1. Art and Diseño

FIRST CHRONICLES
FEBRUARY 2015
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
4102 190TH STREET
GEORGE, IOWA 51237
Telephone: 712-475-3440
FAX: 712-475-2500
Website: fbcgeorge.org
Pastor, Dr. Mike Hagan
Cell Phone: 605-359-0862
Email: [email protected]
Secretary, Dawn Hayenga
Cell Phone: 712-578-9771
Email: [email protected]
February
Pastor Mike Hagan
February is the shortest month, the longest month, and the most anticipatory month we experience every
year.
It is shortest because it only has 28 or 29 days, depending on Leap Year. It is longest because the most snow
falls in this month every year, prompting us to say, is winter ever going to get over? And it is the most
anticipatory month because every year it opens the way to Easter in March or April. In fact, every Sunday
in February is repeated in March every year.
In the church calendar, no date shouts louder than the one anticipated in February and arriving April 5 this
year – Easter. We would like to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with a baptism on Easter morning.
Baptism in the time of Jesus was for ritual cleansing by Jews as they came to worship and offer their
sacrifices. We have uncovered ritual baths – “baptismals” – at the southern entrance to the Temple mount
from the time of Jesus. In fact, so many people could use them that they could enter on one side and leave
on the other to allow a consistent flow of people. Sins were washed away and the worshipper could proceed
to the worship area.
Jesus came to John the Baptizer at the Jordan River to be baptized (Mk 1:9). John’s practice of baptism
focused on repentance of sins (Matt 3:1-2), not on preparation for worship since they were so distant from
the Temple. But Jesus did not need to repent; he had not sinned. Still, he had John baptize him and the
Father affirmed his pleasure with Jesus (Luke 3:22).
Paul tells us that the act of baptism provides the best picture of the death and resurrection of Jesus (Rom
6:1-11). By immersing ourselves we testify to what the Lord has done in our lives in his transformative work
of redemption. All who witness this silly event know it must be important or we would not do it.
I know some people in FBC have committed themselves to Jesus, but they have not followed his example in
baptism. It testifies to our friends and family and to our heavenly Father that we are serious about walking
with him. It will not change your eternal destiny if you have asked Jesus into your life, but in some
mysterious way it affirms your commitment.
If you would like to be baptized this Easter, contact me or Dawn to indicate your interest in a class in early
March to explore the possibility. All welcome to explore.
By the way, if it is February, winter is almost over! Hallelujah!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
February 1 A.J. deBoer
3 Tanner Doeden
Genola Eben
5 Gerald denHoed
Brenna Kramer
6 Hazel Winter
7 Brandon Jurrens
10 Marilyn Schrick
11 Logan denHoed
Linda Riemersma
13 John Winter
14 Crystal deBoer
16 Cole denHoed
Molly Kramer
17 Pat Johnson
Gayle Wagenaar
19 Henry Boneschans
Alan Eben
20 Judy Eben
Jodi Schrick
21 Abigail Eben
Brian Eben
22 Bryce Block
Gracia Schrick
23 Bryan Kramer
24 Connie Christians
26 Kent Harms
Rhonda Kruse
27 Matt Christians
Eva Stubbe
28 Gary DeBoer
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
February 11 Bill & Deb Middendorp
17 Dennis & Gracia Schrick
SCHEDULES
GREETERS
NURSERY WORKERS
Sunday, February 1
Darren and Julie Kramer
Sunday, February 8
Daryl and Mary Kramer
Sunday, February 15
Dennis and Gracia Schrick
Sunday, February 22
Jeff and Jodi Schrick
Sunday, February 1
Ashley, Brenna
Sunday, February 8
Donna, Alyssa
Sunday, February 15
Sara, Lynette
Sunday, February 22
Amber, Ross
AWANA IN FEBRUARY
4 – Roller Skating Party
Roller Roulette ~ Sheldon, IA
7:00-9:00 P.M.
Families and friends are encouraged to attend.
11 – Red vs. Pink
Boys wear red.
Girls wear pink.
Who will wear the most of their color and win?
You must wear your Awana shirt to qualify.
Leaders are encouraged to participate.
18
25 – Crazy Hat Night
Wear something cool or goofy on your head.
Thank you those who delivered “Meals On Wheels” in December.
Thank you for all the goodies from the group that came caroling. We really enjoyed every
bit of it. Thank you again.
Sweer, Florence, and Sharon Arends
Thank you for your many expressions of love for me and my family this past year. I am
humbled by the outpouring of your kindness in so many ways: the hugs, the many visits,
the beautiful flowers, the Christmas fruit basket, the uplifting cards (some with hand
written messages), and your prayers. Your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten!
Lemoyne Bleeker and Family
Thank you Julie Kramer, Jodi Schrick, and all those who helped in any way with the
Christmas Eve program.
