The Woodmont Word E-Newsletter

The Woodmont Word

E-Newsletter

A Family of Faith on Mission

October 2017

Last month Woodmont encouraged every member to "Find Your Fit." We believe all members should utilize their talents, gifts, and time serving the Lord though His church. Brother Chad would like everyone to be involved and utilizing your gifts and abilities in serving the Lord. Our leadership will be contacting those that expressed interest at the Ministry Fair in the coming weeks. For those of you that were not able to participate, you still can. A table is set up in the lobby with information sheets about many of our ministries, committees, and ministry teams. We also have a link from our website at www.woodmontbaptist.org. Let us know of your interest and where you might "Find Your Fit."

Hess's Headlines

Dear Church,

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines courage as "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, and difficulty."

As I read the Bible, it seems that there is an awful lot of fear within its pages. The fear of Adam and Eve after they had sinned, so they hid. The fear of Gideon leads him to ask for signs throughout Judges 6. The fear and repentance of the entire city of Nineveh in the Book of Jonah. Fear in the disciples as they feared storms, Gentiles, the cross, and people. Fear of Moses as he is called by God to rescue God's people, to which Moses replies, send someone else. Fear in the early church in Acts after seeing what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. Could it be that fear is more natural than courage? In the month of October, a lot of things try to expose our fears.

I am not a wordsmith or great author, but I think that Merriam-Webster may have left out a very significant detail in their definition about courage. Could it be that courage is not just mental or moral strength, but spiritual strength; strength that is super-natural through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the same truth in the Old and New Testament that if God is with us, we have nothing to fear, but instead are called to be courageous. The Lord tells Joshua in Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." In the New Testament, the Lord gives us the most frightening command, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make 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." I shudder when I read those words. How can I possibly do this? They will oppose the message, they will resist the gospel, they may hate me for even speaking the words. But then God cuts through all the fear, the anxiety, with His promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

His presence is my courage! His power is my strength! He provides for me the mental and moral strength and resolve I need for courage. Knowing that He is eternal, His Word is true, I can trust Him to provide, protect, and preserve in all ventures, danger, fear, or difficulty.

So how does this apply to a church, His bride? What scares you at Woodmont Baptist Church? Let me remind you, believers in Christ are His people. Let's courageously venture for the glory of God as we witness to people. Let's not avoid danger, but instead, let's engage danger, dangerous places, people, and situations; let's engage them with the Gospel of Christ. Let's face difficulty knowing that this world is not our home, and our true home can never be taken from us! Be strong and courageous...for He is with you!

In Christ

Chad

Thompson's Text

We are getting ready to create a new photo directory and we need you to help make it complete! Our directory will showcase our families, provide contact information, and become a useful resource to keep us connected. By participating, you will receive a printed and electronic version of the new directory. You can sign up for your professional photography session by visiting our church website (on the homepage scroll down to Lifetouch picture, click picture to schedule your appointment.) Be looking for our sign up table located in the lobby of the sanctuary beginning October 15, or by calling Kelsey Campbell at 256-394-5896. As an added bonus, your professional photos will be available for purchase and will be ready in time for Christmas! Our directory won't be complete without you. Photography dates begin on November 16. Sign up today!

Under His grace,

Steve

Reese's Pieces

It occurred to me again just the other day, as I was teaching a piano class, that music very often serves as a metaphor for various aspects of life, its numerous principles illustrating deeper truths. While leading a rehearsal or teaching a lesson, I sometimes hear myself spouting my most tried and true mandates and I think, "Whoa, there's a sermon there." Here are just a couple of examples.

Pages of music are filled with not only notes to be played and sung, but also with many, many RESTS which indicate the voice or instrument is to be silent, sometimes only long enough to draw a good breath, sometimes longer. I wish I had a nickel (or even a penny) for every time over the last 30+ years that I've said, "Don't sing"-or play-"on the rest!" Because, in music, the silences are as important as the sounds. (In fact, that's how rhythm is formed...but that's another discussion.) It is the silences, or the rests, however long or short, that give power and clarity and focus to the sounds.

Many scriptures talk about rest in the context of spiritual repose (e.g. Sabbath rest, eternal rest, and Jesus' compassionate invitation to the all who are weary and burdened, "Come...and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) But I'm thinking more along the lines of a personal favorite: "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

In a world overflowing with noise and chatter and everyone expressing an opinion on every issue, so convinced that the world is waiting with bated breath to hear yet another opinion (often loud and strident), we forget sometimes how refreshing and utterly crucial to healthy dialogue is the absence of sound...simply being still. We can't hear each other (nor can we hear the Lord speaking) when we are constantly contributing to the cacophony. According to Ecclesiastes 3:7, there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. And SILENT, it is worthy of noting, is an anagram of LISTEN.

