Mt. Carmel Baptist Church - THE COURIER
March 2015
“ON THE CORNER, REACHING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS.”
A Word from the Pastor
Dear Church Family,
Connie and I are expecting our
fifth and sixth grandchildren to be
born this month. Being a grandparent
is great: lots of blessings with very
little of the work. Being a parent is
great too, but very tiring and very
demanding. It seems to be getting
more difficult as time goes by. It has
never been easy to do “family” right,
but it is so much more complicated
and challenging now.
If ever we needed God’s wisdom,
guidance and help, it is now. Clarifying our values, setting our priorities,
planning our schedules, growing our
relationships and joyfully living our
lives requires much prayer, dedication, perseverance and help. Among
many things, a church is a family of
families, even if some families consist
of but one person (singles, widows,
widowers, and orphans, for example).
Thus, family life in a church, with
the increased numbers and diversity
of sizes, personalities, backgrounds
and opinions, requires much grace,
understanding and patience. In short,
the Presence of God is required.
We need to hear from God, be
guided by God, be challenged and
encouraged by God, and be changed
by God so that we can have healthy
relationships with Him and each other in a family setting. Among many
other things, God is our Father, Jesus
our elder brother, and the Holy Spirit
the glue that holds us all together.
Our little ones desperately need this:
the touch and blessing of our Master.
As we search for a new Children’s
and Family Minister, keep this much
in your thoughts and prayers. But remember that ultimately family requires that each of us values and invests ourselves into one another’s
lives. It takes work, hard work, but
the reward is more than worth the
effort.
See you Sunday,
- A friend is someone who laughs with you…
- A friend helps you through the hard times…
- A friend tells you when you’re acting silly…
and may encourage you to stay that way
- A friend cares… about today and tomorrow.
Friend Sunday – March 1, 2015 - is an annual
back-to-church event to give you the encouragement
you need to invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to visit
your church.
Behold the Lamb
A service of remembrance and reflection
Sunday, March 29th
6:00pm
Sunday,
March 8
Lance
Sunday, March 8th
*12:00pm - All items begin in a Silent Auction
*12:45pm - Items with highest silent auction totals
proceed to Live Auction
1:00pm - Live Auction Begins
COST for LUNCH
Adults: $7
Children (12 & Under): $3
Children (Under 3): Free
Family Maximum: $25
ADVANCED TICKET INFORMATION
*Immediately after the second service in the Sanctuary Lobby
*From Debbie Phillips in the church office
AUCTION MAIN EVENT
Come prepared to bid on a variety of
Cakes, Pies, Cupcakes, Brownies & Cookies
*Back in 2015: Cash & Carry desserts
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES & INDIVIDUALS
Led by our Worship Musicians
*Please consider bringing multiple non-refrigerated baked goods to the Auction
*All dessert items should be in the Activities Center on
Sunday, March 8 no later than 10:45am
CHURCH NEWS
The Egg Hunt
March
1
AtMt.Carmel
Friend Sunday
7
Dessert auction
set-up
Dave & Fran
McKinney
worship choir
rehearsal
Saturday, April 4th
10:00 -11:00am
8
Dessert auction
One egg hunt
Daylight Saving
time begins
10:15am
10
Joy club
12
We will be collecting
donations of individually
wrapped candy starting
March 8.
Building &
Grounds mtg
13
Night club
Mt. Carmel’s Goal is $6500
14
All are invited:
Totally 80s
Mt Carmel’s
Ministry Fair
19
Matthew 25
20
Sunday, April 19
6:00pm
Youth Game Night
23
Grow
Basket Auction
28
Choir
rehearsal
City gospel
29
Palm Sunday
Choir program
JOY Club
March 10
11:45am
Genealogy
Who and Why
by
George Washington
YOU
ARE
APPRECIATED!
Sunday, May 3 - Noon
VBS -
June 15-19
If you volunteer in any way, you are
valued! We would like to show our
appreciation by inviting you to a
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
on
Friday, April 17 at 6:30pm
Mission Trip to
West Virginia
July 5 - 10, 2015
Operation Christmas Child
Julie Cummins accepted the 5 year award for Mt. Carmel’s participation as a Relay Center from Ohio Administrative Coordinator Marcey Page.
