First Baptist   Newsletter   Penn Yan   
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From the Pastor's Desk
January, 2016
Happy New Year to All!

First, thank you all for your loving expressions of holiday greetings to Karen and me, and our family. We sincerely treasure each of you.

I closed last month’s letter with hope that we would see Jesus return this year. It is understandable that with all the catastrophes and tragedies of recent days that we would long for someone to come and establish peace. But we must be careful what we look for.

Jesus said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear ofwars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.”
With all of this we must persevere. “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

When Jesus returns, will we be found faithfully doing at His work? Will we be “making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”?

Blessings, Pastor Steve

Upcoming Events 

Celebrating January Birthdays

	7 – Beth DeLooza-Travis
	12 – Melvin Cornell
	29 – Eli Clancy
Advisory Council Meeting - Thursday, January 7
The purpose of this meeting is to set the 2016 budget. All boards need to have a representative present. Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 7 pm
Annual Meeting - Sunmday, January 17
The Annual Meeting of First Baptist Church of Penn Yan will be on Sunday, January 17, 2016, immediately following the worship service. There will be a luncheon afterwards. Bring a dish-to-share and your own table service.
Church & Community Suppers - Good Food, Good Fellowship
5:00 pm, Mondays ~ $3.00 per person

January 4 – chicken ‘n biscuits
January 11 – lasagna
January 18 – meatloaf
January 25 – macaroni ‘n cheese

Coffee Hour Host Schedule

	Jan. – Diaconate                 July – no coffee hour
	Feb. – Mission			 Aug. – no coffee hour
	Mar. – Christian Education	 Sept. - Missions
	Apr. – Trustees			 Oct. – Christian Education
	May – Hospitality	         Nov. - Trustees
	June – Diaconate		 Dec. – Hospitality
News

Super Bowl/Super Sub Sunday!
Super Bowl Sunday will be February 7th and once again the Board of Mission will be making and selling Sub Sandwiches for you as part of a fundraiser for Yates County Habitat for Humanity. All proceeds from the sale of the subs will go to Habitat of Yates County to help build another home. Order forms will be available later this month. The cost will remain the same as last year. Thank you for supporting this Missions Project!
THANK YOU
On behalf of the Yates Christmas Program, we would like to thank the First Baptist Church for volunteering to ring bells at Tops Supermarket on November 20th. Yates Christmas Program is funded by donations and run by volunteers with no paid staff or administration. 100% of the money collected stays in Yates County and is used to provide new clothes, blankets, toys, games, books and personal hygiene items for children and their families during the Christmas season. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you! Sincerely, Carolyn C.
White Cross
for Cameron Community Ministries in Rochester, NY. We have been collecting sweatshirts & sweatpants for boys, girls, women and men in sizes small to x-large. Thank you for your support of this project. Currently we have about four sets and ideally would like to be able to send 20 complete sets. Monetary donations are welcome if you prefer we do the shopping for you. See Diane DeLooza, Rita Castillo, Karen Rasmussen, Erma Mullins, or Kathie Lawrence for assistance.
Please Note:
*Updated Church Directory - Be sure to pick up your copy of updated names and addresses from the Reader’s Table.
*2016 Offering Envelopes are now available on the table in rear of sanctuary. The approximate cost for each box is $5.00. Whatever you can contribute in the initial offering envelope to help defray the cost is greatly appreciated.
From the Mission Board
The Board of Missions wants to thank everyone who gave so generously to the last two special Offerings. The final total for the World Mission Offering was $1485. As of December 20th, the RMMO total was $1174. *Just a reminder, if you haven’t made your 2016 Missions pledge as of yet, please do it soon so we can draw up our new budget. Thank you.
Backpack Program Needs for January
Warm ~ satisfying ~ filling INSTANT OATMEAL
You may leave donated items on the pew at the front of the sanctuary.
A Prayer for the New Year

Almighty God, another year is beginning for us, your children. And even as we change our calendars, we mark the changing of our lives. The new year brings with it new challenges. We face the challenge of building marriages and raising our children in committed Christian homes in a society that has thrown away the very idea of commitment. Some of us face the challenges and hurt of growing older without children. Some face the challenges of youth, others the challenges brought by aging. Some face the challenges of careers that may be going nowhere, while others face the challenges of careers that threaten to replace everything else in our lives. In the midst of a new year filled with challenges old and new, help us, Lord, to recognize your powerful presence. Remind us, father, that no challenge is too great when you stand with us. Make this new year a good year, filled with your love and grace made manifest in our lives, for we ask it in the name of the One who goes with us whatever the challenge. Amen. 

First Baptist Church              Church Staff	
224 Main Street                   Rev. Stephen M. Sanden	
Penn Yan, NY 14527                Barbara Stewart: Music Director
Phone: 315-536-9821               Carrie Ahearn: Organist
E-Mail: pyfbc224@gmail.com        Jan Hafner: Accountant
Website: pennyanfbc.com           Peggy S Smart: Secretary
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-Noon

Church Officers                    Our Schedule
Moderator: Nancy Marion            Sunday Worship - 10 AM
Vice Moderator: Sheryl Robbins     Sunday School - 10:15 AM
Church Clerk: Cheryl Stewart       Adult Sunday School - 11 AM
Church Treasurer: Mary Watkins
Finance Officer: Diane DeLooza
Missions: Jack Clancy
Trustees: Greg Miller
Deacons: Barb Stewart
Christian Education: Greg Marion 
ABW: Diane DeLooza
END