Good Saturday evening! Hope this finds everyone doing well. I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on some activities taking place in and around our church.

First off, I will have some pictures to post on here very soon of the Labor Day festivities. So be on the lookout for those!

A group traveled to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg today for CEF/Good News Club training. I am sure they have been equipped with wonderful things to share with those participating in this activity. There will also be a workshop for CEF/Good News Club on Monday, Sept. 17th from 6:30-8pm.

There will be a church conference tomorrow morning (Sept. 9th) immediately following the morning worship hour. All members are encouraged to attend.

Men's breakfast will be on Sunday, Sept. 16th at 8am in the fellowship hall. All men are invited and encouraged to attend.

Women on Mission will meet Wednesday evening, Sept. 19th. If you know of someone who has been missing out the monthly meetings, invite her to attend with you.

Craft night continues every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30pm. All ladies are invited to attend.

Choir practice is being held each Wednesday night after Bible Study. Now's the time to join! The more the merrier!

Youth: "SNAC" is being held on Sunday, Sept. 16th. "See You at The Pole" is being held on Wednesday, Sept. 26th.

Children: You will be taking a trip to the zoo this month! This trip will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22nd. If you have a child or children who would like to attend, please see our Minister of Students for more information!

I hope the school year has gotten off to a good start for everyone. You can tell that fall is in the air. With football games and back to school, comes a slight change in the air in the early morning and early evening hours. Over the years, spring and fall have become my favorite times of year. The mark of change that occurs fills you with a sense of reflection. At least it does for me. As one gets older; feelings, thoughts, ideas change about things. The things that once were so important, don't hold the "power" they once did. We spend so much of our youth wanting to be adults. When we reach adulthood, we look back and wonder where the time went. Instead (myself included), we need to focus on the here and now. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Yesterday is the past. Today is the present. A gift that will not be given to us in the same package tomorrow.

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday evening. Take care and until next time, God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

FBC Happenings.......

It seems as though September is shaping up to be quite a busy month. With kids going back to school comes the dreaded homework, tests and pop quizzes. The pop quizzes and tests in school are small in comparison to the homework, tests and pop quizzes that God has in store for us. The question is..............are we ready to do the work? He has richly blessed each of us with a talent(s), when we don't allow those talents to flourish, not only do we rob ourselves and those around us, but we rob God. Talents are a blessing and should be used to further God's kingdom. God gives them to us to use for His glory. If they aren't used properly, we may lose them.

Our pastor made a very important observation in the September newsletter. If you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to do so. It speaks to all of us. We are a family. We are friends. We are neighbors. And we are believers. Our actions definitely speak louder than our words. When a non-believer sees us out and about, we should always present the Christian attitude that God would have us present. If we want others to treat us with respect, we must treat them with respect. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It is NOT do unto others as they do unto us. God did not design it to work that way. It is our job as Christians to lift up fellow believers as well as non-believers. I urge each of us to monitor our actions, etc. when coming in contact with others. Are we behaving as God would have us behave; or are we simply going through the motions without thought to our actions? If we think in terms of the other person being God (just a hypothetical), we would behave a bit better than we normally would.

There was a song out a few years ago by Collin Ray. In the song he talked about what if Jesus were the homeless man, a drug addict, a prostitute, etc. in human form, would we extend a Christian hand of fellowship or would we simply look the other way and act as if he or she doesn't exist? I believe that the answer would be "Deny me in front of men and I will deny you in front of My Father". If we turn our backs on a person in need, we could certainly be turning ourselves away from God. When our judgement day arrives, I believe we want to stand in front of our Lord and Savior and hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant".

This month's calendar is packed with all sorts of activities. Don't forget to put your church newsletter on your refrigerator door so you won't miss out on any of the activities that are planned.

There will be a Labor Day celebration tomorrow evening. The event is schedule to begin at 5:30pm. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs and homemade ice cream. Other items that are scheduled are games for the children and some hand-clapping music for young and old alike. Invite someone to join you in the fun, food and fellowship.

The church office will be close on Tuesday, Sept. 4th in observance of Labor Day. It will re-open at 8am Wednesday morning.

Women on Mission will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 19th at 7pm (immediately following supper). All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend.

Don't forget about choir practice on Wednesday evenings. Practice begins right after supper.

Attention parents: Be on the lookout for all sorts of upcoming events/activities for the youth and children. According to the note from our Minister of Students, the youth will be studying the basics. What that means is the basics of what we believe as Christians. They will be taking an in depth look at those basics and will understand more about the core beliefs our faith is built upon.

Other youth activities are "SNAC" September 16th and "See You at the Pole" on Sept. 26th.

The children will be traveling to the zoo. The trip was postponed due to the hot temperatures in August. The trip is scheduled for Sat., Sept. 22nd. If you haven't received any information regarding this event, please see our MOS and sign your child up now!

I hope everyone has a safe and blessed Labor Day. Don't forget about the fun planned for tomorrow evening. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello! Hope this finds each of you doing well. I apologize for not posting anything before now. I wanted to update you on some activities taking place this week.

First of all, please remember our pastor and his family while they are away on vacation. Many traveling mercies to them. May they return to us safely.

Group number 3 will be in charge of supper Wednesday night. The meal is served at 6pm and all are invited and encouraged to attend. Bible study and the other organizations that meet on Wednesday evenings will meet after supper.

There is a special event planned for Sunday, Sept. 2nd. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm. There will be food, fun and fellowship for all ages. If you are looking for a way to spend the Sunday before Labor Day, what better way to spend it than with brothers & sisters-in-Christ! We will also have the honor and privilege of 2 musical groups performing for us. One will be located in the fellowship hall and the other outside on the church grouds (weather permitting). Come on out and bring a friend!

Don't forget about choir practice Wednesday evenings after supper and Bible study. If you wish to join in on the musical fun, you are welcome to attend! Remember, God said to make a joyful noise, He didn't say it had to be perfect. :-)

Ladies: don't forget about craft night on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm. Items are being made for the bazaar this December. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new church bus.

Men: don't forget about Men's Prayer Time on Friday mornings at 7am. The group usually meets in the prayer garden (weather permitting). If you are not able to meet in the prayer garden, the group will move inside the sanctuary.

School is back in session. Back to the grindstone. I can remember how exciting it was to start the new school year. The thought of homework, tests and such was not all that exciting, but beginning a new year was very exciting. Being able to see friends you weren't able to see during the summer. I encourage young people to enjoy being in school. Enjoy and embrace, because you will never be able to get this part of your life back. Be careful about the choices you make and choose your friends wisely. That doesn't mean that you should be rude to those who don't necessarily agree with the way you do things, etc...........it just means you should make wise decisions about those you choose to associate with. All too often young people get pulled into the teen pressures of life. Fitting in, doing those things that gain "popularity", and such. Not making the right choices about friends, can have a great impact your life. The popularity a young person may seek, is not anywhere equal to the love and support that leading a Christian lifestyle can offer you. As many of us have heard before, we may be the only Bible some may ever read. We don't want our actions and words interferring with someone coming to know Christ. We also don't want our actions and words to be our downfall either. Allow Christ to guide the friendships that are made and you won't go wrong!

I hope you all have a blessed week. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello and good Sunday evening to each of you! I wanted to update you on some activities for the week. But before I do that, let me first apologize for not being in church today. I have not been feeling well the past few days. Not exactly sure what's going on, I just haven't felt well. I woke up yesterday and today with a very cramped neck muscle and I have been feeling faint and nauseous. Probably the heat. Most likely from stress. At any rate, it leaves me feeling cold and clammy. Not a good feeling. Please remember me in your prayers that this will pass and I will feel better soon.

On to better and brighter things!

For those gentlemen who do not wish to serve as a deacon in the coming year, the deadline for your letter is Sunday, Aug. 26th. If this has been done in a previous church year and is still correct/current, you do not need to repeat the procedure. These letters should be given to our Deacon Chairman.

Women on Mission meet this Wed., Aug. 15th. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. The meeting begins immediately following Wed. night supper.

Attention Men: Men's breakfast is next Sunday, Aug. 19th at 8am in the fellowship hall. The guest speaker will be a gentleman from the Gideons. All men are invited and encouraged to attend.

Choir members: all present and future choir members, don't forget about choir practice each Wed. evening following prayer meeting. Practice usually begins at 7:45pm in the choir room in the fellowship hall. Come and make a joyful noise!

There is a special event being planned for Sunday, Sept. 2nd. This event is slated to begin at 5:30pm. There will be food, games, music and such for folks of all ages. Makes plans to come and join in the fun! The festivities will continue til dusk.

I hope each and everyone of you reading this blog will have a wonderful week. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

P.S. The deadline for the newsletter is Wed., Aug. 15th. Make sure you get the items you want included in the newsletter to the church office on or before that date! Your cooperation is appreciated!

A Whirlwind of Activity

The past few weeks have been a flurry of activity. My head is still spinning from all the obstacles I have had to overcome and the mountain of paperwork on my desk at work that is calling my name even as I write this entry. From computer problems (server crashing) to filling in in whatever area needs attention, many hats have I worn. Not to mention those that are working with me. It has certainly been a test of patience.

