Vol. XXXVIII • No.

9 • May 9, 2008
“Among Friends” Welcome New Members!
“…The LORD made the heavens. Honor and
majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in
his sanctuary.” Psalm 96:5-6

For the past two months beauty has been tapping

me on the shoulder—addressing me constantly in the form of azaleas
and dogwoods and purple passion pansies. Everywhere I look, roses
and candytuft and camellias have been preaching their little hearts
out. The fragrance of night blooming jasmine, the smell of spring
rain—these have been calling out to me, along with choruses of
cardinals and yellow-rumped warblers and the movement of
butterflies and the sweetness of grass. I think I could live to see two
hundred spring times and never stop being astonished. John Webb (by statement)
And it all points to a God who loves beauty. A Creator who, April 6, 2008
when fashioning the universe, opted for extravagance rather than the
merely essential Baptism Day!
I believe there is a message in this for us at First Baptist (L-R) Gib Stanfield, Ian
Decatur: If it's true that God is beauty and that God pours out beauty Johnson, John Stanfield,
as a gift to us—then it's also true that our response to such a God Pastor Debbie, Kate
ought to have some Crabtree, Amanda Faulkner,
beauty in it. “What if God means to use Luke Crabtree, Katie
Brian McLaren has the artists among us to lead Johnson
said that finding God
and expressing faith in our congregation into a
the 21st century will call deeper dimension of faith?”
for theologians to join
hands and hearts with the poets, musicians, filmmakers, actors,
architects, dancers, sculptors, painters, novelists, photographers, web
designers and every other artistic brother and sister possible.
I think I know what he means. Last night I caught a fresh
glimpse of God while watching Dominique Fewell dance. Her music
was a modern version of Amazing Grace. I’ve heard this great song
thousands of times but Dominique’s radiant face, and the movements
of her graceful limbs as she twirled and floated and leapt across the Rebates with a Mission!
floor in periwinkle blue, gave brand new expression to “I once was
lost but now am found…was blind but now I see.”
The Missions Team was meeting on a recent Wednesday evening and
What if God means to use the artists among us to lead our
having an animated conversation about all of the opportunities our
congregation into a deeper dimension of faith? What might God have
church has to make a difference in the lives of people locally…
in store for folks inside and outside our walls through the painting of
nationally…globally. We asked each other:
Doris Brasfield and Joel Gilmore and Dave & Georgia Rowswell and
• How can we accomplish some outstanding and significant
Ellen Jones? How might God want to shape us through the
missions endeavors this year?
photography of Chris Stanford… the landscaping of Bill Langford…
• How can we contribute more to Decatur Coooperative
the interior design of Bill Bailey…the dancing of Brooke and
Ministries, DEAM, Moncrief, Habitat for Humanity, the Hill
Breanna Morgan…the music of Zack Brawner…the poetry of Jeanie
Tribe people of Thailand and others in this world of need?
Gushee…the theatrical gifts of Allison Gilmore and Elizabeth
Minds began to wake up, words followed words, and then—out of
Beasley? How might God use your artistry here?
the blue (or perhaps from the mind of God)—someone blurted out:
Do you remember your Crayola crayons? There’s the box that
Why don’t we challenge our church family to contribute their tax
comes with eight—the basics—red, blue, yellow, brown, etc. Very
rebates to the FBC Global Missions Offering! WHAT A GREAT
nice. But at First Baptist Decatur I have a hunch that God intends to
IDEA!
pull out the jumbo box! You know, the one that comes with colors
like Carribbean Green and Atomic Tangerine and Magic Mint.
Your friends on the Missions Team are committing our tax
The more I come to understand God's love for this world, the
rebates for global missions. Will you join us and let your check from
more I feel the need for my life's response to be splashed with all the
Uncle Sam make a kingdom difference in the world?
colors in the jumbo box. How else can we say thanks?
Joyfully,
Blessings,
Mai Cavalli • Gail Duke • Bill Fulkerson • Liz Hackney • Don
Hammonds • George Hooten • Katie Howard • Fred Palmer • Pastor
Julie • Nancy Peralta • Ann Smith • Bob Williamson
Congregational Life Prayer Concerns as of
May 7, 2008
Sharyn Dowd Joins the Pastoral Staff
On May 4 the congregation voted to call the Rev. Dr. Sharyn Dowd as Minister of Adult Spiritual In The Hospital:
Formation and Mission Engagement. Carreker Hall was full of adults and youth who came to hear ▪ Tyler Cagle, Interim Care Unit,
Sharyn teach the morning Bible study, followed by a time of question and answer. At the end of the Phoenix, AZ
Sunday School hour deacon chair John Hamrick called the congregation into a brief business • Jim Minton, Gwinnett Medical
meeting in which Sharyn was affirmed enthusiastically. Sympathy To:
Sharyn concludes her teaching duties at Baylor this month, will move to Georgia in June and ▪ The family of Margaret Jean
will take up her leadership responsibilities at FBC early in August. If you would like to send her a Jacobus.
note of welcome her address is 2912 Cole Ave., Waco, TX, 76707. Sharyn_Dowd@baylor.edu. ▪ The family of Elton Cook.
▪ The family of Sara Ponder Smith.
Children’s Choirs present Rock Solid: God’s Promises for the Trail of Life on ▪ The family of Bill Trawick.
Wednesday, May 14, at 6:45pm in the sanctuary. In addition, the 3-5 years old ▪ Frances Poole on the death of her
kids will be singing! It’s going to be a Rock Solid night! sister-in-law, Jeanine Bruce.
▪ The family of Bobby Campbell.
Decatur Civic Chorus in Concert—Sunday, May 18, 3:00pm ▪ Shirley Smith on the death of her
The Decatur Civic Chorus under the direction of our own Mary Anne Sharp will present their 60th daughter, Jeannie Commins.
Anniversary Concert in our sanctuary. It’s a great community gathering every time they sing!

