The Messenger
March 1999 Newsletter

Pastor's Penpoints
Music Notes
From the Assistant Pastor
Focus on WMU
150th Anniversary News
Thanks!
Will YOU Help?
Tiny Tot News
Membership Report
  • Sympathy
  • New Members
  • Congratulations
  • April Birthdays

Announcements


Pastor's Penpoints by Sam Jones

Spring has sprung! It's official. You can bank on it. Will someone kindly notify the weather man? Sometimes we seem to go right out of winter into summer. But winter has passed and my favorite season of the year has arrived. The days and nights are still cool, even cold, but the robins have returned and the promise of new life is about to be fulfilled.

Winter's cold and chilling death reminds us that life has its seasons. Even those of us who are Christians can feel cold and lifeless spiritually. We long for a new springtime of faith. We want to feel new life. We want to experience new growth. We grow weary with business as usual. Does that sometimes describe your condition? Are you feeling that way now? Let me suggest one helpful solution.

The 150th anniversary emphasis for April is spiritual growth and discipline. We have decided to have a spiritual growth weekend April 23-25. Dr. Greg Barr, pastor of Potomac Crest Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon Association will be our pulpit guest. Services nightly, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be at 7:30. On Sunday morning Greg will bring a different message at each service. We hope that you will make plans to participate fully as we focus on spiritual growth. Please remember to pray for Dr. Barr as well as those of us who will be planning our worship. Ask the Lord to give you a healthy discontent with your current level of commitment. Perhaps faith will be rekindled, new growth will occur, and spring will come again in you!

The Potomac Baptist Association has established a New Millennium Fund. The interest from the fund will be used for starting new churches and providing no interest construction loans to new and existing churches. If seven members of each church in our association will commit $25 per month for the next five years, one million dollars would be raised. Selfishly, WBC could say we can't afford it, but can afford not to do it? We might at some point need the help. Is anybody out there listening who would make that $25 monthly commitment for five years? Pray about it and follow God's leading. The Lord rewards the unselfish individual and the unselfish church as well.

Back to Top

Music Notes by Paul Dakin, Minister of Music

As I was driving to the state Cooperative Baptist Fellowship meeting last weekend, a billboard caught my eye. In white letters on a dark background, it read:

Keep using my name in vain. I'll make the rush hour longer. - God


There is no indication on the billboard of who put it up, and I have no idea what was the motivation for doing so. But it got me to thinking ...

The obvious allusion is to Exodus 20:7, the third of the Ten Commandments, which reads, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." (KJV) As a child growing up in church, I was always taught that the Third Commandment meant, "Don't cuss - especially if it involves using the word ‘God'." I am sure that it certainly means that, but I wonder if it means more.

There is something sacred about the name of God. The writers of the Scriptures certainly knew that, as there are over 300 references to "the Name of the Lord" in the Bible. It is said that in the Hebrew, God is often referred to as YHWH. The vowels have been purposely left out so that God's sacred name would not be mispronounced and thereby taken in vain. Maybe they were on to something.

One does not have to "cuss" to take God's name in vain. Anytime we talk about God frivolously or use God's name for some other purpose, it seems to me that we are taking God's name in vain. People use God's name for all kinds of purposes - to make a buck or to justify something unworthy. I wonder how many times folks have said "God is leading me to do this or say this," and God had not even been consulted, let alone given that leadership. That would certainly be taking God's name in vain.

It is my prayer that we can begin to recapture a little of the sense of wonder and awe about God and that it is reflected in the way we speak of the One who is "Wholly Other."

Many of you have expressed that Youth Sunday was a blessing, and I want to thank those musicians who helped to make it happen: soloists Courtney Ingersoll, Amanda Miller, and Amy Todd; instrumentalists Chris Caperton, Brodie Downs, Joel Enterline, Becca Jones, Amy Taylor, Rob Taylor and Ann Thomas; sound technicians Howard Simmons and David Hale; and everyone who sang in the choir. God bless you all!

Join us for two special Holy Week services as we celebrate what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. The first is the Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service on April 1 at 7:30 p.m.

