1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

THE CALENDAR
Expressing the Mission and Ministry of First Baptist Church
Chippewa Square
Savannah, Georgia
Sunday, April 19
9:45 a.m. Bible Study
11:00 a.m. Worship
12:15 p.m. Congregational Luncheon
12:45 p.m. Quarterly Church Conference
F
IRST
THOUGHTS
Gardner C. Taylor, the dean of African-American ministers, a pastoral theologian, and a magnificent
preacher of the Gospel, died this past week. He was 96. In an ironic and appropriate twist of fate, Taylor died
on Easter Sunday, even in death proclaiming the power of the resurrection.
While Norma and I were students at Southern Seminary, Taylor spoke in Alumni Chapel on at least
one occasion. At the 1980 Baptist World Congress in Toronto, we heard him preach a spell-binding sermon in
Maple Leaf Gardens. Our paths crossed again later in 2004 when he was the featured speaker at the 200th
anniversary of Second African Baptist Church in Savannah. And about five years ago, Taylor was invited to
be the principal lecturer at the annual Mercer Preaching Consultation held on St. Simons Island. Dean Alan
Culpepper asked me to drive Taylor and his wife to the Savannah airport following the conference, and those
ninety minutes of conversation in the car proved to be some of the most memorable of my entire life.
Taylor’s longtime pastorate of more than forty years at the Concord Baptist Church of Christ in
Brooklyn, New York placed him alongside other larger than life figures like Harry Emerson Fosdick, George
Buttrick, Paul Scherer, and David H. C. Read. His sermons were rich in biblical exposition, and always
contained numerous references to history, politics, and literature, as well as current events and popular culture.
Here are a few of my favorite Gardner Taylor quotes:
“It has been said that in addition to man being known by the company he keeps, he may also be known
by the enemies he makes.”
“I think the secret of preaching is a deep religious conviction, a knowledge of the Bible and the attempt
to express it as well as one might. I think that is the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary.”
“God does not call us to be something we are not. God calls us to what we are becoming, to what we
may be.”
“Argue about limitations, debate the impossible, and believers will cry out because of their experience,
‘GOD can do anything but fail.’”
“The pulpits of this land must point out that this hatred – this deep angry, bitter animosity which we
call racial prejudice – warps our country.”
Gardner C. Taylor. Requiescat in pace.
Hospitalizations
We are grateful that as this issue
of The Calendar is being
prepared, no members are known
to be hospitalized.
Family Night Menu
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
BBQ
green beans
macaroni and cheese
cake
Children’s Time on April 19
Lauren Colwell
Hospitality Hosts
Lem Brawner and Will Hodges
Lay Reader on April 19
Lynn Hadwin
Sanctuary Flowers
Sunday, April 19
given to the glory of God
and in memory of
victims of the Holocaust
by George Shriver
Greeters on April 19
John and Sara Thomas
Ushers Serving in April
Bootsie Swicord, captain
Joan Pusser
Leslie Stull
Barbara Stull
Deacons Serving in April
John Rabun, captain
Thelma Browne
Lynn Hadwin
Margaret Hardy
Curtis Lewis
Richard Lewis
Shannon Willhite
Nursery Volunteer on April 19
Rebecca Sutton
CONGREGATIONS IN SERVICE
Saturday, April 25:
8:00 a.m. Breakfast at First Presbyterian Church
(520 East Washington Avenue)
12:00 p.m. Lunch at First Christian Church
(711 East Victory Drive)
Projects (Saturday only) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Carpentry/Cleaning for Safe Shelter
Yard Cleaning for Hospice Savannah
Cleaning at Wesley Community Center
Carpentry for Habitat for Humanity
Yardwork for Horsing Around
Planting Trees for Savannah Tree Foundation
Sorting and Stocking for Habitat Restore
Making Greeting Cards
Nursing Home Visitation
Sunday, April 26:
12:30 p.m. Lunch at Congregation Mickve Israel
(Monterey Square)
Projects (Sunday only) from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Painting a Barn for Pegasus
Picking Up Litter on Tybee
Cleaning Abercorn Community Garden
Making Bookmarks for Coastal Academy
Assembling Bags for Backpack Buddies
Assembling Treat Bags
Projects on Saturday and Sunday
Decorating Pillowcases
Making “No Sew” Blankets
Knitting for Ethiopian Children
Gardening for Union Mission
Additional information can be found on the First
Baptist website and sign-up sheets are located in Lewis
Hall and the church office.
