First Connections Volume 50 Issue 5 May 2020

A Publication of First Baptist Church

408 College Street

Clinton, North Carolina 28328

Ministerial Staff

Dr. Ray Ammons, Senior Pastor

704-214-2147 rammons1859@gmail.com

Miss Lauren McCollister, Minister of Music and Students 443-521-9888 lmccollister@clintonfirstbaptist.org

Mrs. Jean Hatch, Instrumentalist 910-592-6215 papajhatch@embarqmail.com

Support Staff Miss Paula Peters, Business Manager ppeters@clintonfirstbaptist.org

Ms. Ruth Ann Johnson, Administrative Secretary rjohnson@clintonfirstbaptist.org

Mrs. Jill Faircloth, Financial Administrator

Mr. Jack Hamilton, Caretaker

Mr. Jeff Draughon, Custodian

Request Information

info@clintonfirstbaptist.org

FIRST BAPTIST NEWS (USPS 898-960) is published

monthly by First Baptist Church, 408 College Street,

Clinton, NC, 28328. Periodical postage paid at Clinton, NC.

Postmaster: Send address changes to First Baptist Church,

408 College Street, Clinton, NC, 28328.

Our Sunday morning service is heard every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. on WCLN radio, 1170 AM. You may also hear us on StarVision cable channel 16.

Phones

Church Office: 910-592-8124

FAX: 910-592-6109

Visit Us On the Web: www.clintonfirstbaptist.org

Our church staff

Our Mission

“The purpose of First Baptist Church is to

honor God as we love and minister to all people, witness to them of our life-changing Savior, lead them into the fellowship of His church, and nurture them in Christian growth.”

every note, every worst and every best. And has declared, “you are my child and I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) From a recent paraphrase of Psalm 139: O Lord, you have searched us and known us: We are fearfully and wonderfully made and known. Where can we go from your spirit? Where can we flee from your presence? Nowhere. Thank you, God. Search us, then, and know our hearts. Test us and know our thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Blessings, Ray

I miss being together. I realize even when are able to gather, we are not all here at the same time. Truth be told, I miss all of us being with all of us. It is in the congregating that we are the gathered body of Christ. It is in the sending forth from our gathered place that we are the commissioned body of Christ. We meet to worship. We depart to serve. The time for meeting together again will happen. When it occurs, I hope we can all be here. With the completion of the new Family Ministry Center on the immediate horizon, our next assembly as a church family will be, in all likelihood, in that facility. I am excited about that possibility. The photos included in this edition provide a glimpse of this remarkable structure. In the meantime, we are not yet able to be together in one place. We are held together by an everlasting truth. In our personal places, our stay-at-home places, our places of caution and compliance, we are known by God. The Psalmist reassures this, “O Lord you have searched me and known me.” (Psalm 139:1) How wonderful -- how fearful -- it is to be known by God, no matter where we are. One person translates it, “Lord, you dig me.” God digs us. He enjoys us and cherishes us. Others may not know us. Others may not dig us. However, as Dr. Charles Poole wrote, “God knows the deepest best and God knows the deepest worst.” God knows the deepest scar and the deepest fear, the deepest worry. God knows the deepest inspiration. God is fully aware of how frustrating this season has been on every level for everyone. We are known by Him. God’s heart is broken for those who have lost loved ones. We are known by Him. God, without ceasing, is present with those who serve, share, and care on the front lines of the pandemic. We are known by Him. God knows every sentence,

Easter 2020 HALLELUJAH! CHRIST IS RISEN!

Although Easter was a little different this year, we were still able to add spring flowers to the cross on the front portico representing the new life in Christ.

First Connections May, 2020

Memory of Edna Honeycutt Bass

Given by: Love Sunday School Class

Memory of Frank Boyette

Given by: Lew, Erika, Annell Grace & Annie Marie Starling

James & Norma Jones Love Sunday School Class

Memory of Dr. John Daly

Given by: Lew, Erika, Annell Grace & Annie Marie Starling

Memory of Kitty Flake

Given by: Tommy & Linda Combs Dorothy Faison Ann Hutteman

Doug & Cheryl Norris Lew, Erika, Annell Grace & Annie Marie Starling

Memory of Carole Robinson

Given by: Jeff Bell Doug & Cheryl Norris

Dorothy Faison Jerry & Ann Merritt

Lew, Erika, Annell Grace & Annie Marie Starling Faith Sunday School Class

Bill & Joanna Dunlap

Memory of Doug & Margaret Southerland

Given by: Rebecca Southerland Moore & Murphy Moore

Memory of Julia Dunlap Utley

Given by: Lew, Erika, Annell Grace & Annie Marie Starling

Bill & Joanna Dunlap

Memory of Faye S. Warren

Given by: Jerry & Ann Merritt Doug & Cheryl Norris

Glen & Doris Spell Lew, Erika, Annell Grace & Annie Marie Starling

Love Sunday School Class Bill & Joanna Dunlap

Memory of Hubert Weeks Given by: Todd Weeks

Memorials (March 30-April 26) Please Remember in Prayer — IN THE HOSPITAL None at this printing OUR CHURCH FAMILY Ed Bissette, Nancy Butler, Gladys Godwin, Glenda Herring, Keith Powell, Annell Starling

OUR HOMEBOUND Glenda Bunker, Joe Butler, Leslie Godwin, Terry Penny, Juanita Rich, Lou Royal, Frances Tart, Margie Woodall

NURSING HOMES Local

Lee Brown, Mary Gran 715B Isabel Downing, Mary Gran 401A Faye McCullen, Mary Gran 112 Mary Pope, Mary Gran 403A R.J. Underwood, Mary Gran 211 Doug Warren, Southwood 413 Willie Ruth Watson, Mary Gran 704

Out of Town Carla Goodwin, Cypress Point Rehab, Wilmington Vara Matthis, Wilson House Assisted Living, Wilson

EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Savannah Bailey (Tenna Autry’s great-niece)

Hilda Lambert (Donald Wrench’s sister)

Douglas McKee (Bobby & Glenda Bunker’s grandson-deployed)

Lloyd & Jane McGowan (Amela Sutton’s parents)

Pamela Medford

Wayne Reynolds (Ann Weeks’ son)

Earl Whaley, (Johnny Chestnutt’s brother-in-law)

Allen Wrench (Donald & Carolyn’s Wrench’s son)

Our Soup Kitchen ministry

Tim’s Gift Ministry

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First Connections May, 2020

Condolences We express deepest sympathy to the family of Frank Boyette, who passed away on April 10.