In this service, we tell the story of Christ's last night and the events of Good Friday. The word "tenebrae" is a Latin word meaning "shadows." Through the reading of the Scripture narrative, music, poetry, and the power of silence, Jesus' last hours are recounted in six sections: the betrayal, the agony, the arrest, the denial, the trial and the crucifixion. Six candles are extinguished one by one as the story unfolds. The gradual dimming of the lights symbolize the approaching hour of Jesus' death.

The service is a powerful meditation on Christ's suffering. Many of our members find it to be one of the most meaningful worship experiences of the year.

After contemplating the sacrifice of God's Son at the Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service, we proclaim the good news of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday: HE IS ALIVE! The Churchestra and Sanctuary Choir will be presenting selections from John Purifoy's Classic Easter, featuring medleys of classic Easter hymns with masterworks by Henry Purcell, J.S. Bach, and Beethoven. The finale will be Churchestra and Sanctuary Choir performing Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," and members from the congregation will be invited to participate as we lift our voices in praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords together. Don't miss it!

Back to Top

From the Assistant Pastor, Doug Harris


Car Wash
We'll have the first of three car washes to raise money for the summer mission trips on April 3. Each car wash will last from 9 am to 3 pm and take place at the Warrenton Exxon. Each youth will get credit for every 3-hour segment worked to go toward the cost of their individual trip. Sign-up is on the youth bulletin board.

We need one or two parents for each 3-hour shift (9-12 or 12-3). I know everyone has a busy schedule, so you can choose either an afternoon or a morning. If your child is participating in one of the summer trips, I need you to commit to a shift on one of the three dates. Another need for these projects is help with lunch for the youth who stay all day. If you can deliver pizza or some other lunch to the car wash, please let me know.

Please stop by that day to support our youth missions and get a good bath for your car! Mark your calendar for the other two dates: May 29 and June 12.

Parenting Class
The weather has set us back a couple of weeks on our parenting class. We'll meet next on April 11 - the Sunday after Easter. We'll be discussing the "Sex & Dating" portion of our class. I know this is a sensitive issue. My goal is to give you resources to equip you to set Biblical standards of purity.

Part of this class will be to become familiar with the "True Love Waits" campaign. I will hand out a family devotional guide and student booklet to help young people make a commitment to God to remain sexually abstinent until marriage.

This class has been studying the text, Parenting Today's Adolescent by Dennis Rainey. Sexual immorality is one of the traps that our young people face. If you haven't been coming to these sessions, you are welcome to join us for this one.

Youth Specialties Training Seminar
I would like to invite all the youth leaders to join me on Saturday, April 10 for the National Youth Leaders Training Seminar sponsored by Youth Specialties. This is an all day conference at Mt. Oak Church in Mitchellville, MD (just outside the beltway) and lunch is provided.

The featured speaker is Duffy Robbins, professor at Eastern College. Anyone who has been in one of his seminars before will tell you it is well worth the trip.

Registration begins at 8:30am, so we'll leave the church at 7:30 and return around 5:30. Tuition will be covered by the youth budget. Please let me know if you would be interested in going.

Middle School Retreat
The Middle School Retreat returns to Camp Summit Lake in Emmitburg, MD once again this year. The retreat takes place April 23-25. This weekend camp is sponsored by our Potomac Baptist Association.

The theme this year is "Go Tell." We'll hear from Rick Gage as featured speaker and enjoy music from Chuck Sullivan.

Sign up now on the youth bulletin board with your name and T-shirt size. Cost for the weekend is $40. I need your $20 deposit NOW to save your space.

We'll plan to leave the church at 3:30pm on Friday and return around 3:00pm on Sunday.

Youth Sunday T-Shirts
There have been some requests from those who want to buy one of the t-shirts from Youth Sunday. Unfortunately, there were no extras after the service. If there is enough demand, we can order a reprinting. Depending on the size of the order, the cost should be $12-$15. If you are interested, please let me (or the church office know by Sunday, APRIL 11. Please note that this particular shirt only comes in large, extra-large and 2X, and they tend to run small.


WBC Youth Ministry Mission Statement
"A community of students and leaders committed to
allowing Jesus Christ to change our lives, our friends' lives,
and the world."

Back to Top

Focus on WMU

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Our Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions goal this year is $6,500. So far, we have collected $2,335 toward our goal. Every penny given goes to support our missionaries in the United States, Canada and our territories. To help your family collect money for the offering, try one of the following tips:

To learn more about Annie Armstrong and the Easter Offering named for her, see www.namb.net/Annie/annieoffering.htm on the Internet.

