Volume XIX Issue XII December 2016 Invite your friends & neighbors! Christmas Eve Services, December 24, 6:00 & 11:00pm Christmas Day Celebration 10:00am Happy Birthday Jesus Party 10:30am Worship No Small Groups or afternoon or evening activities on Christmas Day Church offices will be closed between Christmas Day and New Years Day from December 26-30. WORLD MISSIONS OFFERING: Our Goal: $22,000.00 Received: $15,638.53 This offering supports The International Board, The North American Mission Board, and the Illinois Baptist State Association. Business Meeting, Wednesday, December 14: Vote on 2017 Budget GIFT someone this Christmas season with an act of service, or by paying for their fast food meal, or buying them a cup of coffee, or baking cookies for a neighbor, etc. Pick up a few You ve Been Gifted cards at the Welcome Center to tell them your act was because of God s love and invite them to Christmas services here. But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Luke 18:15 We need YOU to help us host orphans from China!! In His Hands will be bringing children over for a WINTER hosting program! This is an amazing opportunity to be Jesus to orphans right here in Columbia! This gives kids and chaperones from China a chance to experience American culture, and most importantly a chance to see and hear the gospel! Would you prayerfully consider taking part in this amazing program? There are many ways to get involved: Host an orphan in your home! They will arrive approximately February 14 th - March 6 th. You can be a voice to help them find a family, or find out if your family would be open to adoption! (photo listing is available at the welcome center of children who need a host family) Donate funds - for others to host an orphan in their home. To host each family is asked to pay for the child s airline ticket, passports and visa. You can give toward that cost, OR the funds will be used toward the family feeding/clothing and entertaining the child for 3 weeks. Donate TIME! Some would like to host but work full time. We need people to help care for the kids during the day while their host family is working. Host a chaperone or entertain a chaperone by taking them for a day! A great opportunity to share a meal, visit a local tourist sight and just be love to them. For more information contact Shannon Laxton at shannonlaxton@gmail.com
Parents Take Note! If your child has any of the following symptoms, we ask that you do not bring them to the nursery or preschool areas so that other children are not infected. A green or yellow discharge from the nose or eyes; A congestive or croup cough; A fever of 100 or more in the past 24 hours; Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours; A bacterial infection & has been on antibiotics less than 24 hours. If your child develops any of these symptoms while in our care, we will notify you immediately to pick up your child. Christmas Post Office Our Christmas post office is ready in the fellowship hall for you to exchange Christmas greetings with others in our church family. Please remember to give the money you save on postage to the World Missions Offering. Sympathy...to Eva Roeschlein and family in the passing of her mom....to Shari Ballard and family in the passing of her stepdad....to Mike Byrd and family in the passing of his dad. Thank You! Church Family, On behalf of Bud s family, I want to thank you for your donation and food platter and all of your kindness and support through all of this the last few months. We are so blessed to have you and our church! Shari (Ballard) & Nancy & family FBC Church Family, Thank you for the lovely tribute/memorial given to the Baptist Children s Home on my mother s behalf. She would be very proud. Thank you also, for always caring and showing love to our family. Much love, Eva Roeschlein Thank you for letting us use your facility and helping set up the tables and chairs for the funeral meal. It was much appreciated by our whole family. Charlene Byrd and family Dinner, Entertainment, Dancing Register in the Church Office Gals Formal attire Guys Suits or dress clothes Saturday, January 7, 2017 6:30-10:30pm Genesis Banquet Center 6th Grade - Adults Only $18 per person, bring a friend -$15 each $50 max per household (Purchase tickets in church office)
Heart for God Student Ministry It has been a great year of ministry. I am thankful for what Christ has done in the ministry. I am especially thankful for all of you who contribute with snacks, gifts, donations, encouragement, and prayer. Your generosity is overwhelming and greatly appreciated. I am thankful for the students believing in Christ, sharing their faith, worshiping together, and growing in knowledge of Him who has paid the price that we can be adopted into the family of God. Our leaders have sacrificed and loved our students. They have also grown in knowledge and faith. It has been good. My prayer for this next season of Christmas is that we would rejoice in the Lord, build our unity together and sacrifice our comfort for others. May your season be filled with His presence. Prayer Requests: Please pray for Mindy and Lee Guethle as Mindy goes through treatments for her cancer. They have been an important cornerstone to this ministry and are loved and appreciated For our students to keep engaging others for the gospel during the season break For our leaders and their families that they would be refreshed For our great need for male leaders on Sunday and Wednesday nights For the worship team as we add new members and learning new challenging music For our drama team helping to lead worship on Dec 4 th at another church Our leaders: Lee and Mindy Guethle Diana Goleaner Rachel Ebner Shannon Laxton Erin Westfall Shannon Flowers Phyliss Kaiping Amanda Vandever Mark and Michelle Tullis Mike Ramsey Jennifer Campbell Taff Harris Mark Walter Cheri Courtney Please drop in any Wednesday night and join us for worship and Bible study. It s the best way you see what we are doing. Here is our schedule as I know it currently: Every Monday (school day starting Sept 12 th ) we meet at McDs at 7am and work through Proverbs together. I will take Columbia students to school afterward. (during the school year when school is in session) Every month, 3 rd and 4 th Tuesday, we go to the CAC in East St Louis to work with students. This a great opportunity for us to begin to be missionaries right in our own backyard. Upcoming Events (check FB group for details): Dec 9 th Christmas Party, 7 to 9pm, $5 at Vetta Sports 12320 Old Tesson Rd, St Louis for Wally-ball and then to the Cracchiolo s house for pizza and more. You must sign up so we know how many. If you need transportation, meet at the SMC at 6:15pm and we will have church vans. Parents are welcome Jan 7 th Masquerade/Mystery Ball, details on FB. Reserve the night for dress up, dining, a mystery, and dancing. All students and adults are welcome Feb 24 th and 25 th at Lake Sallateeska, As Iron Sharpens Iron, teen guys and men March 3 rd and 4 th D-Now at FBC Fairview March 17 th and 18 th Dare to Share May 27 th to June 4 th New Mexico Mission Trip June 27 th to July 1 st Super Summer Nov 3 rd and 4 th Fall Retreat at Lake Sallateeska As with all that we do, never let money get in the way of your student attending. I have a budget and know folks willing to sponsor students. If you are willing to sponsor a student, please let me know or simply put a check in to FBC and in the memo, student ministry. So sign up and come, just let me know your need. Also, if you come as a sponsor for the students, student ministry will pay your way (many come and pay their own, but we are willing to take care of you so you can love on students). If you are so led, feel free to sponsor a student to camp on mission and or just support the ministry. Please contact me and I will let you know the need. Pray for us as we follow what the Lord has prepared for us. I am blessed and privileged to work with our students. Watch our FaceBook group for updates and news of the week. (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/ groups/85468124568?ap=1) Join us or call me if you have a question (618 977 9719), e-mail ltrembly@fbccolumbia.com Blessings, LT Love God, Love Others Mark 12:28-31
Missions Minute Thank you, Church! Missions 2017 was a great success. Not only did we enjoy an evening of food, fellowship and missions. We were able to raise $15,722 in pledges and $882 in cash towards our Missions support. Our focus this month is our World Missions offering. The World Missions Offering is an offering supporting Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong mission offerings for US and international missions. Our goal is to collect $22,000. To date, we have collected $15,639. Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part of the World Missions Offering. We will be collecting through the month of December. Both the China and Haiti teams have returned. Much work is being done in these places to further the Kingdom. Please have conversation with some of our missionaries about the work they are doing, they would love to share with you. Shannon Laxton is currently working to find hosts for visiting orphans. They will arrive approximately February 14 th - March 6 th. There are several ways you can help. Consider hosting an orphan, donating funds for others to host, donating time to help while the host family is working or host a chaperone for the day. If you are interested, please contact Shannon Laxton at shannonlaxton@gmail.com. We are continuing to ask the church to join together in prayer for mission teams on the field. We are asking the church to pray for them every evening at 7:00 p.m. Please consider setting an alarm on your phone each evening to spend a few minutes in prayer for them. Currently we have: The Rose Family in China, The Kountz Family in Ecuador, The Flowers Family-currently home, but for their work in Brazil. Feel free to contact the team with any questions you may have: Lonnie Trembly Ashley Ramsey Rachel Ebner Erin Westfall Jesse Stevens Brian Harriss Bob Pellman
