Third Baptist Church: In The City For Good

The word is Third

2010-04-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Third Baptist Church makes an appearance in this city alphabet game created by the Post-Dispatch. Can you recognize the letter "h" from our sign?

April Environmental Tip

2010-04-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

Each month the TBC Environmental Ministry Team recommends small steps you can take to be a better steward of God's creation, with the hope that we can all work together to responsibly manage the resources with which we have been blessed.

Save money while being environmentally friendly. This year (2010), federal tax credits for energy efficient products are available. See www.energystar.gov for more information.

Missouri also offers a Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday on certain energy efficient appliances. This year's tax holiday runs from April 19 - April 25. Search on the preceding name for more information or contact your appliance dealer.

Living Testimony

2010-04-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

Our youth participated in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri General Assembly this past weekend by working at two of the service project sites. We began the day at a local elementary school where some of the guys were busy spreading mulch and painting while the girls were given the job of changing out the bulletin boards. After about an hour there, we were moved to the Kids Against Hunger site.

Kids Against Hunger is a humanitarian food-aid organization whose mission is to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the U.S. and to feed starving children throughout the world. Six of our youth and five of our adults joined a larger group of people from the Springfield area to help package over 11,000 highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casseroles in 2 hours. Most of these meals will be sent to Haiti.

After the service projects, we had a bit of fun, and expended a LOT of energy at Big Rock Climbing Gym. We also were led in a couple of Bible Studies by Allyn Dault and Terrell Carter. These dealt with being real followers of Christ.

Easter festivities

2010-04-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Third Baptist kids went on an Easter egg hunt after Sunday School. They hunted eggs in the park next door to the church.

Harris-Dault Engagement

2010-02-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

(By Allyn Dault, choir director -- with help from Jennifer)

For the three of you who didn't see this coming -- and you three won't read the blog anyway, so for those of you who are here -- it's official.

(By Jennifer Harris, Web site editor -- with help from Allyn)
In case you didn't understand Allyn's version, we are engaged. To be married. To each other. Yes, really.

We met at Third Baptist Church two and a half years ago when I (Jennifer) interviewed Allyn for a Word&Way story. He proposed today in the room where we met (Room 2).

A Lenten Challenge

2010-02-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has issued a challenge to listen to the Bible during the season of Lent."We will be transformed by listening to God's Word, reflecting on it, discussing it, and sharing it with others," Daniel Vestal, CBF's executive coordinator, told the Associated Baptist Press. "It will create greater desire to study and share Scripture as we open ourselves to the Spirit by hearing the Word of God."

In partnership with Faith Comes By Hearing, CBF is offering free mp3 copies of the New Testament and a "Kidz Bible" for children. Visit the CBF site to listen to the audio files.

Listen to Daniel Vestal's description of the "You've Got the Time" challenge.

What's in a shoe?

2010-02-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

Third Baptist is once again participating in a Lenten "Shoes for Orphan Souls" drive. We are looking for new shoes -- the variety that light up are particularly popular -- that would be appropriate for children from birth through high school. Our church has a goal of 500 pairs of shoes. The WMS is challenging groups to bring more pairs than they do. If you'd like to step up to their challenge, gather your Sunday School class, CDI group, ministry team or Sunday morning crew to set a goal.

Below, you'll find a video that shows the journey of a shoe to learn a little bit more about the impact of a pair of shoes. You can also talk to one of the members of last year's Peru team to hear about their experience in giving these shoes to kids.

TBC testimony: Paul Avila

2010-01-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

New church member Paul Avila shares how he ended up at Third Baptist Church.

I found out about Third Baptist via a couple of different people in the past but never quite knew where it was. Then one evening, as I was standing in line to see the Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Theater, I glanced across the street and saw the huge neon sign that read "Third Baptist" on the side of the building and I laughed out loud.

People around me probably thought I had lost my mind or something. So after the show I walked over to the building and saw the times posted and then decided that I would go there.

