Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Jim McMahon

  • Announcements, Vol. 64, No.12, December 2024

    A Final Word From Vance

    Fee Fee Family, Cindy and I want to thank you for all the well wishes and gifts that were given on our last Sunday at Fee Fee.  It truly means a lot. We thank you for your friendship over the past years and your prayers as we move forward in what we believe is God’s will for our lives. As I have told many of you already, you truly are like a family to Cindy and me. We have shared many laughs, a few tears and even fought covid together.  But we made it through it all because as believers in Christ, we have a focus beyond this world.(2 Cor. 4:18)  While we don’t want to live in waiting for the return of Christ, instead we want to tell everyone we meet that the reason we are not afraid of the events of this world, is because we know the one that is truly in charge, he is using and orchestrating everything in this world to work for His good.

    I joined Cindy at Fee Fee in 1996 after we were married, then I started working as an employee in 2014. After 10 plus years at Fee Fee I have worked under three different Pastors and seen many co-workers and ministers come and go. Each one of those changes could have spelled the end to Fee Fee as we know it, but here we stand, after 217 years of pastors and leaders coming and going, Fee Fee still stands in Bridgeton as a beacon, a place where God can be proclaimed and a place where the news of salvation can spread into the community surrounding the four walls of the church building.  This truly means that no one man, woman, or child is the glue that keeps a ministry going.  If it were, then we were not focused on the right man. God will use all our skills in the right time and right place to carry out His plan. (Romans 12:3-8)

    I am excited to see where God is leading Fee Fee.  He is truly moving in this church; I have seen the sense of excitement growing and hear the conversations shifting. This can be a new rebirth of Fee Fee if we continue to look toward Jesus by prioritizing seeking God’s will in prayer.

    Thank you again, Fee Fee Family, for your prayers and well wishes as we start our new journey in a new ministry area. I am excited to see what God has in store for us here in Florida and will be watching Fee Fee with excitement. May God bless Fee Fee Baptist Church.

    Angel Tree

     Our Angel Tree will be up on December 1 for you to choose an ornament or two to buy a gift for someone in our church or our Pattonville community.

    You will select an ornament from the tree (for example, boy age 4 size 4T athletic pants). Buy the gift on your ornament. Wrap the gift and attach the ornament to the front of the gift. Return it by December 15 and the gifts will be delivered to the appropriate families before Christmas. Thank you for serving through this ministry.

    December Schedule Reminders

    There will be minimal office coverage during Christmas week and the offices will be closed Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25.

    Lottie Moon Ingathering

    Our annual Lottie Moon ingathering offering will be taken Sunday, December 8. This year’s goal  is $30,000.00.

    Joy Has Dawned

    Fee Fee’s yearly Christmas program will take place Friday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 21 at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday December 22 at 3:00 p.m.

    Christmas Eve Service

    We will have a Christmas Eve candlelight service and Lord’s Supper Tuesday, December 24 at 4:00 p.m. in the worship center.

    Congratulations

     to Sue and Bill Hunter on their 60th wedding anniversary on November 29th

     Sympathy

    To Alan Rice at the passing of his sister Karen Tolbert on 10/30/2024

    To Teresa McKeever and Mary Lou Townsend at the passing of Ralph McKeever on 10/31/24

    International Food Pantry

     Food items needed for December include

    boxed cornbread mix

    canned beans

    canned fruit

    pasta sauce

    spaghetti noodles

    granola bars

    Coffee With a Cause

    Our Coffee With a Cause this month will go toward our annual Angel Tree

     12/1/24-12/8/24 Week of Prayer for International Missions.

     

  • A Word From Senior Pastor, Britton Carter, Vol. 64, No. 12, December 2024

    Preparing for the Holidays

    Holiday season is officially upon us. As I write this article, home cooks are dusting off their Thanksgiving recipes, providing those well-worn pages with their annual dose of sunlight. Christmas decorations—and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”—fill every store I enter. Holiday-themed ads play during football games, soliciting way more emotion than a 30-second advertisement should. Love it or hate it, holiday season has arrived.

