The MESSENGER (USPS 591-280) is published 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.

office: 256-428-9400

weekend minister on call: 256-428-9457

24-hour prayer line: 256-428-9460

The Messengerfbchsv.org

firsT bapTisT hunTsville

this sunday

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

First Baptist Church

600 Governors Drive

Huntsville, AL 35801

Hallelujah Choir

The Hallelujah Choir is preparing for a very special presentation on Wednesday evening, October 24. Entitled The Song Everlasting, the concert will feature the

combined groups from our church and their counterparts from FBC Bowling Green, KY. Rehearsals are Monday mornings at 10:30

AM. Open to all “Experienced Adults.”

The Living Christmas Tree

The Living Christmas Tree choir has begun practicing! This year’s group is

outstanding in every way and is still open for new members. It is not too late to come aboard for the beautiful music of Christmas.

Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Choir Room. Childcare is provided. Contact the Music Ministry Office if you

have questions or need more information.

Family MattersOUR NEWESTMonica Rose Kirk, daughter of Johnny and Michelle Kirk, born September 27, 2012. Proud grandparents are John and Judy Kirk.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHYFamily and friends of our member, Billie Brown especially to her daughters, Beverly Brown and Nannette (Dennis) O’Dell and her grandsons, Denny, Clay and Patrick O’Dell.

Allen and Shirley Gray in the loss of his brother and Keith and Blake Gray in the loss of their uncle, Pat Gray.

Family and friends of our member, Shelia Hulsey, especially to her husband, Ron Hulsey, and her daughters, Cecilia Hulsey Carlson and Meredith Hulsey Kepler.

Don and Myrna Ross, Sr. in the loss of their daughter and Jean Walker in the loss of her daughter-in-law, Barbara Ann Walker

Scott and Karen Hangartner in the loss of his father and Alan (Carol Ann), Lawson and Haley in the loss of their grandfather, Jim Hangartner

Kathy Hatley in the loss of her Uncle, Herman Barnett

Renee and Tim Vander Veer in the loss of her mother and Nancy and Rebecca Vander Veer in the loss of their Grandmother, Ruth Johnson

Dian and Jimmy Poole in the loss of her mother, Dora Tidwell.

Volume 63 / Week Number 40 / October 4, 2012

October 7, 2012

World Communion Sunday

Sermon“Good News for Our Guilt”

Romans 5:6-11

First Fellowship Worship - 8:15 a.m.Special Music from the First Fellowship Band

“Home”“One Thing Remains” (#9)*

“How He Loves”*denotes selection from our First Fellowship

Songs, Vol. 2 CD

Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m.Bible Study for all ageswww.fbchsv.org/study

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Sanctuary Choir Anthem

Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs - Graun

Evening ActivitiesFoundations for Life Classes

www.fbchsv.org/foundationsforlife

For the second year, bells will ring from coast to coast as a grateful nation pauses this Sunday to

honor those firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011. At First Baptist our bells will join in this

tribute in memory of these brave, fallen persons. Anyone wishing to witness the tolling in front of the

church is invited there at 12:00 Noon.

FIRST THOUGHTSDavid Hull, Pastor

I encourage you to pray for our country. These are important days as we face an election for President. All across our land people are joining in calls to prayer. I invite you to do the same. But how should we pray when we gather as a church? I offer some personal reflections for you to consider.

First Baptist Church is a congregation comprised of both Democrats and Republicans. Respecting the political views of all of our members, I will not be praying for one candidate to win over another. Our church reaches out with the gospel to people of all political preferences. I would not want our

prayers about an election to turn people away from hearing the gospel.

Here is what I will be praying for during the days ahead. I shared this with the Prayer Meeting group last week. You will hear these thoughts in prayers in the days to come. Perhaps you will find this helpful as you pray for our country.

1. Pray for God to heal the divisions in our country. We are more polarized and divided now than any time in my memory. Too often we think in categories of “us/them,” “either/or” instead of trying to figure out ways that all Americans can join together to solve the challenges facing us. God is still in the reconciling business! I am praying for God to heal the divisions in our land.

2. Pray for God to give all of us wisdom as we prepare to vote. Many have already decided how they will vote in the election – others are still undecided. I am going to pray for God’s wisdom to guide all of us as we make decisions that are so important for our country. I will be the first to admit that I do not have all of the answers for the challenges facing the United States. God knows best –so I will be praying for God to guide me and others with wisdom far beyond my own understanding.

