsing music for Experiencing God the Musical and Tenebrae, A Service of Darkness.

We will combine with Dykes Creek Baptist Church Choir for Experiencing God, April 1, in the City Auditorium. We hope to reach those in the community who might be more comfortable visiting the auditorium than one of our sanctuaries.  Be sure to make your plans to attend with family and friends.

Tenebrae, A Service of Darkness, is a special service for our church on Maundy Thursday, April 5, at 7:00 PM.  This service will bring us to a closer reality of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Steve

Special Election for Deacon Emeritus Candidates

There will be a special election for candidates for the position of Deacon Emeritus on Sunday, March 4 during the morning worship service.  The position of Deacon Emeritus was established by the church last year. The Constitution states: “Deacon Emeritus” is an honorary designation for deacons who are a current member of Second Avenue Baptist Church, who have served one or more terms on the Deacon Council, attained the age sixty-five (65), distinguished themselves in honorable and faithful service to the Lord, and find themselves no longer able to serve in an active capacity.  Normally, candidates for this position would be confirmed as a part of the Deacon Election process in November.  However, the church determined in its last conference to have a special election for the first slate of candidates so that they may be recognized at the 100th Anniversary Homecoming on June 3. 

The Deacon Nominating Committee recommends the following persons for the position of Deacon Emeritus:

D. M. Bowen

Nolan Duck

Marshall Peek

Miriam Peek

Clyde Shannon

Rufus Stephens

Fun and Fellowship News

First Thursday Lunch March 1

Lunch cost is $4.00 per person. Chicken salad sandwich lunch at 11:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Informational Meeting concerning Pigeon Forge Trip. 1:00 PM visit to Georgia Highlands Smithsonian Space Exhibit. Reservations should be made in church office by February 27.

“Show Time in the Smokies”

April 16-18 in Pigeon Forge, TN

Cost (1-19) ticket sales: $ 238.80

          (20+)  ticket sales: $204.90

Join us for as we will travel by charter bus, attend 3 major shows, and shop and eat at several well-known restaurants in Pigeon Forge. Pick up an information sheet at the church office. Call Lynn or Jane Brandon at 706-291-2461 for more information. A $95.00 deposit due before March 14 to the church office. Spaces are limited so sign up soon!

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Men of all ages are invited to join us for prayer, devotional time, and breakfast every Thursday at 7:00 AM ending by 7:45 AM.

Thank you

A very special “thank you” to the 100th Anniversary Committee, ministers, and all who helped make our day such a grand celebration here at Second Avenue.

Thanks,

Ann Day,

100th Anniversary Committee

Upcoming Children’s Ministry Events 2007:

• Kids Day Out - Floyd County Lanes March 11 at 12:45-3:00 PM

           Pre-K through 5th Grade     $10 per child (lunch included)

          *Parents of Pre-K and Kindergarten age children are asked to attend with

            their children.

• Parent’s Night Out - Friday, April 13 at 6:00 - 9:30 PM at SABC

• Easter Egg Hunt, April 7 from 10-11:30 AM 

• Vacation Bible School June 11-15,  Kick-off Carnival on June 10

• Children’s Camp 2007 - July 16-20, Teen Valley Ranch, Plumtree, North Carolina

           For children who have finished second grade through fifth grade.

Student Life Clarity Tour - March 9-10, in Atlanta, GA

Cost: $70 per person (Includes Conference Fee, Lodging, & Transportation)

Sign-Up Sheet is located in the Youth Suite. Sign-Up deadline- February 25

$35 Non-Refundable Deposit due to secure a spot

Youth Choir SonPower Trip, July 2-7    

Youth Choir Trip

SonPower is an unforgettable week of music and missions for students. In five power-packed days, students learn dynamic songs from the upcoming SonPower music collection, Made to Worship, study God's Word under

the direction of the coolest guys around, serve the surrounding community through unique mission opportunities, and worship along side 1000 other students all week. We will also go to a theme park and Cocoa Beach. The week will culminate in a live recording session, as students present music they've been working on all week.

The $247 cost per person includes hotel, SonPower registration, and a theme park. Breakfasts will be provided; lunch and dinner are at the student’s expense.  Student scholarships will be available. Final sign-up and a non-refundable $25 deposit is due by February 27. Sign-up this week in the Youth Suite and then join the Youth Choir this Sunday at 5:00 PM.

