The Messenger. this sunday. November 16, Commitment Sunday is November 23rd

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1 Volume 65 / Week Number 46 / November 13, 2014 The Messenger first baptist huntsville TogeTher As one Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. - Philippians 1:27 The story of Stone Soup illustrates the theme for this year s Stewardship Emphasis. In this simple story, a hungry traveler arrives in a village seeking food only to be denied nourishment by everyone he approaches. Too weak to go on, he builds a fire and proceeds to cook soup in a large pot. The only ingredient that the man has in his soup is stones. One by one, curious villagers who had at first refused to give the man food, bring what little they have and add it to the pot. First to be added is cabbage. Then come carrots, corn, and beans. The aroma of a hearty meal soon fills the air, and all of those gathered feast on what has been created from what began as nothing. How like that pot of soup is the Church! Together as one we can do infinitely more than we can as individuals. Together we can form a choir, teach our children, serve the poor, visit the sick, and carry the Gospel around the world. It must grieve our Lord when we succumb to the temptation to believe that our gifts are insignificant, and therefore choose to withhold them. After all, are they not gifts from Him? Please allow the pots, vegetables, and posters you see in our building to encourage you to offer that which you have been given to God through his church. Your talents, your influence, your time, and your possessions are ingredients that, when added to the gifts of your fellow worshippers, will be magnified and used for the Kingdom of God. It is our prayer that the aroma of all that we are, and all that we bring, will be pleasing to our Lord. Sincerely, Stewardship Committee this sunday November 16, 2014 SermoN - TraViS ColliNS Generous Togetherness 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 FirST FelloWShip - 8:15 am Music from the First Fellowship Band morning BiBle STudy - 9:15 am Bible Study for all ages SaNCTuary WorShip - 10:30 am Sanctuary Choir Anthem He, Watching Over Israel - Mendelssohn (From Elijah) Solo by Leah Boyd Piano Offertory by Jim Snyder ordination SerViCe For andrew ShaFFer - 2:30 pm in The Chapel Reception to follow in the Gathering Place evening activities Foundations for Life Classes Commitment Sunday is November 23rd knowing, loving, serving Christ...together

2 ministry calendar Sunday, November 16 First Fellowship Worship morning Bible Study Sanctuary Worship andrew Shaffer ordination Student praise Band rehearsal Caregiver program men s ensemble practice Foundations for life Classes Student Choir rehearsal 8:15 am 9:15 am 10:30 am 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:30 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 & 5:00 pm 5:00 pm monday, November 17 letter Writing ministry prayer partners hallelujah Choir Cooking outside the Box men s Bible Study Fellowship Tuesday, November 18 Spiritual Formations group Women s Bible Study: daniel SilK meeting 2345 ministry gym mommy Time Forum Thanksgiving dinner Boy Scout Troop 70 mosaic ringers rehearsal Wednesday, November 19 Women s precept Bible Study around the Table Family mealtime Supper/Fh Spanish Class employment peace Seminar Children s music & missions Quarterly Business meeting Student liftoff orchestra rehearsal First Fellowship Band practice/lc Sanctuary Choir rehearsal Thursday, November 20 esl Friday, November 21 Family movie Night 10:30 am 7:00 am 5:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 4:45 pm 4:45 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm 5:30 pm 5:45 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm library hours Sunday 9-9:15 am 10:10-10:45 am 11:40-12:00 pm Tuesday 10:00 am-12:00 pm Wednesday 4:00-5:00 pm Childhood Ministries Activities Mommy Time For Mothers of Preschoolers November 18 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Community Room Come enjoy a meal prepared just for you and visit with other moms of preschoolers. We want to get to know you and help you develop a support system of moms of all ages. Lego Movie Friday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Student Center Everyone is invited to join us for a movie night in the Student Center as we watch The Lego Movie (PG). Children need to be accompanied by a parent. There is no childcare provided. Bring your dinner and eat in the snack area. The movie will begin at 6:00 p.m. Popcorn will be provided. Advent Make & Take November 30 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the the Gathering Place Make & Take Advent Experience for all ages! Join us as we make (& take) special Advent Calendars to help us prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Work together as a family to personalize one of these three advent calendars! Parents Night Out - December 5 Friday, December 5 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Parents Night Out is open to babies through sixth grade. Children may be dropped off in the second floor children s rooms. Cost is $5.00 per child and payment is required for reservations. Please RSVP by Sunday, November 30. Family matters new MeMBer Kari Childress 1501 Old Monrovia Road, Apt. 423 Huntsville, AL ChrIsTIAn sympathy Phillip & Laura roberts in the loss of his aunt and rebekah & Christopher roberts in the loss of their great aunt Barbara hayes Women on Mission 2014 Missions Offering Goal: $150,000 (combined IMB & CBF) knowing, loving, serving Christ...together December 2 9:15 a.m. Room 118

