Volume 50 August 23, 2017 No. 16

W A publication of The First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, North Carolina

indow the

Charlottesville

In the wake of the horrific happen-

ings in Charlottesville, Va. on Satur-

day August 12, I understand that

some pastors changed their sermons

entirely. In other words, they dis-

carded what they had initially

planned to say to their congregations

in order to address the events of the day before. On

this occasion it appears that what is usually under-

stood as a term for ministerial laziness was actually

justified and I am sure required considerable work – a

Saturday night special. I decided against throwing

away what I had planned to preach to our congrega-

tion on Sunday, August 13. Instead, I incorporated

the demonstrations in Charlottesville of racial and

ethnic hatred into my already planned remarks. One

reason for this decision is simply that I need time to

process happenings such as these.

Now that over a week has passed since the KKK,

white supremacists, and neo-Nazi groups espoused

their warped understanding of the world, I am satis-

fied with my initial remarks that emerged from the

pulpit of First Baptist Ahoskie. Thus, I would like to

record a summary of the main points for our further

reflection as well as for preservation.

The text for Sunday, August 13 was Romans 10:5-15

and the sermon title was “Happy Feet” (because I do

not believe anyone has beautiful feet!). I suggested

two things that Sunday as related to the events in

Charlottesville the day before. First, we must all con-

fess before God the sin of racism. Even though none of

us were among the racist groups demonstrating, like

the demonstrators themselves we are participants in

the human condition. The people espousing such ha-

tred look like us. They have eyes, ears, legs, arms,

etc... What we saw in Charlottesville represents the

lows that we human beings have the potential to de-

scend into without an adequate embrace of the good

news of Jesus the Christ.

Next, I proposed a reality that greatly impacted me as

I watched the violence in Charlottesville – there are

potentially severe consequences to neglecting our par-

ticipation in the church of Jesus the Christ. As the

church, we put forth the message that if we confess

with our lips that Jesus is Lord and if we believe in

our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead we

shall be saved. Thus, the best way to combat racism,

hatred, and violence is with the Prince of Peace him-

self. And it is the church of Jesus the Christ – and no

other organization – that holds this message. Indeed,

we have happy feet!

Furthermore, as white folks living in the south (and

most of us raised in the south) racism continues to be

in the air that we breathe. How long has it been since

you heard a racial slur or joke? Unfortunately, the

answer might be “yesterday” or “last week”. Thus, if

we are not consistently gathering together for the

worship of God and instruction in the teachings of Je-

sus, the risk that racism and hatred will manifest it-

self in our own lives is greatly increased.

In Christ,

Trey

Chowan Freshmen Move-In Day Thank you, Missions Committee, serving team, and

cookie makers/donators, for sharing FBC hospitality

with Chowan’s newest students on August 19.

From the Associate Pastor

Breakfast for First Graders & Family August 27 at 9:00 am

As a way to help our preschoolers transition into

our grade school ministry, we offer a breakfast

each August for those students and their families.

The students and parents are equipped with tools

to help them adapt to the new routine of remain-

ing in the sanctuary for the entire worship service.

2017 Bible Presentations August 27 at 11:00 am

Another ritual we observe each Fall is the presen-

tation of Bibles to the new 1st graders entering

our children’s ministry, and the new 7th graders

entering our youth ministry.

Music Ministry Start Up for the Fall Save the following dates, and join in the fun!

Wednesday, August 23

7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals

For High School Students & Adults

8:00 pm Vocal Ensemble Rehearsals Resume

Wednesday, September 6

5:00—6:00 pm Children’s Music & Missions

Two Age Groups: Age 3—Kindergarten

& Grades 1-6

Sunday, September 17

4:00—5:00 pm Chairo Music Ensemble

For Grade 6—Adults

Grace & peace,

August 20, 2017

Weekly Need $ 8,778.00

Weekly Offering $ 6,835.02

Difference $ -1,942.98

YTD Needs $ 298,452.00

YTD Offerings $ 258,639.45

YTD Difference $ -39,812.55

Capital Campaign Total $ 338,510.53

Thank you for your generous gifts!

Sunday, Sept. 10 6:00 pm

at Ahoskie Creek

Recreation Complex

This annual event,

hosted by our Deacons,

is a highlight of the Church Year. Deacons will

cook hamburgers and hot dogs, prepare all the

trimmings, and provide beverages. Invite your

neighbors and co-workers. Bring a lawn chair

and join us!

Adult I Co-ed Baby Shower Our nursery will soon be bursting at the seams!

