Fruitland Baptist Church April 2019

Pastor’s Perspective Dear Fruitland Family,

I am writing to you under the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the blue sky we all know has been a rare occurrence over the last months. So with Spring finally here, my attention goes of course to the Christ follower’s biggest celebration. While preparing for the Easter season, I came across an article that I thought was well written that directed my attention with much clarity to the miracle of Easter. I would like to share this article with you. After reading it, I hope that it is a sharp reminder to you of our salvation and the cost that came with it to put us in relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I also hope that it inspires us to turn our focus and attention with hearts full of worship to this special day of celebration. Please join us on Easter Sunday, April 21st for our Sunrise Service at 7:00 AM and our Easter Celebration at 11:00 AM as we relive the surprise ending of the resurrection together. The Surprise Ending of Resurrection By Brian Orme In some stories, hope is wrapped up in the obvious and tangible elements of the plot, but other times hope is revealed through a surprise ending or a twist — giving new life to the story in foreshadowed glory. The Easter story is a vivid example that things aren’t always as they seem. In a way, Easter is a celebration of the greatest story twist in history, one that’s so subversive it changes everything for all time. It’s easy to gloss over the Easter story — we’ve heard it so many times — and forget the surprise and shock of the resurrection. It’s easy to read through the Gospels without that “aha” moment it really delivers. We have the privilege of reading the resurrection

into the teachings of Jesus — we know how the story ends — but for the disciples, the moments before the resurrection were steeped in fear, darkness and confusion. For the disciples, the resurrection provided an incredible twist — in  Sixth Sense fashion — that made the story come alive in a new way … past experiences began to make clarion sense. It changed everything. Eugene Peterson explains it like this in his book  Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places:  “The Christian life begins as a community that is gathered at the place of impossibility, the tomb.” The scandalous plan of God, revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, reveals to us that what we see is not  all  there is. Easter tells us that a man convicted is not really guilty, that a cruel instrument of torture and death is really a symbol of remarkable hope and grace; it also tells us that an empty tomb is what we should have expected all along. On the surface, the story of Easter reveals a plot by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day to take down a rebel once and for all. As Jesus is handed over to the authorities, the picture that’s painted is that Caesar is king, his kingdom rules and the Roman cross would have the last say. Even homeless peasants with an unusually impressive following and a supernatural track record would be trumped by the empire for rebelling.  The path to the cross was a willing conviction accepted by God in the most subversive act on Earth — a conspiracy to take on the sin of the world and launch a counter-kingdom that would overthrow every worldly empire. Not by violence or brute force, but by love and sacrifice — through Christ. Colossians tells us that with each step Jesus was making a public

To Know Christ and to make Christ Known "1

the C.O.R.E. - Newsletter of Fruitland Baptist Church Craig Stepp, Senior Pastor William C. Hardin, Associate Pastor

Fruitland Baptist Church April 2019

spectacle out of the pseudo powers and authorities and that, with the cross, he was triumphant. What looked like defeat was actually ultimate victory. Easter reminds us that even though injustice may run rampant at  present — even though it appears that darkness is pervasive and final — we know God is working, that his love is greater and that resurrection is real. As the morning came on the third day, a sun-cast freshness burst on the scene to reveal a subversive hope that thrusts us into a new story, one that rests on the work of Christ — a grassroots grace that upends every injustice. Through the brilliant light of the resurrection we can walk in newness of life. At a time when the Caesars of our day still claim to rule and injustice seems commonplace, the revolutionary hope of new life springs up in our hearts as we embrace the promise of Christ and experience the call of an extreme God to believe. This new way, this subversive hope, is a call to live counter to the mainstream tendencies of darkness and selfishness and to embrace the resurrection life. In this, we not only celebrate the story of Easter, but we join it as ones who have received an unspeakable gift. As Miraslov Volf says in his book Free of Charge,  “When Christ died on the tree of shame outside the gates of Jerusalem, God bore our sin, and we were both condemned as sinners and separated from our s i n , a n d i n o u r l i v e s , G o d l i v e s somewhere unfathomably deep within us — behind our faculties of knowing and willing — and swallows up our sin and transforms our lives.” This transformation through Christ is our twist in the story — our  aha moment. Through Christ, we continue to live out the resurrection life in our own generation — continuing the subversive plot that God initiated in Christ. So this Easter, relive the surprise ending; relive the story with a fresh passion for the genuine hope that we embrace. Relive the reality of a risen Lord and new life. May this hope continue to paint our future in every possible way. May God bless you! Written in love, Pastor Craig

Easter Sunday, April 21st Sunrise Service at 7:00 AM followed by light breakfast - then our Easter Celebration at 11:00 AM

Seniors Lunch Wednesday, March 6th All seniors are invited to join Pastor Craig and the Church Staff on Wednesday, April 3rd at Bay Breeze Restaurant at 12:00 PM for lunch and a time of fellowship together.

