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FOCUSFirst Baptist Church, Chico
850 Palmetto Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
530-343-3446
Monthly NewsletterVol. 30, No.6 - July 2011
We are a richly varied church community celebrating the grace of God through worship, through encouraging spiritual
growth, and by living as reminders of Gods loving presence in our world.
As we approach July 4 and the celebration ofth
the birth of our nation, I cant help but give
thanks that we live in this wonderful nation.
Even more, Im thankful that were governed byour Constitution with its Bill fo Rights, a wondrous
document that seeks to ensure freedoms for all of
us. I am proud and thankful to be an American.
As much as I love our country, as a Christian I am
called to love God even more. We are fortunate to
live in a nation where were free to do this, free to
worship God even more than we love our nation.
Very seldom are we ever asked to choose between
God and country though that isnt unthinkable.
There are times when our call to be obedient to God
goes against the wishes of those who govern us.
There are also times when we as American
Christians are called upon to ensure that the same
religious freedom we enjoy is granted to all who
live in our country.
I was reminded of why this is so when I came
across a brochure written by the Baptist Joint
Committee, the organization dedicated to religious
freedom and the separation of church and state.They write:
Religious liberty is a gift from God, not the result
of any act of toleration or concession on the part of
the state. It has to do with what we Baptists call
soul freedom the liberty of conscience that we
all receive simply by virtue of how God created us
and chose to relate to us.
God has made all of us free free to say yes, free
to say no, and free to make up our own minds abo
our spiritual destiny.
Religious freedom has theological import. It goe
to the heart of who God is and who we are. So the
fight for religious liberty for all is to ensure agains
government doing what even God will not do: to
violate consciences or to coerce faith.
As Baptists, we sometimes forget the need to
demand the separation of church and state promis
by the First Amendment to our Constitution. Its
sometimes simpler to believe that the government
on our side, rather than to seek to understand thother side of the issue. Its easier to believe we
live in a Christian nation than it is to understand
that we live in a pluralistic nation where its
necessary to protect the religious rights of all
people. Only in that way can we protect our own
religious rights and freedom.
I think maybe it would be easier to fight for
religious freedom in a country that is antagonistic
to religion than it is in our own country. We think
so highly of our nation, and rightly so, that we ma
let our guard down and not speak out for the
religious freedom for all religions.
This 4 of July may we all celebrate the freedomsth
in our nation, and may we always work to ensure
our right to religious liberty as we seek to protect
all our freedoms.
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First Baptist Church, Chico
850 Palmetto Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
530-343-3446
www.chicofirstbaptist.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
E-Mail:[email protected]
Every Member a Minister
Rev. Ted Sandberg D. Min.
M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A RMonday, July 4 -Independence Day (Office Closed)
Sunday, July 31- Quarterly Business Mtg
FOCUS Articles due in officeFriday July 22
Expediters: Joyce Shannon, Louise Logue, Evelyn Cash, Marta Torres
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J U L Y C A L E N D A R
Date Sermon Title Sermon T
July 3
Communion Rest for Our Souls Matthew 11:16-19, 25
Worship Leader: Gayle Reynolds
Communion Servers: Doris Arbuckle & Jackie Long
Cheri Sandberg & Joan Hannis Gerfen
July 10 Where Do We Sow the Seed? Matthew 13:18
Worship Leader: Margaret Ballinger
July 17 Guest Speaker: Father Mike Newman
Worship Leader: Sue Rychtera
July 24 Guest Speaker: Rev. Sandi John
Worship Leader: Margaret Ballinger
July 31 Those #@!$& Weeds Matthew 13:24
Worship Leader: CheriSandberg
ADULT DISCUSSION CLASS Sunday Mornings at 9:15 am with Shirley Stanley and Jerry Fogle.
Presently in a video series Jesus in the New Testament
Coffee and Donuts provided.
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Joan Cochran (7/1) Ann Nelson (7/12) Tyler & Dustin Rainey (7/24)
Marlene Brousseau (7/6) Marty Brandstatt (7/13) Grace Blanchard (7/25)
Chelsea Catterall (7/6) Terry Houchin (7/16)Carolyn Mosher (7/11) Terre Reynolds (7/18)
Virginia Bolton (7/11) Lynn Brandstatt (7/20)
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MONDAY, July 4 is Independence Day!th
OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
Thank You to everyone on the cleaning crew that comes in
every Thursday to keep our church clean & comfortable !
