The Chimes

First Baptist Church

Athens, Alabama

August 2015 Joel Carwile, Pastor Volume 19, Issue

Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Pastor Joel, Jo, Zeke & DaniPastor Joel, Jo, Zeke & DaniPastor Joel, Jo, Zeke & DaniPastor Joel, Jo, Zeke & Dani

Churchwide Dinner & Fellowship for Pastor Joel and family

Sunday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m. (Family Life Center) M eal will be catered by Green brier Res taura nt

Cos t is $ 5 .0 0 per pers on (max imu m of $ 1 5.0 0 per family) S ig n up in your Sunday Sch ool Clas s on the s ig n up s heet prov ided

or s ig n up on the back of a Co nne ct ion Car d in the Wo rs hip Bullet in

and place it in the offering plate.

We need everyone to registe r in order to p repare enough food .

Cos t of the meal w ill be tak en up at the doo r on Aug ust 9 .

Kay Bennett, Director of Baptist Fellowship House in New Orleans has been chosen as the

recipient of our Christmas in August gifts this year. All monies collected will be used for the

purchase of Walmart or Lowe’s gift cards to aid her in her ministry to homeless women and

children. Make checks payable to First Baptist

and earmark them for Christmas in August.

Dear First Baptist Church Family,

It is with great joy that I write to you in this August edition of the CHIMES. You have no idea of the influence you have already had on our lives with the prayers, heart-felt reception, and awe-inspiring vote of confidence you gave on July 12. I am deeply indebted to the Pastor Search Team for their professionalism and class during the process of our call. With that being said, my family is ready to serve Athens and Limestone County with you.

As I write this first article as your pastor, my heart is still overwhelmed by all the prayers, love, and support we received from our former congregation in Louisville, Kentucky. Saying "goodbye" is never an easy task, but a necessary part of our lives. Yet, on the heels of a "goodbye" in one place, there is a "hello" in another.

When our family moved to Louisville, we adopted Louisville as our new home away from home. North Alabama may be an easy place to get away from, but a place impossible to leave behind. That is how it should be. My eight years in Louisville was wonderful, but I was never not thinking of home, family, friends, and neighbors in our beloved north Alabama.

The answers to several questions led us back home to north Alabama, and more specifically to First Baptist Church. 1) Where are you most at home? 2) Where is your family? 3) Where can you make an impact for Jesus? We believe we heard from heaven and it was time to come home.

My adopted home of Louisville blessed my life and family that only heaven knows, but the Holy Spirit, my Alabama roots and accent led us home. Thank you for this great privilege and know that we are so excited about our future together.

From Our Family to Yours,

Pastor Joel

North Regional Sunday School Leadership Training

Saturday, August 22 8:00 am - 12:00 noon

Lindsay Lane Baptist Church

Promotion

Sunday

August 16

Resume Sunday, August 16, 5:00 p.m.

Financial Peace University Learn God’s ways of handling money with Dave Ramsey’s

course. This course changes everything, your money, your story, your life. Facilitators: Thomas & Susan Killen

(this course will begin at 4:00 p.m.)

Faithful, Dependent & True Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer in a women's Bible study. Kay challenges us to faithfulness in difficult days. Priscilla points to the essential of trust in God's ability, and Beth teaches on how to discern truth from error in these difficult days. Facilitators: Mickey Carter & Karen Brown Member book $10 donation.

Overwhelmed by Perry Noble

Financial struggles, family dynamics, health issues, and the typical problems of everyday life...feeling weighed down and trapped by our circumstances...Perry Noble has stood at the edge of the abyss himself. In this Bible study, he shares the keys to unlocking the chains of anxiety and despair once and for all—shifting our focus from our circumstances to Christ. Perry walks readers through a life-altering plan for overcom-ing stress, worry, depression, and anxiety so we can be free to enjoy the abundant, joy-filled lives we were created for.

Facilitated by Anthony Haynes, member books $10 donation.

