The First Baptist Informer

Transcription

1 The First Baptist Informer Rockingham, North Carolina To know Christ and make Him known Volume XXXVIII* Number 12 * December 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 Resource Recording Team Monday, December 7, 2015 Bonnie Barnes, Joanne Cadieu Monday, December 14, 2015 Mary Joyner, Judy McEntire Monday, December 21, 2015 Charles Harrill, J.C. Lamm, Bill Featherston Monday, December 28, 2015 Sally Pierce, Beverly Carnes Attendance Report Sunday, Nov 1, 2015 Sunday, Nov 8, 2015 Sunday School-73 Sunday School-73 Worship Service-85 Worship Service-90 Sunday, Nov 15, 2015 Sunday, Nov 22, 2015 Sunday School-68 Sunday School-80 Worship Service-90 Worship Service-75 Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 Sunday School-79 Worship Service-100 Serving on Sunday, Dec 6, 2015 Nursery: Kathy Griffis 2s & 3s: Brenda Tyler Children s Church: Angela Cockerton Serving on Sunday, Dec 13, 2015 Nursery: Cynthia Morris 2s & 3s: Claudia Robinette & Gabrielle Goodwin Children s Church: Beth Ray Serving on Sunday, Dec 20, 2015 Nursery: John and Monica Yates 2s & 3s: Nan Bates & Debra McIver Children s Church: Melissa Ewing Serving on Sunday, Dec 27, 2015 Nursery: Elaine Davis 2s & 3s: John and Beth Ray Children s Church: Jennifer Byrd & Corey Davis Thank you to everyone who contributed gifts to Operation Christmas Child all year long. Thank you to each one of you who prepared boxes and volunteered as we delivered Christmas boxes to Wingate. Please keep praying for our 121 boxes from First Baptist Church and the 2501 boxes that passed through our church doors this past week. Merry Christmas!! Inell Allen We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season this year. - The Staff Dr. Jim Nelson - Rev. Patricia Greene Lynda Clifton - Marjorie Hinson Daniel Short - John Thompson Foreign Missions Christmas is the season for giving. Because God gave the world His son and our Savior, we also have the privilege, the blessing, and the responsibility to give our prayers and money to support Baptist Missionaries who seek to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through multiple avenues around the globe. Such a monumental task requires participation from every believer, and at FBC we have the opportunity to support missions through two Baptist groups: The Global Missions Offering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: Goal is $4.8 million The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering of the Southern Baptist Convention: Goal is $175 million The goal at First Baptist Church is $2, Please designate your gifts to either missions organization.

2 As we are in the season of Advent with Christmas just a few weeks away, I want to share with you one of my favorite Christmas stories which was told by Dina Donahue in Guideposts Magazine several years ago. The story involves a nine year old boy named Wally who was big for his age, a little slow mentally, but very nice and well-liked. His school was planning a Christmas program, including the nativity story and Wally was to portray the Innkeeper. During the presentation, Mary and Joseph knocked on the inn door and Wally opened it and said What do you want? Joseph responded with his story - He and Mary had traveled a long way, they were very tired and she was ready to give birth to her first born and they desperately needed a room. Now, Wally had practiced his lines, and he knew them well and said, No! I m sorry, the inn is full. You ll have to go somewhere else! Be gone! However, being caught up emotionally in the scene and having a big soft heart, as Mary and Joseph were walking away, Wally blurted out, Wait a minute! Come back! You can have my room. I ll sleep in the cold! Well, some thought the Christmas story was ruined, but most realized that Wally had caught the whole essence of Christmas - unselfish, sacrificial, compassionate love! Isn t that the essence of Christmas? For God so loved the world, he gave his only son Writing to the Philippians, Paul spoke of Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death - even death on a cross. In Romans 12:10-11 we read Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. The biblical message is clear. The Spirit of Christmas is not about getting or receiving but about humble sacrificial giving and serving. So if we are going to capture and experience the real meaning of Christmas this year, in our own way, with love in our hearts we must follow the action of Wally and say, Wait a minute. Come back! You can have my room. I ll sleep in the cold! Christmas Program, One Magical Night December 13th, 5:00 pm One Magical Night presented by the adult choir followed by a church wide fellowship. Sympathy for the family of... Giving Oct Nov 1, 8, Summary , 2015 Gen. Fund 30,236 18,742 Chall. to Maint. 1, Memorials & Honor 635 1,035 Radio Ministry 1, Poinsettia 12 Katie Yates Fund Baptist Men/ Wheelchair Fund Samaritan s Purse/OCC 257 Military Bible Sticks 200 Wed Fellowship Meals Total Gifts 33,471 20,796 Budget req. to date 343,348 Gifts to date 306,756 YTD req. under actual gifts (36,592) % giving to req. 89% Mrs. Eliza Webb Sister of Sally Ormsby passed on November 2 nd Mrs. Kitty Maddrey Wife of Bob Maddrey passed on November 9 th Mrs. Lucille Smith Mother of Tess Ann Jones passed on November 2 nd Mr. Ernest Evans Husband of Betty Evans passed on November 9 th