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Mission Miami: Sign Up Today

It’s hard to believe but we are only 4 months away from our mission trip to Miami.  That means that we need to know very soon who will be on our team.  If you are planning to go, please sign up on the bulletin board outside fellowship hall or call the church office.  So far, we only have four people signed up.  We know more of you want to go, but we need to hear from you soon so we can begin to make plans.  For our 2007 Trip, we will partner with Touching Miami with Love Ministries in the Overtown area of Miami.  The dates of the trip are Saturday, June 23 through Saturday, June 30.  The team will be involved in multiple projects while there.  The main project will be a day camp in a city park for about 200 children.  There will also be a weeklong construction project as well as a Sunday morning worship service for the homeless community and other ministries at night. The cost for participants will be $150 per person ($500 maximum per family) with a $50 deposit to hold your spot.  Sign up now on the bulletin board just outside the fellowship hall or by calling the church office.

Celebrating a Century of Faith: Our Story...

A Former Pastor Remembers Second Avenue’s Beginnings

“Maple Street was organized by a man named Henry Wilmer (I have my doubts if that was his real name). I had prepared a list of names of Baptists who lived in that part of East Rome who had agreed to cooperate in a Sunday School I had planned to organize in that section. I had left the list with Mr. Joe N. Crozier and this man, Wilmer, had some way heard of it and induced Brother Joe to work with him in building a church. They called it the “East Side Baptist Church” and held their meetings in an empty store building on Oak Street. Wilmer persuaded the little band to let him have the funds they had scraped together, and he left “between the suns”. Wilmer was arrested in Chattanooga, jailed for several weeks, made bond, then jumped bail and was never heard from again.

After Wilmer had gone, the little group, nineteen in all, asked me to come to Rome twice a month and preach for them. The salary agreed on was $20 per month. I probably spent more that half of it on railroad fare to and from Rome; for I had much work to do in visiting the sick, conducting funerals, etc. I was pastor from September 1, 1908 and the membership increased to eighty-two. During that time we built a house on Maple Street, and changed the name of the church. I did much of the carpentry work and all of the electric wiring with my own hands, and was quite proud of it.

                                                        From Sixty-Five Years of My Life Spencer B. King

Homebound Members

February 18:

Charla Floyd

February 25:

Joyce Fortson

Congratulations to Bill and Jackie Knight on the birth of their grandson February 14, 2007. The proud parents are Christopher and Brook Jefts of Sugar Hill, Ga.

Giving for the Week of 2/11/07

Budget Goal to Date   $  77,748.

Budget Gift to Date         57,259.

Weekly Budget Goal       12,958.

Weekly Budget Gifts       10,319.

Total Gifts to Date       $  65,097.

Attendance for 2/11/07

Sunday School           189

Morning Worship         226

Giving for the Week of 2/18/07

Budget Goal to Date   $  90,706.

Budget Gift to Date         64,779.

Weekly Budget Goal       12,958.

Weekly Budget Gifts         7,520.

Total Gifts to Date       $  72,677.

Attendance for 2/18/07

Sunday School           187

Morning Worship         210

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, February 25

9:00 am Women’s Prayer Time

9:00 am Instrumental Ensemble

9:45 am Sunday School

11:00 am Morning Worship

               *Communion

               Preschool meeting following morning worship

5:00 pm Youth Choir

6:00 pm Family 2 Family

Tuesday, February 27

7:00 pm Deacon Council meeting

Wednesday, February 28

5:00 pm Ministry Team meeting

5:15 pm Family Night Supper

6:00 pm Prayer Time—Fellowship Hall

6:00 pm Preschool Choir      

6:00 pm Children’s Choir                                                        

6:15 pm Adult Bible Study—Chapel

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, March 1

7:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast

11:30 am First Thursday Lunch

Friday, March 2

9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study

6:30 pm Chancel Choir Mystery Event

Saturday, March 3

6:00 - 9:00 pm Youth Fellowship at Freeman and Susan Robbins’ home

Sunday, March 11

Daylight Saving Time Begins

Set your clocks up one hour Saturday night.

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MINISTERIAL and WORSHIP STAFF

Rev. Monty Stallins, Senior Pastor

Mr. Steve Grayson, Minister of Worship

Rev. Charlie Mayberry, Minister to Families

Mrs. Ann Hicks, Organist

Mrs. Annette Herrington, Church Accompanist

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SUPPORT STAFF

Mrs. Lisa West, Ministry Assistant                                             

Mrs. Mary Beth Musick, Administrative Assistant/ Financial Secretary

Mr. Phil Langston, Custodian

Mrs. Amy Jones, Custodian

Mrs. Dean Money, Family Night Hostess

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