Good News MessengerGood News Messenger Vol. 9 No. 10 First Southern Baptist Church – Mattoon, Illinois September 29, 2011Vol. 9 No. 10 First Southern Baptist Church – Mattoon, Illinois September 29, 2011

From our

PastorMany of you know that I worked for my dad in the real estate business before coming into the ministry. In order to sell real estate for a real estate broker, one has to pass the state test to become a licensed salesman. I remember my dad asking me how I did on the exam. I said that I was not very confident that I did well. My dad responded by saying: “Well, maybe you will be in store for a nice surprise.” I did pass that exam, but I’m afraid it was not on the first time I took it. Here’s my point, nice surprises do happen in our lives. They often happen when we least expect them.

The other day I received a letter in the mail from the Oldham Little Church Foundation letting us know that they had approved our request for a grant for our new parking lot. They agreed

to grant us their highest grant of $7500.00. Frankly, I had prepared myself for them to decline our request. Not only was that a nice surprise, but I felt like the Lord bestowed His grace and kindness on us. Even if we did not get that grant, God still bestows His grace and kindness on us. Well, I was so excited I had to send out an email rejoicing in the Lord.

Again, here’s my point: God often bestows nice surprises in our lives. Sometimes we take them for granted. I realize that this is not the Thanksgiving month, but I still want to thank the Lord for working through that foundation to bless us. I just wonder if God’s people need to do a little more of thanking the Lord and for recognizing those nice surprises He does in our lives.

May the Lord God Almighty, in Christ, richly bless us!

Your Pastor and Friend,John Calio

Ladies Bible StudyAll ladies are invited to attend a Bible All ladies are invited to attend a Bible Study to be held at the home of Study to be held at the home of Rhonda Brotherton beginning Rhonda Brotherton beginning Thursday, October 20Thursday, October 20thth from 6:00 – from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Bible Study is designed 8:00 p.m. The Bible Study is designed to help women see the church as Jesusto help women see the church as Jesus Christ sees her, as a shining bride Christ sees her, as a shining bride preparing for the Bridegroom. It is preparing for the Bridegroom. It is designed to lead women to a deeper designed to lead women to a deeper understanding of God’s plan for the understanding of God’s plan for the church and the individual believer’s church and the individual believer’s role in His plan. The author, Martha role in His plan. The author, Martha Lawley, explains how Jesus often used Lawley, explains how Jesus often used the marriage relationship to teach us the marriage relationship to teach us about Himself, His purposes and His about Himself, His purposes and His ways.ways.

The six week Bible study draws from The six week Bible study draws from the rich symbolism of a Jewish the rich symbolism of a Jewish wedding, familiar during Jesus’ times, wedding, familiar during Jesus’ times, but not always understood by today’s but not always understood by today’s Gentile Christians. By the conclusion Gentile Christians. By the conclusion of this study, women will discover of this study, women will discover fascinating biblical truths that point to fascinating biblical truths that point to the climax of history – the marriage the climax of history – the marriage feast of the Lamb.feast of the Lamb.

There is no video to this series, but There is no video to this series, but there will be homework and discussion.there will be homework and discussion. The cost for the study book is $8.95. The cost for the study book is $8.95. To sign up, please contact Rhonda To sign up, please contact Rhonda Brotherton at 549-9036 or Brotherton at 549-9036 or rhontastic@gmail.comrhontastic@gmail.com. Deadline for . Deadline for ordering books will be October 9ordering books will be October 9thth..

The Brotherton home is at 2920 The Brotherton home is at 2920 Western Avenue.Western Avenue.

Added to the flockNicolle and Quentin Kuyrkendall both came forward this month to accept Jesus as Savior. Nicolle, 9 and Quentin 5 are children of Rob and Pam Kuyrkendall, Mattoon. They will be baptized at a later date.

Ruth Wyrick HonoredRuth Wyrick Honored

The Live Wires met in the fellowship room on Thursday, September 22 for a surprise potluck lunch to honor and thank Ruth Wyrick for her many years of service in this church. She worked in Sunday School, VBS, WMU and Live Wires as well as anywhere she saw a need. She was chairperson of the Live Wire committee until recently. She planned activities and encouraged senior citizens to participate.

The Live Wires presented a decorative plate and a thank you card to her. Tables were decorated with bouquets of autumn flowers and the dessert table featured a personalized cake for Ruth in coordinating colors.

The group shared memories of Ruth’s commitment and faithfulness through the years. Marge Alumbaugh read a poem she had written for Ruth. There were 28 in attendance and several

lingered for a time of fellowship after the meal and program.Below is the poem dedicated to Ruth:

WOMEN OF WORTHby Marge Alumbaugh

Sixty-six books in the Bible; only two have a feminine name.To be given such recognition; unusual stories their claim.

