First Baptist Church

224 Main St. Penn Yan, NY 14527

 (315) 536-9821 e-mail: pyfbc@usadatanet.net

Rev. John R. Tharp, Pastor


  - - - - JANUARY 2007 NEWSLETTER - - - -  
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WORSHIP WITH US Special Dialogue Messages

 

January 7    “Some People We Would Like to Know…

                             Abraham Lincoln”

                             played by Greg Marion

Galations 5:1,22-26

 

January 14   “Some People We Would Like to Know…

                             Martin Luther King, Jr”

                             played by Montrose Streeter

Philippians 2:5-11

 

January 21   “Some People We Would Like to Know…

                             Mother Teresa”

 played by Barbara Burke

                             John 4:7-21

 

January 28  “Some People We Would Like to Know…

                             John Mason Peck”

played by Don Lawrence

                             Matthew 28:16-20

 

 

        Greeters & Lay Readers

         

Gladys Kjar & Shane Furman    Jan. 7              Amber Ellis

Viola Gray & Margaret Mills     Jan. 14     George Slocum

Rita & Ed Castillo                Jan. 21     Judi Gibbs

Joyce & George Slocum          Jan. 28     Barbara Burke

 

Annual Reports Due

January 8, 2007, is the deadline for secretaries of boards and committees to get their year-end -reports in to the office. The annual report needs to be completed for the congregation to view on Sunday, January 14, 2007. Your consideration for this date is appreciated.

 

 

 

OFFICIAL NOTICES

 

Advisory Council – On Thursday, January 11, at 7 p.m. the Advisory Council will meet in the library to set the proposed budget for 2007. All Officers and Board Representatives must be in attendance.

 

Budget Hearing – On Thursday, January 18, at 7 p.m. there will be a hearing on the proposed budget for 2007.

 

Annual Meeting and Potluck Lunch – Sunday, January 21, at noon there will be a potluck lunch. Bring a dish to share and your own table service. The Annual Meeting will follow, beginning at 12:45 p.m.

 

 

 

New Member Dinner

On January 31, 2007 at 6 p.m. we will be hosting a new members informational dinner. This dinner/meeting is designed to explain the process of becoming a member of our church and to answer any questions you may have regarding membership. Please come as our guest and learn about how to become a member of our church family. Please RSVP to Peggy in the church office  (536-9821), Erma Mullins (536-8730), or Pam Scutt (536-2791) by Sunday, January 28. We look forward to seeing you there! (Nursery care will be provided.)

 

 

In Remembrance

Marion Miller, We think of her as active, busy, always on the move, full of ideas and opinions. Someone that loved her family greatly, enjoyed her grandchildren immensely and was very proud of all of the family. She enjoyed new places, people, parties and discussions on most topics. We remember trips, dinners, card playing, the “Dirty Dozen”, many laughs and so many church activities. We have fond memories of Clarence and she together and the good times. Now, she is with him again.

                                                                                                     Judi and Warner Gibbs

 

 

Have You Met….

Gene and Marlene Guild, retired teachers are long time members of the church, have been active on boards and committees and the choir. Other interests – for Marlene, “Sweet Adeline’s” singers and Business and Professional Women’s Group, for Gene “Barber Shoppers” singers, the American Legion and PY School Board Member. They came to Penn Yan as newlyweds and to teach in our school system. The Guilds are parents of Julie and Drew, grandparents of four.

 

Have You Met…

Peggy, our church secretary, has been married to Tharon Smart for six years. She has a son, Matthew who is a junior at PYA, and a daughter, Haley in 8th grade at PYMS. She has a step-daughter, Nichole, she and her husband live in Erie, PA. Peggy grew up in Niagara County, moved to Arizona after high school and lived there for 15 years. She enjoys walking early in the morning, working in the yard, scrapbooking, and hanging out with her family and pets. Peggy is an efficient, helpful, happy and caring person. She is active in the Methodist Church of Penn Yan.

 

 

Highlights of the Dec.12, 2006 meeting of the Board of Trustees:

v      We have received our Storm Sewer Easement

v      We have been offered a working safe in which to keep our important documents. This will be investigated further.

v      The Rushville Health Center has asked to use our building for Nurturing Parenting Classes in January 2007.

v      The Yates County Chamber Music Group (a nonprofit organization) has asked to use the building for a chamber music concert on July 20, 2007.

v      We have only received about 50% of the pledges. Please, if you haven’t turned yours in, get it in soon.

v      Stan Ovens reported that our Building Fund revenue is nearing depletion.

 

Thank You!

