A Day That Haunts, A Faith That Hopes

A Pastoral Prayer for September 11, 2011

On this tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001

We gather to remember an atrocious day, a day that we wish we could forget.

O God we confess our ongoing need of your transformative and emerging grace

For we are all too mindful that this date still haunts us

With memories that strike fear

And with emotions that convey pain.

As we attempt to apply your words to life,  

And to live by faith as we embrace your promise of a better future

We confess that our anger and grief from that fretful day are not nearly resolved.

            And that retaliatory impulses of vengeance and hate incubate deep within.

And yet we acknowledge that our hurt does not compare to the pain

of those who were touched more directly

through the unexpected and unfair loss

of family members, friends, and co-workers.

We shudder at the memory of horrific images of death and destruction,

We worry over the ongoing armed conflict that seems to be unending,

We grieve over the deaths of the sons and daughters of our nation,

   As well as the subsequent casualties among our allies and our adversaries.

And we long for a civilized and lasting resolution

   So that our sons and daughters may return home safely and soon

   And that those who have longed for liberation from tyranny

            Might govern and be governed with dignity and integrity.

Rather than being consumed by our grief,

            And controlled by our fears

And constrained by our anxieties,

    Let us set our minds to addressing the injustices that precipitate hostility,

    Let us direct our souls to living out our moral conviction,

    Let us turn our hearts to loving the poor,

and the disadvantaged,

and the disenfranchised.

    And let us determine to fight terror,

            Not with our own terroristic threats,

       But with a responsible and courageous exercise of freedom,

            And with a proactive and authentic faith.

 And though it runs counter to our deepest instincts,

You continue to teach us to love our enemies,

so that we do not become like them.

Today, especially today, we pray for the leaders of our nation and our world

            For the leaders of our state and our community

  To act and react with wisdom and discernment,

And to maintain a disposition that will defuse conflict

And advance the cause of peace.

And we pray for the leaders of our churches and synagogues

            And for people of diverse faiths

  To act and react with transformative grace and eternal hope,

           And to maintain a disposition that will dispel propaganda

            And advance the cause of truth and compassion.

We offer our prayer in the strong name of the One who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all humankind.  Amen

Happy Birthday to Roger Yonker!

Our most senior church member will turn 100 years old this Sunday, September 11.  Happy birthday, Roger Yonker!  You are both an example and an inspiration.  You are a living example of what it means to be a follower of Christ.  And you are an inspiration in the way that you have served the Lord with gentleness and grace.

In other news, welcome Meagan Scott to our staff team as the Children’s Ministry Assistant.  Meagan will be providing support for our Children’s Ministry and for our Pre-School.   Also pray for Meagan’s fiance’, Joe Clavel, who is currently deployed with the Army National Guard.  Meagan and Joe will be getting married in November.  Also pray for Meagan, who will have a little heavier load of responsibility during the interim period between Children’s Ministers.  Welcome to our team, Meagan!

I am also pleased to share with you that John Wise will be serving as our pastoral intern this fall.  John is a member of our church family and has served as a student ministries intern in the past.  In preparation for future ministry, John has completed a bachelors degree at the Baptist College of Florida and a masters degree from Liberty University. John will be a great addition to our staff team and we believe that his experiences with us will better prepare him for future opportunities.  Welcome aboard, John!

In worship this Sunday morning, as we continue our Soul Purpose series, we will be focused on I Peter 1:3-9 as we talk about “Soul Salvation.” As you read this passage of scripture in advance, think about how God is at work in Christ to save us from sinful and trivial pursuits to a life of meaning and eternal significance.

On Sunday evening we will meet in Pleitz Chapel at six o’clock for Story, Song, and Prayer: A Commemorative Vespers Service on September 11, 2001.  Our own Bob Kashur, Frank Rush, Bill Santo, and Scott Grettum will be sharing brief testimonies and stories about their experiences from 9/11.  Be welcomed to invite friends to join you for this inspirational evening of story, song, and prayer.

Sunday September 18 is National Back to Church Sunday, a great time to invite friends and neighbors who have become disconnected from their church family to come to church with you.  It’s also a great opportunity for Sunday School teachers and members to personally contact those on their class rolls who have not been to Bible study in a while.  Who can you invite to come to church with you on Back to Church Sunday? (Watch video at http://www.fbcp.org/Uploaded/11-Summer-Video.swf )

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday in worship and Bible study as we continue learning more about our soul purpose.

Wednesday Nights Are Good for the Soul

Wednesday nights at First Baptist are good for the soul.  As our student groups have been meeting off campus for Bible study and recreational activities, in Chipley Hall our adults have enjoyed a diverse schedule of inspirational music, devotional messages, and mission reports.

Next Wednesday September 7 we resume our full program of multi-generational activities on Wednesday night.  Our children’s choirs, AWANA groups, and student groups are meeting on campus. Our Midweek Gathering for adults begins each week in Chipley Hall after dinner at approximately 5:45.     

