March 27-28 is our 11th annual March Missions Madness for grades 1-6. We will spend the night in the Fellowship Hall and participate in activities with a theme called “Under Construction.” Watch

for a letter that will be mailed to your home with all the information that you need to prepare for this night. A sign up will be posted on the office window to let us know if your child is coming. Our theme for VBS this June is Concrete and Cranes and this night will help prepare your children for getting their hearts ready for work! Psalm 127:1 says “If the Lord doesn’t build a house, the work of the builders is useless.”

Wednesday, April 1, is a night your family will not want to miss. Dan Bellamy of Inflatable Stories will be here to share Eas-ter Fun with all ages using balloons. What he does with balloons is incredible and you will be amazed at how exciting balloons can be used to tell a story. We will be in the sanctuary that night starting at 5:30. Bring

your friends and family to this special night. We have been praying with our children for the last several weeks and today we are praying for when we prepare to travel. With Spring break approaching and travel plans being made by many of you families, remember to pray with your children about a safe trip and protection from harm while on the trip. Before you leave on your trip, stop and pray in the driveway with your children. There will be no Department 56, supper, choirs or missions on Wednesday, March 11 (Spring Break) or on Wednesday, April 1. But we will have all activities tonight! Working for Him, Thea Kay

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM who called you out of darkness into His won-derful light! Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had

not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Thank you to our Children’s Hand Chimes and 5th and 6th grade choir for leading us in worship Sunday. I am so proud of our children who are working hard to learn to use their musical talents to glorify the Lord. I am also so appreciative to our children’s choir teachers for working with them each week! The Worship Choir will be singing “Savior” this Sunday and Charles Raines will be singing “Nothing Else”. The worship choir will be working on Easter music during choir rehearsal this week as well as some new music for morning worship. Easter listening CDs and jump drives will be available this week. We will not have worship choir rehearsal Wednesday, March 11. Student Drama and Student Choir will NOT rehearse this Sunday, March 8 but will resume rehearsals Sunday, March 15 at our regularly scheduled times. He keeps me singing!

FOREVER YOUNG COVERED DISH LUNCHEONThursday, March 12 - Noon

Program: Robin BoydRemember you only need to bring side dishes or desserts.

Meat is furnished.Hope to see you there!

OUR GOAL: $9,800.00GIVEN TO DATE: $1,305.00

COMMUNITY SINGINGWest End Baptist Church

Saturday, March 145:00-7:00 p.m.

alsoREVIVAL

March 15-18 Mon- Wed. Services:

6:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S CONFERENCEMeadowview Baptist Church, Starkville

Friday May 8 - 5:30 p.m. Cost: $25Dr. Charles Lowery & Jena Forehand

VBS REMIXEast End Baptist Church

ColumbusTuesday, March 31

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Around the Golden Triangle...

Ginger’s Notes

There is a lot of news about the newly discovered COVID-19 virus, commonly being addressed as the “coronavirus.” Ac-cording to the World Health Organization, more than 95% of the cases are occurring in China, with the majority of those happening in the Hubei Province. The WHO website states, “For people in most other parts of the world, your risk of getting COVID-19 is currently low; however, it’s important to be aware of the situation and preparedness efforts in your area.” I also read a couple of articles today that discussed how organizations, schools, and churches could be impacted if the virus became widespread. I definitely agree we should be prepared for reality, but our appropriate thought right now should be to pray and hope for the best outcome. We cannot live our lives in fear. Fear will cripple us and will distract from the calling of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” However, it is NOT a lack of faith to take precautions and to be intentional with an action plan. I believe such a scenario is the discipline of “a sound mind.” We took appropriate steps years ago to try to insulate our church family financially in the case of this sort of thing. If there were to be a pandemic warning for our area, and a call to avoid public gatherings, then we will lean strongly upon our digital presence to stay connected and minister as a church fam-ily. We could have unique opportunities to minister to our com-munity too. Therefore, planning and preparations are essential before the need dictates an urgency. However, before anything … the first step must be spiritual preparedness. Pray! Pray faith-fully! Pray faithfully daily! James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” NEVER underestimate what prayer can accomplish in the will of God from the lips of righteousness imputed by Christ to a child of God. Your Pastor and friend, Dale

From Your Pastor

THE

MessengerFirst Baptist Church560 E. Broad St.,West Point, MS662-494-4213

Volume XXIV March 4, 2020 No. 10

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS SUNDAY!

