Mt. Carmel Baptist Church - THE COURIER February 2015 “ON THE CORNER, REACHING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS.” A Word from the Pastor Dear Church Family, This month marks a major transition in our children’s ministry. We need everyone’s prayers and everyone’s help. For the last year and a half, Eleshia Scholes has served as interim part-time minister to children as our personnel committee has searched for a permanent full-time minister to children/ families. So far, we have not found the minister God has in mind for us, despite the great efforts of our committee. The search goes on, but good children’s ministers are rare, and the competition from much larger churches is great. Eventually, we will find the right one who will meet our needs. But until then, the work goes on and needs to be ably done. We have been blessed to have had Eleshia. She has done a most able work. With no real experience in this field of work, but with a great love for God, our church, and children/families, Eleshia has not simply kept things going, but has improved and expanded our children’s ministry. Church work is difficult work. All of us are sinners, and each of us can be difficult at times. When one considers the condition of the world, churches, and families at this time in history, it is amazing we can still function. Getting parents to bring their children, enlisting workers and teachers, scheduling, planning, executing all of the important activities, programs, and events of our church, it is at times overwhelming, if not seemingly impossible. Eleshia has proved more than up to the challenge, all without seminary or ministerial experience. Be sure and tell Eleshia how much you appreciate her and her work! Now Eleshia (and Josh) are not leaving our church. Presently, they are in process of adopting a child from China who will occupy their time and energy for the foreseeable future. Pray, encourage, and help them in this new experience and challenge. They will continue to work and be involved at Mt. Carmel, but not to the degree as before. Until we find our new Minister to Children, it is up to the members, and especially the parents and those specifically called to minister to children, to carry on the ministry without diminishing it. I am calling a meeting to discuss these matters on Sunday, February 8th, following the business meeting which begins at 6:00pm. Please plan to attend, if at all possible. Also for your thoughts and prayers, I want you to be aware of the work which needs to be done this year. We need a coordinator for extended session, a coordinator for children’s worship (especially for preschool), a coordinator for the Egg Hunt, for Fall Fest, and for VBS. As you can see, the needs are great and are approaching fast. Will you help? Our children need it, and we must do it. Keep praying, Lance Sunday, February 22 *12:00pm - All items begin in a Silent Auction *12:45pm - Items with highest silent auction totals proceed to Live Auction 1:00pm - Live Auction Begins COST for LUNCH Adults: $7 Children (12 & Under): $3 Children (Under 3): Free Family Maximum: $25 ADVANCED TICKET INFORMATION January 25 & February 1, 8 & 15 *Immediately after the second service in the Sanctuary Lobby *From Debbie Phillips in the church office beginning Monday, January 26. AUCTION MAIN EVENT Come prepared to bid on a variety of Cakes, Pies, Cupcakes, Brownies & Cookies *Back in 2015: Cash & Carry desserts SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES & INDIVIDUALS *Please consider bringing multiple non-refrigerated baked goods to the Auction *All dessert items should be in the Activities Center on Sunday, February 22 no later than 10:45am - A friend is someone who laughs with you… - A friend helps you through the hard times… - A friend tells you when you’re acting silly… and may encourage you to stay that way - A friend cares… about today and tomorrow. Friend Sunday – March 1, 2015 - is an annual back-tochurch event to give you the tools and encouragement you need to invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to visit your church. Sure, it might feel awkward to talk about spiritual things, but your friendship makes all the difference. Did you know that eight out of ten people say they’d attend church if a friend invited them? This might be a great opportunity to take that step and ask a friend to visit your church and hear about Jesus. CHURCH NEWS February 1 LifeGroup Super bowl Parties 8 Quarterly business mtg Claire Cyndee Andrews Schradin Special Meeting about Children’s ministry 12 Building & grounds mtg 13 Rob, Susan, Racqueal Night club Baily, Jonah, Aubrey Colwell 14 Wheeler Valentine’s day Ladies of the church are invited to a bridal shower for Ashley Oltman on Saturday, February 21st at 1:00pm. 19 Matthew 25 20 Winter jam 21 Dessert auction set-up Ashley Oltman Bridal Shower Egg hunt Saturday, April 4 - 10:00-11:00am Basket Auction Sunday, May 3 - Noon VBS June 15-19 Ashley is registered at www.AMAZON.com & REI store in Rookwood Commons. Hostesses are: Jean Suit, Cathy Barnes, Molly Proudfit, Kasie Blindauer, and Chelly Dykes Please RSVP to Jean Suit. [email protected] 22 Dessert auction 23 Grow 27 Women’s Ministry Movie Night 28 City gospel mission 4th Quarter Business Meeting will be held on February 8th at 6:00pm. Please send your reports in to the office by February 1st. They can be emailed to [email protected] Mt. Carmel Volunteer Day Thursday, February 19 10:00am Go to www.mtcarmelbaptist.org Click on MEDIA tab SERMONS ALL SERMONS Choose “Headphone” icon on date you prefer Speaking of Ministry We have many