FAREWELL TRIBUTE PLANNED

There will be Farewell Tribute for the Mulkeys on Sunday, February 24 at 5:30 pm. It will be a service of favorite music and memories.  Cookies and punch will be served following the service.  A basket will be available for members to place cards of appreciation and best wishes for Bob and Fleda. 

The March issue of Connections will be distributed early in order to serve as our Farewell issue. If you would like to include a special memory or public expression of appreciation for Bob and Fleda, give a brief written paragraph or two to Elaine Hardy by February 17.

 SERMONS IN FEBRUARY

Feb.  3  Life Gets Harder and Harder.  Life Gets Better and Better, John 14:15-27

Feb. 10  The Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Galatians 5:16-26

Feb. 17  The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy, Galatians 5:16-26

Feb. 24  The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace, Galatians 5:16-26

NEW CBF COORDINATOR NAMED

Suzii Paynter of Austin, Texas, was named Executive Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship mid January. Paynter currently serves as the director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission and director of the Advocacy Care Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT). Paynter directs all public policy initiatives for state and federal issues and builds relationships with other religious bodies. In addition, she oversees church outreach, the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, community care ministries of restorative justice, anti-human trafficking, hunger and poverty, healthcare ministries, the Texas Baptist chaplaincy program and Texas Baptist counseling services.

An ordained deacon at First Baptist Church, Austin Texas and Sunday School teacher of more than 40 years, Paynter, who grew up at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, has consistently held positions of leadership at the Fellowship churches in Texas, Kentucky and Mississippi where she has been a member. She has served congregations alongside her husband, Roger Paynter, who currently pastors First Baptist Austin and teaches at the Seminary of the Southwest.

According to Ray Johnson, Florida CBF, “She is the person for whom CBF has been praying since her predecessor, Daniel Vestal, announced his retirement.”

PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE FORMING

The Church Council and the Deacon group met on Saturday, February 2, to discuss the coming interim period

and the selection of a Pastor Search Committee.

FILM REVIEW

Les Miserables

If I had to describe this film in one word, I would choose forgiveness. As you may know, the character Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is a poor slave just before the French Revolution who has worked for years fulfilling his sentence for stealing bread. His enemy is the officer Javert (Russell Crowe) who hates him and promises to follow him forever to make him pay for his crime. He will never forgive him.

Valjean however, does learn to practice forgiveness. He is befriended by a priest who treats him as an equal for the first time in his life. Valjean repays him by stealing his silver out of desperation. After being dragged back to the priest by the officer Javert, the man of God tells the accuser that he gave the silver to Valjean, it was not stolen.

Valjean then leads a life dedicated to God and forgiveness, as it was offered to him, and helping those that are wretched. This includes a girl Fontine (Anne Hathaway) who as a desperate young woman ends up sacrificing first her body to provide for her daughter Cosette, then her life. Valjean then raises the child as his own. Fontine seemingly has her virtue robbed from her, but no matter what happens to her physically, her virtue is still intact. It resides in her spirit and her soul.

There is also a pickpocketing couple of innkeepers played by Sasha Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. They are characteristically devilish as well a welcome comic relief. Their performances are witty and very funny.

The music is at times sweet and beautiful, at other times soaring anthems. The actors sing the music themselves (no stand ins) which makes the story more sincere and authentic. There are many prayers offered up to God for help, forgiveness and the regret that comes when life doesn’t turn out the way it was hoped for in youth.

Near the conclusion, one of the characters comments that when you love another person, you are looking into the eyes of God. However, I think that when someone loves you, that is when you are looking into the eyes of God.

Sandra Kleinschmidt

MUSIC AND WORSHIP

In the next few months we will be engaged in a Season of Lent and a preparation for Easter.  Please keep these dates in mind and know that I am depending on each of you to be with us.  This is a list of important times of service that you as a Choir Member need to put on your calendar.

 Every Sunday morning worship service

  Every Wednesday evening rehearsal

    Palm Sunday March 24 (both services)

      Presentation of “It is Finished” March 24, 5:30 PM

        Easter Sunday March 31 (both services)

Our Choir is preparing “It is Finished” an Easter musical to be presented on Palm Sunday evening.  It includes the following selections.

