Deeper Into Christ, Further Into The World

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12.1-2

At First Presbyterian, we are surrounded by men and women who have responded to Christ’s call to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of the gospel in Baton Rouge and around the world. What an encouragement it is to worship alongside brothers and sisters who are going deeper into Christ and further into the world!

Women in Ministry Spotlight

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2012 Reflective Retreat: Satisfied?

Our Reflective Retreat this March was a time of deep fellowship with Christ and with one another. We contemplated "Hunger and Thirst" (Deuteronomy 8; Isaiah 55.1-3), "Water" (John 4), and "Bread" (John 6). Creator God crafted each of his image-bearers with deep longings, and while we seek to satisfy ourselves in him in the midst of a broken and sinful world we rejoice over what he has accomplished for our sake, celebrate what he is accomplishing, and wait for what he will one day complete. We now know in part; then we shall know in full. We concluded our time together speaking of cross-shaped satisfaction and bound ourselves afresh to Christ recognizing that out of his thirst in the wilderness and at Calvary, we can now come to the waters to receive nourishment and everlasting life.
Fall Retreat 2011

2011 Women in Ministry Fall Retreat

This fall we anticipate another wonderful retreat! We will have the high privilege of hearing from Dr. Donna Petter, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Donna's husband, Dr. Tom Petter, also teaches Old Testament at Gordon Conwell, and they have a wonderfully bright and vibrant son, Marcus. Donna has taught at Gordon Conwell since 2006, and God has graciously bestowed upon Donna the gifts of teaching, leadership, and encouragement. She uses these gifts to build up her local church in Massachusetts as well as to equip the global church through training seminary students, many of whom are headed into full-time gospel ministry around the world. Above all else, Donna seeks to know Christ and to honor him with her life. Her heart for Jesus and passion for the Scriptures will inspire you, challenge you, and bless you. Even if you are not a "spend-the-night-on-a-retreat" kind of person, please consider joining us for the full retreat in order to sit under Donna's teaching.

We will also have the joy of being led in corporate worship by our own (very dear) Nancy Spiller. Many of us were richly blessed by Nancy's leadership last year, and we look forward to praising the Lord together with her again this year. We have a special gift at First Presbyterian in Nancy!

Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27, 2011

Our Fall Retreat kicks off our Women in Ministry year by gathering us together around the Word of God. One of the joys of this retreat is the multi-generational fellowship that takes place throughout the weekend. Although the details of our retreat schedule are tentative at this point, women are welcome to begin gathering at The Solomon Center at 4pm on Friday, August 26. We will conclude our retreat on Saturday, August 27 by 4pm. For more information about our retreat location, feel free to visit their website: www.solomoncenter.org.

Similar to last year, there are a number of different ways to participate in this year's retreat. The Solomon Episcopal Center has a limited number of rooms for Friday night, so participation in the full retreat (Friday night until Saturday afternoon) is first come first serve! Some of you would prefer to come for Saturday only, and we will gladly make this available to you. There will be more information to come regarding Saturday's travel arrangements, and space on the chartered bus will also be first come first serve. Please choose the option that best fits your schedule and needs.

Full Retreat with a room to yourself (Overnight stay at Solomon Episcopal Center): $145

Full Retreat sharing a room (Overnight stay at Solomon Episcopal Center): $110

*The Full Retreat includes three meals: Friday night dinner, Saturday morning breakfast, and Saturday lunch.

Saturday Retreat (Riding on our chartered bus): $55

Saturday Retreat (Your own transportation): $40

*The Saturday Retreat includes one meal: Saturday lunch. If you ride on the chartered bus, we will have light breakfast snacks available for you. The chartered bus will depart from the First Presbyterian parking lot.

Online registration is currently closed for this event. We are so sorry you missed this retreat but encourage you to check back with us routinely as we have others coming up.
2011 Reflective Retreat

Sisters, we read in Hebrews 4.9-10 that “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Our Father God has invited us (his beloved children!) to joyfully enter Sabbath rest with him. For a very special weekend in February we will gather together as sisters and celebrate God’s good gift of Sabbath communion. This weekend will be one of singing, meditation and quiet reflection, small group fellowship, and theological reflection on God’s work of creation, redemption, and new creation. It would be a joy to have you participate in worship with us. Our desire is that the Lord would be exalted throughout our weekend and that he would draw us more deeply into his heart through our fellowship.

We will host this retreat in Ethel, LA (30-35 minutes from Baton Rouge), and we hope this will be convenient for most women. Unlike our fall retreat, we ask that those who desire to participate in this reflective retreat plan to attend the full weekend. This way we will be able to cultivate a community rhythm and build towards a deeper vision of God’s Sabbath rest together. Mary Willson will provide our theological instruction, and we will have an out-of-town guest providing the music. Although the retreat is in Ethel, we will stay overnight a few minutes away in Zachary, LA at the Best Western. The cost for the weekend is $65 if you choose to share a room and $110 if you choose a single room. This cost includes dinner Friday night as well as breakfast, lunch, and snacks on Saturday.

Tentative Retreat Schedule:
6 pm Friday, February 18 Opening Fellowship and Dinner in Ethel, LA
4 pm Saturday, February 19 Retreat Concludes

Registration is closed. Please check with Mary Willson for future retreats (mary@fpcbr.org).
2010 Fall Retreat Pictures!

August 20-21, 2010: Natchez, Mississippi
The Ladies of Circle 4

Most of us have never had to experience the tragedy of homelessness. Most of us have never wondered whether we would could feed our families that day or if we could provide warmth for our children in the midst of a winter storm. However, there are many in our city who face these harsh realities each day.

In his tender kindness, God our Father invites us to participate in his ministry of compassion to the needy, the weak, and the lonely. Many years ago God graciously opened the door for one group of First Presbyterian ladies, Circle 4, to reach out in mercy to some of our suffering brothers and sisters in Baton Rouge through the Christmastide “Sock Tree” ministry. God gave Circle 4 a vision for this ministry and has sustained their ministry for many years.

The Circle 4 ladies collect hundreds of socks (and cash donations) each winter in order to equip certain ministries and pastors to then distribute these socks to those in need. This past year, Circle 4 collected and distributed 887 pairs of socks to Reverend Moore, Downtown Outreach, the VA, the Battered Women shelter, and St. Vincent De Paul. Praise God for his faithfulness to draw us into his ministry of compassion! “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”