Face Painting Workshop to be held at WBC

Join us Wednesday evening, April 7, from 6:30-8:00, when Carl Soderlund, from the Potomac Baptist Association, will be with us to conduct a face painting workshop. We will share this wonderful outreach program with children (and adults!) during the Old Town Warrenton Festival on May 15. (Director of Missions Ron Arflin spoke of this ministry in his sermon on March 14.)

Please join us - if only to see if you would like it!

Back to Top

150th Anniversary News

February 28th ...
What a wonderful celebration of our religious liberty - and what a tremendous challenge to each of us to do our part in seeing that those who come after us will enjoy the same freedom! Thank you to Bob Taylor for leading in worship planning and for securing Mr. Fred Anderson to speak. We appreciate the beautiful banner made by Barbara Caperton and Barbara Meyers, standard by Bob Taylor, and other helpers Pastors Sam, Doug and Paul, Cape Caperton, Kim Raines, Rebecca Hayes, Juliett Wampler, Lee Moffett, Russ Barlowe, Gary Carroll, Larry Weeks, Dave Nash, our Sanctuary Choir and Churchestra for the soul-stirring anthem and other music, our prayer team, and all of you for coming and being a part of it.

March 21st ...
Youth Sunday just gets better and better! Thanks to Doug and Paul for putting together a great tribute to the Youth Ministry, and to our wonderfully talented youth and adults who brought it to life. Service participants were Amy Taylor, Anna LaClair, Rob Moffett, Amy Todd, Amanda Miller, Micah Downs, Lucas Andrews, Mary Beth White, Gary Carroll, Courtney Ingersoll, Cynthia Patrick, Karen Harris, Natalie Beals, Joel Enterline, Danielle McKamey, Sarah Putnam, Jim Stanton, Bonner Fishback, Becca Jones, Stacey Moffett, Trisha Purcell, Cara Nash, Kristin Lee, Karl Zagrod, a wonderful youth choir, and a fantastic band which included Chris Caperton, Joel Enterline, Brodie Downs, Becca Jones, Ann Thomas, and Rob Taylor. Rob played guitar in his youth days at WBC, and it was great to have him back. David Hale was sound technician and Jason Carter, Jon Carter, John Jeniec, Mike Jeniec, Alan Heflin, Brandon Heflin, Eric Heflin and Stephen Carr served as ushers. Thanks also to the small group prayer leaders. That cool banner was made by Debra Carr and Bonnie Pool, the "teeth" puppets were made by Kim Raines. Rebecca Hayes and Helen Dellinger helped with History Highlights. The display of photos from the last five or six decades were put together by Doug Harris, Juliett Wampler and Lee Moffett. Vivian Holmes got everything into one bulletin. Loved those t-shirts! Thanks to all who helped! Thanks be to God for giving us such a fine group of committed young people, youth ministry leaders, parents, and a supportive congregation! Everyone of you did an outstanding job!

Have you seen our new bulletin board? Thanks to Barb Miller for sharing her time and talents. It is beautiful!

Spiritual Growth Weekend Planned for April 23-25
In April the Spiritual Growth/Church Discipline Anniversary Service will expand into an entire weekend, with Dr. Greg Barr of Woodbridge, Virginia, leading us. This weekend will be our revival/renewal emphasis for 1999, a departure from our August revival time of the past several years. There will be services on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30, two on Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11:00, and one on Sunday evening at 7:30. Please check the Sunday bulletins and newspaper ads (Citizen on April 15, Democrat on April 21) for exact schedule and events.

The Sunday morning services will include a dramatization of some instances of church discipline taken from the business meeting minutes of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Please pray for this series of meetings - for this month, we are not focusing so much on the past as we are providing a time of spiritual growth and renewal for all of us - at this time in the history of Warrenton Baptist Church!

Keepsakes
Medallions are still available and the cookbooks are going to press this week. This team has worked so hard to give us a memorable cookbook. It will be beautiful and you will want to own it and give it to friends and family. The mugs and coins will be ordered soon - watch for specifics and new order forms in the April newsletter.

Anniversary Weekend and Homecoming - August 21-22
A special mailout is being prepared to give you all the information about the events of this weekend. You will want to be a part of it, so mark these dates on your calendar now!