    I personally love it. Many of you do too. For us, the holiday season represents family, traditions, and happy childhood memories (in addition to the powerful, gospel-centered celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas). Due to these warm connotations, the holidays are a wonderful time that we are awaiting with eagerness and anticipation.

    But that isn’t true for everybody. For some people, the holiday season reinforces their feeling of loneliness. It brings up fresh feelings of sorrow, as they remember loved ones they have lost. The consumer-driven nature of the holidays places expectations on people to buy and spend, which can leave some families feeling anxious about their bank accounts or guilty about their inability to give nice gifts to their children. For some children, the holidays represent a break from school—which means more time at a home that isn’t safe, with a family they can’t stand. In short, there are people in our community—even people in our church—who are not looking forward to the holidays.

    That’s where the body of Christ needs to step in. If you are staying in town for Thanksgiving or Christmas, consider inviting additional church members to join your festivities—particularly church members who are going to be alone on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Consider providing gifts to families in need through Angel Tree. Rather than assuming the people around you are excited for the holidays, go out of your way to give them a reason to celebrate.

    We serve a God who met us where we were—in our sin, our shame, our brokenness. Let’s be a church that follows Christ’s lead, meeting people where they are, and encouraging them with the hope of the gospel—in word and deed. May Christ be magnified in us this holiday season.

    In Christ,

    Britton

     

  • Family Front, Vol. 64, No. 12, December 2024

    October 27 was a big day for our church! Thanks to everyone who took part from providing the candy to participating by decorating a trunk, to greeting people to leading a game. God used us to meet our community in a great way. THANK YOU for praying and for your participation!

    December 6 is our Parent’s Night Out for parents of kids age birth through 5th grade. Cost is $5 per child that can be paid at the event. Drop off is 5pm and pick up is no later than 9pm. A small change is that you will need to provide supper for your kids. Send a lunch box meal or pick up something fast food on the way.  We will provide drinks and a snack later in the evening. We need volunteers to care for kids, helping kids to ‘shop’ in the Christmas store for their family. If you cannot volunteer for that night, maybe you can donate new items for the store? You will find a donation box in the Welcome Center to put your donated items. Please provide new items for men, women and children. The kids can shop for free for their parents and siblings. Sign up is a MUST by Dec. 1 and you will find the signup sheet in the Connection Center. Thanks so much for your support of this event.

    Most of you know it takes many hands to have a God-honoring Children’s Ministry. We have some openings that need adults to help make these ministries to our families successful and safe. None of these are hard and some are just once a month. It just takes willing individuals to be used by God to love our kids.

    2 more adults each Sunday for preschool worship care (serve 1/month)

    KidsZone helpers (1 adult to assist the leader each Sun. 1/month)

    1 more adult to help a child on Wed. nights to learn their scripture (each week)

    If you can serve, please talk to me. God can use you in a wonderful way!

    Psalm 145:8  The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love.

     

  • Bible Study Corner, Vol. 64, No. 11, November 2024

    Bible Study Corner

    There is a place for everyone in Bible Study.  We have an assortment of classes meeting on Sunday morning at 9:15. Not sure which class is for you? See a First Impressions team member for some suggestions.  Wednesday nights also offer an array of Bible studies.  Finally, we have several small groups meeting during the weekdays. See The Forerunner calendar for a complete list of church events and opportunities.

     

  • Chi Alpha, Vol. 64, No. 11, November 2024

    Hey Church Family,

    The month of October was a blast! We had a great time playing games like toilet brush hockey and fellowshipping at a Wednesday night bonfire. We learned from the book of Philippians and Genesis. We are looking forward to events this holiday season. Some include:

    11/20: Friendsgiving

    12/07: Silent Disco!

    12/22: Christmas Party

    12/27-29: Xtreme Winter Conference

     

  • Family Front, Vol. 64, No. 11, November 2024

    October 27 was a big day for our church! Thanks to everyone who took part from providing the candy to participating by decorating a trunk, to greeting people to leading a game. God used us to meet our community in a great way. THANK YOU for praying and for your participation!