There is also a flurry of activity about our church. If you are looking for something to do, look no further. North FBC has something for everyone! Grab your calendar and mark the dates!

First of all, there was an article in the "Bulletin" that comes in the monthly newsletter this month. The author is speaking of "making memories". Each person we come in contact with, word we speak, time we spend with those we love.......is a memory that can't be replaced. We should take the time (myself included) to let those we care about know how much they mean to us. I am the world's worst person with the telephone. I spend many hours a day on one (as most of America does) and can't seem to call those that deserve those minutes of my time. Making memories is what is important. When you choose to do something trivial instead of letting someone know that they are important, that is a moment that can't be given back. One day we will all look back and (it may even be today) wonder where the time went. Letting those we love know we love them and are important to us is important today. If we wait until tomorrow, the chance may never come. Then we will be saying "I should have" instead of "I remember when we did so and so together. Oh the fun we had!". Singer Bon Jovi has a song entitled "Make a Memory". If you listen to this particular type of music and have seen the video......he is talking to the love of his life. He is no longer here and she is moving on with her life. Too late for shoulda, woulda, coulda. I encourage everyone to make a memory today. Don't wait for tomorrow. It may never come.

Now, if you are looking for something to occupy your time, as I said earlier, there is something for everyone. What better way to make a memory than by being in church with fellow believers. Your friends can even join you there!

Youth:

The "Big Youth Thing" is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 9th. If you have not received information regarding this activity, please see our Minister of Students and he will be glad to assist you.

SNAC: Sunday Night After Church: This activity will be taking place Sunday, Aug. 12th. This will be held each month unless otherwise noted.

Children:

TAN will continue each Tuesday from 10am to 1pm in August until school begins. It's hard to believe it's right around the corner. Folks were taking advantage of the no tax weekend to buy school supplies, clothes, etc. today.

There will be a trip to the zoo Saturday, Aug. 11th for the children. Please see our Minister of Students for more information.

There will be a Youth Committee Meeting Sunday, Aug. 5th at 4pm. The Children's Committee will meet Sunday, Aug. 12th at 4pm. Both meetings will take place in the gym.

Music:

If you are able to make a joyful noise, your presence is needed in the choir. Choir practice has been moved to Wednesday evenings following prayer meeting. Practice begins at 7:45pm. Praise teams are also being formed. If you are interesting in serving in this capacity, please contact our choir leader.

There will be a Music Committee Meeting Sunday, Aug. 5th at 7pm in the conference room.

The Sunday morning sermon for Aug. 5th is entitled "The Man and His Miracles: He Walked on What?" (scripture: John 6:16-21). The evening sermon is entitled "Signs of the Times: When Peace Comes". (scripture 1 Thess. 5:3).

We will have a guest speaker Sunday, Aug. 19th. A Gideons speaker will be speaking at Men's Breakfast that morning in the fellowship hall at 8am. All men are invited and encouraged to attend. Plus he will have a brief presentation during the Sunday morning worship service that day.

Wednesday night food preparation groups are listed in the newsletter this month. If you are unable to assist with setting/cleaning up, please have someone substitute for you. If you are interested in serving on a food prep. group, please let the church office know.

Women on Mission will meet on Wed., Aug. 15th following Wed. night supper. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. The WOM are asking for donations from the church. Donations will go toward providing matching dishes for the Associational Office in Orangeburg. The goal is $250.00. They are also providing the church with an opportunity to give to the CASA/Family Systems Shelter in Orangeburg. This is a shelter for abused women and children of the area. (due to the nature of the shelter, the location is changed routinely)

Supplies that are needed for the shelter are: cleaning supplies, first-aid supplies, paper products, towels, wash cloths, immediate need items or money to purchase the necessary items listed above. If you choose to donate to this cause, please mark your offering envelope accordingly.

There will be a deacon's meeting Sunday, Aug. 5th at 8am.

The Nominating Committee will meet Sunday, Aug. 12th at 4pm. Please be in prayer as our committee goes forth to seek those willing to serve in our church.

I believe that covers all I have for now. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

It's hard to believe that school will begin soon. It seems as though the summers get shorter and shorter. Time to buy school supplies, school clothes, etc. I have noticed that Wal-Mart has some good prices on school supplies. Our town pharmacy also has some good sales on school supplies they carry. Check out the little R & J coupon book you may have received in the mail today. It has all sorts of school items in there. The nice thing about buying from a business in town is that the money stays here and helps to improve the businesses we have here. And when you think about it..............after you drive to Orangeburg or Columbia looking for the item you need............you could have saved on gas by simply purchasing the necessary item at a local business. When you add up the cost of the item, you may find that it is more economical to buy locally.

On to other items on the agenda:

The youth went to Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark today. Am sure they had a terrific time. I remember going to a water park when I staying with my cousin one summer. We hung out there for the better part of the day. I had always heard that baby oil will help you tan better.......well silly me kept applying more each time I got out of the water. By the end of the day I was burnt in places I didn't even know I had! Very painful!! I never did that again!!!

Attention grades 1st-5th........TAN continues this Tuesday, July 31st. It is being held in the youth gym from 10am-1pm. Lots of fun things are in store for those who attend!!

Craft night continues for those participating in making items for the Christmas bazaar in December. Monies earned from this event will go toward the purchase of a new church bus. It is being held from 6:30-8:30pm every Tuesday evening. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend.

The messages for Sunday are as follows: morning service: "The Man & His Miracles: Who's Going to Feed Them?". Scripture: John 6:1-14. Evening service: "Signs of the Times: The Empire Will Rise Again.". Scripture: Daniel 2 & 7.

The past few weeks have certainly taken a toll on me. I am thankful God gave me the ability to do the work I do. Now I need to learn some patience every now and then. Our server crashed at work 2 weeks ago (made for LOTS of fun--not true!!). We got it back last week and are still trying to work the kinks out. Hopefully it will get there soon.

Being the office manager (I was promoted a while back) can certainly leave a person wondering. Don't get me wrong.......I enjoy what I do. It's called having too many irons in the fire!!! I was talking with our receptionist the other day and told her I really needed to get back to church. It does help alleviate some of the tension. Even though I haven't been to church in a while (and I am by no means bragging about this)..............I still do my daily devotion and Bible reading. It helps. In the past I learned if I went a day or so without reading it, things would begin to test me. That's when Satan steps in and tries to gain full control.

With all the chaos, it leaves me feeling wiped out. Hopefully I will be out of this mood soon.

I think that's it for now. Take care and God bless!!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello! I hope everyone had a good week. I also hope you are having a relaxing weekend. I wanted to remind you of some things taking place this week. Remember to mark the dates on your calendar so you don't miss anything!

There will be a Children's Committee meeting tomorrow, July 22nd in the gym at 4pm.

The youth are heading to Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark Friday, July 27th. This sounds like it will be lots of fun! Come and bring a friend or two!

Don't forget about TAN (Tuesdays at North) from 10am-1pm. This activity is for children grades 1st-5th.

Ladies: don't forget about craft night each Tuesday from 6:30-9:30pm. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. Work continues on the crafts being made for the bazaar we are having in December. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new church bus.

The message for Sunday morning July 22nd is entitled "The Man and His Miracles: Have You Been Waiting Long?". Scripture is John 5:1-15. The message for the evening service is entitled "Signs of the Times: The Center of the Universe". Scripture is Zech. 12:2-3.

If you haven't seen the Trade Journal from this past week..........you missed seeing our youth and MOS and his wife in the paper. They wrote on article about the trip to SummerSalt. It certainly is wonderful to see our youth on fire for God!

We had another young lady in our congregation who was mentioned in the Trade Journal this past week. She was granted a scholarship. She plans to attend USC to major in nursing. Way to go! Keep up the good work!

There was an article in the Trade Journal 2 weeks ago regarding another one of our young adults. She was speaking of how different people influenced her over the years and what being a teacher means to her. It certainly takes a special person to be a teacher. My mom taught for 30+ years. I am sure it is a very rewarding career, especially when the students you teach go on to become successful adults. We need good teachers in our schools and parents need to be supportive of the teacher. It is not an easy job they have. My hat goes off to anyone in the profession. Teachers also have a unique responsibility of touching the life of student in a way no other person can. You never really realize this until you get older. Then you find yourself looking back and the character traits you possess due to a former teacher. I was blessed to have such wonderful teachers in school and in church!

I believe that covers all I have for now. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

This Week's Activities

Hello and good Saturday evening to each of you. I trust you had a good week. The weather has certainly been nice today. Temperatures a little cooler than they have been. Makes for a nice day outside. We have several things taking place this week that I want to remind you of. Without further hesitation here they are:

Men's Breakfast tomorrow morning at 8am in the fellowship hall. All men are invited and encourage to attend. Come and join your brothers-in-Christ for this time of food and fellowship.

Attention grades 1st-5th: don't forget about TAN (Tuesdays at North) this Tuesday, July 17th from 10am to 1pm. Please see our Minister of Students if your child needs a ride to the church.

Women on Mission will meet this Wednesday, July 18th at 7pm. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. Don't forget about supper (it's served at 6pm in the fellowship hall). WOM meet in the choir room in the fellowship hall.

