September 2006 – Vol. 2, No. 8

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

--Isaiah 40:3, KJV

Greetings friends!

As I write this, I am in the midst of a busy time of preparation for the upcoming school year. At home, I've got choir schedules, soccer schedules, and cross-country schedules. At church, I'm preparing for Bible Studies, sermons, retreats, and youth programs.

Schedules conflict, days are long, and life is busy. And I wonder--am I truly "preparing the way of the Lord?" Isaiah reminds us that living as God calls us takes work, but does lead to wonderful highways. Clearing the way for God, in the midst of our busy schedules, is sometimes a greater task than clearing a way through the roughest desert.

But--this is a clearing worth making. God is calling us all away. Away from our hectic times, and into quiet moments with God. They aren't always easy to find, but seek them, and they are well worth it.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord.

Pub God on your calendar, in your PDA, and on the refrigerator.

Just do it.

Prepare ye, some time for God this fall!

Peace,

Pastor Steph

Rally Day! Weekend

Rally Day weekend is September 9th and 10th. there will be many great activities going on:

That weekend will be a BYF reunion. Please help us call on all former and current FBC BYF'ers, and their families, to join in the fun.

Mark your calendars for a FANTASTIC event on Saturday evening, September 9th. This is for BYF and BEYOND!! ALL are invited. We'll gear up for Rally Day with a Dessert Concert, with music by Omigosh!, Sue Staples' barbershop group. Desserts will be provided through the Mission Board. The event will be from 7 - 8:30. This will be a FUNDRAISING event, to raise money for the Youth Choir Tour, which is now less than one year away!  Youth choir members will serve as waiters and waitresses.

The First Baptist Youth Choir will be going on tour to churches in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area in June of 2007. While on tour, they will be raising funds to support a mission called "Kupenda," which houses and educates disabled children in Africa who might otherwise be abandoned.

This event will include a silent auction. If you have items to donate for the silent auction (hand-made, donations from area businesses, etc.), please see Pastor Steph or Diana Keyser.

Sunday morning, the 10th, we'll begin with a Pot Luck Breakfast for Sunday School students, teachers, friends, and families. Folks of all ages are invited to come, bring along a dish to share, and enjoy the fellowship. The breakfast will be at 9 am.

Worship is at 10:15, and will be a service of communion.

After church, the BYF'ers, current and past, and friends and families, are invited to a lunch at the church. (Details to follow soon!)

Christian Ed.

We are currently looking for people to sign up, beginning September 10th, to run "Christian Craft Time." This is something new the Board of Christian Ed. is trying. During the sermon, instead of teaching a lesson, you will just need to assist the younger children in making simple crafts. You will likely have a teenage helper and the BCE will provide all craft supplies and instructions. Sign up for a fun time some Sunday! All are welcome--whether you've got young kids or not."

Treworgy Farms Outing will happen Sunday, October 1st, 2 pm to 4 pm, sponsored by the BCE.

Piano Player Needed

Junior Choir will start September 13th. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 6:15 pm. Anyone interested in playing the piano for rehearsals and/or performances? Contact Karen Bailey. Thanks!

Youth Choir

The Youth Choir is in demand!

They have been asked to sing at three events coming up:

September 24th, after church, the FBC Youth Choir will join musicians from Essex Street Baptist, and possibly Columbia Street Baptist, for an evangelism concert near Bass Park. Food will be served and it should be a great time.

October 15th, the Youth choir will be singing to earn money for their tour at Waterville Baptist church. This will be an early evening concert.

Friday, October 20th, the Youth Choir is the featured music at the ABCOM Annual Session, to be held this year at Columbia Street Baptist

LA ROMANA 2007

Building The Dream Of Providing Health Care For The Poor

Bob Beaumont has sent us information for the next Maine Mission Work Tour to LaRomana, Dominican republic. It will take place form January 20 to February 3 and the Maine group will work with a group from Keokuk, Iowa. Medical and construction workers are needed. The minimum age for workers is 15. The cost for the trip is $950 for one week or $1150 for two weeks. Applications and deposits are required by November 1. More information and applications are available in the church office.

VIVA!!

For 5 evenings this summer, kids and adults were LIVING and learning that Jesus was their Helper, Life, Leader, Savior, Friend and Helper. During the week they hid from Roman soldiers, made maracas and footprints, collected their Amigos, sang about Jesus’ Love, cha-cha’d around the sanctuary, followed the adventures of Chadder and generally had a great 5-day FIESTA!!  And of course they were fortified by great dinners at the Ole Café and Maraca Munchies at snack time. 

FIESTA! VBS 2006 averaged 45 kids and crew during the week.  The VBS leaders provided great creativity in the Hot Bible Adventures, Cactus Crafts and Sing & Play Ole. The Grande Games let all the kids really have a great FIESTA!   The week culminated with jokes, singing, and a dedication of five “Jesus Loves Me” blankets which will be sent to kids in Latin American countries, along with photos of our crew, a Spanish bible book which details the FIESTA! VBS adventures, and a set of Amigos for their very own.  Over $40 was collected to help with shipping. 

Indeed, the whole week was a wonderful FIESTA!  As co-directors we would like to thank all those who volunteered, contributed and added to the success of VBS this year. To everyone we say VIVA!! 

Cheryl Dearing
Ned Salinas
VBS Co-directors

FALL BUS TRIP

LEAF PEEPERS WANTED

Fall Bus Trip--Thursday and Friday, Sept. 14th and 15th. Bus leaves Bangor at 8:30 Thursday and returns around midnight on Friday. There are still seats available. The cost is $211 per person. We're going back to the Rangely Lakes area this year. We'll be visiting the Margaret Chase Smith homestead and museum in Skowhegan. We'll be sightseeing in the Rangely Lake area. Lunch atop Saddleback Mountain. Short ride on Rangely Lakes and Sandy river Railroad's narrow gauge logging railroad in Phillips. Visit to unique gift shop at Mooseville. We'll be staying at the Country Inn in Rangely. Bring your golf clubs if you're a golfer. Shopping Rangely. The trip will be capped off with a play at Lakewood Theater with dinner. The play is a comedy--Monkey Soup. Contact Clyde Folsom or Bob Frank if you would like to join us.

ADULT STUDY TIMES RESUME SEPTEMBER 12TH

It probably comes as no surprise that there was more written about Jesus during his time than made it to our Bible. In 1946, in Egypt, an extraordinary find unearthed many ancient writings, which are truly fascinating. Join us as we look at some of these surprising, and sometimes controversial writings, and as we discuss how they inform our faith, and our understanding of scripture. These classes are open to all who have interest.

This series of classes will be held on Tuesdays, September12th through October 24th, at 10 am and 6 pm. If you have interest and aren't available on Tuesdays, see Pastor Steph and if there is enough interest she will add another class time.

   WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER   

Ben Salinas (left in white shirt) and Rachel Douglas compete at the Hershey Track & Field Regional Meet. Ben took first in the 50 meter dash and finished 2nd in the 100 meter dash and the standing long jump. Rachel finished third in the softball throw and went on to compete at the State Meet in Brewer.

Newsletter Contacts: Any submissions for the newsletter may be delivered to the church office or any member of the Publicity Committee: John Cheney, Pam Levesque or Ned Salinas or emailed to newsletter@fbcbangor.org. The deadline for the October Messenger is Sun., Sept 24.