January 1—Happy New Year!
January 9—Deacons & Wives Retreat
January 10—Deacon Ordination, 4pm Service
January 24—New Member Class
January 31—Discovery Class
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A Message From The Pastor Search Committee |
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It is now January 2021! We praise GOD for all of HIS blessings HE continues to bestow upon us each and every day! As you read this, the PSC will have completed its tabulation on the Congregational Pastor Survey. We want to thank all who participated and for your valuable input.
We have started the process of evaluating resumes. This is the most important role that we have. It is through these resumes that we are searching for the man GOD has called to be our new shepherd. There are many factors we will consider. However, the most important one, the one that takes precedent over all others, is GOD revealing to us as a committee who HE has ordained to become our next pastor. If we honor GOD by being submissive to HIS will, HE will take care of everything else.
We covet your steadfast prayers during this time. Please know your committee will continue to work diligently and prayerfully throughout this process. Continue to look for our updates in the Prayer Calendar and Weekly Updates email.
We wish all a Very Happy and Blessed New Year!!
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Operation Christmas Child Report—Wow! A tremendous number of boxes were packed during this challenging year. The church packed a total of 497. Yvonne Straughn makes this project a yearlong project, this year packing 472 boxes. This gives Lawndale a grand total of 969 “Gospel Opportunities,” as Samaritan’s Purse calls them. I especially recognize the following for their assistance in this project: Tim and Debbie Bowles, Larry Heintz, Luke Earwood, Baron Edwards, Alan Henry, and Yvonne Straughn.
Life Journey Classes for All—Remember our Sunday Morning classes are back in session with teachers preparing quality, age-appropriate, Bible-learning experiences each week. Our Life Journey classes have permanent teachers every week for babies through grade 5 during the 9:00am hour. Extended Teaching meets for babies through Kindergarten during the 10:30am hour with teachers who serve once a month. In Extended Teaching, we are extending the Bible teaching from the first hour into the second hour. Many preschool families only attend the second hour. Recommended COVID precautions are being followed, with each classroom using air purifiers and extra cleaning on surfaces.
Save These Big Dates—
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Vacation Bible School, “Concrete and Cranes, Building a Strong Foundation on Jesus”, June 21-25.
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Camp Caraway, July 12-16. Registration will take place early this year. Total cost per camper is $340 which includes a deposit of $85. Partial scholarship assistance will be available upon request.
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Student Worship – Wed. nights, 6:15pm in the Worship Center.
LJG at 9am. Middle school will meet on the 3rd floor, grades 9-10—House B, grades 11-12—House A. Watch for more info about 411.
Fuge Camp registration ends January 24. Register online with a $60 deposit. Camp Dates: July 12-17. Total cost: $320. Open to all students!
Student Weekend registration opens online Jan. 24.
Cost: $60. Dates: March 19-21. Open to all students!
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LJG—meets at 9am in the Chapel.
GAP Kentucky Mission Trip—for Young Adults and College Students. Dates: May 30-June 4. Spots are limited, so register online now with at $50 deposit. Total cost: $295. To find out more information, join us at the GAP Interest Meeting on January 10, at noon in the Chapel.
In January, we will have a refreshed format for Home Groups and for Worship (Thursdays at 7pm in the Chapel). Contact us to get plugged in.
Are you living on campus? Please send your campus mailing address to Mandy, almerrill@lawndalebaptist.org. Need support or have questions? Contact Mandy and she will put you in touch with someone on the college leadership team.
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Welcome to Lawndale Young Adults! We are a group of married and non-married adults from ages 22-32. Our goal is to connect young adults to Christ and Christian Community. We would love for you to join us!
Large Group: Make sure to join us at 10:30am in the Chapel. We will meet together to worship our Lord as we continue in our study through the book of 1 Peter. We will be wearing masks and practicing social distancing, but we are excited to meet on a Sunday morning again. If you have questions or concerns, please make sure to email Kyle at dkearwood@lawndalebaptist.org. We hope to see everyone there!
