August 15, 2016

Preparing for Worship

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.

August 21, 2016

Worship services at
8:30 & 10:45 a.m.

Rev. Matt Sturtevant

Senior Pastor, x.202
matt@firstbaptistlawrence.com

Fourteenth Sunday after

Pentecost

Rev. Cheryl Harader

Associate Pastor of Adult Spiritual
Formation, x.204
cheryl@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Jenny Purvis
Office Manager, x.203
jenny@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Holly Grassy
Bookkeeper, (785) 917-9622
holly@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Evelyn Falen
Organist
evelyn@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Mark Robinson
Chancel Choir Director
mark@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Christy Miller
8:30 Worship Instrumentalist
christy@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Susan Pauls
Digital Outreach Liaison
susan@firstbaptistlawrence.com
John Pauls
Moderator
jphawk@yahoo.com
Buddy Langford
Custodian

Rev. Matthew Sturtevant

Youre Invited to Dinner!

Join us beginning
September 7 at
6:00 p.m. as we
resume our midweek meal and fellowship! Delicious meals will be
served by a host
of chefs this year
and, following
dinner, children
who wish to participate in Sacred Music Academy will do so at 6:30 p.m.
and adults will join in a series of adult offerings at 6:45 p.m. New this
year to our menu line-up will be the pot-luck dessert! As you are able,
please bring a small dessert to share each Wednesday. (Some weeks well
be ahead and let you know when to turn the oven off!) Well also do
our best to publish the coming weeks menu so you can plan accordingly
for diet restrictions, etc. A basket will be ready for your free will offeringbe sure to invite a friend or two. As always, it saves on the purchase
of paper products when you bring your own dinnerware to use. See you
in three weeks!
(see pg. 2 for SMA info )
Sept. 7-

Tuna, chicken, and ham salad sandwiches. Salad bar. Dessert.

A Family Conversation
At the July Quarterly Business Gathering, Moderator John Pauls presented on behalf of the Spiritual Leadership Team a
proposal for our congregation to engage in a church-wide conversation about the issues of gay marriage and our voice in
the LGBTQ community. The Spiritual Leadership Team has prayerfully talked about these issues over the course of the
last several months, and is responding to a request by the majority of the members of the Sojourners Sunday School class,
who discussed these issues for several months prior to voicing their request for a process of graceful engagement to the
SLT. The plan is for the SLT at the August meeting to create a Process Planning Team, which will be a catalyst for congregational conversation, prayer, and study, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us as a church.
The conversation at the Quarterly meeting gave members of the congregation an opportunity to share their hopes and
concerns about the potential of a church-wide conversation. Some suggested that the conversation was long overdue.
Others asked if it was necessary, as long as we retained a commitment to be a welcoming church. The question was raised
as to what practice and policy looks like in a Baptist church that values non-coerced, non-creedal faith. Yet others suggested that we need to be clear and honest about what we are talking about, so that we do not talk around the issue, but
address it head-on. Former moderator Craig Weinaug seemed to speak for several when he suggested that such a conversation is not something that he would normally go out looking for, as it has the potential to divide our unity and distract
from our mission, but that it has nonetheless come to us, and we as a church need to provide direction and clarity about
what our practice might be.
What are next steps and how can you be involved?

Attend the August 17th SLT meeting at 7:00 in the Sojourners Room (this, like all SLT meetings are open to the
entire congregation) and share your thoughts.

Volunteer to be a member of the Process Planning Team, which will be created at that meeting and will guide the
process for what our family conversation will look like. Contact Pastor Matt or John Pauls if you would like to
help plan the process.

Plan to attend and participate in the conversations that are created by the Process Planning Team.

Pray. For our church and leadership in the coming days. For hearts to be open to the Spirit, both the Planning
Team and congregation members alike that will participate in the planned conversations.
Summer Worship Series

Top 5 Most Misquoted Passages

of Scripture
How often do we quote a passage out of a fuzzy
memory from Sunday school or a sermon somewhere, but do we really know what the verse
means? What the context is? Why the author
might have been using that phrase or sentence?
In the coming weeks, we will explore together six
verses that often get used out of context, and together consider what they might have meantand
might mean to us today.
August 21For I Know the Plans I Have for
You.

Sacred Music
Academy for Kids
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Invite friends!
open to the community.

*6:30: Vocal Choir

*7:00: Hand bell ensemble training
Ages: 3rd-8th graders
Director: Evelyn Falen
Cost: $20 per semester (scholarships available. Simply contact the
church office, 843-0020)

First rehearsal September 7

Intern Update
Much has been happening in the area of our Spiritual
Formation Interns. There have been changes in all three of
our Spiritual Formation Interns since last May. Timothy
Bonner began as the Adult Spiritual Formation Intern on
August 1. His information was in the last few newsletters.
He will be concentrating on Sunday School classes and
teachers for his first month, as well as other responsibilities.
In January, Tim will begin a Doctor of Ministries program at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Last Sunday
in the Youth Sunday School class, Katie Hobson announced that she would be leaving as the Youth Spiritual
Formation Intern. August 14 was her last day.
The first change of the last few months began at the
end of May when Rev. Melissa Lumpkin left to begin a
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at St. Lukes
Hospital in Kansas City, MO; as a part of her learning experience she serves as a chaplain. We are continuing to
search for a Childrens Spiritual Formation Intern.
Please keep Tim in your prayers as he begins his new
position here at FBC Lawrence, and continue to remember
Melissa as she pursues her education. And remember the
search for Interns for our children & youth. (Sadly, Winston Heilman has had to decline the youth intern position,
so we keep looking!)

