Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Tara Smith

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 16

    Hymn Caroling Project

    What a joy for our Friendship Choir to pay visits this past Sunday to some of our folks who have been staying in during these months of isolation during the pandemic. We did some “hymn caroling” safely distancing as we shared favorite hymns. It was great to see members we dearly love and have been missing! On Sunday we spread hymns of cheer in the St. Peters/St. Charles area and we look forward to “caroling” this week for folks in Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, St. Ann, and St. Louis. Feeling BLESSED!!!

    Music’s Effective Ministry

    God had His hand on this young man whose music not only would fill the heart of a depressed king, but also would someday fill His written word.

    “Provide a man,” Saul says. “I don’t care who it is. Bring him to me.”

    David was the man. With his primitive stringed instrument, he walked bravely into that dark place where Saul was living. Somehow his music unleashed the caged feelings inside this tormented man and soothed the savage beast within. Saul was relieved. The evil presence departed. God used the gift of music to put David into the very presence of the king. The king not only found relief from his depression, but he found love in his heart for the young shepherd boy whose music touched his soul.

    Be a singing saint. Never mind how beautiful or less beautiful you may sound. Sing loud enough to drown out those defeating thoughts that normally clamor for attention. Release yourself from that cage of reluctance. Sing out! You’re not auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera. You’re making melody with your heart to the Lord your God.

    Soft music for a hard heart is what David provided for Saul. That’s the music that Christ our Savior provides for us.  He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. We need the music of His voice. His power can give us life free from depression and despair.

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 60, No. 16

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

    “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior,” Habakkuk 3:17-18.

    Observe what a disastrous situation is being described in this passage and to notice how courageous is the faith that is expressed. It is as if the writer were actually saying, “Even if I am forced to undergo the extreme condition of not knowing where to find my next meal, and although my house is empty and my fields yield no crops and I see the evidence of divine pestilence where I once saw the fruit of God’s plentiful provision, ‘yet I will rejoice in the LORD.’”

    These words are worthy of being written forever in stone with a diamond tool. Oh, by God’s grace, may they be deeply etched on the tablets of each of our hearts! Although concise, this verse implies or expresses the following thoughts of the writer: that in his time of distress he would flee to God; that he would maintain his spiritual composure under the darkest of circumstances; and that in the midst of everything, he would delight himself with a sacred joy in God and have cheerful expectations of Him.—Phillip Doddridge

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 16

    Adult VBS

    I’m so glad some of you came to join me for Adult VBS. What a rich new perspective we now have of Jesus. We had a great study and some awesome fellowship. We even went out to lunch together a few days.

    Upcoming Activities

    Speaking of going out to lunch, I am going to start offering some activities. Transportation will not be provided but we can drive ourselves and/or carpool. I know that many of you will not feel safe yet in joining in activities but for those of you who are, stay tuned for some opportunities. We might start with an in-house movie or games in the Dining Room and venture out from there.

    Impact Week

    As I am writing this, we are in the middle of Impact Week. Many of you have volunteered to serve at the St. Louis Area Foodbank or will having a table at the Free Market. Many of you have given money for the purchase of school supplies. Whatever you have been willing to do, it is much appreciated. Jesus expects us to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, visit the sick and isolated. We bring glory to His name when we are obedient to what we know He expects us to do.

    In Matthew 25:35-36, when Jesus tells the sheep that we fed and clothed and visited Him and the people respond, when did we do these things, His response is in vs 40: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.’”

    Thanks for doing what you can! It is appreciated and seen by the One who has called you to this life.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 15

    Concerts – Need Helpers

    For our upcoming concerts on July 26 (The Lesters) and again on August 9 (Timothy and Hosanna Noble), we will need some volunteers to assist with “ticket taking” and ushering. We will need ticket takers at the main door of the Worship Center and also the Welcome Center. Ushers will be needed to ensure social distancing is observed and to point out the boxes that will be used to collect the love offerings. Doors for attendees will open at 5:45 p.m. for each concert so arrive by no later than 5:30 p.m. to be at your post.

    If you could be available for either or both of these events, please let Tara know. Send message to tara@feefeebc.org. Thank you for considering helping out for these concerts.

    The Songs We Sing

    “Then Deborah and Barack the son of Abinoam sang on that day…,” Joshua 5:1 NASB.

    Music is everywhere in our world today. It is at our fingertips on our various devices. It is hard to comprehend how powerful songs were for people who lived in earlier times. I really don’t know much about the Mongol armies in the 12th century A.D., but I have read that the officers composed their orders in rhyme and used fixed melodies in their delivery. As we read the “Song of Deborah” in Judges 5, we can picture this song being repeated throughout

    Israel as a reminder of God’s miraculous deliverance and all He had done for them.

    Songs can take on a similar role for us as we speak to each other “in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:19). Songs provide a language that reminds us of Biblical principles and truths. They help us to remember God’s work in our own lives. They can lift our spirits and help prevent us from being saturated by the sin and corruption in the world.

    Fill your lives with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach you, remind you, and inspire you.

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 60, No. 15

    New and Exciting Changes!

    This summer, our Chi Alpha leaders and students have been working very hard on a new project to begin renovations in The Rafters! Our projects have varied from painting rooms and hallways, building a new stage, getting rid of unused closets, putting in new floors, and finding new and exciting ways that we can utilize our space on the third floor. I want to specifically thank Mike Bayles, Vance Stewart, our intern Sarah Baker, along with all our adult and student volunteers who have gone on this crazy journey with me this summer. We still have quite a way to go to finish up, but we are already seeing some exciting progress. I am so excited to see what God will do with this ministry in this new and revitalized space. Please pray with me this summer as we continue to work, but pray that our student ministry will continue to grow and students’ lives will be changed because of these face lifts we are doing.

    Chi Alpha Summers

    We are currently meeting at Vago Park on Wednesday nights from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for Chi Alpha Summers! Come join us for a night of fun and fellowship! We look forward to seeing you all soon!

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 15

    I trust you guys are taking good care of one another during this time of quarantine and/or social distancing if you are getting out. I know there are those among the seniors who have not ventured out of their homes since March and others of you are having limited exposure, possibly with family, or the grocery store, and church. At this time, we become painfully aware that we were made for connection with God and with one another and are missing these connections.

    While we truly have more time to spend with the LORD, are we taking care to connect with others? The verse of the day on the Bible App comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 CSB, and reads:

    “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

    Who are you comforting? I ask you to please get outside of your usual social circle and take the time to call someone who is homebound. Yes, a card or letter is good but even better is hearing another’s voice and the genuine care shown when you take the time to listen. Who can you call today? Please make this a priority.

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 60, No. 15

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

    “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water… he will certainly not lose his reward,” Matthew 10:42.

    What shall I do? I expect to pass through this world once. Therefore any good work, kindness, or service I can render to any person or animal, let me do it now. Let me not neglect or delay to do it, for I will not pass this way again.—an old Quaker saying

    Give what you have, for you never know—to someone else it may be better than you can even dare to think.—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  • Announcements – Vol. 60, No. 15

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    …Kevin Kurtz and family on the passing of his  brother, Dave Kurtz, on July 21.

    …Joyce Blanton, Brenda Rush, and Lloyd Blanton on the passing of their sister and aunt, respectively, Emogene Stevens, on July 22.

    …Family and friends of Jackie Wise, who passed away on July 23.

    Meals On Wheels

    Meals On Wheels would like to thank all the Sunday School classes and individuals who have continued to support us during this time away from church. We have continued to cook and deliver meals to those who are in need. However, we have some specific needs for which we are requesting help. We are in need of: brown paper bags, sandwich bags, and Ziploc bags. Of course, we always need and are grateful for contributions, as food is expensive these days, as we all know. Thank you church for your support!—Donna Potts, Denise Tucker, Marilyn Wilson, and Sharon Copeland

    Mobile Food Market

    We love our partnership with the St. Louis Area Food Bank to get free groceries into the hands of families in our community. The next Mobile Market Mondays will be on August 10, at 10:00 a.m. until noon in the church parking lot. Contact Andrew to volunteer, andrew@feefeebc.org.

    Fee Fee Cemetery Now Hiring

    Fee Fee Cemetery is hiring a Cemetery Manager position. The Cemetery Manager is the primary point of contact, performing coordination and administrative tasks, along with some light/moderate physical work. This is a permanent, part-time position with the ability to work remotely some of the time. Work schedule will vary based on need and circumstances. Contact (314) 739-2415 if interested.

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 15

    Summer missions has looked a little different around Fee Fee this year. Other than the Potts still serving with Concord Builders, our other summer trips had to be canceled. Things have not exactly gone the way we expected them to go. However, in the midst of disappointment, there is still opportunity. That opportunity will be to serve others through Impact Week! Biblically, the call to serve others and live out the Great Commission still stands, even in the midst of a pandemic.

    The Bible talks frequently about the need to serve others. Here are a few examples:

    • Matthew 25:40 says, that when we serve those in need, we serve our Lord as well.
    • Isaiah 58:10 says, “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
    • Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
    • In Mark 9:35, Jesus taught us: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all,” (Mark 9:35).

    I am sharing those passages to remind us of the importance of serving others and being a light in our community. While we couldn’t do everything we originally planned for missions this summer, I am thankful we can still do some mission projects for Impact Week. From August 2-8, our church is going to step out and be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are going to do service projects, meet needs, and share the Gospel with our community. We want for our community to experience a true impact as we coordinate together to serve our city.

    Just like last year, we will have different service projects each day that week for you to choose to participate including: the St. Louis Area Food Bank, Loaves and Fishes, Meals on Wheels, and so much more. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to step out and serve in our community. In addition, we are capping off the week of service on Saturday, August 8, with our Free Market! You can host a table and give away things to people in our community! Finally, we also have recommendations on our website for ways to serve our community with your family, like making cards for first responders.

    We do know that things are going to look a little different this year. We are doing our best to make sure that our service opportunities are safe. You can go online to our website to sign up for any of these local missions projects that you feel comfortable participating in.

    I’m praying that, through Impact Week, we will be able to share about Christ in our community with our acts of service. Please join me in praying for Impact Week.

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 15

    Upcoming Events/Serving Opportunities

    Despite the sheltering in place, we have some great opportunities to serve our community. We still have the Mobile Food Market every other Monday, and August 2-8 is Impact Week, where we serve our community through various projects. These will be great opportunities for families to serve together. You can sign up on our website.  You can also do your own family projects: make cards for local police or help a neighbor with yard work. Be creative as you serve your community.

    Maybe I will see you at our Swim Night on Friday, July 31 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Bridgeton Pool? It will be a lot of fun!

    KidsZone

    Just a reminder, there are weekly Bible lessons for kids on our church website that you can use at home that comes with some downloadable activities.

    Prayer

    I miss you all immensely!  I pray for you often that the Father will give you all the patience and love you need to carry on leading your children to know Christ better.  Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you lead your families.

    Pray for your staff as we decide on how to continue ministry and meeting together in the coming weeks.

    “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7