Vol. XXXVIII • No.

2 • February 1, 2008
Among Friends
Next Wednesday, February 6, we’re
observing at First Baptist the beginning of the
Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday worship
service. I was 24 years old when I attended my
first Ash Wednesday service. Some of my friends in seminary were
going and I was curious. As a Baptist I’d never observed the
Christian Calendar beyond Christmas and Easter.
I was living at Golden Gate Seminary at the time, five miles north
of San Francisco. We drove to a little Episcopal church perched on
the side of a hill in Sausalito, not far from the Golden Gate Bridge.
The service began at 6:00 a.m., giving Bay Area commuters a chance
to attend and still make it to work in the city. It was a freezing
February day. I stumbled in the door of the church, cold and only
half-awake, looking for coffee and donuts (this Baptist girl hadn’t
quite yet caught the spirit of Lent). But there was no coffee. No
donuts. Only a faint light in the small sanctuary where about 30
people were sitting quietly, some with their head in their hands and
some on their knees.
My friends and I slid into a pew. The service began. We started
with a hymn and then a layperson stood and read from the prophet
Joel:
“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing…”
We sang, Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God, accompanied by
guitar. We read from the Sermon on the Mount; we read from the
Psalms; we prayed. There was a brief devotional message. Then the
pastor stood with a little bowl in his hands.
“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I invite you, in the name of the
Lord, to observe in the coming forty days a holy Lent by
self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and by
reading and meditating on the Word of God. To make a right
beginning—and as a mark of our mortality—let us now bow
before our Creator and Redeemer.”
At that point we were invited to come forward and receive the
“imposition of ashes.” Slowly, people began moving toward the
aisle. Some remained in their pew to pray for a few moments. Some
were weeping. Some were writing confessions of sin on small cards
that we’d been given. When it came my turn at the front I presented
myself nervously to the pastor, thinking to myself, “Should I move
aside my bangs or will he?” In answer to my thoughts the pastor
brushed my bangs aside and, with his thumb, made the sign of the
cross on my forehead saying,
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
Repent, and believe the gospel.”
Then he sent me out into the cold morning. I felt conspicuous for
the rest of the day with that “Jesus smudge” on my face, but it was a
bit of a thrill to spot other “smudgees” in cafés and at bus stops and
on the busy sidewalks of San Francisco. We were marked, and it
made a difference in the way we walked around in the world.
Come next Wednesday night at 6:45. There’ll be no coffee. No
donuts, either. Just some people on a journey to the cross.
Blessings,
Our Team: Mike and Nancy Norman, Phil Holt,
Julie Pennington-Russell, Liz Hackney, Bill and Leslie
Madden, Kate Perry and Ryan Forbes.
We need your support...
It will take our Team 2 1/2 days of travel to actually get to the
Upland Holistic Development Project. Along the way they will
pick up at least 2 and possibly 4 translators that will be working
with the team all during the week. Each day the team will setup a
medical screening site and mini pharmacy. Begin now to pray for
this major mission effort; for our team, for the missionaries, for
the translators, and for the Palaung People we will be working
with.
Also...
Our team needs bottles of Tylenol (any bottle size) to take with
them as part of their pharmaceutical supply list. If you would like
to help, please bring new, boxed and sealed, bottles of Tylenol to
the church office. We will have a collection box available in the
