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 :-)

There's a Chill in the Air

Hello and good Sunday evening to each of you. I hope you had a wonderful day. I trust that you all are staying warm and cozy. It has certainly been a windy day. I wanted to take a few minutes to remind you of some activities taking place in and around our church this week.

If you are participating in the "Know Fear" study, don't forget about the make-up session tomorrow night. The class is being held in the fellowship hall and will begin at 7pm for those who aren't able to make it on Sunday evenings. The topic for this week is death. Never an easy subject to discuss, but one that bears some attention. In other words, we must be prepared for that day.........the day we will leave this earth and stand in front of our creator. We will be held accountable for those things we did here on earth. The opportunities we had to witness to others and be an example of Christ's love for us. We are only on this earth for a time and if you are a believer in Christ, you will spend eternity with Him in paradise. It is an important decision..........the most important one you will make in your whole life. If you haven't or someone who know hasn't accepted Jesus Christ..............allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into accepting Him as Lord and Savior of your life. The benefits certainly outweigh the reasons not to accept Him.

Attention WMU members: All ladies are invited to attend the next WMU meeting Wed., Feb. 21 at 7pm in the choir room (located in the fellowship hall). Along with the regular items on the agenda, you will be given an opportunity to participate in the Valentine Swap. It has been asked that you bring an item from home instead of going out to buy something. Please make sure the item is in good condition. Come and join in the fun and fellowship.

Craft Night: originally it was stated in the bulletin that craft night would be held every Tuesday. That has been changed. Ladies are invited to participate in craft night on the first and third Tues. of each month. The first Tues. will be a night to work on crafts for the Christmas bazaar. The third Tues. will be a "do your own thing" kind of night. If you enjoy scrapbooking, crocheting, knitting, etc......then you are invited to join in the fun. Even if you aren't sure if you would be able to make something, folks are available the first Tues. of the month to assist you in getting started on your crafts for the bazaar. So remember that you will meet this Tues. evening, Feb. 20th at 6:30pm. Come and bring a friend!

The youth will be venturing out this Friday evening (Feb. 23rd). The van will leave the church at 5pm. The concert will begin at 7pm at the Colonial Center in Columbia. The cost for tickets is $10.00 at the door and money is needed for food. This event is being hosted by New Song, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson and Sanctus Real. If you would be willing to chaperone, please contact our Minister of Students. I can remember being in the youth group and going on outings such as this..........it is certainly worth the trip and the time! An experience you won't forget!!

Next Sunday, Feb. 25th, there will be a brief meeting after the morning service with our Pastor, Music Minister and sound techs. If you help with the sound system, remember to be in attendance next Sunday.

The adult choir has been working on the Easter Cantata. I will say we are all in for a treat. If you wish to join the choir, now's the time. We would love to have you join us! If you are a member of the choir and haven't been in a while, then please consider coming back. You are greatly missed!

Don't forget: while the remodeling of the church offices is being done, mailboxes are located outside the old choir room in the hallway near the counting room. Remember to be in prayer that things will go smoothly with this undertaking. Your patience and understanding during this time is greatly appreciated!

I believe that covers all I have for now. I also want to say thank you to those who read this blog and for the encouragement received. It is my honor and privilege to be blessed in this capacity. I praise the Lord for granting me the ability to perform this duty. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!

Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Upcoming Activities

Hello and good Sunday afternoon to each of you! I hope you have had a wonderful day so far. Here are some activities that will be taking place around our church over the coming week.

Don't forget about the "Know Fear" session this afternoon at 5pm in the fellowship hall. Tonight's session is on "Fear of Loneliness". Being lonely does not necessarily mean being all by yourself. You can be lonely even in a group of people. Something just isn't right and you can't put your finger on it. You just don't feel whole/complete. Some folks are quite happy being alone, but that doesn't make them lonely. I was in a relationship several years ago and things just didn't work out the way I had hoped they would. The relationship came to an end and I haven't found that "right" person again. I have placed this in the Lord's hands and trust that He will supply the right individual for me. Does this mean I am lonely? No!!! I have family and friends who love me and best of all I have a Lord and Savior who loves me beyond all measure! I am quite happy in my singleness. His will is to be done in this area of my life (along with all the others).

