Steeple Views. Come, Ye Faithful by Hal Hopson accompanied by strings, flute, bells, percussion & organ. Sunday December 9 During Morning Worship

Transcription

1 December 5, 2007 Issue 49 Steeple Views First Baptist Church Monroe North Carolina Come, Ye Faithful by Hal Hopson accompanied by strings, flute, bells, percussion & organ Sunday December 9 During Morning Worship Carols for Choir and Congregation O Come, All Ye Faithful Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Silent Night Carols by the Chancel Choir On This Day Earth Shall Ring On Jordan s Banks the Baptist s Cry Carol by Women s Ensemble Canticle of the Turning: Magnificat Carol by Men s Ensemble Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep Carol by Girls Ensemble The Friendly Beasts Hewett s College of Christmas Knowledge an Advent Bible Study for Adults Wednesday, December 12, 6:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room Names for this year s Angel Tree are posted on the wall outside Paul Sims office. We are asking individuals, Sunday School Classes, mission groups, etc. to please take a name and purchase the gifts listed with the name. Instructions sheets are available beside the names. Return the gifts unwrapped to the church on or before Monday, December 17. If you, or someone you know, took #44E from the wall, please call the church office.

2 Church Calendar Sunday December 9 Chancel Choir Prayer Room Open (Room 305) Church Library Open (Circulation: Audrey Bales) Sunday School Preschool Extended Session Service of Worship Youth Choir PYAA Youth on Mission Snack Supper (hosts: Cook family) Chancel Ringers Beginner Handbells Monday December 10 Poovey/Denmark Group in Multipurpose Room Song Service at Brian Center TOPS 9:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:15 AM 9:45 AM 10:45 AM 11:00 AM 5:00 PM 5:45 PM 10:00 AM 10:30 AM Tuesday December 11 Lottie Moon Group Dinner/Auction in Multipurpose Room 6:00 PM Board of Trustees Wednesday December 12 Fellowship Meal 5:30- Buffet: country-style steak, rice, green beans, butter peas, bread, dessert, beverage Kids line: hot dogs, fries, dessert, beverage Preschool Music 6:00 PM Children s Music 6:00 PM Church Library Open 6:15 PM Child Care 6:15 PM Prayer Time 6:20 PM Children s Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Adult Advent Bible Study Mission Friends Girls in Action Royal Ambassadors Youth Discussion Chancel Choir 7:30 PM Friday December 14 Blood Drive in Multipurpose Room Movie & Game Night in Old Fellowship Hall 2:30-6:00 PM Blood Drive The Bloodmobile will be in the Multipurpose Room on Friday, December 14 from 2:30-7:00 p.m. To make an appointment to give blood and/or to volunteer to help during the drive, sign up in Sunday School or call the church office. The blood drive is being co-sponsored by First Baptist and Monroe Lions Club. Pastoral Care Emergencies Minister on Call December 8-15 Sara Spahr Stubbs Kid s Korner Children s Worship Time has been changed from Sunday, December 9 to Sunday, December 16. The Children s Christmas Pageant will be presented on Wednesday, December 19 at 6:45 in the Sanctuary. Our Stewardship for Sunday, December 2, 2007: Required... $ 14,124 Received... $ 17,325 Budget Requirements to Date... $197,736 Budget Receipts to Date... $159,968 Sympathy The ministers and members of First Baptist extend their Christian love and sympathy to Jane Humphries and family in the death of her grandmother, Mildred Wilkerson. Thank you To Mable Bivens for donating the Christmas wreaths on the outside doors of the church. They are given in loving memory of her husband, J. W. Bivens, and daughter, Kendra Bivens Gordon. Christmas Offering for World Missions Church goal $5,000 Received to Date $655 Formations Sunday School Lesson for December 9 What Passes Away at Christ s Coming based on Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 24:29-35

