CALL TO PRAYER
A parable from Jesus:
Luke 14:16-18 “Jesus replied “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests…., “Come, for everything is now ready, But they all alike began to make excuses.---” NIV

A modern parable:
The Kingdom of God is like a stewardship program. God gave His people a vision. “Come!” said God, “Take your place prepared for you. Take up your part in My work. Everything is ready now. All of you are invited to make a difference. When you take your place and take up your part, all will be blessed to break bread in my kingdom.” But they all alike began to make excuses.

We have been invited to a banquet! Our participation in this mission is unquestionably significant. No one can do the part of another. Each member has been invited to participate. ARE WE MAKING EXCUSES?

PRAYER: Lord, when your call challenges me, it is easy for me to excuse myself. Reach me! Compel me to respond to your call in whatever ways I can. Submitted by the Leadership Prayer Team

ATTENTION YOUTH…
FBC Youth Group will Sunday, April 11th at 6:15 p.m. for Snack Supper followed by Bible Study at 7:00 p.m. Elizabeth & Whitney Carter, Will Creech, Hinton Edgerton, Kelsey, Laura D’Artois & Michael, Anna Lee, Wesleigh Nevill and Caroline Tobin are responsible for Snack Supper.

ALL YOUTH NON-BEACH RETREAT DAY
April 17 (9:30 a.m. to 4 pm)
Meet at the church at 9:30 a.m.
Cost: $10
No Beach Retreat this year. The price of Caswell has increased. A lot of you enjoyed a ski trip, and instead of going on a Beach Retreat, we are getting together here to have a day filled with community work, great food and fun!!! We will do community work in the morning and have “Beach” like activities in the afternoon….. you might get wet. Put this day on your calendar!!!

IT’S YARD SALE TIME AND THE TRAILER IS HERE!!!
Youth Yard Sale – May 1, 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
It’s time to spring clean and donate all those unwanted items to the Youth Yard Sale. New and used items accepted (no clothing or computers.) Items can be stored in the trailer behind the church (if you need help putting items in the trailer, please call Tommy to make an appointment.)

BACKPACK NEEDS
The Backpack Program needs your continued help with the following items for our backpack ministry: 18 oz. jars of peanut butter, cans of Chef Boyardee (any size), 8 pack cereal boxes (small individual boxes), small individual boxes of raisins, and/or individual fruit cups or apple sauce. If you can help with any of the above items, please drop off your donations in the church office.

RYBERG SCHOLARSHIP
Any high school senior interested in applying for the John L. Ryberg Memorial Scholarship should pickup an application from the church office. The deadline for submitting a completed application to the church office is Friday, May 7th. If applicants or their parents have any questions, please contact Mary Nell Ferguson at 989-8481.

NEW MEMBER
We welcome into our Christian fellowship Jackson Wood, who comes to us by profession of faith and believer’s baptism. Jackson is the son of Frank and Kellie Wood.

OUR KNOWN SICK
Mildred Jordan (Home), Annie Laurie Lewis (Home) Sam Shirley (Home)

ATTENTION MEN
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the Men’s Breakfast on Sunday, March 14th at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
OPERATION INASMUCH NEEDS
The following are items needed for Operation InAsMuch:
• Bud vases
• Health Kit Supplies: soap, wash cloth, razor, shaving lotion, deodorant, shampoo that is combination shampoo and conditioner, comb and brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, gallon zip lock bags that have the zipper on it. (100)
• Puppeteers and/or clowns for the Flea Market event. Contact Judy Williams if you can help.
If you can donate any of these items, please bring them to the church office.

BABY SHOWER FOR TEEN MOMS
Oh Baby! This year’s OIAM Teen Mom Shower is getting in gear! We have 6 educational stations set up in which we will help teen moms from JC DSS with many different topics! One of which is car seat safety! This year we have asked for items that the girls need. Infant car seats are #1 on their list! Please help us keep these babies safe! If you have a gently used infant car seat that meets the 5 year safe use rule and/or other gently used baby items, we’d love to have them! If you would like to help in purchasing car seats or other much needed items for these babies please make donations to the teen mom shower. For more information please contact Susan Culbreth 965-9141

ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE
The annual Food/Supply Drive for our Baptist Children’s Homes of NC is next Monday and Tuesday, April 12 & 13, 2010. If you have donations of cereals, fruit juices, canned fruit, spaghetti sauce, instant potatoes, cascade, laundry detergent, or cleaning supplies please drop off your items at JCC on April 12 & 13 or at the church office by or before this Friday, April 9. If you or your Sunday School class would like to donate money, we will be happy to purchase supplies for you. We greatly appreciate your support of our Baptist Children’s Homes Ministries. Harold and Carolyn Tharrington

ATTENTION PRIMETIMERS:
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
• May 7—Concert of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” at 6:30 p.m. at Snyder MBC in Fayetteville, NC

ATTENTION SENIOR ADULTS
On May 2, we would like to have a senior adult choir lead in the 11 a.m. worship service. We will have a brief practice on Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the choir room. All senior adults are invited to be a part of this special choir!

RYBERG SERMONS
John Ryberg sermons from 1972 to 1984 have been made into cd’s and are available for order. A list of sermons with topic and scripture is in the church office for your review. Thsnks to Chris Aker for making these service available for purchase Cost is $2.00 each.
HELP NEEDED
Sunday, April 25 is the All Church Event and meal here at First Baptist and help is needed. We need help with the following: Volunteers to bake pound cakes, table preparation (buffet, napkins, silverware, etc.), serving and clean up. If you can help, please call Gayle Bizzell at 934-3514

MINISTRY CENTER UPDATE
You can view the proposed floor plan for our future Ministry Center on our website at www.fbcsmithfield.org.
ALSO
We have had several informational meetings and tours of our future Ministry Center. We are very blessed to have this additional space for our church. If you would like to make your commitment to our Building to Serve program in advance, please call the church office.

CONNECT WITH UNIFYER
What is Unifyer? Unifyer is a web based communication tool (similar to Facebook) for our church family to network together with individuals and groups within our church. You can join by going to the following website. http://fbcsmithfield.unifyer.com/
1. After you Register, Click My Profile in the top right corner of the screen.
2. In the Profile window, click the Edit button. Fill in your name and details. When you’re finished, click the Done button at the top of your profile.
3. You can start a blog, view your friends, view your groups, and add media. Choose from the buttons at the top of your profile to start adding content to your own page.
If you have questions you can contact Matt Gardner or Hank Daniels.

LUMINARIES
Please remember to sign up on the Sunday School clipboards to purchase your luminaries for Relay for Life. We all know someone who has been touched by cancer so honor that person with a luminary. If you have questions, please call Carolyn Jones.

PRAYER CORNER FOR OPERATION INASMUCH (OIAM)
Sometimes the busyness and the problems of day to day life turn our focus inward and cause us to spend most of our time on ourselves and our own families. When we spend time each day building our relationship with Jesus, we will hear Him say to us “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4.) Pray for OIAM (April 24th) this week and pray that God will show you how He plans for you to touch the life of someone outside of your personal comfort zone. Visit the FBC Website and click on the prayer tab for the weekly OIAM devotional. http://fbcsmithfield.org (Updated each Wednesday morning).

FROM THE PULP

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

We are proud to offer Williams portable hearing devices for your use during our worship services. To obtain one of these units, please see an usher or sound technician.

* Childcare provide

2010
General Fund:
Budget needs per week: $16,608.21
Received as of 04/04/10 $18,815.30
Budget needs Year to Date $232,514.96
Received Year to Date $202,849.01

Building Fund:
Received 04/04/10 $1,512.01