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El Camino Baptist Church El Camino Baptist Church

THE TRUMPETTHE TRUMPET June 2011

Volume 49, Issue 6

A Lesson from A Lesson from A Lesson from A Lesson from

a Farmera Farmera Farmera Farmer 2

Striking A

Chord 3

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4

Christmas in

July 5

Words from

Danny 6

Financial

Matters 7

Calendar 8

Grab a cab and get ready for fun

that’s around every corner at our

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Now is the

Time to Register

You may visit our table

in the church lobby on Sundays

or at www.elcaminobaptist.org

to download our registration form

We are accepting children who have

completed grades Preschool—6th

Wednesday Day 1

6:00 pm—8:30 pm

Thursday Day 2

6:00 pm—8:30 pm

Friday Day 3

6:00 pm—8:30 pm

Saturday Day 4

9:00 am—12:00 pm

Sunday Day 5

9:00 am—12:00 pm

Bible Camp Schedule * Registration begins each night at 5:45 pm

In This Issue In This Issue In This Issue In This Issue

I grew up in the farm and ranching country of western Nebraska. They offer a wonderful learning environment about life. As I was thinking about this, I recalled a story from the book And the Master Answered by Irish Catholic Priest, Flor McCarthy, entitled, “The Farmer.”

Once upon a time there was a farmer who was growing old and weary before his time eking out a living for himself and his family on a farm of eighty acres he had inherited from his father. The land was mostly stony, but there were of course patches where the soil was rich and deep. Still these were far too few for the farmer’s liking.

At first he didn’t mind the hardship. In fact he was enthusiastic and excited. It was lovely to have a piece of land he could call his own. He worked hard at improving it. He got rid of many of the surface stones and quite a lot of the ubiquitous scrub. He sank drains and planted trees. He built a new barn. And yet, ten years later, he felt he had wasted his time and energy. He was convinced he was getting nowhere. He was becoming frustrated. He dearly wished he could afford to buy a new and better farm. He envied the farmers around him whose land appeared to have been so much more blessed by the Almighty.

At times he positively hated the place. He knew, or thought he did, every square inch of it. He couldn’t see a single good thing in it. All he could see were the stones, the barren spots, the weeds, and the scrub that grew in abundance without the slightest encouragement from him. At such moments it appeared to him to be little better than a wilderness. And yet at other times he liked the old place. He felt that somehow this was where he belonged. His roots were here. He would feel a stranger anywhere else. At such times he could see that the place had its good points, It was sheltered from the north wind by a ridge of heather-covered hills. It had an abundance of excellent water. He almost loved it when the moon threw its silver over it on a starry winter’s night, or when the first soft rains of spring covered it with a carpet of daises and buttercups.

That is how it was between him and the farm until one day changed it all. It was a bleak wintry day. Things were barer than usual. There was not the slightest sign of life or growth. He went up to a high point of the farm to investigate a recent rock-fall. On nearing the spot he found that it was even more serious than he had imagined. Tons of rock had fallen on to the ground he had laboriously

Page 2 Volume 49, Issue 6

reclaimed only the previous year. A wave of despondency swept over him. This latest misfortune was the last straw. He saw it as a sign that fate was against him. He obviously was not meant to succeed. On nearing the spot, however, he saw a dark hole in the side of the hill. It turned out to be the mouth of a cave. He took a peep inside but it was too dark to see anything, so he whet for a lantern.

He had hardly stepped beyond the entrance when he almost turned back in disgust. Everything was damp and musty and eerie. But suddenly, for some unknown reason, a strange thing happened. The child in him was reborn and he grew excited. It was wonderful. What made it wonderful was the feeling that he was stepping into the unknown. He was treading where no human being had trodden before. It was all so secret and mysterious!

Then from a remote corner the light of the lantern was reflected back at him. He approached the corner with mounting excitement. At first he couldn’t believe his eyes; he was spellbound, as the light was reflected from what appeared to be nuggets of pure gold. He bent down and took one into his hand ever so gently, fearing that it was an illusion, that the light had played some horrible trick on him, and that it would turn out to be just another stone or that it would crumble to dust in his hand. But it didn’t! Dazed, he headed for the exit. Back in the light of day he sat down by the mouth of the cave and examined his treasure. The nugget was solid. The gold was real!

He said aloud: “To think that this treasure lay hidden here all these years. That no one suspected its presence; that I myself had walked past it, not once but many times…The thing for which I have always longed – and it was lying in the place I least expected, right under my feet!” Looking over the barren, wind-swept landscape, suddenly everything was different – and magical. As for himself, it was as if he had been reborn.”

Sad, isn’t it, how we so focus on what we don’t like about our lives that we are blinded to the blessings God has placed in our lives? Sadder still is that it often takes a mishap, perhaps even a tragedy, to enable people to see those blessings. But I’m reminded that once we do discover them, we can be like the man Jesus spoke of in a parable, who, once finding a great treasure in a field, went to the great extreme of unloading all he had to keep it. Live your life open to the possibilities that are around you.

Live your life in expectation of discovering the riches God has in store for you. And if it does take a mishap or tragedy to finally discover them, celebrate even that.

