From The Pastor

Dear Gunpowder Family,

God is so good. He has led our church to take a HUGE step of faith.

We’ve called Robert Bourcier to the ministry of associate Pastor of Gunpowder Baptist Church. This step is vitally important as we minister in this community. God has shown us that there is an ever increasing need in the youth of our community for a ministry that will reach them with the Truth of His word. Rob and Brenda are busily working to tie up the loose ends and finish well down in Texas so that they can get here as soon as possible and begin this important ministry. Pray for them that God will open the road before them and that He will provide whatever is needed. Now that we have taken this step of faith, God wants to use us to be a blessing to this family. Please ask Him how you can get involved in taking care of this wonderful blessing that God has provided. I really believe that this community will be turned upside down when it sees what God is going to do through this faithful minister.

If one teen is delivered form the pain and problems of this world, it will be worth every ounce of our investment. I anticipate dozens, scores, and even hundreds of lives changed. That is truly a glory to God. Remember, He used you to do it. See you Sunday.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Jack

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FALL FESTIVAL

Sunday, October 1, 2006

4:00 p.m.

Picnic Area

Bring your family and friends to have fellowship with your church family. Something for everyone! Enjoy a beautiful crisp, fall day outdoors! Everything will be held at the Pavilion again this year.

Food Homemade hot soups and chili, cook hot dogs and marshmallows over a bonfire, hot chocolate, coffee and cider

Football Boys and Men Grades 6 and up

Basketball For everyone

Volleyball For everyone

Hayrides For everyone

Playground Children

Pumpkin Contest For children through grade 5 ONLY. Judging for 3 groups:

Youngest through kindergarten

Grades 1-2

Grades 3-5

There will be no cutting pumpkins. All decorations will be drawn on or attached to the pumpkin. Please bring your own plain pumpkin and anything you may want to use for decorating. Any pumpkin arriving with decorations already done will be disqualified. There will be a prize for all who enter and a special prize awarded to a child in each group for the most creative pumpkin. (If your pumpkin is being painted all over before decorations are added, you may do so before bringing it so the paint will be dry).

Dessert Contest For everyone

Please only one dessert entry per person

Three groups: Grades 1-5

Youth Grades 6-12

Adults

There will not be three different categories this year. All desserts will be judged as desserts only. Please bring your yummy creations to the Pavilion no later than 4:30 p.m. All the people who come will be doing the judging. There will be a score sheet to vote for your favorite dessert. If your dessert recipe won Grand Champion or First place within the last two years, that recipe will not be eligible to compete this year, so that others may have a chance.”

Chili & Soup Contest: For everyone. Please only one chili and one soup entry per person

Bring your homemade soup and chili to the pavilion no later than 4:30 p.m. (Please bring your soup ladle if possible). All the people who come will be doing the judging. There will be a score sheet this year for you to vote for your favorite soup and chili. There will be a 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd prize and a Grand Champion for this event. (Rule is the same as the dessert rule)

6:15 p.m. Award Presentation

Devotions and sing-a-long will conclude this evening’s activities

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Women’s Fall Retreat

November 10 & 11, 2006

Theme: Duty, Destination and Determination

Spinners of Hershey

Hershey , PA

Cost: $75.00 – for your own bed

$55.00 – to share a bed

GUEST SPEAKER: Pam Ubanks

SOLOIST: Elizabeth Rivera

TRIO: Chord of Three

TESTIMONY: TBA

Sign-up sheet will be in the church lobby in mid-September. Listen for announcements in Sunday Worship services. Please join us for a time of spiritual refreshment. A time to relax and enjoy the music, fun, fellowship and prayer with your Christian sisters. I guarantee Pam will touch your heart with her words of encouragement.

There will be financial help available if needed. Everyone is welcome. You do not have to be a Baptist, attend any church or be a member of any church. Please invite everyone.

Contact Joan Krebs or the church office for more information.

Prayerfully yours,

Joan Krebs

Retreat Coordinator

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Social Committee

Thank you to all those who contributed their time and talents to the events of the 200th Anniversary Celebration!

A special thanks to Sue Norman who stepped in and handled the responsibilities of the committee so wonderfully.

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Keenagers

On June 12th, we had a wonderful time cutting out different things to be used for Vacation Bible School. A big thank you to all of the ladies and men who came out to help. Afterward, we had a great lunch of several different kinds of soup, sandwiches, salad, homemade ice cream and cake.

A big thanks to Pastor Jack and all the teachers and helpers who worked so hard the week of VBS and made it a week of fun for over 300 children. Praise God for a great week.

We will not meet over the next couple of months but will start up again in September. The date will be decided later and we will let everyone know. Have a wonderful summer!

