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THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE BEREAN BAPTIST TEMPLE

Fayette & Vine Streets, Bridgeton, NJ 08302

(856) 451-7456, berean.baptist.temple@verizon.net

Website: BereanBaptistTemple.net

VOLUME 25 No. 2 February 2018

PASTOR'S PONDERINGS Dear Friends, There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So, as she was getting her things “in order,” she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read and a number of other things. Everything was in order but as the pastor was preparing to leave the young woman suddenly remembered something very important she wanted to convey to the pastor. “There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly. “What’s that?” the pastor replied. “This is very important,” the young woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the young woman asked. “Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by your request,” said the pastor. The young woman explained. “My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement and hope. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming…like chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in the casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them: ‘Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.’”

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The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman and said good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice the experience and knowledge. She knew that something better was coming. At the memorial service, as people were walking by the young woman’s casket, they saw the fork in her right hand. Repeatedly the pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?” And over and over, he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Pastor KenPastor KenPastor KenPastor Ken

Anniversaries Feb. 14 Harry & Barbara Elbirn Feb. 25 Robert & Nancy Seibert

Birthdays Feb. 5 John VanEss Feb. 6 Claire Ayars Feb. 7 Emma West Feb. 11 Steve Allen

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Feb. 12 Edgar Sayre Jr. Feb. 13 Jack Bodine Feb. 15 Harry Elbirn Feb. 15 Joan Caldwell Feb. 18 Hannah Smith Feb. 28 Phil Hitchner

BEREAN BAPTIST IS

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF

MINISTRY!

Senior Retreat is February 23-25, 2018 at

Highpoint. You may make reservations on

line and let them know you are with

Berean/Cohansey Group. Berean will

reimburse ½ of the registration fee for

Berean youth. For further information, see

Teri Bodine.

The Men’s Breakfast will meet this month at the Amish Market on February 10th at 9 AM. We hope all you men out there can join us and feel free to bring a friend with you. It is always a great time of fellowship. “For where two or three gather in my name,

there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

Many of us enjoy the annual community Lenten services hosted by our local Baptist congregations. For our Lenten Service Series this year, the theme will be “The Objects of Holy Week”. As for the mission offering received during our Lenten services, this year it will go to further the humanitarian work being

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accomplished in Puerto Rico following the devastation done by Hurricane Maria.

BRIDGETON AREA AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES

LENTEN WORSHIP

7:007:007:007:00 P.M.P.M.P.M.P.M.

LENTEN SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR 2018

THEME: “Objects of Holy Week” FEBRUARY 14TH (Ash Wednesday):

Host Church: First Baptist Church of Bridgeton Speaker: Rev. Kurt Terhune “The Bowl and Towel”

FEBRUARY 21ST:

Host Church: Berean Baptist Temple Speaker: Rev. Aleksander Saar “The Bread and Wine”

FEBRUARY 28TH:

Host Church: Union Baptist Temple Speaker: Rev. David Gonzalez “The Rock of Gethsemane”

MARCH 7TH:

Host Church: Cohansey Baptist Church of Roadstown Speaker: Rev. Albert Morgan The Crown of Thorns and Robe”

MARCH 14TH:

Host Church: Overcoming Victory Pearl Street Church Speaker: Rev. Lou Spyes “The Cross and Nails”

MARCH 21ST:

Host Church: Central Baptist Church of Millville-Vineland Speaker: Rev. Kenneth Scovell “The Sponge”

MARCH 29TH (Maundy Thursday): Host Church: Alloway Baptist Church Speaker: Rev. David Smith “The Spear”

NOTES TO REMEMBER: 1. 2018 Lenten Mission Offering: Puerto

Rico Hurricane Relief 2. Refreshments will be provided by the

host church after each Wednesday

service.

3. One choir anthem or special music

piece will be provided by the host

church and speaker’s church for each

Wednesday service.

March 30th Good Friday service will be at

Union Baptist from Noon to 3 PM.

Bridgeton Christian Ministers are sponsoring

a Hymn Sing at the Nazarene Church on March

25th at 5 PM

We would like to thank everyone for their

prayers, cards, phone calls and the beautiful

fruit basket from the church in the passing of

our mother and grandmother, Lenora Renne.

Karole and Bill King

Trish and family

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The Board of Fellowship will be selling home-made soup on February 4th to enable them to provide provisions for funeral luncheons and social activities for the congregation. Cost will be $5.00 per quart. This year the list of soups includes:

Chicken Pot Pie Broccoli and cheese Chicken Corn Chowder Beef Tortellini Ham and Split Pea Chili Taco Soup Italian Wedding Soup And more.

Please join us immediately after worship service in Everett Carll’s classroom.

The Board of Fellowship is looking for

donations of homemade soup to sell at the

“Souperbowl” sale on February 4th. Please sign

up at the soundboard.

WATER Drink lots of water every day! Water helps to keep your body healthy & happy! Your body weight is made up of 60% water. Water flushes out toxins from your vital organs, carries nutrients to cells and provides moisture to your ears, nose and throat tissues. So drink up! Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses per day.

BAKE SALE The Board of Christian Education is planning a bake sale for Feb. 4 immediately following morning worship. Profits are to benefit the Retreat Fund to assist children who wish to attend retreat. Please bring your sweet tooth.

