Excerpts from The New Outlook

Mid October 2006

Dream Dreams, See Visions
 “Your sons will prophecy, and also your daughters. Your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.” In his speech to the crowds gathered at Pentecost, Peter quoted these words from the prophet Joel. It was a time of new beginnings, and God’s Spirit was mightily at work to give birth to the church.

We at Second Baptist Church are beginning a process of dreaming and visioning, and we invite you to be a part of it. We are trying to discern what God would have us do as a church over the next few years. We are open to catch a new vision, to dream new dreams, as well as to affirm who we are now, and build upon our current strengths.

On October 12, Linda Marks and Michael Dixon led the search committee through such a process. It was creative, rich and meaningful, and in addition, we had fun! After getting our creative juices flowing, we reviewed the church’s past, affirmed its presence, and shared responses and hunches as to where we thought God might be leading us. We realize, though, that it isn’t just the search committee who should have the opportunity to share in this envisioning process. We want to make it open to the whole congregation.

On October 22, the worship service will be on the theme of “The Once and Future Church,” and we will hear biblical images of the church and a call to follow God’s lead into the future. During coffee hour, you will have a chance to see a wonderful video called “Everyday Creativity.” It’s by National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones, and with beautiful images, it shows us how every one of us can be creative by responding to the world and people around us.

 During the next week, those of you who live in the St. Louis area will receive an invitation to attend one of four sessions which will take you through the same creative process that the search committee experienced. Three will be in evenings at homes, one will be during the daytime at church, and you can attend the one that’s the most convenient to you. Each session will be less than ninety minutes long. If you cannot come to any of those sessions, or if you live outside the St. Louis area, you can still mail or email us your prayerful response to the question, “What do you think that God wants our church to do over the next ten years?”

All of the responses that we generate will help us build a vision for the years ahead. Why do this? Part of it is so that the search committee will be able to share that vision with potential candidates, so that we can better find a candidate who will be called to help us live into that vision. Also, the vision will help our council and leadership teams in their planning, as well. Our vision for the church is like the rudder of a ship. It keeps us on course, and keeps us from drifting aimlessly. Be a part of our envisioning process, through attending the meetings if you can, and also through your prayers.
Michael Dixon

Listening to Our Kids
This past Sunday Melissa Bancks asked the Primaries, “Why did God make the world beautiful?”
Andrew Keeney (age 5): “So we would live better and well.”
Mitchell Bancks (age 3): “So the world would be clean and washed.”
Linden Faulkner (age 6): “So we could enjoy the world.”

Children Learn Fruits of the Spirit
In Second Hour we are finishing up our nine-week series on the fruits of the Spirit. The children should know them all by heart by now; ask them to sing "The Fruit of the Spirit" song for you. Our worship time is now mostly led by our junior worship leaders, Meadow Faulkner and Will Adams. They lead the songs chosen by one of the children and let the week's Scripture reader and prayer leader know when to do their thing. This month we are also taking up a weekly collection for the World Mission Offering. If you have children in Second Hour, encourage them to bring some of their allowance to give toward this good work.

We are still looking for a few volunteers to join our substitute Bible teacher list. No planning is necessary. Every teacher has sub plans at the ready. If you are willing to help out, please sign up on the sheet located on the table in the narthex.

The next 3rd - 5th grade Young Youth Cluster event is October 27th, from 6 - 8 p.m. at Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church (11155 Clayton Road, about 1 mile west of Highway 67). Each attendee should bring a flashlight. If your child will be attending, please let me know by Sunday. Thank you.
Shari Nelson-Faulkner

Learning to Fox Trot
Our first dance lesson was a great success!  Even those of us with no experience and two left feet found ourselves fox trotting comfortably by the end of the evening. Linda and Larry are great teachers!

Come join us in Fellowship Hall from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. this Friday and next (October 20 and 27). This week we’re going to learn the waltz. Then on Friday, November 3, we’ll be trying out our new skills at Casa Loma Ballroom along with all you folks who already know how to dance!

