First Baptist Church
224
Main St. Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315)
536-9821 e-mail: pyfbc@peoplepc.com
Rev. John R. Tharp, Pastor
WORSHIP
WITH US
June 1 Live Strong
Isaiah 51:7-8 & Nehemiah 6
June 8 Create in Me a Clean Heart
Psalm 51
June 15 Remember Who Loves You
Luke 15:11-22
June 22 God is Willing to Forget – Are You?
II Corinthians 5:16-19
June 29 Take Out the Garbage, Leave it Out!
James 1:19-27
Serving the Church in June:
Date Lay Readers Greeters
June 1 Barbara Stewart Eileen & Christian
Modaffari
June 8 Shane Furman Miller Family
June 15 Barbara Burke Clancy Family
June 22 Margaret Mills Scheel Family
June 29 Marge Moulton Conrad Families
Serving the Church
in July:
Date Lay Readers Greeters
July 6 Diane
& Beth DeLooza
July 13 Christine
Conklin & Shelley Bicksler
July 20 Stan
& Cindy Ovens
July 27 Nancy,
John F.M., Tom Tharp
DEAR LORD, THE SEA IS SO BIG AND MY BOAT IS SO SMALL
When we lived
on Cape Cod, this statement was often found, in some form, in the scrimshaw
offerings of the gift shops. Customarily these were etched on whale bones or on
ivory. More importantly, this message was on the minds of the fishermen and
women who plied the waters of the Atlantic to make a living. Storms could come
up fast and, even with the advance warning systems, fishing crews were lost
with depressing regularity.
We do not need
to go to the Atlantic or to the Aleutians to feel the overwhelming power of
nature. The recent cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in China added to the
tornadoes in our own southern states demonstrate the powers and dangers of the
world in which we live. The courageous words of the Psalmist come to us: “We
will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean
depths; even if the seas roar and rage and the hills are shaken by the
violence.” (46:2-3)
On May 25th
we honored our veterans and had a service of remembrance for those who were
victims of the holocaust. Two world wars and the extermination of millions of
people are demonstrations of the massive evil of which humankind is capable.
When we add in the atomic bomb, bio-weapons, and potentially, space satellite
lasers, we begin to shape a more powerful definition to the phrase: “depraved
indifference to human life”. On May 19, the “Democrat & Chronicle” carried
the story of mass executions carried out by South Korea against its own
citizens in 1950, with the knowledge of U.S. advisors. Only this January (2008)
was there an official apology by the retiring president, Roh Moo-hyun.
Last month we
had an excellent CROP walk in our village, netting more than $12,000 (pretty
good for us). Our church, with the help of others, has taken four loads of
clothing, household items, and (57) bicycles to the Karen refugees in Utica.
Our church continues its strong tradition of excellent mission giving. We pray,
do mission trips, train people in Christian ministry, study the Bible, and
offer a wonderful Christian Education program. But what is all that against the
over powering reality of evil and need in the world today?
Can God be
serious (?) that a baby in a manger and the crucifixion of an innocent man can
make a difference against the powers of evil and the rampant indifference to
human life. There is a huge battle for the souls of women, men, and children.
Yet God has given us the weapon of love, the message of Jesus Christ, and the
empowerment of the Holy Spirit so that we can go forth with the conviction that
God will use us as ambassadors of peace.
In the face of
huge waves of violence and need, our boat may seem very small indeed, but our
Captain is 100% able.
Pastor
John
Highlights of the Board of Trustees Meeting: May 13, 2008
¨
Received the report from the
Ad Hoc Investment Committee and agreed to accept their recommendations.
¨
Finalized plans for cleaning
the basement.
¨
The trustees met with Sean
Ahearn and listened to his research about improving the audio-visual service in
the sanctuary.
¨
Peggy has contacted the Step
Aerobics people and asked that they move their equipment to the basement. This
was where they originally were told to store their equipment.
¨
George Schaeffer from the
Food for the Needy program, met with the trustees to talk about renovating the
basement to better meet their needs. They would help fund the project. George
envisions using that space for packing the bags for the Backpack Program.
¨
Mark Lawrence has offered to
do a fund raiser concert for us in September.
¨
There was discussion about
planning the Stewardship Campaign early this year.
______________________________________________________________
Highlights of May 2008 meeting of the Investment Committee
for Endowment Fund of FBC
The motion from the
congregation at the ’08 Annual Meeting to possibly use moneys from the
Endowment fund to pay down the Mortgage on the new addition was discussed in
depth.
In light of the use of the
interest and dividends from the Endowment Fund to support the Local Budget, it
was unanimously adopted to keep the use of the Endowment Fund as is for the
time being.
The condition of the
Endowment Fund will be reviewed again in September.
______________________________________________________________
Finger Lakes Baptist Association Meeting
First Baptist Church of
Manchester ~ Sunday, June 1
Registration begins at 2:30
p.m.
Hymn Sing at 2:45 p.m.
Devotions at 2:55 p.m.
The Rev. Bill Carlsen and
others will give a report on the
New Baptist Covenant meeting
that was held in Atlanta.
A dish-to-pass supper begins
at 5 p.m. followed by adjournment. Desserts and beverages will be provided by
the host church.
Remember to bring a canned food to be donated to the local Food
Cupboard.
All-Church
Outings!
Hike the Outlet
Sunday, June 15, 3 p.m.
Get your family together for
a hike. We will meet at the church at 3 p.m. and leave for the outlet trail.
Our plan is to hike as far as the falls, then pause for a cook-out. All the
food and beverages will be provided by the organizing committee! Contact Eileen
Modaffari at 694-8267 if you have any questions.
Go Fish
Saturday, July 26, 3 p.m.
Let’s go fishing at the boat
launch. We will meet at 3 p.m., fish for a while and then have a dish-to-pass
cook-out. Chaperones or parents are needed to help with the fishing experience.
Contact Eileen Modaffari for more information at 694-8267.
Camping at
Watkins Glen State Park
August 23-24
This event is still a little
way out, but we need to have your RSVP by June 15, to reserve camping spots.
Parents and chaperones are definitely needed, maybe some camping gear to
borrow. Everyone is invited, young and the young at heart. We will be
organizing a committee to help with the planning of activities, games, hikes,
campfire sing-alongs, food, etc. Contact Eileen Modaffari at 694-8267 to
reserve your spot and to help with the planning.
CAMP VICK
Has your child explored the
exciting adventure of Camp Vick? Camp is a place where your child will
experience a positive and supportive Christian environment with children from
across New York State.
From June through August, a new theme such as Creative Arts, Sailing
Camp, Equestrian, or Frontier Survivor, is introduced each week. Each week, is
packed full of fun activities, adventure and growth. Make a week of your
child’s summer a memorable one. Call
Beth DeLooza at 536-3162 for more information regarding the theme weeks,
enrollment and fundraising for Camp Vick.
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Special Interest
Missionaries.
The Finger Lakes ABW
Ministries is emphasizing these two missionary families for 2008-9.
The Rev. Richard & Mrs.
Susan Harding Birthdays
Cordova Community Christian
Center Susan – 10/16
PO Box 713 Richard
– 12/17
Cordova, AK 99574
Dr. James & The Rev.
Debra Kelsey Birthdays
Via Cappello 21A Debra
– 12/25 Luke – 2/16/94
35027 Noventa Padovana PD James – 11/26 Ben
– 3/21/96
Italy
The Hardings have
ministered in Cordova, a remote, commercial fishing town, for many years. The
population is 2500 people (in the summer 5-6000!) Due to its isolation and
transient population, they have to deal with a lack of social connecting,
loneliness, depression and alcoholism among adults and teens. They run a
restaurant ministry – the only place in town where alcohol is not served. There
are also social and evangelistic activities for children and teens. Richard has
recently retired after 25 years as pastor of Cordova Community Baptist Church.
Their son, The Rev. John Harding is now the pastor.
The Kelseys
assist the Evangelical Christian Baptist Union of Italy in ministry to English
speaking immigrants, particularly African congregations. This includes local
church ministry and theological and ministerial training of leaders. Debbie is
also involved in urban mission and helps the Union to develop ministry among
women trafficked for work in the sex industry.
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ABC/NYS MISSION ADVOCATES & PASTORS
RETREAT
Saturday, June 7, 2008 ~ 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ~ First Baptist Church,
Manlius, NY
Come and hear our special
guests…
Rev. Vincent
Harris, a commissioned American Baptist home missinary, ministers on the “back
side” of Thistledown Racetrack in Cleveland OH. Vincent was ordained by
Delaware St. Baptist Church (now Fay Road Baptist) in Syracuse and was active
in ministry in central NY before gong to Thistledown in 1996. In all of his
work, having the heart of a servant is very important to him. “I love to serve
people,” he says. “I’m here because people need my help.” Vincent’s deep
commitment to compassionate service developed during hard times in his own life
when God and caring Christians ministered to him. He describes himself as
living proof of the wonderful grace of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Ray Schooler has served in local church ministry in
several capacities (including Pastor at Kenmore Baptist Church in Kenmore, NY)
and also served AB Churches as a General Board member and President of the
Board of International Ministries. It was in this role that he discovered a
passion for global missions and now serves as Director of Church Relations for
IM. Ray says of a trip he made while IM Board president: “I saw our
missionaries in Thailand who are engaged in vital ministry, as well as the
results of ‘mission done right’ in the indigenous mission work in Burma. This
exposure ‘sold’ me on the value of what IM is doing, and it changed my life.”
