FOCUS

First Baptist Church, Chico 850 Palmetto Avenue Chico, CA 95926 530-343-3446 Monthly Newsletter Vol. 30, No.10- November 2011
We are a richly varied church community celebrating the grace of God through worship, through encouraging spiritual growth, and by living as reminders of Gods loving presence in our world.

number of years ago, Robert H. Roberts Associate General Secretary of the ABCUSA at the time provided churches with very good material on tithing/giving to God. Bob talks about tithing, and I know there are some in the congregation who dont like to talk of tithing so we talk about commitment instead. As you read the 10 Reasons Why I Tithe from Bob, I invite you to translate tithing to commitment if you so desire. However you read his ideas, I hope youll think about giving to God.

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COMMITMENT The word commitment is not a popular word in todays culture. But when I tithe I reaffirm my covenant with Christ and express the intention of my heart to give God priority in my life. GENEROSITY My natural instinct is to be a bit cheap. I could easily become selfcentered and look out only for myself. Tithing strengthens my compassion for others. JOY We now give beyond the tithe and every year we would like to give more. Tithing reminds me how joyful I can feel to provide for ministries I really believe in. OBEDIENCE I was taught to tithe as a child. I am very willful, and in my relationship with God I find it necessary to trust and obey. Tithing is not an issue of law, but obeying the natural instinct of my heart before the cross. HABIT After all these years, tithing is a habit of the heart even a holy habit. I no longer question tithing. It is as important for my spiritual health as clean teeth are for my physical well being.

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GRATITUDE Tithing helps me to feel blessed. Thinking about my blessings creates a desire to give more. Since tithing, my wife and I have never had a need that was not met. PRAISE I praise God with word and song, but when I give my tithe I sense a substantial and tangible expression of praise. WITNESS My tithing testimonies and example witness to my children and grandchildren, to fellow church members, and to neighbors and friends. ORDERLINESS The discipline of giving a tenth had helped my wife and I plan the use of our finances and to avoid random spending. SERVANTHOOD Giving the tithe reminds me that I am not my own, but that my life belongs to Christ, my Lord. Tithing prompts me to remember that we are servants of Christ and stewards of Gods mysteries.

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I hope these 10 reason to tithe will help all of us think about what we give to God. This coming Sunday, October 30th, well receive the commitment cards. Remember. We give to God, not to First Baptist Church.

First Baptist Church, Chico 850 Palmetto Avenue Chico, CA 95926 530-343-3446 www.chicofirstbaptist.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

E-Mail:fbcofficechico@sbcglobal.net Every Member a Minister Rev. Ted Sandberg D. Min.

MARK

YOUR

CALENDAR

Sunday, Nov 6 - Daylight Savings Time Ends Friday, Nov 11 - Veterans Day Sunday, Nov 13 - Spiritual Practice Class Thursday, Nov 24 - Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov 24 - Office Closed Saturday, Nov 26 - Hanging of the Greens FOCUS Articles due in office Wednesday, 23

Expediters: Joyce Shannon, Louise Logue, Evelyn Cash, Marta Torres *THANK YOU*

NOVEMBER
Date November 6 Communion Worship Leader: Communion Servers: November 13 Worship Leader: November 20 Worship Leader: November 27 Worship Leader: 1st Sunday in Advent

CALENDAR
Sermon Text Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon Title Wheres the Oil? Jackie Long Louise Logue, Cheri Sandberg, Doris Arbuckle, Carol Willette Like a Thief in the Night Rev: Sandi John Is Caring Enough? Laura Sederberg

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Matthew 25:31-46

What Are You Waiting For? Mark Edson Candle Lighters: Terre Reynolds, Laura Sederberg ADULT DISCUSSION CLASS Sunday Mornings at 9:15 am with Shirley Stanley and Jerry Fogle. Presently in a video series Jesus in the New Testament (In Mark) Coffee and Donuts provided.

