PATHFINDER WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
September 27, 2023
SPOTLIGHT:
A Message from Our Deacon Chair:
“The only thing worse than a singing preacher is a preaching singer.” Cary Hilliard gifted me with this saying early in his tenure as our Senior Pastor some twenty years ago. He and I had a lot of fun with it over the next few years, repeating it often, as Cary would occasionally bless us with his singing voice, which was actually very good, and I, on other occasions, felt compelled to speak a few words before I sang. Humor aside, I have found a lot of truth in the saying, the most prominent being you should stick to what you are good at and leave other things, that you might not be so good at, to others.
This week marks my last week as your Deacon Chair. Although it started under unusual circumstances, serving in this role for the past year has afforded me countless blessings. It has also reinforced my love for our Church and all of you who comprise it. I have tried to stick to what little bit I might be good at and left the rest for others, and I have been prayed for and loved on much more than I deserve. Thank you all for the support. It has meant the world to me.
First Baptist Church of Jefferson is good at a lot of things, but I believe it is best in sharing the love of Christ in action and deed through its love for others. God is with us and moves among us. Weekly we have new people walk up those brick stairs and through the sandstone columns into our bright sanctuary in search of that love. It’s who we are and what we represent. I would challenge us all to embrace it as we move forward!
This weekend, Pastor Matt Long will join us as our new Senior Pastor. He is excited to join us and begin his ministry here in Jefferson but will do so while Debbie and the kids remain in Mississippi until fall semester at their schools is complete. Please continue to shower Matt and his family with prayer in this transition.
I understand that many in our congregation have had Covid over the past few weeks. Please join me in prayer for these folk and their quick recovery.
May God bless us all in the coming year!
Steven
Committee Chairs: Please remember to reserve rooms for meetings with Karen in the church office.
Church Office hours:
- 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Mondays through Thursday
- 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Friday
Mailboxes in the church office: If you have a mailbox in the church office, please stop by and check your box. Some of them are getting rather full! Thanks.
THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH:
Wednesday, September 27th:
- 5:30 pm – Fellowship Meal (Fellowship Hall)
- 6:00 pm – Bible Study (Fellowship Hall); Choir (Choir Room); Youth (Student Center)
- 6:30 pm – Connect Run/Walk (Adult II Classroom)
Thursday, September 28th:
- 9:00 am – Preschool Chapel Time (Sanctuary)
Sunday, October 1st:
- 10:00 am – Sunday School
- 11:00 am – Combined Church Service
- 5:30 PM – Youth (Student Center)
Monday, October 2nd – October 6th: FBCJ Preschool/Jefferson City Schools Fall Break
Tuesday, October 3rd:
- 7:00 pm – Worship Committee Meeting (Fellowship Hall)
Wednesday, October 4th:
- 10:15 am – Faithful Followers Bible Study
- 6:00 pm – Choir (Choir Room)
- 6:30 pm – Connect Run/Walk (Jackson County Sheriff Office parking lot, 555 Stan Evans Dr Jefferson)
PRAYER CONCERNS:
The ongoing prayer concerns of the church may be found here.
PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE REQUEST:
Your PSC says, “thank you” and “don’t relax your prayer support”.
As we make preparation for a new chapter in the life of FBCJ, we ask that everyone hold up in prayer Cason Baptist Church in Nettleton, MS. The gain of our new Senior Pastor, Matt Long, means they will now begin a search for a new under shepherd. As happy as we are, let’s not forget this body of believers who will be seeking God’s guidance for the coming days.
MINISTRY & MISSION OPPORTUNITIES:
Adult Choir: The Adult Choir rehearses each Wednesday in the choir room across from the Children’s Suite at 6:00 pm to prepare for each Sunday’s anthem. If you enjoy singing, please join us.
Children’s Ministries: Children’s activities are provided each Sunday during our worship services and Sunday school hours. If you are interested in growing young hearts for Jesus, please consider serving once a month with our children. All materials are provided, you simply show up and teach the pre-planned lesson. Contact Jessica Ferguson for more information. 678-986-1347 or email us at children@fbcjefferson.org.
Connect Run/Walk Group: Connect is for anyone interested in running/walking with others to grow and improve spiritually and physically, and to follow the teachings of the Lord. Join us and bring a friend for our Christian fellowship. Water, Gatorade, & fruit will be provided after our run/walk. We will support you physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually while walking, running, or sometimes trotting. Everyone in our church and community is invited. We will have a small devotion, prayer concerns and praises. We are open to suggestions of different routes or changes needed. Just let us know. FBCJ Connect Run/Walk Group will meet tonight, Wednesday, September 27th, at the Adult II SS Classroom at 6:30 pm.
Upcoming events:
October 4th: 6:30pm – Jackson County Sheriff Office parking lot – 555 Stan Evans Dr Jefferson
October 11th: 6:30pm – Adult II SS Classroom (white building behind Student Center)
October 18th: 6:30pm – Adult II SS Classroom
October 25th: 6:30pm – TBA
Faithful Followers Bible Study: Faithful Followers Bible Study meets each Wednesday (unless otherwise specified) at 10:15 am in the Fellowship Hall.
M & M’s (Mature & Maturing Adults): The M&M Senior Adults will meet on Tuesday, October 17th at 11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and fellowship. Gospel group “Mercy’s Cry” will be performing for us, and we’ll have a delicious meal from Jefferson House. The meal is $8 per person. Please call Karen in the church office (706) 367-8332 to be added to the list no later than Tuesday, October 10th.
Mary Martha Circle: The Mary Martha Circle meeting scheduled for October 2, 2023, has been CANCELLED. Keep an eye on your Pathfinder newsletter for updates on future meetings.
Meals on Wheels: The Adult III Sunday School class will deliver each Wednesday in October. We desperately need volunteers to help deliver each Wednesday in November through February!! If you or your Sunday School Class, women’s circle, or civic organization would like to help deliver during those months, please contact Barbara Gooch at 706-654-7731, or email her at bgooch02@yahoo.com. Most SS classes/ individuals/organizations are delivering multiple times each year, as this is a long running mission of First Baptist Church Jefferson.
Morning Glory Circle: Will meet at the home of Barbara Gooch, 3205 Galilee Church Road Jefferson, on Monday, October 9th, at 9:00 am. All ladies are invited to attend.
Wednesday Night Bible Study: Andy Garrison will be teaching the last of a four-part study series on Samson during Wednesday Night Bible Study tonight at 6:00 pm.
Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal: The church gathers each Wednesday to share fellowship over a meal, address the church’s prayer concerns and study the Bible. If you are interested in participating in the meal, please note the following:
- The cost for each meal is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children (11 years old and younger). The cost for families is capped at $25.00.
- If you are not on the permanent list and plan to eat, please call Karen in the church office by each Monday by noon.
- If you are on the permanent list and can’t make it this Wednesday, please call Karen in the church office for your name to be struck for the week and the church does not incur unnecessary costs.
WMU Meetings: If you are not a member of a WMU (Women’s Mission Union) group and would like to join us, please contact DeMaris Gurley at 706-540-0866. She will direct you to the WMU group that best fits your schedule.
Women’s Tailgate Party: All ladies of the church are invited to a Women’s Tailgate Party on Sunday, October 22nd in the FBC Jefferson Courtyard from 4:00pm -6:00pm! Bring your favorite tailgate food to share. We will be making lap blankets for shut-ins, so please join us for fun, delicious food, and fellowship! (We will meet in the Fellowship Hall in case of inclement weather.)
Youth Ministries: Volunteers are needed for this ministry. If you are interested in serving this church in this capacity, please contact the church office. Currently, our youth meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm in the Student Center to help stock the food bank, on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am in the Student Center for Bible Study and on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm in the Student Center for fellowship.
Deacons of the Week:
Week of September 24, 2023: Brian Maxwell
Week of October 1, 2023: Melvin Porter and Jim Smith
Opening and Closing: Jim Hix
Greeters and Ushers: Steve & Sara Ross
NUMBERS FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
- Sunday School Attendance: 86
- Worship Attendance: 99
- Nursery Attendance: 5
- Sunday Worship TOTAL: 104
- Offering: $7,087.00
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
