FOCUS
First Baptist Church, Chico
850 Palmetto Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
530-343-3446
Monthly Newsletter
Vol. 30, No.2 - 2/24/11
We are a richly varied church community celebrating the grace of God through worship, through encouraging spiritual
growth, and by living as reminders of God’s loving presence in our world.
an you believe it? Much to the consternation
C of some in Chico, I’ve been preaching the
love of God. Terrible, they say. Preach
judgment, they say. Preach their interpretation of the
Scripture, they say. No wait. That’s not what they say.
They say to preach the truth of the Scripture – which is
crystal clear to them, but maybe only them. They, and
they alone, seem to know what the Bible says, what the
Bible means. If you or I don’t agree with them, them
obviously, we aren’t Christians.
For those of you who haven’t read the Letters to the
Editor section of our local newspaper, I need to bring
you up to date. A week and a half ago, someone angry
with us (me) for placing “We Love Our Muslim
Neighbors” on our street sign phoned the Tell It to the
E-R section of the paper suggesting we’re not Christian
because we love Muslims. Then last Saturday, a
gentleman wrote a letter to the Editor complaining
because we want to allow Muslims to speak in Christian
churches. (I haven’t the foggiest idea where he came up
with this idea.) He then went on to complain that we
had fliers supporting Prop 8 in our foyer during that
election. (The fliers came from the California Council
of Churches and were intended to provide information
about all the propositions to be voted on.) He found
these fliers reprehensible. The writer went on to say,
“This letter is about pastors who ill-serve the
community by preaching ‘God is love’ sermons without
mentioning the ‘wages of sin is death.’” A second letter
supported this position by saying, “It is really sad to see
so-called Christian churches changing what they are
teaching.”
I’ve talked with many about how to respond to these
letters, and have had many reactions myself. Let me
share some of my thoughts with you.
First, I confess that I may not be 100% correct in my
theology, because this is God we’re thinking about, and
God is far beyond the knowledge of anyone. No one
can understand everything about God or about the
Scripture with 100% certainty, no matter what the letter
writers may believe.
Second, I believe I can make a strong case that God
loves all people – from Muslims to Jews to Catholics to
Baptist to atheists to homosexuals to slaves to divorced
to African Americans to liberals to conservatives. I pray
only that God will love me.
Third, I believe that preaching the love of God is what
I’ve been called to do. If I preach God’s love, if people
believe God loves them, then we/they will want to do
what is good in the eyes of the God they love, just as I
want to do what is good in the eyes of my wife whom I
love. I, therefore, am not called to continually preach
condemnation and fear. If we love God, we’ll do our
best not to sin.
Finally, I believe that too many Christians have
preached “hellfire and brimstone” for far too long, and
this is one of the main reasons today’s youth want
nothing to do with Christianity today. The more
Christians preach “against,” the more people seem to
stay away from Christ’s church – which is tragic.
I learned early in life, “Jesus loves me,” and I’ve never
found a person whom Jesus doesn’t love. I wish the
same could be said about we Christians.
First Baptist Church, Chico
850 Palmetto Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
530-343-3446
www.chicofirstbaptist.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

E-Mail:fbcofficechico@sbcglobal.net
Every Member a Minister
Rev. Ted Sandberg D. Min.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Sunday, March 6 - Choir Festival
Saturday, March 12 - ABW General Meeting & Election 10am
Sunday, March, 13 - Daylight Savings Time Begins
Sunday, March, 13 - Lent Begins
Thursday, March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day
Sunday, March 20 - Spring Begins

FOCUS Articles due in office-March, 24

Expediters: Joyce Shannon, Louise Logue, Evelyn Cash, Marta Torres, Bernice Sherrill,
 MARCH CALENDAR

Date Sermon Title Sermon Text

March 6 Communion “Let The Light of Jesus Shine” Matthew 17:1-9
Worship Leader: Jerry Fogle

Communion Servers: Marta Torres & Margarita Rainey

Cal Rainey & Jackie Long

March 13 First Sunday in Lent “Tempted in the Wilderness” Matthew 4:1-11

Worship Leader: Rev. Sandi John

March 20 Second Sunday in Lent “Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy” John 3:1-17

Worship Leader: Doris Arbuckle

March 27 Third Sunday in Lent “This Business of Worship” John 4:16-26

Worship Leader: Marta Torres

ADULT DISCUSSION CLASS Sunday Mornings at 9:15 am with Shirley Stanley and Jerry Fogle.
We are using Judson Press Material. This material covers the Bible in 5 years.
Presently in a video series of archeological finds in the Holy Land.
Coffee and Donuts provided.

........................................................................
Happy January Birthday Wishes to:
Galen Latham-Fairchild (3/5), Seth Catterall (3/5),Laura Sederberg (3/13), Kevin Sh
annon(3/16), Kimberly Rychtera (3/17), Marcia Moore (3/22), Diane Burke (3/22)
***
*REMINDERS: Can Food Drive - Salvation Army Barrel is in the Narthex
Table in the Narthex - Donate your old Eye Glasses for Haiti
Table in the Narthex - Soup Labels for Education
At the right of the table in the Narthex - Torres Shelter Milk Bottle

Next FOCUS Article Deadline - Thursday, March 24 ................................................................................... . . . .

ATTENTION!
The Eighteenth Annual Community Choir Festival is 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, at the LDS Chico Stake Center,
2430 Mariposa Ave. Eight Chico church choirs will sing individually. The grand finale will be all of the choirs
singing three numbers together on stage. Refreshments are served after the program. We are planning our
performance and are excited to participate.
 Focus on Chico First Baptist Family
We are continuing to pray for: The WAR in Iraq and Afghanistan
FRIENDS WITH CANCER: CAROL: Catherine Hendrix’s neighbor - diagnosed with kidney cancer; PAUL
METTLE - Jill Ramsey’s brother-in-law; FERN MORGAN - Mother of friend of Terre Reynolds; CHERYL
DEAN- Evelyn Cash’s cousin bone cancer ; FRANK JAMES - Mary Jane Bowser’s friend - esophageal cancer;
MARGARET BALLINGER’S SISTER - extensive cancer; CANDACE- Jill Ramsey’s friend, ovarian cancer.
***
J. T. HENDRIX: Now in Hospice care; LILLIAN WENDORF: Doing well; MARY JANE BOWSER: Fluid
under knee cap - dislocated right toe; GEORGE SMITH: recovering from knee surgery; TIM CLELAND:
Margaret Nevin’s friend - recovering at home and in rehab; SHIRLEY SMITH: Has Parkinson’s and Palsy SP;
AMY: Ed Hightower’s daughter - Parkinson’s disease; RICK: Jill Ramsey’s cousin - has kidney failure;
***
Courtyard at Little Chico Creek: HELEN WALLACE
The Inn at the Terraces (Apt 12): EDITH MCCONNELL
Roses & Ivy Elder Care Center: DOLLY SKINNER
Twin Oaks Care Center: LOU HAYES
Roseleaf Senior Care: PAULA JOHNSON
Windsor Chico Care Center: J. T. HENDRIX
Feather River Canyon Home: ELAINE HERRINGTON

MILITARY: JASON WILLIAMS - Ed Hightower’s step grandson

WILL DUNHAM - Doris Arbuckle’s grandson
DAN GERFEN: - Joan Hannis Gerfen’s son deployed to Afghanistan
Pacific Coast Baptist Association. Remember those who are grieving.
*If there are names that can or should be removed please contact Ted or the office at 343-3446*
********************************************************************************
DID YOU KNOW that First Baptist Church has walkers, crutches, wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment to loan?
If you or someone you know needs to borrow any of these items, call the church office at 343-3446 to arrange pick-up.
........................................................................

ABW MINISTRIES CIRCLE MEETINGS - Tuesday, March 15

Charity Circle 10:00 AM Country Waffle 690 Rio Lindo
Hope 7:00 PM Joan Hannis Gerfen 905 Karen Dr.
Lauran Bethell 6:30 PM Logans Roadhouse 1900 E. 20 th St.

LADIES! Start your spring cleaning as we are having our "In and Out Yard Sale" at church on May 14th
with set up days on the 12th & 13th. Make sure to wash whatever you bring - no holes or stains please.
Pacific Northwest/Evergreen Women's Conference is on April 15-17 this year in Yakima, WA. There are
five women driving up this year. Contact Cheri Sandberg or Louise Logue if you are interested in going.
This is always a fun trip.