3. Pray that God will use me to demonstrate Christian love during this election season. It is so easy to become offensive or defensive about politics and forget our calling to share the love of Jesus with others. In spoken and written words, in conversations with friends and strangers, in times of agreement and disagreement, I pray that God will use me to demonstrate the love of Jesus to all people during this next month. If we all pray for that, I think that we have a wonderful opportunity to be witnesses for Christ.

4. Pray that God will give strength, health, and wisdom to the candidates who are running for office. The grueling pace of an election season is beyond what I can comprehend. Whether you are running for President of our country or for a local office, there are great demands on those who enter the political process and actively campaign for office. I am going to pray that all candidates will have the strength and health to be able to present their very best ideas, and then we will enter the voting booth on November 6 and let democracy work.

Those are my prayers for our country during this season. Will you join me in prayer?

Taking the Next StepDeadline for Commitments is this Sunday for Administrative Suite completion.

Come fellowship with other women as we eat and create together. There are six crafts to choose from and they will be on display at the sign-up table. Remember that you don’t have to be crafty to attend - we will

teach you everything you need to know.

Friday, October 19 6:00-9:00 PM

Dinner is $5 plus the cost of the craft(s) that you choose to make.

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

Library Hours Sunday 9-9:15 AM | 10:10-10:45 AM | 11:40-12:00 PMTuesday 10:00 AM-12:00 PMWednesday 4:00-5:00 PM

Wednesday Night Dinner MenuWednesday, October 10

AdultsBeef BrisketBaked BeansPotato Salad

SlawRolls

SaladFried Chicken Salad

(Reservations for salad must be turned in by noon on Wednesday.)

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

09/30/12

Year-to-Date Goal $ 4,200,000.00

Offering

This Week $ 127,473.17

YTD $ 4,113,792.14

Debt Retirement

This Week $ 1,034.00

YTD $ 47,664.50

Faith Steps to the Future

This Week $ 28,655.31

YTD $ 1,481,703.18

To Date: $ 3,888,434.13

ATTENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 71

Children 86

Students 119

Adults 595

Brookdale 18

Visitors 38

TOTAL 923

Worship ServicesFirst Fellowship 368

Sanctuary Worship 538

TOTAL 906

THANK YOUA thank you note has been received from the family of Wylodine Hull. It has been

placed on the bulletin board across from the church office.

P.E.T. Vehicle AssemblySaturday, October 20

7:30 AM until 1:30 PM.5021 Bradford Drive in Huntsville -around back at the loading dock.

Sign up to work from 7:30 AM - 10:30 or 10:30 - 1:30 PM

Lunch will be provided and no special skills are required. Our goal is to build 40 P.E.T. vehicles.

For more information:Dr. Jerry Graham’s office: 256-461-7482

lauraelrod_ips@bellsouth.netMike Pearce: 256-428-9448

Volunteers from FBC helped assemble P.E.T. vehicles that were then shipped to Ghana where they were distributed in both the Nakpanduri area, about 45 minutes from Baptist Medical Centre, and in Nalerigu, the hospital village. Many of the people receiving the carts have been almost homebound, or only able to get around with great difficulty. These carts provide them with greater mobility and quality of life. There is a need for more of these P.E.T. vehicles as we now have people in both villages who can have the carts assembled and distributed.

P.E.T. Vehicles in GhanaPersonal Energy Transportation

Pumpkin PatchYoung Adult

Tuesday, October 23At the home of Susan Wessinger

Firepit, pumpkin carving, cookout, fellowship...much more!

Sunday, October 7First Fellowship - Lord’s Supper 8:15 AMMorning Bible Study 9:15 AMSanctuary Worship - Lord’s Supper 10:30 AMWomen’s Bible Study/114 4:30 PMStudent Choir/CR, 343 5:00 PMFoundations for Life Classes 5:00 PM Monday, Oct. 8Prayer Partners/Parlor 9:00 AMLetter Writing/242 9:00 AMBalance Classes/140,141 9:00 AMHallelujah Choir/CR 10:30 AM