This fall we have a great schedule of topics and programs scheduled for Wednesday nights. During a typical Midweek Gathering we share in a season of prayer for our church and our extended family members.  We enjoy inspirational music from a variety of groups and individuals.  And I share a relevant message aimed to equip and encourage us in our daily walk with Christ.

Wednesday night is also a great time to invite new friends and neighbors to get acquainted with our First Baptist Family.  The casual atmosphere, the good food, and the multi-generational activities provide a great format for introducing new folks to life at First Baptist.

Wednesday night is my favorite time of the week.  I think it is because the round tables and the relaxing atmosphere enable us to dig deeper into Christian faith and practice.  If you are not already a regular Wednesday participant, why don’t you come and join us, and you might discover that Wednesday nights are good for the soul. 

This Sunday we are exploring Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Matthew 22:36-38 as we talk about Discovering Your Soul Purpose.  I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we gather for worship and Bible study.

Discovering Your Soul Purpose

What is your soul?  It doesn’t show up on an x-ray or sonogram. It is not listed as one of the major organs of the human body in your anatomy textbook.  And yet the Bible describes the soul as something that can be lost and found, a part of you that can yearn and be satisfied, your receptor for grief and for joy, a facet of your existence that can be expended and restored.

In the creation story, the origin of human life is described this way: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 KJV

Based on various biblical references to the soul, C.S. Lewis succinctly summarized, "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” 

During September, we begin a new series on Soul Purpose. On Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings we will be examining many of the Bible passages about the soul and how we interact with God.

On Sunday evening, September 11 we will meet in Pleitz Chapel at six o’clock to observe the 10^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred in 2001.  Members of our FBCP family will be sharing their personal stories related to the events of 9/11.

On September 18, we will join with other churches around the country in emphasizing Back to Church Sunday.  For a variety of reasons, church members can become disconnected from their church family.  Identify someone you know who hasn’t been involved in church and invite them to come with you during September.

On September 25 we will share in a Combined Worship Service at 10:30 in the sanctuary.  Bible Study will begin at 9 a.m.  Prior to worship we will share in our second annual Congregational Meeting where we will affirm our 2011-2012 ministry budget, and hear brief mission and ministry updates. 

Then on Sunday afternoon, we will meet at 3:30 at Bayview Park for our annual Church Picnic. 

I look forward to seeing you in worship and Bible study during September.

Series: Soul Purpose

Sep4   “Discovering Your Soul Purpose” Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Matthew 22:36-38

Sep7   “Restoring Your Soul” Psalm 23, III John 1-2         

Sep11“Soul Considerations” Psalm 35:9-10, I Peter I:3-9
Sep14“Soul Competency”

Sep18 “Pushing Up Daisies” Psalm 116:15, Mark 8:35-37

Sep21 “An Anchor for Your Soul” Hebrews 6:18-20

Sep25 “Soul Searching”  Psalm 139:1-4, 7-8, 13-14, 23-24
Sep28 Mission Fair

What It Means To Be a Pastor

I have been reading several good books this summer but one has inspired me to re-think and re-affirm my calling.  The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson is an inspiring autobiographical account of what it means to be called to pastoral ministry and to live out that vocation in a unique community.

While Peterson is known to many primarily for his popular Bible translation called The Message, for me his greatest contribution has been his writings about pastoral work.  Years ago I read three of Peterson’s books about pastoral ministry:  Five Smooth Stones of Pastoral Work, The Contemplative Pastor, and Under the Unpredictable Plant.  In a church world that looks to the pastor to be the CEO, a chaplain-on-demand, or an ecclesial entrepreneur, Peterson reminds ministers and churches that a pastor is a spiritual director, a calling to be a “soul friend who walks alongside others pointing out what God is doing in their life.”

In a fast paced world, where a competitive consumerist culture has invaded the church, pastors are often expected to be an idealistic combination of captivating motivational speaker, savvy executive/administrator, and extraordinary counselor.  But the call to be a pastor is unique.  There is no other vocation like it.

For Peterson, the call to be a pastor is a call to spiritual discernment and caring within a unique local congregation and community.  It is not a “one size fits all” occupation that functions uniformly in cookie cutter churches.

In Peterson’s Memoir, he summarizes his understanding of the biblical role of a pastor:

The pastor is “not someone who ‘gets things done’ but rather the person placed in the community to pay attention and call attention to ‘what is going on right now’ between men and women, with one another and with God—this kingdom of God that is primarily local, relentlessly personal, and prayerful ‘without ceasing.’

Each of us is responsible to God for fulfilling our calling. Thirty-five years ago I confirmed my calling to be a pastor, and I am still learning and growing and understanding more of what it means to provide spiritual direction to a congregation.  Being a pastor is more than what I do. It is who I am called to be.

