Volume 44 Number 43

December 7, 2016

Christmas at

First Baptist

Special Called Church Conference Wednesday, December 14

6:00 p.m.

Office Closings December 23, 26, 27 and January 2

There will not be a VISION the weeks of December 19 and December 26.

Christmas Eve Services 4:00 p.m. - Traditional Communion - Sanctuary

6:00 p.m. - Family Communion - Sanctuary

Christmas Day One Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. - Sanctuary

No Childcare No Sunday School

New Year’s Day Sunday School - 9:15 a.m.

One Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. - Fellowship Hall

No Wednesday Activities December 21, 28 and January 4

There will not be a VISION the week of January 2.

Ware It Is Dr. Todd Ware, Associate Pastor

First Baptist Church Monroe: Family, Friends, Faith

My ecumenical exposure was somewhat limited in my growing-up days. My pig path didn’t stray much between 503 Hill Street and First Baptist Washington. My friend Jerry snuck me into the Presbyterian church for VBS, while

another friend Chris vouched for me out at Washington Chap-el. Honestly, that was about it. I knew the Catholics were on the bypass, the Methodists met next door to the police department, and the Episcopalians’ building had a red front door and sat behind a brick wall — but I never visited any of them. Only after entering Mer-cer University did my ecumenical horizons begin to broaden. It was there that I took a class on “Denominations in America” from Dr. Bud-dy Shurden.

Soon after being in Dr. Shurden’s class, I found myself on staff at Middletown United Methodist while a student at Southern Seminary. Talk about a game changer. During those days I learned some of the ways of the Wesley brothers. I also came to appreciate the Common Lectionary and the use of liturgy and ritual. And it was then that I acquired a new appreciation for the Advent Wreath. It’s not that we didn’t have an Advent Wreath back at First Baptist Washington. We did — but it was used for a different pur-pose. Since we were raising money for Lottie Moon at Christmas (an offering for International missionaries), we lit one of the smaller can-dles every time we reached a certain dollar amount. Once we ex-ceeded our goal, however, we lit the large white candle in the cen-ter. It was a big deal. Those Methodists, however, didn’t seem to know about Lot-tie. Instead, they used their wreath as a way of pointing toward dif-ferent Christmas themes such as hope, peace, joy, and love. And when they gathered on Christmas Eve, they lit the center candle to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I thought it was a good idea. It’s almost 30 years later, and I’m still clinging to my Baptist roots — and Lottie is still being paid through our Give to Go Offering. But things have changed a little. Just listen out this Sunday morning as we pause for our Advent Wreath. Take in the lesson on joy, the Scripture reading, and the prayer, and then be thankful for those Methodists — even if they do need to be under the watchful eye of the police station.

Serving Jesus Together,

Todd

PAGE 2 December 7, 2016 First Baptist Church Monroe: Family, Friends, Faith

Visit FBC online now at www.fbcmonroe.com and follow us on Twitter @FBCMonroeGA

11 Regina Adcock 14 Nevaeh Massey 11 Randall Laseter 15 Marilyn Brownlee 11 Avery Garner 15 Lorraine Payne 12 Cristye Moon 15 Jan Harmon 12 Kiley Doster 15 John Head 13 Ramona Robison 16 Josh Heffernan 13 Trey Brown 17 Mary Waites 13 Andrew Harlan 17 Chuck Delchamps 14 Diane Hardy 17 Pat Malcom 14 Donna Colquitt 17 Catherine Phelps 14 Hannah Sorrells

Happy

Birthday

To you!

Prayer Requests Leena Banks (2-year-old niece of Bud Nguyen) - Home Peggy Breedlove - DCH Hospital, Tuscaloosa, AL, following stroke Nancy Brown (Royce McNeal’s sister) - Cancer, Columbia, SC Carolyn Crane - Esophageal surgery on 12/8 at Clearview Bobbie Edwards - Home, following hospital stay Marcy Haymans - Home Debbie Howard (Brenda Miller’s sister-in-law) - Atlanta Medical Shuford Jones (Teri Ware’s father) - Home Van Kitchens - Home Amy McCollum (Charlie & Sara Powell’s daughter) - Home, chemo Taylor McGarity (friend of Teri Head) - Shepherd’s Clinic Elijah McMahan (6-year-old student at Loganville Elementary) - Suffering from a brain injury from car accident Danny Miller - Home Scott Millians - Home, following open heart surgery Zoe Radosevich - Home with broken arm Julian Shiver (Mitch Shiver’s father) - Home Martha Trollinger - Home, with shingles Teri Ware - Home, kidney stones

POINSETTIAS FOR THE SANCTUARY

It is time, once again, to adorn our sanctuary with poinsettias. If you would like to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary in honor or in memory of a loved one on Sunday, December 18, please contact your florist and remind him/her that the poinsettias must be wrapped in green paper with red bows. Also, please contact Teri Head in the church office by Friday, December 9, to let her know how to print your information in the bulletin.

Menu: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green peas, salad bar, biscuits and dessert. Children: Grilled chicken sandwiches Helpers: Pat Bailey and Don and

Dianne James

Wednesday, December 14 Supper & Special Called

Church Conference - 5:00 p.m.

All 100 children were adopted! Bags of gifts will be delivered on Friday to Light-house to be distributed during their Sunday service. Thank you to all who helped make a Walton County child's Christmas exciting this year!

Thank you for

supporting

Adopt-an-Angel!

PAGE 3 First Baptist Church Monroe: Family, Friends, Faith December 7, 2016

Visit FBC online now at www.fbcmonroe.com and follow us on Twitter @FBCMonroeGA

Wayfarers’ Breakfast

If you are 55 or older, please join us for breakfast!

Tuesday, December 13 9:30 a.m.

In the Fellowship Hall $3 per person

Shut-In of the Week

Carolyn Witcher The Oaks

4090 Kathwood Drive Athens, GA 30607

Honor and Inspiration The past several weeks have been celebrations of

God’s great love for us and demonstrations of ministry de-fined by great attention to detail. It has been said that “Excellence honors God and inspires people.” That has cer-tainly been true at First Baptist Monroe recently. Maria Bran-nen and her team did a fantastic job with the Ladies’ Christ-mas Tea. The fellowship hall and office area have been transformed into a welcoming Christmas space by Dave and Denise Newman and their band of happy helpers. Vivian Beasley and Margie Briscoe led the way in our campaign to collect Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. And Decie Miller and Deborah Smith provided superb leadership to our Hanging of the Green service.

The Floral Committee, led by Carol Bradley, has been and is working hard to make our sanctuary a beautiful place for worship during Advent. Curtis Murdock and the Sanctuary Choir ministered to us in a powerful way through their music this past Sunday. And Deborah Breedlove has rallied the elves to adopt our 100 local angels and to sponsor FISH MD with monetary gifts. Thanks to everyone who has had a part. God has truly been honored and His people have been inspired! You’re the best. Special Called Conference

There will be a special called conference on Wednesday, December 14, for the purpose of voting on the 2017 Annual Operating Budget, the list of 2017 prospective deacons, and a special committee recommendation from the nominating committee. As Baptists, our commitment to con-gregational polity encourages all of our members to partici-pate in the “business” of the church. Be present on the 14th as we participate together in making decisions for church life in 2017. The Front Porch Did you know First Baptist has a lifegroup for young adult singles? They meet on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the 301 Hospitality House. Need more information? Email Den-ise at denisenewman56@gmail.com .

Congratulations to Mike and Sallie Eckles upon the November 24 arrival of their granddaughter, Celia Frances Eckles. She weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces and was 21 inches long. She is the

daughter of Doug and Elin Eckles of Atlanta. Gus is the big brother.

A thank you note has been received from the family of John Spence and placed on the church bulletin board.