The Board of Christian Education is looking

for donations of baked goods for their bake

sale.

USA FASHION CLOTHING DRIVE FOR MISSIONS:

Throughout the month of February, the Board of Missions will once again do a “Clothing Drive for Missions”. The deadline for all donations will be the morning of February 25th. Please leave all donations in the parking lot foyer. We will appreciate slightly used clothing, fashion accessories, shoes and household items such as curtains, towels, table cloths and bed sheets. Thank you for your support.

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PRESIDENTS’ DAY AND HOW TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY: Originally celebrated on February 22, Washington’s actual date of birth, Presidents’ Day was changed in the 1970’s to the third Monday of February to give employees a three day weekend. (Oddly enough, this change guaranteed that Washington's Birthday would never again be celebrated on his “actual” birthday of February 22, as the third Monday in February cannot fall any later than February 21.) The change of date also led many to believe for some time that the holiday was now celebrating Lincoln birthday since he was born in February as well (February 12th). Today the holiday is celebrated in honor of the first President of the United States and all of his successors. Here are a few ways to celebrate the holiday in your home this February:

In honor of Presidents’ Day, display the American Flag outside your house.

Learn more about our Presidents by reading an article or book about

one of them. For example, in honor of The Great Emancipator, read any of Lincoln's best-remembered speeches to yourself and to your friends and family. Include the short but powerful Gettysburg Address of 1863 and his famous second inaugural address from 1865, which includes the phrase, “With malice toward none; with charity for all” – a phrase Lincoln used to signal a desire to mend fences with the South as the Civil War neared its end.

During your devotional time thank God for the Presidential leaders we have had in the past who governed our country as humble servants of God.

During your devotional time ask God’s blessing on our new President, Donald Trump, and give him the wisdom, discerning spirit and the holy quality of character that he will need to properly lead our nation.

Take time to teach your children and/or grandchildren about the Presidents of our country. For example, get crafty and create Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin or George Washington’s cherry tree (Information for doing such crafts can be found online).

In honor of one of our Presidents, cook their favorite meal or dessert for dinner on Presidents’ Day. For example, George Washington was exceedingly fond of fish for dinner and enjoyed Martha’s spice cake for dessert.

Get on your computer and take a virtual tour online of the White House or George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT CORNER:

In the spirit of President’s Day, which we celebrate this month on February 19th, here are a few inspirational quotes from our past presidents: “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.” George Washington “It is by a thorough knowledge of the whole subject that [people] are enabled to judge correctly of the past and to give a proper direction to the future.” James Madison “Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.” Andrew Jackson “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” Abraham Lincoln

Yes, I am a Senior Citizen

I'm the life of the party - even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

I'm very good at opening childproof caps

- with a hammer. I'm usually interested in going home

before I get to where I am going. I'm smiling all the time because I

can't hear a thing you're saying. I'm very good at telling stories - over

and over and over and over ... I'm not really grouchy, I just don't like

traffic, waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly kids, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now.

I'm wondering, if you're only as old as

you feel, how could I be alive at 150? I'm a walking storeroom of facts - I've

just lost the key to the storeroom door. Yes, I'm a senior citizen, and I think I

am having the time of my life!

Our Sunday morning greeters for the month of January are Bob and Nancy Seibert.

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February 2018 Activities @ Berean Baptist Temple SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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6:30 p.m. – Praise

Team

7:30 p.m. – Temple

Choir

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4. Communion Sunday

9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

11:00 a.m. – Morning Worship

12:30 p.m. – “Souperbowl” Soup Sale

12:30 p.m. – Retreat Fund Bake Sale

6:00 p.m. – Sr. BYF @ Cohansey

5.

5:30 p.m. - Bells

7:00 p.m. – Bd. of

Deacons

7:00 p.m. – Bd. of

Christian Ed.

6.

10:00 a.m. –

Prayer & Bible

Study

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8.

6:30 p.m. – Praise

Team

7:30 p.m. – Temple

Choir

9.

10.

9:00 a.m.

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9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

11:00 a.m. – Morning Worship

6:00 p.m. – Sr. BYF @ Cohansey

12.

5:30 p.m. - Bells

7:00 p.m. – Strategic

Planning Comm.

7:00 p.m. – Stitches

of Love

13.

10:00 a.m. –

Prayer & Bible

Study

14.

@ First Baptist

15.

6:30 p.m. – Praise

Team

7:30 p.m. – Temple

Choir

16.

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18.

9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

11:00 a.m. – Morning Worship

6:00 p.m. – Sr. BYF @ Cohansey

19. Presidents’ Day

5:30 p.m. – Bells

7:00 p.m. – Bd. of

Missions

7:00 p.m. – Bd. of

Trustees

20.

10:00 a.m. –

Prayer & Bible

Study

21.

Lenten Service @

Berean Baptist

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6:30 p.m. – Praise

Team

7:30 p.m. – Temple

Choir

23.

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9:45 a.m. – Sunday School

11:00 a.m. – Morning Worship

12:30 p.m. – Music Committee Meeting

26.

3:30 p.m. – Bd. of

Fellowship

5:30 p.m. - Bells

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10:00 a.m. –

Prayer & Bible

Study

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Lenten Service @

Union Baptist