First Baptist Church
Rutherfordton, NC
December 10, 2017
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...................... Jennifer Roberts
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.......................... Janet Hughes
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........................... Mike S
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF
Tim Marsh
Pastor
828-755-1616
Beth Heffner
Minister of Music and Families
828-980-2761
John Miller
Minister of Youth and Outreach
704-472-5860
Kenneth West
Organist
Alison Moore
Pianist
Debbie Turner
Secretary
Garry Cuthbertson
Custodian
George Hughes
Grounds Maintenance
ACOLYTES
December 10 ................ Abby Miller
................................. Hannah Parker
December 17 ......... Aidan Ledbetter
................................ Lillian Beheler
BIRTHDAYS OF THE WEEK
December 12 ............ Ted Huneycutt
December 13 ................ Lucy Malan
December 14 .............. John Blanton
December 15 .......... Scott Carpenter
.............................. Melanie Carrick
................................... Sonia Colnot
USHERS FOR DECEMBER
Team 2: Calvin McGinnis, Daryl
Camper, Scott Lawrence, Emily
Kay, Vicki Hughes, Ronnie Wilson,
Lane Parton, Stan Clements
DEACON AT THE DOOR
John Blanton
COLLEGE STUDENT
Scott Herrick
PO Box 1086
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Western Carolina University
DEBBIE TURNER TO RETIRE, TRANSITION TO PART-TIME
FINANCIAL SECRETARY WITH FBCR
Our Office Manager, Debbie Turner, has announced her intentions to re-
tire from her full-time position on February 1, 2018. The Personnel Com-
mittee recommends that First Baptist Church transition Debbie into the role
of part-time Financial Secretary. This transition will come before the church
in church conference in January. We sincerely appreciate Debbie’s out-
standing service to our congregation and ministerial staff since 1999 as
Church Secretary and more recently as Office Manager. We look forward to
continuing our relationship with Debbie in this new part-time role!
CHURCH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN 2018
Do you have four hours you can spare weekly? Are you gifted at relating
to people? Do you have a desire to be Christ’s presence to those who visit
our church or call by telephone? Our church is looking for eight volunteers
who would be willing to volunteer four hours on a weekly basis, mornings
and afternoons, Monday-Thursday, beginning Monday, February 5, 2018.
Requirements include: a friendly disposition, a desire to make a difference,
and the willingness to serve in a consistent 4-hour time slot on a weekly
basis. If interested, please contact Pastor Tim Marsh for more information
on how you can make a difference!
CHRISTMAS MISSION OFFERINGS
First Baptist will be receiving the Christmas Mission Offering for mis-
sions during the month of December. You can choose to give to the Lottie
Moon Offering for International Missions (SBC) or the Global Missions
Offering (CBF). Envelopes are in the vestibules or in boxed envelope sets.
To Date: Lottie Moon: $240; CBF Global: $100.
HONOR FLIGHT, A WWII DOCUMENTARY
January 16, 2018 at RetroCinema 4
McMahan’s Funeral Home, Padgett & King Funeral Home, and
Washburn & Dorsey Funeral Home are teaming together to invite you and a
guest to a free showing of Honor Flight, a documentary about four WWII
Veterans and a Community who come together to send the veterans to the
WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. The showing will be Tues-
day, January 16, 1:00 PM at RetroCinema 4 in Forest City. Please RSVP
by January 12, 2018 for your free tickets by calling McMahan Funeral
Home at 828-287-4715, 8:30—4:30 PM, M-F. Please take advantage of this
wonderful opportunity!
Records for December 3, 2017
Sunday School Attendance ....... 124
Morning Worship Attendance .. 174
Budget Requirements...... $8,664.00
Budget Offering ............ $10,440.00
Special Offerings ............... $975.00
Total ........................... $11,415.00
Budget to Date
Required by 12-3-17 ..... $86,640.00
Received by 12-3-17 ..... $87,490.62
Building Fund
Received ............................ $126.00
Capital Campaign ......................... $
To Date ....................... $414,450.71
Funeral Food Alert
Team #7
Sharon Scruggs
Jane Simpson
PASTOR’S COLUMN
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant
David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we
would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. (Luke 1:68-
71, NRSV) If you have not been following the #metoo movement, I would encourage you to
do so. In response to numerous women in Hollywood coming forward to share their
stories of sexual harassment and sexual assault, Time Magazine named these
women, whom they called The Silence Breakers, “Person of the Year.” Quite re-
cently, actress Alyssa Milano, who played Samantha Micelli on the 1980’s TV show
Who’s the Boss, recently came forward to share her story of sexual harassment in
Hollywood through the social media outlet Twitter. She asked that everyone who experienced sexual harassment to share a blurb, an experience, or simply acknowl-
edge their plight with the hashtag #metoo. For those of you who are unfamiliar with
Twitter, a hastag links your “tweet” with all other tweets with that same hashtag. I
can click on #metoo or I can search it, and Twitter will locate all tweets with that
same hashtag. The conversation is sickening and sad.
