eLink and bulletin for Sept. 20-27
Upcoming at FBC
SUNDAY, September 27
9:45 am Coffee & Conversation
10:00 am Worship Service
11:00 am Coffee & Conversation
11:15 am Small Groups for Adults: Pathfinders & Koinonia
5:00 pm Safe Harbor
6:00 pm Online Bible Study
TUESDAY, September 29
10:00 am Feeding the Soul Meeting
5:00 pm Outreach Committee
WEDNESDAY, September 30
4:15 pm Open Arrival
4:30 pm Recreation
4:50 pm Bible Study
5:00 pm Adult Bible Study- Bible 101
5:30 pm Worship Skills
6:00 pm Family Time, Dinner & Worship
THURSDAY, October 1
5:45 pm Worship Staff Mtg.
SATURDAY, October 3
12:00 pm Betty Pennington Celebration of Life
SUNDAY, October 4 World Communion Day
9:45 am Coffee & Conversation
10:00 am Worship Service
11:00 am Coffee & Conversation
11:15 am Small Groups for Adults:
Pathfinders & Koinonia
6:00 pm Online Bible Study
Ministry & Events
LOGOS is back! Wednesdays starting Sept.30th
Get ready for another exciting year of LOGOS! Beginning Wednesday, September 30, we’re kicking off our Wednesday Night Ministry for all ages!
LOGOS is a special intergenerational ministry where adults and children from age 3 through 12th grade come together to grow in faith, build relationships, have fun, and worship God. Each Wednesday night is packed with opportunities to learn, play, serve, and connect—including Bible Study, Recreation, Snacks, Worship Skills, Dinner, and Worship!
This Year’s Wednesday Night Schedule
4:15–4:30 PM — Arrival Time
4:30–4:50 PM — Recreation & Snacks
4:50–5:30 PM — Bible Study
5:30–6:00 PM — Worship Skills
6:00–7:00 PM — Family Time, Dinner & Worship
Whether you’re a longtime LOGOS participant or joining us for the first time, there’s a place for you! Come be part of a community where generations learn from one another, friendships grow, and faith comes alive.
World Mission Offering
In September, you will have the opportunity to support ABC-USA International Ministries. You can pray for the ABC-USA International Ministries Global Servants from the daily prayer list available. FBC is currently offering sustainable support to Jon and Amanda Good of Italy and Katie and Taku of East and South Asia Area. FBC has a long history of generously supporting this annual offering.
New this year – a matching program! A generous donor has agreed to match increases in local church giving. Last year FBC donated $1115. If we increase that amount by $500, the donor will match the $500 which becomes $1000! Let’s see how much more we can donate to support our global servants.
For more information and prayer list, click here
Why support International Ministries? Gifts to the General Fund are needed for resources like the website, awareness-building, mission education, WMO resources, finance and donor services, and home office support. It covers expenses for the work of mobilizing the next generation of global servants, building relationships between global servants, international partners, and mission supporters.
How are gifts used?
85% Program expenses
10% Administrative support and fees
5% Development and fundraising
Offering envelopes will be available on the table in the back of sanctuary as well on the table in the hallway underneath the Missions bulletin board. The daily prayer list is available on the table as well. Thank you for considering this special offering.
Bible 101: A Journey Through God’s Story Wed. Evenings from 5-6pm, beginning September 30
Have you gone to church hearing bits and pieces of scripture aren’t quite sure how it all fits together? Ever found yourself with questions about what’s in the Bible or how we got it, how to read it, or why Christians can read the same Bible and come up with so many different understandings?
This fall, a new class will give a chance to ask those questions and get a big picture view of the one story God has been telling with humanity, leading up to Jesus and God’s purpose for all creation.
The class is geared for adults of all ages and backgrounds. Whether we’re new to faith or have followed Jesus a long time, you are invited to participate – there are always new insights and connections to make. And as before, we are invited to join the rest of the LOGOS participants in a meal and time of worship in Barker Hall
GRR Biennial Gathering October 15-17,2026
You are cordially invited to the Great Rivers Region Biennial Gathering from October 15–17, 2026, at the First Baptist Church of Bloomington, Illinois. Centered on the theme Transforming Lives through Christ: Reach, Restore, and Revive, the event kicks off with a Ministers’ Conference on October 15 featuring Dr. Kathy Maxwell on Biblical Storytelling. On Friday, Dr. Ryan Burge will share vital insights from his book, The Vanishing Church, to help leaders navigate modern cultural challenges and church decline. Dr. Karl Vaters will deliver the weekend keynote sessions, offering hope and practical leadership resources tailored for small congregations. Attendees will also connect with key ministry partners, hear from global servants Dan and Sarah Chetti, and enjoy available childcare. You can register for this event on the GRR Website. FBC Volunteers are automatically registered (for free) for all three days of the conference. Ask the church office for details
We’re Hiring a Praise Team Leader
Do you know someone with musical talent, leadership skills, and a heart for worship? First Baptist Church is seeking a part-time Praise Team Leader. Please help us share this opportunity within your networks and throughout our community. If you are on Facebook, it can be as easy as liking and sharing the post from the church’s facebook page.
For more information or a complete job description, details are on our website, or contact us by email at HR@fbcblm.org.
Join Us for Trunk or Treat! 🎃Sunday October 25 @ 4 pm
Get ready for a spooktacular afternoon of fun and fellowship for all ages on Sunday, October 25th! We are looking for donors, and Volunteers to help make this annual community event a success.
There are several ways you can get involved:
Decorate a Trunk: Members are invited to park and decorate their car trunks to hand out goodies. You can register by contacting the church office or signing up on the LOGOS board.
Donate Candy: We need plenty of sweet treats! Please drop off bags of candy under the Missions bulletin board.
We can’t wait to see you there for this wonderful tradition!
Through the Bible in 2026 –The Bible Project
Come share in a journey to better understand the books of scripture and how they fit together into one story using fantastic resources from BibleProject. We will be featuring two short videos per week that will bring us through the whole of scripture and key concepts in a year. Resources from www.bibleproject.com
Have You Subscribed to The Mainstream?
The Mainstream is a monthly newsletter published by the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region and features news and articles about region ministries and events. Click for the most current issue
Supporting the Ministry Together:
FBC
Contact Us
Office Hours —
Mon. -Thurs.- 9 am -1:30 pm.; Fri: 9 am – 11am
Office Phone – (309) 662-4253
Church Office: Secretary@fbcblm.org/ (309) 662-4253
Pastor Brian: Brian@fbcblm.org/920-924-6857
Director of Children and Youth Ministries: Michelle@fbcblm.org/618-303-3630