The youth will travel to Whirlin' Waters Adventure Park next Friday, July 27th (this event has been rescheduled from Friday, July 20th--remember to make the change on your calendar!). Please see our Minister of Students for more information regarding this outing.

There will be a Children's Committee meeting next Sunday, July 22nd at 4pm in the gym.

Ladies: don't forget about craft night each Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30pm. Work continues on those items being made for the Christmas bazaar in December.

The message tomorrow morning is entitled "The Man and His Miracles: Your Son is Sick?". The scripture is John 4:46-54. The evening worship message is entitled "Signs of the Times: A Great Reunion". The scripture for that message is Ezekiel 22:17-22. Sunday School begins at 9:45am and there are classes for everyone. Worship begins at 11am.

I hope you have a pleasant Saturday evening. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello and good Saturday evening! Hope you have been enjoying your weekend. I am very thankful for the rain we were blessed with this afternoon. I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on some activities taking place this week.

Our pastor is beginning a sermon series on recognizing "signs" of the second coming of Christ. The message Sunday morning will be "The Man and His Miracles: The Party is Over?" John 2:1-11. The evening sermon is entitled "Stories of the Vineyard: The Importance of Abiding" John 15:4-7. He previously preached on "Understanding the End Times", but has been led to speak to us on recognizing signs of the end times. Events are taking place each and every day that may be leading us closer to the time of Christ's return to earth. Are we ready? If you or someone you know is searching for everlasting life.......the answer is in Jesus Christ. He is the Way to the Father. The only way to heaven.

I have been reading for quite some time now, (I am ashamed to admit it has taken me so long to complete the book) "When Godly People do UnGodly Things" by Beth Moore. I have found the book to be very thought-provoking. In one of the chapters she writes about putting ourselves at the foot of the cross and feeling the drops of blood falling from the head of Jesus. His blood was spilled so that we may be saved. What a precious gift our Father in heaven bestowed upon us in sending His only son to die for us. We are sinners. We have no right to expect anything from God and have the obligation to give Him our all. When I think of how enormous God is and His unfailing love, it takes my breath away. To be loved to earnestly and whole-heartedly. If only we could love one another in such a way! I pray that we will all do our best to be the people God would have us to be.

There will be a quarterly church conference Sunday, July 8th following the morning worship service.

Attention Youth Committee members: there will be a committee meeting Sunday, July 8th in the gym. Please check Sunday's bulletin for the time.

SNAC (Sunday nights after church) begin tomorrow evening (Sunday, July 8th).

Parents of children grades 1st-5th, don't forget about TAN (Tuesdays at North). This activity is held at the church between 10am-1pm. Please see our Minister of Students if your child needs a ride to the church!

The Nominating Committee will meet in the church conference room Sunday, July 8th at 4pm. Please be in prayer for our committee as they search for folks to serve on various committees in our church.

The youth will have an outing on Friday, July 20th. They will be traveling to Whirlin' Waters adventure park. Details to be sent out.

Children's Committee: there will be a meeting on Sunday, July 22nd. Please check your bulletin for the time.

I understand that the 4th of July picnic/celebration was a huge success. I heard the fireworks going off at my house. I hate I wasn't there to see it all. As I sit here typing this blog, I can hear fireworks going off now. They are certainly a sight to behold!

I hope you enjoy your Saturday evening. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Happy Fourth of July!

Hello and hope you are enjoying your 4th so far. I just wanted to remind you about the picnic tonight. The community is invited to join in the food, fun and fellowship. There will be hot dogs with all the trimmings, games for all ages and maybe even some fireworks! Come and bring your lawn chair or blanket and celebrate this Independence Day the old fashioned way. The festivities begin at 6pm on the grounds of North FBC.

The youth are back from camp and will be sharing some of their stories with us Sunday evening, July 8th at 6pm. I remember when our youth group went to camps and such.....we had so much fun. Those were the good ol' days! Brings back lots of good memories. Come and show your support of our young people this Sunday night!

There will be a Youth Committee Meeting Sunday, July 8th in the gym (time to be announced).

SNAC (Sunday Nights After Church) will begin Sunday, July 8th. There will also be a youth outing to "Whirlin Waters Adventure Waterpark" on July 20th. Details are to be sent out soon.

There will be a Children's Committee Meeting Sunday, July 22nd in the gym (time to be announced).

TAN (Tuesdays at North) are being held every Tuesday in July from 10am to 1pm. Come out and join in the fun! This is a day camp designed for children grades 1st through 5th. They will be doing all sort of fun things like games, fun lessons, songs, crafts, and are even having snacks! If anyone would like to help out with this activity or wishes to donate items to the cause, please see our Minister of Students.

There is also a Child Protection Policy in the works. I think this is a good idea. This will allow us to better serve our children and protect them in this day and time. Things have certainly changed from when I was growing up and we all need to be cautious. Change is never easy, but with the cooperation and understanding of everyone involved, it is sure to be an easier transition. There will be a meeting that will cover these changes and implementation. Please be in prayer about this as the goal to aiding in the protection of our children is met.

Please take a few minutes during your 4th of July celebration today to remember those serving in our Armed Forces, both here and abroad. Many of them are separated from their families today and are making the best of the situation. I pray that God will keep them all safe and bring them home safe and sound. I also pray that the needs and prayers of their family members will be met as God sees fit. We don't always have to understand and know the reasons behind the things God does, we just have to know that they are always in our best interest. He loves us and wants the best for us. I hope you have a safe and blessed holiday! Much love to you and yours this Independence Day!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)





Free Comments & Graphics Codes

Happy middle of the week to you! Hope all is well with you and yours. I also hope everyone is staying cool. Tis an excellent time to take advantage of your pool or a friends pool.

I wanted to update you on some activities we have taking place over the next week. First of all, please remember our young people in your prayers while they are away at camp this week. Pray that they come back charged up and excited in Christ........ready to do His work. They will be arriving back home Friday, June 29th.

There will be a Nominating Committee meeting Sunday, July 8th at 4pm in the conference room. Please remember them in your prayers as they seek folks willing to be on a committee.

Tuesdays at North "TAN" will resume it's normal meeting time next Tuesday, July 3rd. This activity is for children in grades 1st through 5th. It is being held at the church from 10am-1pm. Please contact our Minister of Students if your child needs a ride.

Our pastor has been planning a Community Celebration for Wednesday, July 4th. Festivities/fellowship will begin at 6pm. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and join in the fun, food and fellowship. There will be a patriotic salute, picnic of hot dogs with all the trimmings, games for both young and old and there may even be some fireworks! Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. Invite a friend or two and come join in the fun!

In light of July 4th, this is an excellent time to remember those who serve in our Armed Forces and those who lost lives serving this country. I know that many of you already do remember our men and women, but take an extra minute or two this Independence Day to pray for their safety and that their families will see them again soon!

I believe that covers all I have for now. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Tina's Travels

Hello! I hope your week got off to a good start. I was out of town over the weekend attending a conference in Myrtle Beach for work. We had a pretty good time. Didn't get on the beach much due to the number of courses we had to take. Actually got to spend an hour on the beach Saturday afternoon. Was very nice.

I thought I would share some of my stories with you from my trip. On the way to the beach I got very side tracked. Ended up taking a route that put my arrival to the beach much later than it should have. I actually took that ordeal rather well. Normally I get very upset when those things happen. I was teased quite a bit by my boss and co-worker, plus by some of the drug reps. I do know how to get to Myrtle Beach, believe it or not!! :-)

Then on my way home I was lucky enough to get a speeding ticket. First one I have had in years. I was traveling 85 in a 70 mph speed zone. I know, bad Tina! :-) I am planning to go to court and hopefully will be able to get the fine and points reduced. I also took that situation in great stride.

During my journey off the main road, I joked about how God might have thought I needed to get side tracked. It allowed me to see some very nice houses and some tobacco and corn growing. Maybe it was a way of getting me to look at something differently than I did before. Not sure at the moment what that thing might be, but maybe that's the intention. If not, then it was worth the side trip.

Now we will get down to business. Here are some activities taking place around our church this week:

Don't forget about the Children's Good News Bible Club. Applications are available for those who wish to participate. The cost of processing the application is $5.00. This amount should be provided by the applicant. Please see our pastor or Minister to Students to get an application or if you have any questions regarding this club.

I hope all the dads had a wonderful father's day. Fathers are normally not in the spotlight the way mothers are. The role a father plays in a family is very important. It is the basis of which a daughter can build a general idea of the type of man she wishes to marry. How a man treats his family says a lot about his character. But we shouldn't express our appreciation for our fathers one day a year. They need that reassurance each and every day. Just like we do.

Women on Mission will meet this Wed., June 20th at 7pm in the choir room in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend.

Remember our youth in your prayers as they prepare for their trip to camp next week. I pray that God will touch them in a mighty way. They will leave on Monday, June 25th and will arrive back home on Friday, June 29th.

Tuesdays at North (TAN) has been underway since June 12th. This is a day camp for children in 1st through 5th grades. Many activities are part of the fun. You will be doing all kinds of fun things like: games, fun lessons, songs and crafts. Snacks will also be provided. If you are interested in donating snacks, drinks, craft materials or ideas, please see our Minister of Students. He will be glad to assist you.