♫ Christ the Lord is Risen Today Opener

(It is Finished/ Beyond the Grave/ Christ the Lord is Risen Today)

♫ Welcome the King

♫ Behold How He Loves

♫ When He was on the Cross (I was on His Mind) and      Behold the Lamb

♫ It is Finished

♫ Just as I Am (I Come Broken)

♫ Christ is Risen Finale

(Lord I Lift Your Name on High/ Christ the Lord is Risen Today)

Music for Prayer and Meditation

Wednesdays, 12:15 PM

All Saints Lutheran Church, Dunlawton Avenue

Feb.  6  Kendra Cochenour, organist

Feb. 13  Gospel Strings

Feb. 20  Rusty Baker, pianist & Susan Acree, violinist

Feb. 27  Rita Taylor, pianist

Dennis Bucher

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Saturday, February 16, 8:00 AM

See Dalton Kirk for additional information.

LADIES LUNCH

Tuesday, February 26, 11:45 AM

Restaurant location to be announced.

Make reservations with Linda Manners on February 24.

YOUTH FUND RAISER

Fireside Pizza Youth Fundraiser will be Monday, February 4, 5-8 pm.  Please come out and support our youth. Invite your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. You can eat in or get it to go, just be sure to remember to say it is for the church and 20% of your order will be donated to the church youth!  Thanks!

Paula Seebold

MISSIONS
Halifax Urban Ministries

With cooler temps during February and March donations of soups, stews, Ramen noodles and mac & cheese would be welcomed. In addition to staple food items, baby formula and diapers are needed year round.  Thank you for your faithful giving to less fortunate families in Daytona Beach.

Countryside Lakes ALF

What better time than Valentine month to show some love to seniors at the assisted living facility.  Wednesday, February 20 is our day to visit.  Meet the group in the lobby at noon.

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Scenes and Images for Lent

Chaplain Shane Gaster will present a series of lessons that explore the final days of Jesus prior to his arrest and crucifixion beginning mid-February. This is a short term study for Lent for which you may step out of your regular Sunday School class if you wish. This is a part of our new “cafeteria-style” Sunday morning study time.

Ladies Bible Study

Women of the congregation are invited to participate in a time of study and fellowship on the first and third Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM.  The group is currently using the book Listening for the Voice of God. 

Valentine Quiz

(Answers may be found on the back page.)

1. Where does the word “love” first appear in the Bible?
2. How many times is the word “love” used in the Bible?—Over 200, over 300, over 400?
3. What Old Testament couple enjoyed “love at first sight?”  (She fell off her camel when they met!)
4. Name three Greek words for love.
5. What is known as the love chapter?
6. Complete this verse from I John: “We love because________________________________________.”
7. Dr. Mulkey often quotes 1 John 3:16.  Can you complete the verse?  “We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and _______________________________________.”
8. What is your favorite love story in the Bible?
9. Was Valentine a real person?
   

THE MERTON PRAYER

Printed in response to a request for a copy of  the prayer Dr. Mulkey quoted in his sermon on January 27.

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thoughts in Solitude

Answers to Valentine Quiz

1. It depends on the translation.  Many sources say Genesis 22:2, but it is Genesis 4:1 in the NIV.
2. Over 400
3. Isaac and Rebekah
4. Agape, phileo, eros
5. I Corinthians 13
6. . .  . he first loved us.”
7. we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”
8. Personal choice
9. Yes.

WHAT’S COOKING?

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Cake: 1 16 oz. can cherry pie filling

1 18.25 oz. pkg. fudge cake mix

1 tsp. almond extract

2 eggs, beaten

Frosting: 1 cup granulated sugar

5 T butter

½ c milk

1 tsp. almond extract

1 6 oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350º.  For the cake, drain the cherry pie filling into a large mixing bowl.  Set the cherries aside.  Add the cake mix, almond extract and eggs to the drained cherry juice.  Mix well.  Fold in the cherries.  Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13” baking pan or dish.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.

For the frosting, combine the sugar, butter and milk in a small saucepan on medium heat.  Bring this mixture to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add the almond extract and chocolate chips.  Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.  Cool and spread over cake.

Yield: 24 servings                     Bible of Southern Cooking

The Blue Willow Inn, Social Circle, Georgia