Plus hear about Regional
Ministries and get plenty of inspiration, education, and encouragement! You
don’t have to be a Mission Advocate or Pastor to come. Anyone interested in
mission is welcome! For more information: Mary Schwarz, 315-469-4236, ext. 10.
Email: MSchwarz@abc-nys.org
______________________________________________________________
To the
Congregation,
The
ProAction/Yates Office for the Aging is interested in holding a lunch program
at our church. It would include meals delivered to our facility on days of our
choosing. The meals would be served in individually packaged containers that
are packed each morning according to the number of meals we request. At least 5
volunteers would be needed each time. The cost is on a donation basis and is
$2.50 for people 60 and over and a non-donation cost of $5 for those under 60.
The primary focus is seniors, however, all ages are welcome. A lunch program at
our church can help increase fellowship and most importantly allow those who
may be isolated the opportunity to spend time with others in the
community. Contact the church office at
536-9821 if you are interested in this serving opportunity.
BIRTHDAYS in
June
4 ~ Laverne Chaapel 19 ~ Ann Perry Birthdays are
good
5 ~ George Slocum 23 ~ Gerry Lane for you. Statistics
5 ~ John FM Tharp 25 ~ Diane DeLooza show that the people
11 ~ Bessie Bliss 25 ~ Warner
Gibbs who have the
most
16 ~ Tom Tharp 25 ~ Stan
Ovens live the
longest!
26 ~ Jim Best ~ Larry Lorenzoni
BIRTHDAYS in
July
3 ~ Bill Gillette 20 ~ Guy Love
12 ~ Christian Modaffari 21 ~ Margaret Hartwell
_____________________________________________________________
Worship
Committee
We are seeking people who
might be interested in helping plan and orchestrate our Sunday morning worship
services. How many times have you had an idea or suggestion for a sermon topic
or for a song that would have tied in perfectly with the message Pastor Tharp presented
that morning? Maybe you’re interested in drama and would enjoy seeing a skit
once in a while. Perhaps you are a great organizer and love to plan or you
would like to take part in PR to promote upcoming special worship events to
reach out and bring in some of the un-churched in our community. Maybe you are
interested in technology and would like to make some powerpoint presentations.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. So, we’re asking you to
prayerfully think about the gifts God has given you and consider being a part
of our Worship Committee. If you are interested, or would like more
information, please contact Pastor Tharp, George Jensen, or Pam Scutt.
______________________________________________________________
Family Day
Service
Sunday, June 15 at 10:30 a.m.
This year the Family Day
Service will be held at the Izaak Walton League
in Branchport. We will start the service a little later to
give folks a chance
to get there and for those
in need of transportation, the van will leave
from the parking lot at 10
a.m.
Following the service we
will have an all-church picnic! The hotdogs, rolls, lemonade and watermelon,
will be provided by the Deacons. Please bring a dish-to-pass and your own table
service. As always, it will be a fun time for all – we even have the Water
Balloon Slingshot returning by popular demand. So be sure to mark your
calendars – you won’t want to miss this event!
VBS – Local Mission Project
This year our VBS staff and
kids will support a local mission project.
Rushville Health Center
People Helping People
Rushville Health Center
serves the surrounding communities by providing health services to low income
and immigrant families. Our project in VBS will be to collect items that these
children and families can use. Check over the list below and drop off your
donations to the office at anytime.
Please be sure to mark your donations for VBS Mission Project.
Toothbrushes Band-aids Soap
Toothpaste Antibiotic creams Kleenex
Dental Floss First Aid items Hydrogen Peroxide
Cavity
Fighting Mouth Rinse Hand
Sanitizer
Vacation Bible
School
June 30-July 3
This year the VBS theme is Ancient Jerusalem Marketplace, and the
kids will be here soon! The staff have been busy planning and preparing but
they can’t do it all without your help. They need donated items to help bring
home the message to these kids. Check over the list below and see if you can’t
help in some way. Thanks!
Beads ~ tassels ~ jewelry ~
small jingle bells ~ small sea shells ~ artificial plants & flowers ~ old
striped sheets ~ Holy Land Artifacts ~
teachers ~ helpers
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Blankets for
Injured Iraqi Children
A request came to Meghan
Fuqua, from her father in the Air Force, stationed in Utah. He sends word of a need and an ongoing
collection of all types of blankets that can be shipped out from his base to
troops stationed in Iraq. Blankets may be shipped to: Robert N. Fuqua II, MSGT. USAF
Nondestructive Inspection Section Chief
388 EMS Hill AFB Utah
DSN 777-2832
The blankets are then sent
out via carrier and are delivered to the troops that have contact with Iraq’s
injured children of all ages.