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