Pastor Charles Reflections:

Have you ever watched a town die a slow and painful death? It happens and if you want to to see one, travel some of the roads that have been replaced by our Interstate Highway System. Buildings that were once brightly lighted and friendly and smiling become just so much brick and mortar and peeling paint. The happy noises of happy people are gone. The cheery smell of spring and fall are gone--the warmth of summer-- the crispness of winter. All is gone. There are no seasons when a town dies. Only stillness and the waiting. Have you ever watched a church die? Oh yes, it happens. Buildings that were once bright and filled with song became dark and silent. Gossip and division can kill a church. But have you ever seen a church die financially? It isn’t a pleasant sight. It doesn’t happen overnight, for it is a slow, painful death over a period of years. But when a church becomes tired and growing pains stop, it begins to starve. It looks for help. And when it doesn’t come, it dies. I hope you never see this happen, but if you have, pray you will never see it again. Aren’t you glad NewKirk has growing pains, delighted NewKirk is vibrant and moving forward and excited about building a Family Life Center to be used for our youth in recreation and the study of God’s Word. To be used for our fellowship suppers, banquets, breakfast on the first Sundays, Easter and other times. To be used in the future for our area basketball games. To be used for Sunday school, mission activities and many other activities that will draw us closer to one another and to our God. Oh, yes, some folks complain because our budget gets larger, but praise God that is a sign of a growth. Please, let’s be happy, and thankful we are part of a growing church. A church like ours cannot die financially, as long as we glorify our Lord, continue to love the Lord and serve in His name and with God’s help, we will continue to grow and reach out to the community to which God has called us to minister. The key words are “we” and “God’s help”. God will do His part and we are encouraging you to do your part by pledging toward our weekly budget and new mortgage to South Carolina Bank and Trust who worked out our loan in record time. A miracle. Thanks be to God our youth group is growing, our giving is improving and our great people have not stopped. I sincerely believe we can count on you to do your part as NewKirk strives and blesses the name of our good and gracious God. Our budget and pledge drive will be successful because of you. Please be much in prayer as you make your pledge. See you this Lord’s day as we come to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
In His Grip, Pastor Charles

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Baccalaureate Ceremony to be held on Sunday, May 23, 2010. Graduates, we need to hear from you. Our known graduates are Russ Trotter, Caroline Odell, Bryan Bogue, Allyson Kelly, Jamey McWaters, Hayley Smith, Hannah Gordon, Hope Marten, and Sydney Heaton. Chad Smith will participate at St. John’s Church. Please let me know your plans to attend or not to attend. This will help with food preparation for the family of the graduate.

Faith, Family and Freedom Celebration with Steven Curtis Chapman, Superchick and Newworldson will be held on Saturday, June 26th at 6:00 P.M. at the Z MAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway, South in Concord. Michelle Goodman said this was an outstanding experience in Charlotte. This will be a time of great music, great family fun and great fireworks! The tickets are $10.00 for all seats. There is a $5.00 per car parking fee at the zMAX Dragway. Tailgate party begins at 4:00 and doors open at 5:00 P.M. No food from the tailgate party will be allowed in the concert. See Michelle Goodman or Christie Adams if interested.

We have scheduled our Baptismal service for June 6, 2010 at 3:00 P.M.

Pastor Charles will teach a New Member Class on the following Sundays, subject to change as needed: May 16, 23 and 30th, June 6 and 13th . We will begin at 9:45 A.M. sharp and dismiss at 10:20. We will look at salvation, church membership, Why join a church? Our two ordinances, prayer, Bible study, stewardship and witnessing. We encourage all those who have recently joined our church to attend this class.

We need your help. In recent weeks, the door nearest the nursery has been unlocked and remained unlocked during both services. It would be wise to not unlock this door at all in order to protect those in the nursery and children’s church during our worship time in the sanctuary.

From The Food Committee for our building project. As you are aware, we are responsible for feeding the 250 volunteers coming in to build our new facility for eight days and a group of 50 who will arrive early for three days. Many of you will be asked to donate your time during July 8-17 to help us prepare these meals. If you are available, please contact Linda Tanner (817-1818), Bill Gordon or Ann Gordon (329-2657), the Food Committee for this project.
The items we would like you to start donating now are as follows: Salt, pepper, sugar, napkins, gallon jars of mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, gallon cans of powered lemonade, gallon cans of Bushes baked beans, gallon cans of peaches and pears. Other items will be needed later.
Please let Linda Tanner know of any donations being brought so she can inventory them and keep you posted on our need list. If you have questions concerning donations, please call her at 817-1818.

The York Baptist Association Semi Annual Men’s Ministry Steak Dinner will be held on May 20th at the YBA office on Museum Road from 6:30-8:20 P.M. All Pastors, Men’s Ministry Directors and Deacon Chairmen are invited and encouraged to participate in this great time of fellowship and Men’s Missions info while enjoying a thick steak, baked potato. Etc. RSVP no later than May 17th by calling 327-6144 or emailing robyn@yorkbaptists.ord.

A MOTHER’S PRAYER
Make me a wise mother, O Lord. Keep me calm and give me patience to bear the small, irritating things in the daily routine of life. Give me tolerance and understanding to bridge the gulf between my generation and that of my children.
Let me not be too ready to guide my children’s stumbling feet, but allow me to be ever near to bind their bruises. Give me a sense of humor that I may laugh with them but never at them. Let me refrain from preaching with words.
Keep me from forcing their confidences, but give me a sympathetic ear when my children come to me. Make me humble. Keep my children close to me, O Lord, though miles may separate us. And let your light so shine upon me that they, too, will perceive your glory. Amen.
—St. Philip Episcopal Church, Rochester, Minnesota

Evangelism Team
During our building project in July, a team from First Baptist Barnwell will be partnering with a team from NewKirk to go into Rock Hill neighborhoods to spread the message of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to begin to prepare the hearts of those we will contact and give the right words to the workers who will be taking that message to the doors. This is Kingdom work so please be much in prayer, as the enemy wants to hold onto as many souls as possible. We will also be providing information about our church and invite those who do not have a church home, to worship with us here at NewKirk.
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matt. 9:37-38 Are you willing to serve? We need members from our church to partner with the Barnwell folks going out into our neighborhoods_ we know the area, they don’t. Please pray for God to give you clear direction about serving in this function. There are thousands in Rock Hill who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Make no mistake_ this IS a mission field. Thank you for the two who have already felt the call to join this endeavor. Please let Roxie know if you are willing to serve also.



A breath of prayer
As impossible as it is for us to take a breath in the morning large enough to last us until noon, so impossible is it to pray in the morning in such a way as to last us until noon. Let your prayers ascend to him constantly, audibly or silently, as circumstances throughout the day permit.
—O. Hallesby

OTHER MINISTERS FOR SUNDAY, May 9, 2010
Children's Church: Bucky & Renee King
Infants’ Nursery— Travis Melissa Jackson
Usher/Greeter Teams– Kellee Seay, Dale Frump,Jonathan Trotter, Tim Seay
TELLER: May 10, - Catherine McCallum

CHURCH CALENDAR
May 9—9:45—S.S., 10:45-Worship, 3:00-Bryan/Allison Shower, 5:00-Youth (Bryan’s Last Day)
May 10—6:30-Building & Grounds, 7:00-Finance Committee
May 11—7:00-GROW “R”
May 12—6:45-RA’s, GA’s, Acteens, Mission Friends & Adult Bible Study, 7:30-Choir Practice