Pastor’s Pen: What are your questions and struggles with forgiveness--God's forgiveness of your sins, your forgiveness of others and of yourself? I'd like to hear from you by way of e-mail, text, Facebook (or carrier pigeon). My sermon series during the season of Lent is entitled "The Path of Forgiveness." All sorts of questions arise. How may I know that God has truly forgiven me? What should I do if I cannot get rid of guilt? Is forgiving someone else for my benefit or theirs? Does the other person have to apologize in order for me to forgive? Does that person even have to know about the hurt? Is it possible to forgive too quickly? What is the difference between taking time to process our pain (healthy) and carrying a grudge (unhealthy)? What about the guilt we feel for the hurt we inflict on others? Is it ever too late to reconcile? And finally, how do we forgive systems (family systems, social and political systems) which oppress and wrong us?

I'm very serious when I ask you to share your thoughts with me. By hearing from you, I get more insight into your issues. I also learn from you and become inspired by your courage as you relate stories of victory over hatred.

I know this much: there is no lack of biblical material around the theme of forgiving and being forgiven. My biggest struggle is boiling down this rich subject matter to the few Sundays we have! And please remember that Lent is a season when people might be more open to spiritual matters and more open to an invitation to church. Invite a guest to come with you. Cultivate a relationship with someone you know is struggling with hate and grudge-bearing. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this holy season became a time when we all experience a good, old-fashioned scrubbing in the cleansing grace of Jesus?

Grace,

[ March 6 ] IMAGINE IF CONVERSATION

11:45 am - Lunch 12:30 pm - Conversation

Fellowship Hall

[ March 24 ]

MAUNDY THURSDAY LORD’S SUPPER SERVICE

7:00pm Sanctuary

[ March 27 ]

EASTER WORSHIP SERVICES 8:15 and 10:45am

Sanctuary

@fbcjc

@fbcjcmo

FBCJC

FBCJC

ADULT CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA - Come and join us as we continue to work on the musical, “NO CROSS, NO CROWN.” All are welcome to come and be a part of our worship leadership team: singers, instrumentalists and techs are needed. Orchestra……….Wednesdays, 5:30 - 6:25pm; adults and youth Adult Choir…...Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7:30pm; adults

YOUTH CHOIR AND YOUTH PRAISE TEAM …… grades 7-12 Youth Praise Team ……. Sundays, 5:15 - 6:00pm Youth Choir …….. Sundays, 6:00 - 6:45pm

CHILDREN’S CHOIRS…...Wednesdays, 4:15 - 5:00pm; age 4 through 6th grade

SOUND TECHS AND PROJECTION TECHS…...if interested, see Rod.

Praise & WORSHIP PAGE 2

BUILDING FORGIVENESS MUSCLE

Matthew 18:21-35 PERSONAL AND CORPORATE FORGIVENESS

Acts 7:51 - 8:1 FORGIVENESS...WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

Colossians 2:11-15

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“Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all His goodness!

Psalm 34:9

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Lent ~ EASTER PAGE 3

Palm Sunday 8:15am Blended Worship

10:45am Praise and Worship

Service will be led by the Adult Choir, Orchestra, Music Makers (grades 1-3) and SonShine Singers (grades 4-6).

Doyle’s sermon:

FORGIVENESS...WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS Colossians 2:11-15 At the Cross, God’s mighty work in Christ is sufficient to erase all our sins.

Holy Week NO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON OR EVENING ACTIVITIES. Maundy Thursday Worship and Lord’s Supper 7:00pm in the Sanctuary

Service will be led by the Adult Choir, Orchestra, Music Makers (grades 1-3) and SonShine Singers (grades 4-6).

Child care provided for birth - age 3

Good Friday The church building will be closed.

Easter 8:15am Blended Worship

10:45am Praise and Worship

Doyle’s sermon:

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 All heaven and earth, including our lives and our crises, are under the lordship of the Risen One.

Tulips for Easter If you’d like to help decorate the Sanctuary for Easter, you can order a tulip in memory or honor of someone.

The cost is $15.

Monday, March 14 is the last day orders will be taken. Contact the Church Office.

Lenten Devotions This year we will not be providing a devotion book for Lent, but are offering some suggested

readings to go along with Doyle’s THE PATH OF FORGIVENESS series. A Devotional Walk With Forgiveness by Judith Ingram

Shame and Grace by Lewis Smedes

The Art of Forgiving by Lewis Smedes

The Book of Forgiving by Desmond and Mpho Tutu

Unconditional? by Brian Zahnd

Tuesdays During Lent Community Worship and Lunch

Through March 22

All services will be held at: Central United Church of Christ 118 West Ashley Street

Worship at noon, lunch at 12:30pm. Meal donations are appreciated.

