May 15, 2014 May 15, 2014 May 15, 2014 May 15, 2014

Church Leadership
Our ministers and lay leaders are
available to answer any questions you
may have to help you connect with
the ministries of First Baptist Church.

Rev. Matt Sturtevant
Senior Pastor, x. 202
matt@firstbaptistlawrence.com

Rev. Dr. Meredith Holladay
Associate Pastor of
Spiritual Formation, x. 204
meredith@firstbaptistlawrence.com

Jenny Purvis
Office Manager, x.203
jenny@firstbaptistlawrence.com

Nathan Benfield
Volunteer Building Manager, x.201
nathan@firstbaptistlawrence.com

Jim Davidson
Chancel Choir Director
jamesrdavidson@ku.edu

Holly Grassy
Bookkeeper
grassyclan@att.net

John Pauls
Moderator
jphawk@yahoo.com

Evelyn Falen
Organist
edfal13@gmail.com

Buddy Langford
Custodian

Church Office:
785/843.0020
office@firstbaptistlawrence.com
www.firstbaptistlawrence.com
Vacation Bible School
June 9-13, 2014
Registration Forms due Soon!
The theme is Workshop of Wonders: Imagine & Build
with God, and VBS will be in the evenings, June 9-13, 2014
located at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Each evening will begin with a meal for children and parents. The week will con-
clude with a concert and pot luck picnic at South Park.
The cost is $15/child, $45/family max.
Registration deadline: May 23.
Registration and Volunteer forms are now available in this newsletter and at the
church.
Contact Pastor Meredith for more information:
Meredith@firstbaptistlawrence.com.
Preparing for Worship

May 18, 2014 May 18, 2014 May 18, 2014 May 18, 2014
Youth Sunday
with our whole lives
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 6.1-9
Matthew 22.34-40
The theme for this years Youth Sunday, With Our Whole Lives, uses the scriptures youll
hear from Deuteronomy 6 and Matthew 22, both familiar passages. The youth discussed these
wordsthe Greatest Commandmentand talked about the ways we love God with all of who
we are. We also discussed how our five senses represent all of who we are and can help us more
fully understand who God is and how God loves us. We worked on the readings and liturgical
elements for this mornings worship service on our retreat, May 9-11, at Tall Oaks Conference
Center. This worship service is an opportunity for our teenagers to share a bit about who they
are, how they worship, and how they connect with God with all of who they are.
We Want to Hear From You!
The Spiritual Leadership Team wants to hear your thoughts about our congregations priorities and programs.
Why? After several years of focusing on big projects (i.e. decisions concerning the building, staff changes, and bylaws re-
vision), it is time to look at the sustained weekly and daily ministry and programs of our church In a world that is con-
stantly getting busier, we have begun to ask how we will engage in spiritual formation to prepare for a life of faith. As
good Baptists, we recognize that this is not a decision of only staff members or SLT leaders, but the entire congregation.
We want to hear from you as we discern our priorities together.
How? Over the last several months, the SLT has met, discussed, and partnered with the Fredrikson Center for Faith and
Church Vitality at Ottawa University in order to create a process for hearing your thoughts and opinions. After meeting
with the SLT and engaging our needs, the Fredrickson Center has designed questionnaires, and will confidentially adminis-
ter, collect, and prepare the feedback for dissemination.
Where...do I get one of these questionnaires? The Fredrikson Center (who has done this process with several other
churches in other places) suggests that the best way to assure confidentiality and to avoid duplication is for every congre-
gation participant to request a questionnaire by a) emailing the church office to request a digital copy or b) calling or giving
your name to Jenny in the office to receive a paper copy and instructions via the Fredrikson Center. You may do either,
starting this week.
Who? YOU! We want to hear from you as we continue to together seek Gods vision for our congregation and our com-
munity.
Alex Trent
Free State High School
Will attend Iowa Western Community College and play soccer
Kyle Yoder
Free State High School
Will work after graduation, while discerning next steps
Corbin Robinson
Lawrence High School
Will attend Fort Hays State University and study graphic design
Congratulations, High School Graduates!
Remember in Prayer
International Ministries Missionaries: David & Laura Para-
jon, serving in Nicaragua.
Regional Minister: Mid-American Baptist Churches, Rev.
Mary Miller, serving in Des Moines, Iowa.
Local congregation: Lawrence Bible Chapel

An inurnment service for Lois Reeves will be tomorrow,
May 16, at Oak Hill Cemetery. It will begin at 11:00 a.m. in
Section 11. The cemetery address is 1605 Oak Hill Ave.,
and the main gate is located off of East 13th St.