Easter Egg-Stravaganza! We will host an Easter Egg-Stravaganza! on Saturday, April 20th at 10:00 AM at the Edneyville Community Center.   We are asking our Church Family to come out and show His love as we invite the Fruitland/Edneyville  Community  to join us as we play games, enjoy concessions, hunt Easter eggs, and hear about the Good News of Jesus!

Mission Emphasis For April Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Ladies Sharing Life Since all of our ladies have been invited to join us for the Going Beyond Simulcast with Priscilla Shirer on Saturday, April 6th at The Bridge Church Hendersonville, we will not be meeting this month.   Ladies Sharing Life will meet next month on Sunday, May 5th at 5:30 PM.  Tonya Marthaler with Unbroken Circle Project will be joining us to share about her passion and journey in helping Native American tribes.

D-Now Friday, April 5th and Saturday, April 6th All Youth are invited!  We will meet at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall for supper.  Bring your $25 with you on Friday.   Make plans to be picked up at Fruitland around 10:30 PM on Saturday evening.  We are going to have an amazing weekend.  Josh Gardner, Director of Discipleship at Clayton King Ministries, will be our speaker and Pinnacle Worship will lead the music.  We will learn a simple and easy way to share the Gospel with our friends.  student.  There is a sign-up sheet outside the Church Office.

Welcome New Member Gabby Poole

To Know Christ and to make Christ Known "2

Fruitland Baptist Church Calendar of Events April 2019

“ToKnowChristandToMakeChristKnown”

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 B’DAYS:CHRISFORTIN/SHELBYJUSTUS

