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200th Anniversary Committee

Our 200 th Anniversary Committee would like to have any old photographs, newspaper clippings or anything pertaining to olden times 200 years ago. Please see Ken Gettle with these items.

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The 200 th Anniversary Committee presented an outline of the events to be held May 31 - June 4, 2006 at the Business Meeting. Tent revival preaching, music, food, history, fellowship and games for attendees of all ages are the components of the celebration.

Jennifer Devos has developed the logo as her Public Relations committee prepares to engage in the promotion associated with the 200 th Anniversary. The logo ideas incorporate the Belfry as a point of emphasis, as a fitting symbol of Gunpowder Baptist Church.

If you have any historical documents or photographs which we might scan and return to you, we would appreciate that opportunity. We are interested in putting together an exhibit incorporating articles of Church history.

200th Anniversary Committee:

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Search Committee for Associate Pastor

The committee has now met on multiple occasions. With God’s guidance, we have developed a job description that we pray will attract the man that God wants for this position. Letters of notification and the job description have been sent to Bible colleges and programs in Maryland and Pennsylvania. We have also developed a questionnaire, which will be completed by applicants and will assist the committee in our selection of the candidate.

As we begin to review applications, please pray for our discernment that we will be lead to select God’s choice for our church.

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Thank You !

Dear Gunpowder Family,

Thank you for your love and support during our reign as the YHouth Pastor and Youth Leader. We have many special memories with our teens and we will miss them.

We want to express our gratitude for the special service for our family. Gunpowder will always be special to us as that is where we met God and started a journey. Our journey and desire to follow God has taken us to a new venture. Our prayers will continue to be with you and may God take this church to new heights. May God continue to bless each and every one of you.

Love,

The Tracey Family

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Calling All Cooks

We still need recipes for the church cookbook as soon as possible. We want to ha ve this ready on Friend Day, June 4, 2006, so please put your favorite recipe in my mail slot as soon as possible so we can get the books completed. Please put your name on your recipe so we can add your name in the recipe book.

Thank you,

Michelle Singleton

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New Members

Brian and Carol Hughes joined our church family by letter. They are both employed as Consultants.

Brian enjoys mentoring men in AA and the Helping Up Mission. He is enjoying his seventh year of Bible Study Fellowship.

Carol enjoys gardening and mentoring.

If you have not met the Hughes' yet, please introduce yourself and make them feel welcome in our church family.

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Snow Emergency Plan

We do not plan to cancel any of our Worship Services, but in the event of an ice storm or heavy snow, we may be forced to miss a service.

Since it is not practical for us to call you, you may call any one of our Deacons after 8:00 a.m. The decision should be made by then.

In other years, we have had ice storms leaving the driveway and parking lot hazardous. Therefore, we had to cancel all services. On some occasions after a snowstorm, we get the driveway opened only in time for worship services. On the decision concerning Sunday School, you may call Pastor Jack.

The website will also have an announcement if there is any cancellation.

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Social Committee

The Social Committee has been quite busy lately. Usually, we are not very busy in the month of January. On January 14th, we cooked and served a spaghetti dinner as a fund raiser for Kevin Sheehan.

On January 15th we had an appreciation reception for Jeff and sue Tracey, as they stepped down from working as the Youth directors. They will be greatly missed.

On January 22nd, we had a deacon ordination Service and a pot luck luncheon following the late service. The new deacons, Bill Abbey and Steve McCarty had their families and friends with them to help celebrate this special occasion.

On January 29th we had an appreciation celebration for William and Betty Harn. Bill stepped down as treasurer of our church after serving for over forty years in that position. He and Betty have sold their home and plan to move closer to his daughter. They will be missed at Gunpowder.

I think we may get a breather now, unless Pastor Jack gets another idea. As of now, our next event will be our Bicentennial celebration beginning May 31 and running through June 4th. We hope you all will mark your claendar and make plans to be with us for that special week.

Working for Him,

Ruth Taylor

Social Chairman

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Keenagers

On January 10th we had a wonderful time at our luncheon. June NAylor entertained us with old and new songs of inspiration. Everyone enjoyed listening to her. June is still healing from her back surgery, but the surgery certainly didn't hurt her voice. Judy Bull came and sang one song with June and with never singing together and no rehearsal they sounded good.

