Attendance Report August 2

Attendance Report August 2 Sunday School Worship

120 205

First

Focus

First Baptist Church, Hamilton, Texas

Advancing the Gospel Our Tithes and Offerings....

Vol. 32, No. 31

August 5 , 2009

Gifts to the Budget July 26 August 2

2,941.00 4,042.00

Average Weekly Needs FBC Revitalization Summer Music

5,350.48 615.00 294.00

Total Gifts August 2

$4,951.00

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Rev. Keith Felton, Pastor Rev. Eric Coleman, Minister to Youth

E-mail Address [email protected]

First Baptist Church 220 S. Bell Street P.O. Box 673 Hamilton, TX 76531 Church Office - 254/386-8141

Sunday Personnel August 9 WELCOME TEAM Kevin Craig, Billy Donahoo, David Holley, Cody Lee, Shelly Lengefeld, Shirley Wilson COUNTERS Dale Caraway, Jimmie Edwards CHILD CARE Sunday School - Darla Cole, Clydell Massingill Church Nursery - Bridget Bruce, Lesli Jester 2-3 Year Olds LaShea Bruce, Alathia Morgan Children’s Church Aubrey Gates, Hoyt Morgan

Deacons on Call for August Jim Summers - Team Leader Dale Caraway, Luke Killian, Saundra Lengefeld

Tiffany LeAnn Davidson and Eric Van Gorden Coleman

Together with their parents invite you to share the joy in the exchange of their marriage vows as they begin their new life together Saturday, the eighth of August Two Thousand and Nine at a quarter until one o’clock

Hidden Mountain Resort Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

From the Shepherd’s Shop‹ Shop‹ by Pastor Keith Felton As we said goodbye to John and Lindsay this past Sunday, I realized there was a paradox of feelings I was experiencing. On the one hand, I was sad that my friend and worship leader was leaving. On the other hand, my heart was happy for him as God’s calling was being fulfilled. I also was reflecting on the past four years and smiled because God fulfilled a calling in the life of our church by sending us a young seminarian for us to not only be ministered to by him, but also have the opportunity to minister to him. We truly did what we set out to do and that was to be a training center for Christian ministry. So, yes, I was sad, but also was thankful to God for the blessing of John and a successful ministry model of part-time ministerial staff. The Personnel Committee and Music & Worship Committee are already hard at work in searching for a new Minister of Music for FBC. A few top-quality resumes have already been sent our way and we are excited about the days to come. Please be in prayer for this search process. Also, please make the commitment to be present during this interim period as some of our own will step up and fill the void of worship leadership. I am so thankful we have gifted folks in our congregation who are willing to lead in the absence of a music minister. This gives me an opportunity to say a few words about the transition of one minister to another. Change is seldom easy. This is especially so for churches who move from a much loved minister to a new one. This is a pivotal moment for our church as we take time to be sad about John’s leaving, but also looking to God who is faithful to provide for our needs. I am confident God will send us a wonderful gift in our next music minister. This individual will need your support and commitment. This individual will follow in the footsteps of an excellent predecessor which is very difficult and therefore require loads of encouragement from us. My prayer is we will cherish the past, but not dwell on it and embrace the new thing God will be doing in our midst. Pray, pray, pray during this time as we encounter a new vista of FBC music ministry. While I’m talking about music ministry… I want to say THANK YOU to all the volunteers that made our 3rd annual Summer Music Camp so incredible. With John’s superb leadership, you all took on a mountain of duties and served the children of our church and community in a first-rate manner. Our students and adults made sure that a wonderful musical was learned and performed in a week which I think is a massive undertaking!

(cont’d) I want to say thanks to all the children who came and ministered to our community on Friday evening – your message in song was outstanding and my heart was overwhelmed with your enthusiasm for ministering through music. THANK YOU!!

A N NO U N C E M E N T S When given permission by our our Vehicle Committee to use the van (or garage), please make sure you sign the clipboard in the office closet. We need the ‘the date out’ and ‘date in’ and the purpose of use. We have recently lost a set of keys to the van. Thank you for your cooperation.

