Farewell

AT PRESS TIME plans were complete for a Farewell Service honoring Dr. and Mrs. Mulkey on Sunday afternoon, February 24. Special music and memories will recall his 6 ½ years ministry at New Hope. Speakers include Bill Batchelor, Ruth Bradley, Vernon Buchanan, Erma Dreas, Boyd Frank, Elaine Hardy and Joan Wood. Leesa Holloway is to serve as MC. Additional tributes follow.

The pulpit at New Hope Baptist Church since its establishment in August 1996, had been filled, but for reasons unknown, had failed. In August 2007, you came to fill this pulpit. Since that day forward you have led us to the top of the mountain with your leadership, your faith in us, and your hard works. Thank you for instilling in us, again, that we are a people who will remain on this mountain top and continue to grow. Thank you for all your patience and understanding. May God’s blessings be with you and Fleda in your newest adventure. The two of you will be missed more than words can ever convey.
Lois Cox

Since moving to Florida from New Hampshire over 13 years ago, I had been searching for a small church and pastor much like what I grew up with. New Hope and Bob have shown me that unconditional love I knew, and I learn something about the history of the Bible from Bob every week. I certainly appreciate and will greatly miss Bob's gentle kindness and his absolute love for the Bible and life teachings we learn from him. Thanks Bob. Know that your shoes will be extremely difficult to fill.
Priscilla Towle

Bob, I could never express how much I have gained from all of your wonderful sermons and Bible teachings. You have really helped me to grow closer to God. Darrel and I are going to miss you and Fleda so very much. We have so enjoyed Fleda in our Sunday School class and all the good times and laughs with you both.

Now we just want to wish you both well as you follow God's call to start a new church in Deland. All I can say is that these people will be blessed and will have the best pastor ever. Sure going to miss all the wonderful desserts that Fleda has made for us!! Thank you, Fleda.
Love and Hugs,
Dorothy & Darrel Rollins

My family has been part of Dr. Mulkey's church family for over 20 years. Over those years he has helped us with his ministry of teaching, counseling and unconditional love. Bob has a keen sense of humor as well which I appreciate. He encouraged me to continue my education and has been supportive of all my endeavors. I certainly can say the same of Fleda. She has taught and loved my children at church and in school for many years. I love them both very much and will miss their presence here at New Hope.
Sandra Kleinschmidt

Dr. Mulkey, Thank you for loving our Heavenly Father with all your heart, mind and soul. Through Jesus Christ you reach others. Your counsel of Real Love to our daughter and future son-in-law before they married is one example of you extending God's Word to members and non-members of New Hope Baptist Church. You pastored many to cherish God’s Living Word. We also thank you, Fleda and your family for when they lead in worship, especially at Christmas. We are excited for your future.
Love,
Scott & Cheryl Heatherington

Bob, Once again I will thank you for making Hutch's journey easier. Your unwavering strength, compassion and love was such a blessing for both of us. You have given to all of us with a heart full of love.

Fleda, I think I will miss your smile, endless energy, and sense of humor the most. You are certainly a true partner to Bob.

Love you both.
Judy Hutchinson

Dear Fleda and Bob,

Your leaving us fills our hearts with sadness, but it also fills our hearts with gratefulness for all you have done for us, to making our church grow and to filling it with love and kindness for one another.
May our God bless you as you continue to serve Him.
Herm & Marge White

Pastor Bob has always made us feel valued and welcome as "Snowbirds". We all appreciate his thoughtfully prepared sermons which he delivers in a manner that shows he is well prepared. His sermons and his Bible study lessons can be understood by people of all ages and abilities.

When the choir was really in need of male singers, he stepped in to help out. He also performed as narrator for the cantatas. We were glad to see him in that role.

We forgive him for making fun of our pronunciation of cantata. We have been practicing saying "can tah tah". Now that you are leaving, Bob, we need to tell you that the word metaphor is pronounced "met a for" and not "met a fer". So there! Our northern ears have even adjusted to the "Cotton Patch Bible Stories". Pretty soon we will start sayin' "y'all" and "all y'all".

