May 3rd Family Tools

PreSchool

Paul Tells About Jesus

Acts 16:9-15

BIG IDEA: We can tell others the good news about Jesus.

GET TALKING:

• How did Paul decide to go to Phillipi? (A dream.)
• Who did Paul find along the river in Phillip? (A group of women who loved God. Lydia.)
• He shared the good news about Jesus with the women. What are some things you think he told them? (Jesus is God's son. Jesus is alive. Jesus loves us. Jesus cares for us.)
• Lydia believed all the good news about Jesus, what happened next? (She was baptized. Everyone in her house believed and was baptized. She invited Paul and his friends to stay at her house.)

ACTION PLAN: Identify places you like to go.  Who can you tell there about Jesus?

PRAYER:  Thank God for the good news that Jesus loves us and help us to share it with others.

MAY MEMORY VERSE:

Jesus said, 'Go and tell the good news.  Mark 16:15

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Elementary

Directions for Paul

Acts 16:6-15

BIG IDEA:  God gives me courage to tell others about Jesus.

GET TALKING:

• Paul and his friends originally planned to go to Asia, but they ended up going to Macedonia.  Why? (The Holy Spirit stopped them.  Paul had a vision of a man asking them to come to Macedonia.)
• What did Lydia do when she heard the good news?  (She believed and became a christian, as well as her whole household.  She was baptized.  She invited Paul and his friends to stay at her house.)
• When are times kids your age can tell others about Jesus? (Examples: When a friend ask why you go to church. When a friend asks about your Bible. When a friend is sad. When you learn something new about Jesus. When a friend asks why you pray before eating.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS:  Paul obeyed God by telling others about Jesus. He shared the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection with Lydia and thankfully she chose to believe, along with her whole household.  But it wasn't because Paul was a great speaker, or because was really popular... it was because he obeyed God to tell people the good news, and the Holy Spirit did the rest.  God changes peoples' hearts.  Not us.  God doesn't call us to be successful, He calls us to be faithful and obedient.

ACTION PLAN: Plan ways to tell others about Jesus, and ask God for courage to be His messenger.

May Memory Verses:

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

"Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." Ephesians 5:15-16

April 26th Family Tools

PreSchool

The Poor Woman's Gift

Mark 12:41-44

BIG IDEA:  We can show love to God.

GET TALKING:

• How did the poor woman show that she loved God?  (She gave her money to God.)
• What was the difference between the rich people's offering and the poor woman's offering? (The rich people gave lots of money, but still had money left over. The poor woman gave all she had.)
• What are some ways that we can show love to God? (Pray. Sing. Be kind to others. Go to church. Give Him an offering/tithe.)

ACTION PLAN:  Name some ways that you can show God love this week.

PRAYER:  Thank God for His love, and tell Him you love Him, too.

APRIL MEMORY VERSE:  

How good it is to sing praises to our God. Psalm 147:1

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Elementary

Miracle at Lystra

Acts 14:6-20

BIG IDEA: God is powerful, and I can trust Him to use His power to care for me.

GET  TALKING: 

• When Paul and Barnabas got to Lystra, they started telling people about Jesus.  What happened after the people saw Paul heal the crippled man?  (They thought they were gods. They wanted to sacrifice animals and worship them.)
• How did Paul and Barnabas respond to the people?  (They tore their clothes to show them they were sad that they thought they were gods. They tried explaining they were just human, and told them about God.
• What did Paul tell them about God? (That He is the one true God. He is alive and powerful.)
• How did God's power take care of Paul when the angry people tried to stone him? (God saved him from death.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS: When Paul healed the crippled man in Lystra, the people thought he and Barnabas were gods.  But Paul and Barnabas knew they were there to tell the people about Jesus, not to get praise for themselves.  So they quickly stopped the people and tried to explain the truth about Jesus to them.  We have the same job that Paul and Barnabas had -- telling people about Jesus. We can follow their example and make sure that others know we are living for Jesus.  Sometimes this can be a difficult job, but God is bigger and more powerful than any fear or struggle we might have.  Just as God's power saved Paul from being stoned to death, His power is also available to us to help us through any situation.

ACTION PLAN: Discuss some things that God has done, that only He can do? (e.g. create the world, raise Jesus from the dead, etc.)  Talk about ways God uses His power today to care for us.

APRIL MEMORY VERSES:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Here's our new Logo

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Our new Logo

Our previous Logo, 2012-early 2015

This logo is more than an update to the look of our name, as it represents fundamental values of our church.  We have the opportunity to communicate our mission and values many different ways.  Joining the visual appearance of our name with our identity is a helpful tool in our communication of the Gospel.