(Louise Logue, Marta Torres, Joyce Shannon, Evelyn Cash, Bob Hamilton)
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Our Prayer List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chico First Baptist FamilyContinue to Pray for: The WAR in Iraq and Afghanistan
Friends with Cancer: :PAUL METTLE - Jill Ramseys brother-in-law; FERN MORGAN - mother of friend
Terre Reynolds; FRANK JAMES - Mary Jane Bowsers friend, esophageal cancer; MARGARET BALLINGER
SISTER- began chemotherapy again; CANDACE - Jill Ramseys friend, ovarian cancer; CHERYL DEAN -
Evelyn Cashs cousin, bone cancer; BOB DEMILLO - friend of Virginia, having cancer treatments;- ERIKALUCKETT - singer friend of Terre & Laura, ovarian cancer, in remission.
SHIRLEY SMITH: Has Parkinsons and Palsy SP; AMY: Ed Hightowers daughter - Parkinsons disease; RICK
Jill Ramseys cousin - has kidney failure;JOYCE SHANNON: - recovering from surgery; RUTH WOODS: Cal
Park rehab - recovering from broken hip; CORA RAE HUBBARD: Blister on her corneas, september surgery; JO
REIL: - in hospital; ELIZABETH FUNK: - health concerns.
***
REMEMBER IN PRAYER:
Courtyard at Little Chico Creek: HELEN WALLACE
The Inn at the Terraces : EDITH MCCONNELLRoses & Ivy Elder Care Center: DOLLY SKINNER
Roseleaf Senior Care: PAULA JOHNSON
Feather River Canyon Home: ELAINE HERRINGTON
Twin Oaks Care Center:LOU HAYES
MILITARY: JASON WILLIAMS - Ed Hightowers step grandson
WILL DUNHAM - Doris Arbuckles grandson
DAN GERFEN:- Joan Hannis Gerfens son deployed to Afghanistan
CAROL: Catherine Hendrixs neighbor died May 30. Please remember her family and friends.
Pacific Coast Baptist Association. Remember those who are grieving.
*If there are names that can or should be removed please contact Ted or the office at 343-3446*
******************************************************************************DID YOU KNOW ? We here at First Baptist Church have walkers, crutches, wheelchairs and other durable medical
equipment to loan? Call the church office at 343-3446 to arrange pick-up... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A DAY OF REFLECTION
How often have you said or heard someone else say, Please just give me an answer, andthe sooner the better!? However, often the spiritual life is about living the questions more than
finding safety and security in having the answers. On Sunday, July 24, First Baptist Church
of Chico, 850 Palmetto Ave, is offering a day of reflection on the spiritual practice, Let Life
Question You. 10:30 AM worship with sermon, 11:45 am, Bring your Own Sack Lunch
Fellowship, with drinks and dessert provided. Noon to 1 pm, teaching and discussion. All are
welcome. Led by the Rev. Sandi John, Pastoral Counselor. For more information please call
Sandi at 809-0409 or the church office at 343-3446.
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THANK YOU TO MY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY
Thank you so much for all the cards, calls and visits while I have been recuperating from knee
replacement surgery. The healing process is going well and I am hoping to get back on my feet as
soon as possible, I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful church family.
Best wishes to you all,
Joyce Shannon
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Office Notes: Pastor Ted and Cheri will be on Vacation
Beginning July 11, thru July 25.
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Attitude of Gratitude
God is the Source of all of Life, it is self destructive to put our trust elsewhere.
If giving causes more pain than pleasure, it is not our money, but our faith that is insufficent.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Its often said the church is a crutch, what makes you think you dont limp?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.
The Churches have to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. But they have also to remember
that the answer to homelessness, is homes, not shelters. What the poor and downtrodden need is not piecemeal
charity, but wholesale justice. WM Sloan Coffin
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CONGRATULATIONS:
Cal and Margarita Rainey on their 65 Wedding Anniversary !!!th
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
July 2011Flowers for the Month Provided by church members
1 2
3
Communion
*Louise Logue
4Independence Day
OFFICE CLOSED
5 6
Worship11:00am(CANCELLED)
Stewardship6pm(postponed)
7Communication9am
8 9
10
*J. Fogle
11
(Pastor Ted &Cheri vacationthru 25th)
12ChristianEducation6:30pm(CANCELLED)GoverningBoard 7(CANCELLED)
15 16
17Spiritual ClassRev. Sandi John
12-1 Missions/Socialserve even meal
Torres Shelter
Guest SpeakerFather MikeNewman
18 19 20
Stewardship6pm
21 22
FOCUS
articles due for
August
23
24Guest SpeakerRev. Sandi John
*J. Hannis
Gerfen
25Prop mgt.
3:30(CANCELLED)
26Missions/Social5:15F.O.R. 7pm(Pastor Ted &
Cheri return
from vacation)
27 28 29 30
31QuarterlyBusinessMeeting &
Lunch after
service*CindyHightower
*Lock up
person for the
week