I then remembered who I had talked to in the past and it was Vicki Swyers, so I called her up and she told me about the Food Pantry thingy they do and I went to that. Ever since then I have had a great time praising God and helping out where I can. I love Third Baptist!!

Prayers for Haiti

2010-01-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

After a major earthquake and significant aftershocks, the Haitian government is reporting more than 111,000 people dead. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is reporting more than 600,000 people ahve been left homeless in and around Port-au-Prince. The numbers are overwhelming. In such a situation, it can be hard to know how to help or even how to pray. Here are some specific concerns you can focus on this week:

* Steve and Nancy James -- CBF/ABC medical mission- aries in Haiti. The James are collecting medical supplies to meet the immediate physical needs of the people of Haiti.

* The three Church World Service trauma counselors and psycho-social care specialists who are providing services -- especially to children and aid workers.

* Gospel School Garden of Learning of Ti Peligre - a primary school partnership between churches in Haiti and the U.S. that is attempting to continue educating students

* Francisco Litardo -- a Central Baptist Theological Seminary student who is in Haiti working at a videographer with a Methodist relief team. Francisco's work will be used to help communicate the Methodist relief efforts and give churches an inside look at what is going on.

* Melissa Hatfield and the First Baptist Church, Jefferson City team. They are currently in the Dominican Republic and are spending time working in Haitian communities there. Melissa will likely soon be on a trip to Haiti.

* The family of Rev. Venel Dessiere, a Baptist pastor in Haiti. He died as a result of the earthquake, leaving behind a wife and four children aged 7-17.

This is an excerpt from the TBC Haiti Update e-mail. If you would like to be added to the weekly list, post your e-mail address or send an e-mail to Jennifer Harris.
(Photos by Francisco Litardo)

Upward season begins

2010-01-22T11:36:00.000-08:00

Upward Basketball launched its third season at TBC on Jan. 16. Eager young athletes and their cohort of family and friends gathered in the 5th floor Ayers Gymnasium for Saturday's games. Games begin at 9 a.m. and conclude around 2 p.m.

An MLK remembrance: seeing the staircase

2010-01-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

(By Vicki Swyers)
"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We saw the whole staircase - and painted it - at Dunbar Elementary near our church, in honor of the birthday of Dr. King. About 10 from Third joined at least 100 volunteers at the school as part of the United Way's "Live the Dream - Live United" day of service on Monday.

Volunteers painted hallways, too, and the office, cafeteria, bathrooms and more. People from all walks of life - pupils at Dunbar, college students, young adults, active and retired teachers - picked up rollers and brushes and literally transformed the school with a fresh coat of bright yellow paint.

While there, I believe we acted as the "beloved community" envisioned by Dr. King: A completely integrated society, a community of love and justice wherein brotherhood would be an actuality in all of social life. In his mind, such a community would be the ideal corporate expression of the Christian faith.

I painted alongside and talked with students whose parents immigrated from India about the challenges of honoring their family culture while navigating a new one. Our group from Third included four students from China who are studying at St. Louis University and embracing a life of service while in the United States. Other volunteers included Americorp staffers, high school students from service organizations, student groups from nearby universities, and two ladies in their 70s and 80s - all giving life to the dream of Dr. King.

Faith does call us to take a step, even when we don't see the whole staircase. Sometimes, though, God shows us the staircase, and we need to pick up the paintbrush.

Death of Bob Sorgenfrei

2010-01-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

I am sad to let you know that Bob Sorgenfrei passed away this morning at approximately 9 a.m. He was under hospice care and did well until the past week. He was 90 years old.

Arrangements are with Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road in Kirkwood, MO.
Visitation is 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Funeral is 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, at Bopp Chapel.

Bob Canning obituary

2010-01-11T15:40:00.000-08:00

Robert Calvin Canning died Jan. 2 after a battle with cancer. Services were held Friday, Jan. 8 at Third Baptist Church.