FBC and Joshua House Church will lead the service on March 8.

Wednesdays During Lent TEMPTATION will be the theme for Doyle’s Wednesday night Bible Study (through March 16). All adults are welcome at 5:45pm in the Fellowship Hall.

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Lenten Memory Verse Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

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DISCIPLE NOW WEEKEND

Our annual DNOW is March 11 - 13. DNOW is a weekend of worship, fun and small groups for youth in grades 7-12. Youth stay in host homes beginning on Friday night at 7:30pm. Throughout the weekend we do mission projects, play, worship and study the Bible in small groups.

Cost: $45/youth by March 3. After March 3 the cost is $55. Register online at www.refugejc.com/dnow.

Youth MINISTRY PAGE 4

Children’s MINISTRY

DNOW Weekend

No Souled Out due to Holy Week

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FAMILY FUN NIGHT! Our First Kids’ class and their parents had so much fun playing together on February 17. Thank you to our First Kids’ teachers for hosting such a special time for children and their parents.

UPWARD AWARDS CEREMONY 6:00pm, Sanctuary

BECOMING LIKE CHRIST Our final two sessions are Sunday, March 13 from 3:00 - 5:00pm in Room 203 and Wednesday, March 23 from 5:00 - 6:15pm (location TBA). PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATE Last fall the Personnel Committee approved a request to hire a Preschool Associate. This person will work on Sunday mornings in the preschool area, welcoming children and families to the preschool area and supporting Extended Session and Bible Teaching volunteers. The Preschool Associate will be an important partner in supporting our expanding preschool ministry. Please pray for the Children’s Ministry Team and our other children’s ministry leaders through the search and hiring process.

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SOULED OUT We start a new three-week series on March 9 called “Battlefield.” This series is all about dealing with conflict - conflict with friends, conflict with family, conflict with teachers and coaches. The Bible has

a lot to say, so join us March 9, 16, and 30 for games, worship and small groups.

Wednesdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm in the Refuge youth room.

BASECAMP

On Sunday, March 20, we will begin a new series called “Honest to God: Praying the Psalms.” One of the things we love about songs is how they express our feelings - even anger or sadness. The Psalms can do the same thing! We’ll take a closer look at the honesty of the Psalms in this series.

Sundays, 9:30 - 10:30am in the Refuge youth room.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Snapchat at @refugejc!

Website: Refugejc.com

Friendship Singers 2015 New York Mission Trip

Senior ADULTS PAGE 5

Homebound Birthdays Forest Clark Heisinger Bluffs 1002 West Main Room 385 Jefferson City, MO 65109

Candace Hawkins 712 Nelson Drive Jefferson City, MO 65101

Margaret Wooderson 2821 Sue Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109

Friendship Singers PROGRAMS THIS MONTH:

Summit Villa Lifecare 229 Karen Drive, Holts Summit

10:00am Primrose Retirement Communities

1214 Freedom Boulevard 10:00am

Adams Street Place

1024 Adams Street 10:00am

Oak Tree Villas

3108 West Truman 10:00am

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Homebound Sympathy Family and friends of Stuart Exon

Friendship Club 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone 60 and over is invited. Bring a covered dish and a friend.

Rand Swanigan will introduce us to our mission partners in Kenya, the HOUSE OF HOPE, and bring us up-to-date on what is happening there.

FINAL CALL - New Orleans Mission Trip

There are still a few spots available for our 2016 trip. The cost is $1,200 per person, contact the Church Office.

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Mobile and Online Giving at FBC Contributions can be given quickly and easily by scanning the QR code shown

or by accessing your account through the church life app. The church life app also allows you to access the church directory and calendar.

If you have any questions, contact the Church Office.

Congregational LIFE PAGE 6

Imagine If Congregational Conversation Exciting days are ahead of us at FBC JC! We are wrapping up a year-long journey of listening for God’s dreams for our church. The Imagine If facilitators are ready to share five God-sized dreams for our church based on what YOU shared around the tables in the fall. Please plan to join us on Sunday, March 6, for another important congregational conversation.

11:45am - Light lunch in the Fellowship Hall 12:30-2:00pm - Conversation around the tables

Everyone is invited for the lunch. Children through grade six will have activities provided from 12:30 - 2:00 pm. We encourage all youth and adults to stay for the conversation. Continue to pray for our church and the Imagine If journey as we embrace God’s vision for FBC JC beyond our wildest dreams! This is just the beginning …..