3 Wednesday Night dinner menu Wednesday, November 19 Menu subject to change due to availability from suppliers adults Chicken Vegetable Soup Broccoli Salad, Cheddar Biscuits Pray for god s Vision for FBC FBC six Week Prayer Focus november 17 (Week 6 of 6) Verse: But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. -- Psalm 66:19 Insight: Don t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees. -- Corrie ten Boom (christian-quotes.ochristian.com). Prayer Focus for the Week: Pray for FBC to remain focused on Christ to lead us as Christians, as a church. Pray for God s wisdom which is freely given to all who ask. Pray that we will glorify God in all we do here. First Baptist huntsville History our Church's role in Fighting Saloons More than a century ago Huntsville was embroiled in the national prohibition and temperance movement, and the First Baptist Church was a leader. In 1895 the state convention of the Womens' Christian Temperance Union was held at FBC. A petition bearing the names of 1,040 citizens was presented to the city council favoring the outlawing of alcohol sales on Sunday, and Dr. Oscar Haywood, FBC pastor, was listed by The Weekly Mercury as one of four pastors who appeared before the city's governors. The campaign attracted to the town the national leader of prohibition/ temperance, Mrs. Carrie Nation, who shouted to the city: "Down with the saloon! To hell with them before they take your sons there," according to the history book Changing Huntsville, by Elizabeth Humes Chapman. At one large rally attended by many ladies, the fiery Mrs. Nation hollered to one carriage filled with women: "You ought to go home and tear off those plumes and gew gaws and make corns on your knees praying for your lost soul. You are lost, sister, lost! Pray God for repentance." While that indictment turned some sisters off, the years-long campaign had some effect, for the town's fine for violation of certain liquor laws was raised from $10 to $50, and in 1898 all of the saloons were closed by the passage of the Moody Dispensary Bill, which was "a great victory for temperance forces," according to the history book. Submitted by Joe Jones, Church Historian Salad Chef Salad (Reservations for salad must be turned in by 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.) Children s menu Corn Dog, Chips, Fruit, Cookie By reservation only Pizza, Fruit, Dessert, Juice Box (Reservations for families to eat in the Parlor must be made by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday) STeWardShip report Week # 6 11/09/14 year-to-date goal $ 425, offering This Week $ 79, ytd $ 396, Faith Steps - admin Suite This Week $ 2, ytd $ 7, To date $ 826, Faith Steps to the Future This Week $ 5, ytd $ 35, To date $ 5,548, attendance Sunday School preschool 84 Children 57 Students 123 adults 572 Visitors 48 Brookdale 14 ToTal 894 Worship Service First Fellowship 522 Sanctuary Worship 659 ToTal 1181 ThaNK you Thank you notes have been received from Bill Lucas, Cheryl Baten and family, and Laurel and Michael Matthews. They have been placed on the bulletin board across from the Music Suite.

