Contact us at: 402-391-0820

www.sunsethillschurch.org sunset@sunsethillschurch.org

Sunset Hills Church 9416 Pacific Street Omaha, NE 68114

Sunset Hills Business Meeting and Potluck Sunday, January 26, 2020

Following the Worship Service

For the potluck, please bring the following based on the first letter

of your last name:

A - G (Main dish and Salad)

H - N (Main dish and Dessert)

O - Z (Main dish and Vegetable)

Sunset Hills Baptist Church

Newsletter January 2020

Pastor Paul Ponders

In “A Knock at Midnight,” The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tells how he received a call at

midnight in the early weeks of the 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott Campaign. The voice at the

other end of the phone was not the voice of God. It was the voice of hate with a death threat

attached to the message. The voice said, “Unless you get out of town, in three days I will blow

your brains out and blow up your house.” Although he had received many hateful letters and

calls as the leader of the Boycott, this one really shook him. His daughter, Yolanda, was just a

tiny baby – no other children yet. Fear grabbed his heart. The call put Dr. King on his knees.

He started praying. And then he heard another voice – the voice of Jesus. This voice spoke to

Pastor King in the silence of the midnight hour. Beside himself with anxiety and fear, Pastor

King prayed for God’s guiding hand. It was then that he heard Jesus say, “Stand up for

righteousness! Stand up for justice! Stand up for truth and lo I will be with you even `til the end

of the world.”

While telling the story years later, Dr. King recalled, “I heard the voice of Jesus promise that

night he would never leave me alone.”

How about you? Have you ever heard the voice of God calling in the night? Or even in the

brightness of day? Have you heard God calling you to lead, to be still, to stand up, to sit down,

or to follow? The voice of God is often subtle, so you have to listen hard - mostly in prayer.

(Continued on Page 2)

Prayers for Family and Loved Ones Wes Gilmer& all who are serving in the military Safety

Prayers for Health, Healing, and Strength Cheryl Arnold Barbara Ganey Ken Vetter Amber Dale Nancy Quinnette Doris Otte Joanne Kelley Lynette Battreall Justin Presler

On-going Prayers of Well-being Pat Martin Carol Welch Mary Engleman Deanne Caughey Charlotte Lowrance Mark Caughey Megan Weaver Gina Hendrix

(Continued from Page 1)

In the next few months, we are going to explore Spiritual Gifts; what they are, how to recognize

them and how to use them. In our discovery of God's Gifting, we need to be good listeners. If

Sunset Hills Baptist Church is going to be all it can be, we all need to listen and obey how God

can use us in his desire to share the message of love and forgiveness throughout the world. I

encourage you to listen for God’s Still Small Voice.

Like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I believe you will your way forward and the promise that

Jesus will never leave us alone, will be your promise too. Happy New Year.

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that shall be for

all the people." Luke 2:10

Upcoming Sermon Schedule

January 5 The Only 2020 You'll Ever Live Habakkuk 3:19

January 12 Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts

January 19 The Gift That Never Grows Old Romans 12:8

January 26 My Favorite Teacher Romans 12:7, I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11 February 2 The Antique Hammer I Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:7

Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army

The Sunset Hills Youth enjoyed spreading some holiday cheer by bell ringing for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 14. Thank you to those who participated.

Sewing/Quilting Ministry Group The sewing/quilting ministry will meet on Sunday, January 5 following the worship service and fellowship time. If you would like more information on this group, please talk to Lillian Richards.

Pastor Paul and Anne are very grateful for all the gifts, cards,

prayers and support they have received in this Christmas Season.

"Our hearts are full to overflowing. God bless our New Year

together."

Blessings for the New Year

18 “Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

November Income $ 15,900 November Expenses $ 17,114 YTD Income $195,795 YTD Expenses $195,989 November Pledges 88% YTD Pledges 92%

SHBC Financial Scoreboard

4 Marge Todd 7 Amanda White 9 Clay Gade 9 Chudier Tut 11 Dan Todd 12 Joy Okoruwa 22 Linda Wheatley 23 Aaron White, Jr. 24 Vicki Loeffler 27 Anne Marine 28 Doug Hamlin 29 Braden Craig

December Attendance Giving

1 89 $7,230.50

8 105 $4,247.00

15 83 $2,713.00

22 99 $5,410.00

29 TBD TBD

Going through our mail last week on our return from Scottsbluff, we were completely surprised to find the card on behalf of Pastor Appreciation with the enclosed gift card. Thank you for your remembrance and appreciation for us retired pastors who are part of the Sunset Hills family. Pastor Rick Wheatley

Men’s and Women’s Breakfast Saturday, January 18 - 8:30 a.m.

January Prayer Meeting

Monday evening, January 6 6:30 p.m.

