The Baptist Bell - First Baptist Church

Baptist Bell
Volume 21
e
h
T
Retirement Edition
Pastor James Harper is retiring from full-time ministry and from First Baptist Church. His last
preaching Sunday will be Sunday, April 5, 2015. Please join us at any or all of these events.
Sunday, March 22 ~ Celebration of Ministry
A special day is in store for Pastor Jim, Lucy, and the entire church
family. The morning begins with our regular worship service at 9:00
am. In lieu of Sunday School, we will have an extended fellowship
time to be followed by a potluck dinner at approximately 11:00 am.
Fried chicken, cake and beverages will be provided. Please bring a
side dish to share. Many surprises are planned!
remember the past with fondness,
look to the future with eagerness
live each moment to the fullest
Sunday, March 29 ~
Sunday, April 5 ~
Sunday, April 12 ~
Palm Sunday
Easter
Retirement Party 2-4 pm
Worship service 9:00 am with
baptisms & special music
selections. This is Pastor Jim’s
last official Sunday.
Hamilton’s Westside Room
Worship service 9:00 am with
baptisms, children’s choir and
handbell choir.
Sunday school 11:00 am
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Easter brunch 10:15 am
No Sunday school
Join us as we celebrate once
more with Pastor Jim & Lucy.
This open house event will be
open to the entire Jacksonville
community.
T H E B A PT I S T B E L L
From My Heart to Yours…..
As I sit down to write my last Baptist Bell article, I
am struggling with what to say. I’m discovering
that it’s rather difficult to congeal twenty-one and
a half years of ministry into a few paragraphs in a
church newsletter. There have been so many
memories, amazing people, stories of soaring victory and sometimes difficult defeats, relationships
that sustained me and other friendships that have
been lost in the mists of time. The other factor that
makes this a difficult letter to write is the fact that it
not only ends my ministry at First Baptist Church of
Jacksonville, but it also begins to draw to a close
my entire life ministry. Next month I will be semiretired. So this is extremely emotional. But honestly, I would expect nothing less.
Let’s begin with what we all hate at the Academy Awards—too many thank you’s! Sorry, but
here I go. First, I want to thank God for giving me
life, then New Life in Jesus and finally a call to ministry in 1972. Next, in chronological order, I’m
thankful to my parents, Dale and Virginia Harper,
for making an unfocused, ADHD boy study and do
better in school. I’m very grateful for their sacrifices. Next, I’m so thankful for a Godly and loving
wife like Lucy. I could never have accomplished
a fraction of my goals without her strength and
support. Finally, on the family front I’m also very
thankful for all my loving relatives from beautiful
children and grandchildren to all the rest of the
clan. I have many great memories of church and
family.
Pastor
Jim Harper
of Chris Gibson, from the musical
stylings of Deb Boston to the love
and patience of Carolyn Heaton,
from the amazing Diane Headen
to the compassionate Sis Goben,
from the fun Roger Deem to the
dedicated Brian Hartsock—our staff is awesome.
And I love them all.
My ministry philosophy at First Baptist was very
simple—everyday I would remind myself to do two
things with all of my heart: “preach the word” and
“love the people.” If I ever failed to do this, please
forgive me. But that was my heart-felt goal every
day of the last twenty-one years.
Listed in this newsletter are some fun, celebratory events designed for us all to say goodbye to
each other. Please come and join us at these parties and worship services. In the near future, our
church will have a new pastor. When that person
arrives, please come and support them with the
same love and enthusiasm that you showed to me
over two decades ago.
Lucy and I will be in Jacksonville for the foreseeable future. So please call or stop by and we
can share some good fellowship and lasting
friendship. Once again THANK YOU for allowing
me to be your spiritual shepherd these many
years. Jacksonville First Baptist Church was by far
the most significant ministry of my career. And
now may our church claim the promise of
Jeremiah 29:11 where God tells us this: “ For I know
Now, let me say a word about my church famthe plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans
ily. Two nights ago I said a heartfelt goodbye to
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
our church leadership team. And I will tell you
you hope and a future.”
what I told them—they are the engine that helps
to run our church. A coach needs good, dedicated players to win. And every time First Baptist
In His Love,
church has succeeded it’s in great measure due
to our motivated lay leadership. A church can’t
be vital and strong without a majority of people
volunteering time and talent. Thank you, dear
friends, for giving of yourself to advance God’s
kingdom.
A final thank you has to go to our paid staff.
Right now, in the spring of 2015, we have a great
staff that our church should be proud of. From the
creative work of Kim Runkle to the tireless energies
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Pastor Jim Harper
T H E B A PT I S T B E L L
Memories are made of this...
Pastor Jim
learns the
“Cupid
Shuffle”
during
Family Fun
Day—2013
Seder Meal—
2011
Costa Rica
church
dedication
2013—
Pastor
Jim,
what’s on
your hat?
re at the
Reading Scriptu
Pantry
Personal Needs
—2014.
Christmas party
Pastor Harper figuratively “passes the mantle”
to the congregation on Sunday, March 8, 2015.
Page 3
T H E B A PT I S T B E L L
The Pulpit Committee needs input from the congregation as we prepare the profile document that will
be used to introduce our church to potential new pastors. Please fill out this survey and place it in the offering plate today, or either of the next two weeks.
Deadline to respond is March 22.
WE WOULD LIKE THE MINISTER TO
What are the strengths of our church?
(check all that apply):

Be the only worship leader

Share leadership of worship with laity

Share leadership of worship with other
staff

Share leadership of worship with
students in ministry

Preach sermons with a biblical focus

Preach sermons on evangelism

Preach sermons on social issues

Preach sermons on stewardship

Mention all prayer concerns in the
pastoral prayer

Tell the children’s story

Use input from the Worship Committee

Encourage use of charismatic gifts

Use a variety of worship styles

Wear a robe or stole
What are the needs of our church?
What do we do well?
Other:
SURVEY RESPONSES MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE CHURCH IN PERSON,
MAILED TO 1701 MOUND RD, JACKSONVILLE, IL 62650,
E-MAILED TO [email protected] OR TAKE THE SURVEY ONLINE AT www.fbcjaxil.org. DEADLINE MARCH 22.
Thursday, April 2—
Sunday, April 5—
7:00 am
9:00 am
ABWM Lenten
Breakfast
Easter Sunday
All ladies of the church
are invited to attend.
Please make your reservation in the church office or
with Barb Wood.
Thursday, April 2—6:00-7:30 pm
Drop-in Communion Service
Please come pray and partake of
communion as your schedule allows.
Communion, baptisms
and special music. Easter
brunch will follow worship
service. This is also Pastor
Jim’s last sermon at FBC.
Stewardship Report
General Fund
Offering
4-Jan $
Missions Fund
Offering
Building Fund
4,936.00
2,427.50
$
$
377.00
143.50
$
$
135.00
105.00
8-Mar $
4,549.50
2,475.00
3,558.00
3,418.00
2,114.00
2,338.84
1,857.00
5,337.00
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
167.50
238.50
440.00
140.00
211.00
139.76
401.00
342.50
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
147.50
77.00
127.00
116.00
139.00
75.00
80.00
118.00
15-Mar $
2,640.50
$
252.50
$
182.00
11-Jan $
18-Jan $
25-Jan $
1-Feb $
8-Feb $
15-Feb $
22-Feb $
1-Mar $
Have you remembered the
church in your estate planning?
Brochures and pamphlets on this
topic are available in the church
office upon request.
Communion
$ 64.00
Communion
$ 78.00
Communion
$ 758.00
America for Christ
………………………………..General Fund
Missions
YTD Budget Need
$ 35,948.00
$ 2,262.48
YTD Receipts
$ 36,027.82
$ 2,718.26
$
$ 455.78
Difference
Sunday
$ 138.00
Budget Report (FY 15, as of 3/15)
Weekly Services:
First Baptist Church
Special Offerings
9:00 am
79.82
Our Website
www.fbcjaxil.org
1701 Mound Road
Sunday School 10:15 am
Great Rivers Region Website:
Jacksonville, IL 62650
For Information on
www.abcgrr.org
Phone: (217) 245-6119
Bible Study Groups, Choir, Bell
Choir, American Baptist Youth
or other ministries, please
contact the church office
American Baptist Website:
E-Mail: [email protected] or
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www.abc-usa.org
T H E B A PT I S T B E L L
First Baptist Church
1701 Mound Road
Baptist Bell
AWANA will hold three more meetings
before the end of the school year:
Mar 29-Fruit of the
Spirit Night
Apr 12—Scavenger
Hunt Night
Apr 19—Location TBD
Volume 21
The
Jacksonville, IL 62650
Spruce Up For Spring Work Days are
coming up—there are tasks for all ages.
Sat, Mar 21
8-11 am
Wed, Mar 25
6-9 pm
Easter Lilies are available
for $10 in memory or in
honor of a loved one.
Purchase in the church
office by March 22.
Mission and Service will hold a Bake
Sale/Silent Auction on Sun, March 29.
We need bakers and buyers! If you can
donate a baked item for the auction,
sign up in the Narthex on March 22.