Messenger. From Your Pastor. The Church Staff wishes our Church Family a very Merry Christmas! THE

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1 THE Messenger First Baptist Church Broad & Court Street West Point, MS Volume XX December 21, 2016 Number 49 The Church Staff wishes our Church Family a very Merry Christmas! From Your Pastor We all watch the countdown toward midnight on December 31 to mark ending a year and beginning a new one. Does that represent regret or hope for you? We all celebrate the beginning of a new year, but many people struggle to look forward. The end of a year can be a great time for reflection, which is a good thing, except for people who are hurting or disappointed. For those people, the prospects of moving forward is often depressing and painful will be a marker for many of them as a time only of loss or heartache. However, it is all a matter of perspective. For someone who is living for this life only, then where is their hope found? In this life only? Paul would say, those folks are of all men, most miserable. For the Believer, we measure all experiences of life in view of eternity promised in Christ. When we suffer loss, especially through death of another Believer, then we are comforted to know the loss is temporary. When we fail, we are overwhelmed by grace, to know we are forgiven by the finished work already accomplished on the Cross. When we succeed, we are balanced to know our accomplishments are evidence of God s provisions and provide us with the opportunity to glorify Christ and give humble credit due to others. When we are the beneficiary of good things, we know that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above. When we experience difficulties we know it is only for a season. When we are lonely, we are blessed with faith that reminds us we are never alone. It truly is a matter of perspective when faith is bigger than our feelings. I hope you can look forward, but not only into 2017, but into eternity! Your Pastor and friend

2 Ginger s Notes May the Christmas gifts remind you of God s greatest gift, His only begotten Son. May the Christmas candles remind you of Him who is the Light of the World. May the Christmas trees remind you of another tree upon which He died for you. May the Christmas bell remind you of the glorious proclamation of His birth. May the Christmas carols remind you of the song the angels sang, Glory to God in the highest. May the Christmas season remind you in every way of Jesus Christ your King. From Church Bulletin Bits Thanks to the Sonshine Singers and the Psalm Ringers for leading us in worship Sunday. We are looking forward to worshipping together Christmas Eve at 5:00 and Christmas Day at 10:15. Worship choir members remember that we are not singing for the Christmas Eve service or on Christmas Day but we will sing on January 1, 2017! Merry Christmas to you and your family! He Keeps Me Singing! CONGRATULATIONS TO Gregg and Maggie Taylor on the birth of their daughter, Rebecca Kate, December 15. Avery and Bryan are her sister and brother; to Cisco and Jazmin Sanchez on the birth of their daughter, Alison Isabella, December 16. Ivan is her big brother; and to Brandon and Casey Berry on the birth of their daughter, Meredith Lynn, December 18. CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is extended to Keith Watson and family in the death of his father, Bob, Saturday; also to Billy Ryan in the death of his niece, Lynn Pullen, Saturday. THANK YOU NOTES have been received from the family of Dean Dill; the Glen Brown Family; Billy and Jeanette Ryan; Josie and John A. Kolb; and Joel and Delores Hudson LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING GOAL: $33, GIVEN TO DATE: 24,011.91

3 Christmas Eve Lord's Supper Service 5:00 p.m. Active Deacons, please meet in the Fellowship Hall at 4:30 p.m. You may dress casually. There will be no worship tonight or December 28. There will be no Sunday night activities on December 18, 25 and January 1. There will be no Sunday School on December 25. On January 1 we will have Sunday School and Morning Worship Only. GIRLS HAVE SUNDAY SCHOOL BREAKFAST that day. DEADLINE IS APPROACHING! OUTCASTS DISCIPLE NOW WEEKEND JANUARY Speaker: Todd Core Worship: Cassidy Crenshaw Band Cost: $35 if paid by January 7 $40 if paid by January 14 MISSION FUGE Mobile, AL - June Cost is $335/student ($50 due Feb. 1, $50 due May 1, $235 due June 4) SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP Quebec, Canada DATES: March 11-18, 2017 Sponsored by: North American Mission Board WHAT: Evangelistic outreach (sharing the gospel) mainly with the students of Bishop s University. Only around 0.5% of the population are evangelical believers. We ll also help Encounter Church Plant on Sunday and host outreach meals for the students. ESTIMATED COST: To be Determined//NOTE: We are working on a plan where students will only have to pay $299/person out of pocket if they take part in personal fundraisers and some local ones in West Point. If you are interested in going, we will hold an interest meeting as soon as we have the trip details complete during the first week of January. Passports would need to be applied for by Jan. 25th. GAs and RAs Mission Study on Norway. Wednesday, Jan. 4, :25-7:00 p.m. Our Missions project will be to collect warm socks to give to children in our schools. Bring them on the 4th or throughout the month of January. Any size will do.