LOST & FOUND We have several items of clothing and a towel left from Summer Music Camp. If you are missing anything, please contact the church office - 386-8141. Remember in Prayer… Ruby Webb Bill Chappell Kaley Neie Hilbig Nelson Shave Gwen Wallace Earl Cowley Frankie Ellingberg Jack Pettit Dick Dixon Tony Rogers DeWanna Alsouissi Ray Groves Glen Chilton Bobby Varner Mildred Riddle Stanley Gillham Anthony McClain

Mack Cole Jace Williams Leslie Smith Rosa Gillham Pam Jones Renee Smith Patty Gillham Jackie Weaver David Clark Jacki Crusenberry Ken Beazley Shane Donahoo Polly Wallace Diana Franklin Gayland Stephens Josh Wilson

Jim Payne Dr. Randy Lee Connie MQueen Norma Marwitz Nelda Donahoo Beverly Price Betty Ann Beard Jeff & Sarah Ensor Julie Allison King Dale Harris Patty Courtney’s sister Steve Ballow Don Cook Shirley Smith

It's odd how ordinary things become sacred as you're driving away from them: crooked choir chairs in the loft suddenly become a profound symbol of the testimony of the saints to fellow believers; the familiar vaulted wooden ceiling transforms into a sturdy container holding the most cherished of memories; the long, mustard colored pews bear witness to a family of faith that has prayed, sung, listened and responded together standing shoulder to shoulder. Maybe you just don't fully realize how sacred something is until you leave it. Of course, I always knew those things were sacred; they have always pointed me toward God. And not because of what they are, but because of who they represent: you. I have known for a long time, maybe since my first interaction with the people of Hamilton, that God was among and in the people of First Baptist. But not as fully as I know it now. You are sacred to me, to us. Our time in Hamilton has formed me into the person I am today, and my outlook on ministry has grown and widened because of your ministry to me. Thank you for the generous gifts, the wonderful party, and the many memories. Thank you for singing me into a deeper faith. As the years pass, there will be many bright moments of reflection as I conduct an anthem, sing a song, view a painting, or hear a passage of scripture, knowing that I have first shared those experiences with you. You are sacred. In this book, "The Weight of Glory," C.S. Lewis says it this way, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, and civilizationsthese are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals, whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit- immortal horrors or everlasting splendors...next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses." You are sacred. And as sacred people, my prayer is that you will continue walking the risky road of following God. As you walk, you might start singing that hymn or song you learned recently. Look around you, because a church full of sacred followers is singing that same tune. We're singing too. John and Lindsay Woods 808 B Linwood Drive Victoria, Texas 77901 [email protected] [email protected]

Life of the Church Sunday, August 9 Sunday School Worship Children’s Church for Pre-K thru K Wednesday, August 12 Adult Bible Study & Prayer Meeting Ekklesia - Youth Thursday, August 13 Ladies Crafts AA Meeting

9:45 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 am 8:00 pm

QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING The Quarterly Business has been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 12, at 6:00 P.M. Please plan to attend.

2009 BIBLE 365 Day 211 - 2 Kings 4:18-5:27, Acts 15:1-35, Psalm 141:1-10, Proverbs17:23 Day 212 - 2 Kings 6:1-7:20. Acts 15:36-16:15, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 17:24-25 Day 213 - 2 Kings 8:1-9:13, Acts 16:16-40, Psalm 143:1-12, Proverbs 17:2 Day 214 - 2 Kings 9:14-10:31, Acts 17:1-34, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 17:27-28 Day 215 - 2 Kings 10:32-12:21, Acts 18:1-22, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 18:21 Day 216 - 2 Kings 13:1-14:29, Acts 18:23-19:12, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 18:2-3 Day 217 - 2 Kings 15:1-15:20, Acts 19-13-41, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 18:4-5