From the Pastor

 

Samuel Johnson quotes the poet Pope: “New things are made familiar, and familiar things are made new.”  That insightful sentiment could describe the opportunity and challenge of Skipwith Baptist Church as we begin a New Year and decade.

 

We minister to a changing world.  New innovations or changes in technology, medicine, and economics change our world and the way we see the world and do things in the world.

 

My hope for us is to make the cause of following Jesus a new thing.  Many of you have been believers a long time and enjoy a rich fellowship with the Lord.  I want the experience of being shaped by the call and influence of Jesus to be seen as a new familiar thing for us.

 

The renewing influence of God’s spirit will allow us to continue in the good work of caring for people who are sick or lonely or in need.  As a church you do the caring ministry of Jesus very well.  We are a people in change with new people learning to be leaders in the congregation and new members finding their way and place in the life of the congregation.  This is a vital part of our being healthy in the years to come.  I look forward to marveling at what God does among and through us.

 

We will look at some of life’s important conversations about the Christian life in the weeks to come.  During lent we will consider some of the important spiritual qualities that are important in being an effective disciple of Jesus.

 

One quick look back at 2009 leads me again to express my deep appreciation for your

 

 

accomplishment during our Advent season.  You are a good people and your remarkable loving spirit makes this a special place.  For the many cards and expression of good will during Christmas, I thank you.

Cecil

 

From the Minister of Children, Youth and Young Adults

 

The Spirit of Christmas brings joy, peace, hope, and love, and a New Year brings a chance for new beginnings and opportunities to embrace the things that matter most.  It is a gift to continue throughout the whole year.  The Spirit of Christ does not have to go away with the decorations, and resolutions in the New Year do not have to be broken promises.  It can be a chance to remember God’s love for you and to show compassion to each other, forgive, love, be thankful, teach, worship together, and love and serve god.  What better spirit to remain in our hearts, continue during this season, and to begin and live in the New Year.  May you be encouraged by His Word and may you remember that you are loved, adored, and created in the image of the God that listens, heals and has no limits to what He’ll do in your life and the lives of His people in 2010!  Happy and Blessed New Year to All !!!

 April

 

 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

                                              2 Chronicles 7:14

 

Happy    January    Birthdays

 

January 3         Harold Taylor

             5         Ed Strange

             6         Jessica Atkinson

             7         Lucille Spencer

             9         Lettie Cooke

            10        Jim Windham

            13        Jim Poff

            13        Jennifer Price

            15        Belinda Hendrick

            15        Jennifer Gallini

            16        Will Silvestre

            22        Cheryl Chambers

            23        Dick Perkins

            29        Lynda Gunn

            31        Raymond Tyus

            31        Carl Smelley

 

January Mission Action

 

We are collecting food to fill bags for people in need of food in our Baptist Centers’ community.  Items needed are:  cans of green vegetables, yellow vegetables, fruit, soup, meat, beans, pasta – also boxes of macaroni and cheese, 2 quart size boxes of powdered milk, cereal, oatmeal, rice, pasta, dry beans, peanut butter, jelly.

 

Do not bring large cans or boxes of food.  Many of the people who benefit from this ministry live alone and don’t need extra large sizes, and most have to lug the overflowing bags home on foot.

 

Jesus said: “anything you did for one of my brothers here, however humble, you did for me”  (NEB)

 

Note From Our Financial Secretary

 

Your  2009 year end statements are available for pick up on the table with the 2010 envelopes.  Please pick up your statement and envelopes as soon as you can.  Statements will be available until the last Sunday in January, when Anita will take them and send them out through the mail. 

 

 

 

Remember that your giving number for 2009 and 2010 are different.  DO NOT use your 2009 envelopes today or later this year, discard them.  If you desire envelopes for 2010 and there are none provided for you, contact either Anita Bradley or Pauline Taylor.

 

 

Thank You

 

The Children in Action group and their leaders extend a hardy thank you for helping them raise $70.00 by delivering your Christmas cards. They contributed this to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.   With your help, they went over their goal of $50.00. 

 

Nancy Roberts and Lucy Hughes have asked the staff to convey their heart felt thanks to church  members for the many visits, cards and phone calls, while they were hospitalized.  The care and concern of their church friends helps them get through each day.

 

Financial Corner

 

 

Happy New Year from the Finance  Committee.  This year we feel that all of us need to pay more attention to the financial side of running Skipwith Baptist Church.  So, to that end, we hope to be posting in the newsletter each month   expenditure and revenue analysis rather than just quarterly at the business meetings.  This will begin in the February newsletter.

 

Thanks for all the help we received for family assistance.  You will be truly blessed for helping these families out in their time of need.

 

 

  Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.