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From the Pastor

It’s Time for School We have tried to remake Sunday School in a variety of ways, to make more “appealing” to those seeking faith and commitment to church. Sunday School has been renamed “Bible Study,” “Small Groups” or some sort of vague description which takes out the word “school.” Adults, you are never too old to attend school. Third is graced with a variety of classes taught by a competent and skilled faculty. Third offers classes to enrich knowledge of Scripture—practically applying to our present culture and context. In addition, you have the ability to learn and discover—in community. A group which can offer fellowship and support as you travel from valley to mountaintop. “Get up, it’s time to go to school,” does not end when your educational years are concluded. As Christians, we are life-long learners: struggling, interpreting and applying Scripture to our contemporary condition. Below is a list of classes and a brief description: Young Adults New class beginning September 9. Led by Dr. Edem Dzunu. Edem was born in raised in Ghana. His travels have taken him through Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. Edem cherishes meeting people from all walks of life—with particular passion for young adults. Meets in Memorial Chapel on fourth floor. Windows An intergenerational group led by Dr. Tommy Simons and Jerry Bryan. The class is informal and discussion orient-ed. Ages range from singles, couples to college/career. Class meets in the Pastor’s Office on the second floor. New Horizons Consists of a diverse group of adults, covering a wide age range. This class participates in hosting the after-church cookie fellowship monthly, spearheading back-to-school supply drive and toys given with the Christmas baskets. Meets in the Conference Room on the Ground Floor. Heshbone An open age discussion group with rotational teaching alternating between an in-depth study of a book of the Bible or meaningful Christian literature. Meets in the Old Library on the Ground Floor.

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Open Door The diversity of our class reflects the diversity of the church - all are welcome. Our study style attempts to draw out as much group knowledge as possible as we read the scripture, review commentary, and take home with us the lessons gained by our conversation. Meets in the Ewing Chapel, first floor, off the hallway behind the Sanctuary. Green Circle Engages Scripture through focus passages as outlined in the Formations curriculum. Two teachers alter-nate teaching four-to-five week units by engaging the participants in an examination of the intersection of their lives with the text through the resources of a study guide and Sunday morning lecture and conversa-tion. Prayer Partners A loving and supportive community of differently abled people from all walks of life. We share laughter and sorrows in a lively discussion format. We believe in the power or prayer, and spend the first part of class in prayer and thanksgiving. Additionally, there are three ministry projects that we take on as a class. If you’ve been absent or never attended—make a commitment to return to school this fall. Blessings all, Tommy

Baobab People Biennial Conference

Co-sponsored by Baobab People, Center for Global Citizenship at Saint Louis University, Third Baptist Church of Saint Louis

THEME: Beyond Tolerance: Building Sustainable Communities in the Age of Diversity

Friday, Sept. 7 - Saturday, Sept. 8 Friday 5:30 p.m. - 8:oo p.m.

Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Saint Louis University Center for Global Citizenship 3672 West Pine Blvd

To register: email programs@baobabpeople.org

mailto:programs@baobabpeople.org

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The Four Evangelists: Worship in September

September 2, 2018 Communion Special guest preacher: Dr. Steve Phillips September 9, 2018 Matthew: Fallible Icons Matthew 1 September 16, 2018 Mark: Crossing Mark’s Stormy Seas Mark 8:17-18 September 23, 2018 Luke: Spiritual Maturity Luke 6:17-36 September 30, 2018 John: The Word and Beauty John 1:1-5

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Wednesday Night Discipleship for Adults Johnson Fellowship Hall

Four Paths and Four Questions: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

• What is behind the story of the storytellers of the Gospel? • Why are there four Gospels? • How do we interpret various portraits of Jesus and disciples discovered in each

of the Gospels? • Jesus is perceived through 4 different lenses. What are the differences and why

does this matter? Each Wednesday in September, we will continue our time of fellowship and reflec-tion on Wednesday nights for Adults. Dinner for all is served at 5pm. Adult discipleship begins at 6pm in Johnson Fellowship Hall.

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Global Missions Committee Makes Gift to Gateway 180

Recently, the Global Missions Committee made a gift of $800 to Gateway 180 for the purchase of playground equipment. From Kathy Connors, the executive director of Gateway 180, “Our new playground is the vision of, and possible because of donations from, Kelly Jones & Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens, Peggy Pittenger & Third Baptist Church of St. Louis and the Levenson Family.”

Children’s Ministry Outing to the Pumpkin Patch

Join us for our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch at Eck-ert’s Farm in Millstadt, IL on Saturday, September 29. We will meet at Eckert’s at 1:00 PM. Please contact Maria if you need additional information.