Submitted by Cheri Sandberg

AB Women’s Ministries
Bible Book for January: Mark

News & Updates

AB Women’s Ministries Board Meeting

ABW Ministries will meet on March 12th for a General Meeting with updates from National and Pacific NW
Women. The ABW Board members would like to invite any women to come on board and learn what it takes to be an
officer. We'll have you work along side of us and prepare you for the year 2012.

Please contact Cheri Sandberg if you are interested.

...............................................................................................
Circle of Hope

Our February meeting was held at the home of Sue Rychtera, Those in attendance were: Sue, Cheri Sandberg,
Marty Brandstatt, Louise Logue, Ann Wheelock, Joan Hannis Gerfen, Joyce Shannon, Marta Torres and Carol
Willette. We started out our evening with some lively conversation, Joyce read a devotion about the A-Z’s on stress
and how to handle it. Cheri brought us up to date on the bandage rolling held February 12th, sixty-eight were rolled.
Marty informed us they would be sent back east.

Cheri brought up the ABW conference held in Yakima, WA in April and some of the ladies seemed interested in
attending. Our church women will be providing table decorations for the Saturday afternoon meal for
approximately two hundred women. It was suggested we bring almonds individually boxed for each lady who attends
the conference. We all agreed almonds would be a great way to express a typical product of this region. Louise and
Carol volunteered to purchase the items needed and we will assemble them at the March meeting at Joan’s house.
Louise will host the April meeting and we will eat dinner out in May.
Love Gift and offering were taken and we adjourned at 9:15 PM.

Submitted by Joyce Shannon

.............................................................................................
Christian Education Committee
The Christian Ed meeting was held on February 8th. Marta Torres opened the meeting with a devotional. We
discussed that junior church teachers will be Jill Ramsey, Joan Gerfen, Louise Logue, Sue Rychtera, Kim Rychtera,
Tracy Cumber and Alice Reed as Substitute. We will continue adult bible study with teachers Jerry Fogle and Shirley
Stanley. There will be a class on prayer practices presented by Rev. Sandi John on Sun. 2/27 following church.
Attendees are to bring a sack lunch. Cookies and punch will be provided by the Christian Ed. committee.

Submitted by Tracy Cumber

Susan Linderman Circle

The Susan Linderman Circle met on February 18, 2011 at the Country Waffle Restaurant.
Those attending were Jackie Long, Betty Hannis, Margaret Ballinger, Vivian Anderegg, Lena White, Ann Clark,
Virginia Bolton and Louise Logue. We collected $20 for the Love Gift and $9 for the regular offering. That makes a
total of $49 for regular offering. The quilt squares were discussed as well as the Catalyst address. Cora Rae Hubbard
is moving to Oregon and will have a new address shortly. Virginia reported that we had rolled 68 bandages for the
Congo. The devotion was delivered by Virginia. Ann will bring the devotion for March. The meeting was adjourned
by Virginia.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
March is
“America for

March 2011 Christ”

offering
month

Flowers for the Month of March “Provided by church members”

1 2 3 4 5
Worship Cmt:
11 am
Martial Arts for
Peace-Soc Hall Country Waffle
Communications
9:15-12:30 9am
Stewardship
6 pm
Choir 6 pm

6 Communion 7 8 9 10 11 12

Choir Pastor/Staff Martial Arts Ash

Festival=LDS 5:30 pm Wednesday
9:15-12:30 ABW General
Chico Stake Meeting &
Center 2430 Election
Mariposa Ave. 7:30 Evangelism/ CAIC 11:45 am
Christian
PM membership 10 am Soc Hall
education 6pm
6:30 pm
*J. Fogle Governing
Choir 6 pm
Board 7 pm
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
First Sunday in St. Patrick’s Day
Lent

Daylight Saving CIRCLES

time begins
*J. Rychtera
Choir 6 pm Focus deadline

20 Second 21 22 23 24 25 26
Sunday in Lent Martial Arts
Spring Begins
9:15-12:30

Missions/Social
5:15 pm
Choir 6 pm
*J. Hannis Gerfen

27 28 29 30 31
Third Sunday in Martial Arts
Lent
9:15-12:30

F.O.R.
*C. Hightower 7 pm
Choir 6 pm