3 The Worship of God Sunday December 9, 2007 Second Sunday in Advent Music COME YE FAITHFUL by Hal Hopson Sermon by John Hewett Gentiles, Rejoice Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-11 Audio CDs of worship services are available through the church office for $3.00 Churchwide Game and Movie Night Friday, December 14 in the Old Fellowship Hall Featuring two Christmas Classics: Emmett Otter s Jug Band Christmas It s A Wonderful Life Games begin at 6:00 movies at 7:00 FUN FOR ALL AGES! Wednesday, December 19 at 6:45 p.m. in the Sanctuary Renaissance Will present Christmas in the City at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 2701 Park Road, on Saturday, December 15 at 8 o clock in the evening. Directed by Robert Pritchard and accompanied by Dr. J. Michael Grant, this 37-voice ensemble is dedicated to quality performance of sacred and secular choral music. Featuring Christmas classics, holiday favorites and traditional carols, our program promises to help make the season bright. We welcome the Ballentyne Brass ensemble as guest artists. This concert is presented in honor and memory of Doug Zeller, long-time organist/choirmaster at Holy Comforter. Advance tickets are $12 (adult), $8 (senior) and $6 (student). Tickets may be obtained from Paul Sims or reservations can be made at our website, or by calling Tickets are available at the door for a slightly higher rate. HeartSpa where women are refreshed in Jesus Saturday, January 19, 8:00-2:30 Multipurpose Room Prayer Concerns Please remember the following in prayer. If you would like to have prayer requests included in the newsletter, please call the church office by 5:00 p.m. on Mondays. Gerhard Ungerer Dan Misenheimer Russ Sharp Peggy Nash Jane Herrell John Vick Jane Humphries and family Margaret Sain Kenneth Buck, brother of Sylvia Baker

4 Flower calendar The flower calendar for 2008 has been posted on the wall outside the church office. If you would like to secure a Sunday for placing flowers in the sanctuary either in memory or honor of a loved one, sign up on the calendar. You are invited to join the Shepherds Flock Class as they host Christmas Caroling to some of our homebound church members and friends on Sunday, December 23. Everyone will meet at 4:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room for a dinner of soup and cornbread, followed by caroling at 5:30, and then back to the church at 7:30 for cookies and hot chocolate. The church van will be available for transport, or join the caravan in your own car. The Shepherds Flock Class members are providing the soup. Others participating are asked to bring cornbread/rolls/bread or cookies. To participate sign up in Sunday School or call the church office. Following the Star a daily online advent devotional guide Begin the journey Memorials By Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sain in memory of Marilee Cory, Mary Wilson, Annie Lee Nielsen and Myrtle Childers. By Mr. and Mrs. John Childers and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Funderburk in memory of Myrtle Childers. By Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Akers in memory of Kathleen Morgan. By Dr. and Mrs. C.G. Hopper in memory of Marilee Cory and Mary Wilson. By Lois Jones in memory of J. C. Jones. By Audrey Bales in memory of Annie Lee Neilsen. By Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Shute, Jane Benton and Olivia Benton in memory of Mary Wilson. By Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Tyson in memory of Mary Wilson and Myrtle Childers. By Delana Helms in memory of Ortha Morrison. By Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Hopper in honor of John Hewett. By Mary Lou Gamble in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Funderburk. By Mr. and Mrs. John Childers in honor of Sara Spahr Stubbs. By Mr. and Mrs. Ken Handy in honor of Pauline Funderburk and Babs Simpson. This Week s Committees Sunday School Greeters: Joy/Agape Class. Ushers: Carolyn White, Ken Handy, Mary Nash, Joe and Denice Harris. Offertory: Joe Litaker, Lorey White, Paula Lee, Gerhard Ungerer. Melody Hawkins. Preschool Extended Session: Preschool I-Christina Kale, Jane Hawkins. Preschool II-Debbie Wall. Preschool III-Brent Wall, Cy Cook, Matthew Lowery. Money Counters: Bob Cassels, Claire Trowbridge. Wednesday Night Helpers: J.T. and Martha Nance, Doris Ramsey, Jane Hawkins. Steeple Views First Baptist Church, PO Box 219, Monroe, NC ( ) 8534) Free and faithful Baptists ministering in the heart of Union County since 1852 Web-site John H. Hewett, Interim Senior Minister...john.hewett@monroefirstbaptist.org Paul M. Sims, Associate Minister/Minister of Music paul.sims@monroefirstbaptist.org Sara S. Stubbs, Associate Minister/Minister of Education/Youth... sssfbc@carolina.rr.com Noel Lance, Church Organist.noel.lance@gmail.com Kathy Cole, Secretary...(church address) firstbaptist1@carolina.rr.com Marsha Sexton, Financial Secretary... mbsexton@carolina.rr.com RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TO: 109 Morrow Avenue, Monroe, NC PRSRT STD Non-Profit Permit #34 Monroe, NC 28110