You and your whole family have been an asset to New Hope Baptist Church. We enjoyed the musical contributions your children have made. Fleda has really been a great help in many capacities. Her fantastic baked goods have added smiles to many faces.

You and Fleda will be missed. We wish you and yours the best in whatever your next ventures may be. God go with you.
Ron & Pat Dugan

Pastoral ministry will forever be defined for me by Dr. Mulkey. During my lengthy hospitalization last fall he visited daily, even when I was heavily medicated and not aware he was there. He stayed in touch with Elaine by phone between visits. His prayers touched me deeply. Bob continued to visit regularly for another three weeks while I was in rehab. I appreciate also his support for my family at the death of my daughter in January. He has been that wonderful combination of preacher and pastor. Thank you, Dr. Bob.
Richard Hardy

I feel like I have grown under the leadership of Pastor Bob. We all love him and will certainly miss him! However, I feel that God still has great things for our church to continue to grow both spiritually and in size. God Bless you Pastor Bob, and the best of everything to you & Fleda.
Linda Manners

And the perfect summation . . .
Bob. A great friend, a fine minister. A terrific listener. A very thoughtful, understanding and forgiving man who accepts everyone as they are and helps them all.

Fleda. I will miss her cookies the most ………..
Fred Griffith

“Blessed be the ties that bind

Our hearts in Christian love.”

MUSIC AND WORSHIP
Please keep all five Sundays in March on your calendar because our preparation for “It is Finished” to be presented on Palm Sunday evening, March 24 at 5:30 PM, is crucial. Also, with the leaving of Dr. Mulkey, I want to have a full choir at every service. Your participation is so very important to the continued growth of our church.

A Report on the CenturyMen Recording Project
Many of you have asked about my recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee to be with The CenturyMen in a recording project. I am happy to report that we recorded 18 selections in the nine days of my absence from you. We started on Thursday, January 31 at 2:00 PM by receiving the packet of music that had been prepared by our director, Buryl Red. In it were his beautiful arrangements of music that will be on a forthcoming CD. It was certainly a labor of love because Buryl has terminal cancer and yet, he finished these songs for us to record. The next step in this process is to record the solo tract and the orchestral tract. It is not known when all of this will be finished but at least the voices of The CenturyMen have been recorded.

We are indebted to Dr. Charles Fuller, the assistant director who filled in for Dr. Red who was unable to be with us. We are also indebted to Dr. Fuller’s wife Cindy who filled in for Joseph Joubert, our pianist.

In addition to the recording session, The CenturyMen also sang for the morning worship services at The Brentwood United Methodist Church on February 3 at 9:00 AM and the First Baptist Church of Nashville at 11:00 AM. On Thursday, February 7, The CenturyMen sang three selections for a luncheon of business men and women in our New Vests provided by Lifeway. Once again, I am so grateful to New Hope Baptist Church for the opportunity to be away and to participate with The CenturyMen, an organization of which I have been a member since its beginning in 1969.

Music for Meditation
All Saints Lutheran Church, Wednesdays 12:15 PM

March 6 Vita Fortin, piano
March 13 Judy Brown, piano
March 20 Casey Baker, piano
March 27 Rita Taylor, piano; Dennis Bucher, host

Dennis Bucher

GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR A SEARCH COMMITTEE

There have been inquiries about the process of New Hope Baptist Church securing a pastor to fill the position most recently vacated by Dr. Bob Mulkey. In an effort to keep our church family apprised of the process, this article will give a brief summary of the purpose and process of our Pastor Search Committee. The church recently approved the names of seven members who were nominated by the Church Council and Deacons. They are: Bill Batchelor, Erma Dreas, Boyd Frank, Leesa Holloway, John Shelver, Priscilla Towle, and Bill Walker. The Committee has been given the responsibility to pray and search out a minister on behalf of the congregation. The congregation will be kept informed of the committee’s work but the congregation at large should not become engaged in the process of seeking the minister to be recommended but only in responding to the committee’s recommendation. This is to avoid confusion among the people. (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)

The committee’s first task was to secure an interim pastor to lead and minister to our congregation during the search process. We are fortunate to have one of our own, Boyd Frank, who will serve in the position of interim pastor. Boyd knows us, cares about us and has a proven reputation as a teacher, leader, and successful pastor.