Mark 13:24-37

November
*Marta Torres-Miranda 11/1 *Rita Fox Landrum 11/2 *Wayne Houchin 11/3 *Edith McConnell 11/4 *Paul Sandberg 11/8 *Caroline Latham-Fairchild 11/11 *Deborah Logue 11/12 *Carroll Shannon 11/12 *Carol Willette 11/12 *Laura Sandberg 11/14 *Kelly Gerfen 11/17 *Delores Wood 11/19 *Mary Jane Bowser 11/21 *Sue Rychtera 11/23 *Wanda Long 11/28

Our Prayer Li.s.t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chico First Baptist Family Continue to Pray for:
The WAR in Iraq and Afghanistan FRIENDS WITH CANCER: FERN MORGAN - mother of friend of Terre Reynolds; FRANK JAMES - Mary Jane Bowsers friend, esophageal cancer; MARGARET BALLINGERS SISTER - remains on chemotherapy; CANDACE - Jill Ramseys friend, ovarian cancer; CHERYL DEAN - Evelyn Cashs cousin, bone cancer; ERIKA LUCKETT - singer friend of Terre & Laura, ovarian cancer, chemotherapy; CAROL LOCASTRO - Carrie Nevins in-law, cancer; DENICE - Jill Ramseys sister, breast cancer. ****** SHIRLEY SMITH: Has Parkinsons and Palsy SP; AMY: Ed Hightowers daughter - Parkinsons disease; RICK: Jill Ramseys cousin - received kidney transplant; CORA RAE HUBBARD: Health concerns; ELIZABETH FUNK - Health concerns; LILLIAN WENDORF: Home recovering from surgery; CAL RAINEY: Radiation Treatments.

REMEMBER IN PRAYER: Courtyard at Little Chico Creek: HELEN WALLACE The Inn at the Terraces : EDITH MCCONNELL Roses & Ivy Elder Care Center: DOLLY SKINNER Roseleaf Senior Care: PAULA JOHNSON Feather River Canyon Home: ELAINE HERRINGTON Twin Oaks Care Center: LOU HAYES MILITARY : JASON WILLIAMS - Ed Hightowers step grandson WILL DUNHAM - Doris Arbuckles grandson JOSEPH STEWART - Afghanistan DAN GERFEN- Joan Hannis Gerfens son deployed to Afghanistan

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Attitude of Gratitude

What finally counts is not what biblical texts or church doctrines tell us we may believe but what humanity, reason, justice, and Christs love tell us we ought to believe.

An Attitude of Gratitude *A list of the items posted on the Banner in the Narthex*
My Savior My Christian Parents Children and Grandchildren I didnt expect us to have. My Christian friends throughout my life. My memories are full and I am very grateful. Grateful for Lena White and Anne Wheelock. I am so proud of how long we have worked to support the homeless, before the Torres Shelter was opened and today. We are grateful for those who roll bandages. Thankful for Choirs. I am grateful for Helen Kinnees work for peace, in our community and now the peace library in her honor. I am grateful for the 500 quilt blocks Margaret Ballinger cut. That will make many quilts. I am grateful for my friends and family because they are so supportive. I am grateful to be alive. I am grateful for God, Jesus, Ted and Cheri. I am grateful for my church family, and my family. I am grateful for friends and freedom. I am grateful for more than nine months of fairly good health since my heart attack. I am grateful for faith, family and friends.

Joy:

Hello Extended Church Family! I just wanted to send a note of thanks for all your collective prayers for me to find a new apartment here in New York City, specifically, here in Brooklyn. My new place is fantastic! Theres a washer and dryer in the apartment (a luxury in the city!) Im one block away from the subway, and Im in a quiet and safe neighborhood. I Couldnt ask for more. I wanted to let you know Im grateful for all your prayers and thoughts! Thank you Kindest Regards, Christi Willette

Joy: Dear Friends: Thank you for your prayers, concerns, cards, letters and phone calls during Cals illness and surgery we really appreciate every thing youve done for us. Cal and Margarita Rainey

A Message from Erika Luckett Though initially doubtful about proceeding with chemotherapy, I feel good about the choice. I'm responding really well to treatment and a huge part of my positive response has to do with the confluence of approaches: combining western medicine with acupuncture/supplements/diet and the rest. It's not a battle, or a game to be won or lost. Each of us is going to die. The question is simply: how do we live? How do we bring the fullness of our being to every moment? Have we brought more love to those around us? It's not about errors, but about opportunities to adapt and evolve, to grow in awareness and become better human beings. My aim is to regain my health fully and be able to learn to love more completely. If I have two years or fifty more, my prayer is: "May I live each day as fully as possible, love more abundantly, and leave the world a better place than I found it." Ovarian cancer is a nasty thing. Although it is fairly rare, only 22,000 women get it each year, it is alarmingly lethal, killing two thirds of women diagnosed. I am profoundly grateful that I am doing so well and that my prognosis is so good. Of the many blessings that have resulted from my "Semester at C," one of the most impacting is raising the level of gratitude for the privilege of being alive. May I live each day as fully as possible. May I love more abundantly. May I leave the world a better place than I found it. Thank you for being on this journey with me. With deep love and gratitude, Erika Luckett

