Our popular Friday Noon Study will resume tomorrow with a ten week study on "A History of Early Christianity."  The public is invited to Providence House, right next to the church, at 12:00 noon.  Bring your lunch at 11:30 AM and join others in a time of fellowship before the study.  You can learn more about the program at The Teaching Company.

On Sunday, April 6 at 6:00 PM, join us at Providence House as we begin a four week study entitled "Good Will for the Common Good."  This is a look at nurturing Baptists' relationships with Jews.  The format will follow a ten minute video each week followed by small group discussion.  Learn more about the program at EthicsDaily.com.

        

David died abut 3:30 AM.  Jane, Deborah and June were there.  The service is set for 1:00 PM Saturday, with an opportunity to visit with the family afterwards in Providence House.

The family wishes for memorials to be given to one of the following:

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center
Duke University Medical Center
Box 3624
Durham NC  27710

The Methodist Children's Home
1001 Reynolda Road
Winston-Salem NC  27104

Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care
571 S. Allen Road
Flat Rock NC  28731

Providence Baptist Church Building Fund
P.O. Box 6476
Hendersonville NC  28793-6476

        

By Monday, much of the media coverage of the worst series of tornados in the last 30 years will have ended.  However, there will still be more than 50 funerals to conduct, 100s of injured to care for and more than 1000 families without homes.  Our work will just be beginning.  Even if you are not in a storm damaged state you can help.  First, notify all your CBF pastors/churches that CBF is working in each state with damage.  Next they should be asked to NOT send any goods in kind to our relief effort at this time.  There are groups in each state that can handle these items better than we can.  Our needs are money and manpower.

If someone wishes to use a monetary gift only in their state, the check should be directed to that state’s office.  Addresses and phone numbers can be found on www.cbfresponds.com.  To make a gift to our general fund it should go to CBF Atlanta and marked for “storm response.”  The address is PO Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145, Attn. Becky Green.

As of day three, we have response teams in Arkansas, and assessments being conducted in GA, AL, TN and KY.  We are working with our partners American Baptist Association, in Arkansas and Save the Children, in Tennessee.  In the past, CBF has been most successful in searching for those out-of-way places that others ignore.  All of our churches have willing hands that can make a difference in people’s lives.  Now is the time to begin seeking their help.  By Monday, I hope we have identified several areas in the affected states where we can begin putting lives back together. 

As I was preparing this update, I received a call from our partner, American Baptist Association in north Arkansas.  They needed a Bobcat with tracks (lots of nails in the area) and a gravel bucket attached.  A call to a CBF pastor in the area produced the needed equipment in a matter of minutes. It’s not always that easy but we never know until we try.  Let me know how CBF can help your efforts.  Blessings to all.

Charles Ray, CBF (National) Disaster Relief Coordinator
501-680-2722 cell
www.cbfresponds.com

        

                                                               
   

        

David Gushee's reflections on the NBC Celebration:

abpnews.com

        

The title of this entry was one of the themes of the New Baptist Covenant Celebration that concluded last night with President Bill Clinton giving us simple strategy for steps forward with this new movement.

I am sure the Providence participants in this historic event will get together soon to plan ways to give a report to the church on our experiences.
    
                                  

Click on NBC Celebration to go to the event's website for more pictures, videos and event news.

         

        

Two new studies will begin in February, both meeting in Providence House next door to Providence Baptist Church.  Everyone is invited to be a part of these studies.

The Road to Emmaus is a Lenten journey study which begins February 10 at 6:00 PM.  You may bring what you choose to eat and join others at 5:30 PM.  DVD's will be provided for children to watch during the hour of study.  The study will follow through to your daily and weekly routines for times of prayer, reflection and other spiritual disciplines.  Pastor Gail Coulter will lead the study.

On six Friday noons beginning February 8, Dick Pierard will lead a study of Judaism.  Dick will draw from his own teaching experience and from "Great World Religions" DVD's published by The Teaching Company.

        

David Gushee of Mercer University has written his opinion on the upcoming Atlanta event:

abpnews.com

        

Next week eight PBC members plus two "friends of PBC" will be traveling from Hendersonville to Atlanta for the historic New Baptist Covenant Celebration.

Click on EthicsDaily.com for an editorial written by Robert Parham, the executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics in Nashville TN.

        

Let me introduce you to the new web log (blog) of Providence Baptist Church.  We plan to use this blog to promote church activities and ministries, and communicate with PBC members and our Hendersonville community.

It also will be used to promote and publicize various state and national events and programs just like the one in the next entry.

Do not hesitate to utilize the comment section of each entry.  The blog author and monitor is Phillip Allen, and you can share your thoughts and suggestions with him at pbcblog@phillipallen.net.

Also, bookmark this site in your internet browser so you can return to it quickly.  You also can access the blog from the Home page of the Providence web site.