Bob was born March 16, 1931 on a farm west of Hale, Mo; in Livingston County. He was the third of five children born to Carmel C. and Anna Maude (Fullerton) Canning.

After graduating from Hale High School in 1948, he attended the Chillicothe Business College. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for four years. He spent time in Hawaii, Okinawa and Moffet Field. After discharge from the Navy, he attended the University of Missouri for two years before transferring to the University of Denver where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration. While in Colorado, he developed a love for the ski slopes. He lived in Denver until 1967 when he moved to St. Louis, where he was employed by the U.S. government with a position in the U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command as a computer programmer/specialist. He retired in 1993.

In 1968, Bob joined Third Baptist Church, where he met Delilah Jones. They were married in 1970 at TBC by Nelson Reagan.

Through the years Bob has actively served the church in many positions, i.e. deacon, secretary of trustees, nominating committee and chancel choir member.

Since his retirement, he has kept busy with his hobbies, meticulous wood projects, working in the food pantry at Third Baptist and volunteering at Missouri Baptist Medical Center where he signed the surgical pillows -- up to 7,000 a year. He volunteered in the Foundation Office at MBMC for several years. He served on the hospital auxiliary board as treasurer for several years until May 2009. Bob has always been generous with his time, talents and means.

Bob loved to sing. He told of his Grandfather Fullerton who sang -- with quite a loud voice -- the hymns at church. He especially remembered his grandfather singing "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder." He enjoyed the hymns in his Sunday School class led by Mary Bonney.

Bob is survived by his wife, Delilah; his sister, Louise Barlow, Hale; brothers Charles and wife, Bertie, of Powder Springs, Ga., and Loyd and wife, Judy, of Kearney; seven nieces and nephews, eight great nieces and nephews, ten great greats and many cousins.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Carmel and Maude Canning, and his brother, Harold Ross Canning.

First Night

2010-01-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Third Baptist Church hosted 7 shows with about 4000 guests, used 50 volunteers and raised around $500 for the benevolent fund. Check out the front page story at StLToday.

Christmas Basket ministry

2009-12-23T12:51:00.000-08:00

By Vicki Swyers, Buckner Director of Community Ministries
God worked through many to make last Saturday’s Christmas Basket food and toy ministry a great experience. About 60 church volunteers helped to prepare and distribute food and toys to about 120 families in our neighborhood.

Some wonderful community partners also made this ministry possible. Church
members’ generous donations were augmented by:

•St. Louis University students, who offered toys from their campus toy drive.
•St. Louis Area Foodbank, which donated chickens and produce.
•Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis, whose food drive supplied canned goods.
•Target, Dierbergs and Schnucks, which donated bags.
•St. Louis Bread Company, which provided pastries.

My favorite spot on Saturday was Comet’s Café (a.k.a. Fellowship Hall), where coffee, muffins and bagels were served and Santa posed for pictures with the children. His elves showed kids how to make ornaments with their Santa pictures and kept them entertained while the parents picked out toys. Many thanks to our awesome Santas (Demetrius and Adam) and elves (Eric and Candace), and to everyone who served. We were especially glad to include about 20 families from nearby Cole E-mints Academy, our KidsHope school!

Christmas Greetings from Pastor Warren

2009-12-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I have a profound sense of gratitude for what we might call the simple gifts. I am thankful for my wife and our life together. We don’t have to do anything spectacular to experience real joy.

I am also deeply grateful for our faith community, Third Baptist Church. Its amazing how this congregation serves willingly and substantially as the presence of Christ in this place. I am honored to be a part of the life of this vital faith family.

And...I am hopeful for the future. Its not that I trust God any more for the days ahead than I have in the past, but this year is special for me for some reason. In my heart there is genuine expectancy that is rooted in the promise of God to give a future and a hope.

May your days be merry and bright. I am blessed today, and I am excited about tomorrow.

