Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Tara Smith

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 61, No. 6

    WE DID IT!!

    This week, we reflected on the one year anniversary of our world being flipped upside down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has caused all of us to miss out on many big events like school, sports, graduations, weddings, and even youth group activities that we have grown so accustomed to. Well now, we can finally say, it is time to move forward and plan for some fun things! As many people are now in the process of getting vaccinated, and as we continuously monitor recommendations by our state and local government, along with the CDC, we feel that if we follow guidelines closely, we can start to get back to some normalcy. With that being said, here are some important dates to mark on your calendar. More information will come out about these events as we get closer.

    Summer Dates

    June 4-5 – Summer Blast

    June 6 – Graduation Sunday

    June 26-July 2 – Minneapolis Mission Trip

    July 23-25 – DNOW

    July 26-30 – Serve for VBS

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 61, No. 6

    By the middle of April, most of our Bible Study classes will be resuming on campus. Stay tuned for more info!

    We continue to have Men’s and Women’s Bible Study classes on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at the same time as AWANA and youth small groups. Let me know if you need specific info, gloria@feefeebc.org.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 61, No. 6

    Hymns Written During Current Pandemic – IV

    Many songs, prayers, and poems have been written in response to our current pandemic in an effort to bring hope and comfort during this strange and difficult time. Here are three songs either newly written or revived in recent months.

    Shelter Me by Father Michael Jonas

    Father Jonas wrote this song in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The lyric is influenced by Psalm 23.  Contemplate on this excerpt of the refrain verses:

    O shelter me, O shelter me.

    The way ahead is dark

    and difficult to see.

    O shelter me, O shelter me.

    All will be well if only

    You will shelter me.

     

    I will look back in days to come

    and realize Your faithfulness has led me home.

    Within Your house

    I’ll find my peace.

    Trusting that in Your mercy

    You have sheltered me.

    In the Light of Your Promise by Laura Laughlin and Tom Paulson

    This new hymn was written for the Crown of Glory Lutheran Congregation by Pastor Laura Laughlin and Music Director Tom Paulson in their desire to turn pain into art in this time of uncertainty. The song proclaims “in the light of Your promise give us Your peace” and “guide the hearts of all people.” The entire song can be heard on YouTube.

    Waymaker by Sinach

    Waymaker is a song recently covered by Michael W. Smith. This song describes God as One who makes a way for us, works miracles, keeps His promises, and defeats darkness with His light. The song was written by Nigerian gospel singer, Sinach, in 2015 and was hugely successful there. It has since been covered by multiple artists worldwide. Smith listened to the song at his daughter’s request and believed it to be a great response to the rough times people were going through. The memorable chorus goes as such:

    Waymaker, Miracle Worker

    Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness

    That is Who You are.

    Virtual Choir

    Our latest virtual choir project has been completed and sent off to the producers. We will soon be adding this beautiful piece to an upcoming worship service. A hearty thank-you goes to all participants, as well as to Vance Stewart for his preparation of recordings, and Andrea Jennings for giving of time and assisting many recordings. We are blessed with wonderful people with servant hearts.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 61, No. 6

    The Senior Council met recently and planned events for the next quarter. I think you will be very excited about the fun activities we came up with! Our first event will be April 16, and we feel very confident that most of us will have had their second dose of the vaccine and be two weeks beyond the second dose. Below is a schedule you can add to your calendar:

    • April 16, Friday – Blue Owl in Kimswick for lunch and shopping. The bus will leave at 9:00 a.m.
    • April 27 – Science Center Mummies exhibit at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will follow at Zia’s.
    • May 12, Wednesday – Dinosaur exhibit at the Zoo, along with penguins, puffins, grizzlies, polar bears, and an assortment of other animals. The bus will leave at 10:00 a.m. and lunch will be at the Old Spaghetti Factory following.
    • May 22, Saturday – Kickoff for our Legacy Weekend! We will have a catered dinner and entertainment on Saturday night. You won’t want to miss this.
    • Friday, July 11 – Perryville historic sites with lunch at Stones. The bus will leave at 10:00 a.m.
    • Tuesday, June 22 – Soup, Salad and Movie Day. At 11:30 a.m. we will eat and watch Ruby Bridges, in our dining room.

    So many fun events coming up! I’m pretty excited! Hope you are, too. It will be good to go on adventures again!

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 61, No. 6

    Taken from L.B. Cowman’s “Streams in the Desert,” Zondervan Updated Edition

    “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai…Then the Lord said to him, “…I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt,” (Acts 7:30, 33-34).

    Forty years was a long time to wait in preparation for a great mission. Yet when God delays, He is not inactive. This is when He prepares His instruments and matures our strength. Then at the appointed time we will rise up and be equal to our task. Even Jesus of Nazareth had thirty years of privacy, growing in wisdom before He began His work.