4 nu liers Stategic Visioning Testimonies y Time sure does fly. My husband David and I moved to Huntsville over 27 years ago as newlyweds from Kentucky. We did not know anyone in Huntsville and started looking for a church home. We were looking for good Bible study with fellow believers. We visited local Baptist churches for several months, but First Baptist Huntsville s young married Sunday School class and Music Ministry made our decision an easy one. We joined FBC in January 1988 and found this decision to be one of the best ones we have ever made. Throughout the years, FBC has ministered to us, and helped us grow spiritually. Most importantly, the friends we made in our early days at FBC are still with us today. ust be Over the years, Dave and I have been active in many areas of the church: attending Sunday and Wednesday night worship services, singing in the choir and as part of the Living Christmas Tree, helping out as nursery and RA workers, and serving on the Stewardship and Finance Committees. We are currently serving as leaders in the Connections Sunday School class. David is a deacon, and we both enjoy serving as Sunday morning Greeters. I also like to work with the Events and Letter Writing Groups, and to attend our Ladies functions and Sunday Night Ladies Bible Studies when possible Our son, Allan, went from Cradle Role and Nursery, to the WEE program, to Royal Ambassadors. He had his Eagle Scout Ceremony and Reception in our church facilities; and one of the happiest days of our membership was the day Allan was baptized here at FBC. Now that our son is 21 years old and a college student at Western Kentucky University (our alma mater), we are still feeling the love of FBC and we continue to grow spiritually. In past months, I was hospitalized; and I have never felt more loved from FBC as during this time. FBC members called and visited me, sent cards and flowers, and brought food during my recovery period. We are so blessed that we have a Church that practices the fruits of the Spirit so well With God s will, we look forward to continuing our involvement at FBC, and we look forward to what God has in store for FBC in the years to come Toni Morgan My wife and I joined First Baptist Church back in December 2012 during the last service held in the old First Fellowship worship area. Unlike many other churches we had visited, First Baptist drew us in through warm welcomes and numerous contacts. Not only were we taken under someone s wing, but we were contacted multiple times by deacons in the church as well as by many people our own age. 84 Since joining FBC, we have helped with, or been involved with, many areas of ministry such as Forum, LifeSpring Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and much more. Having that family feel in the midst of such a diverse and large community has made my wife and me stay with FBC, as we seek to serve in whatever way the Lord needs us to ucas, hael etin As a member of the pastor search committee, I am able to see new and exciting changes coming to FBC changes that will intertwine with the values and ideas we already have. Knowing, Loving, Serving Christ Together is the mission statement of our church; and my wife and I look forward to growing our life and our family in a place rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. Zach Hamm

5 To view a video invitation from Travis Collins to come be a part of the Congregational Conversations, go to Church-Wide Thanksgiving Dinner The church-wide Thanksgiving dinner will be held on Sunday, November 23 in the life Center at 5:00 p.m. members are asked to bring a covered side dish of vegetables, salad, or desserts. Feel free to sit with your family as we celebrate Thanksgiving and good conversation around the table. Childcare will be provided for children grade Kindergarten and below.

6 to e will Fellowship Club First Baptist Church 600 Governors Drive Huntsville, AL office: weekend minister on call: hour prayer line: fbchsv.org The MESSENGER (USPS ) is published weekly except the week of Christmas by Friday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall Program: Lowell K. Zaller, geology and rock gardens Menu: Fried Chicken, Bacon Cheddar Ranch Potatoes, Green Beans, Roll Non-members may call Sue Mauldin for reservations at First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL Periodical postage paid at Huntsville, Alabama POSTMASTER send change of address to THE MESSENGER, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL Are You a Caregiver for a Loved one? Join us for this special program with speaker Julie Slayton on Sunday, November 16 at 3:30 p.m. in room 118. Each family will receive a personal health record software program. Register with the Experienced Adult Ministry Office at or 55plus@fbchsv.org. Forum Thanksgiving Dinner The Living Christmas Tree December 18-21, Thursday, December 18, 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 19, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 20, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, December 20, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 3:00 p.m. (abbreviated for young children) Sunday, December 21, 5:30 p.m. Free tickets are available by visiting the LCT Ticket Office December 1-19 or online at beginning November 17 All young adults are welcome to join us for Forum s annual Thanksgiving party on Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. Please bring a side dish or dessert. Party will be held at 100 Hunington Chase Drive in Madison, AL. Call for more information. Angel Tree The Sarah Tate Reading Room Angel Tree will be in the East Entrance beginning November 23. These children are active participants in our Student Ministry and Music and Mission Programs. Please consider choosing one of our angels and providing Christmas for them. Poinsettias It is time to begin placing orders for poinsettias to be used during the Christmas season. These may be given in memory of or in honor of someone. Forms are available at the Welcome Centers and in the church office. Cost is $ Deadline for returning forms with payment to the church office is Sunday, November 23.