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Volume 23, Number 8 April 16, 2014 www.eastmont.org

2014 EASTMONT PASSION PLAY

Easter Baptism Service - April 20th at 6 PMWould you like to be baptized again or for the first time? Like last year, we will be having an open baptism service on Easter Sunday night. Anyone 12 or older can just show up and be baptized. The only requirement is you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I will be glad to baptize someone under 12, provided that one of our ministers or parents have met with them and talked about it.For information on what you need to bring, see page 3.

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SAY YES to VBS!!!Please use the form in the bulletin (April 16) to let us know where you would like serve in VBS this year! Place it in the offering plate or give it to Sarah Nielsen. This is mission action at its best!8 Ways to Avoid Burn-Out:1. Limit the number of sports played in a calendar year.2. Put a cap on the hours your child can practice on their own during the week.3. Require your child to participate in non-sports activities as well.4. Require a true off-season when your child cannot practice or play sports.5. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest each night.6. Pray and ask God to help your child keep sports in the right perspective.7. Encourage your child’s effort, not his performance.8. Ask if your child wants to continue playing a sport and let them know it’s OK to stop.

MY HEARTFELT THANK-YOUThank you for serving with me in Preschool/Children’s Ministry these past 21 years! It has been an amazing journey with you and our precious Eastmont kids! We’ve sweated together, prayed together, laughed together, cried together and much more. It is my prayer that with each step in this journey, we have followed after Christ and drawn people to Him. The journey continues as we welcome Jeremy Lynch to lead us in this next phase of drawing people to a relationship with our Lord through our children’s ministry. Pray for Jeremy and give him that great Eastmont support….We look forward to watching God do great things! -Miss Ginger

Guatemala Mission TripSeptember 27 - October 4, 2014 Deadline to sign up is April 27 and you must have passport in hand. Next Guatemala Team meeting will be Sunday, April 27 at 3:30 PM in room 110.

If you are like me you enjoy being around positive people more than negative, complaining ones. You know the negative type. If you tell them about a land “flowing with milk and honey,” all they see are calories and cholesterol. Positive people are a lot more fun.

A small boy came home from school and informed his father, “Dad, I think I failed my math test today.” The dad tried to encourage him to be more positive. He said, “Son, think positively.” The boy replied. “Ok, I’m positive I failed my math test today.” Some people are whipped before they ever start something because they only see the problems.

I regularly remind you of the great things you are doing for our Lord here at Eastmont. Why? Because I enjoy bragging on you. Not only is it true, but it glorifies God. Magnifying your virtues has another benefit. It challenges the rest of us to do better and better. Praise develops a positive spirit far more than criticism does. My confidence, appreciation and love of you makes me want to be a better pastor. Grateful people become great people and improve everyone around them.

Connie and I took our grandson to ride the carousel at the mall. Every time Connie and Van circled around, Van waved at me. Did I leave to go buy a snack? Of course not! I stayed and waved back all 15 times he passed by. Why did he wave each time? Because we are all born with an innate need for positive encouragement? Every chance you get, build others up.

We live in a pretty sick world. There are a lot of things to gripe and complain about. But don’t dwell on these. It is easy to curse the darkness. It is better to shine a light. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

How is it possible to be positive in a negative world? One word. EASTER. The resurrection of Christ reminds us that nothing is hopeless as long as God is in it. John Chancellor of NBC Night News happily retired at age sixty-seven. He said “There was not a cloud in the sky.” Then came stomach cancer. He spoke these words, “You want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” Mr. Chancellor did not know this: When you make all the plans, God laughs; when you follow His plan, you can laugh. Christ and the resurrection remind us to smile, laugh and be positive. I’ll see you Sunday,

Missions Yard Sale - May 24, 6 AM - Noon This year Eastmont will only have 1 yard sale. Mark your calendars for May 24, 6 AM - Noon. Start clear-ing out your attic, closets, and garage. We will begin accepting quality donations after the second service on May 18 in the connecting hallway.

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GRADUATE RECOGNITION SUNDAYWe will be honoring our College graduates on Sunday, May 4th at the 10:30 service. Please send in a picture, along with your full name, your parents names, your school, degree, and your future plans, to us by SUNDAY, APRIL 13th. All info can be emailed to April at amullins@eastmont.org.THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDYJoin us at the Luker’s at 7 PM. Food provided! Contact Gene at (678) 524-7949 for more details/directions or to help with food. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS GAMEOn Saturday, April 19th, we will watch the Biscuits take on the Mississippi Braves. Tickets are $5. See Gene to sign-up.

Lancaster Show & Dutch Country TripSeptember 8-13, 2014. We have 1 spot left. Please contact Cheryl Wells at 277-6300 for more info.

Secret ChurchApril 18; Cost: $5/person Open for all students, workers & parentsGraduate Recognition SundayMay 4th during the 10:30 service.Remember to send in your senior portrait, baby & a casual picture by Sunday, April 13. Email your photos to April at amullins@eastmont.org. Please include your full name, parents name, your school and the date, time and place of your graduation.