There will be a Children's Committee meeting Sunday, June 24th.

Next Sunday there will be a covered dish lunch in honor of our Minister of Music and his wife. I am saddened to see them leave. But I know that God has a plan in mind for them in their new journey. They will be an hour or so from us and very close in thought and prayer. I wish them every happiness in their new location. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall immediately following the morning worship service.

I believe that covers all I have for now. If I left anything out, please email me and let me know. I can be reached at nricha4903@hotmail.com.

Until next time, take care and God bless!


Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Keeping Busy

Good Sunday afternoon to each of you. I trust you are enjoying your summer thus far. Temperatures have been heating up and I am so thankful for the rain we received last week. It was greatly needed! I hope those that were able to participate in VBS last week had a terrific time. Unfortunately, I didn't get home until after 6:30 or so most nights. I know.......poor excuse.

Much activity abounds this week as well. Never a dull moment.

Preschool/children's choir practice for ages 3 and up is being held on Sunday evenings immediately following Discipleship Training (which is held at 6pm) in the educational building. There is also a practice for the youth choir on Monday evenings at 6pm in the sanctuary. All are welcome!

Donuts for Dad will be held next Sunday, June 17th in the fellowship hall from 9-9:30am. All dads are invited to join in the fun and fellowship. Remember to let your dad know how much you appreciate him and love him!

There will be a covered dish luncheon for our Minister of Music and his wife. Sadly, they are leaving us to move on to other things. We will be sad to see them go. My prayer is that they are both happy in their new journey! I know they will forever be in our hearts and prayers. The good thing is they won't be too far away to come and visit now and then!! So, put on your best dish and come and join in the fellowship Sunday, June 24th. Lunch will be served immediately following the morning worship service.

There is a Youth Committee meeting today at 4pm in the conference room.

Attention Parents: there will be a meeting Wed., June 13th at 8:15pm in the conference room regarding youth camp.

There will be a Music Committee meeting Wed, June 13th after prayer meeting (this is also scheduled to meet in the conference room according to your bulletin for this week).

Staff meetings are being held on Wednesdays from 9-10:30am. This allow the church staff to discuss matters that need attention and to plan upcoming events, etc. in order to help make life better for you and your family at North FBC.

"TAN" (Tuesdays at North) begins Tuesday, June 12th. This activity is for 1st through 5th graders. It will be held from 10am to 1pm. Anyone needing a ride to attend, please let the Minister of Students know as soon as possible. Donations are being accepted for snacks and arts/crafts.

Speaking of crafts......craft night continues this week (Tues. evening), from 6:30-8:30pm. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. Work continues on crafts being made for the Christmas bazaar.

Those wanting to take part in the "Children's Good News Bible Club" will find applications in the vestibule. Please give completed applications to the Minister of Students or our pastor. The cost of processing the applications is $5.00 per person and should be provided by the applicant.

Please remember our pastor and his family as they travel to and while they are visiting in San Antonio, Texas. They are participating in the Baptist Convention taking place there. Please pray for traveling mercies for them.

I also ask that you remember me in your prayers. I, along with one of my bosses and co-workers, will leave this Wednesday to participate in a convention in Myrtle Beach. Your prayers for traveling mercies are greatly appreciated!

The husband of a friend of mine leaves once again for Afghanistan soon (I believe Monday, June 11th). Please remember our troops and their families in your prayers. It is a great service they do for us and this country. The job is not only done by those serving in the military, but by the spouses and families they leave behind. Let their efforts not be in vain!

I hope everyone will have a blessed and fruitful week. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Lots to do!!

What a glorious day this has been. Thank the Lord for the rain He has blessed us with. The crops certainly needed every bit of it! Our God is a Mighty God and He rains many blessings on us each and every day. It is up to us to notice those blessings and be thankful for them in whatever form they may appear. They can be something as simple as a kind word or smile from a stranger. As God's children, it is our duty to be showers of blessings to those around us as well. When we choose to act selfishly or lash out at someone needlessly, we aren't behaving in a manner fit for our King and we certainly aren't displaying Christ-like love and actions. Take the time to notice those things that occur your life each day and remember to be thankful for them, regardless of what they might be.

We have a lot going on in the month of June. Get pen and paper ready to mark the activities down. If you don't have a copy of the monthly church newsletter, please contact the church office and request a copy and remember to ask to be added so that you can receive one on a monthly basis.

Our Minister of Students is now Mr. & Mrs. Minister of Students. Congratulations to them both and I wish them a long and happy life together full of blessings from above! Speaking of Mr. & Mrs., our M.O.S. will certainly need all the extra help he can get with all the activities he has planned for the youth and children. Anyone wishing to volunteer their services, please let him know.

Some items on the agenda for the youth and children are as follows:

• Youth Committee meeting Sunday, June 10th
• Children's Committee meeting Sunday, June 24th
• Youth Camp: Monday, June 25th - Friday, June 29th
• Tuesdays at North (TAN): begins Tuesday, June 12th (children, grades 1-5 will be having a day camp each Tuesday of the summer from 10am-1pm. Snacks will be provided. Keep your ears and eyes open for more information coming soon! If anyone is willing to help out during this time, or you would like to donate snacks, drinks (kool-aid, lemon-aid, juice), craft materials and/or ideas, please see our M.O.S. so he can plan accordingly.
• Youth: you will soon be starting SNAC (Sunday Night after Church). During this time, you will be going out to eat or you may just put your feet up and relax while playing some games or watching a movie. Either way, it sounds like a fun time!

Vacation Bible School begins Sunday evening, June 3rd at 6pm. Dinner will be provided each night. Classes are available for all ages (from birth to adult) and will begin at 6pm and end at 8:30pm. Join in at "Game Day Central" beginning Sunday, June 3rd through Thursday, June 7th. You'll be glad you did! (There will be no Wed. evening prayer meeting due to VBS this week). Also, there will be no choir practice Sunday evening due to VBS.

Let's remember our pastor and his wife as they travel to San Antonio, Texas Sat., June 9th through Tuesday, June 12th for the Southern Baptist Convention. Pray for traveling mercies and that God will keep them safe during their time in Texas as well as on their journey back home.

A special time for dad has been planned Sunday, June 17th. "Donuts for Dads" will be held in the fellowship hall on Father's Day from 9-9:30am. All the dads are invited to attend.

Women on Mission will meet Wed., June 20th at 7pm in the choir room in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited to attend.

The youth will be traveling to White Oak during the week of June 25th. Remember to keep our young people in your prayers during this time.

I believe that covers all I have for now. We sure are going to be busy, busy, busy. I hope I didn't leave anything out. If you are aware of other activities that I may have missed, please let me know. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Happy Sunday!

Hello and good Sunday evening to each of you. Many thanks to those who welcomed me tonight. I appreciate your hugs and words of cheer and greeting. It means a lot. Yes, I have been away for quite some time. I started out not feeling well and then caught a bad case of the LAZY disease. Unfortunately, it happens. We shouldn't let it. It's always nice being in God's House with His people!

I wanted to take a few minutes and give you some updates. From the looks of things, there is a lot going on in the coming weeks. Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar so you don't miss out!

We are starting the week out with Memorial Day tomorrow. Let's take the time to remember those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. We have lost numerous men and women over the years and please don't let their efforts be in vain. Let's also remember their families. For without their support, our men and women couldn't do the jobs they do. A friend of mine was expecting her husband home a couple of days ago....only to be delayed. He (from what I understand) finally made it home today and just in time for his daughter's birthday party. He was supposed to be the daughter's gift (she was going to unwrap him today). Instead, it seems like the children and their mother got a surprise. All things work out best according to the plan God has. I do not know why there was a delay, but I have to believe that it was all part of God's plan.

He will be heading back overseas in 14 days. I have another friend whose husband will be leaving in August to go overseas. Please keep all of our troops and their families in your prayers.

Vacation Bible School: the theme for VBS this year is "The Game Day Central: where heroes are made". It is being held the week of June 3rd-7th from 6-8:30pm. Dinner will be served nightly. Classes are available for all ages from birth to adult. We will see that true heroes are ordinary people like you and me, who follow God's plan for life. Everyone in the community is invited and encouraged to attend!

There will be a youth pool party June 7th from 4-5:30pm at the Martin residence. Please refer to the note in your bulletin, or email me for more informatioin (nricha4903@hotmail.com).

If you wish to take part in the Children's Good News Bible Club, applications are available in the vestibule. Please fill them out and return them to our pastor or Minister of Students. The cost of processing the application is $5.00, which should be provided by the applicant.

Practice for preschool/children's choir for ages 3 and up is being held on Sunday evenings immediately after Discipleship Training (DT is at 5pm) in the educational building.

Youth choir practice is held on Monday eveing at 6pm in the sanctuary. Come and make a joyful noise!

Staff meetings are being held on Wednesdays from 9-10:30am. This allows the church staff to communicate and plan, in order to better serve the FBC family.

There will be a deacon's meeting Sunday, June 3rd in the conference room.

