A huge, huge thank you for the pounds and pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food, over 100 blankets and countless coats that were donated to Helping Hands in November. This will help them greatly through the winter months. There is a great need right now for boxes of saltine crackers, toilet tissue and soap. Your continued support with non-perishable food items is always needed and can be left in the box outside the church office.
The Adopt-A-Grandparent Program has become so successful because of your generosity. This program provides a Christmas/holiday gift set to elderly people in the Harper Mills Nursing Home (formerly Heartland Nursing Home) This gift set would include two great lotions, one for the hands and one for the feet and would be perfect for both men and women. There are current 155 people in Harper Mills and the cost of each gift set is $20(which includes tax, gift wrap and delivery.) There will be a tag on the gift saying that it came from you. The deadline for this project is Friday, December 11th. If you are interested in helping with this project, contact Ann Coleman or the church office.
by Rev Robert A Wendel
It is Christmas Eve in the Year of our Lord 1800. First Lady Abigail Adams is carefully placing a holly wreath and a single white candle in each window of the new Presidential Mansion. The uncompleted White House would be the home she shared with her husband John, young country’s elected leader. Just a month before, on the first night under roof, the happy couple prayed together:
“O Lord, in Thy Name, we dedicate this house. We invoke Thy blessing upon all who now and hereinafter shall dwell here. May none there but a good and wise man ever rule under beneath its roof.” During WWII, FDR had these lines carved into the mantle of the State Dining Room.
Just as President and Mrs. Adams felt joy over the arrival of another Christmas holiday, so should we. That first year in the nation’s official residence was a difficult one. The streets of the capital were muddy carriage paths, conflicts were brewing all over Europe and felt on this side of the Atlantic. President Adams’ election was very bitter one. Some wondered if bad feelings would be forgotten.
Words in carols like — “Peace on earth, good will toward men” — seemed out of place in such a bloody world.” In the USA, Adams was told that something must be done or our Christmas religion would die.
Over the years the human situation has not changed much. There are still young people enjoying the excitement of living in new places, trying out new ideas in a world with plenty of wars, bitterness, and misunderstandings. For more than Twenty Centuries, Christmas has come again giving believers the chance to light simple candles in the darkness as reminders of the hope of Jesus.
The sight of holiday candles on Christmas Eve 2016 will lift both our hearts and excite our spirits, serving to remind you and me that Yuletide seems to come just when we need it most. For one hour, leave your burdens and worries at the door and join us on December 24th.” There are many ways to think and do for others during December 2016. Consider supporting at least one of the community opportunities encourage by our church. Dec. 9th and Dec. 16th we offer a community luncheon and our deacons will hold our men’s breakfast on Saturday, December 10th at 8:00
by Norma Gunter
The American Baptist Women’s Ministry Focus for December is See…God All Around You. The scripture is Isaiah 53:1-3. “We see many things every day: a flower growing out of the ground, children playing at a park, criminals being put away in prison, and the media telling us about the most recent tragedy. But what about God? Do we see God at the park or on the news? Do we see God’s love and beauty in the smallest of things, such as the only remaining dewdrop from last night’s mist? Many of us don’t, or if we do see God’s love, we see it only in the things that bring us joy: But God is everywhere, in both the good and the bad.”
One thing you can see God in is American Baptist Women’s Ministries. The year 2016 is our 65th anniversary. “ In 1953, the National Council of American Baptist Women was formed to create a national organization to which each American Baptist woman could belong, and to expand the ministry to include the total mission of the church, including missions with women in the United States, Puerto Rico and all over the world. Women wanted to be able to elect their own officers and chairperson who could focus their energy on the needs of American Baptist women and all that these women could accomplish by working together. They also wanted a focus on leadership development of women to develop a greater capacity for ministry and mission.” (Seasons Magazine, August 2016).