******************************************************************************* From: Millie Zediker I am sorry to have been so long in letting the church family in Chico know that Zip went to be with the Lord on August 22nd. He had a heart attack early on Sunday morning, and died the next morning early. Though his passing was rather sudden, I am praising God for taking him so quickly and that he didn't have a long suffering road ahead. Two celebrations of his life were awesome. One in Arco where he served his last years as pastor before retiring and one in Tacoma, WA where he served nearly twelve years. God is good and my family is resting in His love and strength. Thank you for being a part of his life. Millie Zediker Be in His Peace, Blessed with His Love

Spiritual Practices Series:

November 13: Growing through Grief: Letting go and staying connected through the losses of life. This is an ongoing series of self-contained classes on spiritual practices offered by First Baptist Church of Chico, 850 Palmetto Ave. You are also invited to bring your sack lunch to eat together at 11:45 AM. Drinks and dessert provided. The class is taught by the Rev. Sandi John, Pastoral Counselor. For more information please call Sandi at 809-0409 or the church office at 343-3446. All are welcome!

********************************************************************* Circle Meeting: Charity Circle Hope Circle Lauren Bethell Circle November 15 Country Waffle Sues House 10:00 am 7:00 pm 6:30 pm

**Beginning in November we will be adding a Recipe section to the Focus, if you would like to share your recipes please submit them to the office

Donate you r old Eye Glasses for H aiti - table in th e Nar th ex Sou p Labels for Edu cation - table in th e Nar th ex On th e r igh t of th e table in th e Nar th ex: Tor r es Sh elter M ilk B ottle

Did you know? We have wireless Personal P. A. Receivers available, as well as copies of the sermons, if you would like to borrow or purchase a tape Please see Jerry at the sound booth.

Cinnamon Jam Muffins

SHARES CARDS First Baptist Church continues to benefit from our using SHARES cards. If we buy from Save Mart (grocery or pharmacy), Food Max or Lucky's, the church gets a check each quarter as a rebate. Members and friends can obtain a card from Alice and it will be swiped by the store; the church gets 3% of the total purchase. Remember to submit your card BEFORE paying the bill. If you misplaced your card and need one for a friend or acquaintance, I have more. Submitted by Alice Reed

ABW Womens Ministries

Bible Book for November: I, II, & III, John

CIRCLE OF CHARITY The Circle of Charity met on September 20, 2011 at the Country Waffle Restaurant. This was the first meeting for the 2011-2012 year. Those attending were Virginia Bolton (chairperson), Betty Hannis, Jackie Long, Evelyn Cash, Margaret Ballinger, Lena White, Vivian Anderegg and myself. Virginia Bolton opened the meeting and we discussed members in the Yearbook and discovered that several of them were inactive. We shared our summer activities, and Margaret Ballinger asked us to say a prayer for her sister in Durham. Jackie lead us in a prayer and we enjoyed a brunch and lots of fellowship. We collected $25.00 for the Love Gift and $7.00 for the general offering. Lena read a card from Cora Rae Hubbard, and Margaret told us that she would be delivering items to the Battered Womens Shelter soon and would be happy to take any donations. Virginia reminded us that the next meeting would be on Tuesday (October 18) at the Country Waffle. She delivered a remarkable devotion from 1st Corinthians. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 AM. Submitted by Louise Logue The American Baptist Women held a board meeting on October 8, 2011. Those attending were Jackie Long, Marty Brandstatt, Louise Logue, and Cheri Sandberg. Cheri welcomed us and opened the meeting with prayer. Jackie read the minutes from the recent Brunch and they were approved as read. Cheri read a Thank you from Catalyst, Louise gave the Treasurers report and Love Gift, Marty reported on the White Cross activities. She told us that the roller bandages were expensive and that we would finish the ones we had started this year. Next year we will not be sending roller bandages. In December, we will prepare a $150 check for White Cross. Under old Business, we discussed board meetings in January and February. We will collect donations for the No Bazaar Bazaar in November. Money will be collected at Circle Meetings. The Communications Committee will prepare signs for the Church and articles for the Enterprise Record for the - White Cross Projects, No Bazaar Bazaar, and the Noel Brunch. The yard sale will be discussed after April 30, 2012. The Noel Brunch will be held Saturday December 3, 2011 in the Social Hall at 10:00am. We plan to have CD music and group singing. The Circle of Hope will prepare the decorations, coffee, and punch. The Circle of Charity will provide the fruit The Lauren Bethell Circle will provide the breads, and rolls. All Circles will help with clean-up. Submitted be Louise Logue

