Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Derald Harris

  • Family Front Vol. 63, No. 11

    October has been a great month – not only because we finally have fall weather but we are celebrating several of our children receiving Christ and following Him in baptism. God is always at work!

    Parent’s Night Out is Friday, December 8, 5-9pm. We plan to have a store again this year for kids to ‘shop’ for their family for Christmas. There will games, crafts, pizza and lots of fun. This is for children ages 2 and up. There will be signups  in the Connection Center through December 3. We will need youth and adult volunteers to help with the childcare. We will also need donations of all kinds of items to put in the store for the kids to pick out and wrap. This is a highlight for our children! Sign up and be part of this fun event for kids and a night out for parents! A donation of $5 per child is welcome.

  • Family Front – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Mar 1, 2023 | , 

    Parents Night Out was so much fun and I think the parents had a great night out as well. Thank you, Church, for letting us host this in our facility. Thank you, volunteers, for helping too! We couldn’t do this ministry for our families without you!

    For your calendar: VBS and Sports camp is July 17-21, 2023. STELLAR VBS is 9 a.m. -12 noon; Basketball Camp is 1-4 p.m. Put it on your calendar and look for registration forms online at a later date. I’m looking for VBS leadership for opening and closing sessions, station leaders, crew leaders. There will be a few volunteers needed for sports camp as well. If you want to serve, see me. There is something for everyone to do!

    For the sports camp I may be needing host homes to house the students leading the basketball camp. We will also need meals for these Sport Crusaders for the week. Talk to me if you could open you home to a student or 2. If your Sunday School class could help with gift cards or money to help the students with meals, see me. Thank you for your support!

    Would you be willing to care for our sweet preschoolers during early service? We need you! Please see me if you could care for these sweet little ones just one Sunday morning a month. Thank you!!

     

  • Heart of Worship – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Mar 1 Feb 6, 2023 | , 

    Have you ever thought about giving money to the work of the Lord as an act of worship? Money is a tool given to us from God that we can use to serve and help others.

    Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to gain wealth.” Deuteronomy 16:17 says, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that He has given you.”

    We are not man-made. We can remember that God is the One who gives us the power to gain wealth in the first place. Everything we have – all our gifts and abilities – ultimately comes from Him alone.

    How should we give? God instructs us in His Word that He desires us to give happily and what we have purposed in our hearts to give (2 Corinthians 9:7). To whom should we give? The Bible tells us that we should give to the poor (Proverbs 28:27, Matthew 6:3-4), and to contribute to the needs of the saints (Romans 12:13, James 2:15-16)

    Finally, in the New Testament, we as the Church are encouraged to give generously! We see in 2 Corinthians 8:3 that Paul speaks of the Macedonian churches, testifying that they “gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” Paul also encourages us in 2 Corinthians 9:6, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously.”

    Let us be a people who worships God through giving generously to our church and to others around us!

     

  • Music Musings – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Mar 1, 2023 | , 

    Seeking Laborers for Our Choir

    We are blessed here at Fee Fee to have a wonderful worship choir. We would also like to include multigenerational singers. There is no audition process for being in our choir. All are welcome. So – all you need to do is show up. You do not need a special invitation.

    Some 8:30 singers may wish to also attend 11:00 a.m. worship. Here is a plan. Sing in our 8:30 worship choir. Leave to get breakfast after our special choir music. Return to church for Bible study and attendance at the 11:00 worship. You will be blessed.

    *Come sing in our choir this Easter.

    *Come sing with our choir for the month of March.

    *Come rehearse with our choir for two consecutive weeks.

    This is a great avenue of service for sharing your gifts. Choir rehearsal is on Monday night at 7:00 in the choir room.

    The Psalms

    As we are doing our reading plan of The Psalms, we find many lovely music selections have been set to the scripture found in Psalms. In reading Psalm 63, I ran across several musical settings of these verses, but I have chosen this special one to share with you: Enjoy this beautiful setting of Psalm 63.

    Psalm 63 – God You Are My God – Ivan & Melina Iturra – Andrew & Saskia Smith – YouTube

     

  • Announcements – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Easter Sunday Schedule

    8:30 a.m.   Traditional Worship

    9:45 a.m.   Easter Breakfast (GYM)

    11 a.m.       Contemporary Worship

    11 a.m.       Kids Zone

     

    A Thank You Note

    Thank you so much Fee Fee Baptist church for your generous giving towards the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! Two nights ago, I was able to meet with someone from an unreached people group, share a meal and talk about stories from the good book in his language from creation to Noah. This is possible through your giving and prayers, thank you! We continue to be thankful for your prayers and partnership in getting the good news to those who have never heard.

    We are humbled to be doing the work He has called us to. One year has already passed and we are daily thankful for how He continues to provide for us and answer our prayers.

    We have been and will continue to pray that He sends a new pastor for Fee Fee in His timing and for the ongoing health and growth of Fee Fee.

    We are thankful for our partnership in the good news!

    David & Amy

    Sunday Night Connection

    Our next connection is March 12 and to celebrate March, we are having our own March Madness. We will be in the gym for basketball challenges for adults and kids alike. Whether you participate or just sit in the stands (tables and chairs) there will be lots of laughs. We will be eating concession stand food like hot dogs, chips, nachos and soda. Hope to connect with you there!

    Tech Help Needed!

    We are looking for anyone who would be interested in serving in any of the technical aspects of worship. We have spots to fill in both services. Fee Fee is streaming both the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services, so we need more help to accomplish this endeavor. This may include streaming the service using our video equipment, running cameras or operating the media computer to display lyrics and slideshows on the screens. These jobs are not technically difficult and require no technical expertise. Plenty of training will be given so you are comfortable as you serve. If you are interested or have questions, please talk to Vance Stewart directly or via email Vance@feefeebc.org.

    Pray for Pastor Search Committee

    As we seek God’s will in the process of selecting a Senior Pastor to lead our church, we appreciate your continued prayers and support. We know God has a plan for Fee Fee and a man to help carry out His work. Please pray that God gives the Pastor Search Committee wisdom and discernment as we carry out this search, and that He prepares our future pastor’s heart to hear His call.

    Betsy Brisch, Prayer Coordinator, Pastor Search Committee

    Congratulations

    Glad tidings come to Ashley & Eric Bowman with the birth of Caden Warren Bowman on February 2. He weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz. He has a big brother named Tyson.

    Mobile Market

    Our partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank will continue into 2023 with more Mobile Markets. Upcoming dates are:

    • March 13
    • April 10
    • May 8

    Anyone is welcome to come get groceries on the second Monday of each month, at 10:00 a.m. (until the food runs out).

    If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, talk to Kathy Webber and she will make sure you have a spot to serve!

    Thank You

    The church has received a Thank You card from Drummond Elementary School for the school supplies AWANA collected in January.

    Welcome, New Member

    On Sunday, February 19

    Baptized: Colton Knepper

     

     

     

  • Prime Time – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Mar 1, 2023 | , , 

    Are you ready to see some classic neon signs that operated around the St. Louis area? The Neon Museum is the place. The museum features contemporary sculpture alongside historical signage. The bus leaves at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8. The museum is free of charge. We will have lunch at Chavas Mexican Restaurant, a personal favorite.

    Then on Thursday, March 30, we will go to Hannibal, Mo. The bus will leave at
    9 a.m. We will have lunch at Finn’s restaurant, go to the museum and tour the cave. We will be walking in the cave that inspired Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It is an easy, hour-long guided tour of Missouri’s oldest show cave. The 3/8 mile-long route is lit and walkways are level and smooth. The cost is $24.95 but we might be able to get a group discount and a multi-attraction discount. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum is $8.00. We will probably stop for fast food on the way home.

    Don’t forget to mark your calendars for our banquet. May 13 at 6. Our entertainers are already practicing, and the menu is planned.

  • A Word From Interim Pastor, Derald Harris – Vol. 63, No. 3

    March 1, 2023 | , 

    Pastor Matt recently introduced us to one of the more obscure of the “Minor Prophets” – Obadiah. Another of those minor prophets was a man named Haggai. God used him to address a problem of discouragement among the Jewish people because the Temple they were building would not be as great as they remembered the old Temple to be.

    We are obviously in a time of transition at Fee Fee Baptist Church. We know God has called us to continue to worship and serve Him in this place, but we are uncertain what our future may be. We wonder who our new pastor will be, when God will lead him to us (and us to him), how will he lead this church into the next chapter of our story, and if that chapter be as great as previous chapters.

    I think the book of Haggai gives us a great outline to follow as we continue to serve God in this time of transition. Haggai asks us 1) to examine our priorities to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures than doing the work of God; 2) to reject a defeatist attitude when we run into opposition or discouraging circumstances; 3) to confess our failures and seek to live pure lives before God; 4) to act courageously for God because we have the assurance that He is with us always and is in full control of our circumstances; and 5) to rest secure in God’s hands knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully serve Him.

    In the second chapter of Haggai God challenges the people to “Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you. … My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised … so do not be afraid.”

    Then God gave some assurances to the people. God then gave the people some assurances if they followed His commands. The assurances included: “I will fill this place with glory.” “The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory.” “And in this place, I will bring peace.”

    Those were encouraging words in Haggai’s day and I believe God is giving the same assurances to us. God is continuing to work, even during this time of transition.

    Let me challenge you to look for examples of how God is currently blessing the ministries of Fee Fee Baptist Church. There are so many people in this church who are faithful in prayer, Bible study and service.

    I am impressed with the men and women who lead Bible study classes for our children, youth and adults. We have so many people involved in our music ministry, leading us in worship. Our volunteers who minister to children and families are making a real difference.

