View the Friendly Guide - First Baptist Church of Clinton, Tennessee

ON JOURNEY
It is the season of Lent, a time in which we intentionally pay attention
to our journey of faith as we move towards Easter. Let me offer a
suggestion.
“The Sabbath was created for you, you were not created for the
Sabbath.” Mark 2:27. Jesus reminds us that the one who made us also
created for us a means by which we can become all that God intended for
us. It is called Sabbath. Unfortunately, the church seems to have
abandoned this gift many years ago.
When I speak of Sabbath, I am not necessarily speaking of a particular
day, but of a practice of living every day. Learning to take Sabbath
moments, times, and yes, maybe even a day, is important to the health of
a Christian’s spiritual life. Another term that is used is learning to practice
the presence of God.
Recently I heard a story about a man who had decided to dramatically
simplify his life. In the process, he made a commitment to walk
everywhere he went, and did so, eventually walking across the country.
Along the way, he also made a commitment to stop talking for a while.
In sharing his experience, he made the following comment: “Not
talking was very difficult at first, but as I stayed with the commitment,
eventually all of the voices in my head quieted down, and for the first
time, I could really listen.”
I am not suggesting that you start walking everywhere or that you
stop talking, but I am pointing to the fact that until followers of Jesus
make a conscious effort to practice Sabbath, we may not really be able to
hear the voice of God through all of the noise that is in our heads.
How then do we begin to regain Sabbath, a practice that helps us turn
loose of overwork and over consuming? Let me offer a few suggestions.
There must first be a commitment that Sabbath is a discipline we
need. Ask God to begin to give you a hunger for Sabbath, for time in
which you do nothing else but listen and watch creation, read scripture,
pray, worship, relax, and renew.
Second, let me suggest some resources for you to pick up. The
following books have been helpful to me as I am attempting to regain this
important Christian discipline in my life: Sabbath- Finding Rest, Renewal,
and Delight in our Busy Lives- Wayne Muller; The Sabbath- Abraham
Joshua Heschel; The Spiritual Art of Creative Silence- Jeanie Miley. There
are others, and I will be glad to share them with you if you desire.
There are also some daily, practical things we can begin to do. Light a
candle or place some other object in your home or work space that is
solely for the purpose to remind you of the presence of God with you.
Take a five minute break a few times a day and simply observe your
environment and ask the question, “What is God doing in this place right
now? What is God trying to tell me?” Also during one of these times,
simply repeat the Jesus prayer – “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have
mercy on me a sinner.” This is a long standing practice of Sabbath among
the followers of Jesus. Attempt to plan a half day in your home in which
you intentionally do no work, but maybe read scripture, talk with your
spouse, listen to the wind.
I hope to be able to come back to this discipline with other
suggestions from time to time. Maybe, if there is interest, we could begin
a short-term study for small groups and learn other resources to help us
regain the Sabbath. Let me know. Remember, the Sabbath was made for
you. Do not overlook this gift!
Breathe.
PRIMETIME
YOUTH
MISSIONS
KID’S KORNER
 Singin’ @ the Towers
Monday, March 16
9:45 a.m.
 Youth Refuge
Grades 7 - 12
Wednesdays

 Regular Session
Monday, March 23
10:00 a.m.
Lower Auditorium

 The Shepherd’s Table
Saturday, March 28
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Family Life Center
Free Community Meal!
Everyone Welcome!
Menu: Tacos & Dessert
Offerings welcome and volunteers
are greatly appreciated.
Contact Jessica Zody or Darla Fritts
for more information.
Youth Ski Trip
 Holy Week Service
Monday, March 30
11:00 a.m.
XYZ Singers meet in L.A. to rehearse
and walk to St. Mark.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are available in the
church office and are due by
Monday, April 20.
Ervin and Freddie Queener
Scholarship
This scholarship is available to any
student from First Baptist who is
enrolled in a 4 year college or
university. This scholarship can be
applied for all four years of college
enrollment.
James and Imogene Cheely
Memorial Seminary Scholarship
This scholarship is designed to
further the seminary education of
Christian students, with similar
values, attending a moderate
Christian seminary and called to
church or missions work. The
scholarship can be applied for each
year they are enrolled in the
seminary.
Judy Parish Turner Music
Scholarship
This scholarship is used for students
attending a 4 year college or
university enrolled in a music
curriculum and used to pay for
private music lessons. It can be
applied for all four years of students
college enrollment.
SERMON TEXT
March 15
Luke 7: 11-16
March 22
Matt 11: 2-11
March 29
Mark 11: 1-11;
Psalm 22: 1-5, 11-19;
Mark 14: 1-11
Time with Children,
Lent Series
Sundays in both services.
 Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 4
10:00 a.m.. - 12:00 p.m.
Koelsch Farm
 Remote Area Medical
April 11 &12
Please be in prayer for the doctors,
volunteers, and patients, during  KFC Schedule
Age 3 - Grade 6
this free medical event.
Wednesdays
 RAM-JAM
5:20 p.m. - 7:05 p.m.
Radio/Telethon
In the Main Church Building
Friday, March 27
(No KFC 3/18—Spring Break)
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Anderson County RAM Fundraiser  Special Music
Join us for Food, Fun, & Great
Palm Sunday, March 29
Entertainment in the FLC!
Ron Meredith will be the emcee 10:40 a.m.
The Children’s Choir, grades 3for the event.
We encourage you to forward this 6, will be singing in the service.
link to folks in the community and
help us raise money for this event.  Spring Cleaning Day
http://www.gofundme.com/
All KFC and Children’s Sunday
andersoncountyram
School teachers are invited to
help clean/organize their rooms.
14th
 FBC Missions
Saturday, March 28
Annual
Classic Golf
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Main Church Building
Tournament
Saturday, April 25
Registration at Noon
 Parent’s Night Out
Awards and Meal at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, April 17
Centennial Golf Course, Oak Ridge 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
$75 per person/$300 per team
$5.00 per child/$10.00 max.
Proceeds will benefit FBClinton
Youth Missions. Watch for more  Children’s Rehearsal
information.
Saturday, April 25
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
 Annie Armstrong (SBC)
& Global Missions (CBF)
 Children’s Choir
FBC Missions Goal:
$4,000
(goal to be approved at March
Business Meeting)
Musical
“Living In The Light”
Sunday, April 26
6:30 p.m.
FBC INFORMATION
New Members
SYLVIE
TEMPLE
ABRAM
TEMPLE