Remember to set your clocks ahead 1 hour Saturday night.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS SUNDAY!

Remember to set your clocks ahead 1 hour Saturday night.

Sunday,March 8 9:00 a.m. Sunday School10:15 a.m. Morning Worship Noon Group leaves for The Ark/Creation Museum 1:00 p.m. Wedding Shower for Bethany Cox & Marlin Towery No Evening Activities Tuesday, March 10 2:00 p.m. Movers & ShakersWednesday, March 11 6:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting OnlyThursday, March 12 Noon Forever Young Covered Dish Luncheon 2:00 p.m. Movers & Shakers

TITHES & OFFERINGSMarch 1, 2020

Undesignated 19,097.00Reimbursements 460.00Child Care 4,045.00Total Operating 23,602.00Designated 1,257.00Total Deposit 24,859.00

USHERS - March 8

Charles Magers Roger BurtonHeath Brand Jerry IsheeBarry Bryan Dave Ketchum

NURSERY WORKERS March 8

Bed BabiesRobby & Terri Pierce

Toddlers/TwosGregg & Keena Kaiser

ThreesJohn & Sherry Freeman

March 4Chicken Strips, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Lima Beans Roll BrowniesMarch 11No Meal

Prayer Meeting Only

OFFERTORY PRAYERMarch 8

Dave Ketchum

ATTENDANCE -March 1, 2020General Officers 12Preschool 22Children 28Youth 34Adults 146Total 242Worship 323

We continue to take donations for our church’s food closet. Some we serve are unable to heat items, so when shopping, please keep that in mind. (Canned meats, crackers, peanut butter, granola bars, beans and franks, canned fruit, etc.) Of course there are others who are thankful for items they can cook for their families. Thank you for providing for those in need.

FFirst irst SStudentstudentsFirst StudentsLet us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering,

since He who promised is faithful.Hebrews 10:24

WeeklyRenewal – We have our student worship service at 6:00. We’ll be starting our journey through the book of Philippians entitled, “Joy

in Dark Times.” Tonight’s passage will be Phil. 1: 1-11.

Upcoming Events Student Drama/Choir – We will not have student drama or choir this Sunday. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon. Sunday Night Bible Study – We will not have bible study this Sunday night, Mar. 8. Spring Break Trip – Be in prayer for those who are going to the Ark and Creation Museum next week Mar. 8 -11.

Graduate Recognition – Graduate recognition Sunday will be Sunday, April 19 during the morning worship service. We will have a meeting for graduate parents on Wednesday, March 25th to discuss the plans for that day.

Jimmy MorganMarvin Turnipseed

Gary HavlinTori Havlin

Brynnlee HavlinStephen Raines

Noah BrandCarter BumgarnerDalton Turnipseed

Kyle FordBella Vick

Kendyl WatsonBrooke TerryKimber Ray

Evans VickChip Ballard

Samuel HollisGray McCarter

Jacob DavisBrady Boyd

Reid WatsonElliot Hutchins

Sue GossToni Lee

Terri PierceSarah Grace Pierce

Please join us for a Come & GoWedding Shower Honoring

WEDDING REGISTRIES:Rose Drug, and Amazon

Bethany Coxand Marlin Towery

Sunday, March 8, 20201:00-2:00 p.m.

First Baptist Fellowship Hall

First Baptist ChurchRev. Dale Funderburg, Pastor

Ginger Fowler, Minister of MusicThea Kay Tribble, Minister to Children

Gary Havlin, Student PastorLaura Langford, Early Childhood Ministry Director

Sue Goss, Student Ministry InternJacob Goss, Music Ministry Intern

Morgan Spotts, Children’s Ministry Intern