Numerous women are coming forward. And, social media has finally given them a
platform in which they can be heard. Years ago, women were taught to brush off
comments about their appearance or unwanted advances in the workplace. Now,
their voices are being heard. And, today, women and men alike are demonstrating
intolerance for such behavior. The time was right for the voices to be heard, though
it does not make our past responses to such behavior OK. What does this have to do with Advent? Much. Like many women who have suf-
fered in silence in the workplace, Israel suffered in silence as they were occupied by
Rome. Some tolerated Roman occupation and compromised their beliefs so that they
could survive. Others saw it as a way for advancement. Some withdrew into the
desert. Others found visible ways to prophetically live out Israel’s scriptures as an
occupied people. Maybe you could walk through Palestine and fail to hear their
cries. Yes, there were smiles and laughter. Yes, people were going to synagogue and
making their pilgrimages to the Temple. Yes, they were listening to Rabbis and
such. They were living life, feeding their families and doing their thing. On the sur-
face, they may have seemed happy.
They were not. They were waiting. They were biding their time. They were coop-erating to survive. They were hearing the Prophets read aloud and discussed. They
were praying. They were anticipating.
Had you stopped to spend time with the villagers, you would have learned that
something very different was bubbling beneath the surface. The people were await-
ing their Messiah. Those who were smiling were smiling to survive. Yet, privately
they grieved what had happened to their land, to their freedom and to their hope.
They were waiting to be delivered from Roman occupation. They were waiting for
all things to be made new. They were waiting for tears to be dried. They were wait-
ing for justice and fairness in the land. And, they were waiting for the One who
would make these things possible.
You only need to stop long enough to take notice. You only need to slow down from your day to listen, observe, and empathize. You only need to imagine what it’s
like to spend a week in their shoes.
Then, and only then, can you hear the Advent cries.
Grace and peace,
Tim
FBCR INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
As we approach the winter season, I wanted to remind you of our Inclem-
ent Weather Policy. As always, we do not take the decision to cancel or
postpone worship services and activities lightly. Nevertheless, we are con-
cerned for the safety of our members and guests and thus, will err on the
side of caution.
These are the following options for weather-related cancellations:
1. Sunday morning worship only at 10:55 AM
2. Sunday morning worship only at 3 PM
3. Only Sunday evening activities cancelled
4. All Sunday morning and evening activities cancelled
5. Sunday school, worship and such will take place as scheduled
I will communicate these options via email, Facebook and the WLOS
News (ABC Channel 13—Asheville). You may also visit
www.firstbaptistrutherfordton.com for information on cancellations or post-
ponements. And, you may sign up for text message alerts by contacting
Rev. John Miller at the church office. Also, please sign up for text message
alerts by texting “FBCR” to 95577.
If you are uncertain as to whether or not services are cancelled, please
contact me. If we proceed with services, but you feel unsure as to whether
or not you should attend, please err on the side of caution. If you are volun-
teering, please contact the church so we may prepare for your absence.
Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord through First Baptist and your
understanding of the necessity and spirit of this policy.
Grace and peace,
Tim
SOUP FOR YOKEFELLOW
September-November Soup Goal: 90
September-November Soup Donations: 170
December Soup Goal: 30
December Soup Donations: 8
This will be the last month for soup donations. Please continue to remem-
ber the needy. Thank you for your generous contributions to this vital min-
istry!
YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
*No Wednesday Nights (DIVE) until January 3rd
*No Sunday Nights (ILLUMINATE) until January 28th
*We have ONE OPEN SPOT for WinterSpree left. First come first serve.
See John for more details.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
RUTHERFORDTON, NORTH CAROLINA
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE
December 10, 2017
10:55 AM
Sermon Series: Mission Illumination:
Lighting Lives with the Promises of Advent
CALL TO WORSHIP
Greetings and Announcements Tim Marsh
Leader: The Lord is Risen!
People: He is Risen indeed! Lighting the Acolyte Candles
Lighting the Candle of Peace Bob Harrison and JoAnn Maxey
Adult Choir “Come, Lord Jesus, Come” Raney
Jane Simpson, Handbells
Litany Peace
Leader: Advent is marked by a spirit of yearning for peace.
All: May the world be filled with the peace of Christ.
Leader: We long today for peace among nations..
All: May the world be filled with the peace of Christ.
Leader: We long today for peace among races.
All: May the world be filled with the peace of Christ.
Leader: We long today for peace in our hearts and in our lives
All: May the world be filled with the peace of Christ.
Prayer
*Hymn 132 “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” CAROL
*Invocation John Blanton
REMEMBER AND GIVE THANKS
Children’s Message Jessica Godfrey
Local Missions Moment Leslie Canipe
Morning Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer John Miller
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil:
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever.
Amen.
*Hymn of Offertory 84 BEREDEN VAG FOR HERRAN
“The People Who in Darkness Walked”
*Scripture and Prayer of Offertory 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 Hannah Parker
Offertory
HEAR AND RESPOND TO THE WORD
The Written Word Tim Marsh an John Miller
Luke 1:67-80, Isaiah 40:1-11; Romans 8:18-25
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Anthem “O Savior, Open Heaven Wide” Purifoy
O Savior, open heaven wide. Bend down, bend down and hear our cry.
From deep within these prison walls in dark despair, on You we call.
