NOVEMBER. cumming, GA THE CHURCH THAT GIVES ITSELF AWAY

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1 NOVEMBER FBC CUMMING cumming, GA THE CHURCH THAT GIVES ITSELF AWAY

2 SENIOR PASTOR Pastor Bob Jolly Give thanks in everything, for this is God s will for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB). Are you excited about the return of Jesus? The old story is that a preacher once asked everyone in the congregation to stand if they were ready for Jesus to return and one contrary man remain seated. When pressed later as to why he wouldn t stand, the contrarian said, "I thought you were getting a bus load to go right now. The older I get the more I am ready for Jesus to return immediately. Yet for reasons only known to God that day has not yet arrived as I write this article. For that reason, I need the advice Paul gave the church at Thessalonica. Paul wrote two letters to the Thessalonians, and he encouraged them to wait patiently for Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:10) but be ready for that day will catch us by surprise (1 Thessalonians 5:1). While they waited patiently, Paul also encouraged the Thessalonians to live in a manner that honors Jesus (1 Thessalonians 3:13). This requires us to stand firm in the face of temptation (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and to provide a godly example for those watching us (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). Paul closed his first letter with great advice: Rejoice always, pray constantly, don t stifle Holy Spirit, don t despise prophecies, test all things and stay away from evil (I Thessalonians 5:16-22). And right in the middle of that advice he said, Give thanks in everything. Now that is a tall order. I understand giving thanks in good things. I don t like it but I understand giving thanks for hard things that are good for me. But how in the world can I give thanks for everything, because some things seem so far from good and therefore not worthy of my gratitude. Paul should know because he had endured many things before he wrote those inspired words from God. Paul understood that a period of physical blindness could take away spiritual blindness so thank God for blindness. You too have probably experienced life events that did not motivate you to thank God, only to find out that the sovereign God of the universe orchestrated those events for your good. That s why Paul wrote in Romans 8:28-30: "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified." This thanksgiving let us remember to thank God for everything. I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Your Pastor, Bob Scripture of the Month Give thanks in everything, for this is God s will for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB. Quote of the Month "It has been said that talk is cheap. We thank the Lord and we say Lord, we're so thankful, we're so grateful for all that you've done for us. Well, do you know what we need to do? We need to turn Thanksgiving into Thanks-living. That is, to offer to God the sacrifices of thanksgiving." Adrian Rogers

3 MINISTER OF DISCIPLESHIP Rev. Cole Wilkins THANKSGIVING Ask God to use you as a godly influence upon your family this holiday season. Be full of gratitude, encouragement, and praise, and they will surely notice! Want to open your table to a single adult, widow, or needy family for Thanksgiving? Post an invite to friends on Facebook for your Friendsgiving and have them rsvp. Cap it at however many you can fit or feed! MARK YOUR CALENDAR IN 2019 Midweek Equipping Classes begin in January! Details & signup to come. New to FBC? Save the date and register online for our next Explore First Pastor s Luncheon Feb 3 at 12:30 pm in Auditorium 2. FBC Cumming DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP ARTS Bryan Isbell "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15 (ESV) Peace is something God promises those of us who call him Father (Phil. 4:7). We are entering a season of the year that can be anything but peaceful. Traveling, get-togethers, family members you may love or not so much.guilt for not making the effort to see relatives, loneliness because of loved ones who have passed. The Holidays can be a season of anything BUT peaceful. Without peace, thankfulness can be hard to find. So What do we do? Run to Jesus with our busyness, our guilt, our pain, our fear, our brokenness. Stand fast in the Lord," as Paul writes in Philippians 4. Rejoice in the Lord. Turn our worry and weariness into worship, as we see God bring us though the hard times of the upcoming season. The result? Thankfulness. When Jesus brings us to the other side of the mess, we can fall at his feet in thankfulness for His faithfulness in our lives May you be thankful this Holiday Season. And may you rest in His peace.

4 MINISTER OF MISSIONS & EVANGELISM Dr. Michael O'Neal Because of what Jesus has done for us, we have hope. And that hope is too good to keep to ourselves. God made us for a mission to be His witnesses everywhere we go and to make disciples. How will First Baptist stay laser-focused on this important mission? We re going after 4 big goals by the end of By God s grace and power, we will impact our local community and the global cities with the hope of Jesus Christ by: Our giving to the Acts 1:8 H.O.P.E. Offering enables us to pursue these H.O.P.E. goals. As an Acts 1:8 church, we have mission partners around the world, from Atlanta to Thailand. Will you partner with us as we seek to make and multiply disciples locally and globally? Will you be willing to pray, give, and go? God wants to use you to bring eternal hope to the world! You can give to the Acts 1:8 H.O.P.E. Offering by giving during the worship service or visiting firstbaptistcumming.org/giving. MINISTER OF SENIOR ADULTS Ken Danuser Hey Seniors, here's what's happening in November 50+ Supper 6 pm on Thursday the 8th. The Glory Boys will sing from their new album. Come with your friends and dishes and we will have fun. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum trip will be Tuesday the 13th. We leave from the church at 9 am and will return around 4 pm. Cost: $5 to ride and $5 for tour. Bring lunch money to dine at Mary Mack restaurant. Sign up in you classes or call church office Let Stephen Ministers help you bear your burdens. They are trained to do so.

5 The High School Ministry at First Baptist Cumming equips students to know, own, share & grow in their faith in Christ. studentsatfbc.org FBC Cumming SUNDAY WEDNESDAY 9:30 AM - WORSHIP 11:00 AM - CONNECT GROUPS 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - HIGH SCHOOL BLDG DISCIPLE NOW November 9-11 Register at studentsatfbc.org. $85. Text Scott at to volunteer. I do not plan activities during the month of December in order to allow our Connect Groups to plan small group activities. Your student will find out more information about these activities from their Connect Group Teachers. We will have STUDENT WORSHIP in the Youth High School Building Sunday, November 4 & 9:30 AM. On Sunday November 11 & 18, we will worship in the main sanctuary at 9:30 AM. Register & find more information about High School Ministry - StudentsatFBC.org. MINISTER OF HIGH SCHOOL Rev. Scott Carpenter scott@fbccumming.org

6 studentsatfbc.org Parents - to to receive text alerts Students - to to receive text alert Dunamis Fbc StudentsatFBC SUNDAY WEDNESDAY 9:30 AM - WORSHIP (HS Building) 11:00 AM - CONNECT GROUPS (MS Building) 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - MIDDLE SCHOOL BLDG (The House) DISCIPLE NOW November 9-11 Register at studentsatfbc.org. $85. We will have STUDENT WORSHIP in the Youth High School Building Sunday, November 4 & 9:30 AM. On Sunday November 11 & 18, we will worship in the main sanctuary at 9:30 AM. Contact Brian with any questions: brian@fbccumming.org or call MINISTER OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Brian Weaver brian@fbccumming.org

7 FirstkidzFbc Firstkidz_FBC to to receive text alerts firstkidz_fbc All who helped make the Fall Festival such an amazing community outreach. Sparks and T&T's Wed 6:15 PM K thru 5th Grade Nov 7 - Patriotic Night Nov 14 - Canned Food Drive (bring canned or packaged foods for local food pantry) Nov 21 - NO AWANA - THANKSGIVING FirstKidz Christmas Musical Rehearsals SUNDAYS 6 PM Auditorium 2 PERFORMANCE Dec 5 pm in the Sanctuary Family Bible Study GOD FORMED A NATION Nov 4 God's Promise to Isaac Genesis Nov 11 Jacob & Esau Genesis Nov 18 Jacob & Rachel Genesis Nov 25 Jacob's New Name Genesis MINISTRY ASSOCIATE Hannah Corbin hcorbin@fbccumming.org SUNDAY 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM WEDNESDAY 6:15 PM MINISTRY ASSOCIATE Melinda Brooks mbrooks@fbccumming.org MINISTER OF CHILDREN Laura Nixon FIRSTKIDZ MINISTRY ASSISTANT Matt Caison laura@fbccumming.org

8 SUNDAY 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM WEDNESDAY 6:15 PM Happy BIRTHDAY Friday, Nov 2 6:30-9:30 PM $5/child or $10 max/family Birth - 5th Grade Contact Edna Bridges edna@fbccumming.org or or sign up at Preschool Desk by Wed, Oct 31 Sawyer Steinmann Riley Helton Harper Pattillo Kamden Rebmann Karson Rebmann Emma Kroner Elliana Hendrix Margarite Harrison 11/3 11/6 11/6 11/8 11/8 11/15 11/24 11/29 We appreciate all who volunteered and helped make the Fall Festival a great outreach to our community. AWANA Special Nights Nov 7 - Patriotic Night Nov 14 - Special Night - Thanksgiving Nov 21 - NO AWANA Our 3 year-olds through PreK s are practicing Christmas Music during their Connect Group classes. They will sing in worship on December 16. SCHEDULE Sunday Morning classes for all preschool ages 9:30 & 11:00AM on the first floor Wednesday Evening childcare for Infants - 2 years old 6-8PM Awana Cubbies for 3 years old-pre-k 6:15-7:40PM PRESCHOOL SUPERVISOR Connie Stephens connie.stephens@fbccumming.org SUNDAY 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM WEDNESDAY 6:15 PM PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR Priscilla Hoch priscilla.hoch@fbccumming.org MINISTER OF PRESCHOOL Edna Bridges edna@fbccumming.org