During the first full week of January since 1967, Seventh Day Baptists around the world unite in prayer, sharing meditations centered on a theme chosen by the author. Sponsored by Seventh Day Baptist World Federation (sdbwf.com), this year’s theme is “Pray, or Be Prey” written by Karen Umana. The Seventh Day Baptist World Federation is an organization formed for communication, fellowship, and support between Seventh Day Baptist churches located on six continents and from 18 different countries around the world. Please follow the prayer suggestions there and also pray for final arrangements and safe travel for delegates and observers from 18 different countries who will gather in Brazil later in the month for the Federation’s 8th Session, January 22-28. in over 19 different countries around the world.
You can join in the week of prayer January 1-7, 2017 using the 2017 Week of Prayer Booklet which is available free on the SDB World Federation website to view or print. The booklet contains short meditations as well as prayer suggestions for each day during the week. The daily entry will also be available on the Seventh Day Baptist (USA & Canada) website SDB Blog each day during the week.
On Sabbath, there were also recognition and prayer for three members of the church who have been called to leadership positions: Maritza (Figueroa) Gonzalez, assistant pastor with a 2 year licence to preach; Alex Joel Nunez Agudo, faithful deacon and , and Ruth Russel, “Foot Soldier” for exemplary dedication to God’s service. Lana had also made beautiful scarves for the women in the church and those were handed out and happily modeled by those receiving them! There was also an inflatable jump house for the children to enjoy during the Celebration too!
On Thursday, Pastor Robert and Lana headed back home to Pataskala, Ohio. It was a trip filled with God’s hand at work in ways we don’t understand or control, but it was a good trip following God’s leadership! 
The Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist Church women hosted this year’s annual Appalachian Association Women’s Retreat at Camp Joy in Berea, WV starting Friday evening, September 23rd through Sunday morning, September 25th. The theme for the weekend was based on the 4-part audio series by Joyce Meyer entitled 
Other highlights for the weekend were quiet relaxation among the West Virginia hills, delicious meals & snacks, laughing along with 
Friends, family, and those from our community are invited to join us for an Oriental Luncheon at 12:30 pm on October 1, 2016.
Each Wednesday evening you’ll find a group of curious and faithful people studying God’s Word at our mid-week Bible Study. We gather about 6:30 pm and have a time of teaching, sharing, and prayer for a little over an hour. We just finished studying the book of Hebrews and are currently viewing a 
We had an undersea theme for our 2016 Vacation Bible School held each evening June 13-17, 2016. Starting each evening at 6:00, we met in the sanctuary for our Assembly Time to kick off the evening and learn some cool songs. Our Assembly Leader surprised us dressed in costumes each night to go along with the theme. For 90 minutes each night, we followed 15 minutes each for Assembly, Lesson, Science, Crafts, Games, and Snacks. At 7:30 everyone went home to come back the next night!
The Lesson time helped the children to “dive deep” into the story of Noah in the Bible. A favorite part of each lesson was Sandy the puppet who showed up in class each day. In Science time the children made ships in a bottle, tested boats to sink or float, made volcanos, made fossils, and reflected rainbows as they also learned the science behind these amazing things.
made a frame for their undersea picture, and painted a rainbow box. Then it was outside for games. The weather cooperated and the kids played several different games, but the older kids liked “Ships & Sailors” best 
and the younger kids liked the swing set best!
On May 8, 2016, the men of the church fixed and served breakfast for the women in honor of Mother’s Day. A delicious breakfast buffet of cheesy eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit, biscuits & gravy, danish, muffins, scones, and coffee/tea was served. The tables were decorated with beautiful “snowball bush” cuttings. After the meal, each woman received a decorated favor containing homemade buckeye candy. Then each woman present looked at the number on the bottom of her plate to choose a door prize. Following this, each person (young and old) had a chance to share a special memory they have with their mother. A great time of good food, good conversation, and good memories was shared by all — as you’ll see in the pictures below!
The theme for the 2016 Appalachian Association hosted by the Paint Rock, Alabama Seventh Day Baptist Church is “Discipleship”. Seventh Day Baptists from churches in Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania will be gathering June 24-26, 2016 at the southern-most Seventh Day Baptist member of this association of Seventh Day Baptist churches.
There is full program of activities planned for the weekend beginning with Registration and Dinner on Friday evening, followed by Praise & Worship, an evening message, and time for fellowship afterward.
There will be Bible Study classes for all ages during Sabbath School: Ages 4-10 will meet in the Fellowship Hall with Steve and Angie Butler, Ages 11-18 will meet in the Christian Education Building with Jane Montgomery, and the Adults will meet in the church with John Griffin. The morning worship will be led by Pastor Shay Rankhorn from the Shepherd’s Fold church in Johnson City, Tennesee followed by lunch at the Paint Rock Senior Center.
Saturday evening is sure to be a blessing and lots of fun with a Musical Service led by Steven Dunn. Seventh Day Baptists are known for their love of music and singing. And if that’s not enough, there is an Ice Cream Social following the evening service!
You won’t want to miss the Country Breakfast at 8:00am to start off the Sunday program. Business meetings will follow starting at 9:00am and continue until finished. Pastor Clyde Thompson will then dismiss the group for lunch on their own and travel back home. (Sack lunches are available upon request prior to 9:00am Sunday morning.)
The 
If at all possible, advance registration is requested by May 31, 2016. Reservations may be made by contacting Steve Butler (256-653-2531, smbutler@nehp.net) OR Angie Butler (256-653-2530, smbutler1833@yahoo.com) Anyone attending from Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist church just needs to let Pastor Robert Van Horn know by May 31st if you plan to attend.
For 2016, the first quarter (Jan-Mar) Mission Offering went to support our branch church in Puerto Rico, started in 2012 when two of our members moved there. See the 
The third quarter (Jul-Sept) will go toward financing a Christmas-oriented outreach. In the past few years we have participated in Operation Christmas Child, but this year we are looking at some other alternatives which the 3Q mission offering will go toward. The fourth quarter (Oct-Dec) will be finalized later in the year.
Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist 