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Sunday, February 23, 2025

Acts 8

"The Spirit told Philip"

Pastor Bryon will continue a message series entitled "Fusion" from the book of Acts. There will be Kids Ministry programming for Nursery, Preschool and Elementary-aged children during Worship at 10:00am and during the Bible Study hour at 11:00am. 

If you are a new member, or new to Gayton Baptist Church, you are invited to attend a four part series designed to tell our story and explore how you can be a growing part of our community. Staff, leadership, and laity will come together to share our church's story and encourage you to consider your place within our faith family. You'll hear Pastor Bryon's heart for the future of Gayton Baptist. You'll be blessed by stories from founding members who continue to faithfully serve. Other staff and leadership will introduce their work and ministry here at Gayton and how you can pray, participate, and support these ministries.

Sessions will include: History and Identity, Beliefs and Core Doctrines, Structure, Strategy and Service Opportunities, and a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. All of these are designed to help you better understand our DNA as a church and how God is calling you to grow in your faith.

Our first gathering will be on Sunday, February 23, at 11:00am in The Commons (under the balcony in Worship Center). Subsequent sessions will be March 23, April 27, and May 18.

To help us in preparation, please RSVP your plans to attend below.

Calling all Women!

On Monday, March 3 at 6:30 - 8:30pm, author Laurie Short will be speaking at Gayton. Laurie will be sharing a message entitled, "What Jesus shows us about God." Doors will open at 6:15pm, a light dinner will be served and childcare is available with reservation. The deadline to request childcare is Monday, February 24.

Laurie is a popular speaker, author, and part of the teaching team at Ocean Hills Covenant Church in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, Laurie has spoken to more than 500,000 people at conferences, colleges, churches, and denominational events around the country and spoke at Gayton in 2023. She has been featured on PBS, Focus on the Family, World magazine, and more.

RSVP below or email office@gayton.church by Wednesday, February 26.

Dust off your cookbooks and find your prizewinning recipes! Don't cook or bake but like to eat? There's a place for you as well.

RSVP to attend the Chili and Dessert Cook Off and/or sign up to bring a pot of chili or a dessert. Please RSVP by February 21.

ALL are invited to our new “Prayer & Share” Adult Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 5:45-6:45pm. This is a mid-week hour of faith encouragement. We will gather to pray for one another, share in a biblical devotional time and encourage scripture memory. Feel free to bring your dinner with you. This is a time to come together in the love of Christ and be refreshed in scriptural encouragement and prayer. Pass the word! 

Gayton Baptist Church budgeted for a Youth Ministry Assistant in this year's budget, and we are now beginning the search for this position. Please share this as you think appropriate, and also be in prayer as we seek the person God is calling to serve in this capacity.

Information about this position, what it entails, and how to apply can be found at gayton.church/joinourstaff.

Contact Jeff Conner at connerj11@verizon.net if you are interested in joining the Gayton Softball team.

My Testimony

I didn’t “grow up in the church”, but when I got there as a young-ish adult, I couldn’t get enough of it!  I soaked it all up like a sponge: reading and re-reading the Bible straight through, taking every class made available and serving in numerous ways—both in my local congregation, as well as on the Richmond District Executive Board which represented 43 churches.

A close friend and mentor there, used to always say I was, “on fire for the Lord!”  As I look back on that time, I realize that I had been suffering a spiritual starvation, and I found myself eagerly feasting at this great and wonderful banquet of grace!

The very first time I volunteered in that church was for VBS.  I was a little apprehensive about it, afraid I might mess things up somehow, or not be able to answer even the simplest of questions.  What transpired that week was a lesson I have never forgotten over the many decades of serving the church: you receive so much more than you give! 

Since I began interacting with, and serving our Faith and Recovery Ministry, there have been numerous ways in which my heart has been lifted.  I cannot fully express how invigorating and refreshing it is to have the privilege of seeing lives changed because of the love of Christ.  Their newfound faith is so exciting to witness, it refreshes my own faith and reminds me of myself, so many years ago. The rich knowledge they have gained, the insightful wisdom they have openly shared, encourages my own faith. 

Just this past Sunday, Rev. Bryon mentioned listening to “new voices”; to ponder what “new generations” may have to say to us.  He is spot on!  God has brought us an amazing opportunity to both serve and receive in this beautiful ministry.  We have a long-standing food pantry ministry that helps feed the body, equally important is this ministry that helps feed the soul.

If you have even an inkling of interest in finding your place within the Faith and Recovery Community, please contact the church office or Mike Brumagin directly at mikebrum89@gmail.com

Grace,

Wendy Jones

Our Food Pantry relies mostly on donations. Pick up a couple extra packages of your favorite crackers and your favorite flavor of jelly.

As always, any and all donations are appreciated.

AGAPE Preschool has the following available for the 25-26 school year.

4 two year old spots

2 three day 3 year old spots

1 four day 4 year old spots

1 five day 5 year old spots

1 Junior Kg spot

Don't wait. Contact us for a tour if interested. Register online at agapespacequest.org.

