The annual church business meeting for the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Pataskala was held on the afternoon of January 7, 2017. It was a time of giving thanks for the many ways we have seen God at work and are privileged to be apart of His ministry through our church.
Some of the highlights during the last quarter of 2016 were Pastor & Lana Van Horn’s trip to visit our branch church in Puerto Rico, a church work bee, Wednesday night Bible Studies watching Creation evidence videos, active weekly Sabbath School and Worship services, distribution of Family Fund (for emergency financial assistance to church members) by the Deacons, and seeing many answered prayers.
The new church officers were elected as follows: President/Mark Pest, Vice President/Darwin Van Horn, Clerk/Susie Fox, Treasurer/Chip Thorngate, Sabbath School Superintendent/Jamie Patterson, Assistant SS Supt/Kym Goodson, Trustees/Jamie Patterson and Chip Thorngate-for a 3 year term, along with previously elected Trustees, Lana Van Horn, Mark Pest, Becky Van Horn, & Dean Fox, Association Executive Council Reps/Marge Patrick and Kym Goodson, Corporate Agent/Jamie Patterson, and Missionary Key Worker/Marge Patrick. The Deaconate remains in place with the following elected previously for 5 year terms of service: Kym Goodson (exp Jan 2018), Lana Van Horn (exp Jan 2020), Chistopher & Veronica Van Horn (exp Jan 2021).
The church spending and financial report from the Treasurer was reviewed. A new 2017 budget prepared by the Treasurer and Financial Committee was also reviewed and approved.
The “Building Up the Temple” mission offering recipients for 2017 were confirmed & decided as follows: 1Q (Jan-Mar) for Farmer’s Market Ministry, 2Q (Apr-Jun) for Goats through the SDB Missionary Society, 3Q (Jul-Sept) for Christmas Outreach, specifics to be decided later, and 4Q (Oct-Dec) for the Puerto Rico Church.
We talked about the Appalachian Association meetings which will be hosted by our church June 23-25, 2017. Moderator Mark Pest reported the theme will be “Sabbath. It’s Not Just Another Day,” focusing on the weekly celebration of God’s Creation. A representative of the Answers in Genesis will provide two presentations at 10AM – Dinosaurs and Dragons in the Bible and 2PM – Genesis, is it necessary? These presentations are listed on the Answers In Genesis dot org events website. The hotel information for the information packets are prepared and ready & information packets are planned to be sent out by the end of January.
Some other key dates coming up are: Church Board Meeting (Feb 4, 2017), Family Night (Feb 11, 2017), Quarterly Business Meeting (Apr 1, 2017), Eggstravaganza (Egg Hunt) (Apr 15, 2017), SDB Pastor’s Conference (Apr 25-27, 2017), Family Night (Apr 29, 2017) and Seventh Day Baptist General Conference in Azusa, CA (Jul 23-29, 2017).
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.
Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist 