FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1950 PLEASANTVILLE ROAD NE LANCASTER, OHIO Somebody s Life Is On the Line!

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1 Volume 23, Issue 11 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1950 PLEASANTVILLE ROAD NE LANCASTER, OHIO November 2011 Church Office Phone: & Fax: Church Website: Directory Dr. John K. Beckett: Sr. Pastor Scott Gatian: Associate Pastor Susan George: Admin. Assistant Steve Magill: Deacon Chairman Shirley Riggs: Church Clerk Marcy Whitson: Church Treasurer Amy Bednar: Financial Secretary Dale & Jan Flowers: Custodians Dale Flowers: Maintenance Somebody s Life Is On the Line! After finishing my basic training in the United States Air Force in 1961, I attended the Air Force Fire College & Training School in Greenville, Mississippi. Following graduation I was stationed at Seward Air Force Base, Smyrna, Tennessee in an Air Craft Crash Rescue Unit. From day one they pressed us that our responsibility, training and commitment were not simply the fulfillment of orders, but to realize that when the alarm bell rings, Somebody s life is on the line! After I finished my time in the Air Force, I became a fulltime fire-fighter for the City of Middletown, Ohio. Once again from day one our training was serious, and the requirements were steep. Our reason for being there was based on the assumption that when the alarm bell rings, Somebody s life is on the line! After seven years as a fire-fighter the Lord called my dear wife and me into the Gospel Ministry of sharing God s Word to a lost and dying world. I thought it was a bit much that the road ahead of us was filled with years of serious schooling, difficult classes, and professors who pressed us and demanded of us our very best. From day one I heard Get this right! Pay the price! If God has not called you and equipped you, don t pretend He did! There are no shortcuts in ministry preparation! Once again I heard the message loud and clear; Every time you encounter a person or a group of people you must realize that Somebody s life is on the line! The only difference is that when you and I share with others the good news of Jesus Christ or when we teach a Bible class or when we share God s truth with our children or every time we reach out to touch another life, we must realize that it could very well be that Somebody s eternal life is on the line! Life is not for the faint of heart. To live life to the fullest and be found faithful in all that God calls you to do will take more than you can give unless you give your life over to the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember: Somebody s life is on the line! Pastor John Discovery Seminars 201 & 401 November 13, at 5:00 8:00 PM 401 at 6:30 8:00 PM Please contact the church office to register or sign up on the bulletin board. Discovery Seminars 101 & 301 January 8, :00 8:00 PM A light supper will be served. Please contact the church office to register or sign up on the bulletin board.

2 Business Meeting November 9 7:00 PM Youth/Young Adult Bonfire Sat., November 12 at 5:30 PM Dave & Donna Taylor s Home 475 Coonpath Road Lancaster, Ohio Girls bring snacks Guys bring pop Donations of Fleece needed Women s Ministry would like to make fleece blankets to take to the nursing homes. We need donations of 2 yards of fleece or no sew fleece blanket kits. Our goal is to make 25 blankets. Once we get the fleece, we will set a night for our ladies to put them together. You can put the donations in the box in Agape Hall on the Women s Ministry Table. Finance Committee Meetings For 2012 Budget All meetings will be at 7:00 PM November 7, 21 & 28 Christmas Parade November 19 10:00 AM Be at Fairgrounds at 9:30 AM Need many volunteers to hand out Little Debbie cakes to those watching the parade. If you have a basket, please bring it with you. Ladies Christmas Caroling December 13 at 5:30 PM Please bring a finger food to share and a dozen or two cookies to put in tins to give away. We will eat, fill tins, then head out the door at 6:30 PM and first go to nursing homes and then to any others we have time for. We will deliver the fleece blankets then also. Please sign up on bulletin board. New Members Banquet November 5 at 5:30 PM For all of our church family. This is to recognize and encourage our new members from the past year. New Members, you are our guest and do not need to bring anything. Everyone else, please bring TWO large side dishes or one side dish and one dessert. Meat & drinks provided. Please sign up on the sign up sheets on the bulletin board.