We had lots of good food with homemade ice cream and cake for dessert.

On January 26th, nine of our Keenagers went to Wilton Armadella Factory in Mt Joy, PA. It was a very interesting tour through the factory to see how metal was made into cooking instruments, decorations, food bowls, etc. We then browsed through theri store and of course spent some money. Afterwards, we went to Willow Valley for a delicious and very filling lunch. If you have never been to either of these places, you are missing out on a very nice day.

Our next get together is on Tuesday, February 14th at the church for a covered dish luncheon and Valentine party. On Thursday, February 23rd we will go on another trip. The place will be announced later this month. We invite anyone that woud like to come to join us for a great time. You do not have to be a Keenager to join us. Just drop in at any time. We would love to have you.

Your Keenager in Christ,

Myrtle Gettle

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Children's Sunday School Department

The Children's Sunday School Department had a Spaghetti Dinner and Puppet Show on Friday, January 27th and had a wonderful time.

We appreciate all those who helped make this event so enjoyable!

His servant,

Joan Krebs

Children’s Director

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Children's Church Schedule

Nursery Worker Schedule

We would like more volunteers to help in the baby Nursery and 2 - 3 year old room during the 11:00 Worship Service. If you can help out, please contact Audrey Quick.

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Adult_Sunday_School_Department

The monthly business meeting was held on January 8. Steve McCarty shared several ideas with the teachers on how we can improve various facets of Sunday School. To maintain effective teaching, it is necessary to constantly and consistently keep up with new ideas, practices, etc. Classes appear to be getting "back into the groove" since the holiday season. Even a few new faces have been spotted in a few classrooms. If you are aware of new people in church as visitors or new members, be sure to greet them and invite them to Sunday School.

At the present time the College and Career Class is closed due to the lack of members and teacher. However, we have a projection of 20-25 eligible members within the next two years. Consequently, we are looking for two people to serve as teachers - preferably a couple who relates well with college and career age young people. To be truly effective teachers, they would need to work at forming a relationship with each and every member. If you are interested or would like to know more about this position, please contact me. If this is not a job you would feel comfortable performing, please pray for the Lord to touch the hearts of two people He has selected.

Meditate on this: Sometimes when you have a few spare moments, try to think of some other basic principle that would cure all the world's ills faster than the Golden Rule put into practice. (It's difficult and may be impossible).

In His Service,

Carolyn C. Foster, Director

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FAITH Ministry

The FAITH Ministry will convene on February 12th after the 11:00 a.m. church service. We will first have lunch together and then take care of business. Then class study will be begin - Basics for mostly new members taught by Carolyn Foster and Advanced taught by Steve McCarty from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Please pray about joining FAITH. Some changes are being considered and evaluated. These changes will give memebrs a little more time at home on Sundays and yet keep the program as developed by Bobby Welch runing effectively.

FAITH is mainly visitation to those who do not know Christ or have a personal relationship with Him and ministry visits to people who are sick, lonely, sad, hurting, or absent from Sunday School for two or more weeks.

FAITH would love to have you join us. One member recently remarked she could not wait to start FIATH for another session. She was so anxious to go visiting, but she said she needed FAITH for herself as well as others.

It is a joy to see people making life changes due to FAITH teams using an intentional, but simple, strategy to tell others about Jesus Christ.

It is truly an honor to serve God through FAITH.

In His Service,

Carolyn C. Foster - Director

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Prayer Ministry

Watchman Prayer Ministry - “Intercessors”

Dear Church Family,

We had five "emergency prayers" in the month of January. Unfortunately, a couple were very serious.

Please keep in mind when we pray in these situations it brings help and comfort that we may never see. We don't need to. Remember, prayer changes things.

We must be in constant prayer for our church. We have many needs. God's Word is very clear when it comes to prayer. "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18) Notice the words "always" and "without ceasing" and "in everything". God's instruction allows no time limits, circumstance or situation in which we should not be thankful - none whatsoever. God knows our needs. He is just waiting to bless us. Remember these words form James 4:2, you have not because you ask not. Remember what follows James 4:2; you ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives... This is a real tragedy. Especially in light of the needs we have and the wonderful promises God makes to us concerning prayer. Jesus says: "And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. All is just for obeying Him.

