1

THE BELL RINGER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Page Greetings 1 From the Pulpit 1 Harvest Home Supper 2 Children’s Ministry 3 Missions Report 3 Spirited Moments 4 Member News 4 Junior Church 5 Coming Attractions 5 Oil for My Lamp 6 Sympathies and Concerns 6 Birthdays and Anniversaries 7 Kids Korner 7 Calendar 8

November 2015

Volume 1, I ssue 4

Greetings in Jesus’ Name We are so glad you’re interested in our church. We are

people who love Jesus and who want others to know the

joy and purpose that come with following Him. We are a

friendly American Baptist Church committed to Jesus

Christ and the work of His kingdom. We aim to be a

loving, growing family in Jesus, and we seek to walk

humbly with God, obedient to His Word. By the power of

the Holy Spirit, we are working to love and serve others.

We invite you to join us in experiencing and sharing this

abundant life.

From the Pulpit

The Rev. W. Lyman

(Terry) Phillips is

Chancellor of Grace

Evangelical College &

Seminary in Bangor,

Maine, and currently

serves as our Interim

Pastor. Rev. Phillips

received his Master of

Divinity degree from

Yale University Divinity

School in 1969.

November brings many tasks, items, and

celebrations. It begins with (in the Roman tradition)

the celebration of all saints (which means all the

followers of Jesus), then, after we set our clocks

back an hour on the same day, we have the tasks of

election day, the thankful celebration of Veterans

Day, along with many occasions that are on our own

personal calendars. For all, though, the most

significant celebration is Thanksgiving (this year on

November 26).

Though we do not have a specific celebration of

Thanksgiving as a church this year, we do have the

opportunity of giving thanks in every worship, and

giving thanks to our God is the most important work

and celebration of prayer we are privileged to do!

We do not need to wait -- nor should we -- for

Thanksgiving day to arrive to give thanks. It is a

constant opportunity. On the other hand, it is a very

real chance to stop the race of life and share with our

families that same great privilege of thanksgiving for

all our great Lord and God does for us daily!

Looking just beyond Thanksgiving, we move in only

three days into Advent. Many years that is the case.

Many families, especially in Maine, use time

available between Thanksgiving and the "official"

start of Advent to bring in and decorate a Christmas

tree! I don't challenge families to do this, but I surely

do see a connection that makes great sense. From

Thanksgiving, we enter in only three days into the

lead-up to the most powerfully-celebrated Christian

celebration of the year: Advent (the coming) and

Christmas (the birth of the greatest gift, Jesus

Christ)! This is one of the two greatest times of

thanksgiving of the year for Christians. I think the

connection is a good one (whether you put up a tree

early or not), and the thanksgiving appropriately

extends, as we all can see, through this whole time!

Give thanks to the Lord! He, indeed, is worthy!

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BLUE HILL, 53 PLEASANT STREET, BLUE HILL, ME 04614 www.firstbaptistchurchbluehill.org • fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com • (207) 374-5093

Calling all to gather in His name

2

Thank You! A big thank-you to all who helped with the Harvest

Home Supper by donating food, working and

supporting us in our efforts to raise funds for the fuel

assistance program. This annual supper is our most

successful community outreach event and this year,

we raised nearly $1,500 for fuel assistance for our

less fortunate neighbors.

It was a busy night and we were grateful for the

assistance of our GSA international students who

pitched in to serve and clean up throughout the

evening.

“Giving thanks always for all things

unto God and the Father in the name of

our Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 5:20

3

Children’s Ministry “Train a child in the way he should go…” Prov. 22:6

Sunday School teachers for the 2015-16 year are:

Pre-K and Kindergarten Carrie Clifford

Grades 1 and 2 Alma Mote

Grades 3 and 4 Sharrie Curtis

Grades 5 and 6 Allison Charles

Grades 7 and 8 Sue Fenders

Grades 9 through 12 Danner Curtis

Sunday School is off to a great start with 32 kids

enrolled this year. We welcome Alma as teacher of

the 1st and 2nd grade class. We welcome many new

students as well.

We already have started preparing for the holiday

season. On November 22, at 5 p.m., we will

celebrate the traditional Hanging of the Greens.

Dinner will be provided at 5 p.m., followed by the

ceremony. In December, we are planning to go

caroling at Harborview and Parker Ridge. More

information will be in next month’s Bell Ringer for

those interested in joining us.

We have started working on our Christmas play

planned for December 20 at 4 p.m. We are

practicing during music time and, for children who

attend Sunday school but not church, we will also be

practicing during the worship service.

Sunday School is in need of snack donations. Things

that we could use are crackers, pretzels, bottles of

juice or fresh baked goods. Any help is appreciated,

so thank you.

Jennifer Gray

Sunday School Superintendent

Sue Fenders’ 7th and 8th grade Sunday school class

made good on their pledge to tackle service projects

when they helped Sam and Caroline Woodward with

their woodpile during a recent weekend. And what

do you find in woodpiles? Yes! Moles, mice and

such. Sue’s students rescued one little mole who lost

his home and relocated him to some nearby bushes.

Our Missions Team

The Missions Team is pleased to announce that

Muriel Candage has offered to become a member of

the team as of January 2016, filling at least one of

the vacancies created by the loss of both Sheila

Heneise and Bill Pettengill. We would love to have

another team member to fill our roster. Who else

feels called to this ministry?

Our Mission focus for the month of November is

Tim and Patti Long, who serve the Lord in Baja,

California, Mexico. Patti ministers as a special

education teacher and resource specialist at the

Monte Horeb Baptist Grade School in Tijuana,

working with special needs children.

Tim serves in leadership development through the

Baja Baptist Seminary in Mexicali, teaching present

and future church leaders. This is the

seminary where Steve and Sheila did their sabbatical

a few years ago.

4

A small church near the contaminated riverbed in

Mexicali had been around for over twenty years, but

the building had been unusable since the 2010

earthquake. Even worse, the church's history was

one of multiple pastorates and divisions. Only a

handful of women called it their church home. Tim

was certain it was going to die, and called out for

help.

A Seminary couple responded to the need. Tim was

sure that this was a bad idea—hopeless to be sure.

But Leo and Verónica were determined. Now, a year

later, no one can continue to use the qualifier

“hopeless.” The church facility is in use and being

repaired. Four new believers were recently baptized.

Attendance has grown from 5 to 25. What

happened? The answer has much to do with the

work of the Holy Spirit, coupled with the call,

commitment and hard work by the couple's whole

family.

Please continue to pray for Tim and Patti and their

work in Mexicali.

God Bless you all,

Chris Guy

Spirited Moments

“Our prayers will become more effectual when we

stop using them as a substitute for obedience.”

A. W. Tozer

“Being busy is not a substitute for being holy.”

Chuck Swindoll

Member News

What’s your latest news? Been on a trip? New

grandchild? Send it along (photos always welcome)

to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com.

Most of you know Pastor and Mrs. Phillips recently

journeyed to New York City for a very special

weekend with the Bible Society of Maine. One of

the most impressive sights they were able to take in

was the Ellis Island facility, shown to the left. Do

you have parents or grandparents who entered the

country through this facility? They also visited the

Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center, shown

here with its winter face, as well as the Brooklyn

Tabernacle.

5

Junior Church Activities Let’s all remember to pick up our Operation

Christmas Child shoeboxes from the church

vestibule and get them filled. November is a very

busy month, so the sooner you get your boxes filled,

the more time you’ll have for other holiday

activities.

Sharrie Curtis has a co-worker who is so excited

about the program that she took 30(!) boxes from

Maine Coast Baptist Church earlier this fall and has

been filling them ever since. As we were reminded

to do by Nancy Bates, she took advantage of the

sales of school supplies in September. God bless all

who are moved to participate in this project.

All filled boxes need to be brought to the church

before November 22. Please keep in mind what an

important mission this is for our youth and give

them your full support.

Coming Attractions Sunday, November 7

Sugar and spice and everything nice. That’s what little girls are made of!

You’re invited to a very special baby shower to celebrate the arrival of

Gwendolyn Faith Walden

Saturday, November 7, 2015 2-5 p.m.

The Butler Residence 105 Pleasant Street

RSVP 374-9943

Sunday, November 22 The Acadia Handbell Choir, under the direction of

Mary Gilliland, will perform as part of our Sunday

worship service. The Handbell

Choir will join our choir and

our Sunday school singers

during their recital, as well as

perform special music of their

own. We are excited to start

our holiday season with this

very special group. Please

come – and bring friends!

Also on Sunday, November 22, following one of our

wonderful family-style potluck suppers at 5 p.m.,

we’ll proceed with the annual Hanging of the Greens

ceremony in the sanctuary. Our Sunday school

children will be participating and singing, so please

be sure to come and support their efforts.

Anyone else feel this way about e-mail?

“The worst thing about e-mail is that you

can't interrupt the other person. You have to

read the whole thing and then e-mail them

back, pointing out all their mistakes and

faulty assumptions. It's frustrating and time-

consuming. God bless phone calls.”