Tuesday, Oct. 9 Student Prayer Breakfast 6:45 AMTues. Morn. Intercess./242 7:00 AMWomen’s Bible Study/343 8:30 AMHealth & Living/140 9:30 AMGrief Share/Parlor 6:00 PMVenture Scouts/342 6:00 PMBoy Scouts/343 6:30 PMFORUM/321,324,327 6:30 PMAdult Handbells/315 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Oct. 10Precept Bible Study/343 9:00 AMBalance Classes/140,141, FH 9:00 AMWriting Your Life Story/118 11:00 AMWorld Crafts/118 12:30 PMSupper/FH 4:45 PMFinancial Peace/111 5:00 PMMusic & Missions 5:30 PMFireProof/324 5:30 PMPrayer Service/FH 5:45 PMWomen’s Bible Study/114 5:45 PMOrchestra/Sanct. 6:00 PMLiftoff/309-310 6:00 PMSanctuary Choir Reh./ Ch. Rm. 7:00 PM

Thursday, Oct. 11 Young Adults Bible Study/Parlor 6:00 AMS.I.L.K./108 12:00 PM

Friday, Oct. 12Balance Classes/140-141 9:00 AMFellowship Club/FH 10:00 AM

MeetFBC! classes begin this Sunday!MeetFBC! meets for four Sundays at 9:15 AM in room 112.

Each week you will meet and visit with some of our ministerial staff and learn about their ministry areas. Even better...our ministers meet YOU!

If you are fairly new to the church, we invite you to be a part!

Hear some of the comments that have been shared recently. “This class is a great idea. I feel like such a part of this church again

because so many people shared their time. Thanks! Great job!”

“This was very helpful to us, especially in exposing us to all the various ministries of such a large church. It was also good to connect with a few

people who are also new.”

If you are interested in learning more about the class, please contact Pam McDaniel at pam@fbchsv.org or call her at 428-9400.

MeetFBC!

Fellowship ClubOctober 12, 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall

Menu: Country Fried Steak with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas, Rolls

Musical by Jack EllisFor non-members call Sue Mauldin

at 256-534-2368

Worship with First Missionary Baptist Church

The women from the choir of First Missionary Baptist, Blue Spring will be joining with the

women from OUR Sanctuary Choir on Sunday evening, October 14, when Dr. Julius Scruggs and our sister church join us for worship. This

experience will be much like what our men did in February when we worshipped in the sanctuary

on Blue Spring Road. Thank you, sopranos and altos!

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

Library Hours Sunday 9-9:15 AM | 10:10-10:45 AM | 11:40-12:00 PMTuesday 10:00 AM-12:00 PMWednesday 4:00-5:00 PM

Wednesday Night Dinner MenuWednesday, October 10

AdultsBeef BrisketBaked BeansPotato Salad

SlawRolls

SaladFried Chicken Salad

(Reservations for salad must be turned in by noon on Wednesday.)

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

09/30/12

Year-to-Date Goal $ 4,200,000.00

Offering

This Week $ 127,473.17

YTD $ 4,113,792.14

Debt Retirement

This Week $ 1,034.00

YTD $ 47,664.50

Faith Steps to the Future

This Week $ 28,655.31

YTD $ 1,481,703.18

To Date: $ 3,888,434.13

ATTENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 71

Children 86

Students 119

Adults 595

Brookdale 18

Visitors 38

TOTAL 923

Worship ServicesFirst Fellowship 368

Sanctuary Worship 538

TOTAL 906

THANK YOUA thank you note has been received from the family of Wylodine Hull. It has been

placed on the bulletin board across from the church office.

P.E.T. Vehicle AssemblySaturday, October 20

7:30 AM until 1:30 PM.5021 Bradford Drive in Huntsville -around back at the loading dock.

Sign up to work from 7:30 AM - 10:30 or 10:30 - 1:30 PM

Lunch will be provided and no special skills are required. Our goal is to build 40 P.E.T. vehicles.

For more information:Dr. Jerry Graham’s office: 256-461-7482

lauraelrod_ips@bellsouth.netMike Pearce: 256-428-9448

Volunteers from FBC helped assemble P.E.T. vehicles that were then shipped to Ghana where they were distributed in both the Nakpanduri area, about 45 minutes from Baptist Medical Centre, and in Nalerigu, the hospital village. Many of the people receiving the carts have been almost homebound, or only able to get around with great difficulty. These carts provide them with greater mobility and quality of life. There is a need for more of these P.E.T. vehicles as we now have people in both villages who can have the carts assembled and distributed.

