Pastor’s Pen: Put Me In, Coach! No athlete excels by merely watching

videos or studying game theory. Sooner or later, you have to play the game. "Put Me In, Coach" is my upcoming sermon series about getting off the bench and entering the game--finding your place in Kingdom service. Years ago, I heard God's call to vocational ministry because our tiny church had a Youth Sunday and asked me to preach. I grew to be the pastor I am today because mature believers entrusted me with responsibilities --even though they could have done those things faster, better and more smoothly themselves!

One trait I've noticed about top tier athletes: they all want desperately to play. And this begs the question--why wouldn't Christ's followers want to be in the game, changing lives and making a difference? Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, "I knew God could save the world without me, but when I found out I could help, I praised His name."

As I write this column, both the Cardinals and Royals are atop their respective MLB divisions. It promises to be an exciting post-season in the baseball world. In football, both the KC Chiefs and Mizzou Tigers have excellent teams. What an autumn awaits us! But I'm even more enthused about what God is doing among us, as we continue Imagine If, exploring God's dream for FBC JC, and as we all get in the game and find our place of service and witness.

I hope you'll be a part of this fun sermon series. Grace,

ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2015

[ October 4 ] IMAGINE IF

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATION

[ October 24, 27, 29 ] UPWARD

EVALUATIONS

[ October 31 ] TRUNK-OR-TREAT

2:00-4:00 PM

September 6 433

September 13 449

September 20 441

September 6 529

September 13 548

September 20 562

Piano Praise 901

September 6 $44,022.75

September 13 $19,065.70

September 20 $24,220.33

Bible Teaching Attendance Worship Attendance Offering

PAGE 2 Praise & WORSHIP

For this upcoming sermon series, we encourage you to wear your favorite sports or athletic shirts and jerseys throughout the series. Seriously. Wear them … even the Cubs. (Lord, have mercy on us.)

Friendship Singers - Mondays, 10:00am; senior adults

Christmas Music - Now is the time to join as we work on Christmas music:

Orchestra - Wednesdays, 5:30-6:25pm; adults and youth

Adult Choir - Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm

Youth Choir and Youth Praise Team - Sunday afternoons

Children’s Choirs - Wednesdays, 4:15-5:00pm; age 4 through 6th grade

Sound Techs and Projection Techs - if interested, talk to Rod

The SonShine Singers (grades 4-6) and Music Makers (grades 1-3) will be singing during both morning worship services.

Poinsettias will go on sale. If you’d like to purchase one in memory or honor of someone, contact the Church Office. Cost is $10.

SUNDAY SERMON THEMES

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Congregational LIFE

discovering God’s vision beyond our

wildest dreams

PAGE 3

T H A N K Y O U

Imagine If Congregational Conversation. Two congregational

conversations remain, and we’d like to see you in the Fellowship Hall for BOTH sessions. (The topics will be different from the first session held in August). Lunch will be at 11:45am, followed by guided table conversations from 12:30 - 2pm. Child care will be provided for children birth - elementary.

Imagine If Community Conversation. Bill Wilson, our consultant, encouraged us to

hold a community conversation where our church is invited to listen to three community members share about the needs of our community. This provides us a window to look out to the needs of our community as we discover God’s vision for FBC JC. EVERYONE IS INVITED!

LOCATION: South Elementary Gym, 707 Linden Drive 5:30 - 6:30pm: Open House to tour South Elementary 6:30 - 7:30pm: Imagine If Community Conversation

Quarterly Business Meeting, 5:45pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Pastor Appreciation in October

God has richly blessed First Baptist Church with grace-filled, gifted, hard-working pastors, and we want to give everyone the chance to encourage our pastors in the manner of Barnabas who encouraged Paul. During the month of October, at the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, we are encouraging expressions of appreciation to Doyle, Hannah, Jim, Melissa and Rod. You can respond through a Pastor Appreciation Love Offering that will be shared with all the pastors, and through cards and letters to allow you to personalize your appreciation.

Love Offering envelopes will be made available, and a basket for cards will be at the Welcome Center in the Narthex. All checks should be made payable to First Baptist Church. You can also drop cards and letters off at the Church Office. Other expressions of appreciation are planned for pastors and all of our staff in October.

Welcome New Members Jerry and Darlene Brandon Pictured with daughter Angel Whitney Sanford

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In Sympathy Family and friends of

Lisa Lilley

PAGE 4 Stewardship

Senior ADULTS

Homebound Birthdays

Marjean Sievert Castleparke 1 331 Pioneer Trail Room 104 Jefferson City, MO 65109

Orpha McDaniel Golden Living Center 3038 W. Truman Blvd. Room 109 Jefferson City, MO 65109

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Senior Adult Banquet

Banquet will begin at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Jerry Cain, Chancellor of Judson University, will be the guest speaker.

Meal by Hy-Vee: Herb-Roasted Chicken Roast Beef Oven-Roasted Red Potatoes Catalina Vegetables Garden Salad Cheesecake Roll Drinks

Cost is $10, payable in the Church Office.

