Member Spotlight - July

August 1, 2025

Good News Newsletter

Rev. Dr. K. Scott Robertson Senior Pastor


pastor@fbcmiddletown.org


Weekly Live Stream from our website:


www.fbcmiddletown.org


and from our Facebook page and YouTube Channel


Sunday School 9:15 AM

Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am

Wednesday Bible Study at 2 pm



Office Hours

M-Th

9 am to 2 pm 

Member Spotlight

Q: What childhood memory makes you smile?
A:   Vacations at my grandparents’ farm. We learned about caring for animals, gardening and every Sunday we went to a little country Baptist Church.


Q:  What drives you to get up every morning?
A:  Wondering what God has planned for me to do each day.


Q:  How do you spend your free time?
A: Until I retired, I didn’t have free time. I’m still getting use to having all the time to do anything I want. I do enjoy being outdoors and being able to participate in church activities.


Q:  What are your hobbies?

A:   Walking and Reading.


Q:  What goal are you working toward right now?

A:  Being more involved in my church and enjoying my church family


Q:  What subjects, current events, or causes are you passionate about?

A: Helping people have a better life. 


Q:  What’s your favorite way to unwind after a hectic day?

A:  Listening to music.


Verla Voyles

More from Verla ……

Q:  If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?

A:   I would like to tour each state in the U.S. meeting the people.


Q:  What book or movie left a lasting impression on you?

A:  The Ten Commandments, The Shack, and now viewing The Chosen.


Q:  Who do you look up to, and why?

A:  Everyone I know has a special quality that I try to implement in my life to make me a better person. I’m grateful for Sally Welch. She trained me on my job. She brought me back to church and got me back on track. I also learned a few life lessons from her. Thanks, Sally.

Who will be the next FBC Member in the spotlight?

Have a suggestion, let me know.

secretary@fbcmiddletown.org

People @ First

july 2025

Please keep Jane Cook in your prayers as she recovers from gallbladder and hernia surgery earlier this month.



Ron Gerzema had an ER visit this month. He was treated and sent home. Has a couple of doctor appointments coming up. Please keep him in prayer.



Susan & Andy Singer’s daughter-in-law, Tara Singer had a stroke and is in a hospital in Chicago.


As always keep Jackson Redding and Nathan Byers in prayer, both are deployed.


The next Men’s breakfast is Saturday, August 23, at 8:30 am at Triple Moon Café.


Coffee Cart Dates



8/3 No Coffee

8/10 Coffee

8/17 No coffee

8/24 Coffee

8/31 No Coffee

Aug  1       Tom Henry

Aug 6        Dot Hall

Aug 7        Steve Pledger 

Aug 7        Mia Shoemaker 

Aug 9        Zach Nicely

Aug 10       Bob Allen

Aug 10       Kyle Daly

Aug 11        Gary Perkins

Aug 13       Charles Nicely 

Aug 14       Jeanette Montgomery

Aug 15       Monroe Shoemaker 

Aug 18       Don Hughes

Aug 24       Kathy Dunaway

Aug 30       Nicole Redding


Kyle & Amy McGlone

Aug 2 – 22 years


Andy & Susan Singer

Aug 10 – 51 years


Tim & Paula Cox

ug 15 – 33 years


Gary and Donna Perkins

Aug 17 – 57 years


Bob & Cheryl Basil

Aug 18 – 46 years


Jim & Irene Orem

Aug 22 – 68 years


Jerry & Esther Arnold

Aug 30 – 56 years


Welcome to new Member Tom Carroll, who came forward Sunday, July 27, 2025.

Dear Friends of Middletown FBC,


           We invite you to join us in celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the marriage of Wayne and Julie Paulsen. They were married at Prairie Baptist Church in Overland Park, Kansas, on August 15th, 1965. If you are geographically close in the area, we invite you to attend a reception on August 16th from 2-4 p.m. at Prairie Homestead, 1605 W. May St. in Wichita, Kansas, where they have been living for the past 7 years. The reception will be held in the main building's Garden Room.


            If time and/or distance prohibit you from attending, we kindly ask if you would participate in a card shower for them. You may send a card to the above address in care of them or at their private address:


Wayne & Julie Paulsen

1613 W. May St., Apt. 4

Wichita, KS 67213


           We thank you for your friendship with them through the years, either past or present, as you have been a support and comfort to them. They often speak of the churches where they served and the many fond memories they have of the people. They will be thrilled to hear from you!


Kind regards,


Lisa Knapp, daughter of the Paulsen’s, and the rest of the Paulsen clan.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP REPORT


A few months ago, Pastor Scotty presented your leadership team with a list of goals that we could achieve this year. It was part of the Church Reimagined Initiative. Your Community team decided to begin serving communion at home. We’ve done this in the past at First Baptist, but it was sidelined for obvious reasons during Covid.


Pastor Scotty put together some training pointers for the team. Earlier in June, Pastor Scotty and Jean Back made the first visit to Mount Pleasant and offered communion to some FBC folks there, among them Jim and Irene Orem and Marvin Clark.