The War Years, 150th Anniversary Service, May 23, 1999
We would like to identify all of our veterans of foreign wars, whether you were a member at WBC or not. Please tell us about your military service experience.

We need to know the following:
Place your information in the WAR YEARS BOX outside the church office. You may also call Sandy or Dave Nash and give your information over the phone. We need this information by Sunday, April 11. Remember, you did not have to be a member when those events occurred. Thanks for your participation in our continued 150th Anniversary celebration.


Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow -
Knowing Christ and Making Him Known.


Back to Top

Thanks!


Once again, WBC members have shown their generous hearts to those in need! The response to our plea for items to send to Ft. Liberte senior citizens was overwhelming! The ladies will even have brand new dresses to wear to church! Thank you so much.
WMU and Haiti Mission Team

Dear WBC Family,
Thank you so much for the wonderful reception to mark the end of my 3 ½ years serving as your financial secretary. The Hospitality Committee did a super job with the refreshments and I thank them very much. Thanks also to the Personnel Committee for the lovely hummingbird clock. It will be a constant reminder of my work in the church. I truly enjoyed working with each and every one of you and look forward to seeing you around the church.
Thank you! Lisa Myers

Dear Friends,
I would like to thank you for the prayers offered and support shown for my twin brother, Warren Cowles. As many of you know, Warren has battled cancer three times in his life. Over the years, he has had a hip and leg amputated, part of his spine removed, and he has had a malignant brain tumor. Because of all this, he is permanently disabled. Recently, he has been diagnosed as having mini-strokes and he is recovering from having six hernias repaired. As you can well imagine, each day is a struggle physically, emotionally, and financially. "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." (James Barrie)
In Christ, Wanda Moffett

We would like to send our most grateful love and thanks to everyone for all that has been shown in memory of Lucelia Soaper. All of the flowers, food, calls, etc., were touching to us.
God bless all of you, Glenda Barron and Granddaughters

Thanks to Charlie Gray and Wayne Hensley of the Property & Space Committee for sanding and painting the baptismal pool. Also, thanks for putting the flooring in the attic.

Thank you for the red rosebud. It was a beautiful thought.
Sincerely, Pam & Jerry Napier, and Patrick Andrew

Back to Top

Will You Help?

The following are some excerpts from the "Experiencing God" study course by Henry Blackaby.

The Holy Spirit has put you in a church body where He can minister through you to each person in that congregation. God does not add you to a church body so that you can be an observer. He has an assignment for you within the church and He will equip you by His presence for this service.

How is His presence in your life benefitting those around you? Can you help on the Flower Committee, in Sunday School, in the nursery, sing in the choir, serve on the Hospitality Committee, usher on Sunday morning, or help fill our other vacancies?

The loving service we give back to God reveals our hearts' condition. A heart that overflows with gratitude for God's love will respond in selfless devotion. If we are only sitting in the pew and are unwilling to sacrifice some time, possessions, or our energy, we indicate that we do not love God as He desires.

May your heart be so filled with love for God that you are watching for the first opportunity to say "Here am I, use me."

Back to Top

Tiny Tot News

The months are rolling by and we are thankful to be able to spend more time outdoors. Spring is just around the corner and the children are excited. April will be filled with loads of fun for our Tiny Tots.

The week of April 19-23 has been designated as the "Week of the Young Child." The National Association for the Education of Young Children sponsors this yearly event to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to support the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

Activities planned for the week include: special snacks, contests, dress-up days, a celebration of Earth Day, and Parent Appreciation Day.

Many thanks to the Friendly Friday ladies for the Jelly Bean Prayer given to each of our students. They continue to amaze us with their generosity. The children look forward to seeing the ladies each week and enjoy receiving the special treats that they give them.

A lost and found bookcase is located in the hallway beside the Tiny Tot office. We ask that all families with children take a moment to stop and look through our "found" items. The case is full to the brim! Unclaimed items will be donated to our local Red Cross chapter in early May.

Cheryl Gardner, Director

Back to Top


Membership Report


We express Christian sympathy to ...
Welcome to Our New Members!

Congratulations!

