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The Baptist Bridge

March 2012

By the grace of God, the Philippi Baptist Church shall Embrace, Model, and Share the love of God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippi Baptist Church 107 Church St. Philippi, WV 26416 (304) 457-3206

Inside this Issue Pastors Heart...2 Youth News...3 Birthdays4 Anniversaries...4 Announcements...5 Childrens Rally...6 Union Baptist Association U-Link...7 Lenten information...8 Lenten Schedule9 Getting to know...10 Catch us on the radio live every Sunday morning at 10:30a.m. WQAB 91.3 FM
E-mail: office@pbcwv.net Website: www.pbcwv.net

107 Church Street Philippi, WV 26416(304)457-3206


Jon Villers, Pastor Lisa Dadisman, Secretary

Hollow Sacrifice (by Eileen Button)


Like many Christian children, I gave up sweets for the forty-plus days of Lent. I remember creeping downstairs on Easter morning, hoping to be greeted by a marvelous, solid-chocolate Palmer's bunny. After surviving the torturous season of sacrifice, I could barely wait to nibble the cottontail's long, delicious ears. I would sometimes be disappointed to find a hollow chocolate cross in my basket in place of the preferred bunny. Propped in green plastic grass and surrounded by pastel jelly beans stood a milk chocolate version of my Savior's object of torture. In place of Christ's broken body, the cross bore a pink and yellow flower made of sugar. I couldn't eat it. It felt blasphemous to do so. While it was almost impossible to endure the long, sweet-less days of Lent, the triviality of my "sacrifice" always shocked me when I was confronted by that chocolate cross on Easter morning. Even a child wrestles with the reality of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The annual season of Lent is puzzling to many. Denying ourselves our favorite treats or habits even for a short time - seems unnecessarily archaic in our I-want-it-now culture. Lent is a plodding, definitive crescendo that leads up to the cacophonous noise of Good Friday and the gorgeous aria of Easter Sunday. It's a season marked by deliberateness and intentionality. But we often get in the way of our own best intentions. When fasting from food or technology (or whatever else captures our hearts and threatens to take the place that only God can fill) we might be tempted to feel a sense of pride or arrogance about our sacrifice. The very thing we relinquish sometimes clamors inside us as a "need" to be met. Instead of focusing on Jesus Christ, our attention can dangerously be drawn to the very thing we've voluntarily surrendered. Even so, the practice of Lent can be a valuable discipline. It's difficult to comprehend what our continual sense of entitlement does to our bodies and souls. Our culture worships at the feet of pleasure, deeply bowing to all its delicious offerings. As we "shovel it in," we can become desensitized to our needs - the real hungers - in our lives. Observing Lent can help us wrestle with the reasons behind our perpetual consumption. When we decide to relinquish that thing that fails to truly satisfy, we come face-to-face with some tough questions. Can we believe Jesus when he says, "People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"? How can we make room for the Savior in our buried and burdened lives? Can we grasp the reality of Good Friday and live within its irony?

Lent challenges us to consider the honest answers to these and other soul-searching questions. It invites us to voluntarily jump off the hamster wheel of consumption and experience the pinch of abstaining from continual, thoughtless indulgence. It has the potential to give our frenetic material selves a much-needed break. Like many believers, I hold fast to the annual discipline of Lent and continue to give up something that I consume. I treasure the season of abstinence, seeking, and revelation. Every year, I learn something new. Perhaps I was - and still am - offended by a hollow chocolate cross because it signifies what is too often true about our spiritual lives: What we see on the outside might look pretty, but we can be tragically empty. Occasionally, the reality of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and the power of his love break through our hardened hearts. The realization, like a splash of freezing water on our tired faces, causes us to gasp. The hollow parts of our souls can be filled. 2

