Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Liz Bishop, Fee Fee Kids’ Director

All of Kathy Scott’s Forerunner articles.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 14

    Adult VBS

    I am so excited that we finally have something on the schedule! Adult VBS will take place from Monday, July 27 – Thursday, July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We are, of course, still taking safety precautions. We will meet in the dining room and sit at the round tables where it is easy to socially distance. I will be using the podium and microphone so you can hear it loud and clear. Ronna and friends will provide us with music. She has selected some old and familiar hymns, so hymnals won’t be necessary. Since masks are required in public places, you are encouraged to wear a mask. Snacks will be provided but they will be individually wrapped pastries and bottled/canned drinks. You can bring your own coffee, if you choose. Bring your own Bible and join in the fun! The main parking lot will be in use due to the Mobile Market on Monday, so please park on the side by the Children’s Home and enter through the handicap door. The rest of the week, the main parking lot is fine to use. Adults of any age are welcome!

    Impact Week

    It is so important for the church to continue to be missional. Impact Week will be  the first week of August. One of the ways you can help is with our Free Market on Saturday, August 8. I know we have all had ample opportunity to purge our homes of items we no longer need including clothes, furniture, kitchen items, etc.  If you have not participated in blessing our community before by giving away these items for free, this would be a great year to start!

    We will hand out school supplies again to students in our community during the Free Market. If you are out shopping, pick up a backpack and fill it with school supplies, then drop them off at the church. If you don’t get out to shop, monetary donations are gladly welcome – simply designate some money by check or online giving for “School Supplies.” Schools will be reopening August 24, so we hope to be able to help our community in a big way.

    Free Market

    The Free Market will take place on the church parking lot Saturday, August 8 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  We will be giving away items that you have been setting aside after decluttering your home. It is my hope that many of you will participate to aid our community as you have done in the past. You will have a table on which to place clothing, furnishings, kitchen items, baby items, etc. Please let the church know if you plan to participate.

    We will also be handing out backpacks loaded with school supplies. We need both backpacks and school supply items. These can be dropped by the church at your convenience as we will put these supplies into the backpacks.

    Needed School Supplies: backpacks, notebook paper (wide ruled), #2 pencils, erasable markers, colored pencils, 2-pocket folders, ink pens, Kleenex, crayons, Elmer’s school glue, washable markers, spiral notebooks, quart and gallon Ziploc bags, pencil pouches, composition notebooks, and Clorox wipes.

    Praying for You

    I have been praying for all my senior friends. These are unusual times. While I have seen some of you from a distance in church, I am still missing that connection. If you need anything or have a prayer request, please let me know. You can reach me by email at Gloria@feefeebc.org or text/call (314) 604-6071.  While “this too will pass” is not scriptural, it is my hope for each of us.

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 13

    It has been so good to worship together in person these last few weeks.  It was wonderful to have kids in worship again! We have provided onetime-use Praise Packs with a few activities for a child to go along with the worship service. I’d like to see the children engaged rather than just ‘busy.’ Of course, you are free to bring your own activities for your children to do. It is okay, too, if you choose to stay at home to worship! We will look forward to seeing you again soon as you feel comfortable getting out.

    Ministry 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 another blood drive on July 22-23. Watch for other opportunities for volunteers to serve in the near future!

    KidsZone Bible Study

    Just a reminder, there are weekly Bible plans on our church website that you can use at home as well as some downloadable activities. The KidsZone lessons follow the sermon series, “I AM,” the statements of Jesus in the book of John. You can find these on our website on the KidsZone page.

    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.

    “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).

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 13

    These are exciting words – “Mark your calendars!” for Adult Vacation Bible School! We will meet July 27-30 (Monday through Thursday) from 9:00 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. in the Dining Room. We will be sitting at the round tables and social distancing. I’m hoping you will attend but completely understand if you do not yet feel comfortable. I have absolutely no idea what I will be teaching but am open to suggestions. I was thinking it is about time for an Old Testament book. Please email gloria@feefeebc.org or text me with any ideas!