Mt. Carmel at a glance:
You must RSVP in order to attend.
Please call the church office @
791-7323 no later than April 8.
2010 - 358 Boxes
2011 - 422 Boxes
2012 - 385 Boxes
2013 - 498 Boxes
2014 - 531 Boxes
Relay Center - 1629
Relay Center - 1500+
Relay Center - 2143
Relay Center - 2716
Relay Center - 2558
Speaking of Ministry
I pray that you are enduring the cold temperatures and
the snow. Spring is just a few
weeks away!
I just had a very encouraging phone call from a young
couple who used to be members of Mt. Carmel. The young
lady said that they had a great
experience in our church during their time with us. She
said that they learned from us
what a church was supposed
to be. They learned how to
welcome people and how to
be involved in ministry. They
also learned the importance
of studying and hearing the
Word taught and preached.
As I listened to her words,
I was deeply touched and encouraged by the moving of
the Holy Spirit in our lives. He
helps us to be the people we
need to be to guide and mentor the people that God puts
in our path. As we do God’s
work here at Mt. Carmel, let’s
remember that we are here
for a reason and a purpose.
God can use us to touch the
lives of others, and it can be
passed on, as it has been
down through the ages.
We have many people who
come here and are able to be
here for only a short time. Our
influence and encouragement
to them can set them on a
path to reach others and to
have a lifetime of ministry
wherever they go. We have
many young people that grow
up here and leave to go on to
minister in many ways. We are
proud of each of them as we
see their progress and growth.
One young man that grew
up at Mt. Carmel is Eric Balmer. He is a Junior at
Georgetown College. He is very
active in college life, and he is
the editor of the college newspaper. Last summer he worked
as an intern at a church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. We are
very proud of him as he remains true to his faith and calling. I asked him to write a few
words about what it meant to
him to grow up at Mt. Carmel.
Pray for him as God continues
to work in his life.
In His Service,
Connie
The children's and youth ministries at Mt. Carmel impacted me
both in my personal spiritual walk,
as well as my outlook on ministering
to others. I was inspired to love God
through loving others. Some of my
best memories from youth group was
all of the opportunities of service
through City Gospel Mission, MFuge, and a variety of other mission
oriented outings. Also, I benefited
greatly from the fellowship with
brothers and sisters in Christ, and
still to this day have found strength
and encouragement from the bonds
I've formed with friends I've met at
Mt. Carmel.
As a college student, I look back
on my times in those ministries and
am incredibly grateful. The leaders
in those ministries taught me how to
live a Christian life in today's world,
how to treat others with the love of
Christ, and how to embrace the person that God made me to be.
- Eric Balmer
Student Ministry
By the time you read this, hopefully,
one rather large event will have
passed while another is still yet to
come. Due to some surprising snow,
like many of you on Wednesday,
February 18th, I found myself toiling away at home. After venturing
out to grab coffee and groceries,
I decided to settle in for the day.
All of a sudden to my surprise, my
rather loud doorbell rang and
I sprang to see what was the matter.
Wait, it’s not Christmas…yet! Three
young boys [picture the 1990’s boy
Band, Hanson] asked if they could
shovel my driveway. Their only request: pay what seemed ‘fair.’ We
haggled on a price (originally $15,
but in the end $21) and they proceeded to get to work. Upon completion, I gave them what I thought
was ‘fair’ and inquired if anyone else
had secured their shoveling services.