2 B’DAYS:DAVIDGRESOCK/CATHYLAU-MEN’SBIBLESTUDY7:00AMATFBBC

3 B’DAY:REESESMITH

-10:30AM–BIBLESTUDY

-12:00PM–SENIORSLUNCHATBAYBREEZERESTAURANT

-6:00PM–FELLOWSHIP

-6:00PM–CIATORESTHOME

-6:30PM–MISSIONFRIENDS/STUDENTMINISTRY/BIBLESTUDY

-7:40PM–CHOIR

4 B’DAY:JOESHOOK

5 B’DAYS:CURTISHOLBERT/JDMARKLAND-YOUTHD-NOWATLIVINGWATER

6 B’DAYS:DANIELDALTON/CLARENCELAUGHTER/TATUMSTEPP

-YOUTHD-NOWATLIVINGWATER

-PRISCILLASHIRERSIMULCASTATTHEBRIDGECHURCHHENDERSONVILLE9:30AM-5:45PM

7 B’DAY:COLTONPITTILLO

-DEACONMTG4:00PM

-PUPPETPRACTICE5:00PM

8

9 B’DAY:EDYTHEHICKS

-LIBRARYWORKDAY2:00PM

10 B’DAYS:JUDYCATHEY/STEFANIESIGMON

-10:30AM–BIBLESTUDY

-6:00PM–FELLOWSHIP

-6:30PM–MISSIONFRIENDS&CIA/STUDENTMINISTRY/BUSINESSMEETING

-7:40PM–CHOIR

11

12 B’DAYS:BRYNLEEBRIGMAN/SALLYJAHR/WALKERMAINS

13 B’DAY:CHRISJACKSON

14 B’DAYS:APRILGRIFFIS/GRACEHARRELL/JUDYMERRELL

-MCTMTG4:00PM

-PUPPETPRACTICE5:00PM

-PRAISETEAM5:30PM

PALMSUNDAY

15 B’DAY:TYTANBANE/RANEESTEPP

16 -MEN’SBIBLESTUDY7:00AMATFBBC

17 B’DAY:ANNAHKICKLIGHTER

-10:30AM–BIBLESTUDY

-6:00PM–FELLOWSHIP

-6:30PM–MISSIONFRIENDS&CIA/STUDENTMINISTRY/BIBLESTUDY

-7:40PM–CHOIR

18

MAUNDYTHURSDAY

19

GOODFRIDAY

20 B’DAYS:LEILAHMEYER/BAILEYSPRUDE

-EASTEREGG-STRAVAGANZA!ATTHEEDNEYVILLECOMMUNITYCENTER10:00AM

-PRAISETEAM&CHOIRREHEARSALTIME3:00PM

21 B’DAY:SARASMITH-EASTERSUNRISESERVICE7:00AM

-EASTERCELEBRATION11:00AM

EASTERSUNDAY

22 B’DAYS:THERESABALL/BILLYODOM/AUDREYWELLS

23 B’DAY:DALTONRHODES

-LIBRARYWORKDAY2:00PM

-CBASPRINGSEMI-ANNUALMEETINGATHORSESHOEFIRSTBAPTISTCHURCH7:00PM

24 B’DAYS:AMYHORNE/SCOTTSINGLETARY/CAROLYNWARD-10:30AM–BIBLESTUDY

-6:00PM–FELLOWSHIP

-6:30PM–MISSIONFRIENDS&CIA/STUDENTMINISTRY/BIBLESTUDY-7:40PM–CHOIR

25 -GLASSESFORMISSIONSATFIRSTBAPTISTCHURCH/LOVE’SKITCHEN10:30AM-1:00PM

26B’DAYS:EVANFORTIN/MERLEPITTILLO-MISSIONSEXTRAVAGANZAINRALEIGH

27-MISSIONSEXTRAVAGANZAINRALEIGH-MISSIONSEXTRAVAGANZAKIDSCAMPINRALEIGH

28 B’DAY:NELLIETHOMAS

29

30 B’DAY:MICHAELSPERRUGGIA

-MEN’SBIBLESTUDY7:00AMATFBBC

WORSHIP AND BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIESSUNDAY: Sunday School – Fellowship 9:30am; Bible Study 9:45am Morning Worship 11:00am

WEDNESDAY: Young Adult Bible Study & Fellowship 6:00pm; CIA & Mission Friends 6:30pm; Youth 6:30pm / Prayer & Bible Study 6:30pm; Adult Choir Practice 7:40pm

ViewChurchcalendaronourwebsite@www.fruitlandbaptist.org

Fruitland Baptist Church 150 College Street Hendersonville, NC 28792-9294 www.fruitlandbaptist.org

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HENDERSONVILLE, NC PERMIT NO. 10

April 2019 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Missions Extravaganza - "Unshakable Pursuit" Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th Trinity Baptist Church 4815 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Men and women of all ages are invited to join WMU NC for their two day annual missions conference.  You can choose from a wide variety of breakout sessions including leadership, missions, and spiritual development.   These sessions will encourage, refresh, challenge, and equip you for the mission field that God has placed within you.  This missions conference includes a kids camp for students in K-6th grades.  We will go as a church and spend the night.  If you are interested in going, see Linda Bradley by Friday, April 12th.

Vacation Bible School August 5th to August 9th VBS will be here before we know it!  This is a week where students get to dive deep into God's Word, develop friendships within the church, learn more about missions, and make wonderful childhood memories.  We need your help.  If you are willing to teach, assist, or be involved in any way, make plans now to come to our one and only planning meeting on Sunday, May 19th at 3:00 PM.

Summer Is Coming...Save These Dates... Summer Mission Trip Car Wash / May 25th Summer Mission Trip / June 28th-July 6th

Youth Journey Camp / July 8th-12th Look Up Lodge Children's Camp

July 30th-Aug 2nd Vacation Bible School / August 4th-10th

D-NOW 2019 April 5th and 6th

This is going to be an amazing weekend where we will

draw closer to the Lord and gain a renewed passion to

share the gospel with the people we go to school and live

out life with. The cost is $25 which will include a t-shirt

and food for the weekend. We will meet and eat in the

fellowship hall at 5:30 on Friday, April 5th before heading

to Living Water for praise and worship. Students will stay

in host homes Friday evening and will come home

around 10:30 Saturday night to get a good night’s sleep

in their own bed. If you want to go and you have not

signed up, see Candi Mains.

Summer Mission Trip June 28

th – July 6

th

Join us as we go and share God’s love with others. We will have our annual car wash on Saturday, May 25th. This is God’s mission trip and all are invited. You must have finished 5th grade to attend without a parent and be a part of the youth group. The only requirements are for you to come and help with the car wash and you will need to bring money to cover your meals while traveling and any spending money you want.

This is going to be an AMAZING Weekend! 12 Churches are going to come together to share the Good

News of Jesus!!!

Last year we brought the children from Arnold, PA back to the BLI for a Girls SPA Day and a Guys Fishing Trip! It

was great to share hope and His love!

Fruitland Youth News April and May 2019

Fruitland Youth / April & May 2019

Journey Camp July 8th-12th All money for Journey Camp is due by May 15th. If you paid your $50 deposit in the fall, you will need to pay the remainder, which is $249. If you are applying for a CBA Scholarship, you can subtract that from your balance. Some of the Staff from Journey Camp are going to come and join us on Sunday, May 5th. They are going to bring their knocker balls and share with us about Love Africa. Make sure you come and bring a friend!

Upcoming Dates April 5 & 6 – D-Now April 13-21 – HCPS Spring Break (No Youth on 4/14) April 20 – Easter Egg-Stravaganza 10:00am April 21 – Easter (No Youth) May 5 – Journey Camp Fun Night May 12 – Mother’s Day

Easter Egg-Stravaganza! The youth will help with the Easter Egg-Stravaganza on Saturday, April 20th. Please plan on being at the Edneyville Community Center at 9:30am and leaving at 12:15 noon. The youth will present the gospel for the older children, play and interact with the children and hide Easter eggs. This is a great opportunity for Fruitland to share His love with our neighbors and community!

Sunday Night Series – WHY? We will discuss four different WHY questions in this series and seek the Bible for some wise answers. The four questions that we will be seeking answers to are…

Why am I here? Why does God allow evil and suffering? Why is there only one way to heaven? Why do I need to read the Bible?

My word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do. Isaiah 55:11