4 Last week I mentioned all the activities that the children's ministry were involved in during the year Not only did we have activities, but we also did mission projects throughout the year. We began 2016 by making hand made Valentines to give to everyone in our Worship Service on Valentine's Day. Our 3rd-6th graders brought supplies and filled large manila envelopes with drawing pads, markers and more to give to children who come to Sally Kate. We also collected water bottles and made snack bags for the runners in the SKW Fun Run. These bags included Bible verses and encouraging notes. Our 1st-2nd graders made large posters to give to community helpers to thank them for the job that they do for us every day. During Vacation Bible School, we collected money to sponsor the two children from Guatemala for a year and also collected enough money to give to the Guatemala team to build a wall. We collected some supplies that the team took with them to give to the children. Our FBC kids received "Doers of the Word" bags that they were to fill with school supplies and a calendar of 40 things to help them be doers and not just hearers only of the word. These school supplies along with toys, hair items and more were collected to fill Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. We have been busy practicing how to be servants to others and I can't wait for the opportunities that we will have in the coming new year of 2017 as we continue to be "Doers of the Word." It is important for children to give of their time, talents, and gifts to others. Thank you parents for allowing your children to be a part of the FBC Children's Ministry. It has been a good year and 2017 can be even better! Working for Him, Thea Kay NURSERY WORKERS - December 25 No Nursery NURSERY WORKERS - January 1 Bed Babies Justin & Kelly Davis Toddlers LeeAnn & Abby Funderburg Twos Dave & Liz Ketchum Threes & Fours Lisa Justis A.M. NURSERY BACK-UP Spradling Class USHERS - December 25 Milton Kendrick Andy Davis Billy Ryan Steve White Scott Ross Gregg Kaiser Pete O Shea USHERS - January 1 Kenny Hudson Bill Lantz Robert Smith Shaun Taylor Jimmy Clark Wayne Ray Larry Smothers OFFERTORY PRAYER - December 25 Lonnie Peeples OFFERTORY PRAYER - January 1 Barry Bryan TITHES & OFFERINGS - Dec. 18,2016 Undesignated 12, Reimbursements 1, Child Care 9, Total Operating 22, Designated 9, Total Deposit 31, ATTENDANCE - Dec. 18,2016 General Officers 6 Preschool 26 Children 38 Youth 26 Adults 141 Total 237 Wednesday Night Menu NO MEAL SERVED Dec. 21 or 28 January 4 Baked Chicken w/cream Sauce Rice Fried Okra Fruit Salad Roll Dessert All contributions for 2016 must be in the church office by Thurs., Dec. 29 at Noon offering envelopes are available today (21st). Please begin using them Sun. January 1.

5 CALENDAR FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS December Sunday, December 25-Merry Christmas 10:15 a.m. Morning Worship No other activities Monday, December 26 Church Office & ECM Closed Wednesday, December 28 - No Activities Thursday, December 29 Ladies leave on mission to Guatemala January 1-7, 2017 Sunday, January 1-Happy New Year! 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Morning Worship No Evening Activities Monday, January 2 Church Office & ECM Closed Tuesday, January 3 2:00 p.m. Movers & Shakers Wednesday, January 4 5:00 p.m. Supper line opens 5:25-7:00 p.m. Children s International Mission Study 6:00 p.m. Youth Renewal Worship 6:15 p.m. Prayer Meeting & Worship Choir Rehearsal Friday, January 6 6:00 p.m. Deacon Ministry Dinner The Messenger will not be published next week-please save this copy for important dates to remember. January 1 January 4 January 11 January 14 January 18 January January 22 January 24 January 26 January 29 January Calendar of Events Happy New Year! Children s (Gr. 1-6) Mission Study Mission Friends will meet Worship Choir resumes All regular Wednesday activities resume Forever Young Luncheon Annual Business Meeting Disciple Now Weekend Will You Worship Begins Host Clay County Tell Me Rally Pancakes and Prayer 5th Sunday Children s Emphasis Multigenerational Choir Ensley Applewhite Howell is looking for someone who would like a little part-time work checking on one of our members each day. Monday-Friday for sure. Perhaps for an hour or two. You may contact her at