Services for Lucy Seaver, (Cheryl Wonnells mother), will
be Sunday, May 18, at the McLouth United Methodist
Church, 209 W Agnes St., McLouth, KS, 66054. A visita-
tion will be at 1:00 pm and the funeral at 2:00 pm.

You are invited to send prayer requests to:
Martha Gage, msgage@sunflower.com. (E-mail prayer
chain). Hazel Nitcher, 843-5302 or Judy Stuart, 856-
1782 (Telephone prayer chain)
Memorial Weekend:
Sunday, May 25, One service at 11:00 a.m.

Summer Worship:
Begins Sunday, June 1
Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.
Combined worship services at 10:30 a.m.
Labels for Alpha Christian Childrens Home

You are invited to save your UPC
codes on Campbell's and Best Choice
products and box tops from General
Mills products. Your everyday pur-
chases help them qualify for school
& office equipment, school curricu-
lum and cash rebates. Alpha home is
100% privately funded and is located in Perry, KS at
15017 27th St. www.alphachristianchildrenshome.com

There is an extensive list on the wall by the Sunday
school rooms of products that qualify. This is a wonder-
ful cause and so easy to help. My thanks to all who have
saved and given generously. The home appreciates it so
much.
~Thank you, Linda Lewis
A Word From Our Executive Minister, Dr. John Williams:
The Struggles in Ukraine Are Closer Than
We Realize!
Over a decade ago, ABCCR began a unique relationship
with Baptist leaders and churches in Ukraine. Many will
remember a contingent of Ukrainian Baptist leaders who
visited the Central Region and were a part of the ABCCR
Annual Gathering in Dodge City in 2004 and again in
Wichita in 2007.

Many of our folks have worked to maintain that vital
friendship over the years. A phone call yesterday from
Rev. Dan Rhodes, pastor of FBC, Louisburg, shared
about a recent communication he had received from Ele-
say and Oksana, a pastoral couple leading one of
Ukraines largest Baptist churches. The tensions in
Ukraine are growing worse. Russian Separatists have tar-
geted Elesay and Oksana as pro-western supporters,
threatening to burn their church and kill the pastoral
family. At the urging of local government officials, Ele-
say and his family are in hiding.

Pastor Rhodes and the church in Louisburg have extend-
ed an official invitation to bring Elesay and Oksana to
safety here in Kansas. This is a dangerous and expensive
proposition. Please pray for the safety of these valiant
Christian leaders and for all who risk persecution for
their faith as Ukraine struggles with a political climate
that is becoming more and more dangerous.
First Baptist Church
1330 Kasold Drive
Lawrence, Kansas 66049
785/843-0020
785/843-0021 (fax)
www.firstbaptistlawrence.com
Office Notes
Jenny will be out-of-the-office on Friday, May 16 to attend her sisters
teacher retirement celebration in Wichita.

By the Numbersas of May 11, 2014
GENERAL OPERATING
Weekly Receipts: $5,550.00
YTD Receipts: $132,104.62

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Weekly Receipts: $2,654.25
Cumulative Giving: $253,119.75

If you would like more detailed financial information, please
contact our bookkeeper at grassyclan@att.net.

Thank you for your generous giving. Your generosity helps to
make our many ministries possible.
Sunday Morning Volunteers
Nursery 9:30 a.m.Amy Munsterman
11:00 a.m.Amy Munsterman
Extended Care Carolyn Carlson
Life of the Church
Sunday, May 18 Youth Sunday
8:30 a.m.Worship
9:30 a.m.Sunday School
11:00 a.m.Worship
5:00 p.m.ABY
Tuesday, May 20
11:00 a.m.Newsletter announcements due
Wednesday, May 21
6:00 p.m.Church-wide meal
7:00 p.m.Spiritual Leadership Mtg.
Thursday, May 22
7:30 p.m.Chancel Choir
Sunday, May 25 Memorial Weekend
8:30 a.m.No early service
9:30 a.m.Sunday School
11:00 a.m.Combined Worship

Looking Ahead:
May 25One Service, 11:00 a.m.
June 1Summer Worship schedule begins
June 29Church Birthday annual picnic
Wednesday Night Supper
May 21
Final meal for season
6:00 p.m.
RWR
Attention Graduates!
For those furthering their education,
you may wish to apply for the Raber
P. & Ruth B. Stringham Scholarship.
Contact Jenny for more information.
~Deadline to turn in application is
June 1.
Please note: There will be a specially called business
meeting Sunday, June 8, immediately following the 10:30
a.m. service, concerning the timeline and next steps for
building reconstruction.