Thus far in 2017 we’ve welcomed three babies into

our church family. And by the beginning of 2018,

we’ll have welcomed four more! We’re grateful for

the Adult I Co-ed Sunday School class who hosted

a baby shower for these families on August 27.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Every Sunday

9:45a

Sunday School

11:00a

Worship

Every

Monday

1:30p

Staff Meeting

1

9a Christian

Women’s Job

Corps

(CWJC)

2

3 The 13th Sunday

after Pentecost 4

Church Office

Closed

5 10a WOM Groups 2 & 4 2:30p Staff

Meeting 7p WOM

Group 3

6 10:30a

Ahoskie

Garden Club

5p Children’s

Music & Mis-

sions Begins

7

1p WOM

Group 5

8

9a CWJC

9

10 The 14th Sunday

after Pentecost

6p Picnic in the

Park, Ahoskie

Creek Rec Com-

plex

11 12

3p CWJC

Board

13 14 15

9a CWJC

16

17 The 15th Sunday

after Pentecost

4p Chairo Music

Ensemble Begins

18

7p Building

& Grounds

19

6p Missions

Committee

7p Deacons

20

12n

Ahoskie

Woman’s Club

21 22

9a CWJC

23

2p Wedding:

Betty Myers &

Anthony

Cooper

24 The 16th Sunday

after Pentecost 25 26 27 28 29

9a CWJC

30

2017 First Baptist Church of Ahoskie

Every Wednesday

5:00p Children’s Music &

Missions

6:00p Bible Study, FH

7:00p Sanctuary Choir

8:00p Vocal Ensemble

1 Betty Myers

4 Tony Marra

6 John Alexander

7 David Barnes

9 Jayne Frei

10 Larry Freeman

11 Rick Burns

12 Jean Parker

12 Betty Duke

13 Earl Futrell

14 Patricia Hughes

15 Reid Burgess

18 Alice Brown

19 Jim Minton

20 Billy Greene

22 Joanna Dunn

23 Henry Joyner

25 Sandra Pierce

27 Clair Saunders

30 Katherine Jernigan

Happy

70th Wedding

Anniversary

to

Bob & Dot

Newsome

Married August

31, 1947

Week of August 27-September 2

Minister on Call

Rev. Anita Thompson, 395-0061

Deacons on Call

Betty Joyner, 398-6104

Edgar Swain, 395-0255

Extended Session—August 27

Birth-Age 2: Ernie & Austine Evans, and Bess

Leary

Ages 3-5: James & Eva Early

Ushers—August 27

Chip Rose, Chloe Rose, Lane Slachta, Peggy

Springfield, Edgar Swain Jr., Reagan Zoch;

Balcony— Andy Woodard & Isabella Woodard

Sound System—August 27

Henry Daniels

Floral Offering—August 27

Ed Copeland Sr.

Home Delivered Meals—August 28

Austine Evans & Mary Ann Umphlett

Food Pantry—September 1

Sandra Pierce

Week of September 3-9

Minister on Call

Rev. Dr. Trey Gilliam, 398-7321

Deacons on Call

Claire Presley, 287-6132

Lee Wilson, 332-4563

Extended Session—September 3

Birth-Age 2: Noreen Hannon, Brian & Victoria

Outlaw, and Tiffany Warren

Ages 3-5: Landis Chamblee & Elizabeth

Davis

Ushers—September 3

J.C. Doughtie, Tim Frei, Patricia Hughes,

Mollee Frei Lamm, Frank Rose, Reagan Zoch;

Balcony— Billy Greene & Colby Hauser

Sound System—September 3

Walt Pierce

Floral Offering—September 3

Edgar & Rosa Swain

Home Delivered Meals—September 4

Closed for Labor Day Holiday

Food Pantry—September 8

Robert Earl & Pansy White

Sunday School at Creekside—September 3

Bess Leary

NON PROFIT ORG. BULK RATE

U. S. POSTAGE PAID AHOSKIE, N. C. PERMIT NO. 64

phone 252-332-4003

fax 252-209-0225

email office@fbcahoskie.org

web www.fbcahoskie.org

Office Hours:

8:00 am -5:00 pm Monday-Thursday Office Closed on Friday

The Window First Baptist Church of Ahoskie Main and West Streets PO Box 649 Ahoskie, NC 27910-0649 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

WMU Leadership Workshop

August 26 at WCBA Resource Center 8:30 am Light Breakfast

9:00 am to 12 noon Training Begins