Welcome Center and designated for Thailand Mission Assignment
supplies.
New Baptist Covenant—Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Plenary Session Schedule and Speakers
Wednesday, January 30; 7:00-9:30 pm
William Shaw and Jimmy Carter
Thursday, January 31; 9:00-11:30 am
Tony Campolo and Marian Wright Edleman
Thursday, January 31; 7:00-9:30 pm
Julie Pennington-Russell and John Grisham
Friday, February 1; 9:00-11:30 am
Joel Gregory and Lindsey Graham
Friday, February 1; 7:00-9:30 pm
Charles G. Adams and Bill Clinton
Wednesday Night at the NBC
On Wednesday night, January 30, we’re taking a break from our
regular activities so that as many FBC folks as possible can attend
the opening night session at the GA World Congress Center.
Childcare will be available at the church that night by reservation.
You can register to attend the New Baptist Covenant
Celebration for free at newbaptistcelebration.org or call
678-547-6455
*On Friday February 1, our own David Gushee will lead two
break-out sessions on peacemaking at 2:30 & 3:45 pm
Congregational Life Prayer Concerns as of
January 29, 2008
Hospitality to Voters on February 5th
You may not realize that our church serves as a polling place for our immediate neighborhood. Sympathy To:
There is a primary election on Tuesday, February 5, and turnout is expected to be high. We would ▪ Marie Browne on the death of her
love to offer good hospitality by way of a warm welcome, help with directions to restrooms, a nephew Preston Fleming.
donut and cup of coffee, etc., to all who come through our doors. We can do this with the help of Thanks be to God!
36 people who are willing to serve a one-hour shift. We also need someone who’ll be willing to ▪ Pat Britt’s ovarian tumor is
purchase donuts for the morning hours and candy for the later hours (we’ll reimburse you, of benign!
course). If you are able to help, please call Amy Russell in the main office (404)373-1653 or send In the Hospital:
her an email (arussell@fbcdecatur.com). ▪Miriam Skelton, St. Josephs,
Room 632
Women on Mission ▪Joan Kennedy, Atlanta Medical,
Our next meeting of Women on Mission is February 12. Leadership will meet at 10:00 am, SICU-258
groups will meet at 10:30 am and the program will be at 11:00 am. Carolyn Bishop will be our ▪Breon Morgan, Egleston, Room
speaker. 351
▪Burl Brown, Emory, Room G-454
Wednesday Night Schedule
5:15—6:30: Family Night Supper (Fellowship Hall)
5:45—6:15: Children’s Handbells (S-314) Tithes & Offerings
6:15—7:30: Discovery Kids (S-322/324)
6:15—7:00: Handbells (option 1, Sanctuary) A Celebration of Gifts
6:30—7:30: The Gathering (Fellowship Hall) 2008 Ministry Action Plan
6:30—7:30: Youth Half-Time (Activities Center)
7:00—7:30: Handbells (option 2, Sanctuary) Weekly Need: ...................$ 27,361
7:00—7:30: Adult Vocal Ensemble (S-226/228) Received on Jan. 20: .........$ 14,785
7:30—8:45: Sanctuary Choir (S-226/228) Received on Jan. 27: .........$ 19,086
Y-T-D Need:...................$ 109,445
“Unpacking” the Upside-Down Church—Two More Wednesday Night Sessions Y-T-D Received: ..............$ 81,099
We will conclude our series on “Unpacking” the Upside-Down Church on February 13 and 20 Surplus/(shortfall):............ (28,347)
during The Gathering at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall.
“Years of Opportunity 2007-09”
Upcoming Wednesday Night Series— Campaign
“The Six Hottest Moral Issues of Our Time”
Dr. David Gushee, the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Given to Date:.................$ 259,389
McAfee School of Theology, will be leading our Wednesday Night discussions Bank Loan Balance:........$ 281,364
starting February 27 through April 9. Issues to be discussed are war, marriage and Owed to FBC Fdn.:.........$ 180,000
divorce, ecology, euthanasia, reproductive technologies and terrorism and torture.

