Dear friends in Christ,

Who could have possibly imagined a year ago what this past year has been like. The entire world has struggled with the corona virus and its effects. We’re tired of wearing masks, having to be aware of social distancing, worrying about catching or unintentionally passing on the virus. We’ve had enough of hearing on the one hand the news of rising death tolls while on the other hand some people are denying or downplaying the seriousness of the situation. Many people are feeling overwhelmed by the events of this past year, both personal and national. We are tired, worried, stressed, and hurting.

But now a new year is coming, and we can certainly use it. The beginning of a new year is a good time to remember that God is always at work in our lives and in our world. With a new year comes new hopes, new resolutions, and new opportunities. As we look to God in faith we can find the new strength, new under-standings, and new sense of purpose we need. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or what has happened to us – God can give us a fresh start. The good news of Jesus Christ is that even out of death comes new life: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1Pet 1:3).

What should we be looking for in this new year? We have been promised a new heart and spirit (Eze. 36:26), a new covenant (Luke 22:20), a new way to God (Heb. 10:19-22). We can look to see God’s presence always reaching out to us, renewing us to face whatever the new year might hold. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. We are called to live new lives (Rom. 6:4), to have new attitudes (Eph. 4:23), to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). With God’s help we can look for more Christ -like ways of dealing with people, setting priorities, living our lives.

Finally, there is the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Just as this life is not all there is to Life, so too this world is not the last word in the story. All we’ve done in it and to it will be transformed, completely made over. There is a time coming when there will be no more sickness, pain, or death. Pollution will be gone, all the beauty of the original creation will be seen. All creation will be at peace. This remains for some future time, but I believe God desires us to have at least a little of this new creation in our lives here and now.

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Rev. 21:5) May we all experience the reality of these words in our lives.

Pastor Leigh

Special Points of Interest

January 6 Deacons

ZOOM Meeting 7:00

PM

January 6 Epiphany

January 18 Martin

Luther King Day

January 24 FREE Lunch

Distribution 12:30 PM

JANUARY 2021 Volume 1

The Builder

Phenix Baptist Church 2 Fairview Avenue, West Warwick, RI 02893 (401) 821-1618 Phone & Fax Email: phenixbc@verizon.net Website: phenixbaptistchurch.org 11:00 A.M. Worship

Deacons

2

Prayer Concerns 3

January Schedule

January Calendar

4

5

THE DEACONS

Submitted by Martha Buxton

2

"Thank you to those

who give to the Deacons

fund. Through your love

and generosity my family

and I were so blessed at

Thanksgiving and also at

Christmas.

God is good, all the time.

All the time God is good!"

Thank you!

Martha

Judy Brown—9th

3

Praise and Thanksgiving

Praise Walter & Clara 66th Anniversary last Sunday

Walter & Clara’s granddaughter in Air Force Clara’s birthday yesterday Praise Sarah’s surgery went well

Prayer Concerns

Walter & Clara’s granddaughter in Air Force Mrs. Gifford in hospital Starlie for recovery from gall bladder surgery Mike Manish-Covid-still in hospital-slowly improving Mike Manish’s wife in hospital Bethany for healing from surgery Continued healing for Jane Dennis Paul with the flu All those with Covid 19 Carolyn’s friend-health concerns Our veteran’s and all who currently serve Janice job prospects Ruth Theroux Barbara Ziegler diagnosed with cancer Alicia Killam who has cancer of the breast Betty and husband who is having surgery Matt Delaney-detached retina in left eye Joan LeBelle All the homeless Laurie’s aunt who had a stroke-on Hospice Steve’s nephew Bobby having medical problems Mitchell’s friend’s mom Lynn Lavoie Cheryl’s cousin Joanne’s significant other with cancer For those with anger issues For patience and understanding for difficult people in our lives Beverly Stephen Mowbray Our church finances John Buxton’s sister For all those who are caregivers to the elderly Continued prayers for Stan LaPlante Lee and Karen Bobby with cancer Jane Braddock’s husband with bladder cancer Henry Doucette-cancer Those with anxiety, PTSD and the effects, those struggling with life’s unknown; those with financial difficulties, addictions, mental health issues; those who are dealing with helplessness; have lost hope For President and transition

UPCOMING EVENTS FEBRUARY

Monday, February 15

President’s Day

Church Office Closed

Wednesday, February 17

Ash Wednesday

Prayer Vigil 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(See sign-up sheet in Narthex)

7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service

4

January 2021January 2021

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

January Worship Leader: Judy Brown Counters January 3—Lora Lynch & Ann LeBelle January 10—Steve Sacchetine & Janice Cook January 17—Janet Picard & Brian Lynch January 24—Lora Lynch & Ann LeBelle January 31—Steve Sacchetine & Janice Cook Special Music January 3—Martha Buxton January 10—Jim Plummer January 17—Laurie Johnson January 24—Dennis Harvey January 31—Alex Lynch

Please continue to update the

Church Master Schedule.

LUNCH ON THE SQUARE

January 24th

5

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3

11:00 Worship

4 5

6:30 PBC Bible Study

6

7:00 Deacons Meeting via ZOOM

EPIPHANY

7 8 9

10

11:00 Worship

11 12

6:30 PBC Bible Study

13 14 15 16

17

11:00 Worship

18

MARTIN LUTHER KING

DAY

19

6:30 PBC Bible Study

20 21 22 23

24

11:00 Worship 12:30 FREE Lunch Distribution

25 26

6:30 PBC Bible Study

27 28 29 30

31

11:00 Worship

2021

Phenix Baptist Church 2 Fairview Avenue West Warwick, RI 02893-4404

January 2021

Phenix Baptist Church Purpose

We are called by God to tell everyone about Jesus.

We invite you into a personal relationship with Him and into our community of

changed lives where we support each other, praise God together, and share our gifts in love.