Old Greenbrier Baptist ChurchPO Box 456Alderson, WV 24910STAFFPastor: Rev. Dr. Bill Bryan(304) 646-8631Ministers of Music:Dell & Nancy WoodDiana HalsteadCarolyn Holliday Treasurer:Charlotte MeltonCongregational Visitor:Peggy BollenbachOfficial Board, ChairShelia HarrisStreet Address:301 North Monroe St.Church Phone: (304) 445-7854

Old GreenbriER

Baptist News2011

Listen to “Message of Hope” Monday through Friday on 95.3 FM radio or on the web at www.hearthealthyradio.com

following the morning news at 8:00am and again following the 95 min. Power Hour at 6:35pm.

Non-ProfitPostage PermitNo. 32

Volume XIII No. 3

Church website: http://oldgreenbrierbaptistchurch.typepad.com/

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART

Thankfully it seems Punxsutawney Phil, that weather prognosticating groundhog in Pennsylvania, did not see his shadow. Regardless, it seems our weather may be improving. The robins are back and the trees are showing the first signs of budding. It is the season of new life and renewal. Easter is coming, but it is late this year. Unlike many of our holidays, which fall on fixed days on our solar-based calendar, the date of Easter varies with the lunar cycle. Easter is calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. Got that? If not, just trust me, it falls on April 24th this year. That’s about as late as it can be. However, we will begin our celebration of Easter in March as we observe the Sundays of Lent.

As we journey through Lent this year, I hope you will do three things. First, I ask that you pray for me and our church as I bring a series of messages related to the vision God is giving us for our future. Second, I hope you will participate in the Corned Beef and Cabbage fellowship sponsored by our Hospitality Team after worship on Sunday, March 20th. More details on that are in this newsletter. Third, I hope you will join me in our weekly Lenten Worship Luncheons sponsored by the Alderson Ministerial Association. They begin on Wednesday, March 16th at noon at Alderson Presbyterian Church. The schedule of the other dates and locations is included in this newsletter.

Our Lenten Journey Begins

I look forward both to sharing an early spring with you and our journey together through Lent toward the vision of new life God brings us this Easter. The March Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast will be held on

Saturday, April 2nd at 8am at Johnson Memorial UMC.

2 – Lisa Butler

5 – David HambrickNeta Simms

7 – Carol HarrahDorothy LinkBud MasseyDebbie Nash

8 – Mary Ruth Patton 18 – Louise Utterback 20 – Becky Godby

Angela Merritt 21 – Stephanie Massey 22 – Roger Carr, Jr.

Jamie FudaBoyd Pence

25 – Jason Farmer 26 – Rodney Knapp

Kayla Reed 31 – Ted Euson

Eva McVey

1 2Christian Ed. Bd. ~5:30p

Bible Study~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

3Ruth Thurmond Circle ~ 1pm

4 5Men’s BkfstOGBC~ 8 am

6Communion Sunday S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

7 8 9Bible Study~ 6:30p

10 12

13S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11aOfficial Bd. ~ noon

14 15 16Bible Study~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

17Pack Food Pantry ~9am

18Food Pantry~9am

19

20S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

Corned Beef & CabbageLuncheon for AFC

21 22 23Bible Study~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

24 25 26

27S School ~ 9:45 aWorship ~ 11 a

28 29 30Bible Study~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

31

On Ash Wednesday, heavenly Father, give us repentant hearts as we prepare to travel the Lenten road your Son took to the cross for us.

As we progress in our journey through Lent, dear Savior, help us remember that we don’t live by bread alone but by every word that comes from you (Matthew 4:4).

2010 Missions Giving ReportWe just received our year end 2010 American Baptist Churches Giving Report. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving last year. We increased our giving to missions by 50.26% last year. Our total giving to missions was boosted by your exceptional giving through One Great Hour of Sharing to help with relief in Haiti after the earthquake there. Our total missions giving in 2010 exceeded not only 2009’s total ($8, 808.53) but also our total giving in 2008 ($12,190). This is a wonderful record of giving especially in light of our economy the last two years. Our ABC, USA mission partners appreciate your support through giving, praying, and going. Keep up the good work in 2011!

