Dedicated to bringing Christian faith and Life together through Worship, Outreach, Education, and A Caring Community First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107 December 2016 Advent and Christmas at FBC Sunday, December 11 th The Third Sunday of Advent Christmas Pageant Gifts & Blessings Sunday Worship/Christmas pageant, 9:30 a.m. We light the Candle of Joy and bring our gifts for Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford. We have had a connection with this faith community for many years. Shiloh has a food-and-clothing ministry which provides for many families and children in the area. The Social Action Committee invites you to share gifts for these children this Christmas. Saturday, December 17 th Open House at the Parsonage 2:00-5:00 p.m. Rev. Emerson and her family invite you to the Parsonage for Christmas festivities. All are welcome! Sunday, December 18 th The Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship, 9:30 a.m. We light the Candle of Love. Rev. Emerson continues her sermon series in Shall We Look for Another? Then, we go Christmas Caroling from 11:00-2:00 p.m. Bring your lunch and join us as we bring tidings of cheer to members and friends of First Baptist Church at home. Saturday, December 24 th Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. A Service of Lessons and Carols. We sing, tell the Christmas story, enjoy beautiful music, and end the night lighting candles and sharing God s light as we sing Silent Night. Rev. Emerson will conclude her sermon series with Reflection on the Light. Sunday, December 25 th Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. A simple service in the Sanctuary to gather as a church family and celebrate Jesus birth. Sunday January 1 New Years Day 10:00 a.m. We gather for our service with David Roones leading worship. We will gather around the Lord s Table for Communion on January 8.
Dear Friends, Grace and peace to you as you prepare and celebrate this holy season! One of my favorite lectionary texts from this Advent season is found in Matthew 2:2-11 where John the Baptist is being held captive in prison and sends his followers to go and speak to Jesus and ask him this question: Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? It is a great question. It brings to mind all the things John expects and we expect Jesus, the Messiah, to be. And what of those expectations? In our search for the Christ, what are we looking for, exactly? Jesus answers John indirectly and says in essence, the answer is up to you. Look around you for what I have done in your life and in the world, and then decide for yourself. Maybe down deep you realize, part of you was blind, and now you can see more clearly part of you was lame, and now you can walk part of you was dead inside, and now you can feel new life. That s how we know who Jesus is. Jesus is born in transformation. Jesus invites John, and us, to take stock of our expectations, and seek the presence of Christ whenever and wherever he comes even as an infant, meek and vulnerable, born in a stable, under sparkling stars and angels singing worshipped by simple shepherds and wise men alike. Who would have thought it? Perhaps the most important thing we can do in Advent, even amidst holiday preparations and celebrations, is to be open. Be open to Christ, then, whenever and wherever he comes, even in the most unlikely of ways, in the most unlikely of places. Just be open. As you gather with family and friends, may the presence of Christ be with you, bringing you hope and joy this Christmas and in the New Year. Peace, Pastor Stacy
The Deacons are looking for some help. Birthdays Sally Hurlbert December 8 Joe Greca December 10 Carl Geist December 10 Lynn Deren December 11 Michael Deak December 16 Dan Nunes December 21 Jennifer Sherrange December 22 Jean Pierce December 24 David Dunnells December 26 Anniversaries Duane & Joy Adams December 7 48 years Roger & Karen Eddy December 19 46 years Walter & Carol Eells December 20 64 years Please note the change to the directory Danilo Militar 44 Hill Pasture Road Somers, CT 06071 860-698-9038 We need people to run the sound system and possibly video the service on some Sundays. No experience needed, we will show you what needs to be done. We are looking for one more person or couple to be a shepherd in our shepherding program. For details speak to Faith Geist or Paul Ciarcia. With the season changing and the potential for inclement weather, please remember to watch WFSB Channel 3 or NBC Channel 30 for cancellations or postponements. Please also check your email, and FBC News, for changes in scheduled events. December 4 Isaiah 11:1 10 Psalm 72:1 7, 18 19 Romans 15:4 13 Matthew 3:1 12 December 11 Isaiah 35:1 10 Psalm 146:5 10 James 5:7 10 Matthew 11:2 11 December 18 Isaiah 7:10 16 Psalm 80:1 7, 17 19 Romans 1:1 7 Matthew 1:18 25 Christmas Eve December 24 Isaiah 9:2 7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11 14 Luke 2:1 14 [15 20] Christmas Day December 25 Isaiah 62:6 12 Psalm 97 Titus 3:4 7 Luke 2:[1 7] 8 20 Christmas Day Isaiah 52:7 10 The First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut An American Baptist Church FBC CHURCH STAFF Reverend Stacy Emerson, Senior Minister Reverend Jaimie D. Crumley, Minister of Faith Formation Melinda Shilansky, Music Director Neil Shilansky, Accompanist Elizabeth Miller, Children s Music Director Bill Albert, Facilities Manager Michael Deak, Custodian Kris Hanko, Administrative Secretary 90 North Main Street West Hartford, CT 06107-1924 Church Office Hours Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Phone 860-521-9460 Email whfbc@yahoo.com www.http://fbcwesthartford.org Follow First Baptist Church West Hartford on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram The Focus is a monthly newsletter of First Baptist Church Editor Faith Geist
HUNGRY FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Doesn t sound like much fun, does it? We can t solve all problems, but we can help with this one! Food pantry collection is the first Sunday, December 4 th. For December, let s help with a holiday dinner: canned ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, even a simple dessert maybe? If everyone brings even one or two items, the food pantry staff will put together a holiday dinner in a bag for a family. Thank you! The WARM TREE is a decoration to help warm your neighbor. All are invited to put hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, or other warm items on the Warm Tree during December. The Knitting Group has been making warm things all year, but store bought items are just as good, and sometimes better. Donations will be sent to Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford for distribution to those in need. CT Baptist Homes THE ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR CONTINUES DURING COFFEE TIME! Give love and hope for Christmas. With gift cards for everyone on your list, it s a great way to honor young or old. And every penny is taxdeductible, so you can be generous! Choose CHURCH WORLD SERVICE (farm animals and much more) or KIVA (loans that change lives). Make your check to First Baptist Church and put CWS or KIVA in the memo line. Stop by the Fair Table, choose something special for family or friends and pick a gift card to hang on the tree or to mail. It s that simple AVOID THE MALL, CHANGE A LIFE, and MAKE FRIENDS & FAMILY HAPPY! WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK OF A HOLIDAY GIFT? At CBH they recognize the importance of tradition and celebration, and they also realize that not all of their residents have families who are able to supply the little extras that add to the festivities at this time of year. At their annual Christmas party, Santa and his helpers give each resident a gift bag, filled to the brim with Wish List items that have been donated. You can help them make this a special day for everyone through your donations. A copy of their wish list & and a box will be available in Fellowship Hall on Sundays. (Katherine Fagerburg) Christmas Offering This year our Christmas Offering will go toward both the lunch program at Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford, and to disaster relief through One Great Hour of Sharing.