George Carlin

~ I’m Glad I’m Not a Turkey

Oh, I’m glad I’m not a turkey

A turkey, a turkey

Oh, I’m glad I’m not a turkey

On Thanksgiving Day

They’ll stuff you and baste you

And then they will taste you

Oh, I’m glad I’m not a turkey

On Thanksgiving Day

6

Oil for My Lamp

By Alison Dibble

For members of First Baptist Church of Blue Hill

and friends around the world

November 2015

How to Get the Oil

Now there are branches where the colorful leaves

used to be! For me, that requires a mental adjustment

each year. Short days and cold temperatures will

follow soon. It gives one pause, here in Maine. Will

we be able to endure whatever the winter has in store

for us? Not another power outage, please.

I'm reminded that it's in the darkness that a

single little light makes a difference. We've

been told to keep our lamps full of oil, and to

me that means "stay connected" through the

Holy Spirit to what matters in this world.

Connected to what? . . . to none other than the

living Christ Himself, who loves us more than

we can imagine.

But often I feel a little parched and creaky, not

so topped up with oil. You, too? How do we get

oil for our lamps?

There are many ways. The oil starts to flow into

my lamp as soon as I turn my focus to the things

of God. And it is available to me in abundance

when I:

read and ponder the scriptures

pray with others or alone

attend church

am in fellowship with other Christians

give time and treasure

serve others

This invisible oil is a gift from the Holy Spirit,

and it's free to anyone who believes. I know I

can trust Him to deliver the oil to my lamp on

time and with full measure.

So, if you, too have a few trepidations about

whatever the winter may hold, and are not

enthusiastic at the idea of all those long dark

nights, then why not trim your wick and fill

your lamp. When Christ returns, we are to be

found faithful with our lamps burning. And we

can do that, by grace.

Sympathies and Concerns Please remember to keep all loved

ones who are unsaved in our thoughts

and prayers.

Also keep Sue Curtis in your prayers as she

continues to struggle with the hardship of MS.

Do you have a prayer request? Please send your

request to fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com.

Please Pray for “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,

intercessions and thanksgivings be made for

everyone.” I Timothy 2:1

Our Special Missionaries:

David and Robin Watters in Papua New Guinea

Debbie Mulneix in the Philippines

Sue Hegarty in Costa Rica

Pieter and Nora Kalkman in Europe

Bill and Ann Clemmer in South Sudan

Tim and Patty Long in Mexico

Kit Ripley in Thailand

Naraa in Mongolia

Bill and Fran Atchison in Waterville

Our Church Family and Activities:

ABCOM and East Association

Deacons’ Benevolence Work

Emmaus Center Meal Service

Children’s Sunday School

Junior Church and Youth Worship

Ministry Teams

Pastoral Search Committee

7

Birthday and Anniversary Greetings

Are you on our Birthday or Wedding Anniversary list? If not, please let us know by e-mail to

fbcbluehill.office@gmail.com so we may celebrate with you!

Kids Korner

Color me!

Parents: Bring your

child’s colored picture

to Faye for exhibition

in the church vestibule

during the Thanksgiving

season. Please make

sure the picture is

signed by the artist.

Colored by _____________________________________________

And last, but not least, is our monthly Church Bulletin Blooper ~

“The Low Self-esteem Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.”

Happy Birthday to

Erin Butler November 2 Michael Astbury November 9

Jackie Butler November 2 Dick Hill November 22

Cameron Walden November 3 Beverly Walls November 27

Cory Schildroth November 4 Cherry Stanko November 28

Kelsee Nevells November 7 Gail Carter November 30

Happy Anniversary to

8

November 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Every Sunday 9 a.m.

2 3

Trustees 6:30 p.m. Missions 6:30 p.m.

4

5 6 7

8 9 10

Christian Education 6:30 p.m.

11

Choir Practice 6:30 p.m.

12 13 14

15 16

17

Emmaus Meal Service 5 p.m. Deacons 6:30 p.m.

18

Choir Practice 6:30 p.m.

19 20 21

Acadia 22 Handbell Choir and with Sunday school singers

Hanging of the Greens & Potluck

23 24 25 Choir Practice 6:30 p.m.

26

27 28

29 30 I don't know why some people change

churches; what difference does it

make which one you stay home from?

Greeters Notes

November 1 Bill and Linda Hansen

November 8 Jon and Sandy Woodward

November 15 Bruce and Faye Candage

November 22 Cordell and Sandy Snow

November 29 Michael and Pat Astbury