Then the topic of tonight's sermon is "A Cure for Loneliness". If you are feeling alone, then this might be the message you need to hear. Sure, there times when we all feel a little isolated, but that doesn't mean that we feel that way all the time. God wants to cure our loneliness and give us the peace and comfort that only He can provide.

This morning was our Minister of Students first day with us. Many of you had the chance to speak to him at that time. If you haven't had the chance to meet him, please take the time to give a warm North FBC welcome. There will be a "pounding" for him this Wednesday night at supper at 6pm. Let's extend a friendly, loving hand and help him stock his pantry. We all know how difficult it is setting up housekeeping for the first time (or even in a new place)..let's make his transition a little easier by extending a Christian hand of love and fellowship!

The preschoolers will have their own Valentine's banquet tomorrow night from 6-7:30 in the fellowship hall.

The make up session of "Know Fear" will be held at 7pm in the gym Monday evening.

Men's breakfast will be held on Sunday, Feb. 18th at 8am in the fellowship hall. All men are encouraged to attend.

The youth will be heading to the Colonial Center in Columbia on Friday, Feb. 23rd. They will be joining other young people from surrounding areas at the Youth Winter Jam Tour hosted by New Song, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson and Sanctus Real. Tickets are $10.00 at the door and money is needed for food. They will leave from the church at 5pm. Concert begins at 7pm.

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

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Welcome..........

to our new youth and children's leader. He will be joining us for his first day tomorrow (Feb. 11th). He comes to us from Union Point, Georgia. Remember to take a moment to introduce yourself to him. Let's do all we can to make him feel welcome. I wish him all the success that God has in store for him.

In light of our new youth and children's leader....there will be a "pounding" for him this Wed., Feb. 14th. This will be a good way to help him stock his pantry. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend Wed. evening. Remember, supper starts at 6pm followed by prayer meeting.

Speaking of Valentine's Day..........don't forget to take the time to let those closest to you know how much they mean to you. Tokens of love and appreciation shouldn't be saved for only Valentine's Day though.........we should remember to tell them each and every day how much treasure them. Valentine's Day would also be a great day to tell someone else of the love that Jesus Christ has for him or her. What better way to share the joy of love than passing along an eternal gift of life in Christ?!

The preschoolers will be having their own Valentine's Day party. It will be held on Monday, Feb. 12th from 6-7:30 in the fellowship hall.

Also, if you have any jeans you would like to donate to a good cause........they are needed to help fill the clothes closet in West Virginia. All sizes are needed. Please bring them to the church as soon as possible so they can be delivered to the folks that need them.

Let's also remember the many renovations that are taking place around our church. Folks are busy trying to get our pastor and ministry assistant settled into their new offices. As we are all aware, when making renovations you are bound to run into a few snags here and there. So let's remember in prayer those who are involved with this project in the hopes that things will go as smoothly as possible and according to God's perfect will.

Ladies (and men): Don't forget about the special craft night being held once a month. Crafts are being made to sell at our Christmas bazaar this year to help purchase a new church bus. If you are unable to get out and come and join in the fun and fellowship, please contact the church office and let them know. They will get the proper folks in touch with you so that you can work on things at home to help with this project. Even if you think you aren't able to make anything, everyone is encouraged to participate and folks are available to help you through any difficulties you may have with the craft you are working on.

The adult choir has started working on the Easter cantata. It is entitled "The Seven Last Words of Christ". If you have been contemplating whether to join the choir or not, this is a good time to make the step to join. You are more than welcome to come and be a part of the fun!

I think that covers what I have for now. If I have left anything out, etc. please let me know. You can always email me at nricha4903@hotmail.com. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Facing the Giants

Good Saturday evening to each of you! I just finished watching 2 very inspirational movies. "One Night with the King" and "Facing the Giants". Both were awesome. "One Night with the King" is the story of Esther, Queen of Persia and the difference she made in being queen. "Facing the Giants" is a football story of a coach in a Christian Academy with a very bad losing streak. He overhears some men trying to get him ousted. He and his wife are having many difficulties (car trouble, household repairs that need to be made with no extra funds to get the work done, and they have been trying to have a baby for 4 years with no success.

