Hornet Night

We are excited and gearing up for a new school year and to start it off right we have an opportunity to do just that!

Hornet Night

The First United Methodist Church is hosting a back to school worship and
prayer service for the youth of Gatesville this Sunday, August 21 from
6-8PM called Hornet Night.

The Live Oak Youth Worship Team will be leading the music and Ben Johnson,
Heart of Texas Fellowship of Christian Athletes Director, will be our
guest speaker.

The FUMC is hosting the service and feeding the youth. After the youth
eat, we will conclude the evening with a prayer walk of the GISD campuses.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We would like adults to accompany the groups as they prayer walk the
campuses. The prayer walks are planned to begin at 7:30. If you come
around 7:15 to the FUMC we can put you in a place of service.

Thanks again for your willingness to help out! I appreciate it so much.

If you have any questions feel free to ask Ben!

May we continue to keep our students, teachers, coaches, and administration in our prayers this year. That Gatesville ISD would have a safe, successful, and fantastic school year!

What is a 30 Hour Famine?

You may have seen on the church calendar this month an event called "30 Hour Famine" and wondered what that is. The quick answer: We don't eat so that kids that are starving can. Let me tell you a little more about it . . .

What is it?
30 Hour Famine is new to our youth group, but it is a long standing annual event led by World Vision to raise awareness about world hunger. The event was started by a single youth group in 1971, and now occurs each year in 21 countries around the world. Participants abstain from eating food for 30 hours, with the hope of making known the plight of hungry children around the world and raising money to support World Vision's feeding ministry.

I pray the event, April 29-30, will be truly eye-opening to our youth; they will eat their last meal at school on Friday, and not eat again until supper on Saturday. In the mean time, we will be participating in lots of fun activities at the church in which we will learn more about the realities of world hunger and will hopefully come away with a much deeper appreciation for role we can play in ending world hunger.

Why are we doing this?
Kids are starving around the world, and we can make a difference.

Another child dies from hunger-related causes every 10 seconds. That’s 8,000 kids under the age of 5 dying every day. Some starve. Some get sick, and their hungry bodies are just too weak to fight. Even those lucky enough to survive hunger will feel its effects for a lifetime. Hunger stunts a child’s growth. It leaves kids more vulnerable to disease and steals the energy they need for school. More than 1 billion people go hungry every day. With around 6 billion people in the world, that means 1 in 6 people will go to bed hungry tonight.

The crazier thing: there's enough food in the world. There are enough resources and know-how to get it to the people who need it.

We get to be the one's to raise our voice to make people aware; that's why we're doing the 30 Hour Famine.

What can you do?
First off, we would welcome you to join us. If you would like to participate, please just let me know, and I'll get you plugged in. Also, please be praying for our youth and adult leaders who will be participating. As you see them around, give them your encouragement and support.

You can also support by giving financial contributions. $30 feeds a hungry child for a month. $360 feeds a child for a year. I was just informed last week by our contact at World Vision that they currently have a 6x multiplier grant on any funds raised by the 30 Hour Famine. So that means that $360 feeds 6 hungry children for a whole year! We have the opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of starving children!

If you'd like to learn more about 30 Hour Famine or World Vision, I'd encourage you to check out this website.

If you have any more questions about the 30 Hour Famine, I'd be glad to talk with you. Thanks for your support!

~Peace
Ben

Shrove Tuesday

Howdy Church,

Today is Shrove Tuesday . . . or Fat Tuesday . . . or Pancake Day . . . or, if you ask your friends in New Orleans, Mardi Gras . . . or, in Rio de Janeiro, Carnival.

For many of us in the Baptist tradition, it is a day that passes without much notice. But for our brothers and sisters of other Christian traditions, it is a truly significant day, and one which might be worth our consideration.

You may have never even heard of that first title-- Shrove. Don't worry, it's not a word we use very often. According to my vast research (mostly consisting of Google and Wikipedia), shrove is the past participle of the English verb "to shrive". Yeah, that wasn't very helpful for me either, but fear not, there was more research! Shrive means "to obtain absolution for one's sins by way of confession and doing penance". Shrove Tuesday is the day before the beginning of a season of the church year called Lent, which we will begin tomorrow with Ash Wednesday.