If you are scheduled to serve, but are unable to do so, please find a substitute or contact the head of your assigned area. Thank You! serving in december DEACONS Dave Bueltemann, Dick Laxton, Jack Turner PRAYER PARTNERS DECEMBER 4 Jim Powers, Ray Fischer, Rob Gion, Dennis Haudrich, Tom McBroom, DECEMBER 11 Terry, Geist, Al Bollinger, Dewayne Gerberding, Tommy Hopewell, Randy Riebeling, Tim Toolen DECEMBER 18 Lee Guethle, Brian Harriss, Dick Laxton, Mark Laxton, Kyle Riebeling, Tim Verbeke DECEMBER 25 Paul Freed, Mark Blair, Marion Millikan, Doug Rose, Ron Snow, Brian Thompson INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF DECEMBER 4 Denise Byrd DECEMBER 11 Candi Feazel / Denise Byrd DECEMBER 18 Candi Feazel DECEMBER 25 Denise Byrd USHERS Francis Asselmeier, Andy Baxter, Dick Hoffman, Don Horn, John Love, GREETERS 8:00 Gary & Rita Couch, Norma & Toby Thompson 9:00 & 10:45 (U) Mary & Joshua Blair (F) Ken & Marcine Cooper (O) Adam & Jayme Hemken SECURITY OBSERVER Doug Rose FIRST AID RESPONDER DECEMBER 4 Mary Wilhelm DECEMBER 18 Candi Feazel NURSERY WORKERS DECEMBER 11 Marti Harriss DECEMBER 25 Erin Westfall DECEMBER 4 Babies/Crawlers: Christel Abbeg, Karen Franke, Teresa Toolen, HELP NEEDED 1s & 2s: Tim & Francine Verbeke 3 s: Eva Roeschlein, Corri Payton Pre-K: Mark & Shannon Laxton DECEMBER 11 Babies/Crawlers: Jon & Jessie Maus, Heather White, HELP NEEDED 1s & 2s: Audrey Trembly, Theresa Weekley 3 s: Jay & Kamille Spirakis Pre-K: Larry & Diana Goleaner DECEMBER 18 Babies/Crawlers: John & Cindy Love, Nick & Lindsey Greenfeld 1s & 2s: Adam & Jayme Hemken 3 s: Susan Baum Family Pre-K: Kara Grafton, Youth Helper DECEMBER 25 Babies/Crawlers: Rachel & Bailey Ebner, HELP NEEDED 1s & 2s: Caitlin Brinkmann, Leah Walter 3 s: Courtney & Teagan Barton Pre-K: Dennis & Michelle Haudrich CHRISTMAS IDEAS TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY Celebrate Advent at Home with your family: There are Jesse Tree Advent Devotionals at the Welcome Center, or you can use an Advent Calendar make sure if you use this idea to get one that is about Christ and reveals part of His story each day (can be found at a Christian Bookstore). Read books that tell of Christ s birth. Make it a bedtime tradition in December to read a book about Christ s birth. As a family act out the story of Jesus birth: You can have one person read the account and the rest act it out. If you have younger children you can purchase nativity sets that are age appropriate and help them act the story out with the pieces. Make Christmas cookies and take to your neighbors. This is a great way to teach your children to give to others and show Christ s love. Take toys or treats to sick kids in the hospital. Go to a nursing home and pass out cards, candy and/or sing Christmas carols. Perform Acts of Service for your neighbors. (shovel show, sweep walkways, run errands)
OFFERINGS & CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2016 MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE CHURCH OFFICE BY DECEMBER 25 OR POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 27. The office will open Wednesday, December 28 from 9am-noon to deposit final contributions. 2016 For the Record November 2016 Bible Study Average 255 Weekly Worship Average 395 Monthly Budget Offering Received $67,377.71 YTD Budget Needed $849,270.24 YTD Budget Received $746,762.67 Follow the Dream Sprint to the Finish Amount Pledged (2013-2016) $1,346,848.00 Spring to the Finish Received November $6,973.00 Sprint to the Finish received since June 2013 $1,393,244.92 FBC COLUMBIA SCHEDULE OF SERVICES: SUNDAY: Bible Study Groups 8:15am (adult classes no nursery or childcare) Worship 9:30am (childcare for birth through Pre-K) Bible Study Groups 11:00am (all ages birth through age 150!) AWANA 5:00-6:30pm (September April; ages 3 through 5th grade) Youth Group 5:00-6:30pm (grades 6-12 meets at Student Ministry Center) FBC Choir 5:00-6:30pm (September-May) WEDNESDAY: Youth Group Bible Study & Prayer Hiz Kidz Choir 6:30-8:00pm (meets at Student Ministry Center) 6:30pm 6:30pm (September April; ages 4 through 5th grade) FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF: For ministry needs, please don t hesitate to contact a member of our staff personally. Jonathan Peters, Senior Pastor (618-978-7989) Lonnie Trembly, Associate Pastor, Students (618-977-9719) Jonathan Cole, Associate Pastor Worship & Discipleship (407-928-9516) Jenny Auld, Director, Preschool & Children Ministries (636-248-4203) Karen Mercer, Secretary Diana Goleaner, Secretary Susan Baum, Bookkeeper Mark Walter, Custodian Terry Geist, Custodian FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1200 Valmeyer Rd Columbia, Illinois 62236 (618) 281-5605 office (618) 281-7386 fax email: info@fbccolumbia website: fbccolumbia.com Like us on Facebook: FBC Columbia Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/fbccolumbia