NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 79

Elkins, WV 26241

TO:

Interim Pastor, Rev. Ken Miller Phone: 304-636-3448

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ELKINS

412 RANDOLPH AVENUE, ELKINS, WV 26241

Knowing, Growing & Going in Christ!

Facebook.com/firstbaptistchurchofelkins

Email: elkinsfbc@outlook.com

Website: www.elkinsfbc.oom

Vol. 120 - Issue 43 - Published: May 6, 2020

Editor: Evelyn Lange - email: ecelange@outlook.com

The following was agreed upon by the Ministry Council as steps necessary to reopen the church based on

guidelines and recommendations of the CDC, Governor’s Office and Church Mutual Insurance.

RETURN TO WORSHIP:

• June 7th at 10:45 am

o Masks must be worn and social distancing practiced.

o This is a communion service. Communion will be served in a commercially produced, pre-wrapped

container with juice and the bread. It will be located in the racks of the pew when members enter.

Members will leave the container in the pew following communion.

• No Fellowship time

• No Sunday School

• No childcare

• No bulletins

• Offering

o No passing of the offering plates

O Members are encouraged to mail in tithes and offerings.

o Otherwise, a collection box will be provided to drop your offering in when you arrive.

• No choir for the immediate future.

• Praise team will be limited to 3 vocalists.

Dismissal after the worship service will be by families, exiting through the Randolph Avenue entrance, with

only a few leaving at a time, to allow for social distancing.

Continued on next page...

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Building: Returning to Worship continued from front page....

• Facility

o Everyone will enter through the park entrance and directly up the stairs/elevator.

o You will be asked to sanitize your hands and wear a mask. Gloves is a personal choice. These

supplies will be available at the entrance.

• Your shoes may be sprayed with a quick drying alcohol blend that kills the virus on contact. This will not

harm/ damage shoes.

O Everyone will be asked to leave through the front door on Randolph Avenue. Those with special

concerns will be directed when to leave via the elevator.

O All areas of the church will be closed off, except the sanctuary and bathrooms on the main floor.

O The church has been cleaned from top to bottom and will be sanitized after each service.

• Pews

O Pews will be marked every 6 feet for social distancing.

O Every other pew will be roped off and no one can sit there.

O We will begin marking pews at the back of the room and work toward the front of the sanctuary.

• Restrooms will be open only on the main floor.

O Only 1 person will be allowed in at a time.

O Members will be available to help with traffic flow.

O Sanitizing will occur.

• Social etiquette

O No handshakes

O No hand holding during the closing.

O No hugs

O Do maintain at least 6 feet for social distancing.

• Boards and Committees: All meetings will be held virtually or by conference call, until further notice.

THIS POLICY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PER GOVERNOR JUSTICE’S ORDERS.

During very difficult times, we tend to forget

that life has its ups and downs, causing us to

lose ourselves in the process. It is completely

okay to feel upset, but during those times we

have to remember to search for the voice inside

that tells us that we can and will survive

through anything. Because if we have hope, we

can get through even the toughest of times.

“If you have faith and hope, you will remain

positive and there will be no room to worry.

Remember, life has more to offer you and you

have the ability to be strong.”

A BIG thank you to everyone who has been con-

tributing to FBC’s Food Panty during the Pandemic

Virus. With your donations of monetary gifts we

were able to stock our shelves and keep the food

pantry open.

First Baptist Food Pantry Special Event

However, the pantry is now running low on food

due to the great demands that we have seen during

the past few months. Food is distributed multiple

times a day to the homeless and to families in need.

This is a much needed ministry as we care for the

less fortunate.

Join us in restocking the Food Pantry shelves on

Saturday, May 16th. We encourage you to

purchase items from the list below, place your shop-

ping bags in the trunk or back seat of your car and

drive by the Park entrance of the church between

12:00pm - 2:00pm to drop them off. Volunteers

will be there to remove the items from your car.

Monetary donations are also welcome.

Suggested Items

♦ Canned vegetables (green beans, corn and peas)

and fruit ♦ granola bars ♦ Vienna sausages

♦ potted meat ♦ Spam ♦ spaghetti sauce and

pasta ♦ small packs of Jell-o, pudding and fruit

♦ juice boxes ♦ soup ♦ crackers ♦ Beef Stew

♦ snack crackers ♦ peanut butter ♦ jelly ♦ various

sizes of milk in paper cartons (No refrigeration

required) ♦ Packaged meat (Tuna or Chicken)

♦ dry cereal (all sizes) ♦ Mac & Cheese ♦ pork n

beans ♦ Spaghetti -O’s / Spaghetti and meatballs

♦ Bread ♦ Bottles of water ♦ Packaged meals

So, after your next meal, pray for those who

struggle with having enough to eat. Ask Jesus to be

merciful and mighty in their lives. Maybe he will

use you to help answer this prayer.

We Extend Our Christian Love and Sympathy to: Rebecca "Becky" Kirkpatrick on the death of her hus-band, Dana Edward "Danny" Kirkpatrick, 70 years of age. "Danny" passed away on Monday, April 20, 2020 at his home and under the care of WV Caring. He had been in declining health since December of 2019. A private graveside service was held on April 23, 2020 with Rev. Linda Roberts presiding.

This Week's Concerns: The Kirkpatrick Family and Hunter Vandevander. Remember all those who sacrifi-cially serve others: the doctors, nurses and medical staff, volunteers and teachers; the armed forces; the first re-sponders -- EMTs (Emergency Medical Staff); firemen and policemen; mail carriers; retail/grocery workers; and all other essential workers who never count the costs of blessing others. Say a special pray for them and ask God to bless them and their loved ones.

Continue to Pray for: Billie Bonnett's sister (Kathy Brake); Carl Chewning; Todd Clark Jr.; Linlee Eidell; Shasta Eidell and Family; TR Eidell; Emma Eliason; Charlotte Elza; Ruth Ann Evans, Hope Keefer; Becky Kenney; Dawn Kittle; Linda McCauley and Alyssa Arm-stead; Tom and Carolyn Pinegar; Joe and Lisa Stephens, David Teter; Nia, and Tia Vandevander; and let's pray for each other.

On Saturday, May 16, 2020, First Baptist Church will

be serving take-out lunches for those in need at Common

Ground Café (at the Woodford United Methodist Church).

Monetary donations will be appreciated to purchase

the supplies needed to prepare the lunches.

Thank you in advance for your contributions and

prayers.

COMMON GROUND CAFé

May 25

Time to be Better

– Philippians 4:8, Philippians 4:11-13

Good, better, best. Don’t quit until your good is better and your

better is best. That is a saying from many years ago. It is a good

formula for Christians. Now if you’re like me (and you are) you have

been shaken up the last two months. We have been put on lockdown in our

houses. Now, for most, this is a real inconvenience. After all, in America, we are

accustomed to exercising our cherished freedoms. If we desire a coke, we will go to Walmart and get one.

If we want to eat out, we will. If we want to visit our neighbor we will embark on that journey to see them.

And if we wish to attend church, we will go there immediately.

Well, these freedoms have been taken away. These extreme changes have gotten our attention. For

many of us, this has caused frustration, stress, and anxiety. I see evidence of this everywhere I look. I’ve

read where couples are experiencing more arguments than usual. I’ve seen on Facebook where graves are

being dug for spouses. I saw a cartoon where a couple was watching TV from upstairs to downstairs because

they usually sit in the balcony at church. I also saw an article on how our emotions have deteriorated since the

onset of the virus. We are losing hope. It’s serious when people get sick and die, and also lose their employ-

ment.

But wait, we are Christians and we are to be like Jesus, Paul, the Disciples, and we take our lessons from

them. When Jesus made important decisions He did them alone, by himself. When He was in the Garden,

He was alone. The Bible says He sweat drops of blood. When He was in the wilderness, He was alone. Paul

also spent time in solitude. In prison He still prayed and preached. He wrote letters of cheer to people in

churches outside the walls to encourage them in their spiritual walks. So much alone – He said this, “I have

found that I can be content with a lot or with nothing. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -

(Philippians 4:11-13).

So here is what they are teaching us. Trouble should make us better. This new different time is in fact time

to be better. Here are a few things for us to practice while we are in these uncertain times that will help us to

be better:

Pray more

Check on others

Read your Bible daily

Be extra kind to your family, this is bonus time so use it to show your love

Start a family project to build camaraderie

Live a clean, holy way of life.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, what ever is lovely, whatever is

admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about

such things.” - Philippians 4:8.

There is a praise chorus that is one of my favorites. It is entitled

“Awesome God.” If this is true to our thinking, let us show others

just how awesome He is!

Hoping we can all be better,

Your Interim Pastor,

Ken The Rev. Ken Miller

Rev. Ken Miller

While our church family is unable to attend Sunday Worship Services, Sunday school

and other church events, due to Pandemic Virus and the cancellation of our services, we

ask that you prayerfully consider supporting your church with your prayers, tithes and

offerings and other monetary gifts. Let’s worship the Lord through giving.

We have included an envelope addressed to the church for your convenience.

Thank you in advance for your continued support! We hope to see everyone back in church soon.