Ladies: don't forget craft night on Tuesday evenings. It is being held from 6:30-8:30pm. Please contact the church office or me for more information. Work continues on the crafts being made for the bazaar this year. Proceeds go toward the purchase of a new church bus/van.

Men: Don't forget about prayer group on Friday mornings. I realize that some have been out of town, but all men are invited and encouraged to attend. The group normally meets in the prayer garden at 7am. The group will move to the sanctuary in case of bad weather.

There will a special recognition ceremony for our graduates Sunday, June 3rd. If you are aware of any graduates, please call the church office no later than Sunday, May 27th (t0day).

Also, a remember about Wednesday night suppers and prayer meeting. The normal organizational meetings that are held each Wednesday begin right after supper. All are invited and encouraged to attend!

I hope everyone will have a blessed week. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

P.S. The church office will be closed Tuesday, May 29th. There will be no adult choir practice Sunday, June 3rd due to VBS.

Hello and good Saturday evening to each of you. I hope all is well with you and yours. I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on the activities taking place this week.

Men's breakfast will be held tomorrow morning at 8am in the fellowship hall. All the men are invited to attend.

There will be a Chilren's Committee meeting tomorrow afternoon (May 20th) at 4pm in the gym.

Ladies: don't forget about craft night this Tuesday, May 22nd. It is being held in the trailer beside Culler-McAlhany funeral home from 6:30-8:30pm. All ladies are invited to attend. Work continues on the crafts being made for the Christmas bazaar in December.

Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. It is being held the week of June 3rd-6th from 6-8:30 (I believe I have the times right. If not, I will update them later). There are classes available for folks of all ages. Plan on joining in the fun and fellowship and bring a friend or two along!

The youth are planning their retreat to SummerSalt. They will be attending this camp the week of June 25th-29th. Please be in prayer for them as they prepare for their trip and that they will have a safe trip there and back and will allow God to work through them during this time.

Everyone is encourage to attend Wednesday night suppers and prayer meeting. Supper begins at 6pm and prayer meeting at 7pm. Supper and prayer meeting are held in the fellowship hall. Mission Friends, GA's and RA's are held in their regular classrooms.

Men: a quick reminder about the meeting time on Friday mornings for Men's prayer time. All men are invited and encouraged to attend. If it is raining, etc. the group will meet inside the church sanctuary. If weather permits, the group normally meets in the prayer garden outside the sanctuary. This special time begins at 7am on Friday mornings.

There will be a Music Committee meeting next Sunday, May 27th. It will be held in the choir room at 4pm.

Let's not forget Memorial Day next Monday, May 28th. A time to remember those who have fought and continue to fight for this country. Tis a difficult job these men and women have protecting our country and allowing us to keep the rights and freedoms we so often take for granted. We don't deserve all that we have been blessed with. And if we aren't smart about it, it can be taken away from us. It would be sad for a country as prosperous as America to lose its freedoms. We need to be thankful each and every day that we have men and women willing to fight for those freedoms and not belittle the job that they do. It makes me angry when people balk at the men and women who have served and continue to serve this country. I hope and pray that one day you will truly value the freedoms you have in this country and not take it for granted. Many have died protecting your rights and many will continue to die doing the same. Let it not be in vain. There is an email that circulates quite frequently that states toward the end....only 2 have died for your freedom, the American GI and Jesus Christ. Look how each of them are repaid. We should be ashamed. I will get off my soapbox now. I know that there are people who do appreciate the job our military does for us and I do know that there are people who remember them in prayer. I thank God for those people!

I hope that you have a wonderful Saturday evening. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello and good Monday evening to each of you. I hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to take a few minutes and update you on the activities for the week.

Ladies: don't forget craft night is tomorrow night (May 15th) from 6:30-8:30. It is being held at the trailer beside Culler-McAlhany funeral home. All ladies are encourage/invited to attend. Work continues on the crafts being made for the Christmas bazaar.

If you are interested in being a part of the Drama Ministry, please see the pastor's wife for more information.

The newsletter deadline is Tuesday, May 15th. Be sure to let the church office know of any upcoming events.

The deposit for youth summer camp is due Wed., May 16th. A request has been made to let the Minister of Students know if you want to attend or is special arrangements are needed. The deposit is $40.00 per person.

The Children's Committee will meet very briefly for a few minutes during Wed. night supper May 16th. Supper begins at 6.

Children's Comittee will also meet on Sunday, May 20th at 4pm in the gym.

Children & youth: there will be an open gym Sat., 19th. It is an Hawaiian theme. The time for the children (ages preschool - 5) is 1-3pm. The youth will have their open gym from 7-10pm.

Women on Mission meet Wed., May 16th immediately following supper. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held in the choir room.

Men's breakfast is next Sunday, May 20th. All men are invited and encouraged to attend. Breakfast is being served in the fellowship hall at 8am.

That is all I have for now. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Mothers

Mother's Day is just around the corner. A time to let that special lady know how much she means to you. Mothers have a hard job. It consists of long hours, no vacations, no paid sick leave, no raises or promotions. Even with all of that, they continue with their job of being a mother.

She takes the time to listen to your problems. Kisses the boo-boos when you scrape your knee. Checks your temperature and tucks you in all nice and cozy when you are sick. Hurts when you hurt, cries when you cry and loves you to the ends of the earth and back again.

I had the privilege of being a mother to a child for a short while. She and I recently gained the opportunity to reconnect after her father and I went our separate ways. He and I were engaged for 5 year and together for 6. A time that will not be forgotten. His daughter came to mean a great deal to me. So you can imagine how wonderful it is for me to be able to communicate with her again. I love her as if she were my own child. I am thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of her life and to have her in mine.

A mother is person who loves you no matter what. She picks you up when you are down. I don't know what I do without my own mother. You can understand a small part of what God feels toward us (His children). A love beyond all measure. It is the greatest gift indeed.

I apologize for not writing in this blog in a while. Things have been a little crazy. I was recently promoted at work and have been working on various things at home. God blessed me with the chance to serve my work place as Office Manager. I hope I do not fail.

We have several things going on in our church. If you are interested in being a part of the drama ministry, please see the pastor's wife for more information.

Ladies: don't forget craft night on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm. I haven't been able to attend any of the gatherings, but I hear they are a lot of fun.

Children and youth: there will be an open gym on Saturday, May 19th. It will be a Hawaiian theme. The time for the children on that day is 1-3pm (for preschool-5th grade). The youth time is 7-10pm.

Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. There are classes available for all ages. It wil be held June 3rd-6th. Come out and bring a friend!

SummerSalt is June 25th-29th. If you are still planning to attend or are thinking about going, the deposit is $40.00. The money is due Sunday, May 20th. If you change your mind and wish not to go, please let the Minister of Youth and Children know so he can ask for a refund.

There will be a Children's Committee meeting Sunday, May 20th. The meeting will begin at 4pm in the gym.

Also in light of Mother's Day on Sunday......there will be a special time for moms that morning. A time for moms to enjoy each other's company while enjoying some light refreshments. Childcare will be provided in the educational building. The gathering is being held in the fellowship hall from 9-9:30am and is being sponsored by the Brotherhood of FBC.

Men's breakfast is Sunday, May 20th. All men are invited to attend. Breakfast is served at 8am in the fellowship hall.

The newsletter deadline is Tuesday, May 15th. Make sure you have your annoucements, etc submitted on or before May 15th.

Women on Mission will be meeting Wed., May 16th in the choir room right after supper. Supper begins at 6pm.

There will be a Music Committee meeting Sunday, May 27th.

I understand revival was very good. I hate I missed the services. We all need a nudge every now and then to keep us on track!

I believe that covers everything I have for now. Take care and God bless! And Happy Mother's Day to all the moms! :-)

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Many Happenings!

Am sure most of you received your church newsletter today. If not, rest easy, it will arrive. In the meantime, here are some activities that are listed in the newsletter.

First off (and I mentioned this last night) is revival. It begins tomorrow (April 29th). Services will be held at the regular time (11am and 6pm). The guest speaker is a gentleman from the Orangeburg-Calhoun Association. He is the Director of Missions. Weekly services will begin at 7pm. A meal will be provided before the service begins at 7pm. The cost of the meal is $5.00 per person and is being served between 6-6:30pm.

The National Day of Prayer is Thurs., May 3rd. The community celebration begins at 7pm at the North High School football stadium. The ROTC of the high school, the North High School Band and the Livingston Christian Academy will join together, along with those in attendance, to stand in the gap for our nation. Our country and its leaders are in need of prayer. Times are changing always and without God and prayer, things will continue on a downward spiral. Satan does not need to win the battle he is trying to win. God will prevail in the end. But it is our duty as Christians to stand up for what is right.

The XYZ/Senior Adults will meet at 6:30pm Friday, May 11th. A meal will be provided and in honor of Memorial Day, there will be a retired Lt. Colonel as the guest speaker. This will be the last XYZ meeting until Sept. 14th, 2007.

A special day for moms has been selected. Not only on an annual basis, but by the Brotherhood of our church. These thoughtful men have decided to sponsor a "Muffins for Moms" fellowship time, Sunday, May 13th (Mother's Day). This will be a time for mom's to enjoy each other's company while enjoying some light refreshments. Childcare will be provided in the education building. Moms, come join in this time of food and fellowship May 13th from 9-9:30am in the fellowship hall. You are special not only on Mother's Day, but every day!

