Volume 59 Number 51 December 20, 2007 The Messenger First Baptist Church 600 Governors Drive Huntsville, AL 35801 256-428-9400 www.fbchsv.org David W. Hull, Pastor Weekend Minister on Call: 256-428-9457 24-Hour Prayer Line: 428-9460 First Thoughts David Hull Advent is almost over. The days of preparation are soon to become the Celebration of the birth of Christ. Let me remind you what will be happening in the next few days as we move from Christmas into the New Year. Christmas Sunday The Fourth Sunday of Advent is when we focus on The Adventure of Love. Our journey through Isaiah leads us to the prophecy about Immanuel (Isaiah 7:10-16). The word means God with Us. How can we experience Immanuel in our lives? How is God with us? We will talk about that on Sunday morning. Christmas Sunday Night We will have no activities at the church on this Sunday night. Plan to join us the next night for the Christmas Eve service. Christm as Eve On this special night that concludes the Advent season, our church family gathers together for one service at 5:00 p.m. The service will have a special time for the children, with music, meditation, candle lighting, and the Lord s Supper for all to enjoy. Join us for this Holy Night as we worship together. Sunday, December 30 The year closes as we worship together on Sunday morning. It is a good day to remember and to forget. One last passage from Isaiah (63:7-9) will lead us to think about how we can recount all of the blessings of God during the year. Wednesday Night Activities The Wednesday nights immediately after Christmas (December 26) and New Years (January 2) will not have any church activities. Full schedule of programs for all ages will begin again on January 9. Church Office Schedule We will close on Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25. From December 26 28 and on December 31 we will be open for normal hours of 8:00 to 5:00. We will be closed on January 1. I hope that you will have a joyous Christmas season. Thanks for making this Advent Season a wonderful experience of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Merry Christmas! For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Sunday, December 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent Message Series: Advent is the Beginning Sermon: God with Us The Adventure of Love - Isaiah 7:10-16 Music: Sanctuary Choir and FBC Orchestra No Sunday Evening Service or Activities Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service 5:00 p.m. - Sanctuary LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE DE-DECKING Wednesday, December 26 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Jobs for young and old.
Ministry Calendar Church Office Hours Monday Thursday, 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Friday, 8:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Sunday, December 23 9:00-9:15 AM Sunday School 9:15 AM 10:15-10:30 AM Morning Worship/Sanct. 10:30 AM 11:45 AM-12:00 PM NO EVENING SERVICE OR ACTIVITIES Monday, December 24 OFFICES and CLC CLOSED Christmas Eve Service and Lord s Supper / Sanct. Tuesday, December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY Wednesday, December 26 CLC Closed No supper or activities Thursday, December 27 Friday, December 28 Berard/Jones Reh/Sanct Saturday, December 29 Berard Jones Wedding/Sanct Reception/FH 5:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM Sunday, December 30 Sunday School 9:15 AM 10:15-10:30 AM Morning Worship/Sanct. 10:30 AM 11:45 AM-12:00 PM NO EVENING SERVICE OR ACTIVITIES Monday, December 31 Church Offices are Open CLC will close at 12:00 Noon Tuesday, January 1 New Year s Day Offices and CLC Closed Wednesday, January 2 No supper or activities CLC Closed Thursday, January 3 Living Water /FH Friday, January 4 Men s BSF/Parlor Saturday, January 5 Korean School/3 rd Floor High School Ski Retreat January 2-5 5:30 PM 5:00 AM 8:00 AM Missions and Outreach Mike Pearce, Minister of Missions and Outreach MISSION OFFERING REPORT FBC Mission Offering Goal - $52,000 Received to Date - $28,105.00 HABITAT DEDICATION AND CELEBRATION Last Saturday was the dedication of the Cindy Fletcher Habitat House in Triana. We received a plaque from the Madison County Habitat for Humanity organization for providing funds and volunteers. You will see the plaque in the hallway leading to the worship center. Two men in our church provided leadership for the build. John Noblin was the overall house leader. John provided construction leadership and did all the electrical work for the house. Bill Stone was the construction leader on several Saturdays. Please give these men a word of thanks for their hard work and willingness to share