Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Tara Smith

  • A Word From Our Prayer Warriors – Vol. 62, No. 22

    November is here and the Thanksgiving holiday is approaching. Here are a few Bible verses to remind us to always be thankful to and for our Lord.

    “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever,” (1 Chron. 16:34).

    “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” (1 Thess. 5:17-18).

    “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him,” (Colossians 3:17).

    “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,” (Colossians 4:2).

    Even though we are in the midst of more changes at FFBC, there is still so much for us to be thankful for. While we will be searching for a pastor, it is important to remember we still have a Shepherd who is the head of the church (the global church and of FFBC). And we have staff and deacons that seek the Lord first while also leading (and serving) FFBC.

    Here are some prayer suggestions for this month:

    • Wisdom and discernment for our Deacons, the Personnel Committee, our Staff, and those who will be on the Search Committee during the pastor search process. Also, that we be patient for the Lord’s timing.
    • Pastor Zach and his family as they follow the Lord into a new ministry.
    • Our interim pastors Matt Easter and Derald Harris.
    • The pastor (and his family) the Lord has planned to be the next pastor at FFBC.
    • The work occurring now in getting ready for the Christmas Presentation in December.
    • Operation Christmas Child ministry.
    • The Worship Services and Bible Studies.
    • Be still and listen for what the Lord leads you to pray about.

    Do you have a Blessings / Give Thanks jar, box, or notebook? If not, this might be a good month to start one. In our day-to-day living, it is easy to forget the blessings we receive, or not even notice things for which to be thankful. Like a sunset or sunrise, hearing a chorus of bird calls, listening to the rain, feeling a gentle breeze, watching clouds and their ever-changing patterns, or perhaps a car accident that didn’t occur, blessings coming out of a difficult circumstance, having time to spend with family and friends, and so on.

    Nanette Tipton

    Prayer Warrior

  • A Word From Interim Pastor, Matt Easter – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Hello Fee Fee family! Thank you for the kindness you’ve shown me and my family these first few weeks together. I knew many of you already, and so serving at Fee Fee as interim pastor has come naturally. My wife (Andrea) and our three kids (Evie, Ellie, and John) felt at home on week one. You have been so gracious, and we are very thankful. I’m looking forward to working with Derald and the staff in the months to come.

    The role of interim pastor is unique. As interim, I am not your permanent pastor, but am instead called to help prepare us for the next season of ministry. God already knows who the next pastor of Fee Fee Baptist Church is … we just need to find him. In the meantime, I will be walking with you during this season of transition so we can hit the ground running when the new pastor arrives in God’s timing.

    God has done great things at Fee Fee Baptist Church since 1807, and God isn’t done working. I am reminded of Paul’s encouragement to the church in Philippi: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NRSV). This verse is not primarily about the work that God does in us as individuals (although that is surely true too), but about what God is doing in the church. In fact, the Greek word for “you” here (and throughout the letter) is plural. When you read “you,” think “y’all” or “you guys”: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among y’all will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” The main idea is not that God began a good work in each individual believer, but rather that God began a good work among the believers as a group. It’s about the church.

    I believe Paul’s encouragement to the Philippian church in the first century is God’s word for Fee Fee Baptist Church today. God began a good work among y’all in 1807. That was a long time ago – Napoleon was marching across Europe at the time – but God isn’t done with us yet. God’s mission for Fee Fee stays the same: “Fee Fee Baptist Church exists to make disciples who build their lives on Jesus and pursue the good of our community for the glory of God.” This is a bold goal that requires a bold faith in God. But we’re not alone, as Moses told the Israelites: “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). God’s not done with Fee Fee, so let’s keep building and pursuing together.

    In Christ,

    Matt Easter, Interim Pastor

  • College & Outreach – Vol. 62, No. 21

    From New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp

    “I wish I could say I always rest in God’s control, but there are times when I want to be in charge. I wish I could say there are never times when I am irritated or impatient, but I struggle with both on occasion. I wish I could say the worship of God rules my heart unchallenged, but the truth is that idolatry nips at me. I wish I could say I always rest in the righteousness of Christ, but there are times when I give way to the pride of parading my so-called righteousness before others. I wish I could say the great spiritual battle is over for me, but there is clear and regular evidence it is not.”

    “All this means that I value justifying grace. I celebrate that, in Christ, God found a way to be “just and the justifier” (Rom. 3:26) of the ungodly. I am daily thankful for the perfect life of Jesus. I am thankful that he subjected himself to the temptations of this fallen world. I am thankful that on the cross he took my stripes and carried my guilt and shame. I am thankful that he took the father’s rejection. I am thankful that he burst out of that tomb, conquering death. I am thankful that his righteousness is attributed to my account. I am thankful that he fulfilled the law and satisfied the Father’s anger. I still celebrate the fact that I have been granted full, complete, and unending acceptance.”