To everyone who worked so hard and contributed in so many different ways to help make Las Posadas such a success, THANK YOU!  Special thanks need to go out to Mary Fullagar for her help with costumes, Barbara Burke for helping to organize the pageant and Kathy Mac Dougall for the set design. VIVA!               

Jean Brewer

 

January is: Kitchen Needs month    Red Cross Needs & Things

Paper towels ~ brooms ~ mops ~ vacuums ~ napkins ~ tissues ~ garbage bags

Please leave items in box marked with a “Red Cross” in the sanctuary.

 

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS!

 

2 – Fran Hartwell

7 -  Beth DeLooza

11 – Lianwei Zhong

20 – Paul Nelson

22 – Fran Morse

24 – Pastor John

 

A message from Rev. Dennis Christiansen, FBC, Elmira -

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many people in Living Waters Association (formerly Chemung-Steuben) and in nearby associations have expressed an interest in continuing the Short Term Mission trips to Mexicali, Mexico which we began this past April. We would like to strengthen the relationship we have started with Tim and Patti Long and Rick and Mercy Barnes, ABC Missionaries in that region.           

Living Waters Association will organize two Short Term Mission trips to Mexicali for 2007. These trips will be open to our friends from other associations, neighboring churches and denominations.

The first trip will be April 9-15. Youth Leaders, this trip has been planned during Easter break to provide an opportunity for youth to go on an STM trip. The trip is estimated to cost in the range of $1,000 and $1,500 per person

An introductory meeting will be held January 5 at 7 p.m., at First Baptist Church of Corning, NY, led by Susan Spencer, who was a member of the 2006 missionary team, and Dennis Christiansen. More details will be provided at that time along with ideas for fund-raising.

A deposit of $200 is required on or before January 5 (or at the close of the meeting). Deposits will go to Living Waters Association, Paul Miller, Treasurer, 3 Spruce Street, Big Flats, NY 14814. The remainder of the cost will be due on January 27 when the group will begin making airline reservations.

The second trip will be from October 6 –13. The deposit of $200 will be required for this trip by January 27 with the remainder due on April 30.

Please let us know if you plan to attend the introductory meeting. Reply to First Baptist Church, Elmira: 607-732-0869, fbc121@sg23.com or to

Susan Spencer: 607-594-2127, geosusanmor@yahoo.com

Blessings to you all.

In Christ,

Rev. Dennis Christiansen

FBC Elmira

 

TIME AND TIDE

            When we walk down the ramp at the side of our building, right there in front of us is the corner stone, which was placed at the completion of our building project. It has the year: 2003 and says, “Given to the glory of God, by the people of the Penn Yan First Baptist Church.” Behind this stone is a wooden box. Which contains a number of items which are somewhat representative of our time and our church. We placed this stone in hopes that the information about our church will be important to someone a hundred years from now.

            Recently, I was reading a fanciful piece about what it might be to live 500 years from now. If a person went to the library in the year 2500, and took out a  book on the most important events of the last 500 years, what would be in the book? What is of great importance to us today may not even be mentioned in that book. The optimistic works of science fiction predict exceeding the speed of light, mental telepathy, universal peace, instant healing, and long healthy lives. The more pessimistic ones show a dark world with no atmosphere, space wars, bitter factions, and a ruined planet.

            Some say that cracking the genetic code and landing a man on the moon are the most last effects of our lives. However, at this time it is well to consider the words of the scripture. The Apostle Paul urged the people in Philippi to “stand firm in the Lord” (4:1). This advice was in the middle of and apparent conflict between two women – Euodia and Syntyche. Paul knew that in a little time, their argument would mean nothing, but their dedication to the Lord would mean everything.

            Paul would later say that the most important event in his own life was the knowledge of “Christ and the power of his resurrection”  (Philippians 3:10). He counted everything else as “rubbish” (3:8). What is the most valuable is the result of placing Christ first or as Jesus would say: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you.” Or in Paul’s words:

            “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” (4:8-9)

            The key to what is going to be lasting for the next century is knowing what is timeless in our present day. Jane Fonda has many supporters and detractors. From this reality she wrote a book, My Life So Far, in which she recalls both the good and destructive choices she had made. Seeing the damage of the bad choices, she seeks forgiveness. One of the good, but painful choices she made was to be reconciled with her father, Henry Fonda. As Shakespeare noted: “The bad men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones”. Yet it is that good becomes a pillar of a solid future.

            Our fellowship of faith has a shot at building, with help of the Holy Spirit, a powerful force for good which will stand strong in the future we may not see from this side of heaven. This is our task for 2007.                                 Pastor John