At his lowest point, he turns everything over to God and many miracles abound as a result. You will have to watch the film to get the full impact. It lead me to write this entry tonight though. As I was watching, football is a great deal like life. If you go into the game with a losing attitude, then losing will be the end result. If you go into it with a positive attitude and do your best, the chances for winning are increased.

We all have giants to face. Whether they be dealing with a difficult job, things being tough at home, not having enough money to make ends meet, difficulties in having children...........and the list can go on and on. If we face those giants with the attitude that we are defeated before we ever get started, then we have given those giants all the power they need. The power to crush our spirit and keep us feeling less than our best.

When we choose to face those giants with the attitude of an achiever and with the faith that all things are possible for those who love the Lord..............we have a better chance of being successful. When success comes our way, we need to remember to give God the glory. It is through His grace and mercy that we are able to press on when things get too difficut. It is through His grace and mercy that we able to attain the unattainable.

Nothing that I have is not without God's loving grace. In a moment it can all be taken away. We can rest assured in one thing..................God's love for us NEVER fails. He will provide and meet our every need if only we will let Him. He wants nothing but His best for His children.

My prayer tonight is that we all will lay our giants at God's feet. Thus allowing Him to be in control of our lives. Let His will be done. If you are reading this entry and have not committed your life to Christ......now is the time. Do not delay. I pray that you will lay your burdens/giants at God's feet and allow Jesus to come into your heart.

When it seems like all is lost and you wonder why bad things keep happening...........it isn't God causing those bad things to happen. It is often a result of our bad choices. He never gives us more than we can handle. Satan runs amuck and plants little seeds that develop into giants. Giants that can keep us from doing God's work and being where God would want us to be.

So again, I encourage you......if haven't accepted Christ, please make that decision right now. Allow Jesus to come into your heart. You will have a forever friend and a constant guide. If you have accepted Christ and have strayed away from the path He would have you walking on, make the step to return to Him. He will not turn you away. We all have giants to face..............and facing them with fellow brothers & sisters-in-Christ is much better than trying to face them on your own. Aligning yourself with fellow believers is what God would want us to do. We are not to be unkind to those less fortunate than we are. We are not to be unkind to those who have hurt us. We are not to be unkind to those who don't dress like we dress, or walk or talk like we talk. Instead we are to be an example. An example of Christ's love and sacrifice.

Allow Christ to be Lord of your life. It is one gift you can give to yourself that you will never want to return. Allow Him to slay those giants and His will be done in your life.

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

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Hustle and Bustle

Good rainy Thursday! Hope everyone is staying warm and dry. Some areas were blessed with snow, while others got mostly rain. Regardless, it is all a part of God's glorious power and beauty. We have a lot going on in and around our church. I hope everyone will participate as the Lord would allow.

We are continuing our "Know Fear" Bible study. It has been very rewarding and I hope everyone will learn what the Lord has in mind for this study. If you weren't able to participate in this study, hopefully you will be able to do so in the future. Also, if you aren't able to make it to the Sunday night session, there is a make up session on Monday evenings in the fellowship hall at 7pm.

It is my understanding that the craft nights have been going quite well. In fact, the first night was such a success that it has now been expanded. Instead of only meeting one night per month.......it has now grown into a special craft night for making items for our church Christmas bazaar. The bazaar will be held on Dec. 8th along with soup and cornbread. Ladies and men are invited to join in the fellowship. One night has been set aside each month to work on this project. The first night (Tues., Jan 30th) was quite a success. There 20 ladies present that night. The next meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 6th from 6:30-9pm in the youth room in the educational building. A donation of $2-3 will be taken up the first night to cover the cost of supplies. After that, a list will be given to each individual to purchase their own supplies. If you aren't able to get out at night, you can still participate by working at home. Please contact the church office for the individuals in charge of this project.

