Thursday, July 27, 2017

HAPPENING IN AUGUST

HAPPENING IN AUGUSTPastor Sean, his team and area youth pastors are putting on a combined even called Collide Back To School Event. It will be a back to school weekend on August 4 through 6. I think the idea is great and it will go over great. What I like even more is that it is a multi-church, multi-denominational effort. Sean is doing a great job in reaching out to the other churches on James Island to combine efforts of reaching this generation of youth.

BEACH BAPTISM
We are planning a beach baptism for Saturday, August 19. Plans right now are to meet at Folly Beach (exact location to be announced) around 10 am and celebrate together. If you are waiting for baptism and want to join us on this day, we would be thrilled to have you. Let us know in the church office, 843-762-0244.

We celebrate the baptism of Bruce Murray this past Sunday. What a joy to hear his testimony of how he accepted God’s great gift of salvation. By the way, part of the change in his life came as he read the book by John Eldredge, Wild At Heart. A great read for any man. It is also a great read for women who want to better understand the men in your life. What a great God to have done it that way. Amen!

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)On Wednesday, August 23, JIBC is scheduled to host a NAMI meeting open to anyone interested in understanding mental illness and related issues. This seminar will help explain what it is like to live with mental illness and how to live well with mental illness. This will be a powerful presentation and I strongly encourage you to attend. I feel safe to say you will not be sorry if you do attend, you might be sorry that you did not. More information to come.

A.B.B.A.
John Scheifert and a group of adult men are putting together a ministry to serve school age boys. This would primarily be 1st through 5th grade. On their last outing they went to a Riverdogs Baseball game. The next one is scheduled for August 27 right after worship on Sunday. They are taking a trip to the Fire Museum in North Charleston and will have some of our very own firemen with them for that extra value added. More information to follow.

Blessings,

Pastor Tom






Thursday, July 20, 2017

Joy…That Lasts A Lifetime

This past Sunday we started a new teaching series on the book of Philippians. This book, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God and written by the Apostle Paul is only four chapters long. It is an example of the old saying that dynamite comes in small packages. This is one of my favorite books written by Paul. It is often referred to as The Epistle of Joy for a good reason. It may be the most personal of all Paul’s writings as he reveals his thoughts on living and dying. Inside this little epistle is a guide to building joy into our lives. We will focus on the spiritual disciplines and habits needed to experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit…joy! That will be my focus for the next six to eight weeks. We can learn from Paul how to sing in the cell, how to praise in our self inflicted prisons and how to focus on a God that can touch the world from any place we might find ourselves. This is a letter of thanksgiving and joy. The two are almost always found thriving together. Thankfulness is the soil that allows joy to grow to full maturity.

I encourage you to read and reread Philippians in your quiet time. Come with your cup running over ready to explore the wonderful truths of God’s Word. At least 16 times Paul refers to joy or rejoicing. This little letter is filled to the brim with joy…let’s enjoy it and drink deeply. “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.

There are several verses in this little book that I encourage you to memorize. I know, that is a hard word for many of us. OK, if you can’t memorize, how about meditate on them. If you will hear the word, read the word and then meditate on the word…you might get a wonderful surprise and find that you can also memorize the word. Try these verses first: 1:6, 1:21, 2:5-11(one of my favorite), 4:4, 4:13 and 4:19. All these and many more are worthy of our efforts to hide them in our hearts.

“I thank my God for you every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy…”

See you Sunday, Good Lord willing,

Pastor Tom


Thursday, July 13, 2017

A GIANT ROUND OF APPLAUSE!

This year’s anniversary Sunday could not have ended better. We had a wonderful day of worship even without the projector (the storm knocked it out). The highlight had to be the picnic at the park. Oh my, what a success. The air conditioned Edisto Hall was just the ticket. It seated around 175 not 200. That is only because we had three complete tables filled to the brim with delicious desserts!

I am sure we cannot remember everyone to thank, but let’s give it a try. First, our all star Kitchen Krew. This team gave out over 350 plates of food, cooking, prepping and serving from a kitchen far smaller than the one at JIBC. They served a record number in record time. The Cookin’ Krew grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for Sunday’s picnic and enough for Celebrate Recovery Sunday night! Is there anything better than a grilled hamburger? Great job. The set up team was able to set all the tables and chairs, decorate and put out all the anniversary pictures and still made it back to JIBC in time for worship. Outstanding. Sean and company had the largest kickball I have ever seen. I stopped by to observe but ran for cover when recruited to be in the field! Marty and his band of praise provided great music for us to enjoy. That made three services for Marty and his crew. Before and after, we had dozens of volunteers helping to put up tables and chairs, carry equipment and clean up. Great servants one and all. Your church staff, as usual, went above and beyond the call of duty. They led, served, worked and even had time to enjoy fellowship. I am proud to serve with such a team. The amount of effort to pull of such an event is tremendous. It sure provided for an AAA+ day of enjoyment. I will say that after I got home from Sunday night’s Celebrate Recovery…I was toast! The overwhelming feedback was the day was a great success. Our thanks to all who made it so.

Pastor Tom


Thursday, July 6, 2017

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY PICNIC/RAIN OR SHINE

This Sunday, July 9 will be the 70th Anniversary for the James Island Baptist Family. Here are the basics again: Sunday Connection Groups at 9:45 just as always; Worship at 11:00 same as each week. We will celebrate Communion this Sunday as part of our Anniversary Celebration. We will conclude the service by 11:45 and gather at James Island County Park/Edisto Hall and begin serving at 12:30.

Our kitchen crews and set up teams will go early. So, we will be able to start eating by the time we get there. You can pick up your pre-paid tickets at the church office any day this week. We will have 200 pre-paid park entrance tickets available on a first come/first served basis. They will be available at both welcome centers and the Plymouth Avenue side door. If you have a park pass, then you are already able to get in free...what a great perk!

We will have air conditioned seating for 200 people in the Edisto Hall. There will also be picnic tables outside. Take advantage of the park and enjoy the day. We will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, coleslaw and potato salad. We will also have watermelons and desserts. Drinks, ice and all paper products will be supplied for you. If you are bringing a dessert, please bring it to the park as you come to the park. Our Kitchen Krew will already be at the park and not able to transport desserts from the church campus.

RAIN OR SHINE, the Edisto Hall is rented and we will have a grand old time. Join us and bring a friend. Let’s celebrate all He has done for us!

Pastor Tom