Pastor Reiter...Jan 2012
It’s been a while since I wrote on the website – sorry about that. I know it’s an old cliché, but time does fly when you are having fun. The year 2012 will be our fifth year in Bagdad, and we are seeing God do wonderful things in our Church.
*We are in the process of moving and coordinating our sound system. We moved it off the stage, placed it all in a convenient cabinet, and are soon going to have the projector on the ceiling, and controlled from the ‘sound cabinet’.
*God has seen fit to send us some magnificent singers – we have a Praise Team that blesses us each week. Doris White is a great blessing as she leads the music ministry, and she has coordinated and directed three ‘Cantatas” so far
.
*The Awana program continues to thrive, with programs for ages 3 all the way through high school. Awana reaches between 60 and 75 clubbers each week. What a blessing for the leaders to come and hear these young people reciting Bible verses and learning about the Lord. We will be taking teams to compete in the Awana Games on February 11th. In April, we’ll hold our 2nd annual Gran Prix with Awana Cars. This competition was a huge success last year, and should prove even bigger this year.
*We have started a designated fund to remodel our kitchen in the church fellowship hall. God has sent the manpower with the knowhow, and we should be able to get started on that project this year.
*MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) started in 2011, and we are seeing young mothers coming together and learning how to raise their little ones - from each other and from older Mother Mentors. They are also hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and His love for them. The ladies have further extended their ministry by starting a weekly Ladies’ Bible Study, on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. They will be studying different scriptures each week.
*The Youth Group – TEAM Life (Teens Experiencing A Meaningful Life) - meets weekly and enjoys tremendous spiritual growth. Sixteen of our youth recently attend the Acquire The Fire event in Phoenix, where many made decisions for the Lord. The TEAM Life group meets each Sunday at 4:00
*Our church attendance is holding steady and what an exciting group of worshippers! We look forward to Sundays at 10:00 where we can lift up the Lord, and look into His Word. We are working our way through the Gospel of John, and will be in Chapter 11 on the first of the year. The first Sunday of each month we celebrate birthdays for the month, sing favorite hymns that have been requested, and celebrate the Lord’s Table. The second Sunday is our “carry-in, all- church fellowship.” This is a great time to get acquainted with new folks, and enjoy each other’s home cookin’ J
*We have seen some wonderful growth in 2011, and we are certain that God is not finished yet. Come on out and join us for these activities and pray for the moving of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the unsaved, as they come and hear what God has to say.
Check out the areas that I have highlighted on the website. There should be a tab for each of them, and the calendar is there for your benefit. We welcome your questions or input.
The Word of God is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
June 2011
Worship Services - On Sunday mornings we have begun a series that may take a while. I tell the congregation it may take 3 years, but that’s mostly just my way of saying that there is a lot to be learned from this series, entitled, “What has God done for us and what should we be doing for Him?” We’ve already looked at God’s admonition to “Be Holy, for I am Holy”, and then we spent some time on ‘Faith,’ and what it means to “Walk in faith.” We learned that, without faith, it is impossible to please God.
The first Sunday of each month we enjoy singing favorite hymns and choruses, sharing testimonies, gathering around the Lord’s Table, and fellowshipping at the monthly luncheon after church. We are having a blessed time as we look into God’s Word each week. We would be pleased to have you join us to worship and fellowship.
Sunday evenings - Experiencing God – This DVD series is a very intense and blessed time for those attending. The group is learning many things about actually experiencing God in our daily lives. Subjects include: God’s will and your life; Looking to God; God pursues a love relationship; Love and God’s invitation; God speaks; The crises of belief; Adjusting your life to God; Experiencing God through obedience; God’s will and the Church; Kingdom people; and Experiencing God in your daily life. This series is so meaningful and life-changing, that it will probably be offered again in the future. See Pastor Fred for more information.
