Pastor Mark. December Christmas in the Library. Sunday, December 9. Enjoy a treat & choose something from the Christmas display

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1 December 2018 Pastor Mark s Moment There are actually 4 hymns/songs at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke that help us to get ready for Christmas: The Magnificat (1:46-55) from the Latin for My soul mag nifies the Lord The Benedictus (1:67-79) from the Latin for Blessed be the Lord The Gloria in Excelsis Deo (2:13-14) from the Latin for Glory to God in the Highest The Nunc Dimittis (2:28-32) from the Latin for Now you dismiss We ve had a chance to go over each one of this songs individually over the last several weeks, but here is an overall summary of the lessons that they teach us: God is to be glorified for His sovereignty, His holiness, and His mercy. God is faithful and true, and His promises will come to pass. Therefore, the hopes of the nation of Israel will be fulfilled in the coming Messiah. But that Messiah is not just the savior of the Jewish people, but is the savior of the world! God is sending the forerunner of the Messiah to prepare people for His coming. Mary has been greatly blessed as the one chosen to give birth to the Messiah. The coming Messiah will transform the world! He will give Himself for our sins and make peace between us and God. This Christmas let us rejoice with the angels and sing, Glory to God in the highest, and rejoice with Mary and proclaim, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Christmas in the Library Sunday, December 9 Enjoy a treat & choose something from the Christmas display Monday, December 24th 4 PM Food & Fellowship 4:45 PM Organ Music 5 PM Worship Pastor Mark Join the fellowship!

2 FROM CHRISTMAS EVE - 4 PM Join with others to celebrate the evening with food & fellowship hosted by Pastor Mark & Valerie. At 5 PM we will join together for a Christmas Eve Service together. 50 PLUS & SO50 Wednesday, December 5th at 11 AM, the 50 Plus & SO50 will be taking part in the Senior Dinner provided at Gibraltar Schools. You will need to make your own reservations by calling ext 244. In addition to the turkey dinner there is always entertainment by students. Seating begins at 10 AM & drop off can be made in the bus lane. THE E L D E R B OA R D There was a time of prayer with members praying for specific church family needs. Prior minutes were approved. Financial information was reviewed. The elders reviewed the end of the year Bridges reports. Janet Hollenbeck s membership application was reviewed and approved. Various trustee matters were discussed, including the efficiency of the new furnaces and the church sign. The youth group requested permission to have a small group meet in the balcony area during their regular meeting time. Approval was given provided that the number of volunteers is adequate. Information regarding the upcoming community Thanksgiving dinner was reviewed. The business meeting was set for December 2nd at 9:15am, and the agenda was approved. Pastor Mark reported that he was asked to pray at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Piggly Wiggly. Pastor Mark will be on vacation on 11/25. Ken Muck will be preaching. Benevolence matters and various family issues within the congregation were discussed. Other items were discussed. The meeting was closed in prayer. Annual Business Meeting - 9:15 AM - December 2nd Gathering Room WOMEN S MINISTRY TEAM The Women s Ministry Team is sponsoring monthly Scrapbooking/ Craft Events. The next one is scheduled for Friday/Saturday, December Friday they work from 2 to 9 PM & Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Bring your work (fun) and accomplish a new project while having fun building relationships with other women. You may request to join The Crafty Scrapbookers@First Baptist on Facebook for current information & plans for food, etc. 92 boxes were sent to Operations Christmas Child. Adventure Club packed a record 58 boxes. Thanks to everyone that helped.

3 Creative Compassion Team: Compassion in Action Our Team Chairperson, Kathy Springer, scheduled a team meeting October 16. It was a time for us to review together what we have done since our last meeting and then look ahead to what is planned for Last spring our team was asked if First Baptist would be able to provide desserts for Loaves and Fishes, a community event that has been held the fourth Tuesday of each month. Kathy Springer and Judith Erickson accepted the request and selected this past October 23 as the time when people from First Baptist would provide the desserts. Four members of the Compassion team baked apple crisps to serve approximately 80 people. But there s more to the story: First Baptist actually made it possible for Loaves and Fishes to take place as scheduled in October. St. Rosalia s has always been the location for the event, but the kitchen there could not be used due to faulty electricity. It was approved that Loaves and Fishes could take place at First Baptist. Judy Paulson was in the kitchen with the Loaves and Fishes cooks and servers, and John Stiefel helped with setup, including the provision of festive centerpieces. Compassion at First Baptist is certainly not limited just to areas for which the Compassion Team is directly responsible. Here are two examples: Snowfall in mid-november yielded wet parking lot pavement and some hidden ice. It can be a dangerous time for many people but First Baptist offers a wonderful Valet Service to all who attend morning services as part of the ministry of the Worship Readiness Team. If you don t want to tackle walking in the snow, slush and ice this winter, just stop at the Valet sign where John Stiefel or Mike Parent are ready to assist you from your car to the building and then drive your car to a parking space. After the church service, they will bring your car to the door for you. They are more than ready to make your walk into church safe, comfortable and easy. On a personal note, the Valet Service made it possible for my sister, Charlene Rice, to attend church when she was still driving her car. Now that we drive her, we continue to stop at the Valet Sign for Charlene to leave our car. Mike is quickly at the car to assist her. Thank you, Mike and John. You two have been so faithful in rain, snow and sun. Compassion and so much more! was generously offered by First Baptist at a big public event in November. A huge thank you to Marc and Judy Paulson, Winnie Jackson, and church leaders for resurrecting the Community Thanksgiving Dinner this past November. Under their leadership, many individuals from the community assisted. Valet Service was also offered. Thank you to all of you who helped to make this event a success. Respectfully submitted by Judith Erickson Over 200 people were served Thanksgiving dinner. Our dining room seats 192 and it was nearly full. About 30 volunteers helped to make this an unforgettable event.