Esther stood up for her people; pled their cause in the court of the king.She placed her life in great danger; not knowing results it would bring.

Esther’s plea was successful and the Jewish people rejoiced;Celebrating and feasting with gladness while prayers and praises were voiced.

Ruth was a destitute widow; her future she could not know.But she promised her mother-in-law Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go”.

They journeyed from Moab to Juda; two widows in need of some aid.Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz; he told her not to be afraid.

Boaz was Naomi’s kinsman; he purchased her late husband’s land.Ruth was part of the purchase; accomplished what Naomi had planned.

Ruth and Boaz were married; in time she bore Obed, a son.Naomi rejoiced at good fortune; praising Ruth for all she had done.

We have someone named Ruth among us and she has been faithful too.As a mother of five active children, she always had so much to do.

Ruth worked for the telephone company and often she worked a split shift.Maximizing the time with her children; knowing time is a most precious gift.

Ruth valued education; life experience, as well as in school.There was much to be learned from the Bible and church every week was the rule.

Ruth always made time for service; placing value upon any task.When a sub was needed to fill in; the leader just needed to ask.

Ruth had a soft spot for missions; she planned for her giving each year.She paid in a Christmas club weekly; till the Lottie Moon Offering was near.

She wanted a gift that was worthy to honor the Christ Child, our Lord.Cutting back on some part of the budget, giving gladly all she could afford.

Ruth stayed the course through tough times; Darrell’s cancer required much support.Many trips made to Springfield for chemo; needing help was their final resort.

Ruth needed a knee replacement; a project that causes some pain.But she was up to the challenge and now she walks with a cane.

Ruth was the ‘spark plug’ for Life Wires; she wanted to see the group grow.For years she called with reminders, when we thought we were ‘too young’ to go.

Ruth headed our Live Wire Committee; called meetings, planned outings, took part.She’ll be a tough act to follow and we thank her with all of our heart.

AWANA

Happy Fall Y’all!  We’ve kicked off the year with a bang, or should I say vroom, here in AWANA! We hosted our first successful drive-in movie night last month and a blast was had by all!  We wouldn’t want to have all the fun in September though so we have all kinds of fun planned for October as well!

The last Sunday in October will be our AWANA Fall Ball.  No, there won’t be any dancing, but we are going to have a really good time!  We have planned a weenie roast, hay rack ride and trunk-o-treat for the evening as well as games and a devotion.  Trunk-O-Treat wassuch a blessing for the children last year that we couldn’t possibly think of not offering it again this year.  The kiddos can come dressed in a non-scary costume and have a ball!  We have a wonderful year in store for us and God is moving in so many amazing ways.  I am truly grateful for the opportunity that he has granted us to serve within the AWANA children’s ministry. If you are interested in serving in AWANA please feel free to give me a call. 

We do feed the children every week from our own pockets so food and snacks are welcome too.  Big bags of pretzels, cereal, boxes of crackers, cheese sticks or any kind of snack

food is truly appreciated.  You can leave them in the kitchen with a label “AWANA” and your name so we can thank you properly.  Thank you for loving the children of FSBC and supporting the AWANA ministry.  May God bless you! If there is a child that you know who hasn’t had the opportunity to visit our AWANA club

please invite them to do so.  We meet Sunday evenings throughout the school year from 5:30pm-7pm. in the gym here at FSBC.

Lisa Bennett Your 2011-2012 AWANA commander,

 

I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

October 2 – Annual Harvest Picnic After morning Worship

October 7 – Youth Fall Retreat Leaving here 5:30 p.m.

October 20- Live Wires –Cookout

Letters to a Pastor

Dear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God's help or a new pitcher. Thank you. Alexander.  Age 10, Raleigh

Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 8, Nashville.

October

Jim Ayers Jim Ayers 0404Ann HardinAnn Hardin 0404Krista PickeringKrista Pickering 0404Lexi LandrusLexi Landrus 0606Virginia HilligossVirginia Hilligoss 0808Claire BeckClaire Beck 1010Amandra BundrenAmandra Bundren 1313Ruth BiggsRuth Biggs 1515Deshawna MooreDeshawna Moore 1515Nicolle KuyrkendallNicolle Kuyrkendall 1717Hayden RighterHayden Righter 1717Jim WestJim West 1717

Fred NiemanFred Nieman 1818Blayton NelsonBlayton Nelson 2020Leah RawingsLeah Rawings 2424Maggie WestMaggie West 2525Jazmin KuyrkendallJazmin Kuyrkendall 2727Dean NicholsDean Nichols 2929Jai WoolardJai Woolard 3030

NovemberSharron MaguireSharron Maguire 0101Charles WyrickCharles Wyrick 0505Scott BiggsScott Biggs 0606Natalie PruittNatalie Pruitt 0808Jeanne ElliottJeanne Elliott 1010David TabbertDavid Tabbert 1010Ronille “Bud” BiggsRonille “Bud” Biggs 1313

