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January 2016

1320 Arbor Drive Email: decaturfbc@comcast.net 217-875-8034 Website: www.decaturfbc.com Volume 5

I came across an article that read as follows: How valuable is salt? 40 million tons are required each year to fill our needs. Homer called it divine.

Plato called it a "substance dear to the gods." Shakespeare mentioned salt 17 times in his plays.

Perhaps Leonard da Vinci wanted to send a subtle message about purity lost when he painted "The Last

Supper." In that painting an overturned salt container is conspicuously placed before Judas. In ancient

Greece a far-flung trade involving the exchange of salt for slaves gave rise to the expression, "...not

worth his salt." Special salt rations were given to Roman soldiers and known as "Solarium Argentums,"

the forerunner of the English word "salary." Thousands of Napoleon’s troops died during his retreat from

Moscow because their wounds would not heal--their bodies lacked salt. The human body contains about

4oz. of salt. Without enough of it, muscles won’t contract, blood won’t circulate, food won’t digest and

the heart won’t beat a beat. Without a doubt, salt is the essence of life. (sermoncentral.com) Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty

again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the

light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it

under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same

way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in

heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) 2015 has been an amazing year. To be frank, I had no idea at this time last year that Donna and I

would be in Decatur. I had no idea that our oldest daughter would move to Oklahoma City. I had no

idea I would fall from a ladder and hurt my back. And I had no idea I would get to meet the wonderful

people of First Baptist Church. You too have had many things happen in your life during 2015 that were

complete surprises to you. Some good, some not so much. 2016 will also contain many unknowns. Jesus never claimed otherwise. What He said was that while you

go through life, please consider being salt and light to those around you. Be the spice that gives joy to

another. Be the light that shines in someone else’s darkness. Salt and light make a huge difference in

our lives. We need the right amount of both. As we enter 2016 I am praying that First Baptist Church will be the salt and light to many in our

community and in our family. I pray that we don’t settle for average or mediocre but we strive to be a

beacon on a hill. I pray that we are never satisfied with ourselves but always have a divine restlessness

that pushes us to greater worship, greater sacrifice, greater mission, greater glory….in the eyes of

God. I pray that 2016 is a year filled with many who see Jesus in us and want Jesus in them. I pray

that the kingdom of God grows and grows, not because we deserve it, but because it honors God. I

pray that we are used up such that when the day comes for us to take up residence in that kingdom, we

can look back and say we have nothing more to give --- we gave it all away. All the salt and all the

light that we had --- given for Jesus Christ. Amen.

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As we begin a New Year, it is most appropriate to look backward for a moment and say “Thank you!” to everyone who served so faithfully in the music ministry at FBC this year. We were quite busy in November and December and it is only due to the diligence of those who served that everything occurred in such wonderful fashion. Many thanks to the choirs, children,

handbell ringers, kitchen staff, and a host of other volunteers who worked tirelessly during our Advent and Christmas celebration. You continue to bless the ministry of First Baptist Church and I am grateful to be serving with you. The New Year brings other opportunities for witness within our community as well. On January 24 at 2:00 p.m., Tabernacle Baptist Church, 650 Wykles Road, will host the Community Choir Festival. Members of church choirs and others singers from the Decatur community will join together in sharing five mass choir anthems. Our Carillon Bell Choir will be featured as the guest handbell choir, and Heart & Soul (the choir for special need adults who have sung for us in worship several times) will also share. This is a free event, with an offering to benefit Old Kings’ Orchard Neighborhood Ministries. Please come and root for our Bell Choir as we share our ministry together with fellow musicians. Watch for further details in the bulletin. It would be great to have an FBC Cheering Section! On other notes: Carillon Bell Choir and Sanctuary Choir rehearsals resume on Wednesday, January 6.

New members are welcome to join us as prepare for special music each Sunday. Please speak to me if you are interested.

We continue to provide a monthly worship service at Primrose Retirement Community. Last month we had 16 residents in attendance. Our Sunday School children prepared special Nativity gifts for those in attendance which were most appreciated.

It is great to have Pastor Scott and Karen on board! If you haven’t met them yet, please be sure to do so.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the year 2015 and Your continual Presence each day. Lead us in the way we need to go in 2016 and help us become the church You long for us to be. In Jesus’ name, amen. – Pastor Mike Waltenberger

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Youth Ministry Newsletter

January 2016

On behalf of Karen and myself, thank you for the warm and generous welcome you have extended to us as we join First Baptist Church in service and ministry! We are both very excited that God has chosen to cross our paths “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Our Sunday Night Student Ministry, “The Block,” continues throughout the month of January on the following dates: January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. “The Block” starts at 4:00 PM and goes until 6:00 PM. “The Block” will always feature some great games and recreation, a time of worship in the word, and a snack meal prepared by our wonderful Student Ministry volunteers. Your friends are always welcome at “The Block” so bring them with you!