    December 6 is our Parent’s Night Out for parents of kids age birth through 5th grade. Cost is $5 per child. Drop off is 5pm and pick up is no later than 9pm. We will serve pizza supper for workers and kids but if you want to send something else for your child, please feel free.  We need volunteers to care for kids, serving pizza, helping kids to ‘shop’ in the Christmas store for their family. If you cannot volunteer for that night, maybe you can donate items for the store? You will find a donation box in the Welcome Center to put your donated items. Please provide new items for men, women and children for kids to shop for their parents and siblings. Sign up is a MUST and you will find those sign up sheets in the Connection Center mid November. Thanks so much for your support of this event.

    Most of you know it takes many hands to have a God-honoring Children’s Ministry. We have some openings that need adults to help make these ministries to our families successful and safe. None of these are hard and some are just

    once a month. It just takes willing individuals to be used by God to love our kids.

    1 more adult each Sunday for preschool worship care (1/month)

    KidsZone helpers (1 adult to assist the leader each Sun. 1/month)

    Games leader from 7:00-7:25 on Wed. Nights (1/month)

    1 teacher for toddler Sunday School class (every Sun.)

    1 more adult to help a child on Wed. nights to learn their scripture (each week)

    If you can serve, please talk to me. God can use you in a wonderful way!

    Eph.3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generation, forever and ever. Amen.

     

  • A Word From Senior Pastor, Britton Carter, Vol. 64, No. 11, November 2024

    Vision Process Update

    Our strategic planning committee and our staff remain hard at work to discern our church’s vision from God. Both groups have analyzed our community, evaluated our church, dreamed up a “church plant” that would impact our community, and constructed drafts of our mission statement and values. I am so excited to see our progress, and I am looking forward to sharing the final product with you in a few months.

    Throughout the process, the strategic planning committee and the staff have remained separate to allow for open and honest conversations about our church.  This separation could have resulted in the disastrous outcome of two very different visions for the future of our church. However, we decided to trust the Lord to give each group his vision for our church.

    The Greek Septuagint, an ancient translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek, derives its name from the story regarding its origin. According to tradition, around 250 BC, a king selected seventy-two Hebrew translators to create a Greek translation of the Old Testament. The seventy-two translators then departed and each independently translated the Old Testament into Greek. When they came back together, they found that all of their translations were exact matches—a miracle that proved God’s hand in the translation.

    Several details make that account unlikely, so the story is probably an empty myth. However, Fee Fee Baptist Church is experiencing a version of our own Septuagint story that displays God’s power and provision for our church. Both the strategic planning committee and the staff— independently — have put together nearly identical visions for the church so far. The elements of the mission statement and the values are identical. The plan for discipleship in our church and the plan to reach our community are identical. In short, God is clearly directing these two groups to his vision for our church. And if God is the one setting the vision for our church, I’m excited to see how he will empower us to make that vision a reality.

    In Christ,

    Britton

     

  • Announcements, Vol. 64, No.11, November 2024

    Community Firepit Night

    On Saturday evening, November 9 from 5-8, we will be hosting a firepit night in our parking lot.  The community will be invited to roast hot dogs and make smore’s.

    I know that fire pits are not everyone’s thing but engaging with our community is a valuable way to meet and connect with our neighbors.  If you cannot attend, you can still help out by bringing supplies for the night.  We will need hot dogs, buns, chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers and sticks.  (I have about 75 of the wooden ones already.

    I will need some of you to help me make smore’s kits (individually wrapped packets of a graham cracker, piece of chocolate and a couple of marshmallows).  We will do that on either the Thursday or Friday before.

    Everyone can participate in this opportunity to connect with our community.  Invite your neighbors, bring a lawn chair, and meet people.  If you cannot come, donate what is needed to make smore’s and hot dogs.  And if you can’t do that, come and prep the kits!  Let’s show our neighbors the goodness of God.

    Media Center

     Visit the Media Center to check out the table of free items that are available—books, magazines, puzzles, and a variety of greeting cards! Our four computers are also needing some use, so stop and peruse our shelves and do a little research on your current favorite topic.

