By the time you receive this another year of CARITAS will have come and gone. I want to thank Linda Shobe and her entire “crew” of workers for making this a wonderful and successful ministry opportunity.
I will be continuing with our study in John’s Gospel through Easter and then will begin preaching through the Book of Ruth. Upcoming messages:
February 5- Wesley Garrett, Richmond Baptist Association
February 12- God’s Cure For Worry
February 19- Jesus’ Comforting Promise
February 26- The Benefits of Abiding in Him
I will be away on February 5th; last year Lauren won 2 tickets to Super Bowl XLVI (46) in Indianapolis and she plans to take her Daddy! Needless to say, I am very excited!
See you on Sunday,
Karl
Sandston Baptist Church is fortunate. We are fortunate. Why? Because right here in our community we have opportunities to show Jesus to others. We don’t have to travel anywhere – no overseas trips, no trips to other states or cities, virtually no travel at all. We don’t need inoculations, passports or plane tickets. We don’t need to take time off from work, stop the newspaper or get someone to watch our homes. No, we have opportunities right here in our neighborhoods to serve others, to meet vital needs and to show people Jesus through our actions.
Let’s look at some of these opportunities.
CARITAS: CARITAS 2012 is over for us. During the last week in January, many of our men and women spread love and care and concern to the homeless men who were with us. Through conversation, meals, music, haircuts, bus rides to the laundromat and showers, and a host of other interactions, these men saw Jesus as their physical and, in some cases, emotional needs were met. Will you help in 2013 when we host CARITAS again?
Operation Inasmuch: On April 21 we will have a chance to let others in Sandston, Varina and Highland Springs see Jesus through our Operation Inasmuch. You will be hearing much more about this in the coming weeks, but I encourage you now to plan on participating. Through the projects planned for Operation Inasmuch, we will be serving our community in so many ways -- ministering, helping, telling, encouraging, strengthening, loving. Jesus said that, “Inasmuch as you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40, NKJV) As we spread out into our community, we will be showing them Jesus. Will you be a part of this ministry?
Eastern Henrico FISH: In addition to our monthly food donations and financial support, we can help Eastern Henrico FISH in other ways as well. Answering the telephone, helping with the food and clothes closets, donating new or gently-used clothing and assisting with other tasks will give us the chance to help meet the basic needs of so many of our neighbors in Eastern Henrico County. We rely on Eastern Henrico FISH to help us make good decisions with the distribution of our benevolence funds. And they rely on us for tangible assistance. Will you help?
Sandston Elementary School: Sandston Elementary School is a bright spot in our community, but our help is still needed. Being a lunch buddy, mentoring youngsters, providing school supplies, tutoring, being a “Watch Dog” volunteer, and contributing time to help with other activities at school will have a positive impact on the school and the students. The school administration is reaching out to our community and asking for our help. What better way to show neighborhood children Jesus than by spending quality time with them. Will you donate some time to the school?
These are just a small sample of the opportunities we have before us to show others Jesus – and they are all local to us. And they are all important ministries. This is not a time to be timid about sharing our material wealth with others, about devoting our time helping others, about praying for others’ needs. This is the time to let others see Jesus in us. So, as our Pastor often asks at the end of his sermons, “How about it?”
Under His Direction, Mark
Discipleship Classes for Adults in February and March: A new Wednesday evening adult discipleship class begins this month. Wayne Smith will be leading a six-week study beginning February 15. In addition, our deacons will continue leading Prayer Meeting and Bible study.
Special Program by Our Youth, Kid’s Call, Jubilee Ringers and Adult Choir: On Palm Sunday (April 1) our children’s choir, youth, handbell ringers and Adult Choir will present a special Easter program. Please put this program on your calendar and then join us in the sanctuary that afternoon.
Easter Sunrise Service: We will host the Easter Sunrise Service this year. It will begin at 6:30 am. Breakfast will follow in the Bosher Gray Building.
Is the church open? In case of inclement weather on a Sunday, you may:
• call the church to hear a recording about the status of worship services and Bible study.
• check our web site (www.sandstonbaptistchurch.org)
• watch channels 6, 8, or 12 or check their web sites for updates.
If Henrico schools are closed on a Wednesday because of bad weather, we will NOT have any Wednesday evening activities.
WMU NEWS
As I am setting down to write this, Sandston is ministering, right in our own building, to homeless people in our community through the CARITAS program. Many of you have volunteered to help make this work. It takes all of us, not just a few. This brings to mind several thoughts:
Many years ago the theme for mission study was “They are Coming to You.” God is sending us opportunities to be involved in His mission. We just have to open our eyes and ears and ask ourselves ‘how can I be involved?” The emphasis for the International Mission Study in December was London. London will be hosting the Olympics from July 27 to August 12, 2012. You may ask, what does this have to do with me? Missionaries in London have a witness already in place with the large Muslim population. The International Missionary Board is already gearing up with ways in which they can have a witness to all those who come to London. You can pray for the missionaries and volunteers as they are preparing to witness to the ones who come to their ‘door”. You can give through our Unified Mission Fund to help defray costs this year and fund ministry opportunities that may result. You can pray for those who are reached, that they will carry the message back to their family and country.
A couple dates to keep in mind: February 5th is the beginning of WMU Focus Week. On that Sunday, the WMU will be leading our worship services. Reverend Wesley Garrett, the new director of Southside Baptist Center, will be our guest speaker. Come and learn how WMU is working in our community and how you might be involved in reaching those who come to our ‘doors’. February 18 is Children’s Ministry Day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every child (of whatever age) at Sandston could be involved in a mission for God on February 18th. Let’s open our hearts and mind to hear how God wants us to join Him. The Vision Statement for WMU is to challenge Christians to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. Let’s get radical together.
Pat Hallinan
WMU Director
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Dear Church Family:
After a long time of thinking and praying about it; I am resigning as Faith Community Nurse. Catherine Sale has been my Faith Community Nurse partner for several years but will now be in charge of all things concerning Health Ministry. Catherine has a wonderful vision, passion and good ideas for Health Ministry and I know she’ll do a wonderful job in that role. Please support her and lift her up in prayer as she serves the family of Sandston Baptist Church to be healthy in body, mind and spirit.
Grace and blessings on you path to healthy living;
Linda Poarch RN