Estate Planning Workshops Room 508

Sponsored by the Stewardship Committee - attend one or both sessions No charge - no registration required

5:00pm - Designed for those who do not currently have an estate plan. The workshop will help you

with the stewardship responsibility of leaving a Godly legacy for your family and ministries. Every adult has an estate and needs a plan for wisely managing it during their lifetime as well as passing it to others as a legacy. The workshop covers basic estate planning tools: wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and nonprobate transfers. Key questions that will be addressed include:

How to provide guardianship of minor children. Can probate be avoided? What if I become disabled or incapacitated? Do I need a trust? What will taxes do to my estate? How might I include my church and Christian ministries?

Seminar participants will be provided with resources to use in developing their personal estate plans and contact information for professional advisors.

6:00pm - Designed for those who have an estate plan, but may need to update it. Because life

events through time (birth, death, marriage, retirement, etc.) may change estate plan objectives, individuals with existing estate plans may wish to attend as a way to perform a “check-up” on their plans.

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6 September Congregational Conversation

Congregational LIFE PAGE 7

In Sympathy Marilynn Medley and family in the death of her aunt

Joleta Shepherd and family in the death of her aunt

Sippie Howard and family in the death of her brother-in-law

Family and friends of Bettye Gilbert

John Watson and family in the death of his brother-in-law

Inclement Weather Policy If the Jefferson City Public Schools cancel or dismiss early on a Wednesday, no meals or evening activities will be held. To find out if activities are canceled, please check:

Church answering machine: 573.634.3603

Web site: fbcjc.org

Social media: facebook.com/fbcjc _________ twitter@fbcjc

Local TV stations: krcgtv.com ________________________ komu.com

Local radio station: kwos.com

A special Bits & Bytes will be sent, when possible.

RESERVED PARKING One of the many highlights of the annual Youth Dessert Theater was something new; Doyle’s parking spot was auctioned! Each Sunday during March, Saundra Wiser will be able to park in the spot normally reserved for Doyle. The amount she paid will go to the fund for the youth summer mission trip.

Thank you, Saundra, for supporting our youth.

Bible Teaching Attendance Worship Attendance Offering January 31 395 January 31 523 January 31 $18,591.14

February 7 400 February 7 543 February 7 $45,281.97

February 14 242 February 14 282 February 14 $15,206.41

February 21 425 February 21 590 February 21 $25,214.03

Welcome New Member Titus Pridemore

Dear First Baptist Church,

We thank you for letting us use your vans for transportation to Nebraska and letting us use your church to host our meetings. Thank you!

Troop 11

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA®

Missions PAGE 8

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Coming SOON

South Dakota Summer Mission Trip June 11 - 18, 2016

$425 - covers everything but four fast food meals.

$ 75 - deposit due by Friday, April 1

Remainder due by Wednesday, June 1

A team from our church will travel to the Pine Ridge Reservation in Southwest South Dakota to partner with Wings as Eagles Ministries. We will help lead Kids Clubs for Lakota children during the day at the Dream Center, and help with various landscaping and construction projects.

All ages are welcome, including children. This is a great opportunity for families to serve together. Younger children must be accompanied by a guardian or family member.

For more information and paperwork, go to http://www.fbcjc.org/serve/missions/national-missions/ , or speak with Cyndi Tandy, Jeff Feeler or Melissa Hatfield.

QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING 5:45pm, Fellowship Hall

2015 Mission JC Gathering at the Capitol

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SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016

Mission JC is a morning of worship through service. We cancel our worship services and Bible study at the church building and instead, worship through service throughout our community. Mission JC has grown to include six local congregations and over 50 different projects.

Registration for our fourth MISSION JC will begin on Friday, March 25. You can register online at www.missionjc.org or on Sundays in the Narthex. A list of projects will be posted on our web site by mid-March so you can look through the options. There are projects for everyone!

MISSION JC REGISTRATION BEGINS ONLINE

MISSION JC 8:30am - Capitol, South Lawn 9:00am - Projects throughout the city

We are collecting the items listed below during March and April as part of our Mission JC event. The Gordon Barnes Class assembles comfort kits for our local chapter of the American Red Cross. The kits are given to people immediately after disasters to help them with basic comfort needs.

You can drop your donations off to the Church Office during the week, or place your donations in the Mission Boxes in the Narthex, Fellowship Hall, 2nd Floor, or 1st Floor entrances on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Items needed - MUST BE TRAVEL SIZE Deodorant

Kleenex Shaving Cream Toothpaste