    Lost & Found

     Are you missing your reading glasses? Or perhaps you have misplaced your jacket or sweater? Pop into the Lost & Found across from the church office to see if your missing items have been waiting for you to reclaim them.

    November Schedule Reminders

    Sunday, November 3 is time change Sunday. Set your clocks back one hour. Also, the church offices will be closed Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

    International Food Pantry

     You can help those who need our assistance breaking free from food insufficiency.  Our church has been helping provide food for our neighbors in south county who are struggling to make ends meet.  We need canned meals like ravioli, chili and hearty soups. We also need pancake mixes that only require water, syrup, pop tarts, breakfast/protein bars, dried goods like rice and beans, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, powdered milk, and all kinds of non-perishable items.  If you want to donate a little money, we can get milk and eggs to hand out.  Our church helps many people in many ways so be encouraged to pray about where God wants you to help.

    Inclement Weather Season Has Arrived

     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.

    We will consider many criteria when formulating a decision on cancellations.

    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 church app.

    Congratulations

     To Nathan and Rachel Shanley

    on the birth of their son

    Samuel Paul Shanley

    09/23/2024

    Sympathy

    To Regina Pfeiffer & family

    at the passing of her brother

    Greg Lundry on 10/06/2024

    To the family of Betty Renner

    at her passing on 10/10/24

    To the family of Lorraine Richardson

    at her passing on 10/20/24

    International Food Pantry

    Food items needed for Oct/Nov include

    Oatmeal

    Canned Soup

    Canned Stew

    Canned Chili

    Crackers

    Granola Bars

    Cereal

    Donations are due by Nov 16

    Coffee With a Cause

    Our Coffee With a Cause this month    will go toward our annual

    Angel Tree

     

     

     

  • Prime Time, Vol. 64, No.11, November 2024

    Upcoming Activities

    We are racing towards the holiday season and family and holiday activities tend to ramp up at this time.   To help with this, we will slow down the Prime Time activities for November and December and just have one activity each month.

    On Monday, November 18, we will go to the St. Louis Science Center and watch Train Time: Climb Aboard.  They have billed it as the biggest adventure on wheels.  We will experience what it is like to be on a giant freight train traveling across America.  Tickets are $9.50 for seniors.  Lunch was planned for Zia’s but it is closed on Monday so we will go to a St. Louis favorite – Ragazzi’s.  It is under new management and is receiving great reviews.  Sorry about no Missouri Bakery and Zia’s – maybe next time!

    Our last adventure of the year is the Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens on Wednesday, December 18.  The bus will leave church at 4:15 and we will eat at Three Kings before the Glow. Three things to consider:  1. It is the middle of December – dress accordingly.  2.  It can be a lot of walking if you want to see the entire exhibit. 3.  It is at night.  If you don’t like to drive at night, ask someone who does if you can ride with them.  In spite of these precautions, this may be one of the best Christmas exhibitions in the area and is worth doing some pre-planning.

     

  • Music Musings, Vol. 64, No. 11, November 2024

    Christmas Update

    Things are looking up for our Christmas choir event.  Our angels are off to a very good start.  The choir is sounding great and our instrumentalists are all on board.

    Now we need to think about other important jobs.  We are looking for greeters, ushers and parent volunteers, as well as decoration  and wardrobe personnel.  We also need assistance with PowerPoint, lighting and other technical roles.

    It takes the expertise of many to contribute to the success of our production.

    Please contact Ronna@feefeebc.org to let us know how you can help.

    Make a Joyful Noise

    There is always a need for more singers and instrumentalists in our music department.  Don’t let your musical gifts lie dormant.

    We would love to have more singers in our choir and it would be a blessing to have more guitarists, keyboardists or players of other instruments – strings, brass or winds. Whatever you play – we can find scores for you.

    Don’t hesitate to come forward and identify yourself.  Multigenerational singers and players are welcome.

    Contact Ronna if interested.

    Thanks, everyone.