May is "Moncrief Month" at FBC!

In the month of May, our church family is collecting toys and school supplies for the Tithes & Offerings
Moncrief Center’s Earn as You Learn program. During their summer camp,
children will earn tickets by completing academic activities and then can ‘purchase’ A Generous People
items such as these toys. This program is designed to teach foundational lessons in
hard work, planning, and saving, as well as motivate children to improve their basic skills. 2008 Ministry Action Plan
The Center needs a variety of toys (from dollar toys to nicer items) for boys and girls ages six Weekly Need: .....................$ 27,361
to ten. School supplies (especially book bags, pencil sharpeners, erasers, markers, and decorative Received on Apr. 20: ..........$ 17,534
notebooks) are needed too. Donations may be dropped in the Missions Collection Bins around the Received on Apr. 27: ..........$ 21,372
building throughout the month of May. Received on May 4:............$ 33,053
Y-T-D Need:.....................$ 492,503
Clairmont Oaks Spring Fling! Dessert & Storytelling—May 17 Y-T-D Received: ..............$ 422,570
You are invited for dessert and stories about elders presented by Jean Wright, Executive Director of Surplus/(shortfall):.............. (69,933)
Clairmont Oaks Inc., Julie Pennington-Russell and Zandra Matthews, former Clairmont Oaks
Service Coordinator. Date: Saturday, May 17, 3:00-5:00 at Clairmont Oaks. Reserve your place by “Years of Opportunity 2007-09”
calling Barbara Gifford at 404-378-8887. Campaign
Given to Date:...................$ 296,561
Community Picnic and Patriotic Concert—Sunday, July 6 Bank Loan Balance:..........$ 271,229
The First Methodist and First Baptist Churches of Decatur are sponsoring a Community Picnic and Owed to FBC Fdn.:...........$ 180,000
Combined Choir Concert on our front lawn. Festivities begin at 12:30pm