Christian Education Board
Thank you everyone who helped in any way at the Awana Family Night.
Crystal deBoer and Donna DeBoer
Thanks each and everyone for the prayers, cards, gifts, and visiting Art in the hospital and
at Pleasant Acres. He appreciated very much the carolers and fruit basket. Thanks
Pastor Mike Hagan for helping with the funeral service.
Eldoris Dykstra
Kordell, Carolyn, and Alyssa Kruse
Judy and Gary Borman
I would like to thank my church family for the outpouring of love shown to me during this
battle with cancer. I appreciate the prayers, cards, and calls. Thank you to the carollers
who brought the lovely fruit basket. A special thank you to Pastor Mike for the visits and
encouraging texts. We are fortunate to have such a caring pastor.
God is very much in control and He has promised to be right beside me during this
struggle. I am so thankful He has given me the gift of such a wonderful church family. I
feel very taken care of and loved. Our church family is using the gifts God has given to
them to minister to others.
Marilyn Johnson
I want to thank you for the gift card I received. It was well appreciated. I also want to
thank you for the prayers and the inspiring message. Thank you for being a loving and
prayer driven church.
Zachary May
A special "thank you" for the fruit we received at Christmas. Then we received so much
support during the time of Jim's surgery in the form of prayer, cards and flowers. We
are so blessed. Thank you again.
Jim, Lena and Marcee Ruddy
Thank you for your generous donations. We are continuing to help those who are hurting
through the generous hearts of people like you. Thank you again for choosing to support
ATLAS of Lyon County.
Lisa VandeStouwe
Thank you to the carolers who came and sang and for the fruit and candy basket.
Nels and Lila Walters
Thank you to the carolers that came to Premier Estates and to the church for the goodies
they gave me. Thank you Darren Kramer for your visit and prayers. All is appreciated very
much.
John Winter
Step By Step He’ll Lead Us
The Middendorps
In December, we had a local church donate 50 backpacks and fleece tie blankets to our homeless outreach
ministry. The backpacks were filled with personal items, socks, a hat, gloves, hand warmers, and long johns. We let our
homeless bellringers choose a backpack and blanket about a week before Christmas. They loved the opportunity to pick
one out with just the right size and compartments they needed. They very much appreciated all the useful necessities
packed inside of them. We continue to take a few along when we go out on street outreach and hand them out when we
meet new people.
We also had another church collect items to be handed out as Christmas presents. The gifts were all new items
neatly wrapped all ready for us to hand out. They consisted of sleeping bags, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, thermal
underwear, hand warmers, lotions, etc. We were able to hand them out to the bellringers on Christmas Eve; and to
others on street outreach. Everyone was so surprised to receive a Christmas present; quite a few of them said this will be
the only Christmas present we will receive this year. We are so thankful for the generosity of other Christians to help
out the needy.
As the New Year starts, we find ourselves with some new opportunities for ministry within the Salvation Army. We
have a jobs program at our office that helps people who are unemployed find jobs by working with local employers who
are looking to hire employees. So often, we have people who come in to use our other services like the food pantry,
rental assistance, utility assistance, etc. who have been unemployed for some time and are looking for work. Our jobs
program helps them to gain employment, thereby hopefully helping them to no longer have to rely on our other
services for help.
Bill has been asked to begin working with the jobs program two days a week as a paid position. He will be doing
the intake appointments with people coming in looking for work. This position fits amazingly well with the other
ministry that we are doing, as so many of the homeless and near homeless are also unemployed. Some are looking for
work to help themselves get off the streets. We will continue to do the street outreach twice a week, and continue to
build the relationships with the homeless people in our community.
This summer, we have at least two mission groups planning on coming to work and serve with us, excited to learn
about ministry here in Chicagoland. With the smaller group, we are planning on doing much of the same sort of
projects that the group that came here last summer did; working in our trailer park and the adjacent ones. The other
group will be 50-150 teens and will take considerable planning to coordinate the projects. The corps officers (pastors)
have decided that with all of the planning that will go into making these mission trips successful, they would like to hire
Deb and one other person as summer coordinators to prepare and plan for the summer for these groups. The other
responsibilities for this position will be planning/preparing a VBS for our church, and also helping with the application
process for all of the summer camps.
Prayers and Praises:
~Pray for Ma, an 82-year-old woman, who has been living on the streets with her son Jim for many years. Pray for them
to find a warm place to sleep and to find some inner peace this winter.
~Pray for Melody, who starts a new job next week and will hopefully be able to afford a hotel or apartment for the cold
nights ahead.
~Pray for release from the strongholds of addictions for many of the individuals we meet with.
~Praise God for new opportunities this year.
~Praise God for the generosity of other Christians to be a blessing to the least of these.
Bill, Deb, Darien, Brandi, BilliJo, and BobbiJo
420 West Touhy Ave #149
Des Plaines, IL 60018