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What’s with the shape?

• Bold, bright and simple.  It’s design can be used easily on multiple mediums.
• Using a triangle signifies the Trinity.
• The 3 elements & colors represent our communities landscape, ranging from the water to the mountains.

Versatility

Using a full color logo brings a level of brightness and fun, but being able to maintain a one color logo is important as well.  This expands our uses for the logo which, in turn, will bring a graphical continuity throughout our church.

Family Camp FAQ

You have questions, we have answers

This is our 38th year of Family Camp.  We only have a few that were there in the beginning, but we have plenty that are seasoned campers.  Take a look at some frequently asked questions to help you in your plans for Family Camp this year.

If you have more questions, shoot us a comment below and we can add it to the list

How much does camp cost?

Camp is only $40 per person.  That get's you 3 nights and 8 meals of awesomeness at Camp David Jr.

Kids 2 and under are free.

What do I need to bring?

We have the food & cabins covered, so just plan on the basics for camping.  The bunks carry a reputation for not being super comfy, but the jury is still out on that one.  Here's a quick list to get you started:

• Bible
• An extra camping mattress for the bunks (thermarests are great)
• A Sleeping Bag & Pillow
• Toiletries & Towels (beach & shower)
• Bathing suit
• Coffee Mug & Water Bottle (Camp mugs and glasses may not be taken from the lodge)
• Camping Chair + a great book
• Card/Board Games to play in the lodge (write your name on it)
• A large dessert to share (please turn in to the kitchen when you check in at camp)

Can I bring my boat?

Yes!  The camp has aluminum canoes and we have seen everything from sailboats, kayaks, SUP boards, ski boats and fishing boats make their way to camp.  If you do plan to bring a boat just let us know in your registration form.

Can I go swimming?

Yes!  We hire a beach certified lifeguard to keep us safe in the water.  We will have a couple hours each day where the beach is open and the life guard is on duty for you to swim.  There will be times when the beach is closed.

What are the cabins like?

The cabins are super simple.  Most cabins have 11 bunks in them with pads for each bunk.  They are all heated with skylights and concrete floors.  Most cabins will have 2 families in them.  There are partial walls dividing the 2 sections with a common space in the middle (there are no interior doors).  The cabins have no bathrooms in them, but are not far from a bathroom.  Showers are located in the lower level of the lodge.

Can I bring food?

We have a great kitchen staff that is planning and prepping to feed you and your family as you read this.  You don't need to bring any food except the large dessert to share, but feel free to bring your favorite snack to hold you over between meals that can be stored in your cabin.

If you have a special diet or allergies you can let our camp staff know on your registration form and they will plan for you.  If you need to refrigerate food at camp, we will set aside a small part of the fridge to be shared by all. 

What do I have to do to get a camp shirt?

Easy, just follow this link and buy yours by May 3rd.  Buy as many as you like, we love to see camp shirts and hoodies worn all year long! We cannot guarantee we will have your size available for purchase at camp.

What is the schedule at camp like?

We schedule camp with as much free time as possible for you to enjoy time with your family and your church.  There are some all-camp meetings here and there for teaching, singing and all-around fun, but we build camp to give you space to enjoy time together. 

Can I get a ride to camp?

We love to encourage carpooling, especially to Family Camp.  The church will not be providing any rides to camp this year through a bus or a van. 

Did we miss anything? Share a comment below an we will fill you in.

Meet the Camp Fund

This year, you may notice that when you register for Family Camp, or sit through one of our weekly services you will see something about the Camp Fund.  This is one of the biggest changes we have ever brought to our camp registrations.  Last year camp cost $35 per person, but this year with the introduction of the Camp Fund, we are dropping the cost of camp down to $15 per person!

The Camp Fund is vision driven

The Camp Fund is very exciting to announce, it is planned to be fully funded and supported by those that love camps and events and most importantly love people.  Our goal is that this will give us the chance to not just meet budget every time, but to keep camp cheap every time for every family.  The Camp Fund is vision driven.  This isn’t a one-time attempt to fund a single camp, but an on-going chance to give generously to all of our camps.  We couldn’t be more excited for how this will bless families through the love and support from other families and individuals in our church. 

Sign up for the best weekend of the year

What does this mean for you?  This means that you can breathe easy over family camp costs for your family this year.  Sign up and get those spots paid for so you can be on your way to the best weekend of the year.  This also means that you can seek out if God is calling you to give to the camp fund.  Some can give a lot, some can give a little and some won’t be giving any and that’s ok.  All we ask is that you spend time talking and praying about the Camp Fund.