3 December has arrived and with it the beginning of the Advent Season! These next few weeks hold many exciting things for our church, and I want to take some space to highlight a few that relate specifically to children and youth. On December 11 th at 6:00pm in S150, the Children s Council is hosting a Christmas party for children and their families. On Sunday, December 13 th at 5:00pm in the sanctuary, several of our children and youth are participating in the Christmas Cantata and Program. On Saturday, December 19 th at 5:00pm at the Ice Rink in town, the youth will be selling baked goods and hot chocolate as a fundraiser for the youth group. On Sunday, December 20 th at 5:30 we are having a youth and college Christmas Party. No doubt December is a busy month, but it is one filled with many good things, and these are only a few! One of my prayers this month is that in some way each of these events points toward the manger, and reminds us again and anew of the miracle of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The words of the hymn, People, Look East (words and music by Eleanor Farjeon) have been tumbling around in my head in recent days. Let me share the first verse with you: People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way. Let us prepare, for surely Love, our Lord, is on the way. Peace be with each of you in these days Patricia While the holidays are often a joyful time, we also know that December can be a difficult month for many people. Death, broken relationships, financial struggles, and general heaviness can make the holidays particularly hard. On Monday, December 14 th, there will be a community Blue Christmas service at 7:00pm in the Episcopal Church next door to us. This service will provide a space within the context of worship where we will acknowledge the difficulty that can come with this season and lift our voices in prayer to the God who understands all that we carry. You are welcome to come, just as you are, and together we will seek comfort in one another and in God, our Comforter and Sustainer. Let s Go Caroling Christmas caroling for all who desire to share the good news of Christ in song with our homebound members is on December 16th at 5:45 pm. A light dinner of soup and crackers will be served just prior to going out to sing. Hope to see you there. Christmas Eve Communion Service Please join us for the Candlelight Communion Service on Wednesday, December 24 th at 5 pm. The Church Office will be December 24 th December 25 th There will be no Wednesday night activities on December 23 rd or December 30 th.