Some of the things our West Virginia AB women accomplished this year for White Cross was: 1,114 roller bandages, 16 adult quilts, 8 health kits, 1,750 cloth squares, 40 baby quilts, and 10 school kits. We also did community service projects such as: Helping Hands, cancer care centers, hospice, school backpacks, Christmas shoe boxes, food pantries and many more projects. We also support: Love Gift, Personal Development Ministries. Mission Outreach Projects, Special Projects, Church and Community Ministries, Spiritual Growth Retreat and Weirton Christian Center.
As you can see there is a place to serve for every woman at First Baptist Church. We are involved with many projects here at the church as well as supporting our International Missionaries around the world.
Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
by Debbie Vanaman
Well, another year is done and through your efforts many, many children will be blessed when they receive a shoebox that you packed. After over 15 years of being involved in this project, saying thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough but it’s something that needs to be acknowledged. To all of you who packed a shoebox, to our youth who packed 125 boxes with items that you donated throughout the year, to our collection center volunteers who packed tirelessly all during collection week and finally to our load up crew who included a bunch of young men from the Fellowship House, who loaded our cartons the Saturday before Thanksgiving, a heartfelt job well done. A special thank you to Cliff McGlothlin who drove the truck down and back from Princeton that day. Without each and every one of you, this project would not be the success that it has been each and every year. Well, not only did we top 3000 shoeboxes but we passed last year’s total by 37 boxes. Our grand total for our relay center was 3140.
I will give you the month of December off but come January, it all starts again with collecting items for our 2017 collection season. As always, please keep this program in your prayers as it continually spreads the gospel and the name of Jesus Christ to all corners of the world through the power of a simple shoebox.
by Pastor Doc Adkins
Song of Songs 2:11-12 “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard in our land. New International Version
Winter has always held a magical place in my heart. I enjoy winter most of the time. Oh, I know the hardship of slick roads, winter illnesses from being “cooped up” most of the time. Yet I don’t mind the snow. I do mind the cold but not the snow. Have you ever noticed how much quieter and cleaner the world looks after snow?
Again, I am reminded of the farm house and those early days of my life. It doesn’t snow as much in Hinton as it does here in Beckley, but when it does it can be a “dose”. Yet the farm was always picturesque. Everything was white and beautiful, and the whole of nature seems to be in deep peace.
Changes come suddenly in the snow. I knew what the garden looked like a few weeks prior, and I knew that the white flakes have covered fallen brown leaves, withered grass and plants. It’s all there, but it wouldn’t be seen now as long as winter lasts.
The winter may seem unpleasant to many, but frost and snow in our country are an indispensable part of life. Without winter, spring and summer wouldn’t be what they are.
There are seasons in our lives too. And we often have difficulties in understanding why they are there. Why do we have to pass through winters with barren branches and frozen ground, times without flowers and fruit, without singing and joy? Why?
It’s good to learn from the way nature works, because He who created us also created nature, and through His works we can better understand Him, and His ways.
Winter may seem a time of death, but in reality, it’s a time of rest. When harvest is over, trees aren’t ready to bear new fruit immediately. They need a rest, and winter gives them time to do that.
Many of us get so easily caught up in a treadmill of producing all the time. ‘God can’t be satisfied with me if I don’t produce anything for Him, can He?’ is the way we think. But in His Grace God allows a winter season in our lives, to give us rest. He doesn’t expect us to bear fruit when it’s winter, and we would do well if we could learn not to expect fruit when we should be having a rest.
At the same time, winter is preparation for new flowers and new fruit. Under the snow, in the unseen depths something is going on. It’s only on the surface that it looks like death. Under the surface, life is active and stirring! Roots are filling up with nourishment, and buds are bracing themselves for spring. In late winter it only takes a sunny day, and you see how the buds begin to break forth! They were ready for it.
When you inwardly go through a time of winter, you may well withdraw from many expressions of life, but that doesn’t mean your spirit is dying. It only means that for a time you are resting, and preparing for a new season, a season of flowers and growth. God takes you aside to prepare you for what is to come, and without that thorough preparation, you won’t be ready for a new season!