of you who volunteer countless hours in ministry at Mt. Carmel. We appreciate you, and we are thankful to you for your service and ministry. On March 6th at 6:30pm, we are going to have a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in your honor. All who volunteer in any area of our church are invited. You must RSVP, so that we will know how many will be at the dinner. You are loved and appreciated...and we tell you so! On Sunday evening, March 8th @ 6:00pm, we will have a ministry fair. There are many opportunities to minister, and we would like for you to find where God can use you and where you can best serve Christ with your talents and gifts. Be sure to come and participate in this year’s ministry fair. You’ll have fun, and you’ll be blessed! In His Service, Connie February is the shortest month of the year. This time around, it’s even shorter with only 28 days to give God our/ your best. But, that is not to say February is without several potentially strange, weird and even amazing days to ‘do something;’ let’s take a quick look: thank a mailman, create a vacuum, eat plum pudding, love your pet (Faith!), send a card to a friend, don’t cry over spilled milk, make a friend, wear a white t-shirt (one of my personal favorites,) fly a kite, blame someone else, get a different name, celebrate gum drops, do a grouch a favor, perform random acts of kindness, celebrate chocolate mints, ride a Ferris wheel, be humble, celebrate the art of thinking about the world, eat tortilla chips, eat pistachio nuts, attend a carnival, sleep in public and another one of my favorites…polar bear day! Can you imagine what a month it would be if we/I YOU ARE APPRECIATED! If you volunteer in any way, you are valued! We would like to show our appreciation by inviting you to a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Friday, March 6th at 6:30pm. You must RSVP in order to attend. Please call the church office @ Sunday, March 8 6:00pm Find a way to connect and use your gifts and talents by attending our Ministry Fair! 791-7323 or fill out the form in Pat Allen Alice Bergevin Florence Bond Janet & Lonnie Burnett Bernice Farmer Louise Hansen Laverne Hartman Betty Hines Lou McIntosh Joyce Osborne Betty Stambaugh Wanda Tudor Galen & Hilda Woodard Joe Crumpler and family in the death of Carolyn. Ryan & Emily Hoverman in the death of Ryan’s grandmother. the bulletin. Gene & Val Zackerman in the death of Gene’s mother. Student Ministry Judy Busby in the death of her sister-in-law. actually did these? By now, you are probably thinking… he left one out. If that is your case, you are exactly right. I intentionally omitted Valentine’s Day because it’s the one we most often focus on, and I want to give the others their fair share. Valentine’s Day is all about love; and, while human love between a man and a woman is certainly worth embracing, in the space remaining, I choose to celebrate an even better version; God’s love toward man. According to Fraser Cain, “Astronomers estimate there are 1024 number of stars in our universe (That’s 1 with 24 zeroes). The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are 7,176,023,055 people on the planet. Though there are so many stars and so many people, God created you and cares for you as an individual. Because God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Let us celebrate God’s love this February, and every month/ day throughout the year. In Your Corner, Jeff February Schedule Renee Donoghue and family in the death of her father. Gray & Brenda Gabel in the death of their daughter-inlaw. Congratulations on your recent baptism! Katie Harris February 1 – Life Group & Super Bowl Party @ 5:45pm Styles King February 4, 11, 18, 25 – FUEL February 8, 15 – Life Group, Joyful Sound & Grapple February 20 – Winter Jam / Depart at 4:00pm February 21 – Dessert Auction Set-up @ 10:00am February 22 – Life Group & Dessert Auction Mission Trip to West Virginia July 5 - 10, 2015 Transforming Lives Through Christ–centered Relationships Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 8645 Kenwood Road Cincinnati, OH 45242 Mtcarmelbaptist.org 513.791.7323 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 1 Minjee Kim 2 Paul Cooper, Glenn Smith 3 Corinne Mentzer 4 Bobbi Ondreka, Stephen Schradin, Wanda Tudor 5 Neil Art, Fred Feldmann, Ray Lewis, Gerald Wallace, Autumn Ward 7 Della Holmes, Gene Jones 8 Barrett Brewer, Corey Jones, Madison Sweeney, Tonia Toler 9 Gray Gabel 10 Marsha Thompson 11 Jerry Carter, Lynn Deaton, Miranda Lewis, Meredith Sweeney 12 Sharon Cooper, Matt Proudfit, Jim Weidner 14 Melanie McCoy 15 Greg Hood 16 Michael Bennett, Cyndi Bergevin, Tracy Oltman 17 Hayden Alexander, James Black, Julie Stewart 18 Lora Brock 19 Ed Chamberlin, Alexis King 20 Joe Crumpler, Lafe Miller, Grayson Roberts 21 Jason Brewer 22 Jerry Spradlin 23 Eric Balmer, Mary Harten, Andrew Steele 24 Betsy Schenck 25 Amber Foster, Lucille Reed, Bill Simpson 26 Charae Conn 27 Justin Eaton 28 Joyce Price, Debbie Scott 29 Sandy Dangelo Campbell NIGHT CLUB Friday February 13 6:30pm Matthew 25 Ministries The 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:00am Contact Julie Cummins GROW Senior Adults Greeting Card Ministry The 4th Monday at 3:00pm City Gospel Mission The 4th Saturday of each month at 3:45pm Carpool from the church lot Contact Carolyn Apel Dulcimer Nursing Home Ministry Every Tuesday evening Contact Vickey Sasser Staff e-mail Debbie [email protected] Lance [email protected] Connie [email protected] Jeff [email protected] Jamie [email protected] Linda [email protected] Cheri [email protected] Susan [email protected]