Sunday School Promotion
Sunday School Promotion will be September 13
starting at 9:30 am
All Children will meet with their teachers in the Social Hall and following the promotion ceremony they will go to their regular class rooms for the start of their new Sunday School Classes.
Everyone is invited to enjoy refreshments in the Social Hall and to participate in the ceremony.
Wednesday Night Children and Youth Activities
Night Activities resume September 9
• Mission Friends: Children ages 3-5
• Kids for Christ: Grades 1-5
• Children’s Choir: Grades 1-5
• Youth on Mission: Grades 6-12
SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE YOUTH: Thank you for all your support for the Community Fun Day and Craft Show. Due to the current economic situation the Youth did not wish to add extra work or expense for the congregation at this time. There will be no Craft Show or Fun Day this year (2009) and we hope to be able to continue this tradition at a later date.
Wednesday Evening Suppers Will also Resume on Sept. 9
Our first Wednesday night supper will be September 9. The prices will remain the same again this year.
• Children 6 and under – Free
• Children 7-12 – $2.00
• Youth and Adults – $5.00
• Family of four or more – $15.00
In order to have enough food to feed everyone who is signed up and also not to waste food and church resources, the Kitchen Committee asks that you PLEASE sign up or call to reserve supper if you plan to attend.
Also, it is just as important that you call before 5:00 pm Monday evenings if you plan to cancel your supper reservation. If you fail to cancel, we ask you to pay for your supper the following Wednesday night.
Sunday School Promotion
Promotion will be September 13
starting at 9:30 am
All Children will meet with their teachers in the Social Hall and following the promotion ceremony they will go to their regular class rooms for the start of their new Sunday School Classes.
Everyone is invited to enjoy refreshments in the Social Hall and to participate in the ceremony.
From the Pastor’s Heart
From the Pastor’s Heart;
80 Thousand Reasons for Here’s Hope Great Commission Cluster.
This summer, I invited anyone “who is interested in the future of Azalea Baptist Church” to come to a Wednesday night service with NABA Associational Minister Roy Smith. At that gathering, Roy outlined the Here’s Hope Great Commission Cluster Process. In this process, there are three major components:
1- Monthly cluster meetings for the pastor for one year; 2- Consultations for each congregation; and 3- Lay training events during the year.
Our Association is so convinced that a major investment (roughly 80,000 dollars) is funded so churches can realistically receive this kind of intense training that is needed, but could not be easily affordable. Roy Smith is convinced this will help churches in our association. As your Pastor, I believe that nothing is more crucial for the present and future of this church. So, what would this process look like?
* A Congregational Self-Study – We will need two to three months to gather data. Several groups will be needed for our History, Demographic, and Community Studies. This information is then given to the consultant who will lead us in our weekend process.
If completed by November we can enjoy the Christmas season.
* Consultation Weekend: January 15-17
January 15 Friday – interviews all staff; Friday evening – Focus group with a cross section of the congregation (20- 30 people). Pastor introduces Consultant and then leaves the discussion. The agenda is only three questions: 1) What do you like about your church? 2) What would you change to improve your church?
3) If finding enough money and the right people is not a problem, what do you want your church to be or look like in the next 5-10 years?
January 16 Saturday morning 9AM – 3PM – Pastor and Lay leaders meet – Agenda:
Answer the same 3 questions above; provide an analysis of the congregation; and offer an initial evaluation of strengths, concerns, and prescriptions. Saturday Evening: Consultant writes the report that will be given to the congregation on Sunday
January 17 Sunday morning – Worship followed with Meal and Congregational Meeting: Following the service, during a meal brought in, the report is presented to the congregation. Every person gets a copy. The report includes the key five strengths of the congregation, the five biggest concerns, and five prescriptions that are sure to address the concerns while building on the strengths. Then there is Question/Answer time.
The next step is to spend one month in significant prayer about the prescriptions (Jan 17- Feb 17). This is to get the word out to people who may not have heard and to fervently pray about the prescriptions.
Following the month of prayer, the congregation will vote to pursue or reject the prescriptions. It’s all or nothing. If a doctor says you have cancer, you can’t just take two aspirins because that is the most appealing prescription. (February)
When the congregation decides to implement the prescriptions, the pastor, lay leaders and consultant are committed to work for a minimum of one year. Every month there will be an on site visit for follow up on the progress of each goal.
This process has turned around an entire Baptist Association in California. Their story is told in the book Hit the Bullseye by Paul Borden. I joked that we had “80,000” reasons to consider pursuing this process. Really, there are only 2:
1) Its what Jesus wants us to do (I say that because of Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20, the Great commission) and;
2) The needs of our congregational health demand it now more than ever.
See you at “the Sunday morning place to be”…for Here’s Hope! Pastor John
FROM THE GEMS
Wow! Have you seen our tree? It is looking so bright with all those stars from each of you. If you haven’t had a chance to let your star shine bright on our tree, you still have another chance. Just pick up a Christmas Shoe Box, fill out the star with all the information on the back and one of the GEMS will be sure to add you to the tree. The best part is you are sharing with children your Love for Jesus. Thanks so much for putting a smile on the face of a child in need who lives in our Community. Also be sure to pray for the child who will be receiving your filled Christmas Shoe Box.
The turn in date has been extended to no later than Sunday August 9th. Once turned in there is still lots of work to be done. All boxes must be counted and prepared for the contact and delivery. We ask that you please try to remember to return your filled box(es) ASAP.
HELP! The GEMS need your HELP!