  • Prime Time – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Thankfulness

    For November, I have a challenge for each of you I think might change your heart towards an attitude of gratitude. For years I have challenged myself at the end of the day to thank God for 10 good things that happened that day. I would like to challenge you to write down just 5 things at the end of each day you are thankful for, not repeating any the next day. After Thanksgiving, read your list and see all the wonderful things God does every day. For example, here is how God has blessed me so far today: 1) I arrived safely to church in the rain and my umbrella did not turn inside out; 2) We had a great staff meeting where we made some major breakthroughs; 3) I had lunch with Kyle and Ty who were willing to spend time with a woman at least 10 years their senior! 4) We were able to authorize some benevolence help for a member in need; 5) I got to spend some time in prayer with my fellow staff members. Try this for the month of November and see if this makes an impact on the way you think and your thankfulness for how good God is to you each day.

    Senior Planning

    Join us on Thursday, November 10 at 11:00 a.m. for a free lunch from McAllister’s and a presentation on Senior Planning. Our speakers will help us to know things that we need to get taken care of before it is too late. I hope you will come to this informative session with time for questions. A signup sheet is in the Connection Center.

    Sunday Night Connection

    I hope you will consider joining with the entire church for our first Sunday Night Connection on November 6 at 5:00 p.m. We will have a cornhole tournament and firepits, smore’s and hot dogs. Bring a chair, but don’t forget to sign up in the Connection Center!

  • Family Front – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Trunk or Treat Recap

    Thank you everyone that had a part in the Trunk or Treat event on October 30.  We were so glad to invite the community for a fun afternoon for the kids. Thank you for all the candy donations and time spent to share the Gospel in this unique way!

    Parents Connect

    Our young-married-with-kids class is getting together once a month for potluck and fellowship called Parents Connect. If you would like to be involved, there is info in the Connection Center with a signup sheet for what you plan to bring and share. The kids will be able to have supervised play in the play area! The next one is Sunday, November 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the FLC/Play Area.

    Save the Date to Save a Life!

    We will have another Blood Drive on Friday, December 2, from12:00-5:00 p.m. Info will be available on our website closer to that time but save the date now! One pint of blood can save THREE lives!

    International Mission Study

    December 4 will be our annual International Mission Study for K-5th grade kids during the Bible School hour and KidsZone (9:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). We will be studying what God is doing in the Philippines! We are looking forward to leading this study and impressing on the kids their part in sharing the Gospel and giving to Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal for our church this year is $30,000. Encourage your kids to do extra chores to earn money to give. If they already get an allowance, help them look up scripture that talks about giving 10% of your income to God. It is important to help them understand that part of worship is giving back to God.

    Parent’s Night Out

    Are you a parent who needs a night away to Christmas shop without curious little eyes? Or maybe a much-needed date night? Well, Parents’ Night Out is coming up on Friday, December 9 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Watch for signup sheets soon. Reservations are required. Kids will have a safe and fun place to do their own Christmas shopping in our little store, as well as a yummy dinner. We are requesting new items (or very gently used items). Items should be things that kids would want to pick out for their siblings and parents to gift to them for Christmas. Volunteers: We will also need adults and students to help with various areas that evening, such as being personal shoppers, assist with games, dinner, setup, and clean up! So mark your calendars and come talk to Kathy to sign up to help!

  • Heart of Worship – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Sometimes worship looks like those moments when we are at peace and in quiet reverence before the Lord, and other times worship is a sacrifice. Today, I would like us to explore the sacrifice of praise together. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:15, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name.” No matter what is going on in our lives, the Bible encourages us to always acknowledge God. Are you going through a great time in your life? Acknowledge Him. Are you going through a rough season? Acknowledge Him. God is God on the mountain tops, but God is still God in the valleys. He also promises to never leave us or forsake us. Our response to Him is to always give Him praise, no matter what!

    In the book of Jonah, we see that Jonah did NOT want to minister to the Ninevites. Jonah wanted God to reign down His judgement on the people instead of showing His lovingkindness that leads us to repentance. He knew that if he shared God’s love and mercy, the people of Nineveh would repent. (Jonah 4:2) The Bible says that God sent a fish to swallow Jonah, and while he was in the belly of the fish, here is part of Jonah’s prayer, “As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord. My prayer went up to Him. I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed.” If Jonah can have a change of heart and bring a sacrifice of praise to God in the belly of a fish, so can we! Let’s vow to always acknowledge God and have a spirit of thanksgiving on our lips.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Inspirational quotes by great composers

    I recently read an article on the spiritual lives of great composers. Many of the greatest composers acknowledged that their musical inspiration came from God and the Bible, thus believing in the essential Christian doctrines. I would like to share a few of the quotations from the article reflecting their inspirational thoughts:

    George Frideric Handel – This is one of my favorites: “A servant of Handel swings the door open to Handel’s room. The startled composer, tears streaming down his face, turns to his servant and cries out, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.”  Handel had just finished writing a movement, which would take its place in history as the Hallelujah Chorus.”

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Of his compositions he once shared his secret: “I prayed to God for His mercy that all might go well, to His greater glory, and the symphony began.”