We have another powerful resource, fasting. There are manyu kinds of fasts. It does not have to last long lengths of time. Most importantly, it is an ace of self-denial that enhances our prayer life. Hebrews 11:6 applies.

There are still a few open slots on the prayer wall, 1:30 a.m., 2:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.. Please call Iris ath the church office 410.343.1365 or MAry Scheuerman at home.

Please remember, God loves you and wants to bless you. He wants to bless our church endeavors; who will pray?

Bob Scheuerman

Prayer Coordinator

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Women's Ministry

Our Ladies event held on Friday, January 13th was a wonderful treat. Lauren Bobbitt taught us a lesson about how duct tape was created to be used on heating ducts, but when it was tested, it was found that the duct tape melted when it was exposed to heat. Duct tape is used for a number of applications, from repairing shoes, to making wallets, to repairing broken car windows - you name it, duct tape has been used to mend it. But duct tape does not fulfill the purpose for which is was created. Are you living a "duct tape" life? Are you fulfilling every other purpose except the one you were created to fulfill?

We had 30 women in attendance for the Bible Study / Baby Shower. We had the privilege of meeting Noelle Breann Hocomb and watching her mom, Katie, open some beautiful pink gifts. Thanks to everyone who came out to support Lauren and Katie Holcomb. And thank you, Pastor Jack, Dana and Leah for decorating the meeting room so beautifully and feeding us so richly.

STARS for CHRIST  

Click to see "Untalent Show" pictures

Click to see "Crazy Hat Party" pictures

UPCOMING LADIES’ EVENT

Friday, February 10 th

7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Gunpowder Baptist Church 

“Love Endures ”

Speaker - Betty Cummings will share some things from her life and pictures about growing up in an orphanage home.

Bring a red or white dessert

Join us on Friday night, February 10th at 7:30 p.m. and participate in this blessing. This is an outreach ministry for our church and community. Invite family and friends and come fellowship!

All ladies are invited.

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Ladies’ Tuesday Morning Bible Study

A Six Week Study

Beginning February 7th

Ending March 14th, 2006

9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m.

Study

We will continue with the daily devotional, “Words of Life”. The study will start with week 24 and go through week 29 of the book. If you would like to attend this study and don’t have a book, please contact Mary Hamrick to make arrangements for purchasing a devotional book.

Purpose

The “Words of Life” devotional is used as a Bible Study tool to help us learn how to apply Bible teachings to our lives. We meet together once a week to discuss what we are learning, how we are applying the scripture to our lives, and we meet to encourage each other in our spiritual journey.

Eight Choices that Will Change a Woman's Life - by Jill Briscoe

You can choose to have a life that is happy, blessed, and pleasing to God. These qualities are within your grasp, but you will have choices to make. It's up to you. This insightful book will give you the tools you need to make choices that will change your life for good! BAsed on the wisdom of the book of James, this study offers guidelines for life's complex choices.

We will use the "Words of Life" devotional as our beginning devotional message and move into the study of the eight choices that will change a woman's life. In doing this, we can combine two great studies and learn life application Bible skills from both resources.

Join us and be a part!

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February Birthdays & Anniversaries

Anniversaries 1 Otis & Billie Thompson 15 Glen & Cindy Fleming

Births

Congratulations to Ken & Christy Copenhaver on the birth of their first baby. Cassandra Ann Copenhaver was born on January 21, 2006 and weighed 3 lbs 9 oz and was 16 3/4 inches long. Cassi's proud grandparents are Earl and Debbie Copenhaver.

Congratulations "Poppy" and "Grammy" on the birth of your first grandchild. After having four boys of thier own, we just know they are anxious to get home from New York to spoil this little girl.

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Belfry Archive

February, 2005

March, 2005

April, 2005

May, 2005

June, 2005

July & August, 2005

September, 2005

October, 2005

November, 2005

December, 2005

January, 2006