Note on one of the pictures that accompanies this text in the hard copy of the newsletter: Joan Jensen couldn’t come to the first lesson, so Jay made do with a plastic palm tree found in one of the old Sunday School rooms. It was a great partner—it went just where he guided it (unlike the rest of us!)

Update on Our Property
Come and join friends from Second as we work to take care of our property on Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Replacing lamps and detail cleaning will be the major focuses.

Thanks to Ed Wakefield, who got bids for getting the brush cleared. It’s all done!

Now that the boiler and the air conditioning are done, it’s time to move on to replacing the roof. Work will begin no later than October 23. Many thanks to Pat Justis and Tim Keeney for all of your work on this!

“Religious Identity in the Modern World” Series Begins
Interfaith Partnership is collaborating with Central Agency for Jewish Education to present the series “Religious Identity in the Modern World" from 7 – 9 p.m. on three Thursday evenings at The Jewish Federation Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive. Rev. Vincent Heier will speak from the Christian perspective, Rabbi Mordecai Miller from the Jewish perspective, Dr. Nora McMorrow from the Baha’i  perspective, and Dr. Ghazala Hayat from the Muslim perspective.

October 19: Transmitting the Faith:
How does one become a Christian, Muslim, Baha’I or Jew? How is the faith transmitted from generation to generation? Can someone who is not born into the faith join it? How? Can a member of the faith be banished from it? How?

November 2: Religious Observance
What are the holidays? Are some more important than others? What—if any—other observances are prescribed? What kind of prayers are offered?

November 16: Cultural Influences
What is the religious “culture” like? What does the religion say about diet, dress, modesty or other cultural markers? How have outside cultures influenced your religion?

The cost of the series is $36. For additional information and a registration form, contact Esther Zimand, 314-432-0020 or Irene Randall, 314-531-4787. You may also visit the following website (Page 23) to print a registration from:
http://www.cajestl.org/documents/ad-adultguide0607.pdf

Last Call for Pictures
If you have not had your picture taken for the church directory, plan to have Jim Shepardson take it next Sunday. If you will not be available, please e-mail or mail a picture to the church office.

From the Pastor
Over the past few weeks, I’ve become immersed in the American Baptists! (Oh, yes, I was immersed in baptism many years ago in a Disciples church, but now I’m talking in a metaphorical sense.) On our first Sunday here, Muriel Johnson, the area minister, was here to greet me. On September 26, Sandy and I drove to Springfield, Illinois where professional church leaders new to the Great Rivers Region were being welcomed. It was a good experience, and we came away not only with lots of information and a sense of being a part of the region, but with new friendships as well, both with regional staff and other pastors new in the region. Then on October 6 I attended a preaching workshop sponsored by the Great Rivers Region, as a prelude to the Annual Meeting, and then was at the Annual Meeting the next day, worshiping, attending workshops, listening to great preaching, and, of course, schmoozing. Sunday, October 8, found us hosting Kristina Gutierrez, and listening to her make mission work in Nicaragua come alive. (If you enjoyed it, too, please remember that when you make your World Mission special offering this month. It’s great work that’s being done.) On October 10 I met with the Executive Council here as John Grisham of the GRR staff introduced us to a new stewardship program. And now I eagerly look forward to Muriel Johnson’s return on October 29, when she will be preaching to us. Like I say, it’s been an immersion experience. It is my hope and goal to help Second Baptist Church strengthen its ties to the Great Rivers Region and the American Baptists in general. We will gain much from the resources they can offer, but more important, we can give much to the larger church, and through it to a world in desperate need of God’s love.

Grace and peace,
Mike

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Mon    7:00 p.m.    Obsessive-Compulsive Group in Community Room
Tue     6:30 p.m.    Adult Children of Alcoholics Group in Community Room
Wed    7:00 p.m.    Choir practice

9030 Clayton Road (at McKnight Road, 3/10 mile west of the Galleria)    St. Louis, MO 63117     (314) 991-3424