    God is never in a hurry. He spends years preparing those He plans to greatly use, and never thinks of the days of preparation as being too long or boring.

    Don’t steal tomorrow from God’s hands. Give Him time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never late—learn to wait.

  • Community Connection – Vol. 61, No. 6

    Week of Prayer for North American Mission, March 29-April 4

    I hope you will pray with us March 29 – April 4 during our Week of Prayer for North American Missions. You can download the prayer guide on the Downloads section of our website. Also, be praying about what you would be willing to give to support those missionaries. On Sunday, April 4 we will take a special offering for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Our goal this year is $13,000. All the money given goes towards North American Missionaries spreading the Gospel all over our continent.

    Easter is Coming!

    I hope that you will worship our risen Savior with us either in person or online on Sunday, April 4! My question for you is who are you going to invite to come and worship with you? The Gospel message will be declared. Who do you know that needs to hear that message? If you are coming in person, invite them to join you. If you’re watching online, invite them to watch online. Either way, there are people in your life, and mine, that need to hear the Gospel message.  Who will you invite?

  • Announcements – Vol. 61, No. 6

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    … Jerald, Jerry (Carolyn), and Cary Bailey on the passing of Bonner “Bo” Bailey, their wife and mother, respectively, on March 10.

    … Justin (Amy) Flack on the passing of his grandmother, Esther Harwood, on March 13.

    Thank You

    The church has received a Thank You card from

    …Larry & Louise Richard.

    …Jerald, Jerry, Cary Bailey & Family.

    Pickleball is Back On!

    Pickleball has started back up in the Gym every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Adults of all ages are welcome! Masks are required the entire time on the church campus and while playing the game. If you are interested in joining in a game of Pickleball, contact Carol Gollaher at (314) 620-4036.

     

  • Featured Article – Vol. 61, No. 5

    By Larry Condra, Prayer Warrior

    “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,” (Ezekiel 36:37).

    Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Look at sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication. You have found this true in your own personal experience. God has given you many an unsolicited favor, but still great prayer has always been the prelude of great mercy with you. When you first found peace through the blood of the cross, you had been praying much, and earnestly interceding with God that he would remove your doubts and deliver you from your distress. Your assurance was the result of prayer. When at any time you have had high and joyful experiences, you have been obliged to look upon them as answers to your prayers. When you have had great deliverances out of sore troubles, and mighty helps in great dangers, you have been able to say, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,” (Psalm 54:7).

    Prayer is always the preface to blessing. It goes before the blessing as the blessing’s shadow. We may be certain that if we are much in prayer, our pleadings are the shadows of mercy. Prayer is thus connected with the blessing to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but we do not realize their preciousness until we have sought for them earnestly.

    “Prayer makes the darken’d cloud withdraw;

    Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;

    Gives exercise to faith and love;

    Brings every blessing from above.”1

    1Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon

    Ezekiel prophesied for a whole nation that one day God would restore His people from captivity and make them “as numerous as sheep.” As this devotional describes, our earnest prayer, “Brings every blessing from above.” Whether it be for our nation, our church, our families, or ourselves, He hears our prayers.

    For Fee Fee Baptist Church in particular, I suggest we consider these “pleas” as we pray. Pray for our Pastor and staff as they lead us. Pray too, for our deliberate direct ministries to the community, including the Mobile Market, backpack ministry, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross blood drive, International Food Pantry, and Loaves and Fishes. Remember as well, the individual and random acts of kindness we each do every day for those around us. Pray that these actions will not only meet the physical needs of those touched but relay a definite message that our actions are a direct result of God’s presence and His love for them.

    “Be thou ever near unto us and keep us near unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 61, No. 5

    Big News Coming Soon!

    Students and families…may I have your attention please?! It has been a year since we have been stuck in this pandemic. We have had to grind and struggle through it all. But we are nearing that shining light at the end of the tunnel. With that being said…our events that we have missed out on, the ones that we look forward to the most, are coming back. Summer 2021. Stay tuned for more info soon!

  • Prime Time – Vol. 61, No. 5

    As more and more of you get your vaccinations, I feel confident that we will soon be enjoying some trips and lunches together. I’m really looking forward to that time. God made us for relationship with Him and others. It’s been a year and we might just have to learn all over again. I know I’ve learned some lessons about the value of relationship.

    I am hoping some of you will join me on Facebook live for about 30 minutes every Wednesday morning beginning March 10 at 9:00 a.m. I will choose some passages from that week’s readings in the Grounded reading plan and talk about them. You can make comments, ask questions, or share an insight. Go to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FeeFeeBC/ or click the Facebook link at the bottom of our homepage. You can also follow Fee Fee on Facebook and it will notify you when it begins. You can watch it live and interact or watch it later at your convenience.

    I’m still looking for suggestions for activities. You should have good immunity to the virus 31 days after your first shot so the countdown to fun has begun.