etidings May 6 2008

God’s Gifts

This May is truly a celebration of God’s gifts to us. It began this past Saturday with “God’s Gift Shop” sponsored by our Ladies’ Night Out and Student Ministries. What a great success it was, thanks to Rebekah Molyneux and all her friends who helped to pull it all together, raising over $5,500 for our Second Century Campaign. It was a joy to see how many of our family of faith committed the use of the gifts God has given them to what truly was a celebration of all of God’s good gifts to us.

This Sunday, we celebrate the gifts of both mothers and children. We will honor our mothers on this Mother’s Day by receiving an offering for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. We will recognize our children’s ministries as they lead us in worship and present our special music. It is a day for thanking God for the gift of children and those who lovingly care for them.

On May 18, we will recognize our graduating seniors (see them in the insert). In doing so, we will thank God both for the gift they have been to our congregation and all the gifts He has given them to use as they transition into adulthood. For me, this yearly celebration is always a reminder of all the people who have invested in the lives of these young people over the last eighteen or so years. From the nursery to our student ministry, many of you have been a part of stewarding these gifts to this point in their lives.
I hope you will join us in celebrating this milestone with them.

Also on that day, we will gather at Lock and Dam Park to celebrate the gift of fellowship. This is our Family 2 Family year end celebration. We will eat race cars (RA/GA Racer Derby) and enjoy a good old-fashioned field day. Come and join in the fun.

Finally, as we look into the coming summer months, I hope you will remember that God calls us to respond to His good gifts to us with gifts of our own. With the slumping economy, our giving is a little off to this point in the year. While we are doing our best to be good stewards of those gifts, many of our expenditures continue at the normal rate. Please consider this a gentle reminder to keep up your giving through the summer months.

We have truly been blessed with many of God’s good gifts here at the corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street. I hope will you help us celebrate them this month as we thank God for those blessings.

Blessings,
Monty

Worship Ministry
The Joyful Singers will lead in Worship at local retirement centers May 15 and 22nd. We are always looking for more people to join us.

The Chancel Choir has begun their summer music season and this would be an excellent time to join the choir. We meet on Wednesday evening for one hour, 7:00-8:00 pm. Come and join us.

The Children’s Choir and Preschool Choir will sing during the Sunday morning service of May 11 and then be part of the Mission’s program on Wed., May 14, at 6:15 pm. This is the end of their Spring season of music. Be sure to be in attendance and thank them for their hard work this year.

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Cookbook Error
If you purchased a cookbook prior to April 24, there is an error that should be corrected. Page 104 Mayonnaise Cake 2 tsp. baking soda, NOT 2 tbs. This mistake has been corrected in cookbooks purchased after April 25.

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 at rfmolyneux@gmail.com

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

Thank You from the Bereavement Committee
Cards of appreciation and thanks have been received from the families of Alma Shannon, Emily Reid, and James Harper. Thanks to the leaders who served the meals and to those who prepared the food. This is a valuable ministry of our church.
Cynthia Ables

Menu Change from Kitchen Committee
Wednesday, May 7, the Family Night Supper menu will include vegetable soup with grilled chicken salad, bread, and spice cake.

Fun and Fellowship News
Saturday, June 21
Fun and Fellowship has a full day of activities planned on a day trip to Atlanta. We will leave early, travel by motor coach to the Planetarium at the Fernbank Science Center and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, IMAX Theater, lunch at the famous Varsity Drive-In, and dinner on the way home. Cost of the trip is $50.00 per person. The price of lunch and dinner is not included.
This is a first-come-first-served trip so sign up early to hold your spot. Sign up by May 1st.

Note Time Change
Due to a scheduling conflict at the Grand Old Opry, our trip for November has been changed to November 10-12, 2008. Please mark your calendars because this is a date change from the original date sent out in our January letter.

Georgia Baptist Convention 2008 SBC Annual Meeting
If you would like to register as a messenger for the SBC annual meeting, the office has registration cards available.

This year’s meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 10-11, 2008.

Family Ministry
SABC...Making a Difference in Our Community
“Thank you” to everyone who participated in our Family 2 Family Service Saturday. Our volunteers worked at Rome Action Ministries and at Habitat for
Humanity’s lot in south Rome.
Thank you for being the Family of Faith being the Body of Christ in the World.

Sunday, May 11 is Mother’s Day and Children’s Homes Day
We will have a special emphasis on the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes.
Instead of our traditional gifts to the ladies of the church, we will ask you to give to help these children who need the love of mothers and fathers. Offering envelopes will be available.

Wednesday, May 14
Year End Children’s Missions and Choirs Recognition

Day Camp Volunteer Training Session: May 17, 8:30 AM –12 Noon
Fellowship Hall -This session is mandatory for all day camp volunteers.

High School Graduate Recognition
Sunday, May 18, during the youth-lead 11:00 AM worship service, our high school graduates will be recognized.

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 and 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.

Mark Your Calendar for Our Year- End Activities
Wednesday, May 14
Year-end Children’s Missions and Choirs Recognition

Sunday, May 18 4:00 PM
Family 2 Family year-end celebration at Lock and Dam Park
This evening will include our annual RA/GA Racer Derby and a cook-out for the whole church family. All are welcome.

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Homebound Members
May 4:
Charla Floyd

May 11:
Swift and Joyce Fortson

Giving for the Week of 4/20/08
Budget Goal to Date $216,800.
Budget Gift to Date 145,963.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 7,026.

Attendance for 4/20/08
Sunday School 161
Morning Worship 181

Giving for the Week of 4/27/08
Budget Goal to Date $230,350.
Budget Gift to Date 155,794.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 9,831.

Attendance for 4/27/08
Sunday School 183
Morning Worship 237

Giving for the Week of 5/4/08
Budget Goal to Date $243,900.
Budget Gift to Date 168,396.
Weekly Budget Goal 13,550.
Weekly Budget Gifts 12,602.

Attendance for 5/4/08
Sunday School 197
Morning Worship 226

Weekly Schedule
Sunday, May 11
9:00 am Women’s Prayer Time
9:45 am Sunday School
11:00 am Morning Worship
*Children leading in worship
No evening activities

Monday, May 12
6:00 pm Ladies’ Night Out

Tuesday, May 13
4:00 pm Meals & More

Wednesday, May 14
5:15 pm Family Night Supper
5:30 pm Personnel Committee
5:45 pm Trustees Committee
6:00 pm Prayer Time—Fellowship Hall
6:15 pm Year-end Children’s Missions and Choirs Recognition
6:15 pm The Foundry—Youth
6:15 pm Illuminate—College/Career
6:30 pm Chancel Bell Choir
7:00 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, May 15
7:00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Friday, May 16
9:30 am Ladies’ Bible Study
7:00 pm Rome Braves Champion Charity Challenge

Saturday, May 17
8:30 am – Noon
Day Camp Training for Volunteers