Fasten your seat belts. You are about to embark on the ride of your life!

–Ruth Metzger

Baby Kit (Layette):

• 4 Cloth Diapers
• 2 Shirts
• 2 Washcloths
• 2 Gowns or Sleepers
• 2 Diaper Pins
• 1 Sweater or Sweatshirt
• 2 Receiving Blankets (1 can be a knitted blanket)

Disaster survivors need essential items to reclaim their homes and lives. Through the White Cross you can help prepare special recovery kits that provide both tangible assistance to people in need and show that neighbors near and far truly care. The contents of these kits are small things but having or not having them can make a world of difference in an on-going development program or when disaster strikes. Would you help Church World Service build an inventory of baby kits?

–Bertha Campbell

The Risen Christ

(A Celebration of the Resurrection)

Created by
Don Cason & Karla Worley

Arranged & Orchestrated by
Dave Williamson

At Easter, we traditionally remember the suffering, death, and sacrifice of Jesus. But it’s important for us to realize that the primary focus of the early church–what changed their perception of reality and transformed them into a band of revolutionary messengers–was not the crucified Christ, but the risen Christ. A dead Messiah was merely a great Rabbi. A risen Christ was indeed the Lord of all creation, to whom all authority was given, with the power to usher in God’s kingdom and create a resurrection community called the church.

Jesus Christ is risen. We have seen him for ourselves. And this matters. This was the story of the early church, and it is still our story today. It matters that Christ is risen. It matters that He now sits at the right hand of God. “If Christ has not been raised,” the Apostle Paul wrote, “our preaching is useless, and so is your faith.” (I Corinthians 15:14) But Christ has been raised. He is what the Bible calls “the first fruits” of the resurrection. In the risen Christ, we see the pattern for our lives. For just as we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, we have been raised to walk in the same new way of life that Christ was raised to walk. This Easter, may your hearts burn within you as you remember the story and reflect on its powerful implications for your life. May you also become messengers who cannot stop talking about what you have seen and heard.

–Mike Wallick
Chancel Choir and Orchestra Director

We are looking forward to having you join us and in sharing this time together. We also look forward to serving you during this coming year. May God richly bless you!

–Board of Deacons & Deaconesses

Matthew 25: Ministries of Cincinnati immediately shifted their relief operations into high gear and will be sending containers of relief supplies to Haiti for the foreseeable future. They have been involved in Haitian poverty relief for many years but after a devastating natural disaster such as this, the priorities shift to what is immediately needed to assist in keeping people healthy and free from the disease that often follows such disasters. We contacted Matthew 25 and they are accepting relief donations and requested we focus on gathering the following items:

• Cleaning supplies and disinfectants
• Disinfectant sprays (Lysol, 409, Fantastic, sprays with bleach)
• Hand sanitizing gel
• Cleaning fluids (Mr. Clean, etc.)
• Personal care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, washcloths)
• Non-perishable foods, canned goods, packaged foods
• Blankets, blankets and more blankets

We will be gathering items here and will be forwarding them to Matthew 25 for them to pack and send to Haiti in their container shipments. Clothing will be needed eventually but Matthew 25 has asked donations to focus on the above items for the next few weeks. Please deposit your donations in the marked boxes in the coatroom areas. Thank you for your efforts.

–Missions Board

• To Perceive – to Learn
• To Understand – to Recognize
• To Believe – to Accept His Claims
• To Conform – to Be Willing
• To Perform – to Live and Serve
• To Obey – to See and Experience

YADA SISTERHOOD is simply a group of First Baptist Women who desire to have a more intimate relationship with the King of Kings. We meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in Room 111. The class is open to any woman who desires a deeper relationship with God. As Sisters in Christ, we are committed to linking arms and spurring each other on in our walk with Him.

Our goal is to reach out and meet the unique needs of women: to provide nourishment to body, mind, and soul; to create a place to belong; to serve with other women of our church; to fellowship; to encourage one another; to share godly wisdom and spiritual truths. Please come join us! If you would like more information, call Diane Wallick at 863-4227.

–Diane Wallick

–Claire Metzger & Cheryl Motzer
Co-Directors of Children’s Ministries