4 December Senior Adult Trip, Ft. Caswell Christmas By The Sea, 8 am December 7 - In-Out Reach Meeting, 6 pm December 11 - Christmas Party for children and families in S150, 6 pm December 13 - Adult Choir Christmas Program, 5 pm December 14 - Boy Scout Troup 1215 Fundraiser in S150, 6 8 pm December 14 - Blue Christmas Service, Episcopal Church, 7 pm December 16 - Christmas Caroling, 5:45 pm December 20 - Church wide breakfast, 9:30 am December 20 - Christmas Party for youth & college, 5:30 pm December 24 - Christmas Eve Service, 5 pm December 25 - Merry Christmas Boy Scout Troup 1215 Chicken for Charity Everyone is invited to First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Monday, December 14th from 6:00 8:00 pm to help this local Boy Scout Troup raise money for charity. With the help of FATZ Café, they will be selling chicken plates for $10. Christmas Worship / Theme: Christmas Through the Eyes of the Prophets The Days are Coming - Jeremiah 33:14-16 (Hope) Nov 29 Blessed Preparation - Malachi 3:1-4 (Peace) Dec 6 Do Not Fear; God is Near - Zechariah 3:14-20 (Joy) Dec 13 Certain Security - Micah 5:2-5 (Love) Dec 20 RADIO SPONSORS: If you can t be present in the sanctuary for the worship service, listen to the broadcast on WJSG, G-104 on your FM dial. The following area businesses sponsor the broadcast: Crump Realty, Jenkins Automotive and Industrial Supply, Medical Center Pharmacy, Moss Brothers Tire and Service, Carter Funeral Home, and Dr. Kevin Aiken. The First Baptist Informer Published Monthly by: The First Baptist Church of Rockingham 201 N. Randolph St. Rockingham, NC (910) Dr. James J. Nelson, Senior Pastor jim@fbcrockingham.org Rev. Patricia Greene, Associate Pastor/Minister to Families patricia@fbcrockingham.org Lynda Clifton, Financial Secretary lynda@fbcrockingham.org Marjorie Hinson, Organist/Choir Director choirlady@fbcrockingham.org Chris McEntire, Director of Accounting cmcentire@carolina.rr.com Daniel Short, Custodian John Thompson, Administrative Assistant john@fbcrockingham.org Address Service Requested NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCKINGHAM, NC PERMIT NO. 35 December 1-31

5 In Memory Mrs. Ruby Lunceford Mr. Ernest Evans Mrs. Lucille Smith Mr. Sam Brigman Mr. and Mrs. Neal Cadieu Mr. and Mrs. Gene Coen Mr. and Mrs. Gene Coen Mr. John Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Lazelle Marks Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Godwin Mr. and Mrs. Gene Coen Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Taylor Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Kindley The Cole Family Mrs. Marjorie Rainey New Covenant Class Mr. and Mrs. Bill Featherston New Covenant Class Mrs. Marjorie Rainey Mr. and Mrs. Lazelle Marks Mr. Sam Brigman Mr. Leroy Yates Ms. Elaine Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Lazelle Marks Ms. Mary Helen Capps Mr. and Mrs. Dickie Smith Mr. and Mrs. Bill Featherston Mr. Sam Brigman Ms. Pam Waters Mrs. Rene Cockerton Mr. Mike Perry Mrs. Lee Vinroot Mr. Leroy Yates Mr. Sam Brigman Lydia Ruth Class Mrs. Kitty Maddrey Mr. John Mark Brigman Mr. Bill Smith Mr. and Mrs. Bill Featherston Ms. Joanne Mitchell Ms. Pam Waters Mrs. Eliza Webb Mr. and Mrs. Bill Featherston Ms. Cindy Nelson Wall Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Godwin Mr. and Mrs. Bill Featherston In Honor Mr. Dennis Holloway Mr. and Mrs. John Ray Given by Mrs. Betty Evans in honor of pallbearers for Ernest Evans Mr. Dennis Holloway Mr. Steve McIver Mr. Chris McDuffie Mr. Paul Strickland Mr. Shannon Brigman Mr. Bryan Evans TRIAL MODE a valid license will remove this message. See the keywords property of this PDF for more information.

6 Happy Birthday! 12/1 Sarah Auman 12/16 Marjorie Hinson 12/2 Nan Bates 12/16 Susan Wheeler 12/2 Jackie Sherrill 12/22 Carol Chappell 12/3 Virginia Auman 12/23 Dennis Teal 12/6 Benjamin Ewing 12/24 Holli Hayes 12/7 Pat Buckner 12/25 Helen Cox 12/12 Diane Stokes 12/27 Richard Joyner 12/12 Leah Ann Melvin 12/30 Alex Cockerton 12/13 Gene Barnes 12/31 Randy Warren 12/14 Kenneth Robinette De- cember 16 Richard and Jeannie McLendon 38 Years December 18 Lloyd and Marjorie Hinson 22 Years December 21 Del and Diane Lucas 24 Years December 24 Harvey and Hilda Auman 62 Years December 24 Hunter and Laurene Ennis 65 Years December 29 Norvin and Ellen Forester TRIAL MODE a valid license will remove this message. See the keywords property of this PDF for more information.