VBSThe VBS Preview will be held in Springfield on October 29th. This is a preview of the theme and all things pertaining to the 2012 Vacation Bible School. Julie Calio, Gillis Wilson, Lore Landras and Lexi attended the 2011 Preview last fall. If you would like to attend this year, please speak to Julie

Sierra CurrySierra Curry 1414Sharon BirdsongSharon Birdsong 1515Paul CalioPaul Calio 1515Joe CalioJoe Calio 1515Christina CouchChristina Couch 1717Keegan HendersonKeegan Henderson 1818Hayden ChuppHayden Chupp 2020

Mike VaradyMike Varady 2424Connor PickeringConnor Pickering 2626Joyce CunninghamJoyce Cunningham 2828Mike LandrusMike Landrus 2828Caitlin WheelerCaitlin Wheeler 2929

At the end of World War II a group of soldiers offered to help the people of a destroyed village in any way they could. But instead of asking for food, money, or farm equipment, the townsmen asked for help in restoring a statue. For years their proudest possession had been a statue of Christ in their own town square. Now it lay shattered into many pieces. Could the soldiers help put it together again? It was a difficult task, chips and

pieces lay all over the square. Finally the statue was repaired except for two missing parts that the soldiers could not find. Finished, they covered the statue with a silken parachute, so that it could be unveiled in a ceremony before the townspeople, even though it was incomplete. On the occasion the mayor of the town

gave a speech and pulled the cord of the silken drape... It dropped from the statue, showing a Christ without hands. At first the townspeople were shocked. Then they looked down at a sign which the soldiers had put at

the feet of the statue. It said: "I have no hands. Won't you please lend me yours?"...

Matthew 25:40 says: "Whenever you did something for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me."

What! Change Our Name? The president of the Southern Baptist Convention formed a task force to study the possibility of changing the name of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

“The convention’s name is so regional,” SBC President Bryant Wright told Fox News Radio. “We are going to think through potential names that would better describe us without such a regional geographic limitation.”

The Southern Baptist Convention is 166 years old and has churches in every state, with most of its membership is in the South and Southwest.

“It could be helpful to us when we are seeking to start new churches and begin work outside of the South and Southwest,” he said.

Wright announced the formation of the task force Tuesday night during a meeting of the SBC Executive Committee.

According to Baptist Press, the national news service of the SBC, the task force will consider four questions:

1. Is there value in considering a name change?2. If so, what would be a good name to suggest?3. What would be the potential legal ramifications of a name change?4. What would be the potential financial implications?

So what is more problematic for the SBC – the word “Baptist” or the word “Southern”?

“That would probably depend on who you are talking to,” Bryant replied. “In this case though, it’s really just the regional aspect of the term ‘Southern’ that really no longer describes who we are.”

David Dockery, president of Union University in Jackson, Tenn., has been appointed to the task force. He told Fox News Radio that the possible name change could present several challenges for the task force and the convention.

“There are major legal issues and huge financial issues regarding a name change like this,” Dockery said, adding, “the whole issue of loyalty and tradition to a particular name – as marketing people would call it – to a brand name.”

“It’s a subject that has come up every decade since the 1970s – since the Southern Baptist Convention began planting churches far beyond the southeast,” he said. “Looking for a name that would represent the work that now takes place nationally and globally has been a question for about 40 years.”

Jon Akin, pastor of Fairview Church in Lebanon, Tenn., said he’s glad the SBC is considering a name change.

“We’ve always had a global mission and a global task and we need to seriously look at the question of does our name -- ‘Southern’ -- cause us to be hindered from accomplishing that global task that God has given us,” he asked.

A young pastor, Akin said the name of the denomination comes with baggage dating back to the days of slavery.

“While I’m grateful for the many good things in our heritage, there are some connotations that go with the label Southern that our convention was started in part over an argument about slavery,” he said. “We’ve obviously made statements and resolutions saying that we do not affirm what happened in our past in terms of that, but it’s something we’ve got to continue to answer in terms of our heritage -- that we aren’t going to be a mostly southern, mostly middle class, mostly white denomination, that we want to reach all nations.”

Bryant, who is pastor of the Atlanta-area Johnson Ferry Baptist church, said any name change would require approval from messengers at two consecutive annual SBC meetings.

- Internet Source

Southern Baptists have created a website for individuals to submit their opinions and possible name changes. The website is www.pray4sbc.com

Music Box

A special thanks to all the people who shared on the Psalm 100 Day. It is always exciting to hear what God is doing in our church families’ lives. It was a

blessing.