This Sunday we will be looking at Psalm 100 which encourages us to prioritize “A Time to Worship.”  On Sunday evening we will meet in Chipley Hall at 6 p.m. for the final August Concert presented by our Worship Team and Worship Band.

I count it a privilege to serve alongside you as your pastor, and I look forward to seeing you in worship and Bible study this Sunday.

Know the God of Wonders

The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

-Psalm 19: 1 NIV

When we marvel at the wonders of the universe, we discover that the awesome wonders of God inspire and invite us to know the God of wonders.  Renowned astronaut Neil Armstrong once said, “Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.”

This Sunday, as we continue our series on Awesome Wonder, we will be focused on Psalm 19 and our opportunity to “Know the God of Wonders.”

This Sunday is also Back to School Sunday.  You are invited to come dressed casually wearing your school colors.  In each of our worship services we will be recognizing our students and teachers, and we will share in a season of prayer for the coming school year.

Our annual Beach Baptism is scheduled for this Sunday afternoon at four o’clock at 501 Panferio behind the Shell’s home at Pensacola Beach.  At this point we have 11 candidates scheduled for baptism.  If you or a member of your family have recently made a commitment to Christ or a decision regarding church membership, please contact me or one of our staff ministers to prepare for baptism.

Pray for our Children’s Minister Search Team as we deepen our search for our next Minister of Children.  Ms. Jean provided excellent leadership and left big shoes to fill, but we believe God will lead us to someone who will build on the great foundation that is already in place.

We are also grateful to Lauren Sansing who is filling in temporarily as the Ministry Assistant in the Children’s Department.  We hope to have a new Ministry Assistant in the office within a couple of weeks.

We are extremely grateful to have a team of devoted laypersons who will be providing leadership during the interim season.  Mike Hudson will be the leader of the interim team.  Pray for Mike and our interim leadership team as they plan and coordinate fall events and activities.   (For more information regarding Children’s Ministry and the search for a Children’s Minister, please check out the Children’s Ministry FAQ at www.fbcp.org.)

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday in worship and Bible study as we deepen our faith in the God of wonders.

Making Large Gifts Even Larger

Excitement was evident last Sunday as I was privileged to announce the receipt of two extraordinary gifts toward the ministries of First Baptist Church.  The first was a gift from Dr. James Pleitz, our beloved pastor emeritus, who went home to be with the Lord this past May.  Dr. Pleitz planned to give a sizable gift toward the payment of the Paul Royal Recreation and Outreach Center.  He gave the first portion of that gift several months ago, and his children, Nancy Hinson and Danny Pleitz, fulfilled their father’s wishes by presenting the final portion of that gift in memory of James and Margaret Ann Pleitz, a few days ago. 

The second gift comes from the Nellums Estate.  Bill and Sibyl Nellums joined First Baptist Church in 1962.  During their tenure, they were faithful and active in many areas of ministry.  The gift from the Nellums has two components.  First, in addition to leaving gifts to their family members and to the Baptist Hospital Foundation, they bequeathed a $420,000 cash gift that was presented to our church by their nephew a few weeks ago.  In addition to the monetary gift, they left their house at

420 South 2^nd Street

. Our corporate directors have received title to that property and it is now on the market.  Bill and Sibyl’s wishes were for these gifts to be used in a way that advances the mission and ministries of First Baptist Church.  While every gift, no matter how small or large, is significant to the work of the kingdom, to my knowledge, the Nellums’ gift is the largest one time gift ever received by First Baptist Church.

As we covenant to be good stewards of these gifts, our church family offers our heartfelt gratitude to the Pleitz Family and the Nellums Family for their generosity and their vision.

The work on the Paul Royal Recreation and Outreach Center was completed in February 2008 at a cost of $3.2 million. The gift from Dr. Pleitz reduced the remaining balance on the ROC to $641,000. 

As our Finance Committee, in consultation with staff and leadership, designated the monetary gift from the Nellums Estate, they have provided appropriations to areas that the Nellums were passionate about such as Transportation and History and Archives.

Because Bill and Sibyl were vitally interested in reaching children, students, and families for the future, we have appropriated $320,000, approximately half of the balance on the ROC, as we call upon the congregation to “match” the other half and pay off the balance on the ROC by December of this year.

Is this an attainable goal?  Absolutely!  You and I can make these large gifts from our senior saints even larger by bringing our generous and sacrificial gifts to complete the payment for the ROC.  And we can begin 2012 as a debt-free congregation.   Together, we can meet and surpass this goal.

This Sunday we continue our Awesome Wonder series as we explore “When Cymbals Clash” from Psalm 150.  At the beginning of the Midmorning Service, we will be celebrating the baptism of new believers.

On Sunday evening, the second August Concert, Praise God with the Harps! begins at six o’clock in the sanctuary.

These are exciting days to be a part of what God is doing at FBCP.  I look forward to seeing you in worship and Bible study this Sunday.