For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!

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1 A welcoming and affirming Church Community For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! December 2015 Newsletter EACH SUNDAY.. 8:30 am Breakfast in Gordon Hall 9:00 am Bible and Bagels in the Lee Room 9:00 - after the service: Child Care in Nursery (for infants to Kindergarten) 9:00-9:45 am Grades 5-12 in Youth Lounge with Jeremy 10:00 am Worship Service ( Sunday School for Pre-K to 4th grade after Children s message ) 11:00 am Coffee and fellowship in Gordon Hall 11:20 am Adult Forum and other activities

2 What's the equivalent of Howdy, ya ll! " in New England? I'm eager to find out. But more than accents and new ways of life, I am looking forward to getting to know each of you as we journey together along the Way of Christ. I am excited to be your new pastor, and I am humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I have already received. As I wrap up my time in Dallas, with hopeful and tearful farewells, and as I eagerly look to this next chapter in our church's story together, I'm reminded of Dag Hammarskjold's famous quote: For all that has been, we say,thank you. For all that is to come, we say, Yes! Brent A. Newberry SCROGIN BOOK FORUM SELECTIONS Please note that while Scrogin Book Forum has moved to the second Sunday of the month, there are three instances where it will be held on the first Sunday: October, May and June. There are 2 copies of each book in the FBC library ( opposite Gordon Hall) Dec. 20 **new date** Leader: Janice Hitzhusen Heretic by Ayaan Hirsi Ali Jan. 10 Leader: Sue Ellen Scrogin Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton & Heen Feb. 14 Leader: Lance Schacterle Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (suggested to be congregation-wide to include a luncheon; Black History Month) Mar. 13 Leader: Lynn Eckhert / Lorings Being Mortal by Atul Gawande One Life, Many Deaths by Brownwell Wheeler Apr. 10 Leader: Brian Dixon The Language of God by Francis Collins May 1 Leader: Anne Goff A Path Appears by Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn June 5 Sue Ellen Scrogin Advocating and selecting list for

3 Don t forget the Mitten Tree and the Angel Tree, both worthy causes for Christmas giving! We said a sad farewell to Dave and Landy Johnson last month. They are moving to Gainesville in Georgia and we wish them all the very best in their new home town. Keep in touch through Facebook and of course the newsletter! We raised even more than a few pennies for Heifer International this year, nearly $ ! Thanks to all those from FBC and Park CC who contributed to helping families across the developing world. You have given so many a real chance of survival! Thanks to those who gave so generously to our European Harvest Display. Emily and Jeremy took 2 cart loads of food for the Wesley Church Food Bank the next day! Christmas means Handbell Extravaganza at FBC! Come along and hear great seasonal music from several handbell choirs, conducted by William Ness! Enjoy brownies and cider afterwards

4 Bible and Bagels Each Sunday at 9 am. Exactly what it says! Discuss the Word of God as it relates to our everyday life over coffee and bagels! (tea is also available!) Breakfast Please join the merry throng at the Nu Cafe on Chandler Street on Dec 5th at 8:30 am Men s Breakfast Please join the merry men at the 122 Diner in Holden on Dec 5th at 8 am The end of the financial year is nigh and Andrea asks that you make sure your pledge is paid up to date. If you don t know where you stand with this, please Andrea ( on the back of the newsletter) and she will be only too happy to give you an answer! All the signs agree; we have had a blessed time together, these past fourteen months. So, at the conclusion of my service as Interim Minister, it is only fitting that I express my deep gratitude to the church family, for your gracious response to my ministry. Thanks to your generosity of spirit, my life has been enriched by this experience. How good it is to have good and joyous memories of faithful people to store in life s treasury. Beyond personal experiences, I do believe that together we have advanced the ministries of the church and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus the Christ. This is deeply satisfying. For what is to be, I pray God s blessing for the church and for the ministry of your new pastor, the Rev. Brent Newberry. I am confident you will be as gracious to him as you have been to me and that promises good. I do hope to be able, on occasion, to join with you in worship in future days. Thank you and God bless you. Brian