P.E.T. Vehicles in GhanaPersonal Energy Transportation

Pumpkin PatchYoung Adult

Tuesday, October 23At the home of Susan Wessinger

Firepit, pumpkin carving, cookout, fellowship...much more!

Sunday, October 7First Fellowship - Lord’s Supper 8:15 AMMorning Bible Study 9:15 AMSanctuary Worship - Lord’s Supper 10:30 AMWomen’s Bible Study/114 4:30 PMStudent Choir/CR, 343 5:00 PMFoundations for Life Classes 5:00 PM Monday, Oct. 8Prayer Partners/Parlor 9:00 AMLetter Writing/242 9:00 AMBalance Classes/140,141 9:00 AMHallelujah Choir/CR 10:30 AM

Tuesday, Oct. 9 Student Prayer Breakfast 6:45 AMTues. Morn. Intercess./242 7:00 AMWomen’s Bible Study/343 8:30 AMHealth & Living/140 9:30 AMGrief Share/Parlor 6:00 PMVenture Scouts/342 6:00 PMBoy Scouts/343 6:30 PMFORUM/321,324,327 6:30 PMAdult Handbells/315 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Oct. 10Precept Bible Study/343 9:00 AMBalance Classes/140,141, FH 9:00 AMWriting Your Life Story/118 11:00 AMWorld Crafts/118 12:30 PMSupper/FH 4:45 PMFinancial Peace/111 5:00 PMMusic & Missions 5:30 PMFireProof/324 5:30 PMPrayer Service/FH 5:45 PMWomen’s Bible Study/114 5:45 PMOrchestra/Sanct. 6:00 PMLiftoff/309-310 6:00 PMSanctuary Choir Reh./ Ch. Rm. 7:00 PM

Thursday, Oct. 11 Young Adults Bible Study/Parlor 6:00 AMS.I.L.K./108 12:00 PM

Friday, Oct. 12Balance Classes/140-141 9:00 AMFellowship Club/FH 10:00 AM

MeetFBC! classes begin this Sunday!MeetFBC! meets for four Sundays at 9:15 AM in room 112.

Each week you will meet and visit with some of our ministerial staff and learn about their ministry areas. Even better...our ministers meet YOU!

If you are fairly new to the church, we invite you to be a part!

Hear some of the comments that have been shared recently. “This class is a great idea. I feel like such a part of this church again

because so many people shared their time. Thanks! Great job!”

“This was very helpful to us, especially in exposing us to all the various ministries of such a large church. It was also good to connect with a few

people who are also new.”

If you are interested in learning more about the class, please contact Pam McDaniel at pam@fbchsv.org or call her at 428-9400.

MeetFBC!

Fellowship ClubOctober 12, 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall

Menu: Country Fried Steak with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas, Rolls

Musical by Jack EllisFor non-members call Sue Mauldin

at 256-534-2368

Worship with First Missionary Baptist Church

The women from the choir of First Missionary Baptist, Blue Spring will be joining with the

women from OUR Sanctuary Choir on Sunday evening, October 14, when Dr. Julius Scruggs and our sister church join us for worship. This

experience will be much like what our men did in February when we worshipped in the sanctuary

on Blue Spring Road. Thank you, sopranos and altos!

The MESSENGER (USPS 591-280) is published 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.

office: 256-428-9400

weekend minister on call: 256-428-9457

24-hour prayer line: 256-428-9460

The Messengerfbchsv.org

firsT bapTisT hunTsville

this sunday

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

First Baptist Church

600 Governors Drive

Huntsville, AL 35801

Hallelujah Choir

The Hallelujah Choir is preparing for a very special presentation on Wednesday evening, October 24. Entitled The Song Everlasting, the concert will feature the

combined groups from our church and their counterparts from FBC Bowling Green, KY. Rehearsals are Monday mornings at 10:30

AM. Open to all “Experienced Adults.”

The Living Christmas Tree

The Living Christmas Tree choir has begun practicing! This year’s group is

outstanding in every way and is still open for new members. It is not too late to come aboard for the beautiful music of Christmas.

Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Choir Room. Childcare is provided. Contact the Music Ministry Office if you

have questions or need more information.

Family MattersOUR NEWESTMonica Rose Kirk, daughter of Johnny and Michelle Kirk, born September 27, 2012. Proud grandparents are John and Judy Kirk.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHYFamily and friends of our member, Billie Brown especially to her daughters, Beverly Brown and Nannette (Dennis) O’Dell and her grandsons, Denny, Clay and Patrick O’Dell.

