Pastor’s Pen: Through the years, I have made it a practice to give some of my personal time to an area outside the sphere of church. Full disclosure here: I do this partly to make a difference in the world, but partly so that I won't go stale, living my whole life in a church bubble. Lately, I've been volunteering with Bread for the World (BFW), a nonpartisan Christian organization committed to ending hunger in our lifetime. While food pantries and benevolence ministries are wonderful, they deal with symptoms. BFW focuses on causes, trying to impact policy and legislation.

I recently took part in a "fly-in" to Washington, D.C., a cooperative effort with BFW and approximately 50 other faith organizations. Our expenses for this event were paid for by two grants, one from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the other from the Henry Wallace Foundation. We had meaningful conversations with our congressional delegations and/or staff members around the topic of poverty and justice. We reminded these decision makers that compassionate policies are not antithetical to fiscally responsible ones, and that a robust humanitarian approach that focuses on health and development is in the best interests of our U.S. security.

That D.C. trip was on my mind as I thought about our recent Imagine If conversation which reported our congregation's audacious, God-sized dreams. One of those dreams was a radical commitment to our community's transformation. It states, "Spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs are met through innovative efforts and active partnering with churches and community organizations." Yes! What a wise and healthy church, one which does not believe in the false dichotomy of secular-sacred. Our roots go down deep into the Hebrew prophets and our Messiah, Jesus, who believed that "justice" and "righteousness" are synonyms, that God cares about the total person. And so do we.

This month's Mission JC (April 24) is yet another opportunity for us to love our city. More congregations join us each year as we care for the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs around us. On this Sunday, we suspend our regular worship and Bible teaching schedule. Our service is our worship. I hope you will sign up today and join us on the Jesus Way. Grace,

[ April 15 - 16 ] CHURCHNET

ANNUAL GATHERING FBC Lee’s Summit

[ April 24 ] MISSION JC

8:30am South Lawn of Capitol

[ April 27 ]

QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING 5:45pm

Fellowship Hall

@fbcjc

@fbcjcmo

FBCJC

FBCJC

Praise & WORSHIP PAGE 2

Senior ADULTS

Friendship Club Roger Martin of the Stained Glass Theatre will be our guest.

6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Everyone 60 and over is invited.

Bring a covered dish and a friend.

Need a ride? Call the Church Office at 573.634.3603.

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ADULT CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA - All are welcome to be a part of our worship leadership team: singers, instrumentalists and techs are needed!

Orchestra……….Wednesdays, 5:30 - 6:25pm; adults and youth Adult Choir…...Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7:30pm; adults

CHILDREN’S CHOIRS…...Wednesdays, 4:15 - 5:00pm; age 4 through 6th grade

SOUND TECHS AND PROJECTION TECHS…...if interested, see Rod.

YOUTH PRAISE TEAM AND YOUTH CHOIR - Grades 7-12

Youth Praise Team ……. Sundays, 5:15 - 6:00pm Youth Choir …….. Sundays, 6:00 - 6:45pm

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Friendship Singers

FBC LEE’S SUMMIT $5 per person, sign up in the Church Office. 8:30am Lower lot 4:00pm Return to lower lot

NO FRIENDSHIP SINGERS HEISINGER BLUFFS

1002 West Main, lower doors 10:00am

ST. JOSEPH’S BLUFFS 1306 West Main

10:00am

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Upcoming Sermons

CAN THESE FBC BONES LIVE? Ezekiel 37:1-14

EVERYONE! Joel 2:23-29, 32

THE METRICS OF ETERNITY Ephesians 3:14-21

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PARENT’S NIGHT OUT 6:00 - 9:00pm in the Gym Children 2 years old - 6th grade are invited RSVP Hannah by April 17 Movie/Theme: Charlotte’s Web

VACATION BIBLE CAMP SPORTS CRUSADERS BASKETBALL CAMP Registration will open in early May

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Youth MINISTRY PAGE 3

Children’s MINISTRY

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SOULED OUT: Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30pm in the Refuge youth room.

Join us on Wednesdays in April as we look at the Comparison Trap. Comparison is being caught in the trap of constantly asking how we measure up to others. There’s a lot of pressure to compare ourselves to others but it is a lose-lose situation.

Join us for games, worship and small groups. YOUTH MISSION TRIP to DETROIT

July 10 - 17

Deposit of $50 is due April 1.

If you miss the deadline, you will need to check with Mel to see if there is still space available.

The second payment of $75 is due by May 15.

BECOMING LIKE CHRIST Way to go Becoming Like Christ participants! During February and March this group learned about what it means to be a Christ-follower and about our faith traditions of baptism and communion. We are thankful for our special guests - Pastor Doyle Sager, Brooklyn McCoy, and Gary Hemphill, who provided leadership at some of our sessions. FIRST KIDS AND FIRST FRIENDS On March 9, our First Kids group visited Oak Tree Villas Assisted Living and did crafts with the residents. These respectful, loving, fun children brought delight and joy to the residents. Way to go First Kids! On March 16, Patrick from Refugee and Immigration Services in Columbia, MO came and talked with our First Kids and First Friends. We did an activity exploring what it’s like to be a refugee and how we can help refugees.