SBC Convention June 14-15. The Arizona Southern Baptist Churches have a unique opportunity this year of having the Annual National Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. Attending the Convention is a blessed time, since many will be there from all over the country. Check your calendar and do your best to take these two days to attend the Convention at the Phoenix Convention Center. See the website below for all the information you will need. These are exciting meetings and times of fellowship, for all ages. See Pastor Fred for travel and lodging arrangements.
http://sbcannualmeeting.net/
Marion and Judy Warren will be with us for a few days after the Phoenix Convention. We are greatly looking forward to this time, and have a number of events planned, as outlined below.
June 17-19
Friday:
Ladies Luncheon – Judy Warren, Speaker
Prayer Walking
Over 50’s Fellowship – 6:30
Saturday:
Men’s Breakfast 8:00 a.m., Marion Warren, Speaker
Horseshoe Tournament?
Singspiration - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday:
Morning Worship 10:00 a.m.
Evening Service 6:30 p.m.
Fourth of July – Monday – Parade
Float – we are having a meeting on Wednesday, May 25th, to discuss and plan a float for the parade. Put on your creative thinking caps and bring some great ideas. Let’s knock the socks off the spectators with our “Baptist ingenuity and make this float the best ever.” Come and join the fun at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Flyers to hand out – We will be handing out flyers for VBS and Church, during the parade. Many hands – big and small – will be necessary to get out the word.
Vacation Bible School – July 11 – 15, 9:00 - 12:00 noon
Theme Verse for VBS – Romans 10:17. “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” Plan to help out at VBS this year and help us prepare our visit to “The Big Apple Adventure.” It’s where the kids learn how faith and life connect. A few more leaders are needed to help out. Perhaps the Lord is speaking to you. God is doing a mighty work in many lives, and young people are learning about Jesus. Vacation Bible School is an exceptional opportunity to serve the Lord and share His love with others.
March 2011
Both March and April look like they are going to be full of exciting activities at the Bagdad Southern Baptist Church. On March 13, we have seven baptisms scheduled. What a thrill and a blessing to see folks who have been saved follow the Lord in baptism. Included are three young people, two young adults, and a married couple.
Our choir is preparing for the Resurrection Day Cantata. It is called "Behold the Lamb" and is a beautiful, meaningful cantata. The choir presents it during two services - on April 22nd, at 6:30, during the Good Friday Service, and on Resurrection Day Sunday, April 24th at 10:00. They will also be singing at the Sunrise Service at the Bagdad City Park, 6:00 a.m. Please plan to take advantage of these great opportunities to celebrate our Lord's resurrection.
The ladies have been very busy holding fundraisers to raise money for the Ladies Retreat. There are 21 ladies going to Williams to have a weekend full of fun, fellowship, and blessings on April 8 - 10. We appreciate all their hard work, and pray that God will bless them mightily. They have had bake sales and auctions, a special Valentine Sweetheart Banquet, a huge yard sale, and this weekend, they're hosting "Spa Days" at the Church. What lady wouldn't enjoy being pampered with scalp treatments, pedicures, manicures, or a massage? Alicia Lee is taking appoiontments - Call her at 928-308-3906.
Start your engines fellow Awana Clubbers! Last week, the First Baptist Church of Tempe donated their Awana Grand Prix race track to us, and our clubbers are busy buying and painting their cars, preparing them for the big race at Awana on April 6th. This is a great family time, and many parents get involved in this event - even the leaders have their own car. I heard through the grapevine that "someone" has issued a special challenge to Pastor Reitor! She claims that her car is sssso fast, that Pastor's car will just stop out of embarrassment! Hmmm We'll see about that! In the meantime, they're preparing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies to be awarded for top speed and design. And, because no race is complete without popcorn and sodas, we'll have those for sale during the race, as well.
Join us also on March 27th, during the morning worship service, when Bagdad Southern Baptist Church will be holding a special ordination service for Pastor Reiter. This is a time to recognize God's work in Fred's & Elaine's lives, and ask God's continued blessing on our church and community.