Our ultimate goal in giving home communion is to get other people from the congregation involved. If you’d like to be part of this effort, reach out to anyone in Community or Pastor Scotty.


On July 12, Community is planning a new/prospective members BBQ. Other than having some great grilled food, we’ll be sharing what it means to be a Baptist and, most likely, share some stories about FBC.


Your Community team for 2025 (which is now half over!): Tim Willis (chair), Jean Back, Jeannine Taylor, Bob Allen and Jo Johnston.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE CLEANING

(Mid to late July starting in the Daycare Wing)

The Leadership Administration Team needs your help!


There are numerous pieces of furniture in the lower level that are not being used, in addition to more chairs in the old choir room located in the back hallway near Scotty's office.


If you have family or friends who are looking for furniture to set up new housing or to add to family rooms, dorms, etc. Free of charge!


The Boy Scouts have agreed to help with the clean up along with several leadership members to make a start on the clean out middle to late July.


In the meantime, please notify your clean-up committee, Rosy Burchett or Janet Horton if you are interested in furniture items.


Thanks for your help in this monumental task.

Thank you for the cards, calls and prayers during my recent illness. I am so thankful and blessed to have such a caring church family. Marilyn Mulligan

I want to say thank you to my church family for the kindness shown to me with passing of my sister. Although my relationship with her was complicated, your compassion has reminded me of the importance of forgiveness. Grief can take many forms, and your kind words, support, cards and flowers has been a comfort. Blessings, Paula Cox

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Erica M. Collins CHT, CRMT, E RYT500, IAYT Founder/Owner: Harmony Healing Arts Office: (513) 424-4730 www.EricaHarmonyHealingArts.com Founder/Owner: Harmony Healing Arts / Harmony Dance
April 23, 2025
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April 19, 2025
Gift ideas for your church Budget ranges for each gift idea We also welcome your ideas for new projects!
April 8, 2025
The Betty Creech Memorial Scholarship was established in 1999 in memory of Mrs. Betty Creech, an active member of First Baptist Church until her passing in January of 1999. The Scholarship fund was established by one of her sons, Masatoshi Omiya, when he contributed $1,000 as seed money for the scholarship. This scholarship is designed to provide small supplemental scholarships for any persons related to the ministry of First Baptist Church. The scholarships would help to provide for books for a semester or cover similar expenses related to higher education. Betty Creech was a wonderful Christian woman, who loved her church family dearly and believed in education at the next level. To keep the memorial active in providing supplemental scholarships, further contributions are welcomed. This scholarship fund has aided many students related to the ministry of FBC over the years. If you would like to contribute to the Betty Creech Memorial Scholarship, please mail your contributions to the Church office and mark it Betty Creech Scholarship Fund. Contributions are accepted year-round. The Administration Ministry Focus Area appreciates your continued commitment to supporting the Betty Creech Memorial Scholarship Fund. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
March 27, 2025
G ood N ews N ewsletter Rev. Dr. K. Scott Robertson Senior Pastor pastor@fbcmiddletown.org Weekly Live Stream from our website: www.fbcmiddletown.org and from our Facebook page and YouTube Channel Sunday School 9:15 AM Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am Wednesday Bible Study at 2 pm Office Hours M-Th 9 am to 2 pm
March 21, 2025
It’s been a long cold winter for everyone (our heating bills are evidence) but the signs of spring are everywhere. The month of March brings the start of Lenten season and Community hosted the first of six Lenten luncheons on March 12. Many thanks to all those who helped. First United Methodist hosted the second one. Other churches participating include First Christian and St. Paul Church of Christ. First Baptist will host a second soup and sandwich luncheon on April 9. This all leads up to Holy Week. Maundy Thursday services will be here at First Baptist this year and will be open to the public. Community leaders are planning Easter morning breakfast, same as last year. Yes, we’ll have eggs! Looking ahead, we are planning to do a new family photo directory. Paula has started distributing signup sheets. Signups will begin in earnest in April. Photos will be taken in the month of May by Paula Cox. Hopefully, we can get this directory compiled and printed for distribution this summer. Our last photo directory was published in 2018. Community leadership is also planning to restart home communion for those who request it. By the way, you might have noticed a small change in communion. We now use a real loaf of bread at the altar.  Your Community leadership team: Tim Willis, Jean Back, Bob Allen, Jeannine Taylor and Jo Johnston.
A man in a suit and tie is sitting at a desk
March 13, 2025
Rev. Weber’s holistic concept of ministry – belief in the total person, care and love for all people – has always been manifested through his work with organizations in Middletown as well as his church. He has been very involved with the Alcoholics Anonymous group, has served on the Board of Directors of United Way, served on the Civil Service Commission and is one of the founders of the Council on Human Relations. He served on various boards of American Baptists at the State and National level and was president of the Middletown Ministerial Association – to name a few! Excerpt from: Anniversary Service and History, August 10, 2008, by then Church Historian Evelyn Dell.
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