Dinner and a Movie

Wednesday evening, January 8, 6:00 p.m. Come enjoy a Nebraska favorite for dinner; chili and cinnamon rolls with other chili fixings.

Then enjoy the movie 23 Blast.

All are welcome for either or both.

All-Age Adult Sunday School - January News

In January the study of All Things New: The Revelation – Part II continues. Dr. Jack Graham’s Biblically supported topics include: A Marriage Made in Heaven, Is there Hope for America?, When Christ Returns, and Finally Home. The class meets in the upstairs classroom from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Newcomers are welcomed, and encouraged to attend as we grow in faith and fellowship with each other.

Men’s Group Study - January News

The study and discussion of Reading Romans Backwards - A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire by Scot McKnight, resumes. The group meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and enters the building from the main west entrance. Interested young to old adults are welcome to experience the discussions.

Stewardship Ministry - January News

There are a few openings yet available to serve God on the 2020 Stewardship Ministry Team. Please see Wade Gilmer, Bob Slechta, Cindy Anson, or Ron Reed to learn how you may help. You may wish to serve on another Sunset Hills Baptist Church Ministry Team. Please see Gina Slechta about these opportunities. Serving God is made so much easier when many volunteer a little of their time.

The sermon series Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts, begins on January 12. Find out how specific God is about how you fit into His plan for the church and beyond.

Sunset Hills Baptist Church

Ministry Council Meeting Minutes

December 16, 2019

Attendees: Pastor Paul; Gina Slechta, Moderator; Scott Darden, Treasurer/Vice Moderator;

Ron Reed, Stewardship Ministry; Don Zak, Worship Ministry; Traci Gilmer, Mission/Outreach

Ministry; LaShawnda Woods, Discipleship Ministry; Jason Rich, Pastoral/Staff Relations

Ministry; Telly Woods, Clerk

Devotion & Prayer (Pastor Paul): Luke 2:10—But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Treasurer Report: Scott Darden presented the November 2019 financial report. A motion

was made and seconded to accept the report as given; motion passed.

If you shop on Amazon, please remember to sign into Amazon Smile. Amazon will make a

charitable contribution to Sunset Hills Baptist Church when individuals make purchases

through Amazon Smile.

Annual Budget: The Ministry Council is continuing the work to review and prepare the 2020

annual budget ahead of the January 26, 2020 annual business meeting. Thank you to all who

have submitted their 2020 pledges. Please, if you have not submitted your pledge for 2020,

there is still time to do so.

Ministry Council: In support of Pastor Paul’s continuing education, the Ministry Council has

approved Pastor Paul’s trip to Israel in 2020. More details to come once all of the details are

finalized.

If you are interested in working on or with a ministry team, please feel free to contact one of our

Sunset Hills Baptist Church ministry team leaders or members for more information.

Gina Slechta, Moderator Scott Darden, Vice Moderator/Treasurer

Ron Reed, Stewardship Traci Gilmer, Mission/Outreach

Pastor Jason, Safety/Security Pam Hamlin, Shepherding

Don Zak, Worship LaShawnda Woods, Discipleship

Telly Woods, Pastoral/Staff Relations

The next meeting will be on Monday, January 20, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

Complete copies of all Ministry Council meeting minutes are available in the church office.

Upcoming Events at Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center January 25 Youth Leaders Workshop February 7 - 8 Leaders In Training (For High School-aged student leaders) March 6 - 7 Women's Get-A-Way Event March 13 - 15 ABC NE Youth Retreat March 27 - 28 Young Adult Retreat

Thank you for making December 2019 a month of giving! We started early with filling more Operation Christmas Child boxes this year than ever before! Thank you to all that filled a box making a child’s

Christmas, across the world, a little more special. Thank you to Kayla Workman for heading this project! Then, many volunteers helped Carol McCormick man the Operation Christmas Child box drop-off location. Our volunteers boxed and delivered many, many boxes into packing boxes to be sent out to a delivery site where they were then sent to a distribution site, to be sorted and sent to children across the world. Thank you to Carol McCormick for organizing this project and to her many volunteers! We are hoping to make this an annual outreach project. We weren’t done yet! Thanks to Pam and Alan Whitebread for heading our Christmas Angel Tree for the residents at Maple Crest. And, a special thank you to those who bought and wrapped gifts. You should have seen the smiles on their faces and maybe a few tears in their eyes as they unwrapped gifts from someone who cared this Christmas season. Last, but not least, another special time of giving was the Retired Missionaries and Ministers Offering. Thank you to all who gave to this important offering! At this time, I don’t know the giving total, but our congregation has a giving heart, especially when they know several ministers in our congregation depend on getting their checks each year. We are truly blessed!