    I hope you are still reading with us from the Gospel of John. As I read chapter 16 today, Jesus was telling His disciples that He was about to leave them, but He was going to send the Holy Spirit who would always be with them. I love the fact that we are never ever alone. The Spirit of the Living God is in us – encouraging us, empowering us, and leading us.

    My friend Laura Jo Jones shared a video with me yesterday about shoulder taps. A man was having dinner with his wife, and while looking around the restaurant, he noticed an elderly lady all dressed up who was soon joined by her family. As he sat there, he felt the Spirit tell him to tell her how nice she looked. He thought this was strange but the impression would not go away. After he paid his bill, he went up to the lady, squatted in front of her and said, I just wanted to tell you how lovely you look. To his surprise, she looked him in the eyes and responded, “I know who you are.” He assured her that they had not met before, but she replied, “my husband died a year ago and that is something he would have said to me. Thank you!”

    We need to respond when the Spirit taps us on the shoulder. Even though it might seem silly or uncomfortable, respond in love and obedience. God can use us at just the right moment to bless others and ourselves when we are listening to His Spirit.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 12

    I’m always amazed at how God’s timing is so perfect. I’m not sure why I haven’t fully come to expect this at all times but it still often surprises me.

    At this writing, I had just read Chapter 2 of John, and was also preparing the Women of the Word’s Bible Study for the upcoming weekly Zoom meeting. I kept coming back to John 2! In this chapter, John records Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine. John, as you know, records seven signs to show us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Water to wine is the first sign. This miracle/sign is recorded only in the Gospel of John as is the raising of Lazarus from the dead!

    Coincidently, the women are studying “The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi,” which takes us on a tour of places in the Holy Land where Jesus walked and helps us understand things from a Jewish perspective instead of our tendency to Westernize scripture. We started last week in Bethlehem and this week went to look at Nazareth for Jesus’ life. This was before He started His public ministry and His first miracle, when He was still hanging out with mom and the family and His first five disciples.

    To explain the importance of having a Jewish perspective on Scripture, Rabbi Jason, a Messianic Jew, helped us understand the mistranslation of Jesus and His earthly father’s occupation. The Greek word “tekton” means builder. Translators of the KJV writing in England where trees are in abundance determined the occupation to be a carpenter but the Rabbi explains that Jesus was most likely a stone mason explaining that the only trees in Nazareth were sycamore fig, balsam, and olive trees.  When you think about this, it explains why Jesus uses analogies about cornerstones and tells us that upon this rock, I will build my church.

    But, as usual, I digress. Moses first sign to the Egyptians was transforming the Nile into blood bringing death.  Deuteronomy 18:18 promises a prophet greater than Moses and that points us to Jesus, who is above all. It is not surprising then that Jesus’ first sign was to turn water to wine – a sign of life! While water is necessary for life, wine is a picture of God’s super abundant grace. Throughout Scripture, wine is symbolic of God’s grace and our joy as a result. Wine is one of the primary signs of the abundant blessings we have through the transformation that comes in our life because Jesus came to redeem us. It was time to celebrate. Are you experiencing the abundant life of being in His kingdom here and now? If not, ask Him to transform your life to one of abundance as you submit to Him.

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 12

    Reflections on Reopening

    We had a great reopening on June 7 and 14th! It was so good to worship together in person. There were a few brave ones that came out and it was wonderful to have kids in worship again! It is okay too if you stayed at home to worship! We look forward to seeing you again in the near future as you feel comfortable getting out.

    We have the gym open for overflow and for families with children to gather around tables. I will provide a one-time use Praise Pack with a few activities for children that goes along with the worship service. I would like to see the children engaged rather than just “busy.” Of course, you are welcome to bring your own activities for your children also.

    Virtual KidsZone

    Just a reminder, there are weekly Bible plans on our church website that you can use at home as well as some downloadable activities. The KidsZone lessons follow the sermon series, “I AM,” the statements of Jesus in the book of John. You can find these on our website on the KidsZone page.

    We are making tentative late summer and fall plans, so look for more information coming in July. We will keep you updated as plans progress and when we can move to Phase 2 of our regathering plan.

    Hurry Up and Wait

    I sent off my second son to USMC recruit training last week. For the Marines (and probably for other arms of the military),the message is “hurry up and wait,” A LOT!  I was reminded how I need to be ready to answer God’s call to obey. God asks us to hurry up, (and be prepared), and wait for His direction. Know Him, be prepared, so that when it’s time to share about Him, you are ready! “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.

    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.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 11

    Regathering Plans and Trusting God

    If all goes as planned, you should be reading this right before June 7, the date we will be regathering as a church.  Some of you will be joining us in person and others will continue attending online. Whatever your choice, it will be a very good day!

    For all of us, this season we have been passing through has been a time to check to see if our professed belief aligns with our actual belief, a time to check your heart’s deepest loyalties.

    We have had to ask ourselves the question of whether we really trust God in all things. We all have moments of doubt and anxiety, (and maybe even weird dreams about singing Aladdin songs and diving off the stage into the third row in our house shoes), but God is here to help us in our unbelief if we cry out to Him. As we pray and read His word, our faith will be strengthened.

    Some of us have found that a portion of our trust came from material goods and relationships with others.  Nonetheless, during this time, He has shown us that we can totally depend on Him as He has faithfully drawn us back to see His supremacy and sufficiency in all things.

    Rely on this promise in Romans 8:28, “For we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” God has an incredibly amazing plan for our lives and in the worst of times, He will work things together for good. Maybe that good has been a renewed and stronger relationship with Him, an opportunity to talk to your neighbors where you had been too busy before, or even opportunities to bless those around you.

    We can count on God to keep His promises, but this promise has a condition. He requires us to love Him with our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Are you keeping your part of the promise?

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 11

    Regathering

    We are looking forward to opening on June 7 for our two worship services only. It will so good to be back with God’s people under the same roof. Please expect that opening will look a lot different than before and we will plan on giving each other a lot of grace as we navigate re-opening during a pandemic for the first time. If you do not feel comfortable coming, or if you are ill, please stay home and take care of yourself! If you do choose to come, be sure to wear a mask and use social distancing. We will share some great greetings and ‘how are you’ from across the room with each other!

    We do plan to have the gym open for overflow and for families with children to gather around tables. I will provide a onetime use Praise Pack with a few activities for each child to go along with the worship service. I would like to see the children engaged rather than just ‘busy.’ You are welcome to bring your own activities for your children to do as well. Just a reminder, there are weekly Bible lessons on our church website that you can use at home in addition to some downloadable activities.

    VBS and Summer Plans

    We are making late summer and fall tentative plans. Look for more information coming in July. I will say that we are tentatively looking at having VBS in a park in late summer. This will all depend on if and when the parks open up and begin taking reservations. We will keep you updated as plans progress and when we can move to Phase 2 of our re-gathering plans.

    Leading Your Family

    I miss all our children and families and workers 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. This verse from Deuteronomy 6:5-7 tells us how to do just that:

    “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 10

    You may have read some of the same things in my article for the last couple of issues, so I am going to share a few things that I have learned, or re-learned, through these days.

    1. God is still in control. He is able. He is aware of all of our needs. He is faithful.
    2. He has caused me to ‘Be still’ more so I can hear Him. I like to be busy doing His work, worshipping with other believers, being with the kids and providing good discipleship opportunities for kids…without that I was feeling a bit out of sorts, without purpose. God reminded me ‘doing’ or ‘going’ less is okay.
    3. I can do more with technology than I thought I could. It is still rough at times but God has granted us good tech people to assist.
    4. Our church people are faithful through all this. Bible study leaders are contacting their classes. That is especially true of our kids’ teachers. They are a great group of caring adults that love our kids and desire for them to know Jesus better and share Him with their friends.
    5. Prayer time with other believers is rejuvenating and has been sustaining for me.
    6. Worship of our Almighty God can even be done across cyberspace! Isn’t He a great God?!