Pastor Joel’s August Messages

August 2, am - Relationships and Vision

John 13:34-35, Proverbs 29:18

pm - My First 100 Days as Your Pastor

I Timothy 4:12-13

August 9, The I-4 Message Series begins

August 9, I: Intercession (Prayer)

August 16, I: Invest (Creating Relationships)

August 23, I: Invite (The Power of the Ask)

August 30, I: Involve (Making a Life-Changing Decision)

Sunday School Attendance FBC 7/5/15 376

Hispanic Mission (Worship) 17

FBC 7/12/15 470

Hispanic Mission (Worship) 27

FBC 7/19/15 441

Hispanic Mission (Worship) 28

FBC 7/26/15 515

Welcome New Members Sunday School: Rikki Wise

Love & Sympathy Dan Williams’ family in his death

Frank & Amanda Cohee and family in the death of his father, Frank Cohee, Sr.

Doyle Graham and family in the death of his mother, Ruth Graham

Sue Burgreen and family in the death of her mother, Nell Vinson

Jim & Diane Snyder in the death of their grandson, Trevor Starbuck

Diana Partridge and family in the death of her sister

Kathy Bailey and family in the death of her father, Bobby Coggins

James Agee and family in the death of his granddaughter, Taylor Agee

Financial Information JULY YTD

Budget Requirement $144,008 $1,080,060

Budget Receipts $144,286 $1,000,667

Capital Growth $865 $3,092

Designated $2,096

Christians

in Crisis

Support

Group

Thursdays

August 13 & 27

at 6:30 pm Room 108 Facilitated by George Stewart

A Safe Environment of Help & Hope!

August Meetings Monday, August 3, 6:00 p.m.

Properties Committee Meeting

Tuesday, August 4

5:00 p.m. Hispanic Committee Mtg

6:00 p.m. Budget/Finance Meeting

7:00 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting

Wednesday, August 5

6:15 p.m. Business Meeting

Congratulations Deborah & Evan Suggs in the birth of a son, Samuel Allen. Grandparents Ken & Lauren Cox. Great grandparents Ez-ra & Inez Whaley

Children's Music & Missions

Resumes

Wednesday, August 19

Image Clear Ultrasound Mobile Unit

An affiliate of Choose Life of N. Alabama

Will be using our parking lot the

first Wednesday of every month

to provide their services of

free pregnancy tests,

ultrasounds and

options counseling

to women of

North Alabama and surrounding areas.

Stop in and Check Us Out!

The WMU will no longer be collecting cell phones. Please

continue to bring in your ink jet cartridges for Debbie Wohler, self fund-

ed missionary in Tahoe City, CA and

labels from Campbell, Pepperidge Farm and Swanson products for

Appalachian Outreach in Jefferson

City, TN. Thank you for your support. Thank You

Dear First Baptist Family,

Thank you so much for all of your support of our family over the last 3 years and especially in our recent move. So many give of their time, talents and from their pocketbooks and our family is beyond grateful. We just appreciate your love and kindness and your willingness to be Jesus’ hand and feet. God bless each of you! Ronda Roberts and family

Friends at First Baptist Church,

Thank you for your concerns during Ezra’s continuing health problems and for my recent surgery. To those who visited, those who brought flowers and food, called, sent cards and offered prayer in our behalf we are ever grateful. Please continue to pray for us. Ezra & Inez Whaley

Dear First Baptist Church Family,

Thank you so much for your love and concern during the illness and death of my dear mother, Nell Vinson. To Joe Teal, Larry Hicks and Betty Dean Newman we thank you for making her service so special and much love to the Fidelis Sunday School class that she loved so dearly. Your expressions of love through the food, sweet cards of sympathy and prayers are appreciated so very much.

Sincerely, Sue Burgreen and family

STANDARD BULK RATE PERMIT #103— The Chimes The Chimes The Chimes The Chimes is

published monthly by First Baptist Church. Postmaster: Send address changes to 201 East Hobbs Street, Athens, Alabama 35611

U.S

. Po

stag

e P

AID

Perm

it #1

03

CONTACT US: 201 East Hobbs Street . 256-232-0602 www.fbcathens.org

“A Place for Everyone” Outreach

Sunday, August 30 3:30-5:00 pm

and

SALT Outreach Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30 pm

Adult Vaca#on Bible School

August 10-14, 2015

10:00 a.m.

Family Life Center

Led by: George Stewart