Warmest Regards and Prayers through this Holy Season,
Pastor Warren Hoffman

Celebrating with Alpha

2009-12-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

Alpha Family Development has been approved as a provider for Parents as Teachers, the nationally acclaimed early childhood education program. Alpha co-directors Angie Smith and Jennifer Carr will be trained Jan. 11-15 as parent educators and plan to begin their work with St. Louis families in February.

Alpha also is opening a parent resource center on the church's 4th floor. This will serve as a place for play and learning for parents and children. Our prayer is that Alpha's ministry to families will complement other ministries at Third, such as tutoring, the food pantry, Upward Basketball and KidsHope.

Angie and Jen are members of Third, along with two board members, Evelyn Kurtz and Allie Hamilton. We praise God for this answer to prayer!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

2009-12-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

By Laura Hoffman, minister to children and youth
The TBC Kids and adult volunteers have worked diligently since September putting together their Christmas gift to the church. Well, it was quite a success. The cast did an excellent job presenting The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Over 200 people showed up to cheer on the kids. The evening was filled with laughter and beautiful music as the Baby Angel Choir belted out carols. It was indeed, the BEST Christmas Pageant ever!

(Photo Credit: Tom Kurtz)

Caroling, caroling, now we go; Christmas bells are ringing!

2009-12-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

By Leslie Limbaugh, minister of students and communication

The TBC Outreach Team sponsors an evening of Christmas caroling every year, sharing the Good News of the season with our neighbors in Grand Center. One tradition is to stand on the west edge of Strauss Park, clumped behind a TBC banner, singing to patrons arriving for holiday shows at the Fox Theatre, Powell Hall, etc.

Instead of staying in one place, this year we visited three of our neighborhood restaurants: Triumph Grill, Vito's, and Best Steak House. About a dozen of us, including a gradeschool child, a teenager, several middle-aged folks and a few senior adults wore Santa hats and carried candles as we went from place to place. Although we had made contact with management ahead of time, each host/hostess had a puzzled look as we walked in and asked to sing. But then, as we sang, how fun to see Christmas cheer spread across the room as people looked up from their dinner and conversation. Some even joined our songs! One hostess invited us back every night and at least one diner encouraged us to keep up the good work.

Our last stop was the edge of the park where a few concertgoers noticed us and the traffic through several cycles of the stoplight heard our tunes.

What an enjoyable evening! The fellowship among us, the sharing of familiar carols with our neighbors, and the sense of joy and triumph as we faithfully proclaimed Christ's birth!

(Photo Credit: Charles Sherwin)

Music at Third

2009-12-16T05:27:00.000-08:00

This was a very musical weekend at Third Baptist Church. On Friday evening, members gathered to go Christmas caroling in the neighborhood (separate post coming soon).

On Sunday, the choir presented A Christmas Carol Gallery: Portraits of the Season, arranged and orchestrated by Larry Shackley.

That afternoon, Vox traveled to Laclede Groves to sing for residents and friends. Vox will sing this Sunday in Memorial Chapel at 5 p.m.

Sing we now of Christmas

2009-12-11T07:54:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday night, TBC hosted a carol sing. Pastor Warren Hoffman, Pastor Leslie Limbaugh, Allyn Dault and Jennifer Harris led in discussion of the background behind familiar -- and not so familiar -- Christmas hymns. We examined "O Come All Ye Faithful," "One Small Child," "O Sing a Song of Bethlehem," "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "Of the Father’s Love Begotten," "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "The Huron Carol" before singing them.
Photo credit

TBC in the news

2009-12-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

Laura Hoffman was recently included in the Word&Way Advent devotional guide. You can download the pdf of the guide at the Central Baptist Theological Seminary Web site.

Christmas the Cowboy Way

2009-12-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

Riders in the Sky brought a taste of Cowboy Christmas to TBC last night.