Youth

Observing Lent
The U-Link Event will be at the A-B Coliseum on April 27th-28th.It will be a lock- in in conjunction with the 30 hour Famine Event sponsored by World Vision. The next meeting will be at East Clarksburg Baptist Church on March 8, 2012 at 7:00 PM. U-Link is continuing to work on getting the youth of the Union Association involved in activities that promote Christian fellowship and growth in the Lord's work. We hope that you will consider getting involved with this event. We also will need adult help in managing the activities and working with the kids. Additional details related to the time and activities during the event will be sent out after our next U-Link meeting. If you would like to help in planning of the activity please come to our next meeting at East Clarksburg Baptist Church on March 8, 2012 at 7:00p.m. If you have questions or need to speak to someone please call 304-669-3895. Below is a clip from the "30 Hour of Famine" web site that explains what is involved in preparing for this event. What Is The Famine Students around the world loving God and fighting hunger. Not your average group activity. This is your chance to join other groups of students all over the world in learning the truth about hunger, poverty, and injustice then overcome it all with love. Worldwide, 925 million people are hungry. Every day, as many as 11,000 children under age 5 die due to hunger-related causes. Thats one kid every 8 seconds. The Famine gives your group a chance to do something about it to rise up and serve the hungry. Going hungry so others dont have to. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students do the Famine. They go without food for 30 hours. They learn what it takes to overcome hunger. And they raise funds to help feed hungry children and families around they world. They refuse to be told they cant make a difference. Every $30 raised by your group can help feed and care for a child for a month. And because the Famine is powered by World Vision, youre not just feeding kids for today youre helping them and their families overcome poverty for a lifetime. Learn more about how the Famine works. A life-changing experience when your group does the Famine, youre doing more than raising money for a good cause. Youre stepping outside yourselves to help save lives . . . and change the way you see the world. Along the way, your group will learn about hunger and make a difference in the lives of children living in poverty. And to top it all off, youll be drawn closer to God and one another as you experience hunger firsthand. Were with you every step of the way! World Vision provides everything you need to put on an unforgettable Famine event, including a FREE Famine toolkit (a $50 value) with a leaders guide, fundraising packets for each student, educational videos, and more!

Please Pray for:


AB College faculty, staff and students, Robert Ball, Ronald Ball, Billy Coontz, Family of Blaine Corder, Audrey Cross, Bernitia Dadisman, David Dye, Becky & Mike Elmore, Otilia Franke, Jim Friend, Carl Gant, Jane Gibbons, Joe & Beverly Gouer, Family of Myrtle Iski, Mary Kratsas, Joyce Kerr, Matt Lake, Christina Maddy, Gloria Miller, Billie Moore, Donna Moore, Dr. Jennifer Parks, Bryson Parker, Brenda & Gary Price, Margaret Salimi, John Scott, Vangie Shaffer, Kaley Sinsel, Josh Spriggs, Jacob Steele, Mary Tamulitis, Darlene Waddell

Unspoken requests for family members, unsaved people, community concerns, those with job and home loss and financial difficulties. Also, in need of prayer: Our national, state, and country leaders and officials. Please pray for victims, the families and friends of crime, war and violence throughout our country. Pray to protect military personnel and their families throughout the world. Relatives and friends of those serving our country: Tim Jenkins, Chris Mossburg, Major Kris Wood. Captain Aaron Cross who was deployed to Afghanistan. C

The blessing of a loving family that has provided me with a godly upbringing. My mom made sure we grew up in church and has had Jesus in our daily lives. And...my friends at PBC that sent cards of thanks and continuing concerns for my 4 husband. -Suzy Ball

3-Delmer Wallen 3-Shannon Dering 3-George Kratsas 4-Katie Mullens 5-Eric Minor 6-Erin Armstrong 6-Chelsea Long 6-Shelly Long 7-Danielle Funk 9-Amanda Long 10-Craig Cobb 11-Lindsay Bracey 11-Sarah Ferguson 12-Jean Roy 13-Cheryl Blankenship 14-George Whitman 15-Kristina Vlasic 16-Patrick Withers 19-Adam Wolfe 20-Lars Byrne 21-Barbara Smith 21-Carrie Smith Burggraf 21-David Smith 22-Sarah Hicks 26-Marilyn Shearer 27-Abby Blankenship 28-Jacob Steele 30-Tommy Roy

Anniversaries

5- Kenny & Niki Channels 7- Jon & Karen Griffin 17-George & Carolyn Davis 17-Larry & Caroline Jett 24 Craig & Sarah Cobb 24 - Jovan & Zvezdana Vlasic