CIRCLE OF CHARITY The Circle of Charity held their monthly meeting on October 18, 2011 at the Country Waffle Restaurant. Those attending were Virginia Bolton, Margaret Ballinger, Betty Hannis, Jackie Long, and myself. We started the meeting with fellowship, Margaret offered a prayer for the food, for the offering, we collected $4.00 for the regular fund, and $15.00 for the Love Gift. More fellowship followed with a report from Margaret regarding the quilt blocks, birthdays in November, ABW board meeting, and the Angel Tree. We discussed the Communion offering. Betty delivered a devotion from William Coffins Credo. She adjourned the meeting with prayer. Next meeting will be held November 15. Submitted be Louise Logue

CIRCLE OF HOPE The Circle of Hope met at the home of Louise Logue October 18 at 7:00 P.M. Those in attendance were Joyce Shannon and Cheri Sandberg. We started out by sharing what was going on in our lives and moved onto circle business. We discussed the No Bazaar Bazaar Offering which we can bring to the November circle. We talked about the Noel Brunch December 3rd which will be held at 10:00 A.M. Our circle is in charge of decorations and drinks. Those who attended the circle meeting thought we could come early on December 3rd and decorate and make the apple cider and coffee. Joyce read a poem by Helen Steiner Rice entitled The Solution to Our Problems. The poem basically says we all have problems and sometimes we dwell on them, but if we open our hearts to God he will solve them through Faith, Hope and Prayer. Afterwards we talked about how we each cope with our problems and we all agreed we need God in our lives to help us deal with our problems. Louise served a delicious dessert and we adjourned at 9:30 P.M. Submitted by Joyce Shannon

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

November 2011
FLOWERS FOR THE MONTH (PROVIDED BY CHURCH MEMBERS)
1 2 3 4 5

Worship - 11 am (Country Waffle)

Communication 9am Choir 6pm

UDavid Scholz Nv Chamber chorale 79:30pm

Stewardship 6pm

6 Communion Daylight Savings Time Ends UDavid ScholzNv Chamber chorale 2-5:00pm

7 Pastor/Staff

10

11

12

5:30 Evang/Member 6:30pm Prop/Mgmt 3:30 Human Relations Network 3-5pm

Christian Education 6:30pm

CAIC 11:45 am

Choir 6pm
C A IC A nnual D inner

Gov. Bd. 7 pm

*L. Logue
13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Spiritual Class CIRCLES

Rev. Sandi John 12-1

U youth and family center/ foster agency 2:006:00pm

*J. Fogle
20 Stewardship 21 22 23

Choir 6 pm
24 25 26

Dinner Missions/social 5:15 (CANCELLED)

Last day to submit articles for Focus

Missions/Social sv eve. meal to Torres Shelter *J. Rychtera

27 28

No choir OFFICE CLOSED

Hanging of the Greens 3:30PM

29

30

1 Advent Sunday

st

F.O.R. 7 pm *Pending approval

*J. Hannis Gerfen

U Approved

Annual Dinner
Thursday Evening, November 10,2011

6:30-8:30 p.m. First Christian Church 295 E. Washington Avenue Chico

Tickets: $15 per person
Available at your faith communities
For financial aid please contact President: janderson@csuchico.edu or Secretary: chicoaic@aol.com

The Chico Area Interfaith Council seeks to build relationships and understanding among all faith communities in Chico.

Our 54th Year

Program
"Reconnecting with Compassion"

Krista Tippett: Video Panel Discussion Table Discussions

In the spirit of the "Book in Common"
A cooperative event joining CSU C hico, Civic and Faith Communities