The committee will soon survey the congregation and use the feedback to develop a pastoral profile of our next pastor. After this is completed, we will seek resumes from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and various seminaries from around the country. The committee will then prioritize the prospective candidates list and begin the visitations to hear the candidates preach. After visiting and contacting references, the committee will meet and interview the candidate(s). Following the interview(s), the committee will present one candidate to the church. Once the church membership has had the opportunity to meet with the candidate and he/she preaches at our worship service, the church membership will vote to call the minister to serve as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. If affirmed, the pastor will then move to serve New Hope Baptist Church.

Leesa Holloway

LENTEN SEASON HAS BEGUN

We have begun the journey to the cross. Lent is a six-week time of preparation through prayer, repentance and self-denial for Easter. You will notice that the color of the drape on the cross in the sanctuary is purple to symbolize pain, suffering and penitence. Personal daily devotions for Lent may be found at www.d365.org

UPCOMING SERMONS
The Rev. Boyd Frank, Interim Minister

March 3 Remembering Jesus
March 10 What Do You Want?

MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, March 16, 2013

LADIES LUNCH
Tuesday, March 26


BIBLE STUDY ATTENDANCE
The average attendance at the Sunday morning Bible study time during the fall was 50. This increases somewhat during the winter with Snowbirds. Participation in this study time is vital to your spiritual formation and growth. Come see what you are missing!

In case you missed the announcement earlier this month, the new modular building is paid in full.

LADIES BIBLE STUDY
First & Third Tuesdays
7:00 PM at the church

CBF FLORIDA 2013 SPRING CELEBRATION
April 26-27
Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church,
Jacksonville, FL

DR. DORAN McCARTY RETIRING (AGAIN)
Dr. Doran McCarty, retired seminary professor, author and former NHBC interim pastor, has retired as the Assistant to the Coordinator of CBF Florida as of December 2012. He will devote full time to Hammock Community Church which he pastors.

MISSIONS
Halifax Urban Ministries
Just a reminder that next Sunday, March 3, is our day to collect staple food items to be distributed by HUM to hungry families. Canned goods, baby formula and baby diapers are much needed items.

Country Side Lakes ALF
Snowbirds, we extend a special invitation to come visit birthday celebrants with us on Wednesday, March 20, at noon. You will be blessed.

SIMPLE EASTER CRAFTS
Egg-cellent Cards
Create pretty greetings from colored cardstock, patterned scrapbooking paper and embroidery floss. Cut and fold cardstock to desired size for card. Snip an egg shape out of the scrapbook paper. Place the egg on the card front and, using a thick needle, poke a hole through both the top of the egg and the card. Thread floss through the holes, then around the top of the card. Tie the ends in a bow. Enclose an Easter greeting in the card. Friends can hang the eggs as symbols of the season.

Eggs-travaganza
Enlist the grandkids for this one. Cut out egg shapes from pastel colored scrapbook paper or construction paper. (An egg shape pattern will help the little ones.) Decorate by gluing on paper dots, shapes and stripes. Glue raffia to the back of eggs to join them together to make an eggs-cellent garland for your mantel or doorway. Finish by tying a raffia bow between each egg.

WHAT’S COOKING?
Leftover ham after Easter? This Ham Salad can be served in sandwiches or by itself with good crackers.

3 c ground cooked ham
1 t Dijon mustard
¼ c mayonnaise
2 T chopped sweet pickle
2 T chopped dill pickle
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and grated
2 T chopped onion (optional)
Salt and pepper

Combine all of the ingredients gently but thoroughly. Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.