February /
March 2015
“THE WARMEST PLACE” ~ PASTOR RYAN WHITE
“Being
Right now as I type, our puppy is lying in front of the
warmest place in the kitchen. The vent just in front of the
sink has been his home for the past two days. You see, it just
happens to be the warmest place in the house.
http://fbcstanton.org/
FBC Chronicles
and Making Followers of Jesus Christ”
Our puppy is such a
welcome member of our
family.
We feed him,
make sure his water is
clean and clear, play with
him, take him for walks,
and take him to the vet
when needed. He has his
quirks, as do we, so we fit
nicely together.
As I have been thinking over and over 1 Thessalonians
5:16-18 the past several weeks, I realize that these three
commands are likely to keep me in the warmest place in my
life. As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, there are certain things that I am commanded to do that are for my good.
These commands are not only good but they keep me centered on things which warm my life with the life of Jesus
Christ.
Rejoice always; Pray without ceasing; Give thanks in all
circumstances. There you have it: the pathway for real
warmth, joy, thankfulness, and communication with the God
of the universe, who gave His only Son to be our Savior.
There is a praise song, “10,000 Reasons” that we’ve been
singing. Praising God is always the right activity for any
situation. Praise ignites my heart because I find my goal and
purpose reached when I’m praising. If we all were made by
Christ, for Christ, then praising should raise the warmth in
our relationship with God.
“The Warmest Place”, continued
Prayer without intermission keeps me in constant contact with our Father in
Heaven who knows our needs before a word is spoken. He longs to hear me
speak to Him, praise Him, thank Him, and ask Him for help to meet the needs
in my life. Time with someone creates warmth in relationship; time away does
little to maintain the vital connection needed to provide what I need most:
more of Christ.
Thanking God for everything in Christ is a grace that allows me to overflow
with joy. As Ann Voskamp so wonderfully ties together in pages 31-37 of her
book, One Thousand Gifts, thanking God creates real warmth in my relationship with Him which overflows to touch many others (Colossians 2:6-7).
So are you cold in your relationship with God or cultivating the commands
that yield wonderful warmth? Joy, Prayer, and Giving Thanks are interconnected, as is our vital relationship with Jesus Christ and all the others that He
has placed in our lives.
Our puppy has found the warmest place in our home and he isn’t moving.
When I choose to obey Christ’s commands concerning Joy, Prayer, and Giving
Thanks, I find that I’ve found the warmest place as well. By God’s rich Grace,
I’ll stay put.
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The 2015 TeamKID Grand
Prix was held Wednesday,
January 28. Thank you to
all that came out and
watched the races!
The 2015 Medalists:
4th Place: Alyssa Johnson
3rd Place:
Darby Peterman
2nd Place:
Emma Dickinson
1st Place: Brooklyn James
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In December and January the youth group was involved in a several service projects:
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Helping with the Christmas shoeboxes
Setting up the church for the Christmas program
Singing Christmas carols at the Myrtle Mae apartments
Helping to set up for the Grand Prix
Helping the night of the Grand Prix
− Some upcoming activities are:
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Board Game Night (With a special focus to invite friends.)
Movie Night: Seasons of Grey (A Modern Retelling of the story
of Joseph.)
We have a weekly Bible study called “Second Step” on Thursday nights
for students in 8th grade and older. We dig further into the curriculum
used in Sunday school. Currently we are studying about the various
ways God is our shelter in the storms of life.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
The tantalizing smells welcomed 11 men to breakfast January 24th in the fellowship hall. The blueberry pancakes, sausage, eggs, orange juice, and coffee
were delicious and the fellowship was sweet. Thanks to Pastor, Don, and Dan
who served, and Mary Jorgensen who provided the griddle. Pastor Ryan
brought encouragement from God's Word.
KING'S DAUGHTERS BIBLE STUDY
The King's Daughters Bible Study is continuing to be
blessed, comforted, stretched, and challenged by the
subject of the Holy Spirit and His control of our
lives, families, marriages, and church. All ladies are
welcome to attend.
SOUP AND SANDWICH FUN NIGHT
Men, women, boys and girls, you are ALL invited to
a Soup and Sandwich Fun Night in the Fellowship
Hall where we will have soup and sandwiches, fun
games, and an opportunity to get better acquainted.
Be sure to invite all your friends. See you there!
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IN MEMORY OF ELDON WARD JONES, EAGLE RIVER, MICHIGAN
Eldon Jones (age 101) died at the home of his son, Melvin Jones,
in Eagle River, Michigan on January 22, 2015. He was born in
Stanton, Michigan on March 15, 1913 to his parents, Orin and
Nora Jones. He is survived by a brother, Nyle (age 96) of
Greenville, a sister, Alnora Emmons (age 93) of Stanton, a daughter, Marcia Viegelahn of Calumet, three sons: Melvin (Carol) of Eagle River,
Merlyn (Nancy) of Otsego, Michigan, Keith of Boise, Idaho, eight grandchildren,
and nineteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty
five years, Esther (Chapin); his daughter-in-law, Candy Jones; and son-in-law,
Gary Viegelahn.
Eldon graduated from Stanton High School in 1931. After graduation, he took
training in radio repair and set up a repair shop at Stebbins Hardware and Furniture Store in Stanton. In June of 1939, he was married to Esther. During the
1940’s he worked for a newly developed natural gas company in Stanton. From
1950 to 1970, he owned and operated the Stanton Plumbing and Heating business where he also sold and serviced radios and TV’s. During the seventies,
eighties, and mid-nineties, he and Esther spent their winters in Florida where
he first worked as a service man for a local LP gas company and then volunteered in the maintenance department at the Spurgeon Baptist Bible College in
Mulberry Florida. In the summer, Eldon, at first, worked for the Montcalm
County Health Department, then, in 1980, Eldon and Esther spent their summers volunteering at the Gitche Gumee Bible Camp in Eagle River, where their
son, Melvin was the director. Eldon continued helping there until just the past
few years. During his lifetime, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of
Stanton, Shepherd Road Baptist Church of Mulberry, and First Baptist Church
of Calumet. He was also a member of the Gideons. When Eldon graduated
from high school, one of his aunts, Ettie Morgan, wrote him a letter of congratulations. In that letter, she says: “And may the world be better for having known
you.” Her prayers were answered.
A memorial service was held on Saturday January 31st at 12:00 noon at the
First Baptist Church of Calumet with visitation from ten to twelve in the morning. Gifts can be made in Eldon’s memory to Gitche Gumee Bible Camp, 5189
Garden City Road, Eagle River, MI 49950. Eldon will be interred at the Lake
View Cemetery, Calumet, Michigan.
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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Barbara Gonzales — 5
Mabel Parcher — 6
Cindy Shick — 7
Sabine Hang — 12
Don Smucker — 18
Helen Waldron — 19
Shannon Kooistra — 19
Bertha Smucker — 20
Kathy Sweet — 26
Pat Evans — 27
Carole Cooper — 27
Dan Suprise — 29
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Marvin Sweet — 3
Jerry Wieferich — 5
Debbie Campbell — 10
Lyle Cooper — 16
Margaret Cooper — 16
Bob Erskin — 16
Charlene Gates — 22
Helen Hamler Caris — 30
Denise Tatum — 30
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