Your Keenager in Christ,

Myrtle Gettle

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Children's Sunday School Department

Summer is almost over already. Summer teaching has gone really well. Attendance has been down a little but we have had a nice group every Sunday morning.

On August 3 rd the children’s department went to Sight & Sound in Lancaster, PA. We had 22 adults, 2 teens and 12 children. The “Behind the Scenes” was really exciting. We were able to see them working on the sets for the next show, “In the Beginning”. We had our “brown bag” lunch in the lobby, on the carpet, in the air conditioning. At 1:00 p.m., we saw the show, “Ruth”. It was a great show and the kids loved it. We had a very well behaved bunch of kids. A big thank you to Steve McCarty and Raymond Krebs who drove the vans.

Our graduation party will be held August 27 th during the Sunday School hour. We are proud to promote to our teen department five young people who have been a true value to our children’s department. They will be sadly missed in our department.

The teachers have agreed to teach next year and they are: Bruce and Cathy Wisnom, Diane Ivey, Kathryn McLaughlin, Conchita and Nicole Whitaker, Judy Bryant, Joan Krebs, Karen Danmyer, Peggy Shemonski and Katy Holcomb. We are proud to announce we have a new teacher joining us this year, Christy Keyes. We are having a teacher’s meeting on August 28 th at 7:00 p.m. Our next year’s schedule of activities w ill be prepared at this time.

Regular Sunday School classes start on September 3 rd. We have excellent teachers who all love the Lord. They are eager to be His servants and share God’s love with all of your children. What greater gift would you give your children than the gift of knowledge about our awesome God. Please bring your children and join us for Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. every Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you in Sunday School.

God’s servant,

Joan Krebs

Children’s Director

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Children's Church Schedule

Nursery Worker Schedule

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Adult_Sunday_School_Department

Beginning in May the business meeting will be held on the second Sunday instead of the first Sunday, at 8:30 a.m. This change is due to the fact that the choir sings at the first service on the first and third Sundays and there are several teachers who sing in the choir. The Adult Sunday School department has elected to participate in a project ministry. Each class will collect funds in containers and pool these monies and send to a ministry organization that purchases farm animals (e.g., cows, chickens, sheep, camels, etc.) for a needy family in a third world country. The family uses the animal’s milk, eggs or cheese for meeting their needs. The first born baby animal will be given to another needy family. Our goal will be $715.00 which will buy a goat, cow and sheep and will feed three needy families. Bill Abbey will be in charge of this ministry, so contact him if you have a question.

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Prayer Ministry

Watchman Prayer Ministry - “Intercessors”

Dear Church Family,

I want to thank each of you who have made a commitment and can be counted on to pray for those on the prayer wall. I am going to mention areas of prayer we must be conscious of. If you are not a member of the prayer wall, please consider joining as there are several slots that need to be filled. I have mentioned in the past, apart from prayer, nothing gets accomplished and we truly have nuch to pray about.

We have had 30 "emergency prayers". We must set ourselves as watchmen and not rest until all areas of the wall are filled. I am truly puzzled that some of the church family are not tking the opening of these prayer slots seriously. All through the earthly life of our Lord, He continually prayed. Please take this the right way and I love each of you with all my heart. We must have prayer for all our leaders. Prayer is meant to be an intregal part of our relationship with God. John 5:30 says "by myself I can do nothing." Friends, this is very true and there are many I's who need help to do the Lord's work. I am truly sorry that I have not been able to be present in church. Please know this, I do not know what I could do in person that I have not already done at home.

Prayer is commanded by God. Friends, we are talking about an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. Doesn't that boggle your mind? If we obey and enter into a lifestyle of humility and prayer, the result will be awesome.

Every aspect of Gunpowder's ministries should be focused on prayer. If we are having trouble with not having people to pray for church activities, is it any wonder we can not stop any of the atrocities that are in our lives? (abortion same-sex marriages, partial birth abortions) I am sure you get the idea.

I was only able to come to one of the tent meetings. My heart almost jumped out of my throat! I know this; REVIVAL is birthed in prayer and repentance. I told the Lord to start with me. If I may be bold again, Can you remember how you prayed when you first accepted Christ? Do you still pray with that same fervor?

I say this a lot, but that's OK, it bears repeating. When you flip a ligth switch, what happens? The circuit is broken and the light goes off. The current stops flowing. Do you know the same principle applies to our spiritual life? God is our power in our spiritual life. He is our current. Without the current, the poer of God, we cannot accomplish His will for our lives. Our faith is the switch and when our faith wavers, the current is interrupted -- hindering you or I from becoming the person God wants us to be.

Having a prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer; but it should be the result of it. Prayer is essential in every area of our spiritual life, none more important than sharing our faith. There is nothing more valuable than intercessory prayer when preparing to do this. We should understand the depth and breadth of Gods' promises about intercessory prayer.

Some helpful insights to prayer:

1. Place - Have a regular place where you can feel in-tune with God.
2. Practice - Develop the regular practice of prayer. It helps to have the habit.
3. Privacy - There are times for group prayer, but personal growth usually comes from being alone with God.
4. Posture - Pray in any position, but remember that kneeling to pray helps develop humility.
5. Purpose - Forget self, seek God's Will.
6. Price - Be ready to go through the process of emptying yourself of negatives so god can come with His love and power.

Nowhere does the Bible say that prayer is easy. At times, while you are still on your knees. Satan will attack, harrassing you with doubt and sending distracting thoughts into your mind. Do not worry about praying for something too large. There is nothing too big for God to accomplish. We do not always like the answers God gives. He promises in Matthew 7:11 that everything He gives is good for us.

We hurt ourselves:

1. In Habakkuk 1:13, we are taught that God is simply too pure to look on evil.
2. Isaiah 59:1-2 clarifies; surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. Your iniquities have spearated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that he will not hear.
3. Unforgiving Spirit - Matthew 6:14
4. Wrong motives - James 1:5-8 and 4:3
5. Disobedience, turns a deaf ear to the law - Proverbs 66:18
6. Home life needs amends
7. Sins are the road block to you and God, unconfessed - Psalm 66:18

It would be wise for all of us to ask God with a humbled Spirit what areas of our lives are offensive to Him. Failure to pray leaves peopl vulnerable on the battlefiled. Nehemiah 4. When we do what we are supposed to do, God is faithful to do His. We will pray as we should, until we see it as a necessity. Henry Blackaby "only through prayer can we know tha heart of God."

Prayerfully,

Bob Scheuerman

Prayer Coordinator

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Women's Ministry

Next Ladies Events:

Gunpowder Baptist Church

Ladies Events for 2006-2007

Schedule

Join the ladies of Gunpowder Baptist Church on Saturday, September 9th at 6:00 p.m. for a covered dish dinner and our second annual un-talent show.

Our emcee for the event is a local celebrity, “Ellie-May-O-Naise”. Talents already signed up are “Dallas and Cha-Cha, the cheerleaders who can’t”, and “Dualing Noses”. We are trying to get Pee Wee Herzberg for a repeat performance of the Big Shoe Dance and we’re hoping for a repeat harmonica serenade. If you have an un-talent to share, please sign up in the church lobby. If you want to come and watch and laugh, come on. All performances need an audience. You don’t have to perform to come. Just sign up on the sheet in the church lobby.

Our devotional for the evening will be in discovering the secrets of God. Psalm 44:21 and Mark 4:11.

Please invite your family, friends and neighbors to come with you. Bring a covered dish to share. Any questions, call Mary Hamrick.

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Thank You!

Dear Gunpowder Family,

A big thanks to everyone who helped with Jim & Carolyn Foster’s farewell brunch. We appreciate all of your help with the great food, setting up and cleaning up. And a special thank you to Judy Dausinger for all of her hard work in organizing the brunch.

Thank you,

Adult IV Sunday School Class

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Dear Church Family,

I would like to thank everybody for all their help over the years with our social events. I will be stepping down this year after serving for several years.

A special thank you to all of the Social Committee members who were wonderful and always ready to help. May God give His blessings on the next person or persons that step up to take over the Social Chairman position.

Thank you to everyone,

Ruth Taylor

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SEE YOU AT THE POLE

SEPTEMBER 27 TH, 2006

7:00 a.m.

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Dear Church Family,

Ron, myself and especially Christina want to thank our friends who have prayed for us, brought meals, groceries and smiles to our home. It was such a blessing for our kids to see al the help. It was very humbling and very hard for us to be on the receiving end. I really want to thank those special people who argued and brought meals anyway. It took a lot off of me to know my family was taken care of.

Thank you, again, for the prayers, meals, calls, and cards.

Dori, Ron, Chris and Zack Morrell

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September Birthdays & Anniversaries

Anniversaries 4 Rick & Anita Sands 5 Doug & Missy Walker 9 Don & Karen Couch 10 Albert & Betty Cummings 10 Bill & Hilary Riley 16 Karl & Jennifer DeVos 17 Tom & Lorraine Herzberg 29 Joe & Donna Franco

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Meet Our New Members ---

Christine Marie Ivey joined our church family by baptism on July 30, 2006. Christy is a third grader and enjoys knitting, cooking, nature and cheerleading.

Michael Ramsey Ivey joined our church family by baptism on July 30, 2006. Mike is a second grader and enjoys lacrosse, football, basketball and math.

We welcome Christy and Mike to our family. They are the children of Rick and Diane Ivey.

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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

February, 2006

March, 2006

April, 2006

May, 2006

July / August, 2006