Our first “Dinner and a Movie” will be Saturday, January 2, 2016 from 5:00 PM until around 7:30 PM at the church. As always, transportation will be provided.

I still have some DV8 Student Ministry long-sleeve t-shirts available, so see me if you have not received one yet.

I will continue to plan other Winter Events and will communicate these events to you as they are scheduled.

If you need to reach me by phone, my mobile number is (217) 358-0616 or you can e-mail me at fbcdpastorscott@gmail.com.

—Scott

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The American Baptist Churches of USA is an organization of over 2,500 churches nationwide. While we believe strongly in the autonomy of each church to govern themselves, we employ a group in Valley Forge, PA, that helps ABC-USA to coordinate missions and represent the entire denomination to the world, among other things. The head of that group, the General

Secretary, wrote a letter regarding recent terrorist activity in California. I felt that the message he provided was to the point and well-worded. Thus I have asked that it be included in this newsletter. I would welcome your comments and thoughts. Pastor Ron

http://www.abc-usa.org/2015/12/08/general-secretary-addresses-recent-attacks/

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January Birthdays

1 Lindsey Gray 1 Zachary Gray 2 Fred Wright 4 Dianne Wright 5 Bertha Durbin 5 Karen Erwin 6 Zelma Moody 8 Alicia Priyatmo 10 Janet Gray 11 Jarod Haskell

14 Kaidden Marksberry 15 James Fletcher 16 Chelsea Gillespie 21 Rien Mahon 23 Charlotte Dixson 25 Clare Hoffer 26 Kelsey Parrish 29 Laura Mahon 29 Sharon Maurizio 31 Lula Mae Glacken

NEW SERMON SERIES On January 3rd we begin a new sermon series that will take us through one of the most exciting collection of stories about Jesus, the Book of Mark. This is a story of healing the lame and sick, popularity in overwhelming numbers, and teaching ideals that were extremely radical in their day. This is a story of intrigue as Jesus Himself says three times He will be killed, arguing with religious leaders who plot to kill Him, and Roman soldiers who do kill Him. This is a story of a man who is called the “Son of God” by a voice from the heavens, who claimed to be the Messiah and Savoir of the world, and three days after His death, proves the claims to be true. Join us each Sunday as we walk with Jesus through the eyes of Mark as we learn how to live faithfully in a world full of sin.

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Items Needed:

Rain Poncho’s

Bed Roles

Blankets

Wash Cloths

Bus Tokens

Cough Drops

Hand Warmers

Socks

Mission of the month for January

Oasis Day Center Laundry Detergent

Hats, gloves, mittens

Toiletries

Deodorant

Reading glasses

(all strengths)

Tote bags

Reusable grocery bags

The Oasis Day Center is located at 243 W. Cerro Gordo Street. It is a program of

the Heritage Behavioral Health Center.

Please place your donated items on the table in the Gathering Hall

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January 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Office Closed

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3 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 4:00 p.m. The Block

4 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting

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

7 6:30 p.m. Community Choir Rehearsal at Tabernacle Baptist Church

8 Office Closed

9 8:30 a.m. Leadership Vision Casting meeting

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

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13 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

14 6:30 p.m. Community Choir Rehearsal at Tabernacle Baptist Church

15 Office Closed

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17 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship at Primrose 4:00 p.m. The Block

18 Office Closed 9:30 a.m. Staff meeting

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20 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

21 6:30 p.m. Community Choir Rehearsal at Tabernacle Baptist Church

22 Office Closed

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24 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:45 a.m. Trustee Board Christian Ed. Board 2:00 p.m. Choir Festival at Tabernacle Baptist Church 4:00 p.m. The Block

25 26 27 6:00 p.m. Carillon Bell Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

28 5:30 p.m. Diaconate Board Finance Board Worship Ministries Board 6:30 p.m. Executive Council

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31 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 12:00 p.m. Annual Business meeting and luncheon 4:00 p.m. The Block

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Honor or Memorialize Someone Special

With Flowers For Sunday Morning Worship

Open Sundays Floral Sign Up 2016

Name_______________________________________________

In Memory of:________________________________________

OR

In Honor of:__________________________________________

Date 1st Choice_______2nd Choice_______ Any Sunday_______

I will Take Flowers_______ Please Use However Needed_______

Special Instructions____________________________________

____________________________________________________

Dates Open (Circle Date You Would Like)

January 17

June 5

June 26

August 21

November 27

Floral Cost $ 35

Other Sizes and Dates By Special Request

A confirmation and payment envelope will be mailed to you the month prior to your order

Thank You For Your Support

Floral Committee