Des Peres Fund Grant for Remodeling at Christian Activity Center

During a recent funding cycle, the Des Peres Fund Board ap-proved a request from the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis to fund renovations on their second floor. Pictured is the first of those renovations, which is a quiet room for students to visit.

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Musical Offerings for September

Our musical offerings this month exemplify the diversity of composers and styles that typifies Third Bap-tist. We perform more music by women composers than just about any other church of any denomina-tion in St. Louis. During September you will hear music old (Bach, Handel and more) and brand new (by Martha Shaffer). Our selections range from baroque to spirituals & gospel, with some classic Americana included in the mix. Following several pieces by Aaron Copland heard this summer, we continue with his Mid-Day Thoughts and an arrangement of Zion’s Walls on the 9th. The following week we will enrich our worship with music written or inspired by Handel. On the 23rd there will be a distinctly British flavor to our selections, including the US premiere of Lullaby for Alexandra and a rousing call to worship, both piec-es by the contemporary composer, David Bednall, together with a slightly older piano solo, Farewell to Stromness by Sir Peter Maxwell Davis (who died in 2016). At the end of the month we return to these shores with music inspired by American hymnody, arranged by Lloyd Pfautsch, Dan Forrest and Paul Sjolund.

New Work Written for TBC

Our celebration of the Lord’s Supper, held at the beginning of each month, is typically enhanced with short verses arranged by John Rutter, but this month we will also premier a new work specially written for us by the St. Louis composer, Martha Shaffer. Martha was for many years the accompanist for the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, and the Assistant Organist at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ladue. More re-cently, she was appointed Organist to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in the Central West End. She is well known in the area, both for her organ playing (she is a past Dean of the local branch of the American Guild of Organists), and her compositions, several of which have been published by Oxford University Press. We are most grateful to Martha for writing this new Communion piece for us.

St. Louis Chamber Chorus Concert

Several members of our music staff are involved with the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, and on the 30th of this month, you can support them by attending the season opener at 3 pm, just down the road from TBC at Christ Church Cathedral (1210 Locust). The program explores the theme of friendship, and features a world premiere by Latvian maestro, Eriks Esenvalds. Eriks is one of the most sought-after composers of his generation, and the Chorus is delighted to welcome him to St. Louis for this new piece. Eriks is also a graduate of the Riga Baptist Theological Institute, so we at TBC should be doubly interested in the con-cert, not only because of Eriks but also our Music Director, Philip Barnes, who conducts the Chamber Cho-rus. Tickets to this event may be purchased online, www.chamberchorus.org, or by calling (636) 458-4343.

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1 Demetria Bryant, Pam Dzunu 2 Alan Jay 3 Lela Jones 8 Danny Lawrence 11 Andre McDaniel 12 Juan Moore 14 Lera Bryant 17 Willard Swyers 20 Sam Meyer 22 Demetrius Bryant 24 Judy Vansickle 28 Frank Watson 29 Dave Walser 30 Mary Wainwright

September Events

Sunday Schedule

9:30 AM Doughnut & Coffee Fellowship 9:45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship, Sanctuary Noon Fellowship, Pillsbury Threshold

Wednesday Schedule 5:00 PM Fellowship Dinner 6:00 PM Adult Bible Study, Children’s Activities, Youth Activities 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

2 Regular Sunday Schedule

3 Labor Day—Church Offices Closed

5 Regular Wednesday Schedule

7 Baobab People Conference

8 Baobab People Conference

9 Regular Sunday Schedule

12 Regular Wednesday Schedule

15 Food Pantry

16 Regular Sunday Schedule

19 Regular Wednesday Schedule

23 Regular Sunday Schedule

Lunch and Learn Workshop

26 Regular Wednesday Schedule

29 Children’s Ministry Outing to Pumpkin Patch

30 Regular Sunday Schedule

September Birthdays

In the city for good!

620 North Grand, St. Louis, MO 63103

Church Office: 314.533.7340

third-baptist.org

Dr. Tommy Simons

PASTOR

Rev. Maria Stinnett ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR

CHILDREN & COMMUNICATIONS

Dr. Edem Dzunu ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Kelly Watts INTERIM YOUTH MINISTER

Philip Barnes DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Mary Adams RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ASSISTANT

Byron Greer BUILDING SUPERVISOR

Timothy Harrison CUSTODIAN

Karen Stewart & Linda Freiburghaus CHURCH HISTORIANS

Brent Johnson ORGANIST

Tom Kurtz BUSINESS MANAGER

Lansin Lim Kimler PIANIST

Christine McCarthy FINANCE

Raymond Murphy CUSTODIAN

Sally Stevenson PARISH NURSE

Staff