Posted on

PRAYER REQUESTS

·         Pastoral Search Committee, 8am & 8pm, every day for church & search for a new Pastor. 
·         Constitution Revision Committee. 
·         The health crisis throughout the world.   
·         Joe Mains’ son, Martin, pancreatic cancer. Testing in April will determine status.
·         Roberta Foust’s brother, Len Houston, procedure on eye.
·         Cheryll Larsen, breast cancer.
·         Keith Loucks, leg wound that won’t heal
 
ONGOING CONCERNS:  Dee Hodge, Bill Lewis, David Burkholder
Posted on

A MESSAGE FROM CAROL CLAYTON

Dear Church Family,
 
I hope all of you are well at home.  I am a retired RN and Reverend Bram has requested that I send a message to you based on my professional experience.
 
1.    Stay home as directed for the time being.  Many of us are in a high-risk group simply because of our age.  If you can, contact someone to get your groceries. Follow the guidelines of frequently washing your hands (while singing the Happy Birthday song twice) and wiping surfaces with wipes or make your own Clorox/water spray. Recipe: 3 Tablespoons Clorox (bleach) plus 4 cups water in a clean spray bottle. 
2.    If you have symptoms of respiratory origin, coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing and running a fever or GI symptoms such as diarrhea, call your Doctor.  They will decide whether you need to be seen or need a test for the Corona Virus (COVID-19).
3.    If you have children at home, try to challenge their minds to stay active until school resumes on-line or in the normal setting of the classroom.  They are our future and a dear commodity of our great country.  Play games, take walks, etc.
4.    Stay in touch with others via phone, messaging or email.  Call someone you haven’t seen for awhile.  They will appreciate your phone visit and concern.  Watch your favorite shows, write a note to someone, read a book, and cook or bake.  Try to stay busy, (maybe even some spring cleaning, Ugh, I hesitate to mention that).
5.    Try to get out on your porch or around your yard or area close to your residence, for some sunlight and fresh air.  Practice social distancing (6 feet between persons).
6.    Pray, Pray, Pray more than ever.  Remember God is in charge!
 
We will get through this!  I miss you all.  We will be worshiping together when it is safe to do so.  Stay healthy!  God bless all of you.
 
Love to all,
Carol Clayton
 
PS:  Continue to Worship, on-line or TV, Sunday Morning or when you can.
Posted on

URGENT INFORMATION TO EVERYBODY IN OUR CHURCH CONGREGATION COVID-19 FEEDBACK AND SYMPTOMS

From a member of the Stanford hospital board.  This is their feedback for now on Coronavirus:
1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold. 
2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose. 
3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of 78/81 degrees. It hates the Sun. 
4. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne. 
5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours – so if you come into contact with any metal surface – wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap. 
6. On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it. 
7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice. 
8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but – a lot can happen during that time – you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on. 
9. You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice. 
10. Can’t emphasis enough – drink plenty of water!
 
THE SYMPTOMS 
1. It will first infect the throat, so you’ll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days 
2. The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further. 
3. With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing. 
4. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you’re drowning. It’s imperative you then seek immediate attention.
 
Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: 
Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why? Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. 
If you don’t drink enough water more regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs. That’s very dangerous. Please send and share this with family and friends. Take care everyone and may the world recover from this Coronavirus soon.
The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days.
How can one know if he/she is infected? 
By the time they have fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% Fibrosis and it’s too late (Fibrosis is not reversible). 
Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection. In critical times, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air.
Posted on

ABCOPAD Responds to COVID-19

Dear Partner in Ministry,
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
 Psalm 121:1-2
The news reports are breathtaking as we hear of the growing impact that COVID-19 is having on our world, and in recent days our own communities. As people of faith we certainly want to lean into God’s help and wisdom to know how to respond to this challenge both as it concerns our individual families but also the churches that we call ‘home’.
To that end we want to provide you with a list of resources, from a variety of sources, that can be of help to you in making wise choices as you move through these coming days. You will find them listed below.
Above all, however, I want to call us to be people of prayer—people who are willing to lift our eyes to the mountains…the place where our help comes from, asking God to guide and provide in a variety of ways as we confront this challenge.
  • Pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world.
  • Pray with gratitude for those who care for them.
  • Pray with gratitude for health specialists and authorities who are combating the spread of infection.
  • Pray for government officials and leaders to have the wisdom necessary to make wise and informed decisions out of care for the public good, particularly to those most vulnerable.
  • Pray for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
As Jeff Johnson has reminded us, “God has got this, because God has got us”. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture, and we rest together in His abundant care.
As partners in this ministry for the Kingdom, if there are ways we can be helpful in these coming days, please reach out to us. We count it a privilege to walk together as people of faith.
Trusting in God’s Grace and Provision,
Frank
Posted on

A MESSAGE FROM MODERATOR, BILL DAVIS

Dear members and friends of First Baptist Church of Greensburg;
 
As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, a number of the churches in the region have made the decision to suspend morning worship for a few Sundays. Even for those churches who will continue to meet, there will be families and individual members who will make the personal decision to stay away from worship.
 