Calendar Dates from Board of Christian Education March 11th CE Board Meeting 6pm March 31stFamily Game Night 6-8pm April 8th-Easter Egg Hunt May 6th - Ice Cream Final Exam Cram at AB July 14 - Vacation Bible School (One day event) August 17- Move In at AB and Battler Fair
Children Volunteer Schedule for March March 18March 4Nursery- Wanda Steele and Justin Richards Wee Church- Cheryl and Abby Blankenship Junior Church- Chuck and Carol Ervin March 11Nursery- Christie Allen and Loretta Richards Wee Church- Koreen and Thomas Villers Junior Church- Kelly and Lindsay Bracey Nursery- ? Wee Church- Lisa and Tom Dadisman Junior Church- Sara and Eddy Poling March 25Nursery- Cheryl Wolfe and Allison Villers Wee Church- Heather and Haden Cottrill Junior Church- Sarah and Pete Ferguson

ABWM: Will meet March 6th, 2012 at 7:00p.m. Hostess: JoAnn Marsh Hearing the Word Program: Koreen Villers Book of the month: Ezra
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UNION BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Lenten Luncheons @ Crim UMC - Noon


March 7th Crim United Methodist Church Rev. Judy Flynn, Speaker Noon March 14th Crim United Methodist Church Rev. Oz Gray, Speaker Noon March 21st Crim United Methodist Church Rev. Shirley Webster, Speaker Noon March 28th Crim United Methodist Church Rev. John Flynn, Speaker Noon April 6th Crim United Methodist Church Rev. Bryan Headley, Speaker Noon Good Friday All offerings will go to the Barbour County Ministerial Association.

Union Association Lenten Services 2012


March 4 Middleville Baptist Church Rev. Orville Wright, Speaker 4:00 p.m. March 11 Belington Baptist Church Rev. Victor Shields, Speaker 6:00 p.m. March 18 Mount Vernon Baptist Church Rev. Herb Bledsoe, Speaker 6:00 p.m. March 25 Philippi Baptist Church Rev. Paul Boyles, Speaker 6:00 p.m. April 1 First Baptist Church of Grafton Pastor Paul Byrd, Speaker 7:00 p.m. Communion Service All offerings will go to the Associations general funds. If you have any questions regarding these meetings, please contact Roger Delaney at (304) 842-5140

Talk about Staying Power! My dad had been baptized in the creek near the Point Pleasant church, Blair Marks reports, but Mom and my two sisters and I were baptized together here at the Philippi church in 1936. He laughs. They kept singing Just As I Am over and over, and I thought there wasnt another hymn in the world. Except for Betty Luff, who was baptized at PBC in 1933, Blair holds the record for length of membership. He has served the church as a trustee and worked with Clyde Hibbs on many church and parsonage projects. He and Pearl were members of the Fidelity Sunday School class. Pearl notes that Vacation Bible School was her favorite church activity, particularly while their three daughters were growing up. All three of them were baptized at PBC. Laura June now lives in Charleston, Elda Jean in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Lois Jane here in Philippi. They have provided Blair and Pearl with seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Were pretty much housebound now, Blair says. Ill be ninety in June, and Pearl will be eighty-seven the nineteenth of this month. Church has played an important role in the Marks story, for it was through the Point Pleasant church that they met. We lived, Blair says, down Bakers Run near the church and always walked there on Sundays. One of our cousins was a good friend of Pearls. They went to school together in Alexandria, Virginia, where they both lived. That cousin brought Pearl to Philippi for a visit. I saw Pearl only three or four times before we were married. Their brief courtship was due to the fact that Blair went into the Navy and spent two years on an LST going to various parts of the world including China and Japan. They were married just a month after he was discharged in 1946. For several years Blair worked as a construction foreman. He had a crew of twenty men who poured concrete for various government projects including the nuclear reactor near Savannah, Georgia, where the concrete walls were twenty feet thick. He also worked on projects in Norfolk, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Finally, tired of shifted from place the place, he quit his job, and the Markses moved back to Philippi. Blair became a mechanic in the coal mines at Century, where he stayed for twenty years before retiring. Pearl worked for the electric company in Alexandria, but after they were married and the girls were school-aged, she worked in the cafeteria at Philip Barbour High School. She later spent over twenty years in charge of Office Services at A-B. Blair and Pearl have lived in their house on Walnut Street for over fifty years. Because they are unable to get out much, they welcome visitors, particularly those from PBC. 8

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