First Baptist Church, South Haven
Worship Gathering: 8/23/2020
Thank you for joining us for worship this morning! While our place of worship has changed from the usual place and time, we are grateful to know that the Body of Christ can worship anytime, anywhere.
As a reminder If you have a need for assistance during this time (grocery delivery, meals, etc.), please do not hesitate to call/text Kim Collins on her cell phone. We have church members ready and willing to help.
Worship: 8/23/2020
You can view worship that correlates with today's notes live on our Facebook page at 10:30am on Sunday mornings. If you missed us live, you can see it Sunday afternoon on our YouTube page by clicking here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQahojNwyPo2LMn-ctTG8AWeekly Bulletin
View this week's bulletin including general announcements and weekly prayer requests by clicking here.
https://www.southhavenfbc.com/weekly-bulletinsWe welcome Pastor Dan Koller to our pulpit this morning and thank him for filling in while his father, Pastor Jerry Koller, is on vacation. Dan and his wife, Janine, have three children and they recently moved to the St. Joseph area where he serves at a local church. Because we have a guest pastor, we do not have regular sermon notes this morning.
Happy Birthday!
Expand· Lynn Rarick (8/23)
· Tim Sullivan (8/23)
· Abby Bocock (8/27)
· Emma Bither (8/28)
· John Ellis (8/29)
· Grace Ellis (8/29)
A Letter from John Ellis
ExpandDear First Baptist Church,
This is Johnathon Ellis writing from my Advanced Individual Training (AIT) location. As of July 17th, I graduated Army Basic Combat Training and I'm writing to thank you all so much. Basic was a difficult time for me. It was difficult to be away from my family and friends; it was difficult being away from you, my loving church family that has given me so, so much. It was difficult being away from the youth group that I loved having the opportunity to help lead, and it was difficult not knowing how the Covid-19 pandemic was affecting the people I love back home. I arrived at my AIT location to find out a few of my friends and members of my church family have been affected either directly or indirectly by the virus. I'm sure this has been a troubling time back in South Haven, but I am encouraged by the fact that we have such a strong foundation of love and support between members of First Baptist. I have faith that everyone has been able to help one another through it.
As I said though, I am writing to thank you. Through your prayers and faith I was able to not only get through Basic, but graduate in the top ten percent of my class and become an honor grad, even getting promoted! When I arrived at Basic, my only plan was to survive it and get through to the other side, but God strengthened me each and every day to not just survive, but excel. Only God could have done that, and through the prayers and faith of my church family back home, he did accomplish this. Thank you. Glory be to God!
Being away at Basic and during this pandemic I realized something I'm sure a lot of you have realized as well: First Baptist Church is home. Being away from home for so long just doesn't feel right. I miss our home very much and I'm sure you all do too, as I see First Baptist has decided to move back to online service due to the governor’s order. I am very thankful for the very capable leadership in our church from both our Pastor, leadership team, and every single person who leads through service to their neighbor. We will all get through this together, and we'll all be home soon. Thanks to the wonderful and wise leadership this church is under, we can only come out on the other side of this stronger than we came in.
During Basic Training I became closer to God than I ever have been before. During what little personal time we had, I was able to read a lot of Bible. Myself and a couple others even started a miniature nightly Bible study in our sleeping quarters. God even opened up the heart of one of my fellow soldiers and he made the decision within Basic to accept Jesus into his life. I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of this young man's life and his journey to the Father.
I also had the opportunity to be baptized during Basic. Seeing as though I am a relatively new Christian, just coming to the Lord a few years ago, I never took advantage of an opportunity to be baptized. Once again God provided a path and I was baptized. Praise God!
I ask that you continue to find me in your prayers! Every single day God gives me the opportunity to know him and make him known among my fellow soldiers. I ask that you pray for continued success in spreading his word and for continued success in my journey through the Army.
Thank you, First Baptist Church. You have no idea how grateful I am that God brought me through the doors and into your loving arms. It may be the single greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
Glory be to God, Amen.
John Ellis
(P.S. Thank you to those of you who wrote to me while I was at Basic! Every letter made every day a little easier.)
Elder Ministry Team Meeting
ExpandThis month’s meeting will be on Monday, August 31, from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Library. If you’re an active Elder and unable to attend, please let Dean Newell know.
Youth Sunday School Resumes: 9/13
ExpandChildren ages 5 years—5th grade are invited to join us for weekly Sunday School classes via Zoom meetings. Class will meet weekly on Sundays from 9:30-10:15, beginning on 9/13, and be led by Janette Hendrix. If you’d like your child to participate, please contact Janette (janetteahendrix@gmail.com or 269-767-5785).
Items Needed for We Care Pantries
The We Care Food and Personal Care Pantries continue to need supplies. We suggest calling ahead to make sure someone is there to receive your items. For a list of items and pantry locations, please visit their website at
https://www.wecare-inc.org/pantries-and-programsCheck Out Our Web Page
We are keeping our web page (southhavenfbc.com) updated regularly. Please use it as a tool. Under "Resources" we have a page for FBC Members only which has our latest emails and letters from Pastor Jerry. If you try to access this page, you will need the password "Know Him" to see the content.
https://www.southhavenfbc.comOnline Giving is Available!
If you would like to support our ministries by giving an online donation via debit/credit card or your bank account, you can do so by using this link:
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/first-baptist-church-south-haven-miAttention Amazon Shoppers!
ExpandPlease remember us for your online Amazon purchases and designate “First Baptist Church South Haven” as your charity of choice. We will receive 0.5% donation from all purchases which is used for our youth scholarships. You can do so by going to the following link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-2244607. Thanks for your support!
Opportunities this Week
ExpandSunday
6:00 AM · Worship Online Available (YouTube or Facebook)
Monday
6:30 PM · Men’s Group (Library; ‘til 8)
Wednesday
9:30 AM · Berean Bible Study
8:00 PM · Worship Team Practice (Sanctuary)
Thursday
6:30 PM · Women’s Craft Group (Library)
___________________________________________________________________
children's sunday school
· On summer break and will resume via Zoom meetings on 9/13.
tuesday evening women's bible study
· On summer break and may resume this fall.
monday men’s group
· Contact Dave Hollis for questions or more information.
wednesday bible study
· Meets via Zoom, as well as in person at individuals homes for those who are comfortable doing so.
· To find out where they are meeting or if you're interested in joining, call/text Tina Wilburn at 269-767-4685 or email 2fifty7@gmail.com.
thursday evening craft group
· Masks are required.
· Contact Tracy Marshall for questions or more information.
Weekly Prayer List
Expand· Clint & Kristen Schultz and their family upon the death of Clint's mother, Ramona Schultz, on 7/24.
· Kay Burtchett (friend of Jean Robinson) who has a recurrence of lung cancer.
· Deborah Kirby (Vasha Ferguson's sister) is recovering from an extensive stroke followed by surgery. Pray for her healing and the family as they determine long-term care treatment options.
· Ginny Dorsey (Rhonda Dobberstein's mother) is recovering from surgery for a hysterectomy, a bladder lift, and a possible cancer area being removed. She is determining treatment options for additional cancer cells that were found.
· Jim (Rhonda Dobberstein's stepdad) just finished radiation recently for prostate cancer. Pray that it worked.
· Bruce & Vasha Ferguson and their family upon the loss of Bruce's sister, Gloria Thompson, on 6/24 from Covid-19.
· Dominique Thompson (Bruce's Ferguson’s nephew) who is recovering from COVID-19.
· Lynn Rarick continues to deal with hip issues. Pray that a resolution can be figured out.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.
First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/First-Baptist-Church-of-South-Haven-118136484800/