We’re excited to see people blessed this year through the Camp Fund and are looking forward to partnering with you to make it all happen.  

See you at camp!
- Chris Cummings

Welcome Praise 106.5 Listeners

Welcome Praise 106.5 Listeners!

As pastor of the First Baptist Church, I am happy to welcome all our guests who have found us by way of our partnership with Praise 106.5.  We are glad to have you visit our website and I hope you will visit us in person as well.  If you are in town, please drop by to say “hi”.  If you’re just able to visit online you’re invited to leave a comment below. 

I would love the opportunity to know you better.  To help us connect it is my hope that when we meet in person, perhaps this Sunday, we can set a time to go grab a cup of java at your favorite Port Angeles coffee house.  The coffee is my treat.

I’d also like to take this chance to let you get to know us a little better.  This is our church’s 125th year in ministry here in Port Angeles.  We are intentionally using this landmark year to help us build excitement for how we can continue to share the “Good News” with our neighbors that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.

We do this in a number of ways.  For example, perhaps you’ve seen on Facebook the invitation to listen to the TED talk by the International Justice Mission (IJM) founder, Gary Haugen.  If not, it’s worth watching and you can see it here:

In June of this year we will get to house a group of young people who are bicycling from Seattle to Portland to bring attention to what the IJM is doing to fight human trafficking and other abuses of the world’s most poor and vulnerable.  We will host a dinner presentation where these noble cyclists will share with us how we can be involved to make a difference.

We strive also to help our church be a united body.  The challenges to mix the generations can be difficult, but we have found a system that works!  We host two worship services, a 9:30 traditional service and a 11:00 contemporary service which allows people to praise Jesus with their music that most stirs their hearts… but we do much to mix the generations in the ways we study scripture in small groups, serve our community with outreach activities such as our annual barbecue and our harvest festival.  Both of these events are offered free to our community.

My favorite church family activity is when we rent out Camp David Jr. on Lake Crescent and go on a church-wide camping trip over Memorial Day Weekend!

I want to express my gratitude to Praise 106.5 for sharing about First Baptist with their listening community.  It should be noted that this has been done purely as an act of joining in ministry with churches seeking to bring the hope of Christ to their communities.  No money has changed hands between our church and Praise 106.5 for their generous support of our congregation.  This great radio station is just one of many ministries overseen by a larger missional agency call CRISTA Ministries.  If you are unfamiliar with all that CRISTA does, I encourage you to spend some time looking over their website.

Thank you for stopping by our website and I hope to welcome you in person at one of our Sunday services sometime soon.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

April 19th Family Tools

PreSchool 

Jesus is Alive

Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:36-53; Acts 1:1-9

BIG IDEA: Jesus promised to care for His friends.

GET TALKING

• How did Jesus surprise His friends? (He showed up in the room where they were all talking.)
• What did Jesus tell His friends to do? (God tell everyone about me.)
• What did Jesus promise them? (That He would always be with them, even when they couldn't see Him.)
• How did Jesus return to Heaven? (He went up into the sky. God covered Him with a cloud.)
• What did Jesus' friends do after Jesus left them? (They went to the Temple to praise God.)
• ACTION PLAN: Identify ways Jesus cares for you.

PRAYER: Thank God for the good news that Jesus is alive and cares for us.

APRIL MEMORY VERSE:  

How good it is to sing praises to our God. Psalm 147:1

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Elementary

Paul Meets Jesus

Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-22

BIG IDEA: When I acknowledge who Jesus is, He helps me live in a new way.

GET TALKING: 

• How did Saul act before he experienced Jesus' power on the road to Damascus? (He didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah.  He wanted to arrest, hurt and keep Christians quiet. He approved of the people killing Stephen.)
• What happened after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus? (He couldn't see for 3 days. He finally believed in Jesus and started telling people about Jesus!)
• What job did God give Ananias to do?  How do you think he felt about that?  (God told him to go to Saul and pray for him.  He might have been afraid that Saul might hurt him. Maybe confused.)
• When we choose to believe in God, He helps us live in a new way.  What are some changes God might make in a person's life?  (Help us to be kind. Help us to forgive. Help us to make good decisions and do what is right.  Help us not to be afraid because He is with us.)
• CONNECTING TO JESUS:  Saul was committed to hurting people that followed Jesus, but he could not stop God's love and plan for his life.  God wanted him to share the good news about Jesus to others. When Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus, He stopped Saul in his tracks and turned his life around.  He was now an instrument to share the gospel, not stop it!  This is an example of how the power of Christ can change anyone, even the meanest of people! God can change us, too, and help us to live right and in a way that makes God happy!