So, if you’re in a winter season in your life right now, it’s not the end! After winter, comes spring. All part of God’s plans for His children. Be prepared, one day you’ll suddenly become aware of an irresistible pull in your spirit that tells you winter is past, and the time for singing is upon you again.
by Rev Robert A Wendel
A blessing is a divine gift, the bestowal of protection or approval, something that brightens life. The idea of a blessing crosses cultures and unites humanity. For many, a blessing is a spiritual flow from a supreme power. Blessings encourage the seeker and, in our case, connects us with our Maker and Heavenly Father.
The reasons for seeking above-earth support are as varied as prayer: to lift up, to set free, to shield from harm or pain, to inspire a project or point us in a certain direction. Or prayer time can just open our eyes to the basket of blessings which have already come our way.
We want to be happy. We want to enjoy life. We want things to go well for our families and our close friends. In other words, you and I want our life experience to be as positive as heaven and earth will allow.
Even during this Season of National Thanksgiving, we should be careful to remind ourselves that the Lord’s blessings are not automatic. The Almighty is willing to “pour out a blessing” only when our lives match his purpose, counting on his grace.
Eternal grace comes only to those who make their requests known in a “true spirit of humility.” And as we are reminded during almost every Sunday morning worship, as we hope and pray for ourselves, we should certainly, request that others be in the Lord’s favor too.
In my more that forty-year ministry, like any Christian minister, I have heard folks say, “I don’t need the Church!” Most of these naysayers have, likely been hurt or disappointed by some regular worshiper or perhaps they’ve felt that God is not listening to their prayers.
The Lord does hear us because he loves us and wants the best for us There are periods in our earthly life when our forward progress seems at a standstill. Remember! The Lord operates according to his own eternal time piece. Connect often! Wait! A blessing will come!
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This month’s ABC Men Saturday Morning Breakfast will include a brief update on WV Flood Relief by Rev Frank Miller at 8:00 AM on November 12th. Please make time to join us.
HELPING HANDS offers our church the chance to think of those in need with donations of food, clothing, coats and blankets this month. Show you’re blessed by sharing!
The Beckley Clergy has planned a special worship service on Election Night, November 8, at 7:00 PM at Methodist Temple.
Let’s join our neighbors. And pray for the USA.
by Norma Gunter
The American Baptist Women’s Ministry Focus circle program for November is See…Violence against Women. The scripture is Judges 19:11-30. “The International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is November 25, and November is also the month for the Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer and, of course, Thanksgiving. On November 7th, the day before the election, our ABW is observing the Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer by having a Mug & Muffin meeting at 10AM, here at the church, followed by a time of individual prayer for our world, our country and the election.
In January 2014 we started a mission project ‘LET’S SAVE USED STAMPS FOR MISSIONS” I get frequent questions about the project so I’m reprinting the BEAM article from March 2014 explaining how the project works. I mail stamps three or four times a year thanks to all those who provide the stamps. The following explains the project.
LET’S SAVE USED STAMPS FOR MISSIONS
Have you ever wanted to do something for missions but didn’t know what to do? Well here is a project that just about anyone can do. The project is to collect cancelled postage stamps. We all get mail and a lot of junk mail and most have stamps.
After reading an article in the Guidepost magazine I remembered that the ABW used to collect used postage stamps. I even remembered when I had this same job, Mission and Service, I received a box with left-over mission supplies and in this box was two plastic sandwich bags packed full of used postage stamps. Everything in the box had been disposed of except for those two bags of postage stamps. They had been moved around in the garage for years and last fall I started to throw them away but put them back on the shelf. I went out to the garage and searched around until I found the stamps. I went back and reread the Guideposts article and decided to write to the organization, Alliance Stamp Ministry, for more information on the project. All of the old postage stamps met the criteria so I sorted them to mail.
