August 8, 2016

Church Leadership

Preparing for Worship

Our ministers and lay leaders are available

to answer any questions you may have to
help you connect with the ministries of
First Baptist Church.
Rev. Matt Sturtevant
Senior Pastor, x.202
matt@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Rev. Cheryl Harader
Associate Pastor of Adult Spiritual
Formation, x.204
cheryl@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Jenny Purvis
Office Manager, x.203
jenny@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Katie Hobson
Intern for Youth Spiritual Formation
x205
katie@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Holly Grassy
Bookkeeper, (785) 917-9622
holly@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Evelyn Falen
Organist
evelyn@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Mark Robinson
Chancel Choir Director
mark@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Christy Miller
8:30 Worship Instrumentalist
christy@firstbaptistlawrence.com
Susan Pauls
Digital Outreach Liaison
susan@firstbaptistlawrence.com
John Pauls
Moderator
jphawk@yahoo.com
Buddy Langford
Custodian

August 14, 2016

Worship services at
8:30 & 10:45 a.m.

This Sunday!
Return to two worship services;
8:30 and 10:45 a.m.

Thirteenth Sunday after

Pentecost
Rev. Matthew Sturtevant

Intern Update
Much has been happening in the area of our Spiritual Formation Interns. There have
been changes in all three of our Spiritual Formation Interns since last May.
Timothy Bonner began as the Adult Spiritual Formation Intern on August 1. His information was in the last few newsletters. He will be concentrating on Sunday School classes and teachers for his first month, as well as other responsibilities. In January, Tim
will begin a Doctor of Ministries program at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
Last Sunday in the Youth Sunday School class, Katie Hobson announced that she
would be leaving as the Youth Spiritual Formation Intern. August 14 will be her last
day. Beginning August 15 Winston Heilman, whom the youth know well, will serve in
that position. His main emphasis as Intern will be directing the Sunday School classes
and working with those teachers. He will continue as the ABY Sunday night coordinator as a volunteer.
The first change of the last few months began at the end of May when Rev. Melissa
Lumpkin left to begin a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City, MO; as a part of her learning experience she serves as a chaplain. We
are continuing to search for a Childrens Spiritual Formation Intern.
Please keep Tim and Winston in your prayers as they begin their new positions here at
FBC Lawrence, and continue to remember Melissa as she pursues her education. And
remember the search for an Intern for our children.
Personal note from Pastor Cheryl, Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation: Thank you
for your support of this program. It is not unique among churches, but it is rare and it
is new for FBC Lawrence. Helping to support people as they learn how to follow Jesus
more closely in the organized church setting is not something that all churches would
do. So, thank you. I believe that it strengthens FBC Lawrence, the individuals, and
Gods Church.
There will be time at the Promotion breakfast for all and also after the second service to
say good-bye to Katie Hobson, and hello to Winston. (see pg. 3)

A Family Conversation
At the July Quarterly Business Gathering, Moderator John Pauls presented on behalf of the Spiritual Leadership Team a
proposal for our congregation to engage in a church-wide conversation about the issues of gay marriage and our voice in
the LGBTQ community. The Spiritual Leadership Team has prayerfully talked about these issues over the course of the
last several months, and is responding to a request by the majority of the members of the Sojourners Sunday School class,
who discussed these issues for several months prior to voicing their request for a process of graceful engagement to the
SLT. The plan is for the SLT at the August meeting to create a Process Planning Team, which will be a catalyst for congregational conversation, prayer, and study, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us as a church.
The conversation at the Quarterly meeting gave members of the congregation an opportunity to share their hopes and
concerns about the potential of a church-wide conversation. Some suggested that the conversation was long overdue.
Others asked if it was necessary, as long as we retained a commitment to be a welcoming church. The question was raised
as to what practice and policy looks like in a Baptist church that values non-coerced, non-creedal faith. Yet others suggested that we need to be clear and honest about what we are talking about, so that we do not talk around the issue, but
address it head-on. Former moderator Craig Weinaug seemed to speak for several when he suggested that such a conversation is not something that he would normally go out looking for, as it has the potential to divide our unity and distract
from our mission, but that it has nonetheless come to us, and we as a church need to provide direction and clarity about
what our practice might be.
What are next steps and how can you be involved?

Attend the August 17th SLT meeting at 7:00 in the Sojourners Room (this, like all SLT meetings are open to the
entire congregation) and share your thoughts.

Volunteer to be a member of the Process Planning Team, which will be created at that meeting and will guide the
process for what our family conversation will look like. Contact Pastor Matt or John Pauls if you would like to
help plan the process.

Plan to attend and participate in the conversations that are created by the Process Planning Team.

Pray. For our church and leadership in the coming days. For hearts to be open to the Spirit, both the Planning
Team and congregation members alike that will participate in the planned conversations.
Summer Worship Series

Top 5 Most Misquoted Passages

of Scripture
How often do we quote a passage out of a fuzzy
memory from Sunday school or a sermon somewhere, but do we really know what the verse
means? What the context is? Why the author
might have been using that phrase or sentence?
In the coming weeks, we will explore together six
verses that often get used out of context, and together consider what they might have meantand
might mean to us today.
August 14 Do Not Grieve Like Those Who
Have No Hope.
August 21For I Know the Plans I Have for
You.

Sacred Music
Academy for Kids
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Invite friends!
open to the community.

*6:30: Vocal Choir

*7:00: Hand bell ensemble training
Ages: 3rd-8th graders
Director: Evelyn Falen
Cost: $20 per semester (scholarships available. Simply contact the
church office, 843-0020)

First rehearsal September 7

Sunday School Celebration this Sunday!