ACTION PLAN: Describe changes that God makes in the lives of people who believe in Him.  Talk about some that we might need to work on in our own lives and ask God to help strengthen us in those areas.

APRIL MEMORY VERSES:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus

Have you had that experience with Christ when you realized that no one ever cared for you like Jesus? The Sisters in Sacred Song sang about that realization on Feb. 22nd in the 9:30 a.m. worship service.  Their medley reminded us of the deep love Christ has for each human being and the sole power He has to cleanse us from our sinful ways. Here the words again which the ladies sang on that Sunday:

“I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus since I found in Him a friend so strong & true.   

I would tell you how HE CHANGED MY LIFE COMPLETELY. He did something that

NO OTHER FRIEND COULD DO.

Every day He comes to me with new assurance.

More & more I understand His words of love.

But I’ll never know just why He came to save me,

Till some day I see His blessed face above.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no other friend so kind as He.

No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.

O how much He cared for me.”

Thank you ladies for singing that message to us in such a meaningful manner.

Our Sisters in Sacred Song members are: Juanita Rapids, Charvaun Hartman, Barbara Cummings, Sharon Smith, June Anderson, Melissa Koon, Carolyn Miller, Polly Withrow, Elizabeth Burritt and Robin Sweeney.

Our Sanctuary Choir rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. We will begin working on our Palm Sunday and Easter music. For all of you who like to sing and would like to participate in our Easter Season music come at 6:45 p.m. and learn our music with us. The songs will bless your soul.

“Sing”cerely, -Betty-

Dear Flock,

As you know, we have been talking a lot about our “Oikos” in our Sunday messages.  Recently I wrote to Tom Mercer, the pastor of High Desert Church and author of the book “8 to 15: The World Is Smaller Than You Think”.  He gave me permission to reprint the following thoughtful article on the idea of Oikos in our April Newsletter.  Use the link to read the article.  May you enjoy it and find its ideas very applicable in how you follow Jesus’ teaching to share His hope with your neighbors. 5 Myths about the Miracle at High Desert Church

April 12th Family Tools

PreSchool

The Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

BIG IDEA: We can be excited that God is with us wherever we go!

GET TALKING:

• Why were Jesus' friends sad? (Because Jesus had died.)
• Who came up and started walking with them along the road? (Jesus)
• Did they recognize Him at first? (No)  When did they finally recognize Him? (After He prayed and gave them bread.)
• What happened after they realized it was Jesus? (Jesus disappeared. They rushed back to tell their friends in Jerusalem.)

ACTION PLAN: Talk about all the places we go and how Jesus is always with us.

PRAYER: Thank God that Jesus is always with us.

APRIL MEMORY VERSE:  

How good it is to sing praises to our God. Psalm 147:1

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Elementary

Breakfast on the Beach 

John 21:1-19 

BIG IDEA: Jesus forgives me and helps me forgive others.

GET TALKING:

• What happened when the disciples fished all night? (They didn't catch anything.)
• What did Jesus tell the disciples to do?  What happened? (He told them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat. They caught a lot of fish, 153 total!)
• How did Jesus show Peter forgiveness? (Jesus asked him if he loved him 3 times, to make up for the 3 times Peter denied him.)
• How are some ways we can show forgiveness to others? (Pray for them. Say you forgive the person. Show kindness to the person.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS: Peter was sad after he realized that he had denied Jesus 3 times.  But Jesus showed Peter forgiveness by giving him the chance to right the wrong he had done.  In fact, Jesus gave him 3 chances, one for each time he denied Him. Jesus is a great example when it comes to forgiveness. Once He forgives, He wipes the slate clean and remembers our sins no more.  Forgiving people can be difficult sometimes, but we can always call on Jesus and ask Him to help us forgive others.

ACTION PLAN: Talk about times we need forgiveness and ask God to help us forgive others. 

APRIL MEMORY VERSES:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

April 5 Family Tools

Preschool

The Empty Tomb

 Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 22:2; 23:33-24:9; John 19:38-42

BIG IDEA: We are happy that Jesus is alive!

GET TALKING:

• Last week we talked about how many people celebrated Jesus coming to town, but other people weren't so excited.  They didn't like Jesus at all.  What did they do to Jesus? (They hung him on the cross.)
• After Jesus died, where did they put His body? (In the tomb. A cave with a big stone rolled in front of it.)
• His friends were very sad.  A couple of women went to the tomb and found quite the surprise!  What did they find? (Jesus' body was gone!  Two angels were there and told them Jesus was alive!)
• What did the women do when they heard the good news? (They ran to tell Jesus' friends that He was alive!)

