Latest - Ardmore Baptist Church
Transcription
Latest - Ardmore Baptist Church
Volume 58 • Number 19 May 11, 2015 Announcing the Mission and Ministries of Ardmore Baptist Church, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC The Mwangaza African Children’s Choir In Concert - May 20, 6:00 p.m. his inspiring group of 20 hopeful and talented children, ages 8-14, from East Africa represents the orphaned and poverty-stricken youth of Uganda. Touring as a ministry outreach of Africa Renewal Ministries, they share a special message of hope through authentic Ugandan song and dance. Please join us that evening as these children touch our hearts through dancing, singing, and sharing testimony about their experiences. Childcare will be provided for children birth - 3 year olds. Older children are encouraged to attend the concert. This will take the place of Prayer, Praise, and Proclamation. We only need one more host family to house them overnight for two nights. Please contact me if you can serve as a host home ([email protected]). T Worship Connection May 17 Morning (8:15 & 10:45): Lord’s Supper Biblical Perspectives on Love, Marriage & Sex: “What Women Wish Men Knew” Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Corinthians 13 Dr. Don Gordon 6:00 p.m. Choir Recognition Service P Living In The Light! lease join us Sunday, May 17, at 6:00 p.m. as we celebrate another year of our preschool, children’s, and youth music and arts ministry at Ardmore! The preschoolers and children will share songs and the Hymn of the Month participants will be recognized. The Music Makers and Young Musicians choirs will present their spring musical, “Living in the Light,” featuring the scriptures, hymns, and songs they have learned this year. The focus of the musical is about knowing Jesus and becoming a reflection of His light, recalling His words, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) Our Youth Choir and Youth Handbells will also share in this service. Bring a Friend! I H2H Golf Tournament Friday, May 15; 12:00 noon Reynolds Park Golf Course egister with Susan Denton in the church office or Jeff McIntyre (jeff@ mcmetals.com). You don’t have to golf to join us. We will eat around 5:30 p.m. Dinner: $10 for non-golfers. Brochures are available at the Welcome Desk. R Reception For Jo West n our worship service this Sunday, May 17, we will recognize Jo West for her ministry to the children of Ardmore’s Weekday Early Education program. That afternoon, please join us between 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. for a drop-in reception in the Fellowship Hall. I know we all want to express our gratitude for her love and commitment to this ministry of our church before she retires at the end of this school year. Caregiver Group May 14, 7:00 p.m. - Ardmore Room t’s important for caregivers to take care of themselves. This group can help you do that. I Music & Arts Series North Carolina Brass Band Concert Friday, May 22; 7:30 p.m. Page 2 May 11, 2015 Our Pastor Writes ... We Finished! few weeks ago I used this column to encourage you to join us at the Finish Line and end our debt at Ardmore. We owed $586,000 on our mortgage for the sanctuary, preschool, and music space we built in 2003. You responded to that call with enthusiasm and generosity. On Sunday, May 3, you brought your contributions and your commitments to the baskets at the front of the church, in the balcony, and in the choir loft. The aisles were packed with cheerful young and old bringing their gifts to the Lord. We exceeded our goal by $19,645, which goes into a newly established “Vision Fund.” We have commitments to solidify our certainty that by the end of this year, all of our debt will be erased. What lessons can we learn from this remarkable 12 year journey? First, God is great and God is good all the time. God has blessed us as individuals and as a body for 12 years and longer. It is not precisely clear why God has called and chosen this church to be a leading beacon of light in WinstonSalem and in the Baptist world across North Carolina. All we can say is that God has shed his grace on us, we have been enfolded into his great purposes for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Second, we can do exceedingly more than we think we can do. We too often limit our visions and stifle our dreams, because we forget the first truth. Since God has shed his grace on us, we can do more than what the pure economists predict we can do. Churches have to be pruned from the unfruitful branches of doubt, pessimism, and small thinking. God bless the leaders, prayers, dreamers, and givers who push through our tendencies to scale down and scale back from bold faith. Third, cooperation