April Birthdays

April 1
Charlotte Kirby
Teresa Purcell

April 2
Gabrielle Beals
Chuck Gray
Nora Murphey
Shirley Ramey
Brandon Shipe

April 3
Larry Heflin
Kimberly Housman

April 4
David Dorsey
Cary Robinson

April 5
Jimmy Bowen
Paula Leach
Kate McClure
George Morrow
Rodney Sudduth

April 6
Jeff Abrams
Bill Benner
Vicky Carroll
William Woodard

April 7
Steve Brooks
Mark McCloud
Thomas Ramey

April 8
Eric Fling
Troy Hayes
Jean Shaffer

April 9
Doug Boyles
Lexi Derby
Thelma Godfrey
Susan Vandiviere

April 10
Riley Dishner
Allan Hale
Stephen Kalinsky
Hunter Pearson
Barbara Persons
Bridget Robinson
Guy Thomas

April 11
Barbara Blalock
Wade Heflin
Kristine Weir

April 12
Mark Jones
Thomas Kroll
Mrs. Pat Purcell

April 13
Emma Schoenberger

April 14
Charlotte Hall
Amanda Weir

April 16
Rosemary Downs
Katie Jenkins

April 17
Sara Davis
Jared Elliot
Eugene Frazier

April 19
May Kirby
Lloyd Sorrell

April 20
Krissy Lee

April 21
Teresa Hitt
Meredith Williams

April 22
Nicholas Ferri
Mary McClaugherty
Howard Simmons

April 24
Rick Helmick
Anakristen Jones

April 25
Shari Albaugh
Pamela Boswell
Teresa Burriss
Ruth Morrow
Dan Ramsier
Elsie Shaffer

April 26
Lee Moffett
Kaitlin Raines
Jerry Wells

April 27
Ruthie Dawson

April 28
Al Brown
Sarah Goodwin

April 29
Pam Kerns
Nancy Koch
David Surles
Barbara Vaseleck

If we miss your birthday, please let us know
so we won't miss you twice!



Back to Top

Announcements . . .


From the Personnel Committee: Part-time secretarial position open. Resumes are being accepted in the church office.

Are you feeding the church mice?We have recently encountered a problem with some guests which we would prefer not to have. A number of mice have been spotted around the church, particularly in the Tiny Tot area. While the exterminator is working on the problem, there is something that we all can do to help get rid of the mice. We need to cease and desist eating around the church. But if we insist on eating, then we have to do a better job of cleaning up our crumbs. Ideally, we should restrict our munching to the Fellowship Hall. Your Property & Space Committee requests your cooperation in this matter.

Those signed up to go to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany next year are: Laura Church, Thelma Crocker, Doris Cusack, Kathryn Hubing, Mary Jones, Sara Knapp, Dan & Nancy Koch, John & Wanda Macdowall, Dick & Bree Matthews, Phyllis Miller, Barbara Meyers, Ruth Murphey, and Jean Shaffer. Pray for the safety of these church family members and friends as they plan this memorable trip.

Van drivers and housing needed! The Clarksburg Baptist Church will be returning to Haiti over Easter. They have asked us to help them with housing for 34 on March 30 and April 9. They will also need transportation to and from the airport on March 31 and April 9. If you can help, please contact Les and Melessa Enterline.

Check out our WBC web site. We're changing to better meet your needs by adding more features and online resources, and reformatting the site for more efficient use. (For example, all ministries are now listed under the "Ministry" section.) While you're at the web site, sign up for the WBC email list and you'll get all the latest announcements, cancellations, and prayer requests.

A Heart of Parenting seminar will be held at Centreville Baptist Church on Friday and Saturday, April 16-17. David and Elaine Atchison, authors of the book, Shaping the Next Generation, will provide excellent leadership for the event. The Atchisons are warm and personable. They bring with them the experience of raising three teenagers and leading other parenting seminars. For those who may be interested, a brochure is in the church office.

Host families are being interviewed for high school age students from Eastern and Western Europe, South and Central America, Asia, and Australia. Students hope to study in an American high school for one academic semester or academic year. They come with their own spending money, medical insurance, and a keen interest in our culture. Share your American pride by sharing the American dream. For more information, call Carol Spruill toll-free at 1-877-CETUSA-9.

On the Lighter Side ...
Question: What kind of man was Boaz before he got married?
Answer: Ruth-less!


NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS
MONDAY, APRIL 19.

Back to Top

Back to Newsletter Home