God Matters – Alex Mabe
dorothy@belvederefbc.org
You can also visit our website for service
recordings: www.belvederefbc.org
Nov. 4, 2021 • Vol. 44, Issue 44
It’s On My Heart
God’s direction is not always easy to nav-
igate, however His voice is clear when we
stop to listen. The “noise of life” dis-
tracts us from pausing to pray and paus-
ing again to listen. He’s speaking to us
right now as a church body and we must
be certain to listen and follow His instruc-
tions carefully.
I am so encouraged that we are walking
together through the Transitional Prayer
Guide that I have written for such a time
as this. Daily, we are studying the Word
of God and daily we are petitioning our
Lord with needs, concerns, and praises
which He longs to hear and answer.
Thank you for your prayerful support as
we take these next steps TOGETHER.
Sunday, I’ll be preaching on “What
Makes Us So Distinctive?” Come with an
open heart and an open Bible.
Looking UP!
Pastor John Bryan
Our Mission: We exist to obey Jesus Christ by
continuously reaching out to create relation-
ships and share Christ’s story in order to make
mature disciples.
our hotel to a mission church several blocks
Dorothy Posey, Church Secretary
jcbryan53@icloud.com
John Bryan - Interim Pastor 803-279-0415
away, and I was ever so distracted by what
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you and how would we handle the work ahead of
are worried and upset about many things, but us, by awkward efforts to communicate with a
few things are needed - or indeed only one, Hispanic gentleman accompanying us, and
Your Church Staff
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not by my anxious vigilance for what danger
Livestreaming Services
are continuing as follows:
be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 could be lurking around the corner. Along the
way, I looked back and saw that two of our
Worship - 10:30am
The matters of this world can be ever so team members, Alfredo and Brunette, were
on Sunday
distracting. Whether we are dealing with the no longer with us. Our team quickly per-
mundane or the profound, our minds so read- formed a 360-degree search and spotting
ily wander, and meaningful efforts are easily Alfredo and Brunette in deep conversation
thwarted by the bombardment of the compet- with some local merchants just a half a block
ing voices and the images that fly around us to our right. As we gathered to reunite, it be-
every day. It has been estimated that in any came clear that Alfredo and Brunette had
chosen what could not be taken from
803-380-1024
given day, our minds are generating around
them...the joy of sharing the Gospel of Jesus
15,000 to 20,000 thoughts. On a positive
note, that volume of thoughts gives us a Christ with another. This moment became a
fighting chance to have at least one good lesson that I hope to never forget. May we all
idea per day. On the other hand, 15,000 to look beyond the many distractions that whirl
20,000 thoughts per day is truly mind bog- around us so that we may see the eternal in
“the ordinary days” of our lives. “Let us fix
gling when you think about it! Yet, God has
created in us the ability to edit out distractions our eyes on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2)
that do not matter and focus on what does.
In the story of Jesus coming to visit with
Electronic service requested:
North Augusta, SC 29861-8168
P.O. Box 8168
Belvedere First Baptist Church
Martha, Mary and Lazarus, we are told that
Martha is working diligently in preparations
for hosting Jesus and his disciples. There
was much to be done, and in the story it is
clear that Martha is distressed. Martha loves
Jesus, and she certainly is a caring and re-
sponsible person. Moreover, having Jesus
come to her home was a great honor and
should have brought her joy. Her problem,
unfortunately, is that she is “worried and up-
set about many things.” As is the case of so
many of us, the competing cares of the world
have overwhelmed her and now she is dis-
tressed and complaining. In response to her
distress, Jesus lovingly comes to the main
point, “Martha, you need to focus on that
which cannot be taken from you”. In other
words, Martha needed to focus on the eter-
Permit #20
Augusta, GA
US Postage Paid
Non-Profit Org.
nal. I recall a missionary trip to Monte, Mexi-
co many years ago when I also became dis-
tracted. It was a challenging mission for
many of us as we were facing clashes of cul-
ture, language barriers, and the unsettling
feeling of being in a very unfamiliar place.
One afternoon, our team was walking from
 Weekly Ministry Opportunities Shoeboxes are due Stewardship Report
Sunday, Nov. 7 on Week of: Oct. 31, 2021
Teens Reserved Unto True Holiness
9:15a Sunday School Weekly Needs $6,281.00
10:30 Worship/John Bryan Nov. 15, 2021
Shoeboxes are still Weekly Tithe $3,477.89
4:00p Outreach-Pray & Go YOUTH - Sunday School @ 9:15am Needs/Date $277,054.02
5:45 Small Group (J.Baker) available in the Educa-
Youth Building Offering/Date $245,198.79
Mon-Tues, Nov. 8-9 tion Building. (outside the
SC Baptist Convention - Columbia, SC church office) (Online giving included this week)
Thursday, Nov. 11 Belvedere Elementary School Needs Missions #8025 $50.00
7:00p ESL Class (Rm 109) Underwear/new (Boys & Girls: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) Global Hunger Relief #8060 $110.00
Saturday, Nov. 13 Pants - Elastic waist (Boys & Girls: 4, 6, 8, 10, Home Bound Meals #5454 $25.00
10:00a Homebound Meals (FH) 12, Adult Small), 5th Sun Benevolence #8023 $466.27
Sunday, Nov 14 Socks, Toothpaste, Deodorant (Boys & Girls),
9:15a Sunday School Snacks - nothing with peanut butter/nuts - indi- Total given/Global Hunger Relief - $355
10:30 Worship/John Bryan vidually packaged, Fruit Snacks, Chips,
4:00p Outreach-Pray & Go Coats or Hoodies (5T, 6, 8, 10, 12, adult small,
adult medium)
5:45 Small Group (J.Baker) Members In Service

FYI! Welcome Team

Summary of Special Called
Church Conference
Oct. 31, 2021
Approved Motion from the Finance Com-
mittee that the current 2021 budget be
continued into 2022 until the church
adoption process has been completed.
The South Carolina Baptist Convention
will be held at First Baptist Church, Co-
lumbia, on Nov. 8 and 9, 2021. The fol-
lowing were named as messengers: John
Meyer, Susan Meyer, Allison Meyer, and
John Baker. If anyone else is interested
in attending as a messenger, please let the
church office know so they can be added
to the list.
Freddie Holton, Phyllis Edmunds
Daylight Savings Time Lucy Pearson Class - Sanctuary
Teachers: Mary Head & Kathy Britton Safety
Ends Sunday, Nov. 7th 13 - present on Oct. 31
Everett Gregory
Adult Coed Class - Room #112
Teacher: Gary Hartley Sound & Multimedia Team
6 - present on Oct. 31
Scott Wilk, Brad Brooks
Christmas Frank Buck/Victory SS Class - Rm #110
Teacher: Betty Holton
Ushers
Poinsettias 15 - present on Oct. 31
Arnold Wilde, Jim Seymour
Baker/Solesbee Class - Rm #109
Please complete the following form and return 7 - present on Oct. 31 Deacons-On-Call
with your payment of $15.00 per Poinsettia to the
Youth - Youth Bldg. Everett Gregory / 803-278-5542
church office. (make your check out to the church) Teacher:
Steve Brown / 706-833-4359
3 present on Oct. 31
Deadline to order is Dec. 5th Extended Session
Children - 1st - 5th grades
Name: _________________________________ Teachers: Evie Wilk, Gail Willem Sun., Nov. 7
2 present on Oct. 31
Sunday School & Worship Service
# of Poinsettias ordered: ___________________ 4’s & 5’s Carolyn Rhoden, Gail Graham
Teachers: Fran McCormick & Laurel Mead
Total amt. due: __________________________ 1 present on Oct. 31 Pray & Go Team Schedule
Nursery 1st Sunday
In Memory of: ___________________________
Teacher: Carolyn Rhoden John & Susan Baker
2 present on Oct. 31 Linda Gracey
In Honor of: _____________________________
TOTAL: = 49