Last day to register is Friday, October 16.

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26 Jerry Cain Banquet Speaker

PLAN TO JOIN US FOR…

Sowing Gratitude, Harvesting Blessings November 8, 15 and 22

OUR ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP EMPHASIS

The rhythm of sowing and harvesting is lived out in our lives as we gratefully invest our lives and our substance, reaping the harvest of untold blessings. Those blessings yield more gratitude, leading us to share more, and thus the cycle of sowing and harvesting continues.

Children’s Time leaders Kristen Foster, James Preston, Ken Satterfield and

Brooke Schrimpf. These adults help our children understand scripture, connect with a caring adult at church, and actively participate in 8:15am worship each week. Our Children’s Time leaders are expanding our leadership team. We are expanding this ministry to be offered in both 8:15 and 10:45am worship. Please pray for our Children’s Time leaders - both new and experienced. Pray that children and their families will continue to experience God through this important ministry.

Children’s MINISTRY

PAGE 5 Youth MINISTRY

Refuge Fall Retreat Our Fall Retreat theme

is GROWING SMALLER based on John 3:30 that says Christ must increase and we must decrease.

Dates: November 13-15 Cost: $65 Location: Logan Valley in Ellington, MO Who: All youth in grades 7-12

Registration information will be mailed in mid-October. Save the date and invite some friends to join us for one of the best weekends all year!

OCT

17 REFUGE HAYRIDE Fun night for a bonfire and a hayride! 6:30-9:00pm at Russ and Cindy Swanigan’s home (1216 Rosner Hill Road)

REFUGE GAME NIGHT Meet in the gym from 6:00-7:30pm for some Refuge Family fun.

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* For additional information, go to www.refugejc.com.

Upward Sports Registration for basketball and cheerleading

ends Thursday, October 22. Please register early. The cost is $70 per child and SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE. Practices begin in December and games are on Saturdays in January and February. Contact the church office to learn more.

Trunk-or-Treat Children and families are invited to enjoy a

safe, friendly, and fun time in our parking lot from 2:00-4:00pm. Costumes encouraged. If your children are too young (or “too old”) to trunk-or-treat, consider making your car part of the festivities and pass out goodies to our guests!

Family Mission Project FBC families are invited to participate in a

fleece blanket-making project from 9am-noon. The blankets we make will be donated to both local hospitals. Chaplains will share our blankets with families in need of extra love and support. Let Hannah know if you will be able to attend.

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14 James Preston

leads Children’s Time

Join us for our new October series during Souled Out - Benefit of the

Doubt. If you’ve ever doubted whether God is real or whether the Bible is legit, you aren’t alone. Doubting is a part of faith and can actually have some bene-fits. Begins Wed, October 7 from 6:00 -

7:30 pm in the Refuge Youth Room.

TIME CHANGE Daylight Saving Time ends. Turn your clocks BACK

one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

PARENT CHILD DEDICATION If you and your child would like to be dedicated

during the 8:15 or 10:45am service, contact the Church Office by Monday, October 26.

PIECEMAKERS QUILTERS Before donating the items they’ve made throughout

the year, the Piecemakers will have them on display in the Narthex.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING MEAL will be

held from 11:00am-1:00pm. LOTS of volunteers will be needed. Watch for more information in the coming weeks.

SAVE THE DATE

MISSIONS

A Lakota child smiles upon receiving her

Christmas box.

Coming up in NOVEMBER

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DONATE A CHRISTMAS SHOE BOX: We will once again collect Christmas shoe box gifts for our Lakota friends on the

Pine Ridge Reservation. Details on how to prepare a shoe box can be found on our web site at www.fbcjc.org/serve/missions. We will have wrapped Christmas boxes and instructions in the Narthex beginning October 25.

GO WITH US TO DELIVER CHRISTMAS TO PINE RIDGE: Dates: Thursday, December 10 - Monday, December 14.

Cost: $275 (includes everything except a few meals on the road.) There are some partial scholarships available for FBC members.

Itinerary: Thursday, Dec. 10 ……….. Depart at 5:00am (CT) and arrive at 7:00pm (MT). Friday, Dec. 11 ……….……. Prepare gifts for distribution. Saturday and Sunday ….. Prepare during the day and host a large gift distribution in the evenings. On Sunday we will also go out to deliver gifts to a few Lakota communities. First-time South Dakota team members will also tour the reservation. Monday, Dec. 14 ….……... Depart at 5:00am (MT) and return at 8:00pm (CT).

How to Sign Up: Please go to www.fbcjc.org/serve/missions to download a Mission Trip Registration form. Complete the form and return it to FBC with a deposit of $75. The remaining $200 is due by December 1.

A South Dakota Christmas

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CHRISMON DONATIONS Nonperishable food, new, unwrapped toys and

money will be accepted during the 8:15 and 10:45am services.

SERVICE OF COMFORT Honor and celebrate the life of your loved one at

4:00pm in the Duke Chapel.

WINTER MUSIC NIGHT Holiday music by FBC musicians at 6:00pm in the

Fellowship Hall.

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