Our Youth and Children's Minister had also been very busy planning activities and such. Parents, remember to mark your calendars so your child can participate in the fun and fellowship. Saturday, May 19th will mark the Hawaiian Theme Party being held in the gym from 7-10pm. It is also open gym day.

June 3rd-6th is the week of Vacation Bible School. Classes are available for all ages.

SummerSalt is coming up. If you are still thinking about going or are planning to attend, the deposit is $40.00. Please contact the Minister of Students ASAP so he knows if he needs to order more spots or ask for a refund of spots already reserved. The last day for deposits will be Sunday, May 20th. If you need more information or would like to discuss something about the trip, please feel free to contact the MOS. He is happy to help you!

The youth are beginning 2 new studies on Wed. evenings. They will be learning from God's word on how to deal with the issues that teens face these days. We all are aware that times have changed since we were teens, now more than ever our young people need our love and support. A solid foundation based on Christ is extremely important! They will be going to the movies on Sunday evenings during their Discipleship Training time. They will be watching clips from some of the popular movies of today and years gone by to help learn Biblical Truths. Both of the studies sound very exciting. Encourage your young person to be in attendance!

Our MOS is also in the process of updating the Youth Release and Conduct forms. He is asking that parents return these to him as soon as possible. If you haven't received one, please be sure to see him in order to get one.

There will be a Youth Committee Meeting Sunday, May 6th and a Children's Committee Meeting Sunday, May 20th.

Deacon's Meeting to be held Sunday, May 6th at 8am.

The newsletter deadline is Tues., May 15th.

Men's Breakfast is Sunday, May 20th at 8am. All men are invited to attend this time of food and fellowship in the fellowship hall.

There will be a Music Committee Meeting Sunday, May 27th.

I hope you will enjoy the beautiful weather we have been blessed with today. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

What is Revival?

Sunday begins the spring revival for our church. What does revival mean? These are some of the definitions I found. "A time of reawakened interest in religion". "A meeting or series of meetings for the purpose of reawakening religious faith, often characterized by impassioned preaching and public testimony".

Revival is a time of reviving the soul of a Christian. A time to draw closer to God and become awakened in faith. Everyone needs a revival. It helps to replenish the soul of things that have become displaced in the "busyness" of life. A time to stop and remember what Christ has done for us. No greater gift can be given to us than has already been given. The gift of eternity with Christ.

Services begin on Sunday (at regular times:11am and 6pm). The services for Monday-Wednesday begin at 7pm. Meals will be provided before the services at a cost of $5.00 per person. Allow God to bring revival to our church!

May 3rd is designated the "National Day of Prayer". A special service is being held at the North High football field. In case of inclement weather.......the service may be held in the high school gym. The service begins at 7pm. A lot of exciting things will be taking place during this time. Our country needs prayer. Our community, pastor, friends, family, and especially the military needs our prayers. Everyone is invited to attend! (Our pastor has an article in the Times and Democrat today regarding the "National Day of Prayer". Take a few minutes to check it out!).

The youth will be having their "Big Day Out" Sat., April 28th. They will depart from the church at 10am and will return at 5pm. $20.00 and a picnic lunch are needed.

Due to revival, craft night will not be held next Tues, May 1st. It will resume its normal time Tues., May 8th. All ladies are invited to attend.

I hope everyone will have a nice weekend. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Beautiful Weather!

The sunshine has been absolutely wonderful! I hope everyone is having a good week. Mine is going pretty well. God has been blessing me in many ways lately. Not that He doesn't do so on a regular basis already, He is just blessing me even more now.

I recently was promoted to Office Manager at my job. Have been doing the work (or a majority of it over the last few years). I am thankful for this opportunity and am glad that God blessed me with the ability to do so. He has also opened a window in my life and allowed me the chance to reconnect with my ex-fiance's daughter. I have seen her a couple of times over the past few years, but recently we started emailing back and forth. We both were thinking that neither party wanted anything to do with the other. We spent 6 years thinking that the other person hated the other. Come to find out, that isn't the case at all! Praise the Lord for that! She means so much to me and I am thankful for the chance to mend past hurts.

I also recently saw a friend I haven't seen in a while and played miniature golf. We both are terrible at it, but we had lots of fun laughing and teasing each other. I even was fortunate enough to catch a cold in the process. Lucky me! :-) I am thankful that God has blessed me with his friendship. I have lots of friends to be thankful for. As well as my family (home and church).

Here are a few updates on the activities taking place in the next week or so.

Revival begins Sunday, April 29th. Morning and evening services begin at the regular times. The Monday-Wednesday services begin at 7pm. The guest speaker is the Director of Missions of the Orangeburg-Calhoun Baptist Association. Meals will be provided during the week in the fellowship hall at a cost of $5.00 per person. Invite a friend to join you in the food and fellowship and worship.

There will be a Children's Committee Meeting on Sunday, April 29th. It is being held in the gym and the meeting will start at 4pm.

The Big Day Out for youth is Sat., April 28th. The youth will be leaving the church at 10am that morning and will return at 5pm. $20.00 and a picnic lunch are needed.

I truly hope that the rest of your week goes well! Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Good Saturday evening to each of you! I hope your week went well. I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on some activities taking place in our church.

Tomorrow after the morning worship service, the youth will be hosting a spaghetti dinner/cake auction in the fellowship. This fund raiser is being held to help raise funds for their summer youth retreat. Parents: remember if your young person is interested in attending this function, it is imperative that he or she is in attendance tomorrow to help earn the money. A deposit of $40.00 is needed (deadline is Sunday, April 22nd). More info will be provided.

The "Big Day Out" is scheduled for Sat., April 28th. Make sure you listen up on Wednesday evenings to learn more about this activity.

Revival begins Sunday, April 29th. Sunday services will begin at the regular times. The Monday-Wed. services will begin at 7pm. The Director of Missions from the Orangeburg-Calhoun Association will be the guest speaker. Remember to be in prayer for our guest speaker and our revival.

Craft night is being held every Tuesday evening in the trailer located by Culler-McAlhany Funeral home. Crafts are being made for the Christmas bazaar in Dec. All ladies are invited/encouraged to attend. Those who are interested it is slotted from 6:30-8:30pm.

It was a sad week for those at Virginia Tech. I feel for those who lost loved ones in this tragedy. All things have a purpose. I do not know what the purpose is for this needless act, but we can rest assured that God does. I pray that those who lost loved ones will find the peace and grace needed to make it through this difficult time. I also pray that God will have mercy on the soul of the young man who committed these senseless acts of violence. It is NEVER a good way to solve problems. It always causes more hurt and grief than a person should bear. I also pray that those who were injured and even those who witnessed this, will heal and grow stronger in Christ.

I appreciate the thoughtful words of concern, encouragement and love expressed by those who have contacted me regarding why I haven't been seen at church as of late. I haven't been feeling well (stomach virus, cold, lots of things due to stress). I have missed my church family and am thankful to have such a caring one. It means the world to me.

It is also my understanding that our Minister of Music will be leaving us in June. I am very saddened by this. I do realize that God must have a bigger plan in mind for him and his wife to lay this desire to relocate on their hearts and minds. June is still a few months away, but I know they will be greatly missed. I wish them both the best of luck in their new journey!

I believe that covers all I have for now. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Busy Week

Hello and good Wednesday evening to each of you! I hope your week has been going well. We have a lot of things taking place in the upcoming week. Be sure to mark them on your calendar!

Activities for Sunday, April 15th will begin with Men's breakfast beginning at 8am in the fellowship hall. Sunday School begins at 9:45 and worship at 11am. Invite another male to join you............whether it is your father, brother, uncle, friend or cousin......all men are invited to attend.

There will also be a quarterly church conference during the morning worship hour Sunday, April 15th. Also, don't forget about the upcoming fund raiser the youth will be hosting on Sunday. The menu consists of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, tea, coffee and dessert. This fund raiser is being held to help raise money to send our youth to camp this summer. Come out and show your support for our youth! Lunch will be served immediately followhing the morning service.

The youth committee will meet this Sunday (April 15th) as well. The meeting with begin at 4pm in the gym.

Ladies: don't forget that the Beth Moore conference is this Friday and Sat. (April 13th & 14th). If you signed up to go, I am sure you will be in for a treat! I have heard lots of good things about Mrs. Moore. God has blessed her in such a wonderful way by allowing her to speak to hundreds of people about Him.

Women on Mission will meet next Wed., April 18th in the choir room at 7pm. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend.

This Sunday will begin a new series for the morning and evening sermons. The first message is entitled "Are you Ready for Battle: Realizing Your Strengths". The evening sermon is entitled "Are You Ready for Battle: Preparing for Battle). These sermons will be based on scripture from Ephesians 6:10-17 (this covers the whole series).

Revival services will be held Sunday, April 29th. Services for that Sunday will be as normal (morning service at 11am and evening service at 6pm). The evening services for that week will begin at 7pm. Revival will end on Wed., May 2nd. Please be in prayer for our revival and allow God to speak to us during this time. The guest speaker will be the Director of Missions from the O'burg/Calhoun Association.