Blessings,

Bill

A Lesson from a FarmerA Lesson from a Farmer

Page 3 Volume 49, Issue 6

True discovery

is the natural result of being

willing to search

musty and eerie. But suddenly, for some unknown

in our lives? Sadder still is that it often takes a mishap, perhaps even a tragedy, to enable people to see those

Striking A Chord

By David Burckhardt

…this past weekend, on two consecutive evenings, I witnessed two “events” that frankly, disturbed me. On the first evening, Andrea and I were in the Baby department of a favorite discount mega-store. A young woman, obviously pregnant, was shopping in the department with her husband and young child. She wore a t-shirt with the F-bomb prominently displayed in large letters. Then the next evening, we were sitting in our favorite Thai restaurant at a window seat when I observed the second event: A nice looking couple in a clean, tidy car drove slowly by the restaurant. The passenger rolled down her window and tossed out a take-away Styrofoam carton. If she had lifted her eyes just slightly, she would have noticed a trash can 10 feet away. I got to thinking about this. Do we live in a society that doesn’t care about these things anymore?

…well, then I had to look in the mirror after reading Psalm 73 this morning and ask the question, what do I look like to a non-believer? The psalmist wrote,

“ 6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.”

Of course, “they” means them…and not me. I always act appropriately…or, do I? I better check to see if my necklace is tucked in out of sight…../djb

On Sunday, July 3rd we will have a special

patriotic emphasis at our God & Country

Service.

If you would like to sing with us, please come to all June

rehearsals at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings in Suite E.

Page 4 Volume 49, Issue 6

Pulse Pulse Pulse Pulse

Youth Ministry

Summer Kick Off

Family BBQ

June 18

3 pm—6 pm

Where: El Camino Baptist Church

Youth and Parents are invited to join us for an

afternoon of Fun, Food and Fellowship with dinner,

water balloons and games.

RSVP: by June 11th

Contact Edward Stewart so we will know how much

food to prepare. 916-612-8659 or

www.facebook.com/elcaminobaptistchurch.

Women Youth WorkersWomen Youth Workers

Needed

We need your help in Youth Ministry on Wednesday Nights.

If you have a passion to serve the Lord and have the ability

to relate to teen girl’s varying needs and challenges

WE NEED YOU.

Please contact Jon 284-1774

Glow

Bowling

July 22nd, 2011

8pm-10pm

Location:

Country Club Lanes 2600 Watt Ave

Sacramento, Ca 95821

Our Heart BeatHeart BeatHeart BeatHeart Beat, Our Pulse Our Pulse Our Pulse Our Pulse is to see this generation meet Jesus Christ face to face and help them become

passionate Jesus followers by making Him their identity.

Page 5 Volume 49, Issue 6

Christmas In July Migrant Ministry

July 15-16

The El Camino Baptist church Women’s Missionary Union is

helping organize the collection of clothing and small toys for

Christmas in July, a Sacramento Association SBC Event.

Collection bins will be in our church lobby from June 12th

through July 10th. We are looking for New or “Slightly Used”

clean Summer clothing for men, women and children.

All sizes are welcomed.

We are also asking for toy donations to be used in GRAB

BAGS for the migrant worker’s children. We need small toys

that will be put in cellophane bags. A sample is on our lobby

counter.

If you would like to volunteer

to help sort clothing and assemble

GRAB BAGS, contact

Theresa Wright

204-8244

We also need volunteers

to go with us to the Migrant Camps

to help with crafts.

Thank you for your support

ecbcWMU

It’s A Boy:

Help us welcome the pending arrival of their new

baby boy. Our celebration will be in Suite C in our

Senior Center. Allison is registered at

Target. See you there!

Baby Shower for Allison Reyes June 4

1-3 pm

Page 6 Volume 49, Issue 6

You are not the agent for Spiritual growth in a person; that is the job of the Holy

Spirit at work in you and in your group. So be confident in the fact that your la-

bor is not in vain. God is at work through you and in them. This takes a lot of

pressure off us who lead others. Our responsibility is to inspire, pray,

encourage, and challenge, but God causes the growth. Check out these

scriptures from 1 Corinthians reminding us that the Spirit of God is doing His

work in us.

My message and my preaching

were not with wise and

persuasive words, but with a

demonstration of the Spirit's

power, so that your faith might

not rest on human wisdom, but

on God's power.

-1 Corinthians 2:4-5

The Spirit searches all things, even the

deep things of God... We have not received

the spirit of the world but the spirit who is

from God, that we may understand what

God has freely given us.

-1 Corinthians 2:10,12

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but

God has been making it grow. So neither

the one who plants nor the one who

waters is anything, but only God, who

makes things grow.

-1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Aren't you relieved that we are not responsible for people's growth? The Holy Spirit is the agent of change. God only asks us to create an environment that nurtures that growth. We plant the seeds of truth and we're supposed to plant new leaders in the soil that supports the Christian community. We provide resources, pray prayers, and connect people with teaching that will feed them and allow their roots to grow deep. The Church and BFG leaders will nurture this new plant and provide wisdom and counsel. The water of the word of God will shape and transform character traits, beliefs, and attitudes. And we as BFG leaders get the joy of watching the plant mature into a healthy, fruit-bearing tree, by God's grace.