Allen and Shirley Gray in the loss of his brother and Keith and Blake Gray in the loss of their uncle, Pat Gray.

Family and friends of our member, Shelia Hulsey, especially to her husband, Ron Hulsey, and her daughters, Cecilia Hulsey Carlson and Meredith Hulsey Kepler.

Don and Myrna Ross, Sr. in the loss of their daughter and Jean Walker in the loss of her daughter-in-law, Barbara Ann Walker

Scott and Karen Hangartner in the loss of his father and Alan (Carol Ann), Lawson and Haley in the loss of their grandfather, Jim Hangartner

Kathy Hatley in the loss of her Uncle, Herman Barnett

Renee and Tim Vander Veer in the loss of her mother and Nancy and Rebecca Vander Veer in the loss of their Grandmother, Ruth Johnson

Dian and Jimmy Poole in the loss of her mother, Dora Tidwell.

Volume 63 / Week Number 40 / October 4, 2012

October 7, 2012

World Communion Sunday

Sermon“Good News for Our Guilt”

Romans 5:6-11

First Fellowship Worship - 8:15 a.m.Special Music from the First Fellowship Band

“Home”“One Thing Remains” (#9)*

“How He Loves”*denotes selection from our First Fellowship

Songs, Vol. 2 CD

Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m.Bible Study for all ageswww.fbchsv.org/study

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Sanctuary Choir Anthem

Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs - Graun

Evening ActivitiesFoundations for Life Classes

www.fbchsv.org/foundationsforlife

For the second year, bells will ring from coast to coast as a grateful nation pauses this Sunday to

honor those firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011. At First Baptist our bells will join in this

tribute in memory of these brave, fallen persons. Anyone wishing to witness the tolling in front of the

church is invited there at 12:00 Noon.

FIRST THOUGHTSDavid Hull, Pastor

I encourage you to pray for our country. These are important days as we face an election for President. All across our land people are joining in calls to prayer. I invite you to do the same. But how should we pray when we gather as a church? I offer some personal reflections for you to consider.

First Baptist Church is a congregation comprised of both Democrats and Republicans. Respecting the political views of all of our members, I will not be praying for one candidate to win over another. Our church reaches out with the gospel to people of all political preferences. I would not want our

prayers about an election to turn people away from hearing the gospel.

Here is what I will be praying for during the days ahead. I shared this with the Prayer Meeting group last week. You will hear these thoughts in prayers in the days to come. Perhaps you will find this helpful as you pray for our country.

1. Pray for God to heal the divisions in our country. We are more polarized and divided now than any time in my memory. Too often we think in categories of “us/them,” “either/or” instead of trying to figure out ways that all Americans can join together to solve the challenges facing us. God is still in the reconciling business! I am praying for God to heal the divisions in our land.

2. Pray for God to give all of us wisdom as we prepare to vote. Many have already decided how they will vote in the election – others are still undecided. I am going to pray for God’s wisdom to guide all of us as we make decisions that are so important for our country. I will be the first to admit that I do not have all of the answers for the challenges facing the United States. God knows best –so I will be praying for God to guide me and others with wisdom far beyond my own understanding.

3. Pray that God will use me to demonstrate Christian love during this election season. It is so easy to become offensive or defensive about politics and forget our calling to share the love of Jesus with others. In spoken and written words, in conversations with friends and strangers, in times of agreement and disagreement, I pray that God will use me to demonstrate the love of Jesus to all people during this next month. If we all pray for that, I think that we have a wonderful opportunity to be witnesses for Christ.

4. Pray that God will give strength, health, and wisdom to the candidates who are running for office. The grueling pace of an election season is beyond what I can comprehend. Whether you are running for President of our country or for a local office, there are great demands on those who enter the political process and actively campaign for office. I am going to pray that all candidates will have the strength and health to be able to present their very best ideas, and then we will enter the voting booth on November 6 and let democracy work.

Those are my prayers for our country during this season. Will you join me in prayer?

Taking the Next StepDeadline for Commitments is this Sunday for Administrative Suite completion.

Come fellowship with other women as we eat and create together. There are six crafts to choose from and they will be on display at the sign-up table. Remember that you don’t have to be crafty to attend - we will

teach you everything you need to know.

Friday, October 19 6:00-9:00 PM

Dinner is $5 plus the cost of the craft(s) that you choose to make.