March 2016 - s3.amazonaws.com · March 2016 1320 Arbor Drive Email: [email protected] 217-875-8034 Website: Volume 7 y now you might have noticed something new in the church

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March 2016

1320 Arbor Drive Email: [email protected] 217-875-8034 Website: www.decaturfbc.com Volume 7

By now you might have noticed something new in the church bathrooms. No, we did not install hot tubs. We put in some hospitality boxes. These are boxes that contain mouthwash, Band-Aids, mints, lint brush, comb, tooth brushes, and other items that someone might have a need for at the last moment. “Why did we add these boxes?” you ask. In your leadership’s last vision-casting meeting we discussed in great detail what hospitality means. Simply put, it means that you are ready for your guest. It means that you have done everything in your power to prepare for those coming in the doors. It means you have gone to great lengths to create an over-the-top loving environment for anyone and everyone that joins us on Sunday morning. And yes, that means being hospitable even in the bathroom. It should be our desire to do all we can to develop a culture within FBC that is more than just welcoming and friendly. When people leave we want them to want to come back. A church is in the relationship business; our relationship with God and our relationship with each other. To that end, if people visit us and then never come back, we have no way to develop a relationship. Therefore, it should be our intent each Sunday morning to create an “over-the-top” loving environment that people want to experience again and again. Hospitality should be a way of life for us. Therefore, you will be seeing some changes this year in the Gathering Place. We have created a committee to review our entry area and see what we can do to make it more inviting and informative and “over-the-top.” That might include creating a café. It might include replacing the furniture. It might mean painting the walls. We shall see what they come up with, but whatever it will be, it will be worth the effort and expense. However, an “over-the-top” loving environment is only 5% the building. It is 95% the people. That means you and me. We need to be people that care for everyone who comes in the door, friend and stranger alike. To do that we are looking at such things as greeter and usher training. There is much more to greeting than just saying “hello” and shaking a hand. Continued on page 5

Parking Place A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 100 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES." When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note. "I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION." —Unknown

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So early in the year and yet we are already halfway through the season of Lent. Easter comes early this year, March 27, and even though we’ve experienced snow and cold in recent days, the tulips that are coming up around the church remind us that a new season is nearly here.

Those flowers remind us of many things appropriate for this time. In God’s design, those bulbs move and grow and have their being through His generous gift of light and rain. Without those gifts, the bulbs would lie dormant, and eventually be destroyed. Like the flowers, we are given the gifts that help us grow when we place our faith in Christ. We experience His light and know the blessings He pours down upon us. While it may not always be easy, we find comfort in knowing that His plans are higher than ours. We trust Him with our lives, since He is the Creator and Giver of all life. May this Lenten and Easter season be a time of “new life” for you in your walk with our Lord! On other notes:

Our Music For Meditation concert series begins March 2, 9 and 16. Guest musicians include organist Mark Gifford, Wild Columbine (guitar and flute) and Doug Blakey and your Minister of Music at two pianos. Concerts at 12 noon: complimentary lunch served at 11:15 a.m. and following each program.

Two new microphones have been installed by John Patrick for the handbell choir loft. They were used in worship for the first time on February 28. The bell choir never sounded as good as they did with the new amplification. Thanks, John!

We had 17 residents at our Primrose service on February 21: thanks to the Diaconate Board for preparing Communion as part of our worship that day. Our First Tuesday service at Lincolnshire continues again on March 1.

I attended the American Choral Directors Association Regional Convention in Chicago at the end of February. I attended several workshops and listened to 19 different choir concerts. Came home with some new music and inspiration for our ministry here.

Heavenly Father, You are the one true and only God, and it is in You that we find our lives. As we celebrate the resurrection of Your Son, our Savior, let us work to be the light in the world that You would have us to become. Be with us, Lord, that You are honored in all we do, we ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Waltenberger

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1 Leon Mentzer 3 Jonathan Drake 3 Clifford Cook 6 Josh Hudson 9 Lindsey Wright 16 Scott Parks 16 Gloria Redden 16 Jessica Smith 18 Dave Fleming 18 Jo Robinson

March Birthdays 21 Jeff Cox 24 Carol Aldridge 24 Shelby Smith 25 Doug Blakey 25 Carla Comerford 25 Jennie Engle 25 Wilma Thompson 27 Ashlyn Sutton 30 Sue Curlin

Happy Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. James Holmes

3/17/2001

Starting March 11th, Scott and Karen Parks will have a new address: 4603 Nicklaus Court Decatur, IL 62526 Congratulations on the move!