Remember that God will use you. Never tire of working on behalf of your group, because God is

working through you to impact others, though you might not see it at first. Here are a few ways

that He may be using you;

MODELING: What you do and how you do it is an example

to your group, so continue to pursue Christ and live with integrity.

WORDS: What you say can build up or tear down (James 3).

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver,"

says Proverbs 25:11

PRAYER: God delayed the movement of the sun and stopped the

falling of the rain in response to prayer. (see Joshua 10:13 and

1 kings 17:1; 18:41-44) He acts and moves as we pray according

to His will.

LISTENING: Listening to your group members with empathy and

intention will show them you care about them as people, not just

as names on the chart in your church (James 1:19).

Page 7 Vo lume 49, I ssue 6

Financial MattersFinancial MattersFinancial MattersFinancial MattersFinancial MattersFinancial MattersFinancial MattersFinancial Matters

2011 Income Expenses Over/Under Budget Over/Under

January $ 32,411.99 $ 29,188.19 $ 3,223.80 $ 30,202.91 $ 2,209.08

Year to

Date $ 148,850.85 $135,635.62 $ 13,215.23 $362,434.92 -$ 2,163.70

February $ 30,670.99 $ 28,111.75 $ 2,559.24 $ 30,202.91 $ 468.08

March $ 29,743.07 $ 30,452.89 -$ 709.82 $ 30,202.91 -$ 459.84

April $ 29,184,29 $ 30,161.35 -$ 977.06 $ 30,202.91 -$ 1,018.62

May $ 26,840.51 $ 17,721.44 $ 9,119.07 $ 30,202.91 -$ 3,362.40

May

Receipts

$26,840.51

1st Sunday

$9,249.86

2nd Sunday

$7,564.57

3rd Sunday

$6098.55

4th Sunday

$3,927.53

Help Us FILL FILL FILL FILL the Month Weekly Needs: $6,969.90

Monthly Needs: $30,202.91

$(5,000.00)

$15,000.00

$35,000.00

$55,000.00

$75,000.00

Janu

ary

Febru

ary

Mar

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ilM

ayJu

neJu

ly

Augus

t

Septe

mbe

r

Octob

er

Nov

embe

r

Dec

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Income

Expenses

Budget

2010 Income

,

, but God causes the growth. Check out these

the one who plants nor the one who

MODELING: What you do and how you do it is an example

As we celebrate Father’s Day, we likely see traits in our

dads or other father figures that we hope to be known for

ourselves: integrity, gentleness, a great sense of humor, a

love of learning, a humble spirit.

Amy Grant’s song “Father’s Eyes” tells of a young girl who

wants nothing more than for others to recognize

her father — and her heavenly Father — in her.

“When people look inside my life,

I want to hear them say,

‘She's got her father's eyes.’”

What characteristics of God your Father are reflected in

your eyes, heart and life? And what godly qualities would

you like to cultivate?

May others see our heavenly Father in us!

Like Father, Like Child

Father’s Day June 19th

Mondays

6:30 pm

Raiford Home Rancho Cordova 362-5319

This is a Family Home Bible Study that will guide parents and their

children through the Acts of the Apostles and help them to better

understand how the early church brought the Good News from

Jerusalem to Rome. There’s room for more.

For More Information For More Information Visit our website at www.elcaminobaptist.orgVisit our website at www.elcaminobaptist.org

June ActivitiesJune Activities

6-4 1:00 pm Allison Reyes’ Baby Shower

5,12,19 Noon Root Beer Floats Fundraiser

6-11 8:00 am Car Wash Fundraiser

6-18 3:00 pm Parent & Youth BBQ

6-25 8:00 am Mexico Mission Team Departs

6-26 12:30 pm VBS Planning Meeting

El Camino El Camino

Baptist ChurchBaptist Church 2805 El Camino Ave2805 El Camino Ave

Sacramento • CA • 95821Sacramento • CA • 95821

Don’t Forget to use your

Save Mart

S.H.A.R.E.S. Card

This program will earn our

Food Closet Ministry up to

3% for qualified

purchases.

All you have to do is shop at Save Mart or Food

Maxx and remember to swipe your card.

Sundays

4:45 pm Wright Home

Arden area 204-8244

This Bible Study for women

addresses the deep feelings that all

women have and the fears and

struggles they face. Join this study

and learn to brave and face these

challenges.

Tuesdays

6:30 pm

H. Hooper Home

Carmichael 487-9577

Starting August 2nd: This Bible Study for

women will lead you on a journey through

the Psalms of Ascent – songs of worship.

Contact us that we may order your book.

Wednesdays

6:30 pm

ECBC Conference Room

This Bible Study for men will provide the

answers to the many questions you may have

as to how to live out real-life faith and aid in

building Christian community.

Thursdays

7:00 pm

Jenkins Home

Natomas 716-7909

This Bible Study will help you understand

how to deal with and overcome conflict.