First Focus: March 2013

Easter Egg Hunt 2013

Community-Wide Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 30, 2013
12pm – 2pm
Loretto City Park

Ages 3-6th grade

We will have Food, Drinks and door prizes. Invite your friends!

Pastor's Corner March 2013

I looked out my back door and saw a bouquet of Daffodils blooming (sometimes called March Flowers). Yes March is just around the corner. It has been said that “March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb.” It sounded like March last night
as the winds whistled around the corners of my house.

A couple of items to remember about March 2013:

1. Daylight Savings Time begins March 10. Remember you move your clocks forward in the spring.
2. Easter is March 31, 2013. Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox. The date of Easter therefore varies between March 22 and April 25.

The work on the New Worship Complex is coming along steadily. All of the framing is up inside, and so the plumbing, electrical wiring, sound/video, phone, heating/cooling, and sprinkler installation that will be inside the walls is being worked on as I write. God also blessed us with some great weather for the brick to be laid – warm and dry during the daytime hours – so they may well be finished with the brick by the time you read this (two days remaining). Oh yeah, they also started doing the stucco on the vertical walls above the white roof on the front.

Hopefully we can get a better fix on a completion date whenever inspection on the items which will be inside the interior walls is complete. Just continue to pray for those working on the building and continue to give your pledges regularly so we don’t have to borrow as much money for the project.

There will be some work we can do in the Office Area to save some
labor expenses: hanging sheetrock, painting, flooring, and drop-in ceiling.

We love you, and are so thankful the Lord placed us here as your Pastor.

Bro. Sammy

Youth Ministry Report March 2013

Looking back on the three years that Kenneth and I have served here, I see how God has
blessed our ministry and this church. We have seen many children and youth come to know Christ. Our youth have grown in number from about 10-20 on Wednesday Nights to 30-40. The children and youth are learning more through trips, conferences and camps. We thank God everyday for this opportunity to serve Him and you.

Several children will be going to a day camp at the Linden Valley Baptist Camp. They will be learning more about God and His Word. We will also have our Easter Egg Hunt on March 30.This is a major ministry and mission as we reach out to all people with the Gospel during this time.

Our youth ministry is in full swing as we are getting things ready to go to camps this summer. SPLASH will be going to Believe Jr. High Conference in May and you can sign your student up by contacting Matt or Laurel. Our Sr. High are also getting ready for their camp in June. We want to thank all that helped and supported our youth in our Chicken Stew Fundraiser last week.

Continue to pray for our children and youth ministries. And continue to pray for Kenneth and continued healing to his body.

In Christ Alone,

Kenneth and Angie Parker

Music and Senior Adults Report March 2013

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has RISEN from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’
Matthew 28:5-7

Those were exciting words to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to Mary Magdalene. They are still exciting to hear today as we look towards celebrating Easter. For us as Christians, we are to be living our lives every day as a testimony of the Risen Savior.

The Sanctuary Choir has been rehearsing the Musical……… ““““I Will Rise”..I Will Rise”..I Will Rise”..I Will Rise”.. and we look forward to presenting it during the Easter Season. Pray for us as we learn the music but more importantly, as we learn the message behind the songs of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

I hope that we all feel that same excitement during this spring and all throughout the year as we share the Good News with everyone we meet. I think that we have the same responsibility to be the ambassadors for Christ as those women did on that first
Easter morning….GO TELL!

I look forward to sharing this worship experience with you in these next few weeks.

“Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise.” Psalm 48:1

What a privilege it’s been for Donna and I to serve here at FBC Loretto for the last 8 years. You have been such a blessing to us and we’ve seen God work in so many ways through our ministry. Thank you for your kindness and gift last Sunday. We love you,

Bro. Clayton & Donna Wilbanks

Quick Notes March 2013

Reminder: Awana – Wednesday Nights at 6pm

Children’s Choir

The children’s choir will meet at 5pm every Sunday evening. This will be for children K-6th grade.  Please sign up your child.  We will be using the phone tree system to keep parents updated . . .

Senior Adults

Senior Adult lunch will be March 5th at 11 a.m. Potluck.

The Senior Adult Supper will be March 7th. We will leave church at 6 p.m. Dining will be at Walton’s.  Watch for a reservation sheet in your bulletin.  Turn it in to reserve your spot.

Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt

Come out on Saturday, March 30 from 12-2pm at the Loretto City Park for the Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt.  This event is for ages 3-6th grade.

We need filled eggs, or eggs with bags of candy to fill the eggs.  Please have them at church by March 24th.

Thank You!

Thank you cards have been received in the church office from:

• Jason & Misty Holloway
• Charlie & Jennifer Dover
• Mary Ann Springer
• Ima Howell

Please Pray

Please continue to pray for our Building Project.

Believe

Jr. High Youth Conference May 3-5 in Atlanta, GA.

Cost is $50, due by March 31, 2013.

For more information contact Matt or Laurel Schantz.

Welcome to our Church Family

By Letter:

• Richard and Donna Rhea
• John, Amber, Cale, Reagan & Tessa Kress
• Tiffany Johns

By Statement:

• Keith Linley

Van Sale

We are selling the old dodge van.  If anyone would like to bid, please have your bid turned in to the church office by March 10.  Starting bid is $650.

Back Page March 2013

Sunday School starts at 9:15 a.m.
Come out and enjoy a time of Bible study and great fellowship.
Sunday Worship starts at 10:30 a.m.