The Baptist Visitor. The Baptist Visitor. Our Pastor s Paragraphs. Welcome! Worshiping Jesus, Walking with Jesus, Working for Jesus to God s glory

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1 Sunday Worship Time: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. December FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 123 S TREMONT ST. KEWANEE, IL Return Service Requested NAME ADDRESS 1 ADDRESS 2 CITY STATE ZIP Welcome! and need healing; to all who are sinful and need a savior; to all who are blessed and desire to give thanks, this church opens wide its doors and says... to all who are depressed and need encouragement; to all who are sick To all who are weary and need rest; Inside this issue: Christmas Concert December Events Children s Program Prayer & Birthdays Calendar 6 9 Financial 11 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 123 S TREMONT ST. KEWANEE, IL Worshiping Jesus, Walking with Jesus, Working for Jesus to God s glory Our Pastor s Paragraphs Joy to the World Anyone who knows me at all, knows that music has been a very important part of my life. From a very early age, and because of my mother s influence, music was always around us and in us. The old hymns are full of scripture. That s how I learned many. But the Christmas Hymns are some of my favorite. Did you know that Joy to the World is not a Christmas song? That s right, look at the words. Only the first verse refers to the Lord s coming. 1) Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing. 2) Joy to the world! The Savior reigns; let men their songs employ, while fiends and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy. 3) No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessing flow far as the curse is found. 4) He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove December 2015 From the Desk of Interim Pastor Dan Craig the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love. Until Isaac Watts came along, most of the singing in British churches was from the Psalms of David. The church especially the Church of Scotland, where my ancestry came from, Continued on page 8

2 Page 2 Page 11 C F R F N C F The value FINANCIAL of a gift is not REPORT determined by its amount but by the spirit in which it (Jan - June) is given. Rejoice Featuring Believe The Truth of Christmas Glorious Music and Pageantry Presented by First Baptist Church, 123 S Tremont St. Kewanee Saturday, December 5, :00 & 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 6, :00 p.m. Free Will Offering / Refreshments General Off - 14, Approx. Expenses Mission Tithing - 1, , Total Offering - 16, Sunday School Fellowship off Pop Elevette - 1, Coffee Dividends Boss Comm. Center Radio Play Offering Memorials Operation Christmas Child Total 2015 Budget $270, It s a myth that if I get more, I will be more important. Self-worth Income and net worth General are Offering not the same. Your 108, value is not determined by your valuables, and Budget Offset God says the most valuable things in life Initial are Offering not things! Gas for Vehicle 0.00 Now Acct Interest As we give of ourselves, we are able to 1/2 Merritt Dividend 7.94 receive. Use of Building Boss Comm. Center 3, We make a living by what we get. We Operating Expenses 5, make a life by what we give. - Total Income 117, Winston Churchill Expenses Trusting comes before giving. It Mission Tithe 10, teaches a reliance on God that is fundamental Payroll to our relationship with 56, Him. Payroll Benefits 5, Trustee Board 23, These tidbits are from the Barnabas Foundation Deacon & Deaconess which provides Bd. guidance 2, and assistance Mission Board to Christians of all ages and generations to help them grow in their Music Committee 1, understanding of biblical stewardship and experience Decoration Committee the joy of living a generous 0.00 life. Stewardship Social Committee of our personal resources 0.00 is an important biblical principle for all Dues 0.00 believers regardless of economic status or age. Boss Comm. Center 7, Total Expenses 108,453.53

