Shawneetown First Baptist Church News

Amazing God!  Priceless Weekend!  A weekend to remember!  It started with our Easter Egg Hunt!  Right!  We had the hunt!  And, the first time we tried!  More than 80 children under 6^th Grade were registered.  Including parents we had over 150 in our Family Life Center.  I’ll share a couple of pictures with you. 

   Barb Vickery and her volunteers did a great job!  Barb began by telling the Resurrection Story to all the kids using the Resurrection Eggs.  It was a great witness not only for the children, but for the parents as well.  Then, everyone lined up for “the hunt.”  Preschool kids covered the yard of our property behind the church while K - 6 scattered all over the property we have leased across the street.  Wow!  Eggs were everywhere!  Over 2000 plastic eggs with candy and prizes inside. 

   Back inside again, more prizes were given for the most eggs, animal eggs, gold eggs, etc.  And the fun ended with a lunch served to all kids and parents.  We were all very thankful that so many came to our hunt!

   On Saturday morning just before the hunt started, I found out that one of the dear saints of our church, Lee Caldwell, had died.  Lee had been a faithful member of Shawneetown First Baptist Church since 1955.  She had taught Sunday School.  Through her life and witness, she had led her own husband, Jim, to the Lord.  And, in her last few years, she found great joy in knowing that her only son, Jimmy Lee, was now teaching Sunday School in a Baptist church in Louisiana.

   Her funeral was the next day, Sunday.  It was a wonderful celebration of her life and going home by family, friends, and sisters and brothers in Christ!  After a prelude by Vickie Vickery, Rick Gill began the service by singing one of Lee’s favorite hymns, “In the Garden.”  After scripture and prayer, Brenda Byassee gave a beautiful eulogy, after which several from in the crowd voiced their love and appreciation for Lee.  Then, just before the message, Eddie Vickery sang the other song Lee had picked out herself, “Because He Lives.”

   Before the funeral, Eddie had come in with a cassette tape of his song.  But, because of a change in the sound system, he could not use the tape.  During the message, I shared an experience that we had during one of our evening worships.  “Because He Lives” had been requested and I chose to sing the first and last stanzas of the song.  After worship, Lee let me know that we should not leave out the 2^nd stanza because of its message.  I never did again.

   After the funeral, we had a meal at the church for family and friends.  Eddie and I were standing in the Family Life Center and he said to me, “I know why I couldn’t use my cassette?”  My question was, “Why is that?”  And Ed said, “The cassette only had two verses of ‘Because He Lives’!  The 2^nd verse was left out.”  You’re right!  God was present!

   God is a personal god!  Through His Spirit, He was guiding me all that day!  For the last week and more, I have been dealing with a cough that is the aftermath of the flu (like many others of you).  But, as I stepped into the pulpit to preach God’s Word in the Morning Worship, no cough!  After worship, I went home to freshen up and prepare for the funeral.  I coughed nearly the entire time.  Then, the funeral began.  You guessed it!  No cough!  Isn’t God good!  And, He is so faithful!  I hope you know Him personally through our crucified and risen Lord, Jesus Christ!

   Sunday is Resurrection Day!  At First Baptist we will begin with a Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m.  After the Sunrise Service, we will have a continental breakfast.

   At 9:30, we will have our Sunday School.  We have a Bible Study group for every age group.  Come and join us for this study of God’s Word!

   Then, at 10:40 a.m., we will have a special Morning Worship that will present the message of Easter through music and the Word of God. 

   I would like to invite you to join us at First Baptist for all of these events that declare the truth of the most important day in all of history!

   I would also like to invite you to check out our new website for our church.  We want to know your prayer needs. Go to www.shawneetownfirstbaptistchurch.com.