ACTION PLAN: When we have good news, we want to share it with everyone! Name a friend that you want to tell the good news that Jesus is alive.

PRAYER: Thank God that Jesus is ALIVE and ask Him to help us share the good news with others.

APRIL MEMORY VERSE:  

"How good it is to sing praises to our God." Psalm 147:1

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Elementary

Jesus Is Risen

John 17-20

BIG IDEA: God loves me and made a way for me to be part of His family.

GET TALKING:

• What happened after Jesus had gone away to pray? (His disciples fell asleep. He was arrested, beaten and died on the cross.)
• What happened 3 days after Jesus died? (The stone was rolled away. He rose from the dead. He appeared to his friends.)
• Why did Thomas doubt that Jesus is alive? (Thomas had not seen Him yet.)  How did Thomas end up believing? (Jesus appeared to him and allowed him to touch his hands and side.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS: When Jesus died and rose again, everything happened just as God had said it would.  The Old Testament tells many details about Jesus, written long before Jesus was even born. God wants to show us that Jesus is the MOST IMPORTANT part of God's plan.  He is the only way to know God the Father.  He died and rose again so that we can be part of God's family!

ACTION PLAN: Tell what you know to be true about Jesus. Talk about how it may be easy or difficult to believe in someone we cannot see.

APRIL MEMORY VERSES:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

March 29th Family Tools

PreSchool

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

Matthew 21:1-11,15-16; Mark 11:1-10

BIG IDEA: There are many ways to praise Jesus.

GET TALKING:

• What did Jesus ask 2 of his helpers to do? (Go into the town ahead and get a donkey to bring back to Jesus.)
• The people were excited that Jesus was coming.  What did they do to show Jesus that they were happy to see Him?  (They laid palm branches and their coats on the road. They shouted "Hosanna")
• What does Hosanna mean? (Save us now. A shout of praise.)

ACTION PLAN: The word "praise" means to thank someone or to tell how great and good someone is.  Identify different ways to praise Jesus this week.

PRAYER: Thank God for Jesus and all He has done for us!

MEMORY VERSE:  "How good it is to sing praises to our God." Psalm 147:1

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Elementary

People Praise Jesus

John 12: 9-19

BIG IDEA:  Jesus is so great that I can't help but praise Him!

GET TALKING:

• What did the people do to praise Jesus when He entered Jerusalem? (Waved branches. Sang "Hosanna".  Laid their cloaks on the ground before Jesus.)
• Some people had hoped Jesus would fight the Romans. What did Jesus come to do? (Bring peace. Die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Make it possible to join God's family. Make a bigger kingdom than Israel.)
• Why didn't the religious leaders like Jesus? (They were worried about how popular Jesus was becoming. They didn't want the Romans to take away their jobs.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS:  Jesus is the King of Kings!  But He didn't become King by fighting, He did it by dying!  He died to take the punishment of our sins and then rose to life again!  Now, instead of fighting bad people, King Jesus invites ALL of us to be forgiven and join His family forever!

ACTION PLAN:  Choose a way to show thanks to Jesus and do it.

MEMORY VERSE: "THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM, AND I AM HELPED.  MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY AND I WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG." PSALM 28:7

March 22nd Family Tools

PreSchool

Lesson 4 - A Rich Man's Question

Matthew 19:16-26; Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-27

BIG IDEA: We can show God's love by sharing.

GET TALKING: 

• The man that came up to Jesus had a LOT of what? (Money)
• The rich, young man wanted to know how to live forever. Jesus told him to obey God's rules (commandments) and what else? (Sell everything you have and share it with the poor. And then follow me.)
• How did the rich, young man respond? (He was sad. He walked away.)
• Would it be easy or difficult for you to give away ALL your toys and share with other kids that may not have any toys? 

ACTION PLAN: Identify ways to share with someone this week.

PRAYER: Ask God to help you show love to others by sharing.

MEMORY VERSE:  "Give thanks to the Lord. His love is forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

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Elementary

Lesson 2 - The Master Serves

John 13: 1-17  

BIG IDEA: Part of following Jesus is loving and serving others.