3 is the Gi! An overnighter just for girls with Music, games, food, crafts, and a whole lot more! WHO: 1 st - 5 th grade girls and up! Friends, big sisters and moms are welcome to join us! WHEN: Friday, December 2 nd at 6:00 PM Saturday December 3 rd at 11:00 AM COST: $5.00 per person Bring your sleeping bag, pillow, & P.J. s! Pick up an information packet/permission forms in Agape Hallway. Need more info: Contact Janet Smith at or disciplejs@hotmail.com Y.U.M.S Restaurant November 6 at 12:00 PM Pizza Hut Pizza Salad and Dessert Donations of Salad and Desserts needed. Please sign up on bulletin New Members Christmas Decorating Scheduled for Monday, November 21st. Beginning at 9:30 AM. If you would like to help prepare the church for the upcoming Christmas Celebrations, please sign up on bulletin board. Your help is great appreciated! Coming in December Christmas Banquet-December 3 Ladies Christmas Caroling December 13 Choir Christmas Music Program December 18 Maurice & Shana Lewis 2424 Sheridan Drive Lancaster, Ohio Christmas Eve Carol & Candlelight Service December 24

4 We re on the Web at Calendar 1 Tuesday Night Men s Basketball, 7:00 PM 2 Jonah Study, 9:00 AM & 6:30 PM 3 Made To Crave, 6:30 PM 5 New Member Banquet, 5:30 PM 6 Y.U.M.S. Restaurant, 12:00 PM 7 Boys/Cub Scouts, 6:30 PM 7 Finance Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM 8 Tuesday Night Men s Basketball, 7:00 PM 9 Jonah Study, 9:00 AM & 6:30 PM 9 Business Meeting, 7:00 PM 10 Made to Crave, 6:30PM 12 Youth & Young Adult Bonfire at Taylors, 5:30 PM 13 Nursing Home Ministry, 1:30 PM & 401 Discovery Seminar, 6:30 PM 14 Boys/Cub Scout Meeting, 6:30 PM 15 Tuesday Night Men s Basketball, 7:00 PM 16 Jonah Study, 9:00 AM & 6:30 PM 17 Made to Crave, 6:30 PM 19 Christmas Parade, 10:00 AM 21 Decorating the church, 9:30 AM 21 Boy/Cub Scout Meeting, 6:30 PM 21 Finance Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM 22 Tuesday Night Men s Basketball, 7:00 PM 24 Happy Thanksgiving, Office closed 25 Office Closed 28 Decorating for Ladies Christmas Gala, 8:30 AM 28 Boy/Cub Scout Meeting, 6:30 PM 28 Finance Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM 29 Ladies Christmas Gala, 6:00 PM 2 Mike Whitson 2 Sally Good 3 Jared Buckley 3 Thomas McCrady 6 Gina Wright 7 Scott Lewis 7 Pat Lavender 7 Taylor Pullon 8 Betsy Magill 9 Joshua Beardsley 10 Lucas Thompson 11 Tiger Tyra 12 Gage Moore 13 Richard Hayek 16 Dan Bay 16 Leeanna Roby 17 Larry Blagg 17 Keri Grandstaff 17 Brandon Beyer 18 Jonathan Uribe 18 Erica Campbell 19 Tom Thimmes 19 Tish Duncan 29 Ethan DeVries 20 Marcy Whitson 24 Jean Heston 24 Steve Magill 25 Taylor Bevins 26 Nickolas Moore 27 Amy Bednar 27 Cora Lamneck 27 Bridget Moore 28 Kaitlen Seals Birthdays 28 Grace Smeltzer 30 Conner Buckley 30 Samantha Schrader 30 Davin Fertig Opportunities for the week Sunday: 9:00 AM First Worship & SS 10:30 AM Second Worship & SS 5:30 PM Hands of Praise 6:30 PM Pastor s Gathering Adult Choir Practice RA s & GA s Youth Group Wed.: 5:30 PM Wednesday Night Supper 6:00 PM Little Praisers 6:30 PM AWANA 7:00 PM Mid-Week at FBC Signs of Praise Youth Bible Study A nursery is provided for all services.

5 Where s The Line To See Jesus? 2011 Ladies Christmas Gala November 29 at 6:00 PM Please bring a finger food to share. Invite a guest! We need 28 Tables Hostesses A Table Hostess decorates her own table & makes those at her table feel welcome. All Tables will be round and will seat 8. Need decorating crew on Nov. 28 Please sign up on bulletin board.