    Thank you God, for what you are teaching us and what You will continue to teach us through these days. Let us not take for granted the gathering of believers ever again! AMEN!

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 10

    By the time you read this, we will be in Phase 1 of reopening St. Louis County. Some of you will be cautiously peeping out your door and others will be bursting forth as if you have just been released from prison. However, you choose to approach this new season, remember to love and respect those who might have a different approach from yours. We will once again be walking through uncharted territory and will need to act in agape love to others, the kind of love that puts the needs and well-being of others before ours.

    One thing is certain, through all this, God has been faithful to His church. He has allowed us to minister to many in our community and to those within the church. Your generosity in sharing from your resources has made it possible to meet the needs of others.

    Today is my day at the office (Tuesday). Vance showed me how to access the door camera at the end of March. By April 1, I could neither use nor find that camera. If the doorbell rings, and I am the only one here, my non-technological response is to walk down the hall and see who is at the door.

    When it rang about an hour ago, there was a man about 50 years old on a bicycle. I went to the door to see what he needed. His name was George and he was from Texas. He and his wife’s van broke down and they are living at the Motel 6 on Dorsett. His son has mailed them their stimulus check, but it hasn’t arrived here yet. He has been trying to find odd jobs to pay for their motel until they get their checks and can get back to Texas. He needed $7 to be able to pay for his room tonight and asked if we had any chili for their dinner.  I gave him some microwavable food, breakfast bars, $7 and prayed with him. He thanked Jesus for providing.

    There are more “Georges” all around you. While I have been typing this article, I had a phone call from a woman asking for info about our Mobile Market on May 18. God is using His church to help those in need. Keep your eyes open. Look for opportunities to help. Some needs are physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. Let Jesus use you!

    Hope to see you in person soon!

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 09

    So how is everyone out there is quarantine-land? I miss getting together with the kids and seeing families at church! If you need anything, (and that includes prayer), do not hesitate to let us know. Parents, you have a lot on your plate: homeschooling, your own work, keeping family happy and healthy. Know that I am praying for you.

    KidsZone

    You will find a weekly KidsZone for preschoolers and children on our website each week. There are also handouts and activities to go along with it. If you do not have a printer at home, please let me know; I would be happy to mail them to you. I hope you choose to worship with your children. There is a worship bulletin that kids can use to follow along with Sunday morning worship services as they sit with you. A video has been posted on the Children’s Ministry Facebook page for parents about “Helping Kids Navigate the Pandemic.”  There are many activities you can enjoy together – some of which you will be hearing about this week!

    FREE Family Resources

    If you need additional resources, you can find many of them through Right Now Media. Just give us permission to put your email into our account and you can access Right Now Media for FREE! It is a great resource for kids’ videos, Bible Study resources for all topics and ages. “What’s in the Bible” by Phil Vischer is a particular favorite of mine. What an opportunity you have right now to lead your kids to know Jesus and to better understand the Bible!

    Daily Prayer

    Don’t miss our Daily Prayer on Facebook Live every weeknight at 7:00 p.m. Get your kids involved by having them share prayer requests, too. What a precious time this has been and will continue to be!

    AWANA

    We will likely have our AWANA Awards Night the first Wednesday night we return to AWANA in the fall. Further information will be posted as details become available.

    Summer Fun Week

    It is with a big sad face that the announcement that Summer Fun Week has been postponed.  We are planning to have Vacation Bible School but are just not sure when that will be. As of right now, we are cancelling Basketball Camp. Watch for more details throughout the summer.