GET TALKING:

• How did Jesus show His friends that He loved them? (Served their need. Washed their feet.)
• Why didn't Peter want Jesus to wash his feet? (Peter didn't want Jesus to do the work of a lowly servant.)
• What was Jesus trying to teach His disciples by washing their feet? (The importance of serving others. That no one is "too good" to serve others.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS: Jesus was King of Kings, yet He wasn't like most Kings who sought power and riches.  He came to serve, to the point of laying down His life for us.  Mark 10:45 says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Jesus set the example and wants us to follow His lead.

ACTION PLAN: Describe situations in which we can show Jesus' love by serving others.

MARCH MEMORY VERSES: 

"THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM, AND I AM HELPED.  MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY AND I WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG." PSALM 28:7

March 15th Family Tools

Family tools are a great way to bring this weeks Barefoot Kids lesson home.

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PreSchool

One Man Thanks Jesus

Luke 17:11-19

BIG IDEA: Remember to always thank God for the good things He provides.

GET TALKING:

• What was wrong with the men in this story? (They had leprousy; sores all over their bodies. They were outcast from their family and friends.)
• Who did they go looking for? Why?  (Jesus. They hoped He could heal them.)
• What did Jesus tell them to do? (He told them to go show themselves to the Temple leaders/priests.)
• How many men did Jesus heal? (10)  How many came back to thank Jesus? (1, the Samaritan)

ACTION PLAN: Identify things we can thank God for.

MEMORY VERSE:  "Give thanks to the Lord. His love is forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

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Elementary

Paul Helps Onesimus // Philemon

BIG IDEA: Because we believe in Jesus, let's love and obey God with our actions.

GET TALKING:

• Why might Philemon have wanted to get back at Onesimus? (Onesimus stole from him.  He ran away.)
• What did Paul do for Onesimus? (Taught him about Jesus. Wrote a letter to Philemon. Offered to pay back Onesimus's debt.)
• We are a part of God's team and people will learn what God is like by watching us and seeing how we treat people -- even people that are unkind to us.  What could others learn about God and His love by watching you?

CONNECTING TO JESUS:  The story of Paul, Onesimus and Philemon is a great illustration of God's love shown through kind, practical help.  Just as Paul intervened and offered to pay Onesimus's debt to his master, Jesus paid the price for our sins.  And this allows us as "runaways" to return and be fully restored to our Father, debt-free!

ACTION PLAN: Plan actions I can do this week that show love and obedience to God. 

March Memory Verses: 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

Filling A Bus

If you have spent any time this last week outside, you may have noticed the sun making an appearance and thoughts of warm, sunny summer days drift into your mind.  Ok, maybe that’s a stretch, but even though it’s March, I’m thinking about summer.  This week we announced to our High School students the details of what could be the best week of their life; Summer Camp.

When I was in my 4th year of college I was invited to a weekend camp and it changed my life.  I had the opportunity to leave my normal distractions in Bellingham and escape for a weekend to Anacortes, encountering God in a way that I didn’t normally experience at home.  Let’s face it, it’s incredibly easy to let our normal weekly stuff get so piled up that God get’s scraped off the top of our plans.  Imagine being able to remove all your worries, all of your responsibilities for a week so that you could meet with God for an entire week.  That’s what we just announced this week to our students, and that is what I can’t wait to experience alongside them this summer.  

We are going to pile into a bus, and head into the heart of Oregon to an oasis in the middle of nowhere.  We don’t have to worry about chores, cooking meals or even washing dishes.  We get to share with High School students about a God that loves them more than they could ever know.  We get to tell them about the King of kings on a property maintained to the highest standards, with food fit for a king and the most amazing staff, all for one purpose; that the students would know Jesus.  All of this is happening away from our normal distractions and temptations with leaders that truly care for them.  We have the best leaders, adult volunteers that take time off of work and use their vacation time to go to camp with High Schoolers.  These leaders stay up late answering questions about faith and commit to being consistent adults in their lives.  This is what camp is all about.

It’s March, and we can’t wait for summer and I hope that you can join me in being excited for this summer and what could easily be the best week of their lives.  I remember taking home the camp flier back in college with no idea the impact that weekend would have on my life.  This week students are taking home their camp flier, getting a glimpse of this summer.

It’s March, and between now and July 12th when that bus pulls out of town, there are many pieces that need to fall into place, but God has a plan for this summer that is bigger than I can imagine.  I would love it if you would join me in praying for that plan.  I would love it if you would join me in praying for our students this week as they take home their camp flier.

Blessings, Chris Cummings

March 8th Family Tools

Family tools are a great way to bring this weeks Barefoot Kids lesson home.

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PreSchool

Four Friends Help // Mark 2:1-12

BIG IDEA: God wants us to be kind and be a good friend.