Mission Giving

Year To Datethru

12/31/10

Year To Datethru

12/31/09

Year To Date% Increase

United Missions $3,000.00 2,750.00 9.09%America for Christ $1,878.33 $981.00 91.47%

World Missions $2,651.14

$2,207.98 20.07%

RMMO $784.00 $412.00 90.29%One Great Hour $3,282.00 $898.05 265.45%

Other Categories $1,640.60 $1,559.50 5.20%

Total ABMS $13,236.07

$8,808.53 50.26%

Stewardship NeedsOur need for giving to the general fund of the church continues in 2011. We have recently had expensive repairs to the boiler and repairs are need to keep our elevator in safe, working order. Please continue giving to support our church budget. Your support is needed and appreciated as we seek to do God’s work together through our shared ministry in OGBC.

Alderson Ministerial AssociationLenten Luncheon Series

The Alderson Ministerial Association will again sponsor the popular Lenten Luncheon Series. We will meet at noon on the following Wednesdays for a worship service. The time of worship will be followed by a fellowship luncheon. Please make plans to attend as we once again join Jesus on his final journey to Jerusalem. Everyone is welcome.

March 16th at Alderson Presbyterian Church with Rev. Annette Carper speaking

March 23rd at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Lanny Howe speaking

March 30th at Old Greenbrier Baptist Church with Rev. Sam Groves speaking

April 6th at the Hospitality House with Rev. Dr. Bill Bryan speaking

April 13th at River of Life Church of God with either Rev. Phil Combs or Rev. Anthony Carter speaking

The Symbolism of Ash Wednesday

On the first day of Lent, known as Ash Wednesday, pastors in many churches dip a finger in ashes (often made by burning

palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday) and make a cross on parishioners’ foreheads.

God’s people have used ashes as a sign of mourning, humiliation and penitence. In the Old Testament, ashes

were used as a purification offering. The New Testament

speaks of repenting in “sackcloth and ashes” (Luke 10:13, NRSV).

On Ash Wednesday, Christians are pained because our sins—private and public—led to Jesus’ death. With repentant hearts, we begin the season of Lent, knowing it leads to resurrection on Easter Sunday.

“The rich man is not one who is in possession of much,but one who gives much.”

−St. John Chrysostom

Pray Without Ceasing

“Faith is to the soul what life is to the body. Prayer is to faith what breath is to the body. How a person can live and not breathe is past my comprehension, and how a person can believe and not pray is past by comprehension, too.”

−J. C. Ryle

??? Bible Quiz ???Just before the Last Supper (John 13), Jesus took off his outer robe, poured water into a basin and began washing his diciples’ feet. One disciple,

however, protested having the Lord wash his feet. Jesus told the reluctant man that unless he allowed Jesus to wash his feet, he really had no share in Christ’s leadership. The disciple then relented. He said Jesus could wash not only his feet but his hands and head, as well.

Choose the name of this disciple from the list below:

A. PeterB. JohnC. AndrewD. Juda

Answer: A (See John 13:1-9.)

Prayer Needs as of February 23rd

Church Family or Immediate FamilyWho Are Ill or In Need of PrayerBetty AldersonDreama CarterReggie ClarkCheryl and Carolyn CopelandBrian Craft (cousin of Carol Brown)Emma Crouch (g-daughter of D. Halstead)Carolyn Dixon (Sister of Jim Johnson)William Ellis (relative of Jo Johnson)Lee ForbesJimmy Gill Straley HatcherJohn HedrickBetty HighlanderPatty Hiser / Cheryl WiekleBetty HollidayMargaret JackJanet Kennedy (Anne Parker’s sister-in-law)Dolin KirbyJoyce LehmannDottie LinkRaymond LinkTeresa Link (Raymond Link’s sister-in-law)Joe LuskDebbie McInelly (Donna Simm’s sister)Margaret Massey (Bud Massey’s mother)James McMillan (Alice McCutheon’s brother)Roger Melton (Ron Melton’s brother)Sharon Mullens (Carolyn Holliday’s sister)Myrna Osbron (John Osbron’s mother)Barbara Parker (Jo Johnson’s sister)Darla Patriacca (M-i-L to Laurie Patriacca)Renee Pauley (Curtis & Beverly Pauley’s daughter)Greg Shade (Theresa Massey’s cousin) Dick & Neta SimmsEvelyn Sonnamaker (mother of Elisa Bryan)Virginia SurgeonTracy Trahant (family of Donna Simms)Stephanie Williams (niece of Donna Simms)