The other Tuesday nights will be a come and do your thing gathering. A time of creativity and fellowship. A good way to release some tension from a hard day at work or to simply get out of the house for a bit. The fundraiser is being done in order to raise funds to purchase a new church bus. If you have any craft suggestions, please write your ideas down and place them in the basket in the vestibule. If you decide to participate in this activity, you will be assisting in making a snowman out of landscape timbers and other small crafts. So come on out and give it a try. Even if you think you might not be able to make anything, you may be surprised at what hidden talent may be released in working for the Lord!


The children will have an outing this Sat., Feb. 3rd. Children grades 1-6 will leave the church at 1pm and will return around 6pm. Money is needed for a trip to McDonald's, bowling and shoe rental.

There will be a Deacon's Meeting this Sunday, Feb. 4th at 8am. All deacons are encouraged to be in attendance!

Our new student minister will be joining us Sunday, Feb. 11th. He comes to us from Union City, Ga and has been ministering as a part time youth leader at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Fairburn, Ga since Jan. 2005. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Ga and also a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in youth ministry. There will be a "pounding" for him Wed., Feb. 14th. Come and meet him and bring some goodies to help stock his pantry and make his transition to North FBC an easy one.

There is some construction work going on in our church office. If you have a mailbox there, they have been moved upstairs to the first room on the right. Please remember to be careful as you make your way up the steps and remember to check your mailbox periodically. Just because they have been moved, doesn't mean the mail isn't there anymore! Your assistance is appreciated!

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

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Feeling Crafty?

I know.........what in the world is Tina thinking? Well ladies, here's our opportunity to get together and have a little time away from the house and we get to spend with our sisters-in-Christ and do something we love at the same time! Tomorrow night (Jan. 23rd) is the first craft night for the ladies of the church. All ladies are invited to attend. It will be held in the fellowship hall from 6-9pm. You will be able to bring whatever crafts you are working on or even those crafts you have been meaning to start working on and could never find the time to do so. Whatever your fancy is.........whether it's scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, etc. you are welcome to attend. Even if you aren't sure what craft you might like to work on, someone there may have some ideas to help get you started.

So tell the husbands, boyfriends, etc. they are own their own from 6-9 Tuesday evening and come and spend some time with the girls!

Hello! Hope your Sunday evening is going well. We have been blessed today with a few showers of rain. We were also very blessed with the service this morning. Our guest speaker did a wonderful job. The all male choir did an excellent job! (by the way....where are all you men in the choir normally?). Would love for you to join us! The trio also did an terrific job. We have such talented individuals in our church. It's great to see the talents displayed and put to use in worshiping our Lord and Savior!

The Discipleship Training class "Know Fear" is moving along wonderfully. It really is making you think and focus on things you might have overlooked otherwise. Fear is human, but God wants us to overcome those fears so that He may be able to use us to do His work. May those who are participating in this class walk away with renewed strength! (If you are unable to attend the Sunday night session, there is a make-up class on Monday evenings at 7pm in the fellowship hall.)

The ladies of the church will be having a "Craft Night" Tuesday, Jan. 23rd from 6-9pm. Bring a friend and come join in the fun and fellowship. This activity will be held in the fellowship hall.

A couple of our church members recently took a trip. This Wednesday night during Prayer Meeting at 7pm they will share about their travels. You are in for quite a treat!

I think covers most everything for now. If I left anything out, please let me know. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Chilly Weather

Fortunately for our part of the world we have avoided some of the bad weather. It has been a very cold, dreary day outside indeed. But the cold, dreary day doesn't have to have a bearing on the warmth and kindness we can display as Christians. I hope that each of you were able to reap at least one good thing from this day. I am thankful that the weather was not any worse than it was. I pray that those without power will soon have it restored. We have been so blessed. There are those in this country who are feeling the cold today. They don't have homes to shelter them from the cold and rain. They don't have loved ones to comfort them when comfort is needed. I hope and pray that when people come in contact with each of us, we give off the warmth and love of Christ Jesus. The words "Let others see Jesus in you" need to be more than just a song. They need to come to life and be displayed for all to see. It is something that I know I need to work on and become better about doing.