We have filled up fast this year and don't want you to miss out on the fun.

The SPACE afterschool program is looking for several great leaders!

This program serves students ages K-5. The hours are 1:45-5:15, Monday - Friday.

Great staff, great kids!

If you are interested or if you know anyone you think might be a good fit, please reach out to the director, Annette at annette@gayton.church.

Quest Summer Camp is in need of drivers on Tuesdays and Thursdays for morning field trips and afternoon pool visits. If you would be interested and could do either morning or afternoons, even occasionally, please email the director at annette@gayton.church. 

Young Adults

New Bible Study class at 11:00am for Young Adults (Beyond) in Room 226

Young Adult LifeNights will be Wednesdays from 7-8:30pm in the cafe area.

Contact Jennifer@gayton.church for more information.

Sunday, February 23

LifeNight 6:00-7:30pm

(Chili cook-off before- 5pm) - RSVP here is you plan to attend.

Join us for Brunch Bible Study each Sunday morning at 11:00am.

For WHO?

This is for all students in COMPLETED grades 6th-12th.  

WHAT is this?

This is a week long youth mission trip.  Each day, we will be providing a Vacation Bible School for underprivileged children through the Jubilee Center of Lynchburg, Virginia. We will also be helping with manual labor projects to support the work of this non-profit and we will be working with other mission projects in the area.  In the evenings, we will share together as a youth group - in worship, Bible study, sharing and prayer in our lodge. During the afternoon and evenings, there will also be free time for rest, fun activities and community-building.  The theme is “Salt and Light” and what it means to make a difference in this world for Jesus Christ.

WHEN is this awesome trip?

Monday-Friday, June 23-27, 2025

We will meet to leave at 9:00am with plans to be on the road by 9:30 am on that Monday, June 23rd.  We will wrap up with lunch on that Friday, June 27th and head home, arriving back at Gayton Baptist by 3:30pm. 

WHERE is this exciting mission trip going to be?

Lynchburg, Virginia

Our group will be lodging and sharing meals in Juniper Lodge at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg, Virginia. This is a Virginia Baptist retreat center located at the top of a mountain. Our group will be in a shared lodge with a guys hall and girls hall, with a common room and kitchen.  All of our Bible study, worship and fellowship time will be in the lodge. We will have meals in the large dining hall, and there are free time spaces with a pool, a field and a firepit.

Our mission site is the Jubilee Center in Lynchburg, Virginia - approx. 15 minutes from Eagle Eyrie. The other mission projects will be right there in the area  as well.

For more information and the answers to all your questions, go to gayton.church/stiudents

This Sunday Morning in Gayton Kids

In person Nursery Care (birth - 3yr), Preschool Church (ages 3 - PreK) and Elementary Kids Worship (grades K-5) is scheduled to take place during the 10 am Worship Service and during the 11 am Bible Study hour.

Virtual Preschool Church and Elementary Kids Worship services are posted in our Facebook group at 8 am each Sunday and are left up for the week.

LIVE IT OUT VBS

Live It Out VBS takes the spirit of camp – the camaraderie, the daily activities, the immersive nature – and combines them with meaningful Bible stories, fun worship songs, and engaging group activities that teach kids how to live out their faith.

This year's Vacation Bible School program will take place Monday, June 9 - Thursday, June 12, 2025. *Please note that this is a 4-day program.* Drop off will take place from 8:45 am - 8:55 am and our opening assembly will begin promptly at 9 am. Pick up will be at 11:30 am. 

Our Elementary VBS will be for rising kindergarteners through rising fifth graders, according to their Fall 2025 school grade. 

Preregistration for Live It Out Vacation Bible School will open March 1 to our church family and families currently enrolled in our ASQ ministries. 

Community registration for this year's VBS will open March 10 at noon. 

We are still seeking volunteers in order to make this week happen! If you've never served in VBS or if you haven't served in a while, reach out to Hillary to find out how you can plug in! 

Help us prepare for the biggest and best week of kids discipleship this summer at LIVE IT OUT VBS 2025 by donating one of the items listed on our Amazon Wishlist. Your support is greatly appreciated as we get ready to help kids learn how to love like Jesus! 

Gayton Kids Mini Stations of the Cross Activities for Lent

We invite our families to come to church early (front door is open at 9 am) or stay after worship on Sundays to participate in this self-led family activity to prepare your hearts and minds to celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday!

These activities involve short Bible readings, a call and response, and an interactive movement.

Children who complete the stations with their families can come get a special prize from Mrs. Hillary!

The stations will be up in the back hallway connecting the Treehouse to the Kids Min/Education Hallway from Sunday, March 2 - Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.

📊 FINANCIAL HEALTH UPDATE

(Budget = Anticipated Giving; Actual = Actual Giving Received; YTD = Year-to-Date)

Fiscal year 24-25 TOTAL revenue through 02/16/2025 = $625,583

Fiscal year 24-25 TOTAL budget through 02/16/2025 = $624,000

Fiscal year 24-25 YTD difference =  + $1,583

Funds collected to Budget = 101%