News from
First Baptist Church of Petit Jean
“Come to the Mountain for His Word”
November, 2018
From the Pastor’s Desk
Being Thankful!
When Thanksgiving is mentioned, so many folks thoughts turn to turkey, dressing, ham, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and a million other foods I have forgotten. To others the football schedule pops into their heads, and they begin reliving past games and dreaming of what will be or won’t take place this year. They will be lining up their bowl games for New Years Day or looking forward to “next year” when ….Others dream of the Black Friday sales and how they are going to be able to be in so many stores at the same time to take advantage of all the specials. They will be planning–yea strategizing–to complete all their Christmas shopping in a 72-hour, fun-filled weekend.
Notice that to this point not one thing has been mentioned concerning the true meaning of the original intent of Thanksgiving, only a mention into what modern Thanksgiving has evolved. The modern Thanksgiving has morphed into a day to catch your breath and jump into a feeding frenzy for retail giants to settle their books for the end of the year, lowering their inventory and setting aside cash to carry them through the colder, bleaker months. This process is much like harvest time which triggered the original Thanksgiving, only it’s without the “Thanks” to God, to you, or to anyone.
The time of the first Thanksgiving is generally agreed to have been in the early 1600’s; however, an earlier time, 1565, was observed by the Spanish explorers in Florida. The original purpose of the Thanksgiving celebration was to give thanks to God for the bountiful harvests. The early settlers, many of whom were dependent on a good harvest to carry them through the winter were grateful to God. They understood from Whom the rains and the sunshine and warmer temperatures came and thanked God for providing the elements necessary for a good harvest. The new settlers were also thankful to their native American neighbors who provided seeds for harvest and wisdom in planting and cultivating crops. The early settlers, even in their greatest struggles, gave thanks out of a heart and mind of appreciation for God’s provision. The writer of Psalms 107:1 puts it this way, “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.”
Yes, we must re-learn to be thankful to God in remembrance for all His mercy to us in provision of physical as well as spiritual blessings.
Bro. Bill Scroggs
We Lift Up In Prayer
Phyllis Adams, Pauline Belk, Fern Bess, Paul Bess, Linda & Phil Chapman, Bob Cody, Glen Cromer, Lattie Debarr, Gwyn Gasaway, Lew Gasaway, Agatha Gasaway, Dick George, Dina Gasper & Ellen Long, Larry Hubbard, Cecil Jones, Ben Lancaster, Sharon Leon, Pat McCoy, Danielle Morgan, Barbara Scott, Jay Scroggs, Bro. Bill & Reta Scroggs, Matthew Steinmetz, Marvin VanEchaute, Loyd Vance
Happy Birthday
November 6, Phyllis Adams
November 15, Greg Gasaway
November 18, E.Kaye Jones
Happy Anniversary
November 6, Wayne and Phyllis Adams
November 25, Henry and Kay Jones
November 25 Cecil and E. Kaye Jones
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Abigayle and Jeffrey Curtis have been rewarded with excellent grades for their hard work at school. Jeffrey even made all “A’s” on his report card. We are so very proud of both of you. Keep up the good work!
Mission Project
Our mission project for October was to collect 25 boxes of oatmeal for the Conway County Care Center. We went beyond our goal and Phyllis Adams delivered 33 boxes of oatmeal to the care center last week. Great work!
WALKING TRAIL
Plans call for the walking trail that has been started on the South side of the church to be widened to 4 feet using a small size gravel. This will make it more useable for walking. Work will begin as weather permits.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
We extend our congratulations to Georgia Abner and Tim “TJ” Bruck. They were married last night, November 3, 2018 at his home in the Nimrod area. May the Lord bless them and keep them in His care.