VISION
February 2010
Volume 27 Number 2
(A Monthly Publication)
Congaree Baptist Church
101 Pine Ridge Drive
West Columbia, SC 29172
803.755.9556
Rev. Steven A. McLain……Pastor
Mr. Jason Sturkie………….Youth Director
Mrs. Ronda Connell…….....Music Director
Valentine Banquet
Saturday, February 13
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Join us for a steak dinner & dessert
served by our Youth and
entertainment presented by our Youth.
You don’t want to miss it!
Childcare will be provided.
The cost is $14 for adults and $3 per child.
A Word From Our Pastor
Ephesians 4:3 says, "I entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent, to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
God is most concerned about who we are, because who we are determines what we do. The previous verses of Ephesians reveal a basic truth: the Christian life is not primarily about what we do but who we are. When Paul teaches about the worthy walk, about how we live each day, he never discusses actions, only attitudes. Plenty of people can do good deeds without inner righteousness. But that's legalism; that 's the hypocrisy that the Bible speaks so much about.
The right path to true spirituality is to have proper attitudes first. The Holy Spirit works through our attitudes to produce right actions. Unfortunately, many Christians miss this point. To them, being a Christian is primarily a list of do's----going to church, putting money in the offering, carrying a Bible----and don'ts----not cursing, not drinking, not murdering. They see external behavior as the fact of Christianity instead of the manifestation of it.
Of course, God wants us to live righteous lives. But to those with merely external actions, Jesus said, "Woe to you....hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence....First clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also".
Don't let yourself become a slave to external religion. Make sure you do your good works out of love for God and others, as part of the overflow of the spiritual fruit in your life.
Your Pastor,
Steven A. McLain
Haiti Relief
The Lexington Baptist Association is receiving donations for Haiti Relief. All donations will be used for relief, recovery, and rebuilding Haiti. You may make donations by mailing to Lexington Baptist Association, 255 Two Notch Road, Lexington, SC 29073, or by placing them in a pink designated envelope and placing them in the offering plate. Checks mailed to the association should be made payable to Lexington Baptist Association and marked “Haiti Relief.” Checks placed in the offering plate should be made payable to Congaree Baptist Church and marked “LBA Haiti Relief.”
Music News & Notes
We have begun working on our Easter Cantata. We invite you to come and be a part of the music during this special time of year. On February 21, we will have our Baptist Men’s Day and will have an all men’s choir. We would like to fill every chair in the choir that day. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Watch your bulletin for more details.
In Christian Love,
Ronda
Senior Adult HAPPENINGS
The next RoadRunners meeting will be held on Monday, February 8, at 11:00 am. This will be a covered-dish luncheon. Watch the weekly bulletins for updated information on this event. Hope to see you there! LET’S GO ROADRUNNERS!
–Doris Mooney
Women’s Ministry
Women’s Weekend Get-Away
March 26-28
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Women of all ages are invited to the Women’s Weekend Get-Away in Pigeon Forge, TN, March 26 – 28. The speakers will be Liz Curtis Higgs and Angela Thomas. The worship leader will be Lyn Westafer and the concert artist will be Selah. If you are interested, contact Linda Lucas.
Regional Women’s Prayer Retreats
“Women Who Request By Prayer” is a regional prayer retreat for women where we will learn how to request of God in prayer through Teaching Sessions and immediately put into practice what is learned by actually praying in Prayer Closet Sessions. These prayer retreats will be offered April 9-10 at Summerville Baptist Church in Summerville; July 30-31 at Anderson University in Anderson; October 1-2 at Ocean View Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach; and October 29-30 at White Oak Conference Center in Winnsboro. The registration cost if $50 and includes materials and meals. If interested in attending any of these retreats, please see Vicky McLain.
Children’s Ministry
Children’s Church Workers Needed
If you would be interested in working in Children’s Church, a sign-up sheet is posted in the hallway of the Children’s Building. You can sign up for a single Sunday or multiple Sunday’s- the choice is yours! Thanks for your help!
Children’s Valentine party
The Children’s Department will have their Valentine’s Party on Wednesday, February 10, at 6:30 pm.
Upward Awards Ceremony
Attention, all players, cheerleaders, coaches, parents, and anyone else involved in this program!
You are invited to join us on Monday, February 8, from 6-8 pm for dinner and awards. Dinner will be served from 6:00 until 6:40 pm in the Gym and the Awards Ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
Souper Bowl Sunday
Our children will be collecting canned goods as well as monetary donations again this year for Souper Bowl Sunday on February 7. All proceeds will go to the Food Pantry. The children will be stationed at the exits following the morning service on this day to take your donations. Thank you for supporting this ministry!
Youth Ministry
Youth Ski Trip
Our Youth will be going on a Ski Trip to Gatlinburg, TN, February 26 – 28. A deposit of $50 is due no later than Wednesday, February 10.
Valentine Banquet
Saturday, February 13 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
All proceeds will go towards the upcoming youth ski trip. See front column for more details.
Letters to Congaree
Thank you for the donations totaling $260.00 designated for the Red Cross Haiti Relief. Your generosity is much appreciated!
Sunday Morning & Evening Schedule
Library Hours 9:00 am
Intercessory Prayer 9:00 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
Morning Worship 10:30 am
Children’s Worship 10:30 am
Evening Worship 6:00 pm
Youth Bible Study 6:00 pm
Children’s Bible Drill 6:00 pm
Wednesday Evening Schedule
Supper 5:30 pm
Prayer Meeting / Bible Study 6:30 pm
Youth, GA’s, RA’s, Mission Friends 6:30 pm
Adult Choir Practice 7:30 pm
Special Activities for February
1 Upward Practice, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Church Council, 7:00 pm
2 Upward Practice, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
4 Upward Practice, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
6 Brotherhood Breakfast, 8:00 am
Upward Games, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
7 Souper Bowl Sunday
Building & Grounds Meeting, 11:30 am
8 Road Runners, 11:00 am
Outreach, 6:00 pm
Upward Awards Dinner/Ceremony, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
9 Deacons Meeting, 7:00 pm
10 Ladies Craft Group, 10:00 am
Children’s Valentine Party, 6:30 pm
13 Valentine Banquet, 6:00 pm
15 President’s Day
Women on Mission, 7:00 pm
19 Vision Newsletter Deadline, 12:00 pm
21 Baptist Men’s Day
World Hunger Emphasis
Observance of Lord’s Supper, 10:30am
Church Conference, 7:00 pm
22 Outreach, 6:00 pm
24 Women on Mission/Craft Group, 9:30 am
26-28 Youth Ski Trip
February Responsibilities
Deacon of the Month Derwood Roland
Deacon Assistant Marvin Watson
Nursery am (Birth to 2 years old) Rhonda & Amy Leaphart
Nursery am (Ages 2-4) Vicky McLain
Nursery pm Ron & Marie Hook
Ushers Marvin Watson, Joey & Corey Langley, Keith Sturkie
December Financial Report
Budget Requirement $23,408.00
Budget Receipts $19,074.33
Designated Offering $8,328.00
Total Receipts $27,402.33
Debt-Retirement Balance as of 12/30/09 $57,440.82
Newsletter Deadline
The deadline for the March Vision newsletter is Friday, February 19, at 12 noon. Thanks you for adhering to this deadline.
