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Attention:
Kriebel Fellowship Hall & Kitchen as well as the hall to the
elevator will be closed for tile
replacement February 22-March 13, 2010! All
meetings etc. will be located in other areas of
church or cancelled depending on organization.
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Valentine Dinner
Friday February 12
6:00 pm
Three Course Meal
$10/person
Invite a Friend!
Sign Up Sheet at Welcome Center
Sponsored by ABY
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Elliott Avenue Baptist Church 501 W. Elliott Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 Phone: 217-528-2983 |
Roger's Ramblings,
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Throughout the month of January we have been studying REVIVAL and FIRE in the scripture and what that means for our church. First, the word "revival" comes from the root word "revive" which means "to bring back to life, to impart new health to life, to restore to use, to restore the validity or effectiveness of something, to renew" (American Heritage Dictionary). So, "revival" means "the act of reviving, or the |
| condition of being revived". Revival can not happen for a church if the revival does not happen within an individual. A revival for a church becomes a personal thing, because a revival begins in a person's heart. Like a fire within us, it spreads to other people. It is contagious! |
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Throughout scripture we see examples of revival, people on fire for God and that fire spreading
to others. With the life of Moses, we see literal fire at the burning bush when God calls Moses to lead
the Israelites. After Moses finally accepts the task and confronts Pharaoh, we see spiritual fire as the
Israelites put their faith in God and trust Moses to lead them out of Egypt. The prophet Ezekiel had a
vision of a valley of dry bones—dead, dismembered, and scattered, much like God's people. God
called Ezekiel to preach His word to the bones, and the bones came together and were made alive
again as Ezekiel obediently spoke God's word. Nehemiah believed God would do what he said. Even
in the face of opposition, Nehemiah took God at His word. One man's ruthless confession started a
tidal wave of revival. In the New Testament we find several more examples of revival, especially in the
book of Acts as we read about the beginning of the church. Peter stood up and preached to the crowd;
he told them about Jesus and pleaded with them to be saved. On that day about 3,000 were added to
the church and more would continue to be added daily.
On January 10th I shared some of what I believe God would have Elliott do through 2010. Here
are those thoughts once again:
- I believe God wants Elliott to be a shining light on Elliott and Bond.
- I believe God wants Elliott to reach out more to the people in our neighborhood and city, to share Christ with them.
- I believe God wants Elliott to bridge the gap between black and white.
- I believe God wants Elliott to become a multi-cultural church.
- I believe God wants Elliott to be a place where reconciliation can take place between races, between families, and between believers.
- I believe God wants Elliott to be a place where broken people can come for healing.
- I believe God wants Elliott to be a place where people can find refuge, peace, joy, hope, and love.
- I believe God wants Elliott to make a difference in the Kingdom.
It is time for revival, time for a fire to begin in each of our hearts. We need to be on fire for
Jesus so it will spread like a wildfire throughout the community of Springfield. I challenge you to pray
for yourself and for each other that a fire will begin in each of us and that it will spread through the city
for the Kingdom.
In Christ's Love & Service,
Pastor Roger
A Word from our Moderator…….
Ron Greenfield
When you think back, what was your favorite car? Was it a car you owned or just one you really
would have liked to own? Was it your favorite because it was such a great car or because of the
memories you have connected with the car?
I can think of two that I was really fond of. The first was my parents’ 1955 Pontiac. It was big
and heavy and roomy. I learned to drive in it. It was so roomy that 7 or 8 of us could crowd into it and
go to Russel’s for pizza on Sunday evenings after BYF and Sunday night church. I was restricted to no
more than 3 in front. It was the car I drove when dating Fran. There are a lot of great memories
connected with that car.
The second was the first car I actually bought, a 1960 Chevy Corvair. I bought it in the fall of
1959. It was a brand new model and style of car. First of a kind and it gave me endless kinds of
trouble. I loved and thoroughly enjoyed that car in spite of Ralph Nader. Fran and I went on our
honeymoon in that car. We were teaching a Sunday school class and took kids on outings in it. There
are great memories about that car even with all the troubles it gave us.
Now let me ask, are you driving that favorite car today? If you could buy a new one like it would
you? I am thinking about the 5,100 mile trip Fran and I took this last summer. Just think 113 degree
temperature and no air conditioning, that curvy, hilly mountain road and no power steering, those long
boring stretches across AZ and NM and no cruse control and only an AM radio, getting 9 to 12 mpg
and gas at $2.60. Somehow I don’t think I would want to have driven either one of those cars.
You know though, that in spite of all of our great memories and how great we think those cars
were they don’t make those models any more. Cars have to change and evolve to meet the needs of
today’s drivers. They look different, drive differently and are much more complicated.
Elliott Ave. Church is a lot like those cars we remember so fondly. Having attended Elliott all of
my life I have countless memories, good and bad, happy and sad. Wouldn’t it be great if we could turn
back into the church of 1956? Or would it? Our church met the needs of the people and the
neighborhood in 1956 but the neighborhood and the needs of the people have changed. As great as
we think it was, would that 1956 church be relevant in 2010?
The message of the Church, that God loves us and Jesus Christ offers us eternal life will never
change. However just like cars, Elliott Ave. Baptist Church must evolve to meet the needs and styles
of people today.
We may have been very comfortable and content in those old cars. The problem is that if any of
them are around today they are in museums or are collector’s pieces and only gotten out for shows or
special occasions. The rest of the time they sit idle.
Do we want people to walk by the corner of Elliott and Bond and look at the building and say
"This use to be a great church"? Or do we want them to walk by and know that there is a great and
vital church there actively serving the community? Within the next few years Elliott will look and
operate very differently from that 1956 church. However some things will never change; God’s love for
us and ours for Him and the love of the people of Elliott for each other. I think God has some
wonderful things for us to do and we will be able to add a lot of new memories to those great old ones.
Saturday, February 6 10:00am Fellowship Hall
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American Baptist Sunday nights 5:30-7:00pm
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Thank You…
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At the time of passing of our remaining parent, it is very difficult to find the words to express our deep appreciation for all the kindness and support extended to our families and “Mom” Maulding during her illness and subsequent death. The many, many, cards and prayers while she was hospitalized and in the Nursing Rehab Home meant so much to her as well as us. |
various capacities she served as Guild Girl Advisor, Junior Department Sunday School Leader, Church Secretary, and Mission Circle Founder. Our thanks go out to all of you.
The Professional Staff, Pastor Roger, Angie Jackson, Dan Ford, Helen Ely, Alein Telciné, Nancy Walker, Kelly Davis and Jack Tumulty would like to thank the congregation and Ladies Aid for their generous monetary gifts during the holidays. It was greatly appreciated.
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Fa Ho Cha
Poor Boy Sandwich Senior Lunch Feb. 18, 2010 |
February 20, 2010 Get your teams ready for a night of Trivia! There will be 10 categories w/10 questions each & a prize for the winning team. Snacks will be provided. What a great event to come & enjoy fun & fellowship and help the camp purchase Recreation Equipment. Sign up at the Welcome Center and pay the $10 registration to the church office. We hope to have 2 tables!
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Memorials Donation to the Memorial Fund was made by Richard Dettling in Memory of Patty Foster Baker.
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