Looking Ahead...Important Dates to Remember! Wednesday Dinner Menus

February 6: Ash Wednesday Service, 6:45 pm, Sanctuary (children grade 4—adults);
Children (up to grade 3), 6:45, Chapel February 6
March 9: First School Sunday, 11:00 am, Sanctuary Poppy Seed Chicken, White Rice,
March 20: Maundy Thursday Service, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary Italian Cut Green Beans, Salad
March 30: WorshipING Outside (one worship service), 10:30 am, Front Lawn Bar, Yeast Rolls, Peanut Butter
(No Sunday School) Chip Pie
April 4-5: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia Spring Meeting, FBC Decatur Kid’s Menu
April 25: Parents’ Night Out Chicken Drumsticks, White Rice,
Green Beans, Yeast Rolls,
New Ministry Opportunity Cupcakes
The Missions Ministry Team, in conjunction with the new Welcoming Ministry initiative, is February 13
working to put together a group of volunteers who can help Sunday and Wednesday evenings in Glazed Ham Steak, Roasted Potato
greeting and assisting those who come into our church looking for assistance. This will be an Medley, Steamed Carrots, Broccoli
opportunity for our church to show that we care about those in need and provide them with more Salad, Yeast Rolls, Brownies w/
substantial and enabling resources. Training will be provided for volunteers. The remaining Peanut Butter Icing
training date is Wednesday, February 20th at 7:30 p.m. The training session will be held in the Kid’s Menu
church parlor. Please contact Katie Howard at katiephoward@comcast.net or (404) 210-6170, if Cheese Pizza, Salad w/ Ranch
you are interested in participating. Dressing, Brownies w/ Peanut
Butter Icing
 Youth Sp•t Announcement from
The youth schedule for 2008 and is finally coming together, so please mark these dates on your
Your Finance Committee
calendar!
In 2007 our church gave $1.5 million
toward our budget and our
March Mission Madness: March 7—9 Junior/Senior Road Trip: June 6—15
indebtedness. Gifts were strong in
Youth Spring Break Retreat: April 6—12 Intown Mission Week: June 22—28
December and our mission partners
Grades 8—12 Out of Town Mission Week: July 12—19
were supported at the percentage given
Youth Yard Sale Beach Retreat: August 3—8
to our total unified budget. Thank you
Yard Sale Week, May 25—31 For all who have completed grades 5 -12
for your prayerful and generous
Yard Sale, Opens at 7:00 AM on May 29
support for last year. We are able to
begin a new and exciting year with real
since of optimism and anticipation for
new ventures in ministry and mission
Kid’s Zone for 2008.
2008 Finance Committee
Feb. 3rd 12:30-2:00 Nu Thang, a class for children who are new Christians begins. Please call the Aubray Abrams (Chair)
church office to register. Judi Belcher Mack Bowers
Wayne Gresham Liz Hackney
Thank you to our February Extended Session Team: Don Hammonds John Hamrick
Philip Holt Jason Leeth
Feb. 3rd Feb. 10 Feb. 17 Feb. 24 Jonathan Milton Fred Palmer
Hinkle Castleberry Stanford Eargle Tom Seim Beth Smith
Carter Clay Hayes Perry Galen Swint
Salcedo Warshauer Fewell Leeth *The 2008 Finance Committee wants
Hamrick Jones Duke Parker to hear from you! They would like to
know what four questions you have for
*Please try to switch with someone on the February Team if you can not serve on your assigned them. Contact one of the members
Sunday. In the event you are unable to find a sub please contact Debbie. listed above with your questions.

Please mark your calendars with the following Spring and Summer Dates:
March 9 Celebrate First School in worship May 14 Children’s Spring Musical
Parent Child Dedication May 21 Children Sing and Serve at Clairemont Oaks
March 15 Decatur City Egg hunt on the square June 1-6 Children’s Beach Trip (3rd-5th grade)
April 25 Spring Parents Night Out July 21-25 VBS Power Lab “Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power”
May 4 “A Time to Dance” Spring Recital

The Outlook, a publication of the First Baptist Church of Decatur,

Georgia, is mailed to members and friends of the First Baptist family.

Main Office......................................404-373-1653
Finance.............................................404-370-7694
First School ......................................404-370-7688
Activities ..........................................404-373-2442
FAX ..................................................404-370-7692
Counseling Center ...........................404-874-8909
Debbie Britt ............................. cell: 678-414-0399
Ryan Forbes.............................cell: 404-273-6678
Julie Pennington-Russell.................404-370-7684
Kurt Varney.............................. cell: 404-219-3920
Bob Williamson ....................... cell: 770-633-4651

Computer Connections:
Website—http://www.fbcdecatur.com
E-Mail—fbcd@fbcdecatur.com

The Outlook, USPS 600-320, is published bi-weekly, except

Christmas week, by First Baptist Church Decatur, GA
Postmaster: Please send address changes to First Baptist Church,
308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030