their gifts with the community and for our Lord. LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE CHILDREN S BOOKS DONATIONS Thank you for providing children s books during the Living Christmas Tree. The books you and the community provided will be given away at the Serving the City multi-church service day, Saturday, April 19, 2008. We will have several block parties that day and the books will be given to families in that neighborhood. Children s Ministries Cindy Russell, Minister to Children BIBLE SKILLS, DRILLS & THRILLS 4 TH THROUGH 6 TH GRADE We ll be starting up in January. Watch your mail for coming information. As parents, we are always working to help our children make wise choices. As Christian parents, we strive to teach our children decisionmaking skills according to God s word. We do that by teaching them about the Bible and what it means for them. Bible Drill is a great way to complement what you are doing at home. Children s Bible Drill is designed for Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Graders to help them learn more about God s word and grow spiritually. Bible Drill has three purposes: 1) to help children develop skills in the use of the Bible 2) to help increase their knowledge of the Bible 3) to help them learn how to apply the Bible to their lives. During Bible Drill, the child is asked to learn 25 scripture verses, the location of ten Key Passages, and all the books of the Bible. The memory work is done at home. We will meet on Sunday nights from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. beginning January 7 and ending with the District Drill in April. Your child CAN attend and learn from Bible Drill WITHOUT participating in the Drill. SUMMER 2008 DATES VBS: June 9-12 GA Day Camp: June 23 Sports Camp: June 23-26 Music Camp: July 7-11 Centri-Kid Camp: July 21-25
Recreation Lee Deutschendorf, Ministry Intern Looking ahead to 2008 FYI No Wednesday night supper or activities on December 26 and January 2. The Recreation Ministry at FBC will be offering a number of programs and events to help you start your new year off right.? Weekly Aerobics Classes? Tuesday Night Men s Basketball? Aikido Self Defense Class beginning January 8? Blood Profiles during the month of February? FBC March Madness Sun., March 9 To get more information or to sign up for an event, give us a call at 428-9445. Even More New Equipment! We have recently added a rowing machine to our collection of exercise equipment. Come check it out! CLC Holiday Closings Christmas: December 22 nd through the 26 th New Year s: December 31 st (noon) through January 2 nd The Messenger will not be published the week of Christmas. STEWARDSHIP REPORT Week # 10 December 16, 2007 Year -to-date Goal $974,064.00 Offering: This Week $197,507.05 YTD $909,494.52 Debt Retirement: This Week $5,995.50 YTD $17,124.77 Global Missions YTD: $10,999.00 Lottie Moon YTD: $17,106.00 ATTENDANCE December 16, 2007 Sunday School Preschool 93 Children 123 Students 159 Adults 658 Somerby (Non-FBC Members) 14 New Members - - Visitors 25 TOTAL 1072 Worship Attendance Sanctuary Worship 1183 TOTAL 1183 COLLEGE SKI RETREAT JANUARY 18-21 IN WEST VIRGINIA. The retreat is with the Twentysomethings Ministry. Cost is $225 per person (includes two days of skiing, hotel, and transportation). Register by Sunday, December 30. AT HIS FEET Intercessory Prayer Ministry Team You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 AUTOMATED PRAYER LINE: 428-9460
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PERIODICAL 600 GOVERNORS DRIVE HUNT SVILLE, AL 35801 Family Matters WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Joseph Tillery 1407 Hermitage Ave SE Huntsville, AL 35801-2060 CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY The MESSENGER (USPS 591-280) is publish ed weekly except the week of Christmas by First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801. Periodical postage paid at Huntsville, Alabama 31801-5178. POSTMASTER send change of address to THE MESSENGER, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801 Experienced Adult Ministry Mark Seanor, Minister to Experienced Adults This Christmas - - Don t Forget the Gifts that Cost Nothing! THE GIFT OF LISTENING... But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION... Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER... Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you." THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE... It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT... A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job" or "That was a wonderful meal can make someone's day. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR... Every day, go out of your way to do something kind. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE... There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION... The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You. As the clock ticks down on 2007 it is my prayer that your accomplishments for 2008 include enriched relationships with families, friends, and in your faith. May your Light so shine to men for you are the Light of the world! (Matthew 5:14-16) Merry Christmas from Mark and Angela Seanor David Hinkle in the loss of his sister, Mary Matthew Family and friends of our member, Annetta Martinson, especially to her son, D.C. & Kathryn Martinson Family and friends of our member, LaRue McCullough Family and friends of our member, Mona McKissack Tim & Martha Odom in the loss of his mother, Delora Odom Becky & Les Tillery in the loss of her grandmother and Joseph, Luke, and Lucy Tillery in the loss of their greatgrandmother, Alice Stark OUR NEWEST Britton Basheer Alismail, son of Basheer and Meg Alismail, Birmingham, Alabama, born December 10, 2007. Proud grandparents are Doug and Shelly Hamilton and great-grandparents Ernest & Ellen Hamilton. Grayson Elizabeth Jobes, daughter of Dale & Kristen Jobes, 244 Kyser Blvd, Apt #901, Madison, Alabama 35758, born December 9, 2007. Proud grandparents are Joel & Terry Lonergan and great-grandparents Paul & Barbara Smith. Thanks Thank you notes have been received from Carter Mitchell and Janice Nelson Owen. These have been placed on the bulletin board across from the church office.
TUESDAY MORNINGS Winter Bible Studies for Women A Beth Moore 6-week DVD Study- Stepping Up - A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent This study explores Psalms 120-134. Traveling pilgrims sang these psalms both on the way to the great festivals of the Jews and as key elements of the worship at those festivals. Students will interact with Beth Moore and the Scriptures in new ways. They will gain a new appreciation for the life of faith as a journey to greater fellowship with and worship of God. Led by Donna Lehman Begins Tuesday, February 5 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Room 342, FBC Limited childcare is available by reservation. Please call Donna (536-9003) so she can order books and reserve childcare. WEDNESDAY MORNINGS A Kay Arthur Study The study of the book of Revelation- Part 2 Led by Kennie Worlund Begins Wednesday, January 16 9:00-11:00 Room 342, FBC Please call Kennie (539-4275) about books. ALSO: A Study of the book of Acts Led by Alice Tranter Begins Wednesday, January 16 10:00-11:00 AT SOMERBY CHAPEL Please call Alice (883-5562) with questions ALSO: An in-home study A Beth Moore11-week DVD study A Heart Like His- Seeking the Heart of God Through A Study of David :-Beth Moore invites you to join her on an exciting and intimate journey to know King David, the man after God s own heart. On this journey you will experience the ups and downs of the shepherd s king, and you will come to know and love his God in a new way. Led by Holly Canup Begins Wednesday, January 9 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon At the home of Holly Canup- 102 Preserve Court, Madison, AL Please call Holly (722-2770) so she can order books and for directions to her house.
A NEW WMU ON-LINE BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITY CHRIST FOLLOWERS - A WMU Study of ACTS. This study will be of present-day missions and missions involvement and how to develop a Christ-like response to meeting human needs through missions. This on-line study will utilize a blog/message board format similar to Dr. Hull s Mosaic blog. You participate by posting your responses and reading the responses of others at the time that is most convenient for you! The message board is restricted to viewing by study participants only. Pre-registration is required. Weekly time commitment is about one hour per week. Led by Amanda Ponder Begins Monday, January 28-February 22 Please email Amanda (amandaponder@knology.net) if you would like to participate or have questions. NOTE: It is the desire and prayer of the FBC Women s Ministry to offer many Bible studies at multiple times. We cannot do this without Bible study facilitators. PLEASE PRAY about whether this is something God might be calling you to do. The best facilitators won t be the ones who are most organized or even the most educated about the Bible. All it takes to be the best kind of facilitator is to fully engage in the Bible study material and lead your group out of your own passionate response to all God is teaching you. Take a leap of faith! We can help you discover the perfect study for you to facilitate!