    The technical crews who run the sound, lights, video and our streaming services enhance our worship and enable people who are unable to attend personally to worship God with us. Our deacons and other volunteers help care for senior adults, the homebound and others who are experiencing difficulties. Others work behind the scenes to help with so many different needs of our facilities and assist with administrative functions. Many help in outreach ministries to the less fortunate in our community.

    That is just a small list of reasons to be encouraged by what God is doing in His church. Let me suggest that you tell some of these people how much you appreciate them. When you are around people who are discouraged, find ways to encourage them. Speak positively about what God is doing here.

    There is nothing as refreshing as an encouraging word or deed. I believe encouragement is one of the greatest needs in the church today. In a very real sense, encouragement is supposed to be a part of our church culture.

    1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “encourage each other and build each other up.” So, will you to be an encourager of other believers? Look for the work of God’s grace in the lives of others. When you see it, encourage them to keep going.

    Blessings,
    Pastor Derald

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Mar 1, 2023 | , 

    Pray for DNOW

    DNOW is just a few weeks away, so please be praying for everyone that will be involved in this amazing weekend. Needing some specifics, I got you covered! Here are some ways you can pray:

    • Pray for each of the students from Fee Fee and our friends from Remix church, that hearts will be changed.
    • Pray for our worship band that they will use this as a great time of leadership, and not a performance.
    • Pray for Matt, our speaker, that he will say the words the God has effectively planned for him, and that students will be able to connect.
    • Pray for all of our Small Group Leaders, tech team, adult volunteers, youth pastors, and many more individuals who are taking time out of their lives to be with these students all weekend long, that they will be shining examples of Jesus.
    • Pray for Lenny and Jenny Barber, and their new church plant, The House, as we go and serve there this weekend.
    • Pray that the Gospel will be ever present, and that new life will be found through Jesus.

    Thank you church for always supporting our students! We can’t wait to see how Jesus will shine this weekend!

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 63, No. 3

    Mar 1, 2023 | , , 

    We have a place for everyone in Bible study. Classes begin at 9:45 on Sunday morning.

    Wednesday night, adults can meet in the dining room for a study in the book of Acts. The women meet in the fellowship hall, the youth are in the rafters, and our children are in AWANA in the gym.

    We also have a Bible study on Tuesday morning at 10 am, Facebook live Bible study at 9 am on Wednesday’s, small groups, and T-groups. Gloria will help you get connected.

  • Announcements – Vol. 63, No. 2

    Sunday Night Connection

    If you haven’t joined us yet for a Sunday night connection, consider coming on February 12. We do our connections on the second Sunday of the month. We didn’t realize it at first but that just happens to be Super Bowl. What a great opportunity to join with your friends to watch the game on the big screen in the dining room. Not interested in the game? Bring some games and play with some new friends. We will have a pancake bar. You can bring your favorite topping. You can also bring a 2 liter bottle of your favorite soda or a snack to share and we will provide popcorn for the game. A sign up sheet is in the connection center.

    Lottie Moon

    Our Lottie Moon goal for 2022 was $30,000. As of January 31, 2023, our giving amount total was $27,519.65, bringing us a little short of our goal for the year.

    Inclement Weather Cancellation Policy

    Fee Fee Baptist Church will cancel services, Bible studies and activities when it is deemed necessary for the safety of church members driving to and from church as well as walking and moving around the church properties itself. The church will no longer mirror Pattonville School District’s cancellation policy as they have changed their procedures in calling for cancellations and Virtual Learning Days.

    We will take many criteria into formulating a decision on cancellations. The following may be some but not all the criteria involved in making the decision to cancel church activities.

    • Condition of our parking lot and sidewalks (Will we need to have the lot plowed and salted, and can it be done in time for events?)
    • Road conditions in Bridgeton and other areas where Members and Staff live.
    • Is weather moving in or will it be clear during the times of events?
    • Has Pattonville closed or moved to virtual learning days?

    On days Fee Fee is not cancelled, but inclement weather is happening, it is the sole discretion of the bus drivers if they feel comfortable picking up church goers. All cancellations will be conveyed through TV stations Channels 2, 4, and 5. It will be posted on our website, social media and notifications will be sent out through our app.

    Forerunner Frequency

    Due to staffing changes, The Forerunner is going to a monthly publication beginning in March. It will be printed at the end of each month and will contain the next full month’s calendar and ministry opportunities. It will still be available in the Connection Center and online.

    Offering Envelopes

    Due to supply chain issues, you will not receive your offering envelopes in the mail for February. Delivery will resume in March.

    Mobile Market

    Our partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank will continue into 2023 with more Mobile Markets. Upcoming dates are:

    • February 13
    • March 13
    • April 10
    • May 8

    Anyone is welcome to come get groceries on the second Monday of each month, at 10:00 a.m. (until the food runs out).

    If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, talk to Kathy Webber and she will make sure you have a spot to serve!