Dear ‘Super-Sub’ Project Team Workers and Mission Board Members, Yates County Habitat for Humanity acknowledges, with much appreciation, your donation of $866.91 received on March 2, 2016. Your “Super-Sub” staff has obviously mastered the business of producing delicious sandwiches. My records indicate you have been making subs for 12 years for a total of $11,783 in contributions to Yates County Habitat for Humanity. Our Boards of Directors, our volunteers and the ‘Habitat’ homeowners thank you for your community minded outreach. You are truly partners in our effort to construct affordable homes for those in need in Yates County.

New Additions to the Church Foyer
In March the foyer was updated a bit. A new, modern table replaced the old one giving the foyer a little more space and updated feel. Also, in March the Advisory council approved the use of memorial Funds to purchase some modern art work for the foyer. The art work consists of one two foot by three foot silver metal frame and six panels made of fabric that can be interchanged in the frames. Each panel has a different religious picture and saying. The current picture is a cross with the saying “Grace Has a Name”. With six panels, we will be able to change the theme of the art every two months. We also purchased a second frame and one panel advertising Vacation Bible School. This panel is hung in the Great Room and we hope it will attract several children to this Christian Education event.

The Changes They’re a’Coming
The Boards and Advisory Council have been busy working on ideas for Outreach and attracting new members to the church. The Advisory Council approved the purchase of a four foot by eight foot banner to be hung on the outside front of the church. The banner says “Come Join Us”. It will be installed as soon as a frame is made to support it and keep it safely in place.

We will be scheduling quarterly luncheons following worship service to increase fellowship and information sharing with and among the congregation. A member of each board will be present to share information about what their Board is working on and to get input from the congregation. Members of the congregation are also invited to attend any monthly Board meeting should they have a question or concern.

Plans are being made to represent our church at community events. The Board of Christian Education will have a table set up at Crusin’ Night this year. We are also working to get representation at the Yates County Fair. If anyone knows of other events we could attend, please let a member of the Advisory Council know. Also, if you would like to get involved with these activities, please let us know. This is a church wide effort! We can use help.

The Advisory Council also approved looking into updating our website to make it more appealing to younger people and those with young families. And finally, we must look at updating our sanctuary to make it more serviceable. The current front area of our sanctuary is confining and limits what we can do during a service. If you think about it, we even have trouble getting all the children on stage during the Christmas pageant. More information will be coming to the congregation for their consideration in the months ahead.

We need your ideas, hard work and God’s Blessing and we can make our church grow and flourish!

Your Moderator

Vacation Bible School

VBS at FBC will take place June 27 – July 1
Collecting these supplies:
Crepe paper – any color
Ribbon – any size, color, length
They covet your prayers for the Board members and VBS 2016

Summer Camp

Be sure to visit the bulletin board for 2016 Camp information.
See a member of the Christian Education Board to pick up
Camper’s registration/medical form
Camp Staff application
Camp Volunteer application

This year’s members include: Suzanne Willson, chair (1-585-526-1004); Erik Miller, secretary (595-2893); Ethel Clancy, curriculum chair (536-6265); Tammy Miller, camps and workshops chair (595-2893); Pam Scutt (536-2791); and Barbara Burke (536-7020). Please feel free to call the above for any information or suggestions.

Class Reports:

Nursery – Ethel Clancy is directing nursery volunteers and needs. All groups must use a sign-up sheet, have two adults with the children and be responsible for cleaning the room after use.

Primary Class – Suzanne Willson is the teacher. This spring’s curriculum include the stories in Genesis taught at Primary level. Crafts are included as well as some memorization of Bible verses.

Elementary – Ethel Clancy and Greg Marion teach this age group. The group is also studying the Book of Genesis, learning to use the Bible by finding references and studying how to read maps of the Holy Land.

Teens & Tweens – Cheryl Stewart is the instructor of this group. They are leaning how the first five books of the Bible work together telling of the ways God’s people learned to hear his Word and unite in order to spread it. This group also works on community outreach. Recently they have made cleaning kits, each with a spiritual message, for the Living Well folks in need. They also, under the direction of Cindy Ovens, made greeting cards with were distributed in Easter baskets given to the children at the Living Well. If you have other ideas for this group’s outreach program, please call Cheryl at 536-2570.

Adult Class – This group, saddened by the death of Ed Castillo who taught the class for many years, has begun reorganizing themselves. Under the leadership of Rev. Don Lawrence, Mary Fullagar and Greg Marion future plans are being made. If you have ideas please call Rev. Lawrence at 536-7674, Mary Fullagar at 536-3569 or Greg Marion at 536-6771. Religious Freedom will be the topics of the spring studies.

Camp & Workshop Fund Raisers for our Sunday School Students – A pancake breakfast to raise funds for our students to attend a workshop as well as a summer week at Camp Vick for Bible Study has been planned for Sunday, May 8th form 8:30 – 9:30 am in the Fellowship Great Room. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and can be purchased from our Sunday School children or from the church office during office hours.

Camp Vick – Camp Vick attendance by our children for many years has been a favorite. This year a display has been set up in the Fellowship Room with all the necessary information. If you have more questions, please call Tammy Miller at 595-2893. This year’s theme is “Building a Fearless Faith”.

Vacation Bible School – June 27th through July 1st – Plans for vacation Bible school are well underway. Suzie Willson, chairman, has announced the theme will be “Planting the Seeds of Faith” using a Mexican Fiesta presentation. Cathy MacDougal, Pam Scutt, and Greg Marion have been working on decorations and publicity. Breakfast at 8:30 am, snacks mid-morning, exciting games and music with lots of love are all designed to help the children grow in Faith. Registration sheets are available at the office or call Suzie at 1-585-526-1004. The committee would love to have more volunteers. Mexican artifacts are also needed for the display table designed to teach children more about Mexican culture.

Church Library – The Christian Education Committee urges members to take advantage of the many fine books in our library. If you have question you would like to research, call Diane DeLooza our church librarian at 536-3162. Videos are available as well.

Thanks goes out to you for your generous donation of $389.13 to Milly’s Pantry. You sure have been busy collecting those pennies! It’s amazing what they can amount to. We truly appreciate your kindness and support of our programming.

As you know, Milly’s Pantry is committed to making a difference in the lives of our children and changing the footprint of poverty in Yates County, we need the support of our community to fulfill this mission. So, your recent gift of $389.13 helps tremendously and will provide 38 children with a weekend of food!

From all of us here at Milly’s Pantry, we thank the members of First Baptist Church for your awareness and compassion.

With many thanks, Denise Shay, Weekend Backpack Program Director – Milly’s Pantry February 4, 2016

So far, I have learned:

Silence speaks volumes when words dry up, and solitude never needs fearing. Giving is clearly the best joy of all, and thankfulness: goal of all living. Wisdom will enter with force unannounced, and grace goes wherever God is willing. Relinquishing all – this is life’s success. And seeking your purpose, the meaning.
Thank You, Master Teacher!

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