Providence Baptist Church Blog

Cuba Church Pictures

Phillip Allen — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:31:28 GMT

Go to Gethsemane Church pictures for a slideshow from our sister church in Cuba.

MOTHERS OF ISRAEL SERIES by John Snodgrass

Jayne Williamson — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:28:58 GMT

Here is a link to the press release for Mothers of Israel.

Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah,

Rachel, Leah, Tamar, Dinah and other women of Genesis

A Bible Course by

John Snodgrass

Wednesdays in August

At 5:30 PM

Dinner Provided

$7 suggested donation

To be held at Providence Baptist Church, 1201 Oakland Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792. All Welcome!!

Sunday Night Worship at The Storehouse

Phillip Allen — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:17:03 GMT

Seven months ago, we started what Julie termed our “Sunday night worship at The Storehouse”. That organization graciously offered their property and we began to serve meals to anyone and everyone from 4:30-6:30 PM every Sunday. The Fresh Market got us going with their dated bread and desserts; later on they began giving us their refrigerated deli and fruit products, as well as occasional produce. We also were offered ice every Sunday from the Burger King directly behind the church. Church members and other volunteers have prepared soup and other hot dishes to complement the meal.

As of this week (31 consecutive Sundays), we have served approximately 140 different individuals and over 500 meals overall. And just as important, we have developed new friendships as we join each other around the table and share stories. I no longer can drive down Seventh Avenue without recognizing someone I know. I did for ten years and never really noticed anyone walking down the street. Now my car window goes down and I am calling out to someone by name; without exception I receive a big wave of the hand as I go by.

There are many stories to tell about many of those people, and you will be able to read some of those stories in the coming weeks. The latest is a good one to start with, although it is not about any of the personal relationships we have established. We had discussed for a couple of weeks the idea of having a cookout Sunday July 3 to celebrate Independence Day with our dinner guests. On the Sunday before (June 26), when Erick at The Fresh Market rolled out the carts with the food for the day, there in one of the carts were 12 packages of Hebrew National Hot Dogs. That was the first time we had received that item in the seven months we had been picking up food there. Yes, we decided at that moment we would definitely have a cookout the next week. This past Sunday, between 40 and 50 people joined us in The Storehouse parking lot for grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon and strawberry shortcake. That was in addition to the many salads and sandwiches we had received from The Fresh Market.

I encourage and challenge you to assist us just one Sunday afternoon. But I warn you; you must be very careful. You too may not be able to drive on the streets of Hendersonville with out seeing someone you recognize, and have that uncontrollable urge to call out to your new friends!

Mission Trip to Cuba Planned for November 2011

Jayne Williamson — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:49:00 GMT

Plans are currently underway for some Providence members to go to Cuba to visit our partner church in Colorado and some nearby congregations as well as to participate in part of the Fraternity's annual meeting. The current plan is to fly to Havana on November 5 and return on November 13. The estimated cost is $ 1,800. A current passport is required. August 1 is the deadline for identifying participants. There will be a meeting at 5:00 pm on July 13 to learn more about the trip. Anyone who is interested should attend.

Take a look at some of the photos here!

We are excited at Providence to partner with Gethsemane Church!

Julie Merritt Lee Featured in Baptist Today Article

Jayne Williamson — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:58:00 GMT

Julie Merritt Lee, Pastor of Providence Baptist Church, Hendersonville, NC is featured in the April issue of Baptists Today , along with five other Baptist women in NC. The article discusses the changing roles of pastors in NC for women. Some of the obstacles that are encountered and overcome, different insights and points of view make this article a must read!

Providence Baptist Church was recently recognized for supporting women in pastoral roles by the Baptist Women In Ministry. Gail Coulter was the founding pastor and Julie Merritt Lee followed almost two years ago. Both have been an inspiration to the members of the church and of the community.

Julie Merritt Lee, was quoted in the article as saying, "I'm not the key player--the one giving birth--but it excites me to have a part in helping and guiding the church through gestation and labor, where the Holy Spirit continues to move, bump up next to us, turn things over occasionally until we are birthed anew into the likeness of Christ."

Women can be strong leaders. Providence is certainly proof of that.

