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Sandusky Baptist Church

915 Catalina Place Lynchburg, VA 24501 • (434) 239-8410 •

PASTOR’S CORNER

When I graduated from college in 1972, I never thought about what I would be doing in 2017. To be honest, I never thought about the year 2017 at all. I imagine you were much like me. Most of us don’t look very far into the future. Perhaps we look far enough to think we may need to buy a new car, or a new heat pump, or a loaf of bread, but for the most part we don’t see the importance of looking very far ahead.

I wonder if the charter members of our church ever thought about the year 2017? They probably didn’t. Maybe a few gave a passing thought about the future of our church, but most of them probably didn’t look any farther than the next Sunday.

As your pastor, I am continually looking towards the future of Sandusky Baptist Church. I am not one to just look at the future from Sunday to Sunday. I look ahead months and years. Recently, I have thought, “What would our church look like if we were the only church in Lynchburg?” Have you ever asked that question? Maybe, maybe not.

If we were the only church in Lynchburg, how would it affect our church? Well, if we were the only church in Lynchburg, I imagine we would have to make some changes. We may have to have more than two worship services on Sunday. We may have to adjust how and when we gather together for Bible Study. We may have to change the way we reach people with the Gospel. How would we make certain that we were meeting the spiritual, and even the physical needs of the people we would be serving?

One thing is certain, the people that would make up our church would not be just like us. Many of them would come from different church traditions. Many would like the way we go about “doing” church, but some would not. There would be many who were from different cultural backgrounds. There would be many people who had moved here from different cities, states, and countries. How would we reach and satisfy their spiritual needs?

If we were the only church in Lynchburg, we would have to seriously evaluate who we are and where we were headed. We would have to make some, and perhaps, many changes. Exciting? Yes. Scary? Yes. Necessary? Yes.

This year I want all of us to take a long, hard look at who we are, where we are headed, and what we would “be” and “do”, if we were the only church in Lynchburg.

I can tell you with all certainty, that this whole idea is not anything new. A major portion of the New Testament is the documented testimony of churches that were the only church in their city or region. That tells me that we can learn much from that testimony on how we can “be” and “do” church in our city. Was there opposition then? Yes. Was the church challenged? Yes. Did the church grow in every way? Yes. Were all “kinds” of people being saved? Yes. Was the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed consistently with clarity? Yes.

Think about what I have shared with you in this article, and let me know what you think. I want to hear your thoughts.

- Ed -

Greetings Church Family,

At the writing of this Newsletter Christmas is fast approaching. By the time you read this it will be the New Year, and with this New Year we are looking forward to some fresh ministry ideas here at Sandusky.

I am asking for prayer for a new bus ministry that has been on the heart of one of our members. This person is volunteering to pick up children on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and Children’s Church. We will be working together to iron out the details and logistics for this ministry and hopefully be ready for implementation before winter is over.

The next thing on the agenda is the planning of the Youth Winter retreat. This has been an exciting adventure in the past for the youth group to get away and have a time of reflection coupled with snow tubing and recreation. Pastor Ed has asked me to open up this retreat to the entire church, and I think that is a great idea. I will be working on the details and have more information to distribute to the church body in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout if you would be interested in coming along.

I am looking forward to a new year and springtime for fresh ministry to the young people here at Sandusky Baptist.

Under and Out

Pastor Steve

Under and Out

Pastor Steve

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MEL’S MUSICAL NOTES

Where has the year gone? It seems as if we were just bringing in 2016 and now it is almost over. We said goodbye to some of our dear friends and members and even though it was sad to have them go, we know where they are and can rejoice in that knowledge.

I want to thank the choir for the long hours of hard work during the year and especially during the last few weeks in preparation for our Christmas cantata. It was a wonderful worship experience and I am so glad that so many of you came.

While not a part of the music ministry, we are busy preparing for our trip to Honduras. We will be leaving from Dulles airport on Saturday morning, February 11th and returning on Saturday, Feb 18th. I know that many of you are making bears for us to give to the Lenca children. It is always wonderful to see the smiles on their faces. We will again be placing the names and pictures of those from Sandusky and we hope that you will choose one for whom you will pray daily.

There will be many challenges and concerns for us as a nation as we enter the new year. A new president has been chosen and he faces a lot of tough decisions that will have an impact on our lives. We need to pray for him and all of our elected officials that are in office both nationally and locally.

I pray for Sandusky as a church body and it is my hope that it will continue to be a shining light for our city and our community.

I would like to quote someone who so wonderfully said “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future”. May God bless each of you in the coming year.

In His Service,

Mel

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KNITTED L.A.C.E.

Knitted L.A.C.E. will be picking up our stitches on January 8th at 5:00 p.m. in the Back2Basics classroom.

If you want to learn to knit, please join us. If you already knit or crochet and have not met with us before, please join us. I look forward to the fellowship with each of you.

SusanSaunderS

Matthew 18:20

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Song Service

Jan 29th

6:00 p.m.

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February 11 – February 18

Please keep our Honduras Mission team in your prayers!

WMU

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Meeting

February 14th

10:00 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Valentine’s Banquet

Sunday, February 12th

6:00 p.m.

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LBA Executive Committee Meeting

Tuesday, February 21st

7:00 p.m.

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BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Wednesday, January 18th 6:30 p.m.

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JANUARY

Jan 1 Verlie Callahan

Massie Viar

Jan 2 Rev. Bobby Wood

Jan 8 Christopher Gallaher

Jan 10 Hazel McGuire

Jan 11 Michael Sligh

Jan 14 Rev. Ralph Jackson

Jan 15 Betty Hanks

Jan 17 Susan Saunders

Jan 21 Bessie Taylor

Jan 25 Marion Viar

Jan 29 Sydney Light

Jan 31 Joyce Lakes

FEBRUARY

Feb 8 Becky Cole

Feb 10 Gloria Grubbs

Feb 12 Kathleen Rivera

Feb 13 Pam Grubbs

John Noble

Kimberly Noble

Jason Wilson

Feb 14 Don Meade

Sarah Stephen

Feb 15 E.B. Daniel

Feb 18 Alyssa Cole

Feb 19 Kassidy Jordan

Feb 22 Lucille Pendleton

Feb 23 DJ Marsh

Feb 26 Rhonda Smith

Feb 29 Chris Noble

Sandusky Baptist Church • 915 Catalina Place • Lynchburg, VA 24502 • 434-239-8410 •

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