5 FROM THE INTERIM SENIOR MINISTER The Word Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah. The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. The Words Every genuine promise requires a memorable announcement. Advent celebrates the original covenant spoken to Noah, marked by a rainbow in the clouds, and the reverberating series of public renewals by which God continually reminded Israel of the gracious choice that called them forth from darkness into marvelous light. In the fullness of time, when God chose to reveal holy love with a distinctly human face, an Announcer came to prepare the way: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (John 1:6). Has any leader ever had a more compelling advance man? Dressed like a caveman, his belly full of grasshoppers and honey, John walked out of the desert with a heart on fire and a voice like a two-edged sword. His message was simple: Someone is coming. Someone is coming. Someone is coming. In Stephen Schwartz s groundbreaking musical, Godspell, the show opens with a babble of competing religious philosophies. Suddenly John appears, blowing three notes on the shofar to silence the noisy mob, and begins to sing this lilting lyric: Prepare ye the way of the Lord. That s the real purpose of Advent, you know preparation, expectation, anticipation. Most of us get it all wrong. We ve been so shaped by the secularization of our calendars that we compress the three holy periods of Advent, Christmastide and Epiphany into one, all purpose holiday season. We start buying presents in October, singing Christmas carols in November, and, once the Day has come and gone, it s take the tree down, pack up the crèche, stow the decorations, and get ready for New Year s. Is it our modern need for instant gratification that causes us to skip the journey and jump straight to the cradle? Hear a voice calling us to a better way, a slower, more reflective way. Someone is coming. We need to get ready, to make time to be prepared. John called the people to repentance. He wasn t particularly nice about it: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Luke 3:7). Apparently they were enamored by the notion that God had grandchildren, and that they could enter the Kingdom of Heaven by claiming an ancestral connection with Abraham. No, said the Voice, the Coming One will change everything, and what you ve believed about God will be turned upside down, especially the part about God not caring how you actually live your lives on this earth. continued

6 Repentance is a powerful notion. We translate it from the Greek word metanoia, which literally means beyond the mind. It s more than contrition, the backward-looking glance of regret ¹; it s the act of stretching beyond the boundaries of what we normally think or feel to a new way of thinking, a change of heart. Repentance is an invitation to a complete change of perspective, a forward-looking vision of hope. John, in the same breath as his thundering call to repentance, proclaimed the forgiveness of sins. What a startling notion that must have been to people known for counting every transgression and recording every slight. And is it any less life-changing for you and me? Which of us has never been melted by the offer of grace when we deserved retribution? Do you remember how you felt the day someone loved you enough to forgive your wretched behavior and, instead of telling you to pack your bags and get out, set a place for you at the table? This is why John baptized those who flocked to the Jordan. Dipping in that flowing stream was a public, visual, memorable way to show the transformation forgiveness brings, like going from being bone dry to soaking wet. The day Jesus himself came to the river to ask John to lower him under that same water was the day repentance and forgiveness were revealed as God s best work. These are good words for us to hear in the second week of Advent. As we approach the cradle and the Child, we need to learn again that Christmas is for sinners. It s right there in the story, spoken by an angel of the Lord to righteous, fearful Joseph: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20b-21). Our preparation for his arrival is as simple as John s syllabus for Righteousness 101: bear fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Live like people who ve had a complete change of perspective. Act like those who ve heard the good news that God loves us and wants us to live abundant and joyful lives. Salvation is another way of understanding this gospel truth: you don t have to be held hostage by what you ve done. You can be set free from your past. You can be new. It s all part of the promise of the heart of Advent faith, a promise with no expiration date. Take it from one who should know, one of those disciples to whom Jesus offered multiple chances, who denied him three times and still grew up to be Bishop of Rome: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Someone is coming. Someone is coming. Someone is coming. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. John Hewett ¹From Metanoia, excerpts from homilies by Father Paul A. Hottinger, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Downer s Grove, Illinois.