Another directive I often use with singers-and this is not original with me, by any means-is "Back off the power, and add passion!" The idea here is, rather than crashing in with all your might to impress everyone with thunderous or brassy, try dialing down and applying more feeling. This brings to mind Paul's admonitions in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart..." and Ephesians 6:6, "[Do] the will of God from your heart," and even the words of the Lord in Zechariah 4:6, "...not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit." Imagine how much more harmonious our relationships, ministries, and all our endeavors could be if we carried this passionate approach out of the music room and practiced it as a lifestyle.

I'm tempted to say something cheesy here like "This has been Music Lessons for Life with your host, Kevin Reese." Instead I'll just say, See ya Sunday!

Kevin

Student Ministry

In Christ,

Jarod

Personal Ministry

MINISTRY FAIR: We are so grateful for the wonderful responses received during the Ministry Fair! We added seven to our Meals on Wheels team and know that they will be a blessing to the shut-ins and Senior Adults served by this program. We also received five new volunteers for the crisis ministry team and the food pantry. Each of you will be contacted shortly to discuss the specific opportunities available to you and get you started! Thank you so much for joining our teams.

ROOM IN THE INN: We attended the training meeting on Sept 25th and have all the new information for the upcoming cold weather season which will begin in November. We also have a list of 15 dates available for your classes and groups to host one or two nights this season; November through March. Our first night to host is November 3rd!! Who will be first to have the blessing of hosting and feeding our community's homeless? Watch for an announcement in your BSC class and in the bulletin regarding the training/sign up meeting which will be held in October. In the meantime, be thinking of dates your class may be interested in hosting and appoint two class representatives to attend the meeting to receive instructions and sign up for specific dates to host.

Thanks:

Becky and Loretta

Woodmont Family, this is our 12th golf tournament for missions. We have been able to fund 4 international mission trips as well as help with Disaster Relief efforts in Phil Campbell and Hackleburg.

You can help support this mission effort by one of the following ways:

Sponsor a hole

Play on a team

Make a donation

Women's Ministry

For detailed information about tablescapes click here.

Women's Ministry

"OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD"

Please help share the joy of God's love by sending a shoebox filled with small gifts and toys to a hurting and impoverished child through Samaritan's Purse.

Beginning Sunday, October 22, prewrapped shoeboxes will be available in the worship center lobby on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may purchase a plastic shoe box or use a shoe box of your own from home, if preferred. The following will be on hand in the lobby, for your convenience, as well; Brochures with Boy/Girl Labels, Packing tips, and rubber bands.

Deadline to return gift-filled boxes is Sunday MORNING, November 13, at which time there will be a prayer of dedication. The boxes will be taken to the collection center for Lauderdale County that afternoon. Any boxes not making the deadline, may be taken to FBC, Florence, for a very limited time.

Thank you for your participation,

Women's Ministry of Woodmont

Operation Christmas Child Packing Tips click here for list.

Singles' Ministry

October 8th

Single Adult Day

Every year in the fall, Woodmont Baptist Church highlights the Singles Ministry.

October 14th -

12th Annual Golf Tournaments for Missions at Blackberry Trail

Info table is located in the foyer

October 22nd

Monthly Covered Dish Lunch in the gym following the service.

Please bring a casserole, veggie dish or dessert.

October 28th

UNA Tailgate Party at East Campus -3:00 PM

Bring a finger food and a chair.

Belinda

Children's Ministry

Psalm 105:1 "Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the world know what he has done."

It is so easy to get caught up in our own little world that sometimes we forget we are commanded to share the good news to the world. We have an amazing church and church family. It is so good that we could just stay inside this little bubble. We have many opportunities to share the good news of Jesus; at the grocery store, the ball field, and restaurants. One of those opportunities will be Sunday afternoon October 15th at McFarland Park, we will be hosting a cup cake walk. We need you to help bake cup cakes and help share the good news of Jesus. Please see Belinda or myself if you can work an hour or bake cupcakes we want a good representation of Woodmont family.

On another note I want to thank my church family for the gifts of love you have shown our family. The gift cards and monetary gifts have been such a blessing to my family. I just don't understand how people do this thing called life without a loving church family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Denise