No fortress ever made of stone so cruel as one of flesh and bone,
Held captive by our spirit’s pain and shackled by our guilt and shame.
From darkness bring us into Light,
From worldly depth to heaven’s height.
Release us from our solitude and bring us ever near to You.
O come and open heaven wide.
Come down, come down, come to our side.
Appear at every prison door to set us free forevermore.
Come open every prison door. O set us free, set us free.
O set us free forevermore. CCLI#1858884
The Spoken Word “Peace for the Distressed” Tim Marsh
*Hymn 107 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” ST. LOUIS
(We invite all who desire to make public professions of faith or transfer
church membership to do so at this time. And, we encourage all with
special prayer needs to pray with the pastor or pray silently at the altar
for personal or intercessory prayer needs.)
GO FORTH TO LOVE AND SERVE *Benediction
*Departing Song (80) “Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love” BAUGH
Hope, peace, joy, and love! These are gifts You bring from above.
Jesus, Emmanuel, come to be light of Your peace, reflected in me. CCLI#1858884
*Postlude
*Congregation Standing
2017 Advent/Christmas Calendar
Sunday, December 10—10:55 AM service—Second Sunday of Advent
Sermon: “Peace for the Distressed”
Sunday, December 10—6:00 PM—”Invitation to a Miracle” by Joseph
M. Martin. Our Sanctuary Choir will present this beautiful
Christmas musical with small orchestra and narration.
Wednesday, December 13 –6:30 PM—Children’s Christmas Program/
Jesus’ Birthday Party Presented by the children’s choirs and
followed by a Birthday party for Jesus with Santa in attendance!
Sunday, December 17—10:55 AM service—Third Sunday of Advent
Sermon: “Joy for the Depressed”
Sunday, December 17 –6:00 PM service—Moravian Lovefeast
Come and enjoy this traditional service which includes scripture
reading, fellowship, music, souvenir beeswax candle lighting,
and authentic Moravian buns and sweetened coffee. Our new
organist, Ken West, will be our featured musician for the
evening.
Sunday, December 24—10:55 AM service—Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sermon: “Love for the Deserted”
Sunday, December 24—7:00 PM—Annual Christmas Eve Candlelight
Service Come and bring your family and make this special
service part of your family Christmas tradition. This beautiful
service is full of music, scripture, and a special baptism!
POINSETTIAS
In Memory Of: Given by: Bill Page ................................................................. Bryson & Jamie Morgan Claude & Wanda Hawkins ................................ Claudia & Larry Reichart .................................................................................. Randy & Cathy Hawkins Kent Geer............................................................... Marjorie Geer Jim Pyatt ................................................................ The Pyatt Family Larry Pyatt ............................................................ The Pyatt Family Leroy Mull............................................................. Madalyn, Mackenzie, George & Janet Dr. Joe Don Hughes ........................................... Madalyn, Mackenzie, George & Janet Charles & Kathryne Simpson ........................... Jane Tip Carpenter ....................................................... Scott Carpenter H. Mal & Ruth S. Wilson .................................. Tince Wilson Ferguson Jim Camper ............................................................ The Family Jackie Farmer ........................................................ Kay, Sue, Jerry Alan Jones .............................................................. Bob & Pat Jones Margaret & Forest Edwards ............................ Priscilla & Steve McBrayer Dad & Mom ........................................................... Doug & Betty Gilbert Dad & Mom ........................................................... Bill & Malissa Hawkins Dad & Mom ........................................................... Bob & Carolyn Keever B. R. & Ruth Earney ........................................... The Family Dixon & Willie Hawkins ................................... The Family Harold Thompson ............................................... Christine Thompson Phyllis McKinnon ................................................ Griggs & Debbie McKinnon Dr. J. M. McKinnon ............................................ Griggs & Debbie McKinnon James McKinnon .................................................. Griggs & Debbie McKinnon Mr. James T. Pollock .......................................... Griggs & Debbie McKinnon Bill Page ................................................................. Lib Page Bettie & Ray Morris ............................................ Henry Giles Martha & Howard Carpenter ........................... Henry Giles My Parents ............................................................ Camille Wheeler Club Jones .............................................................. Martha Jones Charlotte & Frank McMahan ........................... Barbara & David Aiken Ernest & Agnes Wolke ...................................... Richard & Pamela Wolke Charles & Constance Flynn .............................. Richard & Pamela Wolke Bill Robbins ........................................................... Brenda & Ronnie Wilson Col. Calvin O. Wilson ......................................... Brenda & Ronnie Wilson Nell Moore Wilson ............................................. Brenda & Ronnie Wilson Herman & Marge Green .................................... Pat & Eddie Bennett Howard & Mae Wood Bennett ........................ Pat & Eddie Bennett Lyna & Johnie Carnegie ..................................... Dot Carnegie
In Honor Of: Given by: Hilda Mull ............................................................. Madalyn, Mackenzie, George & Janet Nancy M. Giles .................................................... Henry Giles Pearl Robbins........................................................ Brenda & Ronnie Wilson Easter Hughes ...................................................... Dot Carnegie Jean Carpenter ...................................................... Scott Carpenter