Good News Messenger
Vol. 10 No. 1 First Southern BaptistChurch – Mattoon, Illinois January 5, 2011
From Our Pastor
Happy New Year!
So, what will be new for you this year?
First, let’s look back on the year.
When I look back, I see that you have been faithful to your Lord and your church. I see this through the support you gave in the worship services, your tithes and offerings, Awana clubs, ministering to one another, continuing to make improvements to this church building and grounds, and being willing to step out in faith on the new parking lot project. I have seen people go out on mission trips and I have seen you give of yourself, and of your offerings, to support missions here at home and throughout the world. I have seen people come to “saving” faith in Christ and follow through with baptism. In other words, I have seen God, in Christ, at work through us.
Now, looking to 2012, naturally I believe we should continue on as we have in 2011, but my hope is that we will all take on a more active role in inviting people to church. You see, in this church, I am confident that people will experience the love of Jesus Christ, and they will be able to hear the gospel message.
So, what’s new to do in 2012? I am recommending we invite people to church.
May the Lord God Almighty, in Christ, richly bless us!
Your Pastor and Friend,
John Calio
January
Elizabeth Burgess 01
Lois Love01
Wesley Heaton06
Cassidy Kuyrkendall06
Shawn Pruitt08
Jeff Wilson13
Esther Williams17
Rick Shaffer18
Andy Weger22
Paula Brinkman25
Carol Nichols26
David Birdsong28
Dean Birdsong28
Pamela Kuyrkendall28
February
Austin Fair01
Bryson Fair01
Julie Calio05
Marjorie Alumbaugh06
Lore Landrus07
Patsy Croy08
Amber Righter16
Katie Walk18
Michelle Nuzum22
Starlin Snodgrass 28
Tom Thacker28
A Birthday Surprise
It was the 2nd of October, 2004, and for the first time I was not with my family to celebrate my birthday. Till now, every year we had a grand birthday party. But this year I had moved away to pursue my education.
At 12 o'clock midnight was a call from my dad. We spoke for a long time, mostly about how much we missed each other and how much fun it would be to celebrate my birthday together. After this sad conversation, I knew that I had to be there with my family on this day. Impulsively, without letting my parents know my intentions, I left for home to give them a surprise visit.
I boarded a train at 3 a.m. It took 14 hours to reach my home. I was standing outside my house full of joy, and just when I was about to ring the door bell, my phone rang.
"Where are you, my son? Open the door and come outside." said my dad.
I got confused and urged my dad to open his door. Now my dad was also confused, but within seconds laughter broke out from both sides as I realized that he was there along with my mother, standing outside my dorm to give me a surprise visit.
We couldn't stop laughing for a minute, then decided to meet at a halfway place. It took more than 6 hours to reach the railway station where my parents were waiting with a cake in hand. When they saw me, there was still 5 minutes left in the day, so they started singing the "Happy Birthday song" for me even though the station was very crowded. To my uttermost surprise, the people on the platform joined my parents in singing. And there, in front of a thousand strangers, was the most memorable and craziest birthday in my heart. I blew out the candles there at the station, and was wished "Happy Birthday!" by all.
by Sid - (Mumbai, India)
DearChurch Family,
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great time celebrating the birth of our Savior at Christmas! During the week of Christmas Amanda and I spent time traveling to see both our families. This was our first Christmas being married and I have to say I’m thankful for the gift of marriage that God had given us this past year.
I hope your 2012 is a great year and that you will do everything to live the year making Jesus Christ known to those who need to hear it!
Last week the youth, college students, and adults attended Youth Encounter in Springfield. It was another great conference and the youth really came away being challenged by the speaker. It was by far my favorite speaker out of the past years I’ve attended. We also had about 5-7 students who attended a meeting about the possibility of going on an overseas mission trip with Go Teams from the IBSA. I ask that you please pray for these students and that God would show them the right answers in terms of going on these mission trips.
The youth ministry will be having our annual all night lock-in on February 24th starting at 6:30 p.m. and ending on February 25th at 6:30 a.m. During the lock-in we will be having worship, Bible study, swimming/games at the YMCA, minute to win it games, plenty of food, and movies! There is no charge for the lock-in but we will be taking a love offering of $10 per student to help support a local church plant in the state of Illinois. If you have any questions about the lock-in please make sure to see me! I will also be in need of about 10 adults who can stay until 12:00 a.m. and 2 adults to stay the whole night.
On Saturday, March 31st Winter Jam 2012 will be returning to Assembly Hall. Winter Jam is a great concert that only cost $10 per person to get in and they have a great lineup of musicians that you normally will hear on WBGL. I will be in need of adults to help chaperone and drive to Champaign that night. More information will be available next month!
In Christ,
Jeremy Bundren, Youth Pastor
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2
Music Box
Our new Chorus of the month is All Because of Jesus.
The words are as follows:
Giver of ev’ry breath I breathe.
Author of all eternity.
Giver of ev’ry perfect thing
to You be the glory.
Maker of heaven and of earth.
No one can comprehend Your worth.
King over all the universe to You be the glory.
And I’m alive because I’m alive in You.
And it’s all because of Jesus I’m alive.
It’s all because the blood of Jesus Christ.
That covers me and raised this dead man’s life.
It’s all because of Jesus…I’m alive
I’m alive…I’m alive.
Every sunrise sings Your praise.
The universe cries out Your praise.
I’m singing freedom all my days now that I’m alive.
If we could take these words to heart this New Year, what a year it would be!
Julie Calio
Interim Music Director
VBS
VBS is coming soon.
I go to my conference in January, and in February we’ll be having our kickoff meeting. Due to the surveys we will have VBS from Sunday through Thursday with family night on Friday. Our Sunday night schedule may be a bit different than regular. Come to the meeting to find out more.
Julie Calio
VBS Director
Do You Know
11% of people are left handed
The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes
An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain
Most lipsticks contain fish scales
No two corn flakes look the same
Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries
That 8% of people have an extra rib
That 85% of plant life is found in the ocean
The Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters
The most commonly used letter in the alphabet is E and the least used letter in the alphabet is Q
The 3 most common languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English
◄ Dec 2011 / ~ January 2012 ~ / Feb 2012 ►Sun / Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri / Sat
1
9:00 a.m. Sunday Sch.
10:05 a.m. Worship
5:30 p.m. Awana
6:00 p.m. Worship / 2 / 3
1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry / 4
1:00 p.m. W.O.M.
6:30 p.m. Focus Youth Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer / 5 / 6 / 7
8
9:00 a.m. Sunday Sch.
10:05 a.m. Worship
5:30 p.m. Awana
6:00 p.m. Worship / 9
4;30 p.m. Deacons / 10
1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry
7:00 p.m. Finance Committee / 11
6:30 p.m. Focus Youth Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Business Mtg. Bible Study/Prayer / 12 / 13 / 14
15
9:00 a.m. Sunday Sch.
10:05 a.m. Worship
5:30 p.m. Awana
6:00 p.m. Worship / 16 / 17
1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry / 18
6:30 p.m. Focus Youth Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer / 19 / 20 / 21
22
9:00 a.m. Sunday Sch.
10:05 a.m. Worship
5:30 p.m. Awana
6:00 p.m. Worship / 23 / 24
1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry / 25
6:30 p.m. Focus Youth Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Prayer / 26 / 27 / 28
29
9:00 a.m. Sunday Sch.
10:05 a.m. Worship
Lord’s Supper
5:30 p.m. Awana
6:00 p.m. Ronnie D and the SweetRiver Band / 30
/ 31
1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry / Notes:
More Calendars: February, March, April