Lent is a season of reflection and confession. During Lent, we are reminded of our own sinfulness and our need for a Savior. In a word, during Lent we will shrive--we'll seek to be reminded of the absolution of our sins by Jesus Christ and confess those sins which still bind us.

The good news of Scripture is, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

We often say as Christians that we are Easter people--no doubt that is true! We have Abundant Life now precisely because Christ's resurrection has changed everything forever.

Unfortunately, we are often guilty of wanting to run to Easter Sunday and forget about the sacrifice of Good Friday. We are quick to remember our sins are forgiven, but often just as quick to forget, "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

This year, we do not want to be guilty of forgetting the sacrifice of Christ or our own sinful mortality which made that sacrifice necessary, and that is why we are participating in Lent this year.

We will begin Lent tomorrow. For the next 40 days (excluding Sundays), we will join with millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world in focusing on our need for a Savior. Our journey toward Holy Week begins tomorrow, with an Ash Wednesday Service. At that service, we will have time to confess our sins to the Lord and will join in a powerfully symbolic reminder of our own state without Christ.

If you talk with those from other traditions about Lent, they might share with you that traditionally Lent is a time of fasting and repentance. That is why in some places today is called pancake day (getting rid of all the sugar in your house--this also explains Fat Tuesday) or carnival (carne vale - "farewell to meat"). Perhaps you will fast during Lent, perhaps not. However, whether you call today Pancake Day or Mardi Gras or Carnival, I pray that today you will spend time with your Father in Heaven, asking Him what He might be seeking from you in our Lenten journey together this year.

I pray you will join us tomorrow night at 6pm for our Ash Wednesday Service. I think you will find it to be a meaningful time in your life and in the life of our community as we begin our journey to the cross together. May we encourage one another as we shrive together in the weeks ahead. Amen.

~Peace
Ben Winder

Children's Church

Good "Rainy" Morning Bloggers!

I hope that you are doing well! I haven't been on here in a while and thought it was a great opportunity to share a little of what is going on!

This week kicks off our Children's Church. After the Children's Sermon those kids in K-4th grades are welcome to come to the Youth Room. There we will have a kids focused worship time where we will be able to interact with the Bible on their level. This week we will be learning about the church and what that means to us. We will also be taking what we learn each morning into a Small Group conversation on Sunday Night during Small Group times. I am excited to get started and I hope that you are as well! If you would like to get involved, this is a great time to start... right at the beginning! Just let me know if you would like to help out in any form or fashion!

Our Theme Bible Verse for this year for our Children's Ministry comes from Ephesians 5:8-10 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find our what pleases the Lord." My prayer for this year is that in everything we do here at FBC, we are constantly valuing those things that are pleasing to the Lord. If we can instill in our kids now what is good, righteous, and true... they will be world changers! I pray that your kids CHANGE THE WORLD! May we not be blinded by the darkness of this world, but instead find ourselves to be the light to transform it!

May we show the fruit of the light in everything we do -- goodness, righteousness, and truth!
-Laura

Christmas in July Party

Howdy Church!

I pray you are all having a grand week. Please remember those who are serving at KidsHeart this week in your prayers!

I wanted to take this chance to tell you more about the Christmas in July Party that is taking place Sunday, July 25 at 6:00 pm.

Probably the best way to do this is in the form of FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions), so here we go:

What in the world is Christmas in July, I thought Jesus was born in December?
Well, actually, we're not exactly sure when Jesus real birthday is, but since he is eternal, that doesn't really matter, but it is Ronnie Viss' birthday. Still, all of that is kind of beside the point. Christmas in July is designed to be a fun fellowship for the WHOLE CHURCH put on by our youth ministry. We'll have a traditional Christmas dinner, do a couple of Christmasy (that's a word, I promise) things, and then pack some shoeboxes to kickoff our Operation Christmas Child Campaign for 2010.