Below are the words to our Chorus of the Month:

Julie CalioInterim Music Director

Your Name

As morning dawns and evening fadesYou inspire songs of praise that rise from the earthTo touch your heart and glorify Your name

Your name is a strong and mighty towerYour name is a shelter like no otherYour name let the nations sing it louder Cause nothing has the power to save but Your NameJesus in Your name we prayCome and fill our hearts todayLord give us strength to live for youAnd glorify your name

Your name is a strong and mighty towerYour name is a shelter like no otherYour name let the nations sing it louderCause nothing has the power to save but Your Name

Your name is a strong and mighty towerYour name is a shelter like no otherYour name let the nations sing it louder Cause nothing has the power to save

But Your name is a strong and mighty towerYour name is a shelter like no otherYour name let the nations sing it louder cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name

Greetings! I hope you all are having a good start to our cooler weather. I think for this year’s Fall Retreat we are actually going to have fall like weather, but still looks like it’s going to be a great weekend of weather in the 70’s! On Saturday, October 1st we will be having a War In The Woods work day and making flour bombs at 10:00 a.m. Pizza will be provided for lunch!

On Sunday, October 9th you will notice myself, other adults, and pretty much all the youth will be gone for our Fall Retreat. Our Fall Retreat this year is called “Radiant” and is based off 2nd Timothy 1:6-7. The Fall Retreat takes place during the weekend of October 7th to October 9th and we will leave the church on Friday, October 7th at 5:30 p.m. so you need to make sure to be at the church by 5:15 p.m.! I am looking forward to another great year at the Fall Retreat. Signups are still going on so parents please make sure to get your permission slip turned in and the money. The cost for the Fall Retreat this year is only $20 and checks can be made out to the church. Right now we have about 8 different churches that are going to be represented at the Fall Retreat, many of them from

our own association. We even have a church from Carlyle, Urbana, and Mt Vernon coming!

Listed below is a list of items that youth will need for the Fall Retreat:

Bedding- sleeping bag, pillow, additional blanket

Air Mattress/Cot (If you have any air mattresses or cots please bring it to the retreat.)

Towel/washclothToiletriesBIBLENotebook/Journal for notesPen or pencilClothing- At the camp the cabins are insulated but do not have heating systems. Depending on what the weather is like, it could get a little cold at night. It is important that you make sure your teenager(s) bring plenty of warm clothes for the weekend. We are praying that we have a nice fall weekend, but you can never know what the weather will be like.Trash bag- for wet clothesWar in the Woods clothing- long sleeves and long pants that you can wet and messy in. Make sure to bring some sort of covering for your head also. Camouflage encouraged!Money for lunch on Sunday

During the month of November we will be having Midnight Madness again, but no date has been set in stone yet. This will be a Friday night in November though! Also make sure to look out for news on Youth Encounter for this year! I will begin promoting that towards the end of October!

In Christ, Jeremy Bundren, Youth Pastor

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

.

Harvest Picnic – Sunday, October 2nd

In fellowship hall following morning worship

Meat and drinks furnishedPlease bring dish to share

Lots of food, fun and fellowship. Come and spend the afternoon with your church family.

Music - Entertainment – Clown –Magician - Games for kids - Face Painting - Adult Praise Band

2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat1 8:30 a.m. Men’s ministry Breakfast at pagliacci[‘s 10:00 a.m.Youth War in the Woods Workshop at our church

2 9:00 a.m. Sun Sch 10:05 a.m. WorshipAnnual Harvest Picnic after morning service

No evening service oractivities

3 4 5 1:00 p.m. WOM meets

6:30 p.m. YouthFocus Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer

6 4:30 p.m. Trustees meet

7 5:30 p.m. Youth leave here for Fall Retreat Weekend

8

9 9:00 a.m. Sun Sch 10:05 a.m. Worship 4:30 p.m. Choir 5:30 p.m. Awana 6:00 p.m. Worship

10

6:30 p.m. Deacons meet

11 7:00 p.m. FinanceCommittee meets

12 6:30 p.m. YouthFocus Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer

13 14 15

16 9:00 a.m. Sun Sch 10:05 a.m. Worship 4:30 p.m. Choir 5:30 p.m. Awana 6:00 p.m. Worship

17 18 19 6:30 p.m. YouthFocus Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer

20 2:00 p.m.LiveWires CookOut at Joyce Cunningham’s home

21 22

23 9:00 a.m. Sun Sch 10:05 a.m. Worship 4:30 p.m. Choir 5:30 p.m. Awana 6:00 p.m. Worship

24 25 26 6:30 p.m. YouthFocus Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer

27 28 29

30 9:00 a.m. Sun Sch 10:05 a.m. Worship Lord’s Supper 4:30 p.m. Choir 5:30 p.m. Awana 6:00 p.m. Worship

31 October "Crispy air and azure skies, Colors bright on bush and tree. High above, a white cloud flies, Over the weedy swamp, we see Bright as newly fallen snow. A veil of purple and brown and gold. Oh the joy to those who know October! Thy beauty words have never told. October!