The Communicator

Skipwith Baptist Church

1900 Skipwith road

Henrico, Virginia 23229

Phone: 804-282-2234 – Fax: 804-282-2267

www.skipwithbaptistchurch.org

Volume 17, issue 8                                                                                               August 2010

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The Pastor’s Corner

Our summer at the church has been filled with significant accomplishments and serious considerations.  The accomplishments include a successful youth mission trip, well attended kid’s camp, good response to hymn Sundays and a new direction for catering of the Wonderful World of Wednesdays this September.

The serious considerations are:  we are moving slowly filling some key leadership positions and we   

are struggling financially halfway through the church year.  The development of leadership should come along in the next few weeks.  We have interested and capable people and hopefully we can enlist them to serve in capacities that are good for them and the congregation.

The church received a financial report from Floyd Myers on Wednesday.  His report was a three year summary of the giving and spending pattern of the church.  The reality is that we have spent more funds than we have received for the last three years.  We have been aware of this trend and had hoped that it would change.  Now, we must face our situation to restructure so that the church will be able to not over spend our income.  Please note, our bills are being paid, our designated accounts are protected, and our income for the year is slightly more than 2009.  We have incurred building expenses and utility expenses higher than anticipated.  Since December 2008 we have been at full staff and expanded to another full time staff position so that there is not a cushion in the budget to cover extra expenses.  The church is committed to being vital to our community and to practicing sound financial principals.

The church has approved an ad hoc committee of the finance committee, the deacons, the chairperson from the personnel committee plus a chair person for the committee to lead the church in providing recommendations to the church by the end of September.

On Wednesday August 11^th at 6:30 pm;  I am asking the congregation to gather in the Wright Fellowship Hall for a Town Hall Meeting.  The purpose of the meeting is to gather and share concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the good of the congregation.  We will listen to each other and believe in one another.  This is not a business meeting, but rather a meeting of believers sharing their hearts and faiths with one another.

Come let us reason together, the scripture teaches, not in panic or fear but in faith, sound mind and full hearts.

Cecil

 From Our Minister of Children, Youth and Young Adults

Summer is going by fast!  There have been a lot of awesome activities at church and also in your own lives.  Many of you have shared with me stories and pictures from your adventures and traveling so far this summer.  It made me think of our call to share the love of Christ everywhere we go, outside the boundaries of our doors and especially as we travel on this journey in life.

So I have an encouragement and challenge for you.  I encourage you and myself to grow in knowledge and spirit.  To come closer to God and stay on course to His will for your life.  To acknowledge that everything has happened in your lives to prepare you, to keep your vision focused, and to bear witness of the love and grace that God shows us all.  Ministry is for all people who know the gospel message. So I challenge you to not wait for the world to travel to our church doorsteps or your own; go meet them where they are!  Share, love, talk, visit, listen, and introduce people to the Savior of the world and the Savior of your hearts!

August Birthdays

4          Patti Page

5          Robin Gallagher

7          Arthur Pearson

8          Dave Wiltshire

9          Mary Clark

11        Beverly Taylor

11        Brandi Levine

11        Aaron Christian

13        Gracie Colhoun

13        Emmett Bass

16        Sharon Sprouse

21        Don Sprouse

22        Doug Edwards

23        Michael Braun

25        Betty Shelton

26        Christin Chambers

28        Lois Bass

29        Dorothy Previs

31        Doris Friedhoff

31        Susan Clayton

Happy Birthday

Library News

Work in the library continues.  Most of the heavy work has been completed but now comes the exciting and intimidating work of redoing the shelves.  Lots of new books and materials are in store, so when all is done I know we’ll all be excited to have our church family once again visiting the library.  Again, I thank you for your patience and hopefully it won’t be TOO much longer.

The library committee

You are Invited!

Derbyshire Baptist Church invites you to join them in a “Good Ol’ Gospel Sing” and watermelon cutting on Sunday, August 8, 6:00 pm.  The choir and other special guest appearances by the Southern Gospel Artist group will perform.  The church is located at 8800 Derbyshire Road.

Music Notes…

On Sunday mornings, after Beth has played her prelude, our service begins with the “chiming” of the hour.  If you sit close to the front, you will hear the children “hum the pitches” as Beth plays… and it is at this point that I am assured God is present at Skipwith Baptist Church!

We should never lose our “child-like” enthusiasm to praise our God in His holy place!  Isaac Watts, one of the well-known hymn writers said, “Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God!”

Throughout the Bible, the gift of singing is evident:

• At creation when the ‘Morning Stars sang together.’ Job 38:7
• When Israel burst into song at their final deliverance at the far shores of the Red Sea. Exodus 15.
• At the dedication of Solomon’s temple 2 Chronicles 5: 7-14
• Throughout the temple services.
• At the deliverance of Israel at the time of Jehoshaphat.   2 Chronicles 20
•   Through the early church singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Colossians 3:16
• Finally at the end of time when the redeemed lift their voices in praise to God.  Revelation 15: 4,5
• God Himself is described as a musician ‘rejoicing over us with singing’  Zephaniah 3:17

When we come together in worship, we should joyfully, and freely, raise our voices in praise!  In the next few months, our choir will be preparing a new “Shouting Time at Skipwith”

Program and a Christmas cantata.  Why not join us?  Wouldn’t you rather hit a few bad notes in the Skipwith Choir… so you’ll be prepared one day for the angelic choir?

Come have some fun and raise your voice!  In the inspired words of Isaac Watts:

“Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!  Let men their songs employ! While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains… Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy!

Rick