It is very easy to get wrapped up in the things of the world. We have to learn not to allow the every day things get us off track of the job God has for us to do. Satan becomes very pleased when he sees one of God's children wandering aimlessly. We have to keep God where He belongs. That is in first place. If we allow God to be in control of our lives, we are better equipped to fight off Satan and his army. Satan is only as powerful as we allow him to be. Satan loves it when we allow the cold, dreariness of life to set in and keep us down-hearted. When we step into the light of Jesus, Satan's power becomes weak. Pray to always be in the light of our Lord and Savior. Keep Satan in the dark, forever at bay.

I hope that you are making plans to be a part of Baptist Men's Day this Sunday, Jan. 21st. The day will begin with Men's Breakfast at 8am. Men of all ages are invited to attend. There will be an all male choir that morning as well (practice will be immediately following men's breakfast). One of our former church members will be the guest speaker of the day. I am looking forward to hearing him speak. Invite someone to join you for this special day!

The ladies of the church will have "Craft Night" on Tues., Jan. 23rd from 6-9pm. They will meet in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend. Invite another lady to join you for this time of fun and fellowship.

Don't forget about the 2nd meeting of "Know Fear". Last week's session went very well. I am looking forward to the next. We are doing some reading everyday in our books and it is quite thought-provoking and uplifting. These sessions are being held at 5pm in the fellowship hall during the regular discipleship training hour.

I hope that the remainder of your week goes well. Until next time, keep warm and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Kickoff

Good Sunday evening to each of you! I hope you had a blessed Sunday. We began the adult Bible study tonight entitled "Know Fear: Facing Life's Six Most Common Phobias". We all have things in our lives that make us afraid. The purpose of this study is to focus on 6 different areas that are common in everyone's personal lives. The goal is to equip us as Christians with the proper tools to help us overcome these fears.

God is aware that we have these fears. Whether it be a fear of flying or of God Himself. For me, I would have to say that God doesn't necessarily mean for us to be "afraid" of Him as we would be afraid of heights, snakes, spiders, etc. I feel the context in which the word "afraid" is used to describe God means we should respect and honor Him.

Each session is taking place over the next 6 weeks during the Discipleship Training hour at 5pm. There was a very good number attending tonight. For those that were teaching another class, there will be a 30 minute session tomorrow night in the fellowship hall beginning at 7pm.

During our quarterly church conference this morning it was announced that we have a new Youth & Children's minister coming to us in Feb. His first day will be Sunday, Feb. 11th. There will be "pounding" for him Wed., Feb. 14th. What "pounding" means is bringing canned or boxed goods to help stock his pantry, etc. It doesn't mean beating him over the head with a baseball bat. (not that anyone would............but you never know!) Just kidding. I know none of our church family would do such a thing! :-)

So bring your canned or boxed goods that Wed. evening when you come for supper and prayer meeting. As always supper begins at 6pm with prayer meeting immediately following.

As I have mentioned several times, Baptist Men's Day is next Sunday, Jan. 21st. All men are invited and encouraged to attend Men's breakfast at 8am that day. The all male choir will practice after breakfast at 9am in the choir room. There will be guest speaker during the morning worship hour. Mark the date on your calendar and invite someone to join you in this wonderful time of worship and fellowship!

Attention Ladies: Women on Mission will be meeting this Wed. night at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the choir room in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited to attend.

Another event for ladies is "Craft Night". This will be held in the fellowship hall on Tuesday, Jan. 23rd from 6-9pm. This should be a fun time for all who attend. Why should the men always have all the fun??!! :-)

As always, remember to pray for those serving in the Armed Forces. We have several church members who are having health problems right now. As well as several folks in the community. While they may not be listed here, the Lord knows their needs. Please pray for them.

I hope your will be one of blessing and one that will allow you the opportunity to be a vessel for God's work to be done. Until next time, take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Activities for the week.........