JUN

20-24

YOUTH PRAISE TEAM YOUTH CHOIR LEAD IN WORSHIP 10:45am service

YOUTH PROGRAM AT ADAMS STREET 3:30pm - Load 4:00pm - Sing 5:15 - 6:15pm - Arris Pizza (downtown)

REFUGE GAME NIGHT 6:00 - 7:30pm

First Friends and First Kids welcomed Patrick from Refugee

and Immigration Services.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Snapchat at @refugejc!

Website: Refugejc.com

God-Sized Dreams

Over a period of months, retreats, prayer and sharing sessions, the First Baptist Church congregation and leadership have listened to our own voices and those in the community to discern how God is leading this congregation into the future. (Download a copy) Here is what we believe are Five God-Sized Dreams for First Baptist Church Jefferson City:

GOD-CENTERED WORSHIP

First Baptist Church honors God with extravagant love, seeking God’s mysterious and loving presence individually and together.

Focal Scripture: John 4:23-24 (MSG) - “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: for those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself - Spirit. Those who

worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” We love God.

LIFE-CHANGING FAITH First Baptist Church leads every person to follow the Way of Christ, discover their giftedness,

and experience continual life transformation. All generations are rooted in a Biblical, hope-filled faith and experience the joy and significance of service.

Focal Scripture: Romans 12:1-2a (MSG) - “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside

out.” We follow Christ.

AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS First Baptist Church is an imperfect family bound together by love and grace.

We practice radical hospitality, affirm everyone’s journey and celebrate the living Christ working among us. Focal Scripture: John 13:34-35 (MSG) - “Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other.”

We love each other.

COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION First Baptist Church has a profound impact on the health and well-being of our community.

Spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs are met through innovative efforts and active partnering with churches and community organizations.

Focal Scripture: Micah 6:8 (MSG) - “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in

your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously - take God seriously.” We help people.

GLOBAL PARTNERS First Baptist Church is globally-aware and globally-engaged,

using its unique giftedness and resources to partner with the international Christian family, sharing Christ in every region of the world.

Focal Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20 (MSG) - “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

We share Christ.

Congregational LIFE PAGE 4

Congregational LIFE PAGE 5

RESERVED PARKING Each Sunday during April, Saundra Wiser will once again be able to park in the spot normally reserved for Doyle. The amount she paid will go to the fund for the youth summer mission trip.

Thank you, Saundra, for supporting our youth.

Bible Teaching Attendance Worship Attendance Offering February 28 498 February 28 597 February 28 $16,271.60

March 6 463 March 6 515 March 6 $53,526.91

March 13 460 March 13 590 March 13 $16,945.16

March 20 415 March 20 661 March 20 $44,135.34

Welcome New Members Tracee Battee Cooper Feeler Ruby Overman

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In Sympathy Family and friends of Charles Stigers

Alice Anne Burks and family in the death of her father

Family and friends of Leroy Eggemeyer

Barbara Wewerka and family in the death of her sister

Carolyn Vargas and family in the death of her brother-in-law

Dulce Stevens and family in the death of her uncle

Charles Jobe and family in the death of his brother-in-law

David Jobe and family in the death of his brother-in-law

Scott Kaysen and family in the death of his mother

Mobile and Online Giving at FBC Contributions can be given quickly and easily by scanning our QR code or by accessing your account through the church life app. The church life app also allows you to access the church directory and calendar. If you have any questions, contact the Church Office.

QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING 5:45pm, Fellowship Hall

ANNUAL GATHERING OF CHURCHNET

FBC Lee’s Summit, 2 NE Douglas

Register at www.churchnet.org

SPEAKERS will be: Sam Tolbert, National Baptist Convention of America

Otto Echeverria, Guatemala Baptist Convention

Carol Bercian, Tabitha Ministry

Donna Potts, Churchnet

Jim Hill, Churchnet

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Missions PAGE 6

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Coming SOON

SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016

Mission JC is a morning of worship through service. We will cancel our worship services and Bible study at the church building and instead, worship through service throughout our community. Mission JC has grown to include eight local congregations and over 50 different projects. We estimate over 600 volunteers this year!

Register online at www.missionjc.org, on Sundays in the Narthex, or Wednesday nights at the fellowship dinner. There are projects for all ages and all abilities.

If you don’t have a t-shirt you can pick one up in the Church Office Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.

If you are unable to participate on Sunday, feel free to serve on Saturday morning with Serve Jeff City (www.servejeffcity.org).

MISSION JC 8:30am - Capitol, South Lawn

9:00am - Projects throughout the city

5:00pm - Worship at First Presbyterian Church followed by a meal at 5:45pm.

THANK YOU for giving generously to support the Red Cross.

If you’d like to help, contact the Church Office to see what items are still needed.

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY WORSHIP AND CHILDREN’S CHOIR PROGRAM

8:15 and 10:45am, Sanctuary

FRIENDSHIP SINGERS NEW ORLEANS MISSION TRIP

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE RECOGNITION 10:45am, Sanctuary

MAY

1

MAY

2-9

MAY

15

MAY

25-31 PERSONAL ENRICHMENT WEEK

NO AFTERNOON OR EVENING ACTIVITIES

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TRIP MAY JUN

30 - 4

APRIL IS MISSION AMERICA OFFERING MONTH

Support the work of sharing the love of Christ throughout the United States and North America through your financial gifts. You may give online, through the church life app or by check or cash. During April, blue envelopes will be available in the pews.