The XYZ will be touring Park Seed Company in Greenwood, SC on Sat., April 21st. The van will leave the church at 8am. The day will consist of a tour of Park Seed, lunch and the return trip back to North. Please remember to pray for this group as they depart on their journey. I am sure they will have lots of fun!

Ladies: don't forget about craft night each Tuesday night. It is being held in the trailer next to Culler-McAlhany funeral home from 6:30-8:30pm. Work continues on crafts being made for the upcoming Christmas bazaar this year. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new church bus/van.

Please be in prayer for the Annie Armstrong Easter offering. Our church goal is $2,700.00. Your total gift does to support North American Missionsaries and their ministries. As of the week of April 1st, $390.00 has been given thus far. It is important to help support our missionaries. It is also very important to remember them in prayer. It is a difficult job they have and they would not be able to do that job if it weren't for God placing the desire on the heart.

I hope the remainder of your week goes well. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

What Does Easter Mean to Me?

Hello! I hope everyone had a good week. I also hope that everyone took an opportunity to reflect on the events of Holy Week. All of the events that took place during this time frame lead up to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. This leads to my thoughts on Holy Week and what these events represent.

I do not focus on the death of our Lord. Instead I choose to focus on His resurrection. At any point during the events leading up to His death, He could have stopped and said "I am not going to die to save these self-centered, sin-loving people. But due to God's great love for His people............things went according to the plan He had set in motion. Things that were in place 33 years before Christ was crucified.

When one stops to think about all of the things that bring us to the resurrection, it often causes pause to consider what it must have been like for Him. Imagine being beaten, scoffed at and ridiculed. Only to hang on a cross for wretched souls like me. He could have come down off the cross at any given time had He so desired. However, if He had done that...........think of how much worse our outcome can be. Think of He felt hanging there, still pleading for us and seeking forgiveness for our own stupidity.

Think of how many years this earth was here before God put man and woman here. I imagine there are days when God sits on His throne in Heaven and says, "Why did I ever create these creatures called humans?". I'm sure He sits and scratches His head at times. I know I would. But that is the thing that makes God who He is and sets the record straight on who I am. On who we all are!

Christ died not only to save us from our sins, but for the sins of those that walked this earth before us and for those that will walk it even after we have passed on. We can never repay Him for the things He has done for us. And as the song says.....things so undeserved that He would give to prove His love for me (and for you).

So, let us not focus on the death part so much but the wonderful news of His resurrection! That's what Easter means to me.

The Easter Community Service will be held at North United Methodist Church. The sunrise service begins at 7am. Morning services at North FBC will start with Sunday School at 9am and worship at 10am. Invite someone to join you at church to reflect and fellowship with other believers this Easter day!
**There will be NO evening services Sunday, April 8th (Easter Sunday).**

The children will have an Easter Egg Hunt & pizza party Sat., April 7th from 1-4pm. Come out and join in the fun!

Men's breakfast and a quarterly church conference will take place next Sunday, April 15th. Breakfast begins at 8am in the fellowship hall. All men are invited and encourage to attend.

Don't forget about craft night each Tuesday from 6:30-8:30pm in the trailer beside Culler-McAlhany funeral home. Crafts are being made to raise money for a new church bus. Items will be sold at the Christmas bazaar taking place this year.

Helpers are needed the 3rd Sunday of the month in the nursing during the evening hours (5-7pm). If you are interested in helping out, please feel free to email me and I will be glad to supply the name of the contact person. Or you can contact the church office at 247-2711. My email address is: nricha4903@hotmail.com. The information is also on the back of the church bulletin.

I believe that covers most of what I have for now. I hope you have a great Saturday. Take care and God bless! Have a blessed Easter as well!!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Mark Your Calendar.........

You will need to find a calendar and mark down all the activities that are store for us this month. There are many things taking place and no one should be left out. Our pastor has stated in his note in April's newsletter that there are several opportunities for us to be witnesses in our community, beyond our community and even the other side of the world. We can volunteer our time to sponsor a program called "Good News Club" at Dover Elementary School here in North. We can also volunteer to be trained and equipped to respond to disaster areas in order to minister to people's physical and spiritual needs during a difficult time. We can even allow the Lord to lead us as the International Mission Board is encouraging churches to sponsor teams that on the field doing God's work. The area we have been asked to partner with is an Indonesian Island where 99% of the people there don't know Christ. Allow the Lord to speak to you to see if He would have you participate in a short-term trip or if you would be willing to support someone else that feels led to go. God has so richly blessed us, pray about these opportunities and go where God would have you go.

Our Youth and Children's Minister has also been hard at work. The St. Patrick's Day gathering was a big success. There are some other events on the agenda for the youth and children. The Youth Retreat has been changed. This year the youth will be going to SummerSalt at White Oak Conference Center. They will be at camp June 25-29th. The total cost for the trip is $215.00. Fundraisers will be held to help raise money to cover the cost. If you wish for your child to participate in the fundraisers, they must be present at the fundraisers in order to earn the money. A deposit of $40.00 must be turned in no later than Sunday, May 20th. More info will be provided in the next few weeks. The first fundraiser will be a spaghetti dinner/cake auction April 22nd.

The children will have an Easter Egg Hunt/pizza party Saturday, April 7th from 1-4pm. Sounds like a lot of fun!!!

Big Day Out: more details will be given on Wednesday nights. The first Big Day Out is April 28th.

The adult choir will be performing "The Seven Last Words of Christ" tomorrow evening at 6pm. Light refreshments will be available in the fellowship hall after the service. Communion will be observed during the morning worship hour tomorrow morning. There will be a Deacon's meeting April 1st as well at 8am.

Women on Mission will meet Wed., April 18th at 7pm in the choir room in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend.

The XYZ group will be going to Park Seed in Greenwood, SC on Sat., April 21st. They will leave the church at 8am. They will travel to Greenwood, tour Park Seed, have lunch and return home. Remember to keep them in your prayers during their outing that day.

Craft night is being held each Tuesday evening in the trailer between the McAlhany's and the funeral home. Work continues on the crafts being made for the Christmas bazaar. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new church bus. Craft night is held from 6:30-8:30pm.

Revival services will be held Sunday, April 29 through Wed., May 2nd. The Director of Missions from the Orangeburg-Calhoun Association will be the guest speaker. The services on Sunday will be held at regular times (11am and 6pm). The weekly services will begin at 7am. Please remember to prayer for the speaker as well as the services.

Our pastor has a message series prepared for us entitled "Are You Ready for Battle". The services will be based on scripture from Ephesians 6:10-17. Satan is always ready to snare a child of God. Are we truly prepared for the battle of Spiritual Warfare that Satan hones himself for daily?

The Community Sunrise Service will held at North United Methodist Church on Easter Sunday, April 8th at 7am. The minister from North Pentecostal Holiness Church will be bringing the message that morning. There will be no evening services at North FBC on Easter Sunday.

Remember to be in prayer about the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The church goal for this year is $2,700.00. The total gift goes to support North American Missionaries and their ministries. There are many people who need to hear the love that God has for them. Allow God to speak to you and give as He would have you give.

I believe this covers everything I have for now. I apologize for things being a little out of date order. As you can see, there is a lot going on. I pray that each of you will enjoy the remainder of your weekend and that you will have a blessed week.

Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

P.S. I neglected to mention these two items previously. Please accept my sincere apology.

Men's Breakfast will be on Sunday, April 15th at 8am. All men are invited to attend. Breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall.

Also, there will be a quarterly conference that morning at the end of the morning service.

Holy Week

Many churches across the land will be observing Holy Week this week. It begins tomorrow (Palm Sunday). The story in the Bible begins with Jesus coming into the town on a donkey. People gathered together to welcome Him and sing praises to His name. As the events continued...........the opinions of those same people changed. They went from praising the Holy One to casting many hurtful words and wanting Him crucified because He didn't fit their idea of the Messiah. They wanted to see spectular things as if being presented by a magician. Jesus came to us a humble man. One not given to lavish displays of His power. When He spoke, the winds ceased and a sense of peace fell over all.

And so it went.........Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb. He brought truth to His words 3 days later by rising from the grave and finishing the work He had been sent to do at that time. He ascended into Heaven to be with God. The truth of the matter is........are we any different from those that sing His praises when it suits our needs and turn our backs on Him when things don't go according to our plan? We must remember that He always has our best interests at heart. Whether we understand the outcome or not. It is not for us to know. There are many things we will never understand. The only thing He requires of us is to come to know Him as Lord and Savior. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Through Jesus and only Jesus, will we be allowed to enter into Heaven's Gates.

I encourage each of us during this upcoming week, to truly reflect on the events that led up to Christ's crucifixion. May we find ourselves in the place where God would have us to be. For if we are truly children of God, it will make the resurrection an even greater accomplishment today and all those years ago. Let not His death be in vain, let be a glorious and wondrous thing to proclaim. God loved us enough to send His only son to die for us so that we may live with Him in Heaven. What greater gift is there than that?

