We invite you to join us for a special day at First Baptist Griffin.

Dr. Samuel Smith, Residential Department Chair and Director of the History Graduate Program at Liberty University, will be with us on May 6th for two guest lecture appearances. The subject of the day will be Baptists and Religious Liberty in America.

First, we will host Dr. Smith during a lunch and learn workshop from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Cheatham Room. This event is open to the public, but registration is required. Please reserve your spot today by calling the church office (770-227-5517) or by visiting our online registration form.

Later in the day, Dr. Smith will speak in Morgan Hall at 6:00 p.m. No registration is required for this public, evening event. Small groups are encouraged to attend.

Dr. Smith is a renown scholar in early American religious history and the author of books, articles, and reviews in his field. Prior to serving at Liberty University, he was a teacher and administrator in Christian schools.

Grace Notes

a weekly blog written by Senior Pastor, Steven Norris

An Invitation to Community

 What is the one thing that God declared as “not good” in the creation story? That Adam was alone.Created in God’s image, humans were created for community and relationship. 

The Lord’s Prayer begins with an invitation into community. The opening phrase, “Our Father,” points in this direction. It is important to note that “I, my, or me,” are conspicuously absent from Jesus’ model prayer. Instead, it is full of first-person plural pronouns (us and we). This preference for community is all over the scriptures. 

God’s covenant with Abraham is to make him into a great nation (community). When God delivers Israel from captivity, God does so as a community. Jesus surrounds himself with a community of disciples. The culmination of all the scriptures comes in Revelation, where we find representatives from every tribe, nation, and tongue gathered around the throne of God as a community. 

Consider the following commands issued to believers: love one another (John 13:34,35); be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32); be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50); admonish one another (Romans 15:14); bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2); comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18); forgive each other (Ephesians 4:32); confess your sins to one another (James 5:16); show hospitality to one another(1 Peter 4:9); encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews3:13); pray for one another (James 5:16); have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7); spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24); live in harmony with one another (1 Peter 3:8); lay down your life for one another (1 John 3:16-18); do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9); disciple and teach one another (2 Corinthians 2:2); suffer with one another (1 Corinthians 12:26); rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15); honor one another(Romans 12:10). 

From the examples above, it is abundantly clear that it would be impossible to follow the commands of God in isolation. They are predicated on the assumption of community and relationships. 

When we learn to live the “Our” of the Lord’s Prayer, we find that it becomes a vital part of our spiritual formation. When a friend fails us, the “our” reminds us of our desire and commitment to live in mercy and forgiveness.When a neighbor wounds or irritates us, the “our” beckons us to show grace. When we gather to worship, the “our” helps us focus on the collective experience, not just my personal preference. When our spouse hurts us, the “our”revives the vows we took on our wedding day. When a fellow believer lies dying of cancer, the “our” produces empathy as we confront our own mortality. When all we can do is drag ourselves inside the doors for worship, the “our”reminds us that the community will pray for us on the days we cannot pray for ourselves. 

To pray the Lord’s Prayer is to accept the invitation to be part of something bigger than ourselves. It is an invitation to participate in a community of all Christ-followers spread out across space and time. 

Dot Glass and her Chapel Garden ministry team have been hard at work cleaning up the Chapel Garden for the season. Zeke Harvey and his crew worked several hours on the grounds. Be sure to make time to enjoy the fruits of their labor this spring. Thank you, Chapel Garden ministry members for making the garden lovely!

You will find envelopes on display in the Welcome Center and in the Family Life Center (near the FBC Griffin sign). We invite you to take an envelope, add your donation, and then turn it in to the office or drop it in the offering plate on Sunday morning. Your donation supports our fundraising efforts for summer camps for our children and youth.

Not too long ago, our Missions Council voted to help with the purchase of a van for Amani Sasa. Take a moment to celebrate with them by watching this video from Missy and others, who are sharing their deep appreciation for our support.

Community Garden Update

The 2026 FBC Community Garden is being cleaned up and prepared for the planting of vegetables and flowers!  Patrick Shepherd and family spread the mulch that Coleman Tatum generously donated and brought to the garden.  Weeding has begun and we are waiting on the perfect time for planting the plants and seeds!  We are excited about seeing what is in store for this season. We need people to sign up to help with watering and weeding.  This community garden is a blessing to those receiving the food and to those who work to make sure the garden is a success!   Please be a part of this amazing ministry!  You can sign up with the button below.

Caregivers Clothes Closet

The Clothes Closet is in need of rolling carts, backpacks, belts for men, tennis shoes and dress shoes (in good condition). If you have any of these items in your closet that you are no longer using, please consider bringing them to the Welcome Center at FBC so they can find a new life with someone in need in our community. Thank you!

Benevolence Ministry

Our Benevolence Ministry and Caregivers Clothes Closet serves the public each Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (with the exception of holidays). If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, then please contact the church office. The Caregivers Clothes Closet is in need of blue jeans of any size (but especially boys, sizes 4-16 and larger sizes for men), as well as adult-sized book bags. You will find drop boxes in the Welcome Center on the Hill Street side of the church and in the Welcome area on the Family Life Center side of the church. Thank you for supporting this ministry and those who are vulnerable in our community.

Five Loaves & Two Fish Food Pantry

If you would like to be part of this ministry team, or if you would like to donate canned or boxed food goods, please contact Justin Keiser or the church office. Donation boxes are located in the Welcome Center and in the Family Life Center.

Rehearsal Schedule

In case you missed it...

The Ukulele Ensemble performed in the XYZ (senior adult ministry) meeting in Morgan Hall on April 14th.

Around the Neighborhood

If you are looking for something fun to do with your family in the coming weeks, you might consider these local events. (Look for FBC in the program when you attend.)

The Main Street Players production of Keep on Laughing by Paul Elliot runs from April 15-26. Show times and tickets are available at https://www.mainstreetplayers.org.

The Griffin Area Concert Association hosts GQ (Gentlemen's Quartet) as their final show of the season on Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Griffin Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door.

Camelot Theatre presents The Prince of Egypt on April 17-19 in the Griffin Auditorium. Tickets are available online at https://camelottheatrecompany.company.site/.

Saint George's Episcopal School presents Peter Pan, Jr. at the Lamar Co Performing Arts Center at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17. Admission is free. A morning show may also open up...so check back for those details.