BRANCHThe

August 27, 2018

I am about to create another winner. This is not information I typically share. I don’t want to sound braggadocio, and I am not taking requests from coaches or fans...but I am about to create another winner. A little history first…

I moved to Kentucky to attend high school in 1976. In 1978, the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA Basketball Championship. This alone would not be significant. However, I moved to Georgia in 1980. The Georgia Bulldogs won the NCAA football championship on January 1, 1981. I made my first trip to San Francisco in 2008, became a Giants fan in 2009, and in 2010 the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. Again, these three events might be happenstance, except I moved to upstate South Carolina in 2014, and in 2016 Clemson won a national championship. Are we noticing a pattern here?

Dave (my oldest daughter’s boyfriend) and I were watching the last day of the NFL draft this past spring. He was intent. I was semi-listening from the pages of

RustlingsBY JIM DANT

a book. When the last player was selected and ESPN had drifted into ad nauseam analysis, Dave looked numb. He informed me the future looked as grim as the past for his favorite team. He loves – has always loved – the Cleveland Browns. Last year they were 0-16; they lost every game of the season! The year before that, they only won one game! They are 1-31 over the last two years of play! I paused. Then I disclosed the magical powers and prowess of my presence in an athletic region, and then I did it. I told him I would be a Cleveland Browns fan this year insuring they would have a winning season in 2018 (at least 9-7) and would win the Super Bowl for the 2019 season. To solidify the commitment, I have ordered a Cleveland Browns hoodie for game days, purchased Cleveland Browns caps for all Dant children (and granddaughter) and have purchased tickets to the September 20 game against the New York Jets. He’s excited…dubious…but excited.

I received a letter from one of our newest members this week. In part it read, “…and when I saw the depth of faith at First Baptist and the breadth of the church’s openness, it won me over.” Now that’s the best win of all. (Go Browns…and go First Baptist!)

— Jim

WORSHIPSunday,

September 2, 201810:30am in the Sanctuary

Proclaimer: Jim DantScripture: Malachi 3:1-7

Sermon: I Have a Few QuestionsService Choir: Sanctuary ChoirSoloist: Matthew Christopher

Anthem: “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me” – SCOTT

Sanctuary FlowersThe flowers in the Sanctuary this Sunday are given in memory of

Carl and Sara Chalmers on what would have been their 71st wedding anniversary by Beth Chalmers Spurr.

From the Organist...The Organist’s Blog is on vacation

this week. Read past posts at http://firstbaptistgreenville.com/the-

organists-blog/ — Shelton

Tutu Desk Project Provide 1,000 Desks for a

Sub-Saharan Africa School, $20 each

https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/tutudesk/

Reminders

Make Reservations for Wednesday Night Supper Resumes September 5

https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/wednesday-night-supper/

Register Your Preschool and Elementary Children for 2018-2019

https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/registration-pre-child-2018-19/

It’s hard to believe summer is winding down and school is starting back. As you already know, the AYMC doesn’t slow down in the summer. It takes on a different kind of busy with school not in session. If you came to the AYMC on any given day this summer, you were treated to children enjoying a variety of camps. Caleb Avery (3 The Hard Way) hosted two basketball camps; Bill Henderson (Henderson Baseball Academy) hosted two baseball camps; and Angela Pitts (Roller Time Skating) hosted a skating camp. It was a lot of fun watching each one of over 200 children learn, laugh and play as they came and went through our doors.

— Mittie

AYMC PulseAY

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ADU

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September 3 Lore Johnson

7 Hathaway Circle Greenville, SC 29617

September 11 Wayne Weaver

Woodlands at Furman 50 Arboretum Lane

Apt. 329 Greenville, SC 29617

September 15 Sarah Barton Rolling Green

100 Creeks Edge Court Greenville, SC 29615

September 17 Earline Shabkie Sarah Gossett

27 Conestee Avenue Greenville, SC 29605

September 23 Tommy Gallman NHC – Laurens

379 Pinehaven St. Ext. Laurens, SC 29360

September 24 Abbie Jean Poole

21 Isbell Lane Greenville, SC 29607

September 29 Wilma Frese

Spring Park Assisted Living 925 North Main St.