Also, deepest sympathy to the family of Edna Honeycutt Bass, who passed away on April 19.

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Todd Weeks Glenda Bunker Carolyn Chestnutt Sylvia Miller Ben Wright John Jackson Florence Latimer Zackie McCullen Debbie Finney Joel Jones Barbara Shook Dwight Jackson Robert Little

Olivia Chestnutt Jennifer Lewis Scott Sorrell Matilda Parker Lindsay Matthews Joel Starling Mabel Parker Norma Jean Jackson W.A. Autry Sue Blanchard Leanne Jones Jeff Sawvel Michelle Simmons

Peggy Hairr Linda Combs Victoria Montgomery Thomas Lisa Nethercutt Brent Stafford Susan Holder Margo Bowker Phagan Hudson

May Birthday Wishes

May Greeter Schedule

10 Bill & Alta Starling

17 Fred & Judy Cumbo

24 Bill Dunlap & Sam McCullen

31 Carol McCullen & Mary Tyson

May Nursery Schedule

10 Jim & Bonnie Matthews, Jeana Grace Bowker 17 Jean Wray Cannady, Sheila Lewis 24 Charlie & Megan Powell 31 Kaitlin & Jeremy Adkins

If you are unable to be in the nursery on your Sunday, please arrange to trade with someone on the list. Also, please update the church office with those changes. Thanks!

Monetary Committee for May

11 Teresa Underwood, Kay Richardson, Mary Ann

Hobbs

18 Ann Merritt, Tenna Autry,

*26 Linda Combs, Fred Cumbo, David Jones

If you are unable to count on your designated day, please find

someone to switch with. The alternates are: Cheryl Norris,

Charles Gainey and Al Roderick.

May Meals on Wheels Schedule

Monday’s Wednesday's

11 Pat & Dempsey Craig 13 Michelle Simmons 18 Linda Combs & 20 Jerry & Jean Hatch Bonnie Matthews 25 Holiday 27 Michelle Simmons If you are unable to serve on your assigned date, please exchange dates with someone else or call 592-5604.

Food Pantry

We are collecting Macaroni and Cheese for the Food Pantry through Monday, May 18.

After that date, we will be collecting Pancake Mix and Syrup.

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New Arrival Nicholas and Shantel Jackson are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Nolan Banks Jackson, on April 27, 2020. He weighed 7 pounds, 131/2 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Grandparents in our church are John and Marcia Jackson. Congratulations to all.

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Church Calendar and Events

At the time the church newsletter was printed, it was uncertain which, if any, events would take place due to ongoing Corona virus restrictions. While we are hopeful that our regular schedule can soon be resumed, there is a possibility of many events being canceled or postponed to a later date. The church office will get the word out about any schedule changes as quickly as possible.

Thank You

Dear First Baptist Church,

U Care, Inc. would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your recent donation, which we received on April 3. Thanks to your contribution, U Care continues to provide a much-needed service to victims of family violence in Sampson County. Your support of our work is truly appreciated.

Pamela Gonzalez, Executive Director

Thank You Dear church family,

Thank you all so much for the food, prayers and calls. It means so much to us.

Gladys and Leslie Godwin

New Arrival Congratulations to Fred and Judy Cumbo on the birth of a great-grandson, Tharon Gray Cumbo, on April 24, 2020. His parents are Reid and Carrie Cumbo.

REMINDER: You may hear/view our Sunday morning service in one of three ways: You may listen on WCLN radio, 1170 AM. You may also hear us on StarVision cable

channel 16. You may watch the service in real time on

Facebook Live.

First Connections May, 2020

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First Connections May, 2020

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Senior Happenings Springtime is a beautiful season. We have new growth, and the grass is popping up green making everything look bright and clean. The trees are budding and colorful flowers are blooming everywhere. Take a stroll or find a place to sit outside and take in all the wonder and splendor of God’s beautiful creation. It is just awesome! In these days when you get bored pick up the phone or write a note to someone to let them know you are thinking about them. They will be blessed, but you will receive the bigger blessing.

Please be safe in these difficult times. Remember that God is good all the time. All the time God is good! He never makes a mistake—just call on His name and He will answer your prayers.

We would like to extend a special thanks to the Missions Development Council for providing meals for our homebound members on Wednesday evenings. Also many thanks to everyone who has helped to deliver them, especially to Dr. Ray and Jim Matthews for all they do. We appreciate and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Everyone is so thankful to see us each week. As some have remarked, “You will never know just how much I appreciate you doing this for me.” Times like these define who we are. Let others see Jesus through our actions. Be kind and love one another. “God is our refuge and strength.” (Psalm 46)

Love in Christ, Faye B. Warren, Sr. Adult Director Note: Our Senior Adult activities will resume when we can get back to a “new normal.”

These are just a few of our senior adult and homebound members we have visited this

past year.

Final site work is almost completed at the Family Ministry

Center.