Forever YoungTuesday, April 15 at 10 AM in room 205. A covered dish lunch will be served. Guest Speakers: Winston Brooks, Montgomery Hospice, Julia Edwards - Homebound Ministry, Jim Meacham & Bill Baker - Special Assistance Ministry.

SCRAPBOOKINGFriday, April 25, 5-10 PM in the Fellowship HallPlease call Marti Richardson (277-4439) to let her know you are coming.

Senior Adult Evangelism ConferenceMonday, May 5, 20149:30 AM - 3:30 PM at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham. Contact Billy Dickey (277-6300) if you are interested in attending. We have 8 spots left.

Graduation PartyWe invite you to join us in celebrating the Graduation of Morgan Arnold, Mallory Boyd, Kristen Butler, James Campbell, Kristin Free, Cale Galloway, Wyatt Hall, Jordan Jones, Bailey Klepac, Brittney Long, Ricky Phaturos, Jordynn Robinson, Joshua Russell, Samantha Vick, Shayne WalkerMay 4, 2014 from 2:00-4:00 pm at Eastmont Baptist Church in the Fellowship HallHosted by Family & Friends. Gifts are a blessing! However, since this is a group party, please do not feel obligated to give a gift to everyone.

MISSING - 6’ Tables & Folding ChairsIf you have borrowed any tables or folding chairs, please return them to the church as soon as possible. We have several large events in the near future. If you need to borrow tables or chairs, please come by the church and fill out a request form. Thank you.

Baptism ServiceHere is what you NEED to bring:• Your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord• Arrive by 5:30 wearing what you’ll be baptized in.

A dark t-shirt and long pants is fine.• A change of clothes to wear home and a towel• Your family and friends to celebrate with youHere is what you Don’t Need:• No counseling appointment necessary• No walk down the aisle - the baptism itself is your

profession of faith.• No one under 12 is to be baptized unless we

have talked to them first. We want to make sure children are old enough to know what baptism means.

• No church membership is required.• No more guilt for not being baptized.

Lord’s Supper During TimeOutApril 16 at 6:30 PM in the TimeOut room

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April 13, 2014Saturday, April 12

6:00 PM Passion Play

Sunday, April 138:10 AM Worship Service9:20 AM Sunday School10:30 AM Passion Play5:00 PM Passion Play

Tuesday, April 155:30 PM Aerobics

Wednesday, April 16 5:00 PM Outreach 5:15 PM Fellowship Meal5:45 PM Acteens6:15 PM Adult Choir Orchestra Practice6:30 PM Mission Groups Prayer Meeting Men’s Small Groups

Thursday, April 175:30 PM Aerobics

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Sunday, April 208:10 AM Worship Service9:20 AM Sunday School10:30 AM Worship Service6:00 PM Baptism Service

Tuesday, April 225:30 PM Aerobics

Wednesday, April 235:00 PM Outreach 5:15 PM Fellowship Meal5:45 PM Acteens6:15 PM Adult Choir Orchestra Practice6:30 PM Mission Groups Prayer Meeting Men’s Small Groups

Thursday, April 24`5:30 PM Aerobics

April 16, 2014Hamburger, French Fries, Baked Beans,

Salad, Dessert, DrinkApril 23, 2014

Fried Chicken, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Salad, Dessert & Drink$5/Adult $2/Children

(Max. $15/family)

April 13, 2014Special Music

Zack Godwin & Arnold Fuller 10:30 AM PASSION PLAY

“On A Hill Too Far Away”April 20, 2014

Special Music Tawana Lowery “Was it a Morning like this?”

Special Music “In All His Glory” Jayne Burns & Courtney Corum

10:30 AM Sanctuary Choir “End of the Beginning” Mike Atcheson, solo

The EncouragerEastmont Baptist Church4505 Atlanta HighwayMontgomery, Alabama 36109The Encourager USPS No. 018-816 is published and mailedbi-weekly by Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway,Montgomery, AL 36109. Postmaster: Send address changes toEncourager, 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109.Periodicals Postage Paid at Montgomery, AL

March 30, 2014Preschool .................64Children ...................44Students ...................58Adults .....................486Total ..................... 650

April 6, 2014Preschool .................70Children ...................66Students ...................71Adults .....................642Total ..................... 849

March 16, 2014General Budget

$21,902.15Emergency Fund

$1,950.00March 23, 2014General Budget

$26,157.52Emergency Fund

$1,826.00

March 30, 2014General Budget

$20,146.02Emergency Fund

$2,769.00April 6, 2014

General Budget$42,905.04

Emergency Fund$5,300.50

April 13, 2014Russ Fox

Jerry Gentle Ronnie & Kathy Kay

April 20, 2014Randal Stevens Joe Clements

April 13, 2014Richard Cartwright

514-6953

April 20, 2014Joe Torrillo 272-5439

Office: (334) 277-6300 Fax: (334) 277-6322 Careline: (334) 277-6384 Website: eastmont.org Kindergarten: (334) 244-9324 Prayer Room: (334) 277-8876 E-mail: ebc@eastmont.org Facebook: facebook.com/eastmont Twitter: @eastmontbaptist

Annie Armstrong (to date): $26,453.56 Church Goal: $18,000