Remember in Prayer
International Ministries Missionaries: Chuck & Ruth Fox, serving
in Thailand.
Regional Minister: West Virginia Baptist Convention, Rev. James
Anderson, serving in Frankford, WV
Local congregation: New Life in Christ Fellowship
You are invited to send prayer requests to:
(E-mail coordinator) Betty Colbert, bchilder@ku.edu
(Telephone Prayer Chain Coordinators) Hazel Nitcher,
843-5302; Annie Merriam, 841-1384.
Address update:
Pastor Cheryl has moved, but not far! Just to the apartment next door: 3700 Clinton Pkwy, Apt. 1115. Lawrence, 66047.

ABCCR Annual Gathering October 13-15

Crosswind Conference Center
Hesston, Kansas
Committees are busy readying for October when American Baptists of the Central Region will once again gather at Cross
Wind Conference Center in Hesston, Kan., for the Annual Gathering.
On Thursday, Oct. 13 is the Clergy Gathering. Friday morning, Oct. 14, a selection of informative and inspiring workshops will be offered, followed by worship and business meeting. Keynote speaker, Dr. Soozi Whitten Ford, serves as
Executive Minister for American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky. She has experience with national stewardship ministry through American Baptist Churches USA and will speak on this years theme, You Cant Out-Give God,
and the scripture: 11 Corinthians 9:6-8. Now I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all
sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. After dinner on Friday night, there will be a
talent show. At the camping breakfast on Saturday, everyone will have the opportunity to meet the new Director of
Camping, James Blake, and hear plans for the future of the Region camping program. A second business session and
State of the Region message will also be on Saturdays agenda. At the conclusion of the event, luncheons will be hosted
by both the American Baptist Womens Ministries and the American Baptist Men. Global consultant, Kristy Engel, will
speak at the women's luncheon.
**If you wish to attend this conference, please contact the church office. FBC pays for all registrations if 4 or more will
be attending. Registration deadline is Sept. 9. Forms are available in the office.

First Baptist Church

1330 Kasold Drive
Lawrence, Kansas 66049
785/843-0020
785/843-0021 (fax)
www.firstbaptistlawrence.com

The 16th Annual Bethel Open Golf Tournament is being held on August 27 at the Painted Hills Golf
Course. Sponsorship information and a registration
form for the golf tournament are available in the
church office. This years fund-raiser is particularly important because it comes during a key Capital Campaign in which Bethel is striving to raise additional
funds to make necessary improvements to its existing buildings, playgrounds,
parking area, food pantry and classrooms. For more information, please visit
www.bethelcenter.org or contact John Pauls.

Life of the Church

Wednesday, August 17
7:00 p.m.SLT meeting (Process Planning
Team discussion; all invited to attend)
Thursday, August 18
6:00 p.m.Yoga with Nancy (Rm. 149)
7:30 p.m.Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, August 21
8:30 a.m.Worship service
9:30 a.m.Sunday School
10:45 a.m.Worship service
Looking Ahead:
Aug. 27: Bethel Neighborhood Center Golf
Tournament
Sept. 7: Wednesday Night meals & activities
resume
Sept. 19: Family Promise Golf Tournament at
Lawrence Country Club. Register at
www.Lawrencefamilypromise.org
The Leaflet newsletter is a weekly production of First
Baptist Church. If you would like to receive the newsletter by E-mail, along with other weekly announcements, please contact the church office:
jenny@firstbaptistlawrence.com.
You may receive a hard copy in the mail by request:
843-0020. Copies are available for pick up each Sunday.
Church Office:
785/843.0020, ext. 203
office@firstbaptistlawrence.com
www.firstbaptistlawrence.com
@1stBap stLawrence
(dont forget to like it!)

Sunday Morning Volunteers

August 21
Nursery 9:15-12:00 p.m.Amy Munsterman
Extended Care 9:15-12:00 p.m.Mandy Yoder
Sunday DriverGinger Boring, 542-1204
SoundJim Lord

Sunday A/VSteve Yoder

Staff Whereabouts
Jenny Purvis will be taking some vacation time on Aug. 18 & 19.

By the Numbers
as of August 7, 2016
GENERAL OPERATING
Weekly Receipts:
$5,766.48
YTD Receipts:
$182,450.48
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Weekly Receipts:
Cumulative Giving:

$1,365.00
$501,603.61

CHAIR FUND
Purchased to Date:
Needed:

220 chairs
30 chairs

If you would like more detailed financial information, please contact

our bookkeeper at grassyclan@att.net, 917-9622.
Thank you for your generous giving. Your generosity helps to make
our many ministries possible.