Pastor’s Pen: Bibliophile: noun--someone who loves books. You might be a bibliophile if: 1. You frequent the local library or bookstore just because. 2. You experience grief when you've finished a really good book. 3. You feel guilty about all the books in your "unread" stack, but not guilty enough

to quit buying or checking out more. 4. You experience panic and sadness when you realize you may not live long

enough to read every book in the world. 5. You take it as a sign of God's love when a Barnes and Noble is built close to

your home.

What are you reading this summer? Let me know what books have engaged your mind and heart. Here are some of mine, by categories. Spiritual growth: I was deeply stirred by Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel. Fiction: Two works blessed me recently. Marilynne Robinson's Lila is a rich exploration of what it means to love and trust. It’s a story about “grace, not works,” but it’s not preachy. And Chasing Francis by Ian Cron describes what happens when a smooth, success-addicted pastor meets Francis of Assisi and has his world and assumptions about church and himself turned upside down.

The craft of pastoring: Preaching by Tim Keller reminded me of the challenge of balancing mind and heart, discipleship and evangelism in every sermon. And two books by Thomas Lynch (The Undertaking and The Good Funeral) discuss death, dying and how funeral practices have changed over the generations, some for the better and some not. The second one, The Good Funeral, was co-authored by Tom Long, a preaching professor. Together, the two Toms help us grapple with mortality and how we acknowledge it.

My beach reading included two poetry anthologies, one by Caroline Kennedy of her mother, Jacqueline's, favorites. The other was Good Poems by Garrison Keillor. At the time I am writing this column, I am reading The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman's Pulitzer Prize-winning work about the events leading up to World War I and the first month of that bloody conflict.

My summer reading stack is still quite tall. But I am giving it my best efforts. So many books...so little time! Grace,

[ August 7 ] WATERMELON AND WORSHIP

7:30pm Memorial Pool

[ August 17 ] WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY/ PRAYER MEETING RESUMES

5:45pm Fellowship Hall

[ August 31 ] QUARTERLY

BUSINESS MEETING 5:45pm

Fellowship Hall

@fbcjc

@fbcjcmo

FBCJC

FBCJC

YOUTH MISSION TRIP to DETROIT - July 10-17 69 youth and adults are headed to Detroit for our youth mission trip. We will work Monday - Friday with an organization called Rippling Hope, which helps with neighborhood improvements. Our teams will do a variety of projects like painting, landscaping, home repair, boarding up windows, and other projects requested by residents. Each evening we will sing in various locations throughout Detroit. On Saturday we will travel to Chicago for a fun day before making our way back home. Please join us at 6:00pm on Sunday, July 17, for our homecoming concert in the FBC Sanctuary! It means so much to the youth to see you all there. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

Praise & WORSHIP PAGE 2

ADULT CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA 8:15am - Lead in worship ... Then we begin our summer break!

YOUTH MISSION TRIP HOMECOMING CONCERT 6:00pm, Sanctuary - NOTE NEW TIME

PRAISE AND WORSHIP TEAM NO Wednesday rehearsals during July Sunday morning rehearsals at 9:30am during July

AUG

8

“Hallelujah! Praise the name of God, praise the works of God. All you priests on duty in God’s temple, serving in the sacred halls of our God,

shout ‘Hallelujah!’ because God’s so good; sing anthems to his beautiful name.” Psalm 135:1-3

AUG

17

REHEARSAL RESUMES FOR: FRIENDSHIP SINGERS

10:00am, Choir Room REHEARSAL RESUMES FOR:

ORCHESTRA ADULT CHOIR PRAISE AND WORSHIP TEAM

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Snapchat at @refugejc!

Website: Refugejc.com

Youth MINISTRY

JUL

3

JUL

17

BACK TO SCHOOL RETREAT Save the Date for our annual Back to School retreat as we kick off a new year and welcome the upcoming 7th graders. Dates: Friday, August 19 - Saturday, August 20 (Leave after school on Friday and get back the evening of Saturday). More information will be mailed to you in July.

We have a new Refuge Texting Service! To join, text RefugeJC to 313131. We text about once a week with

updates and reminders.

Congregational LIFE PAGE 3

Bible Teaching Attendance Worship Attendance Offering May 29 319 May 29 409 May 29 $ 8,926.31 June 5 380 June 5 487 June 5 $47,401.15 June 12 348 June 12 457 June 12 $19,074.89 June 19 349 June 19 461 June 19 $19,769.41

Food 4 Kids Throughout summer lunches are provided to children in various local neighborhoods. If you can help any day, contact the FBC Church Office by Friday, July 15.

WHERE……..... First Presbyterian Church, 324 Madison

WHEN……....… August 1-5, 2016

PACK….……....... 10:30 - 11:30am need 4 each day

DELIVER…......11:45am - 12:45pm need 10 each day Must be able to drive and pass a background check

RESERVED PARKING All but the first Sunday in July, Sharman Banks will be parking in the spot normally reserved for Doyle. The amount she paid will go to the fund for the youth summer mission trip.

Thank you, Sharman, for supporting our youth.

Mobile and Online Giving at FBC Contributions can be given quickly and easily by scanning our QR code or by accessing your account through the church life app. The church life app also allows you to access the church directory and calendar. If you have any questions, contact the Church Office.

Welcome New Members Brooklyn McCoy Sonia Brinkley by letter by statement

In Sympathy Family and friends of Dorothy Livingston

Jewell Mabury and family in the death of her mother

Family and friends of Jim Lale

Joleta Shepherd and family in the death of her cousin

John Luker and family in the death of his father

Pat Swearingen and family in the death of her sister

Joleta Shepherd and family in the death of her uncle

Martha Lipe and family in the death of her brother

Parking on Sunday, July 3 Access to the church will be challenging due to the carnival in front of our building. On Sunday, July 3, the only way to access the church will be:

Take Adams to State Street and park in the lower lot, or go up the hill by the state parking garage and park on Monroe.

The side lot between FBC and First Christian WILL NOT be accessible.

Senior ADULTS PAGE 4

Friendship Club Caroline Todd and Candy Treat

will present GAMES WITH FRIENDS

6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Everyone 60 and over is invited.

Bring a covered dish and a friend.

Need a ride? Call the Church Office at 573.634.3603.

JUL

25

Children’s MINISTRY

Friendship SingersNOW IS THE TIME TO SIGN UP!

Mission Trip San Antonio, Texas May 8 - 15, 2017

If you have questions, call the Church Office or check out the brochure at fbcjc.org.

THANK YOU First Baptist for hosting a phenomenal Vacation Bible Camp / Sports Crusaders Basketball Camp 2016.

At Cave Quest VBC, we learned that Jesus gives us hope, courage, direction, love and power. Children got to sing, play, dance, do crafts, play games, do experiments, watch videos, and build meaningful relationships with friends and adults.

At Sports Crusaders Basketball Camp, children learned basketball skills, built character, heard scripture and spiritual teaching, and built friendships.

THANK YOU to Mandee Carney, our VBC Director; our Sports Crusaders Coaches (Jennifer, O’Leesa, Michaela and Tannor) and THANK YOU to our many volunteers for making camp such a meaningful week for the children!

Sinai, Princess, Brock and Kyle with their battery-operated tea lights. This photo was featured in our

daily Spotlight VBC, where children retell the Bible story and Bible point for the day through a photo slideshow.

Connor, a snack prep helper, scoops popcorn on Day 1. Each day, different groups of children

prepared 200 snacks for all volunteers and campers.

Jeremy, Daniel, Rylee, Morgan and Kennedy pause for a quick photo in Imagination Station, a VBC rotation where children

explore the day’s Bible point through fun experiments and gizmos.