Small Groups: Our small groups are in full swing! If you are interested in joining a weekly Bible study group that meets outside the church, we have various options for married couples, gentlemen and ladies that meet at various times through the week. Contact us for more info.
Book Clubs: We have monthly book clubs for men and women. This is a time to work through a Christian book and come together to discuss it. Email Kyle for more info.
Events: We are closely monitoring the current government restrictions, but keep an eye on our social media pages for more events to come!
GAP Mission Trip: May 30-June 4 we are helping to partner with the GAP Kentucky mission trip! Come on out to our interest meeting in the Chapel after church on January 10. We hope to see you there!
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It's always a great time to fellowship with other LBC Singles... in person and online! Stay connected to get updates on all of our activities by signing up for email updates (lbcsinglepurpose@gmail.com).
Friday Fellowship Night - January 22
Join us for an evening of fun & fellowship on January 22 at 6:45pm in the Fellowship Hall. Details in future singles’ emails.
Get Into FOCUS—Our Single Adult Bible Study “FOCUS” is in-person in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday nights at 6:15pm. Make sure to join us in the CLC on January 6 as we kick off the New Year with a celebration and the launch of an exciting new study you won't want to miss!
Sunday Morning Life Journey Group - Our Sunday morning time of Bible study and fellowship is now in-person in the Fellowship Hall. Join us Sundays at 10:30am in the Fellowship Hall or on ZOOM.
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Marriage Mentoring: Marriage takes effort, even in the best of times. But during this pandemic, the stress of financial pressures, child care, looking after elderly parents, school closures, feeling cooped up, and just plain general safety concerns have strained even the strongest relationships. Add in a contentious election and social unrest and it is taking a toll. How are you and your spouse doing? As you begin a New Year, why not start off on the right track? Marriage isn’t a 100-yard dash; it’s more like a life marathon. If you need help, encouragement, or someone to talk to, call our Marriage Ministry at Lawndale and we can help with tools and resources that will make your marriage better! Guaranteed! 336-288-3824.
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In January, I often think of the children of Israel just outside Canaan, the land God had provided for them. They were afraid to enter it because of the challenges that lay ahead. Of the 12 scouts sent in, only two had the faith. Every new year presents challenges, and 2021 will be no different, maybe even harder. But to me, human challenges are divine opportunities for God to show His power, love and grace. I can't WAIT to see what the Lord has for us in the land of 2021! Who's with me?
Happy New Year!
Jon
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Happy New Year from the Weekday Preschool!
It’s time to register for the 2021/2022 school year. Registration for our weekday and church families will begin on Monday, January 25 at 9:00am. Registration will be open to the community beginning the week of February 1. Some age groups have limited enrollment and registration is taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is advised that you register early. Registration forms will be available online as well as outside Martha Stone’s office beginning January 18, 2021. If you have any questions or need more information please call Martha at 336-282-4177.
The Weekday Center will be closed for all students on Monday, January 18.
The next drive through Chick-fil-A family night will be held at the Brassfield Chick-fil-A on Thursday, January 21.
Winter weather is upon us. Please be aware, in the event of bad weather, you can find our snow policy on the website. Also, parents will be notified by email if school is cancelled or delayed due to bad weather.
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Community Development & Activities |
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Activities
ATR Basketball — For all registered families, your coach will be contacting you by January 3. Please make sure that you check your voicemail and your emails for a message. If you do not hear from a coach by Sunday evening, January 3, please contact Baron Edwards on January 4. Practices begin the week of January 4. Games begin Saturday, January 16. See our website, www.abovetherim.org, for the game schedules and COVID-19 practice and game protocols.
Community Development
It’s a New Year! – From our clothing closet and food pantry to our sports programming, Safety Ministry and many others, there is a place for YOU to serve in 2021. To get plugged in, e-mail jjackson@lawndalebaptist.org.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
Lilies of the Field Clothing Closet – We are still taking donations of new and gently-used fall and winter season clothing, blankets, and new socks for men, women, boys and girls. Please hold spring and summer donations until you hear that they are needed – space in our closet is limited!
Shepherd’s Shelf Food Pantry – Your item donations AND monetary gifts are so appreciated as we have served thousands of people in 2020! Thank you for continuing to give!