3 Page 10 Page 3 Nov. Sun. Worship Sun. School Sunday s Sermon Sunday s sermon is available to listen to each week on our website, under messages. Anyone wishing a copy of Sunday s service on CD may contact the church office. CHURCH PHONE: (30 9) FAX: (309) fbckew@nbson.net CHURCH WEBSITE: BOSS COMMUNITY CENTER-FBC WEB- SITE: bosscommunitycenter.com Interim Pastor: Dan Craig Youth Pastor: Worship Leader/Choir Director: Dan Craig Organist: Brock Tumbleson Secretary/Treasurer: Pam Witte Financial Secretary: Angela Lane Custodian: Becky Behnke Office Hours: 8:30 am - Noon 1:00-4:30 pm Worship Service Time: Sundays at 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 am December Events 6th - Annual Lighting of Windmont Park - Dusk Kewanee Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights to precede lighting ceremony - 5 p.m. Enjoy the fireworks, sing Christmas carols, visit with Santa and share in some treats in the shelter house. Enjoy the lights nightly through New Years Eve! 12th - Community Children s Choir - 3:00 p.m. Present the Christmas musical Felix Finds Christmas at the First Presbyterian Church, 307 S. Tremont St. 13th - Children s Sunday School Christmas Program - 9:00 a.m. The children have been working hard on their program, The Symbols of Christmas. Time of fellowship, downstairs, following the worship service. 13th - Community Choir Concert - 2:00 p.m. The sanctuary of First Baptist will be filled with the sacred and secular sounds of Christmas as the Kewanee Community Choir presents their annual concert under the direction of Sue Sagmoen. A free-will offering will be taken. 20th - Kewanee Klassics Christmas concert - 2:00 p.m. The Kewanee Klassics Christmas concert for the benefit of the Salvation Army in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary. For nearly two decades the Klassics have been performing this annual, much anticipated concert. There is no admission fee but Army kettles will be placed at the doors for donations upon departure. Refreshments will follow in the church fellowship hall. 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 5:00 p.m. Our Christmas Offering will go toward.kewanee Food Pantry (1/3), Kewanee Ministerial Association (1/3) and The Salvation Army (1/3)

4 Page 4 Page 9 Letter From Laura Remember In Prayer November 2015 Cumbayá, Ecuador This month I m giving thanks in Ecuador! The Cotopaxi volcano has calmed down, as has the political situation. In September, ABWE colleagues the Cooks and the Thomases from the home office, along with Lynell Smith and Ximena León and I team-taught the seminar Teaching God s Big Story to Children to 40 students in Cuenca, Ecuador in September, including two from our own Cumbayá church! In September, Gil Thomas, Jim Cook and I taught Moving Beyond Lecture to 60 students in Cuenca, teaching them how to teach adults effectively, creatively and interactively. It was the first time for the seminars to be taught in Spanish! Colleagues Ximena León (translator) and Lynell Smith (coordinator and typesetter) completed the three training manuals on time! In October, Dr. Melissa Nieves, Lynell Smith and I participated in the Joni & Friends Wheels for the World outreach in Trujillo, Peru, with old and new friends, to see over 70 people indicate a decision to put their faith in Jesus Christ! Melissa and I are leading a discipleship group for ladies in ministry in our church. Please pray for Patty, Verónica and Adriana, for their spiritual growth and development of their ministries. Our new Internet service is a great improvement! In November, colleagues John Lennon, Lynell and I taught Moving Beyond Lecture to 18 students, nearly all of them from our church in Cumbayá. I spent a nice Thanksgiving Day with colleagues Lynell, the Hodges and the Lennons at Melissa s house. Commitment will be our church s theme for Please pray that our people will become more committed to the Lord, to each other, and to ministry. In January, our church plans on starting several small groups. I hope to mentor/coach some of the leaders. Thank you for praying for this! With my heart full of thanks, Laura Postal address: (letters only, no packages please) Laura Fouser Casilla Quito, ECUADOR Serving with: ABWE P.O. Box 8585 Harrisburg, PA Betty Ball, Tom Pease, Virginia Willis, Susannah Talbot, Amanda Hallock, Penny Millslagle, Linda Roller, Doris Polansky, John Burke, Buck Fleming, Rita Landwer, Elizabeth Power, Jason Walker December Birthdays 2 Cindy Jacobs 4 Molly Tumbleson 6 Shirley Massey 7 Kevin DeClerq 11 Lisa Bates, Andy Rash 13 Doris Friend, Tara Rash, Margaret Watson - Gene & Romona Carlson, Ray & Lois Bennett, Helen Lovejoy, Art Cox, Rollie Omanson, Don Currier, Shirley Robbins 16 Rose Melbourne, Susan Vincent 18 Helen Weiler 19 Denice Bates, Jim Blucker 22 Julie Witte, Marsha Zang 24 Zachary Shambaugh L Pastor Dan, and Staff, FBC Boards and Committees, Sunday School Teachers / Officers For Pastor Jon and Sue & family, their move, family needs, and immigration process. 25 Carol Allen, Sue Sollenberger 27 Justin Crabtree