GET TALKING:

• What was wrong with the man in our story? (He was lame. He couldn't walk.)
• How did the man's friends show him kindness? (They carried him to see Jesus. They dug a hole in the roof and lowered him down to see Jesus.)
• How did Jesus show the lame man kindness? (Forgave his sins. Healed him and told him to stand up, take his mat and walk.)
• Who are some people that YOU can show kindness to this week? Who can you be a friend to this week?

ACTION PLAN: Identify ways friends are kind to each other.

PRAYER: Thank God for our friends and ask God to help us be kind to others.

MEMORY VERSE:  "Give thanks to the Lord. His love is forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

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Elementary

Paul Arrives in Rome // Acts 28

BIG IDEA:  God can use me to invite others to be a part of His family

GET TALKING:

• After the shipwreck, how did God display His power and help Paul tell others about Jesus? (God protected Paul from the snake bite.  Answered Paul's prayer to heal Publius's father.  Helped Paul explain God's word boldly.  In Rome, was able to stay in a house, instead of prison cell.)
• What are ways you could help your friends learn about Jesus?  (Tell them Jesus loves them.  Invite them to church. Give them a Bible.) 

CONNECTING TO JESUS:  Paul knew God was sending him to Rome, but found himself stuck on the island of Malta.  God put Paul in a great situation where he could teach Gentiles about Jesus!  Even on an unexpected detour, Paul was still able to do just what Jesus wanted him to do -- teach non-Jews the good news of what Jesus has done for them.

ACTION PLAN:  Identify people to pray for and things to say to help others learn about God this week.

March Memory Verses: 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

Dear Flock,

If you live in Port Angeles and enjoy contemporary Christian music, you likely have your radio dial set to Praise 106.5. This station is one of four Christian radio stations owned by CRISTA Ministries. (You can catch rebroadcasts of Charles Fuller's "Old Fashioned Revival Hour" every Sunday at 3:30pm on their station, AM 630.)

Pastor Dave Curtiss is the Vice President of CRISTA Ministries and he's a great guy.  Many of you will remember Dave from last year's family camp at Camp David Jr. where he was our guest speaker. 

Dave and I met at a church conference held at Overlake Christian center a couple years ago and formed a fast friendship. The friendship was largely forged as I bragged on all that God is doing through each of you here at First Baptist. Dave, first and foremost has a heart for evangelism and he was excited to hear how we are sharing the Gospel with our neighbors. 

In just a couple weeks Chris Cummings will be leading a group of our youth workers to the Overlake Christian Center for this year's conference. Pray for them that it goes well and they learn a lot. 

Because of CRISTA Ministries' heart for the gospel they have committed to striving to connect people to area churches, and this is where things get exciting. Dave and Praise 106.5 have chosen to provide nearly $6,000 in free promotional space to encourage their listeners to attend First Baptist Church on May 3rd. 

This promotion includes several advertisements in their normal broadcast time in the days leading up to the May 3rd service, as well as having their DJ's personally encourage listeners to come check us out. They will also put our church information on their website, facebook page, and billboards. 

Finally, the radio station will interview me on air the Monday following the May 3rd worship service. 

Please be prayerful that this generous effort by Praise 106.5 is effective at helping the people of our community find their way to First Baptist, and then plan to be here to welcome our guests with a hearty handshake.  

Blessings all,  Pastor Tim

March 1st Family Tools

Family tools are a great way to bring this weeks Barefoot Kids lesson home. 

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Preschool

Sick Boy Is Made Well // John 4:46-53

BIG IDEA: God shows us love in many ways!

GET TALKING:

• Who loves you?  
• How do they show you love?
• In the story, a father did everything he could for his sick little boy, but nothing worked.  What did he end up doing to help his son? (He walked to another town to find Jesus.)
• What did Jesus do to show God's love to the sick boy? (He healed the boy.)
• Did Jesus have to go to the boy's house to heal him? (No. He just spoke the words, "your son will live". The father believed, and his son was healed.)
• What are some ways that God shows YOU love?

ACTION PLAN: Identify different ways that God loves us.

PRAYER:  Thank God for His love.

MEMORY VERSE:  "Give thanks to the Lord. His love is forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

 

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Elementary

Lazarus Lives // John 11:1-45

BIG IDEA: Jesus came to bring us eternal life.

GET TALKING:

• What did Jesus mean when He said he was going to Bethany to "wake up" Lazarus. (Raise him from the dead.)
• Why do you think Jesus prayed aloud? (He wanted the people to know God was going to do this miracle. Jesus wanted people to know God had sent Him.)
• What did Jesus do to make it possible for us to have eternal life? (Died on the cross for our sins and then rose from the dead!) 
• How can we have eternal life? (Trusting in Jesus, becoming a part of His family.)

CONNECTING TO JESUS:  Jesus waited to go to Bethany so His disciples could see His power over death.  He was going to die on the cross soon and He knew they would be afraid and confused.  He told them He was going to rise again, and He wanted them to believe and trust in Him even during His death on the cross and His resurrection.  He desires the same for us today,   especially through difficult times, to trust in Him and His power to work all things together for good. God's plan is bigger and better than we could ever imagine!

ACTION PLAN: Discuss what eternal life means.

March Memory Verses: 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

Celebrating 125 Years With Renewed Vision

Dear Flock,

We are coming upon a milestone in our church’s life… this year we celebrate 125 years of ministry to the good people of the Olympic Peninsula.  For those with an interest in history, I’d like to point out that we have several copies of a booklet titled “Our First Hundred Years”.  It’s a great read detailing the ministries of First Baptist from 1890-1990.

In seeking direction for how best to celebrate this milestone, I turned to our denomination for inspiration.  In 2014, The International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches, USA celebrated 200 years in the mission field!  Wow!

And in reading their article which was boasting about their 200 years of ministry, a theme become abundantly clear.  The focus was clearly to present the vision to charge ahead into a third century of presenting the hope of Jesus to people who do not know him.  It was as if to say, “Hurray for our faithfulness of the past 200 years!  Now, quickly – let us discern how we will continue moving ahead in this first year of our third century of sharing the Gospel."

Under the heading of “Responding to the Call” the International Ministries article stated the following:

Celebrating God's faithfulness in the past and present flowed into seeking God's guidance for the future as participants in the World Mission Conference added their voices to IM's spiritual discernment process, Responding to the Call.

As part of IM's intentional movement to deepen its embrace of the mission call, in 2013 IM's Board of Directors launched Responding to the Call: Discerning God’s Direction for a Third Century of Mission. This highly participatory process involves consultation with the entire range of mission partners with which God has blessed IM. Together, IM and the members of this global network are answering the following questions:

• How should IM respond to God’s call to be a “light to the nations” so that his salvation may reach to the ends of the earth?
• What does IM look like when it’s at its best?
• What should IM continue doing, and what new things is God calling IM to do in the future?

I believe our denomination got it right!  We best celebrate our past success of connecting people to Christ by staying focused on reaching the next generations.  It is especially inspiring when we consider that the reason our church is able to celebrate our 125 years of ministry is because, many years ago, our denomination found it worthwhile to invest in the future of the Peninsula.  Back in 1890, they sent the Rev. W. T. Lamb on a one year mission outpost to share Jesus with a bunch of fishermen and loggers.  In our first 9 years as a congregation we had four different ministers come to this outpost to share Christ with the people of the Peninsula.  In the year 1900, our 10th year, we had no pastor.  There were even several years where due to the difficulties of ministry, our church failed to function.  But by 1913, we were up and running again.  In 1919, our church was fully self-supporting, meaning that we were no longer depending on denominational monies to keep the church operational. 

 
Think of the vision, of the commitment, and of the sacrifice it took for those earlier pioneers of the First Baptist Church to set the foundation for what we have today.  And as you contemplate that question may it lead you directly to ponder – what is God calling us to do that will lay the foundation for future generations to celebrate that our church still stands? 

Under the direction of the Elder Board, we have a team continuing meeting to pray, discuss, and discern God’s will for how we are keep on reaching our next generation with the hope of Christ.  May we continue to follow Christ proclaiming his Good News for many more years yet to come.  Hallelujah!

Blessings all,  Pastor Tim

Meet The New Quiet Bags

What is a Quiet Bag?

 Being able to worship as a family is a special time, but sitting still can be difficult for many kids.  Quiet bags are great for supplementing the worship service in those times that are difficult to sit still.  We designed quiet bags to have a few things for kids to work on during weekly worship services.  After you're done, feel free to take the bag home or leave it to be refilled for next week.

What's in a Quiet Bag?

• Pipe cleaners
• Children's Bulletins
• Crayons

Have suggestions on what might go well in a quiet bag?  Leave a comment below or shoot us an email.

Raising kids is a wonderful privilege as well as an incredible challenge.

Barefoot Kids ministry is excited to work with parents, equipping them with the tools they need to help them raise their children knowing Jesus.  Next month we will have some new tools on our website for families to use around the dinner table that will work alongside what they learn in Children's Church.