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Continued from page 1 And there are other things we are considering but what I want you to consider is this: When you come to the worship service on Sunday morning, are you intentional about helping to develop an “over-the-top” experience for someone else? If so, then wonderful! If not, then please consider how you might help out. Let me give you four ways you might help create an “over-the-top” loving environment: 1. 3 Minute Rule: You may have noticed in the bulletin that we are introducing this new rule. This rule states that for the 3 minutes before the worship service and the 3 minutes immediately following the service you do not speak to anyone you already know but are intentional about going up to another person you don’t know and introducing yourself. Let’s be the kind of church family that really is a “church family” and not just talk to the same people we always talk to each Sunday. 2. 10 Foot Rule: As you walk into the building and around inside the building if you see anything that is not quite right, such as a wrapper on the floor or a cup that wasn’t thrown away, you pick it up, you throw it away. If it is within 10 feet of you it is your responsibility to address the issue. Don’t assume that “someone else will do it.” You do it. Care enough about how we look to other people to expend some effort to help. 3. Park in farthest spots: How wonderful it would be for our guests when they arrive to see the very best parking spots available. You know very well what it is like to find a good parking spot. It will quickly bring a skip to your step and a smile on your face. So let’s care enough about the next person to give them the better spot. Obviously those with health issues are excused from this. Many of us have no problem going to the mall and walking so it should be no big deal to park in the back of our parking lot and walking a few extra feet. What a wonderful first impression we can give to our guest when they see how much we care for them. 4. Finally, it does no good to have the 3 minute rule if you are not in the sanctuary until AFTER the service starts. It should be second nature to us to be in the sanctuary no later than 9:25am so we are able to visit for a few minutes with others and so that we can prepare for worship. Coming in after 9:30 am with the worship service already in progress does not leave a good impression on our first-time guests…..or anyone else for that matter. Let’s all consider how we might be champions of creating an over-the-top loving experience for everyone who comes to FBC Decatur. That means we put others before ourselves. That sounds really biblical…..because it is. Let’s put our faith in action and learn what real hospitality is all about!!!!

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First Baptist Church

Music for Meditation Lenten Concerts and Luncheons

Wednesdays

March 2, 2016 Mark Gifford, Organ

March 9, 2016 Wild Columbine, Instrumental Group

March 16, 2016 Doug Blakey & Mike Waltenberger

1320 Arbor Dr | Decatur, IL | 217.875.8034 | www.decaturfbc.com | Concerts 12:00 pm | Complementary Luncheons 11:15 am & 12:45 pm

Your America for Christ offering provides life-changing ministries and resources that impact neighborhoods and communities across the United States and Puerto Rico with the love and hope of Jesus Christ. Our offering for America For Christ will be collected on Sunday, March 20, 2016

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March 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 11:00 a.m. Lincolnshire Worship Service

2 11:15 a.m. Music For Meditation Lunch 12:00 p.m. Concert 12:30 p.m. Lunch 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m.

3 4 Office Closed

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6 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 4:00 p.m. The Block 4:00 p.m. Bible Study

7 9:30 a.m. Staff meeting

8 1:00 p.m. ABW Ada Tharp Circle

9 11:15 a.m. Music For Meditation Lunch 12:00 p.m. Concert 12:30 p.m. Lunch 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m.

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11 Office Closed

12 8:30 a.m. Leadership Vision Casting meeting

13 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:45 a.m. Trustee Board Christian Ed. Board Diaconate Board 4:00 p.m. The Block 4:00 p.m. Bible Study

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16 11:15 a.m. Music For Meditation Lunch 12:00 p.m. Concert 12:30 p.m. Lunch 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

17 5:30 p.m. Finance Board Worship Ministries Board 6:30 p.m. Executive Council

18 Office Closed

19 5:30 p.m. Survivors’ Class Party

20 Palm Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship at Primrose 4:00 p.m. The Block

21 9:30 a.m. Staff meeting

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23 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

24 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service

25 Office Closed

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27 Easter Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School

28 29 30 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

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Place Your Blanket or Yardage Donation on the Gathering Hall Table or Bring to the March 8th Circle Meeting. Instructions for making below. If questions, see Pat Alley

Thank you for your support!