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Our Women on Mission thank you for your contributions to International Missions though the Lotte Moon Christmas Offering. Our groups will continue to study about and pray for those missionaries in January as well as those in North America. For our local mission, we’ll be purchasing needed items for the clothing ministry at Lawndale.
Weekly Word for Women (WWW) will begin a new study in the Fellowship Hall at 9:00 am on January 13. That study will begin with an introduction to the book of Revelation.
If you would like to know more about our groups, please call Fran Brown at 336-292-8508.
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2020 has been a disruptive year to say the least. So, I'm sure most of us at Lawndale are ready to turn the calendar and throw away those 2020 planners that were a waste, and pray 2021 is a better year. It will probably be a year of restarts in many areas of church life, so we must pray and seek God's wisdom and direction.
As we begin this new year, I am reminded of this story: In January of 1874, the many friends of Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) received a New Year's greeting with the heading, "A Happy New Year! Ever Such May it Be!" Following this greeting appeared her text, still considered to be one of the finest New Year's prayers of consecration ever written. One can well imagine that those who received this greeting card from Miss Havergal that year read her words thoughtfully. They were written by one who had already become widely known throughout England as "the consecration poet." It was said of her that she always lived her words before she wrote them. Her life was one of constant and complete commitment to God. Her many talents—an accomplished pianist and vocalist, proficiency in seven languages, a keen mind (memorization of the entire New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets)—were all dedicated to serving God and others during the new year.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above;
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.
(Adapted from barryshymnsblogspot.)
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Giving Statements will be emailed in January. If you would rather receive a paper copy in the mail, please contact Michelle Aronson at mlaronson@lawndalebaptist.org.
Quarterly Business Meeting—Sunday Jan. 24 at 5PM (following the 4PM service).
Elevator Closing—Our main church elevator is due for modernization. To accomplish this, we will need to close the elevator from use January 18-February 12, 2021. These dates may change slightly due to Covid-19 delays in shipments for the new parts and equipment. It will have a new look, new motor and buttons, and will be fully inspected by the N.C. Department of Labor before it will be released for passenger use.
For this time period, we ask Church members to park in areas that will allow you to enter the building either through the CLC doors to gain access to the Worship Center main level or through the main Church entrance at the circle drive. All stairwells will still be open. We will close a small area of the lobby on the first floor to permit the elevator company to store their equipment for the project.
Flower Calendar for 2021—The new flower calendar for 2021 has been posted in the lobby near the elevator. You may choose the Sunday of your choice. Arrangements are $100. You are welcome to take your flowers home after the evening service or on Monday. Please make sure the church office has your current contact information. Someone from the flower committee will call you prior to your Sunday for your memorial or honor information.
The carpet will be replaced in many classrooms and the lobby in 2021. The second floor lobby outside the Worship Center and Guest Central will be among the first done early in the new year. We will notify you by email of the exact installation schedule. We will work around church activities and meetings to minimize impact to church programming. Thank you in advance for your understanding about any inconvenience caused by this work.
Transition Update...
Church family, thank you for your continued prayers as we begin this transition time. We are pleased to let you know that beginning Sunday, January 10, our interim pulpit supply will be Dr. David Horner. Dr. Horner, founder and Executive Director of Equipped for Life since 2016, served as senior pastor of Providence Baptist Church from 1978 until he retired at the end of 2015 after 37 years as Founding and Senior Pastor. He just completed a tenure serving as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Years of practical ministry experience have given David a unique perspective. He holds degrees from Wake Forest University (BA), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (PhD). He is an emeritus member of the Gospel Coalition Council. An established author, David has published four books: Firmly Rooted, Faithfully Growing, When Missions Shapes the Mission; A Practical Guide for Life and Ministry (republished as 7 Challenges Pastors Face), and Dad’s Words of Wisdom. We are looking forward to Dr. Horner being with us! On Sunday, January 3, we are excited to have Dr. Curt Dean in the pulpit. We’ll see you Sunday, January 3 for a timely message from God’s word.
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See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
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