Valentine’s Banquet
King & Queen
Elizabeth Tavenner & Leon May
FBC EVENTS
FRIENDLY FIGURES
 Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 29
The Children’s Choir, grades 3 - 6,
will be singing in the 10:40 a.m.
worship service.
 Sunday School Attendance
February Averages
Sunday School Enrollment 653
Adults 161
Youth
17
Children 32
Preschool 9
Total
219
Windwood 20
 Holy Week Services
Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 2
12:00 p.m.
St. Mark United Methodist Church
The XYZ Singers will be singing on
Monday, March 30.
 Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday, April 2
6:30 p.m.
Sanctuary
Lord’s Supper Observance
 Good Friday
The Church Office, WEE Ministry
and FLC will be closed on Good
Friday, April 3.
 Easter Sunday Service
Sunday, April 5
10:40 a.m.
Join us for a combined worship
service in the Sanctuary.
CHURCH-WIDE
SHOWERS

Church-wide
Bridal Shower
Honoring Madison Fritts
 Christian Sympathy
Sympathy is extended to Gloria
Robinson, whose mother, Bonnie
Bates passed away (2/8), to the
family of Roger Ward (2/11), and
to Jeff Severs, whose father,
Everett William Severs passed
away (2/26).
 Memorial Flowers
The flowers that were the altar
Sunday, March 1 were in loving
memory of Elizabeth Cobb's
birthday, which was February 29,
given by Beth, Connie and their
families.
Sunday, March 15
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Family Life Center - Hearth Room
Registered at Target.
Cash gifts and gift cards are also
appreciated since they are unsure
where they will be stationed.
Madison's fiancé, Jacob is in the
Navy.

Church Wide
Baby Shower Honoring Lydia
Pierce Thorpe & Baby
Thomas Banks Thorpe
Sunday, March 29
Drop In 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Family Life Center - Hearth Room
Sponsored by a host of friends.
Registered at Babies R Us & Target.
2015 Weekly Budget Req.
$ 16,151
Budget Receipts
$ 45,009
Budget Receipts/Wkly Avg. $ 11,251
Budget Expense
$ 65,435
2013 - 2014 Budget Income $ 111,870
2015 Deficit/Income
($ 20,426)
TOTAL January 31
$ 91,444
Complete reports are presented at
Business Meeting on the third
Wednesday of each month.
C.S.C. ANNUAL
REPORT
During 2014, the Christian
Service Center served 2112 clients,
an increase of 3% over 2013. The
2112 clients, represented nearly
4900 family members, received
49,500 food and 6600 clothing
items. The CSC spent over $27,000
on food and diapers. These
numbers
include
the
276
Thanksgiving and 224 Christmas
baskets, which required nearly
11,000
food
items.
Food
distribution increased by 6% while
clothing distribution decreased
15% when compared with 2013.
The clothing decrease was largely
due to weeks when we didn’t
distribute clothes due to HVAC
renovation in that area of the CSC.
We had 470 different clients during
the year not counting those that
came only for Thanksgiving and
Christmas baskets. Of the 470,
71% were female, 39% disabled,
and 50% in the 50-70 age range.
Thanks again to everyone who
donated money, food, clothing and
time to the CSC. A special thanks
to Food Lion for their grant of
$2500 and to Food City for their
donation of $1800. Only through
your generosity is the CSC able to
continue to serve the less
fortunate of Clinton.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
 Women’s Event
May 1 - 2, 2015
An area-wide women’s event co-hosted by Second
Baptist Church and area churches. Event to be held at
Second Baptist Church.
Spring Break! There will be no Prayer Service, Youth or Children
activities on Wednesday, March 18 due to spring break. Please note
Business Meeting has been moved to March 25.
MARCH 2015
Remote Area Medical
April 11 & 12
RAM-JAM
Friday, March 27
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Radio/Telethon
Anderson County RAM Fundraiser
Join us for Food, Fun,
& Great Entertainment in the FLC.
Ron Meredith will be the emcee for the event.
No Admission, Everyone Welcome!
Food available beginning at 6:00 p.m.
If you would like to donate to Anderson County RAM, please visit
the link below. We encourage you to forward this link to folks in
the community and help us raise money for this event.
http://www.gofundme.com/andersoncountyram
“The 5th Sunday”
Sunday, March 29
Please lift up/catch up your giving on this day.