Room 105 Travelers Rest, SC 29690

Happy Birthday!PLEASE REMEMBER THESE MEMBERS CELEBRATING SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS WHO ARE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO BE WITH US IN WORSHIP:

September 7, 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall

Speaker: Dr. Jim Dant Plans from: Roadrunners, Holy Rollers, First Friday Lunch and More

Make reservations with Shanda LaForge at shanda.laforge@firstbaptistgreenville.com or 233-2527 ext. 111.

Senior Adult BanquetSeptember 8

Dylan Rigg, Proclaimer

Senior Adult Sunday

September 23-29

Niagara Falls Trip

Our family tried to have supper together each night. It did not always work out that way. Sometimes our meal together was breakfast or lunch, but we tried to have one meal each day with our family gathered together. It was a way to touch base, keep connected with each other – family time. Wednesdays at First are family time for FBG. Fellowship around the Wednesday Night Supper table helps create friends from strangers and family from friends. Wednesdays at First resume on September 5. Be sure you are at the table!

The regular schedule of Wednesday evenings is included below. In addition to Wednesday Night Supper, there are activities for all ages. There is a nursery provided for the youngest ones, age 3-grade 5 have Children’s Missions followed by Children’s Choirs, grades 6-12 have Youth Hang Time and Bible Study, and adults have MidWeek Fellowship and Sanctuary Choir rehearsal.

Be sure all preschool and elementary aged children are registered for the 2018-2019 year. We have made it easy at this link: https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/registration-pre-child-2018-19/

You can make Wednesday Night Supper permanent reservations, make weekly reservations or alter your reservations at this link: https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/wednesday-night-supper/

MidWeek Fellowship requires no registration and is not to be missed. Kyle will challenge our pre-conceived notions of a Bible passage. He shares, “The fruit of authentic spirituality is not the result of hard work; it’s the relational fruit that appears naturally when we interact with the Holy Spirit. Let’s talk about how to do that!”

If you are interested in the Sanctuary Choir, contact Vivian at vivian.hamilton@firstbaptistgreenville.com or 233-2527 ext. 124. Nursery care during rehearsal is available upon request.

Don’t miss out on family time. I’ll see you at supper on Wednesday, September 5!

— Kimberly

SPIRITUAL FO

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I need participants for an experiment! This experiment, a ministry project that I have been developing for the past few months, is a worship experiment and represents the final hoop through which I need to jump in order to satisfy Gardner-Webb’s requirements for my Doctor of Ministry degree. Many of you have been asking about my progress the past couple of years and cheering me on. Others of you had no idea I was back in school at all! Whichever camp you fall in, I could use your help for one Sunday in October (you choose the Sunday!). I am very excited about this “experiment” and for it to be successful and meaningful, I need plenty of participants (up to 120 in fact!). That’s where you come in. If you are interested, please click the link below and sign up for one

of the Sundays in October. Your voluntary participation will include 1) attending a thirty minute session during the Sunday School hour, 2) attending the worship service that follows and then 3) filling out a very brief and completely confidential survey. Pretty easy, right?

If you are interested in participating, please visit the webpage below and select a Sunday that might work for you. I will then contact you by email in the days leading up to October with instructions about where to be and when. In the meantime, if you have any questions at all, please contact me at matt.rollins@firstbaptistgreenville.com.

— Matt

My Doctor of Ministry Project

Family Time

Wednesdays at FirstResume September 5

3:00-6:00pm Youth Hang Time and Supper 4:45-6:00pm Supper Serving Lines Open5:30-6:15pm Children’s Missions 6:00-7:00pm Youth Bible Study6:15-7:00pm Children’s Choir6:15-7:00pm MidWeek Fellowship7:00-8:30pm Sanctuary Choir

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4fadad29a2f94-matts

*Signing up for participation using this link DOES NOT obligate you to participate, and you may withdraw from the exercise at any time.

847 Cleveland Street,

Greenville, South C

arolina 29601-4495 (864) 233-2527 w

ww

.firstbaptistgreenville.com

Vol. LIX August 27, 2018 No. 34

THE BRAN

CH

(USPS N

o. 597060) is published weekly January

thru December (except one w

eek in July and December).

Periodicals postage paid at Greenville, SC

29602. POSTM

ASTER: Send address changes to TH

E BRANC

H, 847 C

leveland Street G

reenville, SC 29601. (Phone 864-233-2527).

Kimberly C

oates, Editor.

Wednesday SupperWednesdays at First activities, including supper, will resume on September 5. Required reservations for the meal must be made by noon on Monday by visiting the church website or calling the church office. Permanent reservations for the 2018-2019 year are available. Serving lines are open 4:45-6:00pm.

Menu September 5

Adults: Veggie Lasagna, Meat Lasagna, Gluten-free Pasta with Marinara,

Salad, Italian Green Beans, French Bread, Dessert

Kids: Mini-pizza, Buttered Noodles, Fruit, Cookies

Pastoral CareOn Call Nights and Weekends

August 27-September 2 Frank Smith 268-3890 (h)

September 3-9 Kyle Matthews 551-0829 (m)

If you are unable to reach this minister at the above number, please call the Church Office, 864-233-2527, and leave a

message by pressing the number “199” for “Pastoral Care

Emergencies.”

For Your Calendar!8/27 7:00pm First Baptist Day School Parent Night (Fellowship Hall)8/30 First Baptist Day School First Day of School8/30-9/3 AYMC Closed for Floor Refinishing and Observance of Labor Day 9/1-3 Youth Fall Retreat at Rockmont9/2 10:30am Jim Dant, Proclaimer9/3 Church Offices Closed in Observance of Labor Day9/5 Wednesdays at First Resume9/7 6:00pm Senior Adult Banquet (Fellowship Hall) 6:00-8:00pm Children’s Ministries Event: Movie and Pizza Night (AYMC Terrace Level)9/9 9:00am New Member Orientation (F-307) 9:30am Protecting Our Children (E-317) 10:30am Senior Adult Sunday Communion Dylan Rigg, Proclaimer 4:00pm Vocare Rehearsals Resume (Choir Room) 5:00-7:00pm Sunday Night Live for Youth Resumes (AYMC Terrace Level)

LIVING GENEROUSLY

Financial Needs as of 8/25$1,700,000

Receipts of 8/24$1,556,602

Care List as of 8/27/18

HospitalsCleveland Clinic: Rusty BrowningSt. Francis Eastside: Sharon Benston

Memorial: Jim Cauble, Theo Lee

RehabNHC – Greenville: Jean Evans

Discharged Elizabeth Nihart, Jimmy Grantham, Candy Cochran, Polly Gaskin

Sympathy to……the family of Cele Irwin.…Duke McCall and family in the death of his step-mother.…Cherry Marshall in the death of her oldest sister.…Cherry Marshall in the death of her brother.

Styrofoam Free Are We at FBG!As Wednesday night suppers begin again, we are delighted to announce that our kitchen will be serving us on compostable paper products. There will be NO more Styrofoam going into landfills and oceans for FBG!! Disposal of plates and food remains the same. Please remember to empty and deposit all plastic cups in the recycling bin – further reducing our trash stream for the benefit our ONE EARTH. Thanks! See you at Wednesdays at First!

Wednesdays at FirstExceptions and details noted in calendar.

3:00-6:00pm Youth Hang Time and Supper 4:45-6:00pm Supper Serving Lines Open5:30-6:15pm Children’s Missions 6:00-7:00pm Youth Bible Study6:15-7:00pm Children’s Choir6:15-7:00pm MidWeek Fellowship7:00-8:30pm Sanctuary Choir

Friday Morning Bible Study

A Faith of Your Own: Claiming a Living Theology

10:00-11:30am, beginning September 7AYMC Terrace LevelFacilitator: Michelle McClendon

Text: How to Think Theologically by Howard Stone and James DukeCost: $50 per personRegister: beckybouton@gmail.com

Introducing…Celine Bullock, 926 Cleveland St., Apt. 8306, 29601, joined FBG during worship on Sunday, August 19, by transfer of letter from another Baptist church. Celine, who teaches at Alexander Elementary, is the fiancée of Will Raybon, FBG’s Associate Youth Minister.