ALL TROOPS In Our Armed ForcesBrian Belcher (Iraq)Mark Dunbar (Gayle LaRue’s son, Kuwait)Randy Fleshman (Basic Training)Brent Taylor (Greg & Barb Taylor’s son, Grandson of Dorothy Taylor)

Government Officials Heads of State

Students and teachers: Amanda Bowden, Holli Harris, Jamie & Stephanie Massey, Kelsey Still, Cynthia Huffman, Joseph & Hannah Bryan, Bethany Burdette,Stephanie Willis

Friends of Our ChurchFamily Who Are IllFamily of Bill HiserFamily of Walter Wingo (C. Grimmett’s brother-in-law)Dale Berry (Friend of Rick Parker)Rosita & Norman BlevinsJerry Bradley (Gbr. East coach)Lamon Brown (former Missionary Thailand)Alice ColeBoone & Boots CochranRev. Phil CombsMary Davis (Sister of Dickie Honaker)Barbara Doing (Aunt of Peggy Bollenbach)Dan & Becky Drumhiller (niece of A. Parker)Ella FlackCourtney GloverDana Godby (Bro-in-law M. Godby)Valerie Helms (Friend of Knapp’s)Anita HillMelba Hill (Friend of Bill Bollenbach)Jean Himes (Friend of Diana Taylor)Ora HonakerSharon HypesFrank & Ann JonesGlenn & Shirley JonesJerry Markham – friend of Becky Godby John & Pearl McCurdyJohn & Betty Miles (Bill & Bob Holliday’s uncle and aunt)Roylence Link (Raymond Link’s brother)Milford ManleyBrooke McDaniel – Friend of Bryan’sTom McClungConstance McClure - baby GracieJohn McDaniel (friend of Bob Holliday)Rhonda, Jimmy, Camary McCrowsky(friends of Dora Hylton) Abby Miles (Friend of Thomas Willis)Brenda MorganFred O’Brian (Friend of Joe & Shirley Lusk)Gary O’DellLaura Redmond – friend of Becky GodbyCatherine Sams (Sister of Joe Bradley)Juli Simmons ShaferTaylor Shriver (Friend of Massey family)Delvia SimmsTom SizemoreEric Smith – Friend of Rodney KnappMarguerite St ClairEmily (Sue) & Allen ThomasJaime Turner (Friend of Cynthia Huffman)Linda WalkupRev. Billy Wickline

Church Family Shut-inRuth Altare Faye KirbyMary Lou Bowden Ernestine LightFrances Canterbury Junior MerrittMamie Copeland Juanita ReedJulia A. Fletcher Louise Utterback

We are continuing to receive our America for Christ Offering through March. We currently have received $1,217.35 toward our goal of $2011.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Luncheon Sunday, March 20th immediately following morning worship: This is a traditional meal associated with St. Patrick’s Day which is on March 17th. This meal will be sponsored by our Hospitality Team. All proceeds from the luncheon will go to our AFC offering. We will also have goody baskets of candy, cakes, and cookies for you to bid on in a silent auction. Make plans now to join in this fun fellowship and support our giving to missions.

Nehemiah Leadership Network Makes an Impact – Your contributions to the America for Christ offering make the Nehemiah Leadership Network (NLN) possible. NLN is a unique and highly effective program that works with the best and most promising pastors in

American Baptist life to equip them to be effective leaders of change. NLN is a three-year, intensive journey for participating pastors. NLN has graduated six classes of pastors since 2004, and more than 30 pastors are currently enrolled in the program. “It’s been helpful,” says NLN graduate, the Rev. Bernadine Ladson. “The idea of intentionality in leadership allows you the chance to pay attention to the journey from month to month as well as year to year, as you grow as a church leader.” Together, we are building vital

America for Christ Offering 2011Touching Lives, Transforming People

churches that are better equipped to engage our world with the transforming power of the Gospel.