Much love to each of you!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello and good Tuesday evening to each of you. I hope everyone is having a good week. It's hard to believe we are almost in April. Easter will soon be here. We have so much to be thankful for. The most important thing to be thankful for is that Jesus died to save us from our sins. If we believe in Him, we will see Him in heaven in all His glory! What a wonderful day that will be!

Here are few items on the agenda for the next week or so:

The adult choir Easter cantata is this Sunday, April 1st. It begins at 6pm. It is entitled "The Seven Last Words of Christ". There will be several other folks from other areas joining in the performance. It will surely be something you don't want to miss! Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall after the service. Come out and bring a friend to hear the message to be received in song!

Craft night is being held each Tuesday from 6:30-8:30pm in the trailer beside Culler-McAlhany Funeral Home. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. Work continues on the crafts being made for the Christmas bazaar in December. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new bus/van.

There will be a Deacon's meeting this Sunday, April 1st at 8am.

We will be observing Communion on Palm Sunday (April 1st). This is a good time to focus on our walk with Christ and making sure we are walking the walk and talking the talk that God would have us doing.

There is an Easter party planned for the children on Saturday, April 7th from 1-4pm. There will be an Easter egg hunt, games and pizza will be served for lunch. Sounds like a fun time will be had by all!!

I believe that is all I have for now. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Spring is in the Air!

Hello and good Tuesday evening to each of you. I trust you are having a good weekend so far. It is hard to believe that spring will be here tomorrow! As I have stated before, spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to watch everything turn green and the flowers blooming. The sense of rebirth and renewal. Tis a wonderful time of year to remember our Lord and Savior and the sacrifice that He made to save us from our sins. We are so unworthy of His salvation and amazing grace. We take so much for granted. From His love for us to the little things in life that most would give anything to have. We need to count our blessings everyday and be thankful for the health we have and the roof over our heads. Praise God for His almighty power and never ending love!

We have lots of exciting this taking place over the next few weeks. The children have been working hard on their upcoming program. You want to be in attendance Sunday, March 25th for the presentation of "Alive, Alive". While preparing for their sunrise service, the children will learn new treasures about God's love for them through the sacrifice of His son. The program will begin at 6pm. Come out and bring a friend.

Speaking of programs............the adult choir has also been hard at work preparing for their Easter cantata. It is entitled "The Seven Last Words of Christ". This muscial was written by Theodore Dubois. Everyone is in for a real treat. Members of the choir of FBC, North UMC, members of Columbia Voice, Lake Murray Symphony and the Columbia Choral Society are combining to make this a memorable and wonderful experience. Come out and reflect on the sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The program will begin at 6pm on Sunday, April 1st in the church sanctuary. A nursery will be provided and a reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Women on Mission will meet Wed., March 21st at 7pm in the choir room. All ladies are invited to attend.

The deadline for the newsletter is Wed., March 21st at 9am. Remember to submit any annoucements that need to be included.

I hope I mentioned everything. May the rest of your week be a true blessing. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hello and happy Thursday to each of you! Hope your week has gone well. We certainly have had some beautiful weather as of late. That is going to change this weekend. Prepare for temperatures hovering around 60 degrees during the day and 34 in the evening. Spring will soon be here............I am thankful for that.

Unfortunately, due to the pollen and the ever changing weather, I have had the joy of a wonderful cold. It's not as bad as it was, but it still lingers. Being sick always makes me happy. On a more positive note, I am thankful that it isn't any worse. There certainly are folks who have far more severe illnesses than a minor seasonal cold. Makes a person thankful for such a blessing. Things can always get worse.

Anyway, on to more important things. The youth will have a St. Patrick's Day party this Sat., March 17th. The gym will be open from 7-10pm. Remember to bring/wear your green. You don't want to be pinched! There will be games and refreshments will be served. Make plans to join in the fun and fellowship!

Craft night is now being held in the trailer beside Culler-McAlhany Funeral Home. This time of creativity and fellowship is held every Tuesday from 6-9pm. All ladies are invited to attend. Work is in progress in making crafts to be sold at the Christmas bazaar this year to raise funds for a new church bus. If you feel that you're not able to make it on the given Tuesdays..........an opportunity to work on crafts for the bazaar can be arranged.

Attention men: Men's breakfast will be this Sunday, March 18th. Invite another gentleman to join in this time of food and fellowship. Breakfast is served at 8am in the fellowship hall.

Women on Mission are scheduled to meet Wed., March 21st. This organization meets in the choir room after Wed. night supper. All ladies are encouraged to attend.

Don't forget about the upcoming performances. The children and adult choirs have been hard at work preparing for these events. You don't want to miss either one!

I hope I haven't left anything out. If there are other items that need to be mentioned here, please email me and let me know. My email address is nricha4903@hotmail.com. Hope to hear from you!

Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Daylight Savings Time

Hello and good Saturday morning to each of you. Don't forget to "spring forward" tonight before going to bed. Daylight savings time begins tomorrow. It is starting 3 weeks earlier this year. To avoid being late for any activities you might be involved in, remember to set your clocks up 1 hour before going to bed.

The XYZ had their monthly meeting Friday, March 9th. I am sure they had a fun time of food, fellowship and bingo!

There will be a Youth Committee meeting Sunday, March 11th at 4pm. The meeting will be held in the gym.

Speaking of our youth................there will be a party in the gym Sat., March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) from 7-10pm. Remember to wear/bring your green. Invite a friend to join you and make plans to enjoy the games and refreshments provided!

Work continues on the remodeling of the pastor's/ministry assistant's office. Please remember to check your mailbox (which is located in the hallway outside the counting room). The temporary offices are upstairs in the old Will Connelly class (at the top of stairs).

Let's remember to be in prayer for our children and adult choirs as they prepare for their Easter programs. Much time and effort goes into these programs and your love and support is greatly appreciated!

I believe that covers all I have for now. If I have overlooked anything, please accept my apologies. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Craft Night

Attention ladies: don't forget about craft night Tues., March 6th. This night has been designated as the time to work on crafts for the church bazaar in Dec. Proceeds will go towards the purchase of new church bus/van. Even if you think you might not be able to make anything, you are still welcome to join in the fun and fellowship. So remember to be at the church next Tues. from 6:30-9pm.

Take care and God bless!

Tina :-)

My How Time Goes By!!

Hello and good Thursday evening to you! My how time goes by so quickly. It has been 2 weeks since I last posted anything here. I do apologize. I wanted to take a few minutes to mention some activities that will be taking place.

First off, there will be a deacon's meeting this Sunday, March 4th at 8am.

Our pastor will be bringing some very thought provoking sermons over the next few weeks. The morning series is entitled "The Journey to a Missional Church". The purpose of this series is to allow every member of the church to see and understand his or her role in the local church and the universal body of Christ. As we are aware, we know how important all the parts of our body are. Without certain parts, we wouldn't be able to do the things we do. This also applies to those that make up the church. For without each person doing the work he or she is designed to do, it makes reaching the goal a lot harder.

The evening series will be entitled "What is a Baptist?" This series will explore baptism and who runs the church. While it takes many parts to get the work done, we must remember that God is in control and is the head of the church. If God is not in His rightful place, His desires for us can not be carried out. We must allow Him to lead us down the path He would have us travel.

Men's breakfast will be Sunday, March 18th at 8am in the fellowship hall. Remember to mark your calendars and bring a friend for a blessed time of food and fellowship.

Daylight savings time is right around the corner. Don't forget to "spring" forward Sat. night (March 10th) before going to bed that evening.

The XYZ will have their gathering/meeting on Friday, March 9th. More details to come!

Women on Mission will be meeting on Wed., March 21st right after Wed. night supper. Meetings are usually held in the choir room in the fellowship hall. All the ladies of the church are invited to attend!

The children have been working on their Easter Cantata entitled "Alive, Alive". The program will be performed by God's Kids and Preschool Praisers. The cantata will be Sunday, March 25 at 6pm. Hope to see you there!

There will be an associational Vacation Bible School training at North FBC Tues, March 20 from 6;30-9pm. Speaking of VBS, it will be held during the week of June 3-7th. Remember to be in prayer about this and make plans to be in attendance!

It's hard to believe that Easter will soon be here! We will have Communion on Palm Sunday, April 1st during the morning service. During the evening worship hour, the adult choir will be performing "The Seven Last Words of Christ". You are in for a treat!

The Annie Armstron Easter offering will begin soon. The goal for this year is $2700.00.

Our Minister of Students is hard at work planning activities for the youth and children. Remember to keep the Student Ministry in your prayers and be supportive of its leader and the young people involved. He (MOS) has several activities planned that he would like to have mentioned.

1) There will be a youth party Sat., March 17th in the gym from 7-10pm. Come out and join in the fun. Remember to wear your green! Refreshments and games will be available. Invite a friend or two!

2) Plans are in the works for a Youth Retreat this year. If all goes well, the youth will be going to Centrifuge at North Greenville College in Greenville, SC. Keep an eye out for more information pertaining to this retreat. A sign up sheet will be available soon. They will be going during one of the following weeks: July 9th-14th or July 16th-21st. If you would like more information, go to Lifeway.com and type "Centrifuge" in the search box.

3) Attention students and parents: Listen up during the annoucements during the annoucements for open gym dates!

I believe that covers everything I have for now. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)