4 F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H C A L E N D A R December 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :15 AM Annual Meeting 9 9:15 AM Adult Bible Study Christmas in the Library Christmas Eve 4 PM Food & Fellowship 5 PM Candlelight Service 25 Christmas Day New Year s Day /SO50 Gibraltar Holiday Dinner 6:30 PM Elevate DC Youth Fortnight Beginning Christmas Party DCYC Gibraltar PM Scrapbook/Craft AM-2 PM Scrapbook/Craft

5 The good news from Ukraine this month concerns Yareslav, Alexy and Tanya's son. He has announced his engagement to a very nice girl and the families are very happy for them. He returned from working in San Francisco at the end of summer and is helping with his dad and the business. Now it is time to begin planning for a spring wedding. A date has not been set. What a wonderful event to look forward to following winter. Alexy continues as caregiver for his wife Tanya. Her Cancer seems to be in a holding pattern. Not getting better and not getting worse. She is very tired and showing the effects of her long struggle. She continues to accompany him shopping and sometimes even to church. They prepare their meals together and are even planning for a vegetable garden this summer. The Kids Club continues going great with a very constant attendance of between 16 and 20 at each meeting. Many walk a long distance to attend so there may be a drop off in attendance if the weather turns severe. Igor is so happy to be grooming these future leaders of the church. We have asked Alexy to start inquiring about the availability of the vacant furniture store that is adjoining the church property. It has been five years without being used. It seems that the correct offer might possibly be accepted. We have asked him to determine a fair price so that an offer can be made. If it turns out to not be available or too expensive then it will be time to proceed this summer to start to rebuild the buildings on the existing site. Continue praying for the church. For an influx of 40 to 60 year old's to provide replacements for the elderly pensioners who can no longer carry the load.. Especially pray for Alexy and Igor. Also for Tanya's continued healing. Please consider contributing monthly to Alexy's Fund so that we can continue to provide support to him as pastor. Elevate Happenings 5th - Fortnite Night Starting at 6:30pm 12th - Elevate Youth Group 19th - Elevate Christmas Party 21st - Door County Youth Coalition (DCYC) Lunch at Gibraltar 26th - No Youth Group CHIP (Community Health Information Programs) will resume in May Watch for their program in May A Few Statistics... Date 10:30 S.S. Offering November $ 5, November $ 3, November $ 2, November $ 4, $ 16, BIRTHDAYS 3rd: Karen Sunstrom 5th: Gary Nelson Andrew Stewart Greg Stewart 12th: Dan Granzow Jacob Kordon 13th: Dell Lindbloom 14th: Paul Burgess 15th: Bill Olsen 17th: Jan Burgess 18th: Lois Seaquist 19th: Mike McAndrews 23rd: Gary Lundquist 24th: Gretta Shepherd 28th: Sam Kordon 29th: Carl Burgess 31st: Colleen Budzis ANNIVERSARIES 6th: Glenn & Gloria Sitte 15 years 14th: Conrad & Linda Johnson 44 years 20th: Steve & Sally Jacobson 50 years 23rd: Gene & Barb Jarvis 46 years 25th: Lyle & Nitzie Bruss 63 years 26th: Carl & Vera Lenz 65 years 30th: Chris & Mary Jackson 23 years Jim & Kathy Springer 51 years

6 First Baptist Church 2622 S. Bay Shore Dr. Sister Bay, WI F R O M O U R G L O B A L M I N I S T R Y Intentionally left blank to protect the identity of our missionaries!