Excerpts from The New Outlook
Early February 2007
The Season of Lent
Lent, like Advent, is a time of preparation. It’s a time of learning what
it means to be a follower of Christ. It helps us come to grip with the realities
of life, so that we might better understand the Christ who went to Jerusalem and
died on a cross. That, in turn, prepares us so we can truly celebrate the joy of
Easter.
Our Lenten schedule this year is similar to previous years.
On Ash Wednesday, February 21, at 7 p.m., we will gather for a simple service
that will begin our Lenten journey, a time of confession and reflection.
On Sunday evenings in Lent, we will gather for light
suppers, followed by a Lenten Bible study. More information on the theme for
this study will appear in the next New Outlook.
On Palm Sunday, April 1, we will celebrate Christ’s entry
into Jerusalem.
On Maundy Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m., we will gather for
an ecumenical communion service with our brothers and sisters from Faith Des
Peres Presbyterian Church and Samuel United Church of Christ in the Samuel UCC
sanctuary.
The Sanctuary of the Beatitudes will be open for silent
meditation on Good Friday.
Easter, April 8, brings the joy of celebrating Christ’s
resurrection!
Pastor Michael Dixon
Will You Be My
Valentine?
The Junior Church School Class is offering us a great way to express our
love and appreciation for friends at Second. For the next two Sundays, February
4 and 11, they will provide a Valentine box in which to put cards and notes. The
kids will act as mail carriers and deliver our valentines on Sunday, February 11
during Coffee Fellowship. Kids’ school valentines, a copy of a treasured
valentine from the past, or just plain notes will all do just fine. Thanks to
the members of Junior Class for this great idea.
Super Bowl and
Souper Bowl Sunday, February 4
Mike and Bev Apple are hosting the Second Baptist Super Bowl Party again
this year. Kickoff time is 5:25 p.m., but you’re welcome to arrive any time
after 4:00.
Come and enjoy fun and good
fellowship even if you’re not a football fan! Please bring a salad, casserole,
vegetable, or dessert to share. We will eat as the game begins and have dessert
at half time. See below for directions to the Apples’ home. Please let Mike or
Bev know if you can come.
Sunday, February 4, is also Souper Bowl Sunday. On that day
Second Baptist Youth will be collecting money and canned goods for the Souper
Bowl of Caring. Our young people will stand in the narthex after worship with
soup pans and pots to receive your gifts. They will be passed on to North Side
Team Ministry and the Murrow Indian Foundation. This is part of a grassroots
campaign to raise funds for hunger relief. It’s a fun way to make a difference.
Last year, over five million dollars were raised across the nation! For more
about the national program, go to
www.souperbowl.org
Directions to the Apples’:
From Highway 270, go west on Manchester about 7 miles to Reinke Road. (Look for
an IHOP on the southwest corner.)
Go south on Reinke.
Turn right on Kylemore, the third street.
The fourth house on the left is the one you’re looking for (912 Kylemore).
Call the Apples at 636-394-2781 if you get lost.
Alternate directions:
From Highway 40, turn south on Clarkson Road.
Go 4.5 miles to Manchester and turn east.
Go 1.5 miles to Reinke Road.
See above for what to do next.
For Your Sweet Tooth
Bring your sweet tooth—and your billfold--on Sunday, February 11, when the youth
are holding a bake sale to earn money for a trip this summer to Green Lake, the
American Baptist Conference Center in Wisconsin. We’ve been promised lots of
wonderful goodies to choose from!
Work Day February 3
Plan to come to the church on Saturday, February 3, at 9:00 a.m. to help remove
honeysuckle from the south parking lot. In case of bad weather, the back-up date
is Sunday, February 4, after church. This is the first step in a cooperative
landscaping plan with our neighbor Claire Anderson, who will provide native
plants and help with the planting and maintenance.
Men’s Breakfast
Men's breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, February 17, at Delmar Baptist.
Book Group To Discuss
Saturday
The book group will meet in the Community Room on Monday, February 12
at 2:00 to discuss the book Saturday, by Ian McEwan. From the New York
Times Book Review: Saturday magnifies a pivotal moment in history and
a day in a man’s life as secure foundations crack and uncertainty rushes in. . .Saturday
explores ideas of fate and purpose, life’s fragility, revelation, and terror at
all levels of society.
Free Firewood
Some nice pieces of oak wood are available on our grounds for anyone who would
like to use them for firewood. Having the firewood removed would help the church
as well.
Young Youth Cluster Plans Events
Attention, parents of 3rd to 8th graders! Here is an
updated list of 2007 spring semester Young Youth Cluster dates:
3rd – 5th Grades:
March 9, 6 – 8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church
May 4, 6 – 8 p.m. at Second Baptist
6th – 8th Grades:
Saturday, February 24, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. We will be meeting at Samuel UCC
and carpooling to Friedens UCC for a service project.
April 27, 6 – 8 p.m., at Glendale Presbyterian Church
Shari Nelson-Faulkner
From the Pastor
Have you driven past the church at night lately? We did, the other night,
on the way to choir practice, and were delighted to see all three of our signs
lit brightly, announcing to the world that we are here! It was interesting to
watch the electrical crew operate the machinery that burrowed tunnels from our
building out to each sign, so the conduits could be laid and hooked up. Thanks
to Pat Justis and the Ministry Support team, as well as to all of you who gave
to the last capital improvement campaign to make it happen.
It’s good that we can literally live up to Jesus’
admonition to let our light shine before others, to be lights to the world,
reflecting the greater Light of Jesus Christ. Since our church building is set
back off the road a bit, it’s especially important that we go out of our way to
offer an inviting and welcoming presence. Let me repeat what I said in my sermon
on Jan. 21. “We in the church are the stewards of
God’s great and eternal party. The world’s been invited to come and share in the
joy. So why is it a best-kept secret? Why are we shy about it? We don’t need to
be pushy and hostile, threatening people with hellfire and brimstone. It’s good
news that we share. God’s throwing a big party, and it’s up to us to enjoy that
celebration, and it’s up to us to reach out and tell others the good news. God’s
grace is real. God’s love is offered to all. God’s joy is something we can all
share. Pass it on.”
Let not only our street signs and our steeple shine brightly, but let God’s love
shine through us, as well. We’ve a great church. We share a beautiful message of
God’s good news. Pass it on.
Grace and peace,
Mike
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Mon 7:00 p.m. Obsessive-Compulsive Group in Community Room
Tue 10:00 a.m. American Baptist Women's
Ministries, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Tue 6:30 p.m. Adult Children of Alcoholics Group in Community Room
Wed 7:00 p.m. Choir practice
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Feb 3
Work Day, 9 a.m.
Feb 4 Souper Bowl: Youth collect food and money for those in need;
after church
Super
Bowl Party at Apples'; Arrive any time after 4:00; kickoff is at
5:30
Feb 11 Youth bake sale
Feb 12 Book group
discusses Saturday, by Ian McEwan, 2:00 p.m.
Feb 14 Second serves
refreshments at Friendship International at Delmar Baptist, 8:30 a.m.
Feb 17 Men's breakfast, Delmar Baptist, 7:30 a.m.
Feb 21 Ash Wednesday service, 7:00 p.m.
Feb 25 Begin Lenten study; time to be announced