All are invited to celebrate our Sunday School programs with an all church breakfast in the Roger Williams Room at 9:30 a.m. We will celebrate our children and youth as they promote to their 2016-17 classes,
our 1st and 6th graders will receive their Bibles, Sunday
School teachers will be recognized, and we will break
bread together. Its a time to say thank you to our
teachers, and to encourage our children as they grow in
learning about their walk with God.
In addition, we will say good-bye to Katie Hobson as
our Youth Spiritual Formation Intern, and hello to Winston Heilman as our new Intern. (There will also be a
reception after the 10:45 a.m. worship service, if you
arent able to make the breakfast.)
And, finally, during the 10:45 a.m. worship service, We
will recognize and pray for those in the congregation
who are students of all ages or who are teaching and
working in other capacities in the school systems.
We ask that each student--pre-kindergarten through
PhD--bring their back pack (or some representation
of their schooling) and we will have a "Backpack
Blessing" time.
We hope you can share in this exciting time for our
church family.

Anytime Deacons Fund Offering

You are invited to give to the Deacons Fund on ANY
Sunday of your choosing. In the past, the pattern has
been to take a collection only on the first Sunday of the
month. Many of you have requested additional opportunities to give. Heres how:
Add an offering amount to your regular tithe, or other
giving check (make a note in the memo line for each
designation please.)
Simply place a check in the offering plate (mark Deacons Fund in the memo line)
Use the churchs website SimpleGive tab.
The Deacons Fund financially assists those within our
congregation, followed by those who come for help from
the Lawrence community. Appointments are made
through the church office for interviews with Nancy Bonner and needs are carefully considered prior to making
funds available. (Funds are paid directly to the utility
company, landlord, or other agency). Nancys background
in social work helps explore long term solutions as well as
other resources.
(cont.)

Remember in Prayer
International Ministries Missionary: Madeline Flores-Lopez, serving in the Dominican Republic.
Regional Minister: ABC of the Rocky Mountains, Rev. Michael
Oldham, serving in Monument, Colorado
Local congregation: New Hope Fellowship
You are invited to send prayer requests to:
(E-mail coordinator) Betty Colbert, bchilder@ku.edu
(Telephone Prayer Chain Coordinators) Hazel Nitcher,
843-5302; Annie Merriam, 841-1384.
Thank you!
Dear Pastor Sturtevant & First Baptist Church, thank you
so much for supporting me during this exciting spiritual
time in my life. I am so
glad I decided to profess
my faith in your community and it has been an honor meeting many in the
congregation. To be honest, your church found me
as much as I found your
church. I feel blessed to
have deepened with and in
Christ through the help of
Rev. Sturtevant. There is no greater joy I could ask for
in life than dwelling in Gods Peaceful Presence forever.
Thanks again for making that dream closer to reality!
~Blessings, Maddy Hajer

As funds allow, a Deacons Assistance Day is held for

the community one day per month. In this past quarter
we have assisted 16 families from the Lawrence community and 1 within our own church body.
Your continued faithful contributions to this important ministry are much appreciated. We have become
known in the community as a church who cares by organizations such as Bert Nash, Douglas County Housing Authority, and ECKAN.
If you have an interest in serving as a part of this ministry, please contact Jenny Purvis, Nancy Bonner, or Verlin Gilbert.

First Baptist Church

1330 Kasold Drive
Lawrence, Kansas 66049
785/843-0020
785/843-0021 (fax)
www.firstbaptistlawrence.com

Congratulations to Aric Trent and Claire Robinson who are 2016 recipients
of the Stringham Scholarship. Each has received $300 for their future college plans. The fund is managed by First Baptist and established by the
family of Raber P. and Ruth B. Stringham in their honor and memory.
Aric is to attend Hutchinson College and Claire will be going to Johnson
County Community College.

Life of the Church

Sunday, August 14
8:30 a.m.Worship service
9:30 a.m.Sunday School
9:30 am.Promotion Breakfast & Service in
Roger Williams Room
10:45 a.m.Worship service
2:00-5:00 p.m.ABY Swim Party at Reimers
Looking Ahead:
Aug. 27: Bethel Neighborhood Center Golf
Tournament
Sept. 7: Wednesday Night meals & activities
resume
Sept. 19: Family Promise Golf Tournament at
Lawrence Country Club. Register at
www.Lawrencefamilypromise.org

Sunday Morning Volunteers

August 14
Nursery 9:15-12:00 p.m.Amy Munsterman
Extended Care 9:15-12:00 p.m.Michael Lumpkin
Sunday DriverTom Hinshaw, 712-299-7421
Sunday A/VKen Hite

SoundNeal Purvis

This coming Sunday we'll have a backpack

blessing during the 2nd worship service (10:45
a.m.) for all students from preschool through
grad school! If you have your backpack already, please bring it with you, or if not, it's
okay, you'll be blessed anyway.

By the Numbers
as of July 31, 2016
GENERAL OPERATING
Weekly Receipts:
$6,913.10
YTD Receipts:
$176,684.00

The Leaflet newsletter is a weekly production of First

Baptist Church. If you would like to receive the newsletter by E-mail, along with other weekly announcements, please contact the church office:
jenny@firstbaptistlawrence.com.
You may receive a hard copy in the mail by request:
843-0020. Copies are available for pick up each Sunday.
Church Office:
785/843.0020, ext. 203
office@firstbaptistlawrence.com
www.firstbaptistlawrence.com
@1stBap stLawrence
(dont forget to like it!)

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Weekly Receipts:
Cumulative Giving:

$1,126.36
$500,238.61

CHAIR FUND
Purchased to Date:
Needed:

202 chairs
43 chairs

If you would like more detailed financial information, please contact

our bookkeeper at grassyclan@att.net, 917-9622.
Thank you for your generous giving. Your generosity helps to make
our many ministries possible.