To complete their current Mission project by September they are in desperate need of:
Any used flannel; shirts, sheets, Pj’s, etc
Bags of stuffing or even unwanted throw pillows
Just a quick Reminder:
While you are out there shopping or cleaning out your child’s toy boxes, why not start putting items to the side for the Angel Tree now. You can hold onto the items until fall or drop off into the specially marked Mission’s box. Used items MUST be in clean and excellent condition. We don’t want to give items that are in need of repair or simply ungiftable.
Don’t forget there is a box located outside the women’s restroom by the Mission box for the collection of:
Twin size Flat sheets only (any color)
bags of Stuffing or from old pillows
Twin size blankets only (any color)
Any used flannel; old shirts, sheets, Pj’s, etc
Children sized sweat pants (the larger the better) up to adult small coats, gloves/mittens, hats
And school supplies
Next GEM’s meeting will be Tue. Aug. 25 @ 7pm
Contact Joyce at Outdoorldy@aol.com ” put GEMS” in subject line or call 857-4823
AUGUST MISSIONS
August is the month for our church to donate non-perishable foods to the food pantry at East Ocean View. Leave your donations in the Food Pantry Box located in the social hall.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
East Little Creek Primary
The following items are needed:
1. 16 or 24 pack of crayons
2. #2 pencils
3. red and black markers,
4. notebook paper,
5. wide-ruled notebook paper,
6. wide ruled spiral composition books,
7. scissors,
8. school glue (bottle or stick),
9. ball point pens
10. school supply boxes.
Place all donations in Missions Box. Deadline for donations is August 23rd
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE NAME OF JESUS?
You continue to provide:
Non-perishable food items for the food pantry
Transportation for Doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and other needs are being met
Baskets of Love are still bringing joy to the recipients
Busy hands are crocheting/knitting prayer shawls
Sponsoring a child through the Door of Hope in South Africa
Collecting funds for Operation Smile
Donating through a Diaper Bag Ministry to assist work in Appalachia
Our Youth are sponsoring a child in Africa
During the year we have many opportunities to participate in missions and ministry activities. You are never asked to fulfill all the needs, just let God guide you to the ones that touch your heart. If you are unable to do hands on missions, we encourage you to Become a Prayer Warrior: Pray for one another. Encourage one another in the faith.
ONGOING MISSIONS AND MINISTRIES:
USED EYEGLASSES FOR LIONS CLUB
CAMPBELL’S PRODUCT LABELS
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
BSU FOOD LION SHARE PROGRAM
BOOK SHARE MINISTRY
Jesus said, “When you have ministered to the least of these, you have ministered unto me.” (Paraphrased)
MISSION NEWS
ON MISSION FOR CHRIST: Called to Love
“LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL AND MIND. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” NIV. ADAPTED AZALEA ON MISSION
From the FAITH WALKERS
Faith Walkers – Over 500 books have been donated and most have been distributed to local health care facilities and the VA hospital. Keep bringing your unwanted books, Terri has places to share them with others.
Faith Walkers is still sponsoring “Operation Smile” and would welcome any monetary donations.
WOMEN’ GET-A-WAY
AUGUST
TIME TO MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR
NOVEMBER, WOMEN’S GET AWAY.
The theme of this year’s Get Away is not available as of this date. I can guarantee that it will be inspirational and worth your time to attend. Some of our women are so excited about the Get Away that they are planning to stay for both sessions, Nov. 6-7 and 7-8. Some of us will only be attending the first session Nov. 6-7. You have your choice of 1 night or 2. Just sign up and pay $10.00 deposit, even if your plans change, it’s better to have reserved a space than to try to reserve space later. Sign-up sheet will be on the Missions Board. Details will be announced when available. Come, join with us in this fun, fellowship and inspiring retreat.
AARP|WorkSearch FOUNDATION
JOB OPENINGS FOR THOSE 55 YEARS OF AGE &OLDER
We have immediate job openings in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Franklin for persons 55 years of age and older in the following areas: clerical, data entry, bookkeeping, food service, housekeeping, teacher’s aide, custodial, warehouse, maintenance an ground keeping.
We also help with resumes, job applications and interview techniques. No fees are ever involved.
CALL 625-7001
M-F 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Applications are taken at the following Locations: (Please call for an appointment.)
Monday thru Friday 201 Granby st., Suite 424, Norfolk – 625-7001
Tuesday thru Friday, City of Suffolk Workforce Center, N. Main St., Suite D- 514-7735
Mondays, Senior Station, 3500 Clifford St., Portsmouth- 391-3241
Tuesdays, Virginia Employment Commission, 504 Cedar Road, Chesapeake – 547-9717
ASK FOR THE AARP REPRESENTATIVEA
DEACON’S BEACON
AN OCEAN OF INK
The words of the hymn “The Love of God” capture in word pictures the breathtaking magnitude of divine love:
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.
These marvelous lyrics echo Paul’s response to the love of God. The apostle prayed that believers might “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge”. (Eph. 3:18-19). In reflecting on these verses about God’s love, some Bible scholars believe ‘width’ refers to its worldwide embrace (John 3:16); ‘length’, its existence through all ages (Eph. 3:21); ‘depth’, its profound wisdom (Rom. 11:33); and ‘height’, its victory over sin opening the way to heaven (Eph. 4:8).
We are admonished to appreciate this amazing love. Yet as we expand our awareness of God’s love, we soon realize that its full measure is beyond our understanding. Even if the ocean were filled with ink, using it to write about the love of God would drain it dry.
To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. - Ephesians 3:19
~copied:
Our Daily Bread
Richard Stewart