Excitedly, they said ‘Yes!’ The oldest
of the Hanson brothers described an
elderly woman who had given them
what she thought was ‘fair’ [$150]
after they had already agreed upon
what seemed to be the very reasonable price of $20; these guys were
good, but talk about getting what
they did not deserve! Upon reflection, there’s a name for what those
boys received and we should all
know it well…GRACE! As believers, the ultimate story of grace is
Jesus on the cross; God’s free and
unmerited favor or what we sometimes refer to as ‘receiving what we
do not deserve.’ Be generous and
practice grace this month; you’ll be
glad you did! Because of the most
recent round of snow, the annual
Youth Ministry Lunch & Dessert
Auction has been postponed until
Sunday, March 8. The Dessert
Auction team, church staff and
many of you believe this new date
offers Mt. Carmel the best chance to
experience the auction, as you know
it, to its fullest. Thank you for supporting Mt. Carmel students and
children and we look forward to
seeing on the Sunday, March 8th.
Have a great month and I’m sure
I’ll be seeing you around.
In Your Corner,
Pat Allen
Alice Bergevin
Florence Bond
Janet & Lonnie Burnett
Bernice Farmer
Louise Hansen
Laverne Hartman
Betty Hines
Lou McIntosh
Joyce Osborne
Wanda Tudor
Galen & Hilda Woodard
The family of Betty Stambaugh
Gary & Susan Waits in the
death of Gary’s aunt.
Tonia Toler and family in
the death of her cousin.
Phil & Stacy Pike and family
in the death of Phil’s sister.
Debbie, Jerry, & Tyler Phillips and family in the death
of Debbie’s aunt.
Betsy Schenck & Don Frye
in the death of their sister,
Helen Frye.
Carolyn Schneider & family
in the death of her mother-in
-law.
John Ellison & family in the
death of his sister.
Jeff
March 1 – Friend Sunday
March 8
Lunch & Dessert Auction
4, 11, 18, 25
FUEL / 5:55pm
A thank you card was received by:
Gene and Val Zackerman
Jim Downey
The Crumpler Family
The Stambaugh Family
29
Shut-In Ministry
Lunch & Visit
I want to express my appreciation to all of my church family
for all the words of affirmation,
hugs, and recognition of my
20th anniversary here in the
church office. God certainly
blessed me when He led me
here to serve you and to serve
with you. It has been a joy and
a privilege.
1, 15, 22, 29
Joyful Sound & Grapple
With lots of love,
Debbie Phillips
20
Youth Game
Night /7:00pm
Transforming Lives Through Christ–centered Relationships
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church
8645 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Mtcarmelbaptist.org
513.791.7323
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
1 Jim Buck, Megan Poff
3 Laurie Gruner, Jennifer Harris, Alexis Holdren
4 Norma Helton
6 John Davis, Mike Rhein, Val Zackerman
7 Megan Bobka, Molly Helton
8 Jeff Prince
9 Lily Andrews, Jerry Phillips
10 Elizabeth Banks, Dee Buck, Gene Dunagan, Tyler Sweeney
11 Renee King
12 Rosa Branscum, Jordan Brewer
13 Arnold Foster
14 Carolyn Schneider
15 Ralph Heitmeyer, David Proudfit
16 Paul Proffitt
18 Linda Lewallen
19 Lola Durden, Marcus Rose, Irma Smith
21 Cotton Cobb, James McSwain
22 Jon Ondreka
23 Jean Suit
24 Rebecca Brewer, Buck Hamilton, Pauline Henke
25 Dennis Eaton, Ellen Meece
26 Janet Burnett
27 Alex Strull, Niki Weidner
28 Claudette Easley, Eric Murphy
29 Emily Blomer, Anna Weidner
30 Ken Carpenter, Don Engle, Jeanne Reuscher,
Christina Schroeder, Shannon Whitson
31 Mandy Barnes, Brian Grote
NIGHT CLUB
Friday
March 13
6:30pm
Matthew 25 Ministries
The 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:00am
Staff e-mail
Contact Julie Cummins
Debbie
[email protected]
GROW Senior Adults
Lance
[email protected]
Greeting Card Ministry
The 4th Monday at 3:00pm
City Gospel Mission
The 4th Saturday of each month at 3:45pm
Carpool from the church lot
Dulcimer Nursing Home Ministry
Every Tuesday evening
Contact Vickey Sasser
Connie
[email protected]
Jeff
[email protected]
Jamie
[email protected]
Linda
[email protected]
Cheri
[email protected]
Susan
[email protected]