Vacation Bible School—July 21-25 Wednesday Dinner Menus

This year’s VBS theme is Power Lab—Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power! Don’t miss
this opportunity to serve as children from all over Decatur embark on this exciting May 14
adventure—following Jesus as he heals, helps, and gives power to people who need him. Glazed Ham Steak, Roasted Potato
VBS is open to children in Kindergarten-5th grade. Medley, Steamed Baby Carrots,
Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls, Chocolate
Go…Be…Do! Missions Corner Cake
Kid’s Menu
Upcoming Opportunities… Pigs in a Blanket, White Rice,
June 15-21—Hagar’s House Meals Sweet Peas, Ice Cream Bars
This is FBC’s week to provide meals for Hagar’s House, an emergency night shelter in
Decatur for homeless women with children. Sunday School classes and other groups are May 21
invited to sign up for one of the evening meals during that week. Meat Loaf, White Rice, Steamed
Cabbage, Salad Bar, Cornbread
Saturday June 21—Hagar's House Clean-up Muffins, Frozen Strawberry Pie
FBC is pitching in to give Hagar’s House a good cleaning! Join us and make a difference. Kid’s Menu
Cheese Pizza, Salad w/ Ranch
Throughout the Year—Sack Lunches for the Homeless Dressing, Cookies
The Missions Team will be contacting Sunday School classes about making approximately
40-50 sack lunches for one month out of the year.
Youth Sp•t
Kid’s Zone
At the end of this month our 2008 yard sale will be over and we
will be ready for our busy summer. This year we are having Coming up this summer...
two mission weeks. The first is in the Appalachian Mountains Wonderful Wednesdays
of Hurley, Virginia. Our second mission week will be Summer Wednesdays will include fun filled adventures
happening in and around Decatur, Georgia. These weeks will June 11, 18, & 25, July 2, 16, & 30 and August 6
give our youth an opportunity to share the love of Christ with
others in need, and to learn about a life of Christian Beach Party Summer Retreat
service. We have a couple other big weeks this summer Come along to feel the surf and catch the wave of God’s love
also. One of them is our Junior Senior Retreat to Chicago and When: June 1-7 2008
our Beach Retreat to Florida. Both of these weeks allow the Where: Jekyll Island Ga.
youth to have an opportunity to focus on becoming more Who: Rising 3rd graders through rising 6th graders
intentional followers of Christ.
Extended Session Volunteers:
Along with these big weeks our youth will still meet regularly May 11 May 18 May 25 June 1
on Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the summer. There Bigbie Turk Anand Hinkle
will also be all kinds of fun and crazy things going on with our Kennedy Smith Fisher Carter
youth all summer. The summer is a great time for youth to Palmer Mwangura Parker Salcedo
experience and get plugged into our youth ministry. You can Milton Edmonds Madden Hamrick
find more information about these big weeks on our website
www.decaturyouth.org or you can email our youth ministry at
youthministry@fbcdecatur.com

Ways you can help with the yard sale…

Pray for good weather.
Pray for a successful sale.
Bring a case or two of water.
Donate Items for the sale.
Come and help price.
Come and help setup.
Come to prayer and prep day.
Come and help cleanup on closing day.
Come at 6:15 on opening morning.
Don’t ask to buy anything early!

The Outlook, a publication of the First Baptist Church of Decatur,

Georgia, is mailed to members and friends of the First Baptist family.

Main Office......................................404-373-1653
Finance.............................................404-370-7694
First School ......................................404-370-7688
Activities ..........................................404-373-2442
FAX ..................................................404-370-7692
Debbie Britt .....................................404-373-1653
Ryan Forbes.....................................404-370-7690
Julie Pennington-Russell.................404-370-7684
Kurt Varney......................................404-373-1653
Bob Williamson ...............................404-370-7687

Computer Connections:
Website—http://www.fbcdecatur.com
E-Mail—fbcd@fbcdecatur.com

The Outlook, USPS 600-320, is published bi-weekly, except

Christmas week, by First Baptist Church Decatur, GA

Postmaster: Please send address changes to First Baptist Church,

308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030