Religious Liberty Forum

Phillip Allen — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:10:00 GMT

Providence will host a religious liberty forum on March 27 at 3:00 PM. Brent Walker will be the presenter, and there will be a Q&A time.

Brent is the Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty , an education and advocacy organization in Washington DC. It is the only religious agency devoted solely to religious liberty and the institutional separation of church and state.

Love Comes...Emmanuel

Jayne Williamson — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:20:00 GMT

The Sunday of Love. Emmanuel, God will be with us through his child. Let's explore how this came about. Here's this teenage girl found pregnant. Joseph acts not out of legality but of love and chooses to divorce her quietly not to give her over to public disgrace, even though the knows he's not the baby's daddy. And then lo and behold an angel comes to him in a dream and the problem seems to be solved--The Holy Spirit impregnated Mary. And this child will be one who saves his people, he fulfills the prophecy of old--Emmanuel, God will be with us through his child.

So Joseph wakes up as the text says he did as the angel commanded him, taking Mary as his wife. But he obeyed.

Not just a story about Mary and Joseph, this passage is a birth announcement. And the ultimate player is God. This is a story about God, and ultimately it's a Love story.

The Holy Spirit does something TO Mary. And what is Mary's part? Mary embodied Jesus' name, Emmanuel, before any of us did: God with me, God within me.

We hallow Mary for her ability to embody Jesus, but aren't we given the same chance? Doesn't this child to be named Emmanuel, God with Us include every one of us? Aren't we Easter people who believe that the Messiah has already come?

God, as Love, comes to Mary, comes to Joseph--in a dream. Bidden or unbidden, God comes as love.

So how do we receive this Emmanuel, this Love come down at Christmas? It brings us back full circle to where we began this series--worship. That's all we are called to do. That's why Christina Rossetti's poem, "Love Came Down at Christmas" moves from talking about the love that came down and was born to the second stanza which calls us to "Worship we the Godhead, love incarnate, love divine; worship we our Jesus--what shall be our sacred sign?"

Mary worships God and is able to receive the Holy Spirit coming inside her. Joseph worships God and is able to receive the dream with faith and treat Mary with honor and dignity. They worship God and it affects how they treat one another.

May this season, this day, if you don't hear or see anything else, may you see Emmanuel, God with you, as Love, and may we impart it after it's "deep, deep down in our heart."

Advent Conspiracy: Love All

Jayne Williamson — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:51:00 GMT

When Jesus loved, he loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join him in giving resources to those who need help the most. When Advent Conspiracy first began four churches challenged this simple concept to its congregations. The result raised more than a half million dollars to aid those in need.

One less gift. One unbelievable present in the name of Christ. For more information be sure to visit www.adventconspiracy.org.

Advent Conspiracy: The Greatest Gift Given

Jayne Williamson — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:13:00 GMT

Pastor Julie shared these thoughts this past Sunday. Think about it. God's greatest gift wasn't a monetary gift. It was a relational gift--an embodied gift. He didn't send an angel or some emissary on his behalf. He sent his son.

So here it is, clear as day, in this season of gift-giving, we hear of the greatest gift ever given. We've all rehearsed it since we were children: it was the gift of God's own Son. This is so John 3:16. We've all said this so much that we're not gripped by it anymore.

Relational. Embodied. Jesus took upon our burdens and sorrows.

Most of us don't have an understanding of owning nothing, or sharing property, things held in common, or common purse. We love to own things. We even own our own ideas, own our own inventions, our own music (copyrights), we own our children, we even believe we own our very life. We don't see these as gifts at all.

The problem is we want to give gifts that don't cost us anything--believe it or not, a calendar, sweater or a gift certificate doesn't cost us as much as our time, a thoughtful gift like a well-crafted poem, a picture, a note. We've tried to make Christmas as cheap as we can.

What do we need to empty ourselves of? In order to be filled with Spirit. May the Spirit of Christ sound through us and teach us a whole new way of giving this Advent season.

A couple of questions to ponder:
1. Read John 1: 1-14 with fresh eyes and ears. How does this passage bring us back to the miracle of Christmas?

2. What are some relational gifts that could be given? How can you give the gift of God's presence to others?

Share your answers in the comment section.

Advent Conspiracy: Give More

Jayne Williamson — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 01:54:00 GMT

What is meant by giving more? Time. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us , and no matter how hard we look, it can't be found in a store. Time to write mom that letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving.