5 DECEMBER 2015 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 29 8:30 Breakfast 10 am Worship 30 1 DEC 6:30 pm First H Briarwood 2 3 6:15 pm First H Bells 7: 30 Chancel Choir 4 5 & Men s breakfasts ( see page 4 ) 6 8:30 Breakfast 10 am Communion Brian s last Sunday Luncheon in G Hall pm Co-ord Council Mtg :15 pm First H Bells 7:30 Chancel Choir pm Rehearsal for Evensong am Worship with Rev Brent Newberry 4 pm Choral Evensong :15 pm First H Bells 7:30 Chancel Choir 18 7 pm Handbell Extravaganza 19 items for Jan newsletter to Lynne Carroll am Worship Service Postponed Advent Workshop and Scrogin Book Forum Christmas Eve service TBA am Worship pm Children s Music 1 JAN JAN 2016 Christmas Events Sunday December 6 - Brian s last Sunday & Luncheon Sunday December 13 - Rev Brent Newberry Sunday and Choral Evensong Friday December 18 - Handbell Extravaganza Thursday December 24 - Christmas Eve Service

6 Retired Ministers + Missionaries Offering 2015 The Grace of Giving But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7 The roots of RMMO go back to the mid-1930s, when American Baptist congregations received a Communion Fellowship Offering on the first Sunday of each month to support retired ministers, missionaries, their widowed spouses and elderly clergy within their churches. In 1977 American Baptist Churches USA launched the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO) to continue this time-honored tradition of expressing thankfulness. This year the theme is The Grace of Giving. Through the simple yet profound act of giving, American Baptist churches can share in an act of Grace that reminds the ministers, missionaries and widowed spouses who served so faithfully, that they are remembered with love and gratitude. The offering supports those who have dedicated their lives to God s service by providing emergency assistance in times of need and a thank you check at the end of each year. We hope that RMMO will continue to serve as a joyous tradition for ABC congregations and that you will be greatly enriched this season by The Grace of Giving. Did you know that FBC-Worcester has proudly welcomed over 14 retired ministers or their widows into the congregation over the last four years or so? Please help honor their work by donating generously to this year s Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering. Our goal this year is $1, This special offering will be collected during the month of December. When paying with a check, please make your check out to First Baptist Church and mark, Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering in the memo line. RMMO collection envelopes will be available in the pew racks at church. Thank you, The FBC Outreach Team

7 POINSETTIA TIME IS HERE! Before we know it, it will be time to decorate the Church for Christmas. So here is a reminder that if you want to order a poinsettia for the display in the Sanctuary in memory of someone, your order has to be with Andrea by Sunday December 6th (for display on 13th, Choral Evensong ) The cost for each plant is $10 ( cheaper than last year! ) and one name only for each plant please. Andrea will have forms ready for completion in the next couple of weeks. checks payable to FBC with poinsettia in the memo line please. My mind has been very much exercised these past weeks with immigration and refugees. It s not hard to see why. Since the dreadful attacks in Paris, Beirut and Belgium much of the political rhetoric and family conversations too, have been about what can be done to reduce the threat of terrorism and yet fulfill the moral duty of all nations to shelter those in need. At these times there is often a reaction of fear, manifesting itself in antagonism towards whole races and groups of people. At some point in our lives we have all depended on the kindness of strangers in varying ways. When I came here 10 years ago, it was the kindness of my neighbors and the folk at FBC who helped me to settle into a very different culture, despite my knowledge of the language, which itself gave rise to misunderstandings. Those people who helped me were strangers to me and without them I would not have settled so quickly. How much more then do the refugees and immigrants who come here to Worcester, perhaps not knowing the language so confidently, need the kindness and support of strangers. As we celebrate Christmas and hear again the story of how Mary and Joseph were reliant on the kindness of strangers to give them shelter in Bethlehem, let s remember the families here in our city who need the kindness of strangers. A kindness which can develop into a friendship and mutual understanding that will give the lie to all those who promote hatred of any culture or creed that is not their own. In our own small corner may we facilitate cultural understanding that will hold a small light of harmony up against the darkness of fear and injustice. Lynne

8 This is your December Newsletter 2015 from First Baptist Church, Worcester Phone Extensions: Rev Brent Newberry 301, Wesley 302, John C 303, Joan 304 Andrea: Andreal@Ibc- worc.org website: worc.org info@ibc- worc.org follow us on facebook: The First Baptist Church Worcester The FBC Worcester Youth First Baptist Church 111 Park