with God and one another is a recipe for success. God wants us to do great things. He is in the business of great things. In the days of Moses he parted the Red Sea. In the time of Jesus he resurrected the dead. In the days of the early church he overthrew the Roman Empire. Many people are writing the obituary of the church in 21st century America. They believe the future is destined to be one filled with empty churches and lost young people. What they have forgotten is that darkness is the greatest time for God’s light to break through. Just when people are giving up on the church because of its dullness, pettiness, and confusion, God calls a person, a people, a group of people to move forward with vitality, generosity, faith, hope, and love. That’s us! That’s what God is calling us to do. Good for you! Good for us! Good for God, the author of goodness, miracles, and the one who brings light into darkness. - Don Gordon A T Vacation Bible School Volunteer Training his is a big week for VBS at ABC! If you are planning to help with VBS, please plan to join us in the Fellowship Hall for one of these training sessions: tonight, Monday, May 11; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. OR Thursday, May 14; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Childcare is provided. You will learn the overall feel and focus of VBS as well as receive any materials you need to do your job well. Anna Rubin, Julie Jones, and I are so excited to help you prepare to share the good news with the children of our church and community. See you then! T Celebrate And Pray he excitement of our Finish Line Sunday still lingers in the hearts and minds of Ardmore folks – and rightly so. Now that the finish line on our building debt is in sight, the time has come for us to shift our focus to discerning what God has in store for us next. Without a monthly loan payment, we now have the opportunity and freedom to dream new dreams. Let’s join together in praying for the Lord to show us what is next and begin sharing our ideas with each other. PMBA Senior Adult Lunch Thursday, May 14; 12:00 noon Old Town Baptist Church ontact Joanne Mount for tickets ($6) today. C Blood Drive Thursday, May 14 3:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall indy’s story is not only her own, but that of her almost 25 year old son. Born 27 weeks premature, blood transfusions were his gift of life. He was transfused many times during his first eight weeks of life. While only small amounts of blood, it was what his tiny body required. At the time, Cindy says she didn’t think much about where the blood came from or who was giving his body this gift. Looking back, she is thankful for the generous gift of blood that has allowed her son to reach his 25th birthday as a healthy young man! You can give that same kind of gift by donating at our upcoming blood drive. There are open appointments still available, so please contact Rob Lemons today (416-6187; [email protected]) to sign up and help us reach our goal of 50 donors and give the gift of life! We need 15 more donors to reach our goal. C Page 3 May 11, 2015 Ardmore ABCs ... Deacon of the Week Our sympathy and Christian concern are expressed to the following in the loss of loved ones: Inez White in the death of her husband, R. S. White; Maxine Kelly in the death of her sister, Nell Whitlock; Diana Perkinson in the death of her sister, Linda Mulligan Gracious notes of appreciation have been received from the following and are posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall: Dallas Warden and Peggy Parker Charity Baptist Church, Booneville, NC Lincolnton Avenue Baptist Church, Lincolnton, NC Congratulations to: Ed & Lucia Williamson – 30th wedding anniversary on May 11th; Matt & Kelly Trenchard – 15th wedding anniversary on May 13th; Daniel and Kristen Beavers on the birth of their son, Owen Gregory Beavers, born May 4th. Big sister is Maddie; Caleb and Kerry McFaddin on the birth of their son, Hayes Moore McFaddin, born May 7th. Big sister is Kerrington. May 11 - 16 Chris Hull Phone: (c) 287-7298 Weekend Call May 16 - 17 Paul Mullen Phone: 416-1058 Wednesday Opportunities M ay 13 is the last class of Smart Money, Smart Kids. May 20: African Children’s Choir (see FaithHealthNC Volunteer Training May 13, 20, 27, & June 3 6:00 p.m.; F221 olunteers are asked to help people with transportation, make home visits, provide emotional and/or spiritual support, provide meals, make phone calls, pick up groceries/medications, etc. If you are interested, contact Debra Norris in the office (725-8767, ext. 113). It’s not too late to join us. V W Memory Books e are assembling memory books for each High School graduate. We would like