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Excerpts from The New Outlook Mid April 2007 Second Baptist 101 May 6 “Our Baptist Roots and Beliefs” May 13 “Telling Our Story” May 20 “How Second Baptist Loves God and Neighbor” May 27 “Looking Ahead” Dessert
and Entertainment All the money collected will go to the Youth Group's Summer Camp Fund. So come and let us entertain you and support our youth at the same time. If you'd like to perform, contact Linda Marks. “A church can turn itself inside out” We are going to begin by inviting all young
adults, single or married, to a Nursery provided for infants through age 12
in the children’s classrooms at the church. Judy Gurley (636) 230-8393 The Last Beatitude On April 15, we will explore the last Beatitude, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for there is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10, KJV) The last window takes us back to Good Friday, for it shows Jesus on the cross. (Click here to see a picture of the window.) Yet we will explore this Beatitude in the hindsight of Easter, for Easter provides the truth of the message—there will be an ultimate victory in the kingdom of heaven for those who are faithful. Pastor Dixon’s sermon, “The Ultimate Winners,” will explore this Beatitude in the Easter context. Adult Series on Psalms An Idea for May 6 Look for the “Flower Bed” in the narthex for materials you can use to “grow” your paper blossoms and blooms for May 6. Around the Community Interfaith Partnership is holding their 16th Annual Interfaith Music Festival on Sunday, April 29, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Congregation Shaare Emeth, at Ladue and Ballas in Creve Coeur. General admission tickets are $15. E-mail irandall@interfaithpartnershisp.org for more information. Make a Difference with Climate Change There are ways that we can make a difference. Under the leadership of Pat Justis and the Ministry Support Team, our congregation has had an energy audit and retrofitted the church to save large amounts of electricity and natural gas. That has helped us in freeing up money that can better be spent in other ministries, but also it has helped make a small difference in the larger problem. We as individuals can find ways to make a difference, be it in energy audits of our own homes, or in the choices we make of vehicles to drive. A good source of information on the web is www.interfaithpowerandlight.org, an effort by people of many different faith backgrounds to make a faith response to the climate change issue. On Sunday, April 15, during the coffee hour after worship, Pat Justis and Mike Dixon will invite people who would like to express their concern about this issue to have their picture taken and to sign a statement of care and concern that we can send to political leaders. Please note that we are not making a statement for the congregation as a whole, but as individuals who are members and who wish to witness to their concern. History As I Remember It I chuckled and then laughed out loud – the great compromise had finally been achieved! I had just opened the Early February Outlook and was delighted to see photos of the three types of signs designating the name of the church, the hours of worship and study, and relevant current information to the public as they drive by the corner of McKnight and Clayton Roads. About the mid nineteen seventies as pastor of the church, I felt we were not doing enough to get our mission understood by the hundreds of persons who drove by each day. Some said they saw the grand colonial house but never saw the church sanctuary behind, despite the fact that we had a light at night on our small steeple above the sanctuary and a non-lighted wooden sign saying “Second Baptist Church of Greater St. Louis, Founded in 1818.” We also had many large bushes which shielded our outdoor pool and made it hard for drivers to see the Sanctuary of the Beatitudes. When I suggested we pull down those bushes, one long-time member said she objected. She said we were not a commercial establishment like the mall strip just west on Clayton Road, and we were more like the country club on Clayton Road seeking only certain types of people. The country club was shielded from the street and had only a small dignified sign. Another older woman took me aside and said, “We have always been a church for persons of achievement.” She later questioned my effort to get two small lighted signs installed on each entrance to the upper and lower parking lots. She said such a sign reminded her of some churches who install a large neon-lighted cross – she thought it tacky. However, the signs were installed, and I was especially proud of the wording “Second Baptist Church Meets Here Weekly for Renewal,” a theological point. A few years later we lost some of our park-like forest of trees, and we removed many of the bushes. Outside and inside lighting was installed so that the sanctuary windows on the Clayton side could be seen at night. A bit later I advocated for a sign on the corner which would have interior lighting and large 4” letters that could spell out messages. This proposal really split the leadership into two factions – one wanted a monument-type sign like Immacolata just down the hill. It was dignified and would give the name of our church and its founding date, which seemed to be very important to many of the people who had been raised in the church on Kingshighway. That church was a modern Baptist church for its day of great dignity and class. I thought we had lots of dignity and class but a declining market for what we were selling. Over and over through the next decade or so, the debate went on and no decision was made about sign vs. monument. What made me laugh was that finally, after decades, both views were respected and now the church had both dignity and marketing as they showed their face to the world. I also congratulate the church on its compromise to now have two names – Second Baptist and Sanctuary of the Beatitudes. This debate was also begun in the 1970’s, but that’s another story. ABW Conference To Be Held June 8 From the Pastor Holy Week, in spite of the unspringlike weather and the
wilting, frozen flowers outdoors, was a time of great beauty and meaning here at
Second Baptist. We processed with loud hosannas on Palm Sunday, and gave praise
to our King who comes in peace, while being aware of the challenge and conflict
to come. On Maundy Thursday, we gathered with brothers and sisters from Faith
Des Peres Presbyterian and Samuel United Church of Christ to observe the Lord’s
Supper together and to hear in word, symbol, and music of the drama of Holy
Week, leading up to the crucifixion. On Good Friday, individuals came for
private meditation at a worship center beneath the image of Christ on the cross.
Easter was a joy and delight. Christ is risen indeed! Alyson Swarm interpreted
the crucifixion and resurrection through dance, our congregation became a giant
choir in singing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” we received the Rev. Hari
Smith into membership, we heard the Easter story proclaimed, we saw the beauty
of the lilies, and left to a
haunting choral benediction. I, by the way, was very proud of our choir,
Brad our choir director, and Marilyn our organist for all the Holy Week music.
It was outstanding and inspiring. Grace and peace,
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES |
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9030 Clayton Road (at McKnight Road, 3/10 mile west of the Galleria) St. Louis, MO 63117 (314) 991-3424 |