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Friday

Office 770-267-5904 Fax 770-207-7383

Todd Ware ............................................................... Associate Pastor Greg DeLoach ......................................................... Interim Preacher Alex Boskoff ...................................................... 8:30 Worship Leader Lynn Brown ............................................................. Ministry Assistant Chris Bryan ..................................................... 11:11 Worship Leader Darlene Christie ................................ Director of Preschool Ministries Gordon Davidson .............................. Minister to Students & Families Lisa Garrett .......................................................... Financial Secretary Teri Head ................................................................ Ministry Assistant Royce McNeal ............................................ Minister to Senior Adults Curtis Murdock .............................................. 11:00 Worship Leader Shannon Radosevich .......................................... Minister to Children Amy Smeltzer ............................................. Family Ministry Assistant Elizabeth Young...................................................... Ministry Assistant

TIME-SENSITIVE MATERIAL FOR

DECEMBER 11, 2016

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D

PERMIT #56

First Baptist Church 202 McDaniel Street PO Box 351 Monroe, Georgia 30655 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Nursery

8:30 Leader - Beverly Potter

Babies: Lori Brown Volunteer Needed! 3- to 5-Year-Olds: Tena Alligood Derrick Brown Jane Pettus

11:00 Babies: Emily Salley

Norma Brown 3- to 5-Year-Olds: Volunteer Needed! Elizabeth Austin Hayes Salley

Memorials & Honorariums Received this Week

SUNDAY SCHOOL

ATTENDANCE

Adults .............................253 Students ........................... 43 Children ............................ 43 Preschool ......................... 29 Total: 368 Last Year 391

Sunday, December 11

Morning Worship ................................................................ 8:30 a.m. Sunday School..................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship ............................................................... 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship ............................................................... 11:11 a.m.

Wednesday, December 14

Handbells ............................................................................. 5:00 p.m. Supper & Called Church Conference ................................. 5:00 p.m. Bible Drill (3rd-12th Grades) ............................................... 5:30 p.m. Adult Bible Studies .............................................................. 6:00 p.m. Preschool Choir (3- to 5-Year-Olds) ................................... 6:00 p.m. Children’s Activities (1st-6th Grades) .................................. 6:00 p.m. Mid-Week Youth Bible Study (7th-12th Grades) ................ 6:30 p.m. Praise Band ......................................................................... 6:30 p.m.

Last Week at

First Baptist Church

December 4, 2016

Next Week, December 11, at

First Baptist Church

Deacons : Wayne Adcock & Alex Boskoff

GIVING FOR WEEK

Weekly Budget Required ......................... $ 29,326.92 Budget Received ...................................... $ 34,724.50 Designated Gifts ....................................... $ 8,457.00 Budget Required to Date .......................... $ 1,437,019.08 Budget Received to Date ......................... $ 1,383,493.16 November Online Giving .......................... $ 12,723.50

Give to Go: $67,501

Visitors’ Welcome

8:30 Sharon Queen Sandy Cintron Susanne Autry Elizabeth Cabaniss 11:00 Jane Pettus Sue Songer Donna Brown Helen Mullins Bobby & Hilda Jones

FISH M.D. TREE Give the Gift of Health

General Fund In memory of Evelyn Brooks given by: Mr. & Mrs. George Baker, Jr. In memory of John Spence given by: Mr. & Mrs. George Baker, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Russ Bailey In memory of Kenneth Sims given by: Mr. & Mrs. George Baker, Jr. In memory of Jim Beasley given by: Mrs. Barbara Webb Mr. & Mrs. Alex Boskoff In memory of Buddy Howard given by: Mrs. Barbara Webb In memory of Arlene Mitcham given by: Mr. & Mrs. Alex Boskoff Children’s Department Fund In memory of Evelyn Brooks given by: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Whitley Mature Adults Fund In memory of Buddy Howard given by: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Whitley

Youth Ministry Fund In memory of John Spence given by: Melinda Quinn Mr. & Mrs. Alan Bolton Mr. & Mrs. Frank Whitley Mr. & Mrs. Ray Uhl Missions In memory of Arlene Mitcham given by: Mr. & Mrs. Bob Malcom In memory of Tracy Hairell given by: Mrs. Barbara Webb In memory of Archie Mayo given by: Mrs. Barbara Webb In memory of Ron Holloway given by: Mrs. Barbara Webb Barnabas Fund In honor of Shirley Porterfield, Richard Sells, and Brad Brownlow given by: The Agape Sunday School Class