November 18, 2008

The Pastor's Pen….

Greetings PBBC family:

Thank you for allowing me to attend the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia last week in Roanoke. Also attending as your messengers were Smokey Pegram, Gene White, and Tommy Rakestraw. These fellas were kind enough to let me sit with them when I finally caught up with them at the first session Tuesday morning. The morning session met us with a plethora of business matters. Among the items was the introduction of the Constitution and Bylaws Amendments. Nothing outlandish was heard. It was during this time that I learned that I was officially appointed as a Trustee board member with Hope Tree Family Services, which you will recall is the Virginia Baptist Children's Home.

Kate Campbell a Christian recording artist led us in a time of music and praise following the business session. Her music was quite different, yet very inspirational. I guess I would describe her as a folk singer type. You can probably Google her web site and listen to one of her pieces. Two major feature speakers was Dr. Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in Pennsylvania and Dr. David Coffey, President of Baptist World Alliance. Both men brought messages that were truly inspirational and challenging. William J. Bloomer of Culpeper, Virginia was elected as the new president. A program book plus reports is available to you in the office.

I am so looking forward to our Community Thanksgiving Service. We will meet at Bassett Memorial United Methodist Church at 7 pm. George and Peter are leading the Community Choir. I believe we are in for a blessing. Come and be a part of this. We will also receive a love offering for Grace Network. This will be a gift from our churches to this wonderful helping ministry. Rev. Betty Marshall will deliver the message.

This Sunday we are in store for a most blessed service as we set Shirley Eanes aside as a deaconess. We will also install along with Shirley our new deacons: Charles Anthon, Mike Belton, Paul Jones, and Tommy Rakestraw. I know that you will join me in praying for each of these deacons as they embark on this new assignment from God.

Any of you ever watch ants. Now come on, don’t laugh. I know that some of you watch birds and wildlife so what’s wrong if I watch ants on occasion. These guys are a part of a pretty unique system. Think about it, they have a queen and they have soldiers in their colony. Some time back I noticed how they covered up a drink I left outside. Now that amazed me. When I sat that cup down, there wasn’t an ant to be seen. If I had wanted ants in my cup I would have placed it in the middle of a fire ant bed. Those little devils will tear you up. They are just about as bad as a nest of ground bees. That’s another story. At any rate I placed my cup down, walked off from it and forgot about it for a time. When I returned for my cool beverage it was coated with ants. They must have an ant or two named Patton, Schwarzkopf, or Powell because a small army of them invaded my defenseless cup. Now if you ponder on things long enough you can find a life lesson in it. Those ants made me think. If only folks liked going to church like ants liked sugar. Haven’t you heard, “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.” Church is a great place to be on Sundays. So make like an ant and come to a place where loving God is sweet.

Your brother in Christ,

 Jim

Sunday, November 23

Ushers: Smokey Pegram, Clyde Lawson, Ron Pigg, Paul Ross

         Deacon for November …

                              Paul Ross

^^^^^

The CD Ministry workers meet at the church each Monday morning to make CDs of the Sunday service. Tommy Rakestraw and Marie Clay encourage anyone who would like to have   CDs of each of the Sunday services or a CD of just one special service to call the church office so they can make one for you.

^^^^^^^

   **Our “Card Shower Ministry”  recipient for November:

Micki Cox

Please send cards to his at this address:

                                 Micki Cox

                                 SHC, Room 7A

                                 P.O. Box 538

                                                         Stanleytown, VA 24168

vvv

2008 Lord’s Supper Schedule

Robert & Jackie Coleman:

 January, May, September

Merle White & Deborah Hite:

 February, June, October

Rachel Koontz & Mike Belton:

March, July, November

Mary Jane Osborne & Graves Anthony:

April, August, December

^^^^^^

 Van Drivers for November 2008

2 Jackie Coleman

9   Clyde Lawson

16   Charles Anthony

23  Carlton Craig

30  Paul Ross

^^^^^^^^

 Mark your calendar...

********

Community Thanksgiving Service

Bassett Memorial United Methodist Church will host the Community Thanksgiving Service on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 pm.

*******

Agnes Coleman has moved to Somerby Retirement Community in Alpharetta, Georgia to be close to her daughters. Her new address is:

                                   Agnes C. Coleman

                                   Somerby - Box 56

                                   100 Somerby Drive

                                   Alpharetta, GA 30004

                                   Phone: 678 -710 - 9770

 *******

Chrismon Tree…

We will assemble the Chrismon Tree on Monday, November 24. The Men’s Memorial Class assembles and installs the lights at 9 am until !

Anyone else that wishes to help decorate the tree only needs to be here by 10:30 or 11 am.                                               

                          Thank You,

                                                                The Flower Committee

*******

PBBC extends condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Harry Lee King. Dr. King of Henry, Virginia passed away last week at the age of 92. He was an acquaintance of Peter Ramsey.

*******

“...Be ye kind one to another,

 tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:32

Updated 11/19/08