Traditional Christmas dinner, sounds good . . . Ben's not cooking, is he?
Well, yes, he is. However you are invited to help by bringing your favorite traditional Christmas favorite--cookies, stuffing, green bean casserole, cookies (I know I already said that, but it is important), cranberry sauce, etc., etc., etc. We'll be having turkey and ham--we said traditional people!

What should one bring to a Christmas in July party?
You should bring yourself, a traditional Christmas dish (see previous question), spare shoeboxes you might have, and things to stuff inside the shoebox (we'll be more specific about this 'stuff' in a later question).

What does a shoebox have to do with Christmas or July? And what's this 'stuff' you mentioned, I can't wait to know!?!
Goodness, that's two questions at once. We'll be packing the shoeboxes with gifts for kids in need around the world as part of Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. For many of them, this shoebox of goodies will be the only thing they'll get for Christmas, and it will serve as a tangible example of Christ's love to them. We'll be taking shoeboxes through November at the church, but this event will serve as our kick-off. If you'd like more information about Operation Christmas Child, like what 'stuff' goes in each box, there is info on the ministry table or you may visit samaritanspurse.org/occ

Are you sure I'm invited, this sounds like a youth event?
Yes, yes, yes, you're invited! Everyone is invited to come. We will leave our ugly sweaters and ridiculousness for the youth party in December. This is more about having a meal together and taking an active role in missions, together, as a church. Please come, Christmas in July won't be the same without YOU!

How will you know how many people to prepare for?
Another great question, (even if not so frequent). We will have a sign-up sheet at the ministry table for the next two Sundays (July 18 and 25) for you to let us know you're planning on coming.

I have another pressing question you haven't answered in the more frequently asked questions!
That is not actually a question, but, we can play this one like Jeopardy. Why should I talk to Ben? I'll take Youth Minister for $200, Alex.
No seriously, if you have any questions about Christmas in July, ask Ben, he'd be glad to answer them.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Christmas in July Party!

~Peace
Ben

I am so excited about what is happening here at First Baptist! We are hearing great feedback from our Small Groups and are excited for what is to come! We will be having Small Groups in June, but will be taking a break in July for the summer. We will start them back up in August in full force. My prayer and hope is that as we speak, question, and meditate on God's word together we will grow and be challenged by our group.

In the book "God Space" it talks about how to have spiritual conversations happen naturally. Doug Pollock writes, "If we are going to create God space for others, it has to start inside us. It takes safe people to create safe places."

As we go into our groups and engage in questions and conversations, remember to be the safe place that others can feel the presence of their creator in you!

If you have any questions or would like to get involved in the Small Group Ministry please let me know.

In peace, hope, faith, justice, and love

Laura

Church Together

I read a quote in a friend's blog recently that applies to FBCG - "If you want to go fast...go alone. If you want to go far...go together." If the Christian life is a marathon and not a sprint, and it is, then we want to go far which means that we must go together. We have begun to move forward together - our small groups are off to a great start! We are averaging between 45-50 folks in our groups which easily doubles our previous Sunday night attendance - way to go church! We are moving in new directions and that is great and hard at the same time. I want us to go together, but more than that, God wants that for us. So how do we continue to move forward together? Over the next few days I'll be laying out some ways that we can do just that. Here is what we can do for starters.

We can remember what we prayed for last Fall. As a church we spent the Fall praying that God would lead us to do three things: 1. That God would lead us to be more effective in reaching people. 2. That God would lead us to be more effective in growing disciples, and 3. That God would lead us to be more effective in developing leaders. These were the right things to pray for and God is leading us to make the changes necessary to accomplish those goals.

When I look at the three things that we have been praying for I recognize that these are things that are basic to church. Our goal as a church is that individually and corporately we are, "becoming like Christ in every area of our lives." That is good, and it is biblical. It is our way of fulfilling what Jesus told us in the Great Commission, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all I have commanded you." That is the mission that Jesus has given his church, it is the mission that he came to accomplish. The great thing about it is that the mission has not change in 2000 years. From its very inception the church has been called to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

One of the things that we have talked about recently is that our purpose as Christians is to look like Jesus. That is what it means to be a disciple, and that is God's goal for us. But it is not as if God has made a goal and not taken steps to see that goal accomplished. Romans 8:29 says that it is God's will for us to be, "conformed to the image of His Son." 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that we are being, "transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." Even now God works in us through His Holy Spirit to transform us to look like Jesus. God is making that happen now, and is working to bring his goal of his people looking like Jesus to fruition.