It occurred to me that others might want to save used postage stamps for missions so I made a poster, which can be seen in the Welcome Center near the elevator, and I also put a box for the used postage stamps in the church office.
The Alliance Stamp Ministry in Ft. Myers, Florida was started in 1972. A group of women in an assisted living facility trim, sort and pack the stamps. The stamps are then sold to distributors who sells them to collectors. The money from the sale of the stamps goes to writing, publishing and distribution of Spanish language Sunday School teaching material. This material is used in churches of 40 different denominations in 19 different Spanish speaking countries in Spain, Latin America, an even in the USA.
One reason this project is close to my heart is Susan Hegarty, our American Baptist Missionary, wrote and taught others to write Spanish Sunday School literature, where there was none, when she served in Cuba.
To save the used postage stamps tear or cut the stamps from the envelopes and leave at least l/4″ of paper around the stamps. Do not remove the stamps from the paper. All types of stamps are saved: Christmas stamps, presorted stamps, nonprofit stamps, bulk rate stamps, commemorative stamps, love stamps. foreign stamps, etc. Please put the saved stamps in the box in the church office where I will pick them up, sort and mail them to Florida. Thank you
The last thank you I received from Alliance Stamp Ministry said, “as of September, 2016 we have received $28,000 toward preparation, publication and distribution of Spanish language curriculum for Sunday School. Since the inception of the stamp ministry back in 1972 a grand total of $900,000 has been raised. TO GOD BE THE GLORY for allowing us to reach this milestone.” Think! we have had a small part in this ministry.
by Joyce Mills
This is a hypothetical story about Jessie – a 5 year old girl who could be living next door. It could also be a story about any of the 22 children who receive a backpack filled with nutritious food for the weekend. These 22 children go to Beckley Elementary and are in need of extra food to get through the weekend. They are in grades Kindergarten to 5TH grade. They pick their backpack up each Friday.
This could be a day in any of their lives as one of the roughly 16 million children in America dealing with hunger. We must continue to help children avoid the struggles that come with an empty stomach.
7:30 AM Jessie wakes up for another day of kindergarten. She didn’t get much food last night, and this morning she is extra groggy. It is the end of the month and Mom hasn’t been able to get groceries yet because she is waiting for her next paycheck. So Jessie heads to school on an empty stomach. Despite being hungry, Jessie is excited to start her school day.
10 AM The teacher is explaining the alphabet. Reading is Jessie’s favorite subject – but she can’t seem to focus.
12 PM It is hard for Jessie to watch the other kids unpacking their lunches. Still, she is grateful that the school provides breakfast and lunch every day for her and many other children. She knows she can count on breakfast and lunch everyday at school. The weekend is another story!
Isn’t it a great feeling to know that we are helping 22 children have a better weekend?
For the month of November please donate Peanut Butter in plastic jars -16-18 oz. will work fine. We appreciate your monetary gifts and certainly the food donations each month. Just leave the Peanut Butter on the back counter in the church kitchen.
by Debbie Vanaman
The month of November, as busy as it is with election day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, is also the culmination of a year-long effort for Operation Christmas Child. We’ve been collecting items all year long and this month the youth and children of our church will gather and pack shoeboxes for children all around the world who most likely have never heard the name of Jesus.
Collection week this year is November 14th through 18th and your help and prayers will be necessary to once again pull off this huge effort. Last year we received over 3,000 shoeboxes from area churches and organizations, a record for the 15 years we’ve been a collection center. Saturday, November 19th, will be the day we will be loading the truck with what hopefully will be a huge number of cartons filled with shoeboxes. Time for this day will be announced. Don’t wait to be asked to help – contact me and say “What can I do to help.”
On a more personal note, let me take a moment to say that I will truly miss one of my best friends, Sharon Meador, who ran the office during collection week which allowed me to work alongside the collection center workers. Sharon, you will be missed.
Last but certainly not least, please keep Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child in your prayers year round as they spread the gospel of Jesus to children around the world ONE SHOEBOX AT A TIME.