5 Page 8 Page 5 Pastor s paragraphs continued had labored over the Psalms with great effort and scholarship, translating them into poems with rhyme and rhythm suitable for singing. As a young man in Southhampton, Isaac had become dissatisfied with the quality of singing, and he keenly felt the limitations of being able to only sing these Psalms. So he invented the English hymn. Joy to the World! is Isaac Watts interpretation of Psalm 98, which says: Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. As he read Psalm 98, Isaac pondered the real reason for shouting joyfully to the Lord the Messiah has come to redeem us. The result, despite the now-forgotten criticisms of men, has been a timeless carol that has brightened our Christmases for nearly three hundred years. Take the time to enjoy the programs of the season. M P D Some of these songs have been around, it seems, forever, yet they still bless and minister to us all. Play close attention to the words as you sing. God bless you this Christmas season. Christmas Blessing from the Craigs A box will be placed in the Narthex, and one at the back door, for donations of non-perishable items for the Kewanee Food Panty. No paper towels please. As this is a continuing mission project, sponsored by the Mission Board, the box will be available on the 1st Sunday of each month. Items will be taken to the food pantry later in the week. Love Packages Dear Congregation of First Baptist Church We want to thank you for your support of this ministry. Your prayers and donations are making a great impact. So far this year, we have shipped 1,005 tons of material! WE are so thankful for your help. The following testimony is a sample of what the Lord is doing through Love Packages. Children s Sunday School Classes Present The Symbols of Christmas Sunday, December 13th During the Worship Service From Guatemala: Pastor Jorge has been distributing the literature. One Pastor from Villa Nueva, who pastors a very poor church, came by invitation from a young boy who helps clean the warehouse. The boy invited this pastor to come to the meeting and receive material but the pastor said he could not come because he had no money for any material. The boy told him that the material was all free. When the pastor heard that, he said that it must be very old, and poor material because no ne gives away nice material. He came anyway and afterwards approached Pastor Jorge and asked for forgiveness for his poor faith and attitude about the material. He was totally amazed by what he received for free and literally left praising the Lord. I remain yours for souls, Steven Schmidt

6 Page 6 Page 7 December 2015 Christmas - Twas the night before Jesus Came Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 Communion * 7 1 Community Choir practice 8 2 5:45 pm Family Night Meal 6 pm Elevate Kids Club :30 pm Women s Club 4 pm Girl Scouts 6 pm Cub Scouts & Rejoice Concert Twas then night before Jesus came and all through the house not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care in hopes that Jesus would not come there. When what to my wondering eyes should appear but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY! The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound while all the rest were left standing around. Rejoice Concert NO Youth Group for the remainder of the year 13 * Children s Prog. Coffee Fellowship 5:30 pm Boards meet 6:30 pm Advisory Bd. 20 * 2 pm Kewanee Klassics at First United Methodist Church Scout Troop * 28 Scout Troop Winter Begins Scout Troop 106 Scout Committee mtg. Community Choir practice pm Girl Scouts 6 pm Cub Scouts 17 4 pm Girl Scouts 6 pm Cub Scouts 24 5 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Merry Christmas 3 pm Children s Community Choir at 1st Presbyterian 26 * 9:00 am Worship Service 10:15 am Sunday School Phone: fbckew@nbson.net Website: The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap was watching the Last Show while I took a nap. When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash tore open the shutters and threw up the sash! The light of His face made me cover my head. It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. In the Book of life which He held in His hand, was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; When He sighed it s not here my head hung in shame. I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There s only one life and when comes the last call we ll find that the Bible was true after all! Author Unknown