Losing the chance to be together in fellowship at a time such as this, when we need to hear the hope that is ours in Christ and to have the opportunity to encourage one another is troubling for all involved, and so we write today with what we hope is one way to stay connected as a Baptist family of faith.
 
Additionally, we want to remind you of an important reality. Even though our church family may not be able to meet for corporate worship due to COVID-19, the financial needs of the congregation and our wider mission work continue, and so we would ask that you would be generous and consistent in providing your tithes and offerings to your church.
 
While you may not be able to be physically present to drop your gift in the offering plate, we strongly encourage you to drop your gift in an envelope and mail it to our church instead.
Your pastor continues to serve and ministry continues to unfold, so we hope you will do your part in faithfully supporting the ongoing work of the Kingdom.
 
In the interim, we will walk alongside those who suffer in this pandemic. We are grateful for our Baptist Church who so often are on the front lines in response to all who are vulnerable, who suffer, and who live in fear, because they are disciples of the healer, Jesus Christ.
 
The peace of the Lord
William E. Davis
MODERATOR
Posted on

Cookies!!

UPDATE…since we did not have church on Sunday, March 15, if anyone purchased cookies and to still wishes to donate cookies, Diane Meyers suggested dropping them off at her home at 805 Cribbs Street in Southwest Greensburg.  From Rt. 119 South, if you turn onto Cribbs Street (at Parkwood Restaurant), her house is two blocks up on the right. You can call Diane at 724-832-1215 or leave the cookies in a box or bag on her porch).  In spite of all of the closures we have, Meals on Wheels continues to serve the senior citizens!  Your donations are so much appreciated!

Posted on

Dear members and friends of First Baptist Church of Greensburg;

As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, a number of the churches in the region have made the decision to suspend morning worship for a few Sundays. Even for those churches who will continue to meet, there will be families and individual members who will make the personal decision to stay away from worship.

Losing the chance to be together in fellowship at a time such as this, when we need to hear the hope that is ours in Christ and to have the opportunity to encourage one another is troubling for all involved, and so we write today with what we hope is one way to stay connected as a Baptist family of faith.

Additionally, we want to remind you of an important reality. Even though our church family may not be able to meet for corporate worship due to COVID-19, the financial needs of the congregation and our wider mission work continue, and so we would ask that you would be generous and consistent in providing your tithes and offerings to your church.

While you may not be able to be physically present to drop your gift in the offering plate, we strongly encourage you to drop your gift in an envelope and mail it to our church instead.

Your pastor continues to serve and ministry continues to unfold, so we hope you will do your part in faithfully supporting the ongoing work of the Kingdom.

In the interim, we will walk alongside those who suffer in this pandemic. We are grateful for our Baptist Church who so often are on the front lines in response to all who are vulnerable, who suffer, and who live in fear, because they are disciples of the healer, Jesus Christ.

The peace of the Lord

William E. Davis

Church Moderator

Posted on

Message from the Projecting Hope Film Festival:

In an effort to protect the public, patrons and team members, the decision was made to postpone the 2020 Film Festival. They will monitor the progression of COVID-19 and will reschedule the event as soon as possible.  The Projecting Hope Film Festival is an annual event that is intended to shine a light in our communities.  
 
“We ask that our guests and patrons, in lieu of attending this weekend, make an intentional effort to be a light of hope to those around you.  We serve a big God. Let’s seek Him and let us be a bright light during this trying time.”  If you have reserved tickets for the festival, please be looking for additional communication soon.
 
By His Grace, 
Scott Andersen, Director of the Projecting Hope Film Festival
Posted on

Easter Flowers

 (please call Dana at the church office 724-837-1080 or send her an email at gbgbapt@comcast.net or daloloucks@aol.com … we can still take orders over the phone)

Our Floral & Decorating Committee will use these flowers to decorate the sanctuary for Easter Sunday, then you can take your flowers home to enjoy. The deadline to place orders is Sunday, March 29.  Just follow the instructions on the insert in the church bulletin.