Some thoughts from those in attendance:
"Thanks for hosting Riders in the Sky. My son and I had a great evening. It is a great thing you do having concerts and reaching out to the community. I participate in the Praise Team Band at our church and music is a great way to connect. Keep up the good work!!!" - Mark Lang

"It was especially heartwarming to see children and their grandpas and grandmas along with their extended families all enjoying a concert together. That's rare!" - Warren Hoffman

"A very attentive and appreciating audience. Great family Christmas music with down-home humor. Artist made it all seem so easy and natural." - Tom Kurtz

Were you there? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Photos courtesy of Tom Kurtz.

Candle of Peace

2009-12-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of hope. We light it again as we remember that Christ will come again to fulfill all of God's promises to us.

The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. It is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle to remind us of the place in which preparations were made to receive and cradle the Christ child.

Peace is a gift for which we must be prepared. God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to him in faith.

The prophet Isaiah calls Christ "the Prince of Peace." Through John the Baptist and all the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts so that he may come in.

Our hope is in God, and in his son Jesus Christ. Our peace is found in him. We light this candle today to remind us that he brings peace to all who trust in him.

LET US PRAY - Loving God, thank you for the peace you give us through Jesus. Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him. Bless our worship. Guide us in all that we say and do. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

An Advent reading used with permission from Rev. Richard J. Fairchild - Spirit Networks, 1993 - 2006

Something is about to happen

2009-12-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

Something is about to happen. What it is we cannot say. The details are hazy, but the outline is certain. Something is about to happen.

The Long-Expected One will soon be here. Be on guard! Be alert! Something is about to happen.

Advent is a time of waiting for the yet-to-appear. Advent is a time of wanting the promised-yet-unfulfilled. Advent is here. Something is about to happen.

Something always happens at times like these. It might be grand, it might be subtle. But something is about to happen.

God has entered the world once through Jesus. God each day enters the world anew through us. We are here, and so God is here. Something is about to happen.

Watch! It might happen suddenly. If you don’t watch, you may miss it. You don’t want to miss it. Something is about to happen.

A first Sunday of Advent reading by Allyn Dault.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-12-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come to Third Baptist Church. And with the beautiful pink and silver tree near the ramp door, the upside-down tree on the first floor to the greenery and the Chrismon tree, Advent wreath and nativity scene -- featuring a special (but very temporary) angelic visitor -- in the sanctuary, the season is rather hard to miss. The staff, along with several dedicated volunteers worked hard this week to dress the building for Advent/Christmas.

This evening was the Hanging of the Green, led by the children. They shared readings describing the symbolism behind all the sanctuary decorations. Following the readings, they arranged greenery, placed Chrismons on the Christmas tree, lit the first Advent candle and carried in a nativity. In fitting with the child-directed service, we used a large, light-up nativity scene with a rather unusual Angel of the Lord. The set will be replaced with a smaller, more formal nativity for Sunday's worship service.

We hope you will take the time to admire the beauty of the decorations during this Advent season. May they help point your thoughts to the Christ we trust is coming again.

Christmas Pageant

2009-12-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

The children have been busy with rehearsals for "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." They stayed after church on Sunday to run through the show and rehearse the music. The performance will be Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. in Johnson Hall. You won't want to miss it.

Thanksgiving at TBC

2009-11-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

Third Baptist Church and Father Dempsey's celebrated Thanksgiving together with a dinner and service on Nov. 25.

Tutoring hayride

2009-11-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

About 40 tutors, children, teenagers, parents and grandparents enjoyed a fun hayride through Forest Park on Nov. 13. Afterward,
the group roasted marshmallows around the campfire and made s'mores. This year's after-school tutoring program meets on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Rose Holman Learning Center at the church. It's been a great semester with wonderful students and tutors.

Members of Third commemorated Kids Hope's National Day of Prayer on Nov. 21 with a prayer walk around Cole School. We
prayed for the St. Louis Public Schools, Cole, its administrators, teachers, children and Kids Hope volunteers. God promises to
honor the prayers of the faithful, and we celebrate this opportunity to bring these concerns and precious ones to Him.