6 COUPLES MINISTRY MINUTE from First Baptist Church Issue 17 November 2011TGG Wow God is AWESOME! Those are the only words that come to mind since going to the movies to see Courageous with my amazing wife and my brother and his wife. How do you put into words attending a movie that entertained on so many levels, while at the same time confronted many issues present in today s society. Everyday at work I am confronted with the stark reality present in this world THE ABSENCE OF FATHERS. This can happen directly through divorce where custody is typically given to a mother left on her own to carry out an impossible task. This can also happen indirectly where a husband is present but not an active leader in the home leaving his wife to carry out an impossible task. Men it is time to Man Up! If we would simply take the same level of energy, effort and care that we exercise each day at work, or employ when we are pursuing our hobbies, we could make an amazing difference where it matters the most. Below is a simple plan that we can keep in mind as we are obedient to God in leading our family. Our first priority (both men and women) is to continue to grow in our relationship and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Second, our next most important priority is our spouse. Third, our final priority with eternal significance is our children. I challenge all of us (including myself) reading this newsletter article to spend some time reflecting on how well these priorities are lined up in our daily lives. Is adequate time given for your daily interaction with the Lord? Is adequate time given to conversation, discussion and planning with your spouse? Is adequate time being set aside for your family to develop a deeper relationship? I know it is difficult because we all want to go places and do things, but many of those things get in the way of the three priorities listed above. Please keep in mind as Christians, our chief purpose in life is to glorify God. With Love, Andy & Janis Smeltzer Matthew 22:36-38 Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 6:1-4 Read the passages in Scripture with the following verses to the Audio Adrenaline song Hands and Feet in mind: I'll be Your hands, I'll be Your feet I'll go where You send me, I'll go where You send me And I try, yeah I try To touch the world like You touched my life And I'll find my way To be Your hands Are there any events on our schedule that get in the way of the Top Three (God, Spouse and Children) Priorities? Are the activities you and your family involved in self-focused or servant-focused? What is one thing we can do as a family to help at church? What can our family be doing together to help in our neighborhood? Family Devotions Find a time during the day where you can gather your family for a time of devotions. This may be difficult with all of the activities we have jammed into our schedule, but it can be done right after dinner, right before bed, or at different times during the week. MAKE IT A PRIORITY! Pick out some songs that your family can sing. Find a devotional Bible suitable for your children. Spend time where each member of the family prays for their needs, the needs of another family member, and the needs of someone outside of the family.

7 The Awana program is based on five principles: it is centered on the Gospel, scripture memory is key, it is fun and exciting, children are trained to serve and Awana builds strong leadership. Each club teaches and handles these principles in different ways. The focus at our FBC Awana clubs this year is on scripture memory is key. Deuteronomy 32:46 says Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law (ESV). Our desire, along with all the other Children's Ministry programs, is to help build a scriptural foundation in the lives of our children that will help them make good life decisions based on what they have learned from God's Word. Parents are a strong part of helping our children learn. Encourage them to spend at least ten minutes a night going over the verses in their handbook for the upcoming week. Help them remember to bring their bibles to Awana and Bible Study Fellowship time. Encourage them to make their decisions based on what the Bible teaches. Mark the dates... > November 2 Mummy Night Wrap your leaders > November 9 Twins Night You and a friend dress alike > November 16 Feed the Hungry Night Bring in items for our food pantry > November 23 Bring Your First A Night/Store Night Earn bonus points for each A on your report card and our first Store Night. > November 30 Drive In Night Make your own car, see a movie. > December 7 Stump the Pastor Night Bring your Bible questions in to ask one of our pastors. > December 14 Parents Night Parents are invited to join their clubbers for the night. We are approaching that time of year when we are affected by the weather. Please make yourself familiar with the church wellness policy that is posted in the classrooms. Remember to put yours kids names in their items; we have a few kids still trying to find some of their stuff from last year. If you would like to help I would be glad to talk to you about how you can fit into our program. If you have any other questions or comments about Awana, look me up or give me a call. Commander Dewey H (740) C (740) dfertig@columbus.rr.com

8 Girls in Action Who: girls in 1 st -5 th grade When: Sunday evenings, 6:30pm-8:00pm Bring in a shoe box gift for Operation Christmas Child and you can earn your GAME ON badge! GIFT IDEAS TOYS small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky, etc. SCHOOL SUPPLIES pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. HYGIENE ITEMS toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. OTHER Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries) A PERSONAL NOTE In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.) DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans! Dear Girls, Invite a friend to join you at GA s as we prepare these special gifts that will be distributed all over the world! Please bring in your items to the next GA meeting on Sunday evening at 6:30pm. National Collection Week is November 14 th. Please remember to pray for the child who will receive your special gift! Contact Tammi Beyer for more info.