God has a strategy and so must we. If we are to fulfill our goal of "becoming like Christ in every aspect of life" then we have to have a strategy to get there. Our strategy as a church is to become like Christ, and to bring others to become like Christ (making disciples), through four components: Worship, Transform, Reach, Commit. We'll look at each of those four components in the days to come. In the meantime it is great to follow Christ together!

Truett Seminary's "Pillars: A Celebration of Seniors"

Hello Church Family! I wanted you all to be aware of a great conference that is coming up. On May 24-26, Truett Seminary is hosting Pillars: A Celebration of Seniors. Brochures for this event can be found on the ministries table and this description explains what the three days will be about.

The conference name, "Pillars: A Celebration of Seniors," is a reminder of the pillars that stand in Independence, Texas, Baylor's birthplace, representing a rich history of tradition, commitment, and shared purpose. The conference name also acknowledges the ways in which so many of our seniors continue to serve as significant pillars within their own congregations and within society at large. This three-day event will be filled with times of worship, fellowship, seminars, and even time for campus tours and activities. In addition, each day will conclude with a Dr. Pepper float!

The speakers for the weekend are Bill O'Brien, Paul Powell, Levi Price, Grant Teaff and Cindy Wiles. Also on Monday night at 6:30pm, there will be an organ concert by Dr. Joyce Jones, the Baylor Organist-in-Residence. If you have not heard her play the organ, it is an experience you won't want to miss.

If you click HERE it will send you to Truett's website giving more information, as well as the schedules for the days. One VERY IMPORTANT thing to know for this conference is that there is a 300 person limit. So if you would like to come, please let Linda, Steve or Josh know BY this Sunday. We have to send our numbers in so we can get on the list.

Hamburger Lunch and Summer Trip

Don't forget the Annual Youth Hamburger Lunch is this Friday, May 14. From 11:30 am-1:30 pm you can come to the church parking lot and $6 will get you a char grilled hamburger, chips, drink, and homemade cookie. If you need a to-go order (or lots of them) call ahead, 865-2014, and we'll get it ready for you! Please come support our youth as they are raising money for our trip this summer.

Youth, don't forget to be here at 10:30 to set up.

Speaking of the Youth Summer Trip, the second deposit of $25 is due today, May 12. (Remember if you didn't make the first deposit, you owe $50 today.) We will be taking sign-up for a little while longer, but just remember that the longer you wait to sign up, the more you will have to pay in the long run. So, get me your moolah!

Also, if anyone is interested in serving with us at the Buckner Shoe's for Orphan Souls warehouse in Mesquite June 22-23, but doesn't want to participate in the Youth Evangelism Conference or Six Flags portions of our trip, please just let me know. There are spots available to serve alongside us at the warehouse, and we would love to have you join us! It would be fantastic to have it become a multi-generational mission effort for our church. To read more about Shoes for Orphan Souls, check out http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/

~Peace
Ben

Youth Trip Deposit

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute to remind you all that the first $20 deposit for the Youth Summer Trip is due next Wednesday, April 28. This first deposit goes toward the trip total of $215.

In case you've forgotten, the trip is to Dallas June 22-26. We'll be serving at the Shoes for Orphan Souls Warehouse--sorting shoes to be shipped out to kids in need all over the United States and in 68 other countries. We will also be attending the BGCT Youth Evangelism Conference. YEC is an awesome conference with great speakers and musical guest. Just in case that wasn't enough to entice you, we'll also take a break from our hard mission work for a fun day at Six Flags.

If you are interested in going on the trip, you're invited! We still need some adults to volunteer to go on the trip. If that's you, just let me know, and I'll get you all the information!

~Peace

Ben