Find the time to give this Advent season. Give more by spending less.

Advent Ethics

Jayne Williamson — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 01:25:00 GMT

Julie Merritt Lee's sermon this past Sunday was on Advent Ethics. In our heart of hearts we know that having Christ within us should make us different. We get frustrated with the fact that we argue the way others do in their marriages; we don't seem to forgive any easier. We aren't more patient when driving. Our tempers flare. What difference has Christ really made? Does Christ coming--Advent have any influence on us ethically?

But if we take Advent seriously, which is what the Advent Conspiracy is about, we cannot NOT be changed. The call for Christ to come redirects our heart to this Christ and we enter into the story, not as a passive player or onlooker as in a sporting event or a reader of a novel, but we are placed into the story of Jesus. It would be better practice if every year, you made a new figurine for your nativity set. You! Place yourself there.

This week of Advent, has the emphasis of Peace. We light the candle and read scripture about the peaceable kingdom where the leopard and the kid lie down together, the wolf and the lamb, the cow and the bear. What makes this vision happen?

There is a judge who rules not by what his eyes see, not by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth...

The lion and lamb can lie down together because the kingdom has been governed by righteousness, equity to the poor, speaking truth to power. Our way of looking at justice is disrupted.

So what does this mean for us this Advent? If we want Jesus to come, if we want peace on earth, we have to let him change us, mold us until it affects the way we do everything.

One of the emphasis of this series is saying we will not be caught up in all of the mindless spending and consumerism in a season, holiday where peace is linked with presents. We are not asking you NOT to give gifts...we are asking, what kind are they? Give someone the gift of time and relationship, they probably want that more than the gift certificate deep down.

We have to examine the way we live and the choices we make if we're going to really live into the real meaning of Advent. How does my spending affect others? Do we give thought to where this t-shirt was bought, or what people earned to harvest this coffee bean for me? The most damaging part of consumerism is that it seeps into our relationship with God.

This Advent, may we seek not to settle for the sweet little Jesus boy, but be gripped by and surrendered to the Christ who reigns as Prince of Peace.

Advent Conspiracy: Spend Less

Jayne Williamson — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 01:11:00 GMT

America spends an average of $450 billion a year every Christmas. Spend Less. What a concept! How many times have you bought gifts out of obligation and then wondered why you had spent all that money? Maybe money that you didn't have: to be part of a group: because it was expected: because you wanted to.

What if you bought ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas? What would that extra time and money mean to you? Your family? Your community? If you need some ideas for relational giving, head to Rethinking Christmas today.

Read James 5:1-8 and then answer these questions.

1. What is James speaking against? What's at the heart of this "different" Advent message?

2. In what ways have you experienced the truth of this passage in your own life? Do you have an experience of something losing its luster?

Read the famous Magnificat, Mary's song~~Luke 1:46-55

1. How does this song inform our Advent ethics?

2. What echoes do you hear in this song (think OT, Jesus' ministry, etc)?

Post any thoughts or comments below that you have after this exercise. We'd love to get a dialogue going this season!

Sunday Night Worship--Feeding the Hungry

Jayne Williamson — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:46:00 GMT

December 5, 2010, was the first gathering of Providence Baptist Church members and members of the community at-large for the “Sunday Night Worship--Feeding the Hungry.” This event was held at the Storehouse (on Seventh Avenue) in Hendersonville. Without a lot of fanfare or publicity for this event, 11 homeless people came to enjoy the various soups and fellowship available from 4:30-6:30 pm.

The first night was deemed a success from all that attended as the hungry bellies were fed with warm soup and their souls were fed with caring and concern. Tables were set up restaurant-style and orders were taken for their choice of soups.

Flyers have been printed and are being distributed among the various charities and missions in the Hendersonville area to make those in need of a hot meal on Sunday nights, aware of this option. Providence learned that there was not a hot meal being served for those in need on Sunday nights and is grateful to the Storehouse for providing the space for this service.

If you would like to lend your support (by volunteering to help, food donations, or monetarily) to this cause, please contact Providence Baptist Church at: 828-697-2878, or through our website www.providencecongregation.org.