    Johannes Brahms – “The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach, and Beethoven drew their inspiration is the same power that enabled Jesus to do His miracles. I know several young composers who are atheists. I have read their scores. I assure you that they are doomed to speedy oblivion, because they are utterly lacking in inspiration.  Their works are purely cerebral (intellectual). The great Nazarene (Jesus) knew that law also, and He proclaimed it in John 15:4: “the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine.” No atheist has ever been or ever will be a great composer.”

    Olivier Messiaen – “I’m a composer because I love music, and a Christian because I believe.”

    Johann Sebastian Bach – At the manuscript end, Bach routinely initialed the letters S.D.G. (“Soli Deo Gloria,” To God alone, the glory).

    Franz Joseph Haydn – “Never was I so devout as when I composed The Creation. I knelt down each day to pray to God to give me strength for my work…when I was working on The Creation I felt so impregnated with Divine certainty, that before sitting down to the piano, I would quietly and confidently pray to God to grant me the talent that was needed to praise Him worthily.”

    Bonus – Halloween was yesterday, but here is a little leftover tidbit for your enjoyment: Epic Halloween Organ Solo, Bach’s “Toccata in D Minor” by Richard Elliott – https://bit.ly/3UkDQIz

  • Announcements – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Sunday Night Connection

    Our first Sunday Night Connection is November 6 at 5:00 p.m. We will have a cornhole tournament but you will need to sign up your 2-person team in the Connection Center.  If you don’t want to participate in the tournament, just bring your lawn chair and sit around the firepit while making some new friends or connecting with old ones while enjoying hot dogs, hot chocolate, and smore’s! We will be in the courtyard and top part of the church parking lot for the evening.  Sign up in the Connection Center – you don’t want to miss this!

    Operation Christmas Child Boxes

    OCC boxes are now available in the Welcome Center. Grab your box and fill it full of goodies to make a child feel extra special this holiday season. Just bring it back filled by the deadline of Wednesday, November 9.

    Backpack Ministry

    The Backpack Ministry is asking for donations of granola bars, snack crackers, macaroni & cheese, fruit cups, applesauce cups, canned pasta, rice cups, single-serve snacks or meals, and other easy-prep meals. You may leave these items in the Donation Center in the section marked “Backpack Ministry.” Alternatively, you can have these items shipped from any big box store to the church:

    Fee Fee Baptist Church

    C/O CHURCH OFFICE

    11330 St. Charles Rock Road

    Bridgeton, MO 63044

    Thank you so much for your giving hearts!

    Mobile Market

    Our upcoming 2022 dates will be:

    • November 21 (note: this is a date change)
    • December 12

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

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    …Sheila Dietze on the passing of her nephew, Jeremy Davis, on October 24.

    …Family and friends on the passing of Virgil Talley, on October 28.

    Office Schedule Change

    As of Friday, October 21, the church office will be open by appointment only on Fridays. There will be a minister on-call and the office phones will be answered remotely by a staff member. New office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you need to make an appointment with a minister on Friday, outside of regular office hours, please call the church office at (314) 739-1525, and a minister will be in touch with you to arrange a meeting.

    Thanksgiving Schedule

    Wednesday, November 23—No Wednesday Night Activities.

    Thursday, November 24—THANKSGIVING DAY! (Church office and building closed). However, Chapel service will be led by Deacons at 8:00 a.m.

    Friday, November 25—Thanksgiving Friday – Church office and building closed.

     

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 62, No. 21

    God wants us to hide His word in our hearts. Our church body has many opportunities to connect with God and others on almost every day of the week. Let Gloria know if you want to get connected with a group!  We have opportunities on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Thursday.  We also have T groups that talk about the Bible readings for the week, Monday – Friday. Plus, our Winter Bible Reading Plan will begin November 2 – get your copy in the Connection Center or on our website!

  • Family Front – Vol. 62, No. 20

    Trunk or Treat

    Put Sunday, October 30 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on your calendar for our annual Trunk or Treat event right here in the church parking lot. We still have spots open for trunks, to lead a game in courtyard, help set-up and clean up, put on sticker tattoos, and greeters! We will be collecting a TON of candy in the Donation Center. We are looking forward to inviting our community for a fun afternoon. Signups are in the Connection Center.

    International Mission Study

    Sunday, December 4 will be our annual International Mission Study with the children during the Bible School hour and KidsZone (9:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). We will be studying what God is doing in the Philippines! This is something you don’t want your kids to miss!

    Save the Date to Save a Life! – We will have another Blood Drive on Friday, December 2, from12:00-5:00 p.m. Info will be available on our website closer to that time but save the date now! One pint of blood can save THREE lives!

    Parent’s Night Out

    It’s that time of year again! Parent’s Night Out will be on Friday, December 9 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Watch for signup sheets in November. We will also need gifts donated for kids to shop for in our Christmas Store that night. We are requesting new items (or very gently used items). Items should be things that kids would want to pick out for their siblings and parents to gift to them for Christmas. Volunteers: We will also need adults and students to help with various areas that evening, such as being personal shoppers, assist with games, dinner, setup, and clean up! So mark your calendars and come talk to Kathy to sign up to help!