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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)

*************************************************************************

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

**********************************************************************

Office Notes: Pastor Ted and Cheri will be on Vacation

Beginning July 11, thru July 25.

**********************************************************************

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

**********************************************************************

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

focus july 2011 copy

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