Julie Merritt Lee on the Advent Conspiracy

Jayne Williamson — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 14:42:00 GMT

The Hendersonville Times-News interviewed our Pastor, Julie Merritt Lee on the Advent Conspiracy. Check out the article here.

ADVENT CONSPIRACY: WORSHIP FULLY

Jayne Williamson — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Entering the story of Advent means entering this season with passion to worship Jesus fully. This past Sunday, Rev. Julie Merritt Lee's sermon expounded on this concept on making room.

Take Mary for instance. She was not planning on having a baby, but yet when God came to her and said, "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus" she didn't turn away. She may have been in shock and disbelief, but as her belly began to grow she accepted her fate. Many times she must have come back to her words that she spoke to the angel: "Here am I, your servant. Let it be with me according to your word." These were the words that made room for the Christ Child. All she had to do was make room...the baby grows by God's power.

Worship is about giving presence, giving attention to the God within us and within others. God says, "Just open yourself up to me. I have something to teach you, but I will need a space to put it in." We are vessels. Do we keep this wonderful gift to ourselves and stay full, or do we spill out among others so that they may have a taste?

Begin this Advent season by making room--worship. Making room means creating space so that you may worship fully.

Advent Conspiracy

Jayne Williamson — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:44:00 GMT

Advent Conspiracy is the theme of Advent at Providence Baptist Church this year. Advent Conspiracy began in 2006 by five pastors who decided to take back Christmas by encouraging their faith communities to: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. For more information, please go to their website here.

The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love. A season of celebration was turned into a season of stress, traffic jams and shopping lists. When it is all over many of us are left with mountains of debt that we are still paying for when the cycle begins again and we are trying to figure out why we feel so empty. Watch the video.

Sunday, November 28^th is the First Sunday in Advent…the Sunday of Hope.

Worship Fully
It starts with Jesus and it ends with Jesus. It's a season where love wins, peace reigns and a king is celebrated with each breath. Entering the story of Advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

Follow along with us on this blog each week as we explore each of the concepts in-depth.

Jerry Smith Video

Jayne Williamson — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:34:00 GMT

Providence's own Jerry Smith was recently interviewed by the Hendersonville Times-News regarding how he had arrived in Hendersonville and his interests and passions. Click on Jerry Smith Video to view the video from here.

Halloween--HOWL-O-WEEN Held at Providence Baptist Church

Jayne Williamson — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:39:00 GMT

Providence Baptist Church in Hendersonville NC held a neighborhood meet and greet style Halloween party last night. Rev. Julie Merritt Lee hosted along with her husband Michael. Neighbors and members were invited to drop by and dine on hotdogs, chips and salad. Cupcakes, donuts and candy provided by the members of Providence, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church were handed out to the Trick-Or-Treaters.

Providence Pooches got into the spirit by coming to the party in costume. Holly Obermiller came with Buttons. And Jane Gurley came with Maggie. More pictures to post this week. If you weren't able to attend this year; plan on attending next year as it looks to be a bigger and better event! Good food. Good times. Good fellowship.

60+ers WNC Baptists Gathering at Providence Baptist Church

Jayne Williamson — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:15:00 GMT

60+ers WNC Baptists Gathering was held today at Providence Baptist Church in Hendersonville, NC following lunch at Bay Breeze Seafood Restaurant. About 30 people came to Providence today to listen to music and sing along. Eugene Worley, PhD, a retired rocket scientist and business owner from Huntsville, Alabama was the featured speaker. He is also a Sunday school teacher, deacon, potter and poor neighborhood renovator.

Gail Coulter, former pastor of Providence Baptist Church was the contact person locally and did a wonderful job making the arrangements. Music, song and laughter poured out of the church doors and into the streets drawing in passers-by. When Eugene Worley's talk about "Funny Stories of Spiritual Transformation" was over, those in attendance greeted the warm afternoon with a spring in their steps and a smile on their faces.

The purposes of this event were to enliven in older adults the openness that God continues to transform our lives and to enable fellowship among folks from moderate (and other) Baptist churches in this region. From observations made today, it appears they were successful.

New sign on Hwy 25

Phillip Allen — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 17:20:00 GMT

This is the debut of our new logo to the "outside" world (that is unless you have worn your retreat t-shirt in public).