Remember when our fall evangelist, Marion Warren, told us he was raising money to buy the church new tables? They've arrived! How grateful we are to Marion and his lovely wife, Judy, for their work on behalf of all of us here. What a wonderful and practical gift. And the blessings don't stop with just the lighter-weight tables in the fellowship; we have been so blessed with newly painted folding chairs, AND, a generous donor, who really loves BSBC, has given all new Hymnals for the pews. The fund for the new NIV Pew Bibles is also complete, and those have been ordered. Praise the Lord for the generosity of his servants.
And speaking of "thank yous,"I want to add a special note here. There are many in the church who have stepped forward to actively serve the Lord in many areas of need here at the church. I will not attempt to start naming names, but I want to thank each one who is serving the Lord. It takes many people to reach the community, and seeing our folks work together to lift up Jesus Christ, and let their lights shine is indeed a blessing. Thank you all.
In March, we start a new series of messages in the Book of Ephesians. What a blessing this book is - God has given us a pattern for victorious and clean Christian Living, and it's all right here. You won't want to miss one service. Please make a special effort to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:00, and Sunday evenings at 6:30. But, if you can't be there, the messages are now recorded and are on the website at the podcast link.
February 2011
February at the Bagdad Southern Baptist Church promises to be a month to remember. I’m excited to report that, at least, 20 of our ladies are going to the Women’s Retreat in April. To help raise funds to attend, they’re holding three fundraisers in February – one of which is a very special “Sweetheart Dinner.” See the Calendar for details.
Awana is going full gear, with the Awana Games and Spark-A-Rama scheduled for February 12th, at the Willow Lake Road Southern Baptist Church in Prescott. The Sparks compete at 10:00 AM, and the T & T (3rd – 6th Grade) at 12 noon. The Awana clubbers are very excited to participate against other Yavapai County Awana Clubs.
Our second Men’s Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday morning, February 19th at 8:00. Meet in the Fellowship Hall, and Mark Grimes will once again put on his chef’s hat and cook us a fabulous breakfast. Last time, we had made-to-order omelets, waffles, bacon, and ham. Come and savor his next gastronomical delight and enjoy the fun and fellowship.
The First Sunday of the Month, February 6th, will be a great time as we sing favorite songs, celebrate February birthdays, learn a new song from the TEAM Life group, and, best of all, have an opportunity to encourage each other by sharing our personal stories of all the good things God has been providing in our lives. After hearing a message from God’s Word, we’ll have communion around the Lord’s Table, and then enjoy an all-church fellowship lunch. Each family brings a main dish and a salad or dessert, and the church provides table service and drinks.
The Messages in February will continue in the study of Old Testament Saints. We have had a great time learning about Elijah, and Elisha. It’s thrilling to see how God has preserved His own, and raised up men and women through the centuries who have stood firm for Him. In 2011, it is just as important as ever to stand up and speak up for the Lord Jesus. After all He’s done for me – how can I do less than give Him my best, and live for Him completely – after all He’s done for me.
__________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday Dec 1, 2010
II Peter 1:2-11 is an awesome passage. We've spent three Sudays on it, and are just scratching the surface. Verses 5 to 7 tell us how we should be growing as Christians, with a foundation of faith added to it. If we possess these qualities they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in the knowledge of the Lord.
Verse 9 tells us that, if anyone does not have these qualities, he has lost sight of where he is going. He has taken his eyes off of Jesus and a glorious eternity with Him. Also, he has forgotten that he has been cleansed from past sins.
What a sad and disappointing life it is to be out of God's will, and not allowing 'these qualities' to be growing in us. Last Sunday we talked about verses 10 and 11. If you do these things (have
these qualities), you will receive a rich welcome into heaven. Many will receive a welcome, some will get in by the skin of their teeth. However the one who is increasing in 'these things' will have a hero's welcome. The blessings of life are wonderful, and the hope of eternal life is glorious. God is so good. What a shame that we miss out on His greatest blessings when we do not give him our best each day.