for church members to contribute their thoughts and encouraging words. Blank cards and a list of the senior class are located at the main Welcome Desk, second floor lobby, and Sunday Bible Study office. Thank you for your support and encouragement of our youth. front page for more information) May 27: RA/GA Pinewood Derby; Preschoolers & Popsicles on the playground 2015 College Graduates A re you or one of your children graduating from college this year? We want to know! E-mail Betty (bwright @ardmorebaptist.org) with the graduate’s name, degree, and school. Where Do You Park? Did You Know … ♦♦ Ardmore has 9 spaces reserved for Guest Parking, and 65 total “Guest” families that frequently visit; ♦♦ There are 18 handicap spaces, and 106 Ardmore members who are 80 years old and older; ♦♦ There are 101 general parking spaces, and Ardmore averages 578 people in worship attendance each week. Please help us accommodate our guests and older adults by parking in the overflow parking lot. Join us on the Ardmore Express this Sunday! May Special Offering Emphasis S ince 1924 North Carolina Baptists have given to the Mother’s Day Offering to “extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, especially to the needy.” Today, your gifts continue that work to assist patients in financial need at Wake Forest Baptist Health. Ardmore Announcer is published weekly by Ardmore Baptist Church, Inc., 501 Miller Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Publication Number USPS 545780. Postmaster: Send address changes to Ardmore Announcer, 501 Miller Street, W-S, NC 27103-3610. Church Phone: 336-725-8767; Fax: 336-725-2487; E-mail: [email protected]; Web Site: www.ardmorebaptist.org Memorials and Honoraria Building Fund In Memory of Shirley Livengood Baker Archer Livengood In Memory of Ira Ousley Adult 10, Coed 2 In Memory of Dr. J. L. Wilson David & Debbie Newsome Mother’s Day Offering In Memory of Mike Richardson Sara Richardson In Memory of Betty Taylor and Sybil Taylor Martha & Marvin Taylor In Memory of Cornelia Berry Becky Berry In Memory of Mary Mullen and Helen Brown Paul, Bonnie, and John Mullen Special Ministries In Memory of Gloria Warden and Linda Mulligan Wilma Brown In Memory of Lois Ragsdale Scott Ragsdale Beth Eskridge Handicrafters In Honor of Linda Cline and Jacki Todd Maurice & Mabel Hall For the Record May 10, 2015 Sunday Bible Study Morning Worship 8:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 581 I Ardmore Scholar Named W e are pleased to report that, at the General Assembly of CBF NC, Seth Hix was named as the first recipient of the Ardmore Scholarship. Seth, a member of Ardmore, is now a second-year student at Wake Forest Divinity School. This scholarship from the Lolley Fund was established to defray the educational costs of seminary training for ministers. We congratulate Seth on this significant award. 92 476 Stewardship Weekly Budget Needs Budget Receipts 05/10/15 Needs-To-Date Receipts-To-Date Over/(Under)-To-Date Want A Church Puzzle? f you would like to have your own puzzle of the church like the large one displayed in the lobby, all you have to do is let the office know. We will order a smaller version (16 x 20) for anyone who requests one. Cost is $40 each. Please notify Janet in the church office before the end of May to get your very own puzzle. $ $ $ $ $ Let’s Finish Receipts 05/10/15 $ Receipts-To-Date $ 33,425 30,981 635,084 640,715 5,631 166,437 2,326,600 A PMBA To Relocate t a called meeting on May 7, the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association accepted an offer from Kelly Properties to sell the resource center building at 1105 Long Drive to make way for new student housing. This decision means that PMBA will relocate to a yet-to-be determined location after July 31, 2015. O ur Vacation Bible School theme this year is Everest, as in Mt. Everest, and we need your help in gathering backdrop/decorating items. If you have any of the following items we could borrow during the week of VBS (June 22 - 26), please leave them at the church office or contact Barbara Hudgens (945-4154). ♦♦ Flat white bedsheets, or large pieces of white cloth or cotton batting (for creating snow scenes) ♦♦ Hiking/camping gear: parkas, boots, rope, lanterns, small tents, sleeping bags for outdoor use, camp cookware, etc. ♦♦ Artificial Christmas trees Y Courtyard Bricks ou can add your name to our “Walk of Faith” on a brick in the courtyard in front of the sanctuary. Order forms ($40 per brick) are available at the Welcome Center - give to Janet Hellard in the office by June 1. Monthly Building Debt Payment Date of Payment: May 7, 2015 Amount of Payment: $ Minimum Due: $ 16,980 Outstanding Balance: $ 235,544 352,096