Hello and good Saturday afternoon to each of you. I hope had the opportunity to get out and enjoy a little of the sunshine and warmth we have been blessed with today. Cold weather and rain is in the forecast for next week. But all is well.....our Lord is in control of it all!

Tomorrow morning's service is on "Hope: A Theology of the Resurrection". Then tomorrow night we begin the study entitled "Know Fear". It will be held during the discipleship training hour at 5pm. I am looking forward to it and hope to see you there! The evening worship services beginning tomorrow evening and ending on Sunday, Feb. 25th will supplement the DT study. And remember, you don't have to participate in the DT hour to join in the evening worship hour.

There will be a quarterly church business meeting tomorrow morning as well. All church members are encouraged to attend.

Women on Mission will meet this Wednesday evening (Jan. 17th) immediately following Wed. night supper. All ladies are invited to attend!

We are also looking forward to Baptist Men's Day on Sunday, Jan. 21st. Men's breakfast will be at 8am that day. There will be an all male choir during the morning service. A former church member will be the guest speaker that morning. Baptist Men's Day is always a special event in our church and we look forward to having you join us!

Don't forget to let the church office know of any birthdays, anniversaries, etc. you wish to have listed in the monthly newsletter. Keeping current records is very important and your assistance is appreciated. Also, if you are NOT receiving a monthly newsletter and would like to do so, please contact the church office regarding this as well. Your current address will be needed.

If you would like to change your subscription to the Baptist Courier, please make sure you contact the church office as soon as possible!

I hope everyone will have a wonderful Sat. night. Take care and God bless!

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Showers of Blessing

Good Sunday afternoon! Hope you are enjoying this rain we have been blessed with. An excellent time to catch up on some overdue reading, making that phone call you have been meaning to make, finally taking that afternoon nap (just to name a few). The weather certainly has been odd for this time of year. I have enjoyed having the warmer days. One thing is for sure, it's one of God's many ways to remind us that He is in control! May His showers of blessing continue to rain down on us!

I wanted to remind everyone of the Christiam music group that will be joining us tonight. The name of the group is "Commandment 11". They are based in Simpsonville, SC. A love offering will be taken up tonight on their behalf. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Invite someone to join you. The service begins at 6pm.

Last chance: if you have been trying to decide on whether to participate in the upcoming Discipleship Training class "Know Fear", the deadline to sign up is here! Make sure you add your name to the list tonight. You don't want to miss out on this opportunity! The cost of the books is $5.00 per person (money can be paid next Sunday, Jan. 14th). Remember that the class begins next Sunday at 5pm in the fellowship hall. The evening worship service will supplement the DT class. You don't have to attend the class to enjoy the worship hour, but do consider joining the class in a time of study and fellowship! Hope to see you there.

Also, if you are on the Youth Committee, don't forget about the meeting this afternoon. It starts a 4pm in the Youth building.

Fish Fry: The XYZ will have a meeting this Friday, Jan. 12th at 6:30pm. Sounds like a fun time of food and fellowship!

Your help is needed in maintaining the monthly calendar of birthdays, anniversaries, etc. If you are aware of any birthdays or anniversaries of our church family that are not currently on the calendar, please let the church office know. Also, if you are not receiving a monthly newsletter and would like to do so, please contact the church office with your current address. Keeping things current helps everyone involved. It makes the process much easier when properly maintained. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

I think that covers all I have for now. Remember to pray for those serving in our military (and their families) as well as those in our community who are sick, bereaved or otherwise in need of God's loving grace. We can never know the needs of everyone, but if we join together as brothers and sisters-in-Christ and pray for those we know need His healing hand, it's a mighty way to show Christ's love through us and in us.

I hope and pray each of you reading this journal will have a safe and blessed week.

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)

Fish Fry

The XYZ meeting next Friday, Jan. 12th is going to be Fish Fry. It will begin at 6:30pm. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Also, regarding the books for the upcoming Discipleship Training Class.........the cost is $5.00 and the money will be due the first night of class (Sun., Jan. 14th). All adults are encouraged to attend. Hope to see you there!

Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.

Love in Christ,

Tina :-)