2015 GRADUATES
As we approach the month of May, we know that
several of our members will be celebrating graduations
from various institutions. If you have a
graduate you would like for us to
recognize in The Calendar, please
contact the church office to let us know
the name of your graduate and the
institution from which he or she will be
graduating. On Sunday, May 17, we will have a graduate
luncheon to honor our high school graduates. Save this
date on your calendar and plan to come and celebrate with
our youth who will be transitioning to a new stage in life.
THEOLOGY 101 PROGRAMS
During the adult study time on
Wednesday nights, we are offering two
Theology 101 programs sponsored by members
of the Spiritual Formation Committee.
On Wednesday, April 22, Bill Heard will
present a Theology 101 program on
Forgiveness. On Wednesday, May 13, Jenni
Halpin will present a program on Social Justice.
We continue to have programs for youth
and children as well as bell and adult choir
rehearsals. Our final Wednesday evening of the
semester will be Wednesday, May 20 and we
will conclude with a picnic and night of
intergenerational fun sponsored by the Youth
and Children’s Committee. We look forward to
seeing you for all.
YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
On Friday, April 24, the youth will have
a lock-in at John and Betsy Rabun’s house
beginning with dinner at 5:00 p.m. They will
then participate in Congregations in Service the
following Saturday. We will end with lunch at
First Christian Church at 12:00 p.m.
The children will participate in a
Congregations in Service project on Sunday,
April 26. After worship, we will eat lunch at
Congregation Mickve Israel and then head to
Tybee for a beach clean-up. We will end the
day by having ice cream together. Please let
Lauren know if you plan to attend these events.
THE CLASSICS
The Classics program for Tuesday,
April 28 has changed from the original plan.
The Classics will now meet
in Lewis Hall at 11:00 a.m.
Author and educator Alex
Browning will present his
book The Lost Soul of
Witherspoon: Life in a
Kentucky
Mountain
Settlement School. Part of
the meal in April will be
potluck. The church will
provide
chicken,
but
Classics members are
asked to bring a vegetable
or dessert to share. Please call the church office
to make a reservation.
April Responsibilities
Audio: Bill Roberts
Greeters: Emily Gar rard
Ordinances: Wyc Rountree
and Ashley Williams
Sanctuary: Lem Brawner
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
facing Chippewa Square
at 223 Bull Street
Offices located behind the sanctuary
at 102 West McDonough Street
Phone 912-234-2671
Fax 912-236-4493
Email office@fbc-sav.org
Website www.fbc-sav.org
Office hours Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00
First Baptist Church
P.O. Box 9551
Savannah, GA 31412-9551
Address service requested
CHURCH STAFF
John M. Finley - Senior Minister
jmfinley@fbc-sav.org
Lauren E. Colwell - Associate Minister
for Spiritual Formation and Families
lauren@fbc-sav.org
Kyle J. Ballantine - Organist and Choir Director
kyle@fbc-sav.org
Faye Anderson - Secretary
faye@fbc-sav.org
Karen Jerald - Secretary
karen@fbc-sav.org
Bill Roberts - Custodian
Vol. 81
The Calendar
Lauren Colwell, Editor
April 15, 2015
No. 15
Schedule of Activities
April 19-25, 2015
SUNDAY, April 19
9:45 Sunday School
11:00 Morning Worship
12:15 Congregational Luncheon
12:45 Quarterly Conference
Lewis Hall
MONDAY, April 20
10:00 Staff Meeting
Conference Room
WEDNESDAY, April 22
5:00 Family Night Activities
7:00 Adult Choir Rehearsal
Room 300
FRIDAY, April 24
5:00 Youth Lock-In at Rabuns’
SATURDAY, April 25
8:00 Congregations in Service
First Presbyterian Church
12:00 CIS Lunch
First Christian Church
The Worship of God
April 19, 2015
Eleven O’clock
Family Night Activities
April 22, 2015
5:00
Sermon:
“The Kindergarten Gospel”
5:30
Rev. Lauren Colwell
5:45
First Lesson:
Acts 3:12-19
5:45
6:00
Second Lesson:
1 John 3:1-7
Gospel Lesson:
Luke 24:36b-49
Anthem:
“Beloved, Let Us
Love One Another”
by Van Denman Thompson
6:15
6:15
6:15
7:00
Family Night Meal
Lewis Hall
Nursery Opens
Room 201
Prayer Concerns
Lewis Hall
Joyful Voices Choir
Room 300
Adult Gathering:
Theology 101 –
Forgiveness (Bill Heard)
Lewis Hall
Children’s Gathering
Room 202
Youth Gathering
Room 402
Bell Choir
Room 305
Adult Choir
Room 300