When? Thurs. Dec. 8, 2016 at 6:30 PM What? A documentary screening. Facilitated by Ms. Teresa Eickel. Documentary run time is 96 minutes. All are welcome. An Invitation for our Christmas Celebration from your Flower Committee Each year the congregation is offered the opportunity to share in the beauty and joy of the Christmas season by providing plants. You may designate your plant(s) in honor or memory of a loved one. The cost of each plant is $15.00. However, a donation in any amount is appreciated. If you would like to join in this celebration, please return this sheet to the church office/or put it in the offering plate with your check payable to First Baptist Church Flower Fund, no later than December 11, 2016. Please check any that apply: I/We will take our plant(s) I/We will not take our plant(s) I/We will be happy to deliver to a shut-in. Plant is in memory of or Plant is in honor of Your Name Phone Number of Plants Amount attached Please return this form with your payment by December 11, 2016
HOLIDAY LUNCH BUNCH THURSDAY, DEC 8 11:30 in the KITCHEN Just a holiday get-together! No projects. Nothing educational. Just relax and enjoy. Back by popular request: the Yankee Gift Swap. Everyone gets a number and #1 opens a gift. Number 2 opens a gift and decides if she wants hers or #1 s gift. And so it goes: everyone chooses between her gift and all the gifts already opened. Poor #1, who had no choice, gets the last word. She chooses from all the gifts! Word is out that the gifts move around a lot. Bring a small wrapped gift under $5. No need for a trip to the mall. Holiday goodies from the supermarket are great. Or make or bake at home, or make a gift certificate for future goodies! Hostesses are EDIE CASTAGNO and FAITH GEIST. First-timers don t have to bring a dish. It s very informal and everyone is invited! THE FIRST BAPTIST COOKBOOK should be on your gift list! This one is as much about the church, its history and its members as it is about cooking. At $10, they make great stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. Let Sonja or the church office know and we ll get it to you right away! FBC Greeting Card Board Post your Christmas card or letter on the FBC Greeting Card Board in Fellowship Hall for all to read. (Sally Hurlbert). Please save your Christmas cards. They can be left in the Women s closet or given to Carol Wylie. We will use them to make Christmas tags for next year.
Sun Mon. Tue Wed Thu Fri. Sat s 1 2 3 6:00 PM 7:00 Bible Study Cinema and the Sacred 4 9:30 FBC Worship 10:30 Fellowship Time 11:00 Christian Education 12:15 Ch & Y Christian Ed Committee 12:30 CBC Worship 5 6 7 10:00 Staff Mtg 10:30 Loaves & Fishes 1:00 Knitting 2:30 Missions Committee 11:30 Lunch Bunch 8 9 10 8:00 AA 7:00 Trustees 7:00 Chancel Choir Rehearsal 7:30 Al-Anon 6:30-9:00 Documentary: Before the Flood 11 9:30 FBC Worship/ Christmas Pageant 10:30 Fellowship Time 11:15 Women s Fellowship 12:30 CBC Worship 4:00 Baptism Class 8:00 AA 12 10:00 Service @ Cedar Mountain Commons 7:00 Trustees 13 6:00 Calendaring Meeting 7:00 General Board Mtg 10:00 Staff Mtg 1:00 Knitting 7:00 Chancel Choir Rehearsal 7:30 Al-Anon 14 15 16 17 2:00-5:00 PM Open House @ the Emersons 18 9:30 FBC Worship 10:30 Fellowship Time 11:00 Christmas Caroling 12:30 CBC Worship 8:00 AA 19 20 21 10:00 Staff Mtg 1:00 Knitting 7:00 Chancel Choir Rehearsal 7:30 Al-Anon 22 23 7:00 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 24 10:00 FBC Worship 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 12:30 CBC Worship 8:00 AA 7:30 Al-Anon