Advent Photo Challenge: Throughout each week of Advent take photos of things that remind you of the theme, hope, peace, joy and love and send them to: jennycsinos@fbchalifax.ca. We’ll have them as a slide show in the parlour following worship each week. Share your faith with the whole congregation! Inter-generational Family Fellowship: Sat., Dec. 5th, 5:30pm, at the Naug/Krueger-Naug home. Please bring a nut-free salad, side or dessert to share. We'll join together for conversation following the meal. Everyone is invited. Please RSVP to Jason or Anne Marie at akrueger@dal.ca. Whole Congregation Christmas Pageant: Sunday Dec. 13th during worship. Everyone will become part of the story. Invite your friends and family to join in and celebrate together. Quiet Reflection During Advent: The church will be open from 1 - 2pm, Tues., Wed., & Thurs., each week of Advent starting Dec. 1 and ending on December 23rd. A Deacon and Minister will be available if you need someone to talk to. Thank You: to the many people who helped to make the Advent potluck a success by setting up, providing food and cleaning up. Thank you also for the many ideas that went towards the FBCH Advent calendar. A copy of the calendar can be found on page 3. Take Sunday School Home! Our curriculum offers at home resources for continuous conversations of faith formation for the whole family. Be sure to check out the church website each week.
Longest Night Service Monday, December 21, 2015 at 7:00pm Hosted by First Baptist Church Halifax with
St. John’s United, St. Andrew’s United and the Presbyterian Church of St. David
A Service of Contemplation and Remembrance Christmas is sometimes a difficult time of year, especially those who have experienced loss or grief. This service is slow paced and contemplative with short mediations, singing and readings. There will be a candle lighting litany to recognize grief of all kinds. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served following the service.
20
13
6
29
30
21
Tell someone how much you love them. And share a big hug.
Ring some bells joyfully!
14
Remember with gratitude those who have worked for peace.
7
Decorate for the season while thinking about the meaning of Christmas.
Monday 1
15
Show love through a random act of kindness (making cookies or visiting the sick).
22
Have a family and friends game night.
Make a donation to a food bank.
8
Collect clothes and household items and give them to Hope Cottage or other charities.
Tuesday 2
23 Show love to a person that may find Christmas difficult.
Make a joyful Christmas card and share it.
16
Find peace in nature by spending time in nature.
9
Say a prayer of hope for the people in distress.
Wednesday
Thursday 3
Listen and encourage others and bring out the best in them.
24
Invite someone to the Carols by Candlelight service.
17
Befriend and support those around us who need peace.
10
Learn about a different culture and hope for understanding among all people.
Throughout each week take photos of things that remind you of the theme and send them to: jennycsinos@fbchalifax.ca. We’ll have them as a slide show in the parlour following worship each week. Share your faith with the whole congregation!
LOVE
JOY
PEACE
HOPE
Sunday 4
Give of yourself to others, just as Jesus did.
25 Merry Christmas!
Give someone a smile.
18
Have a conversation with a peace keeper.
11
Plant some acorns in the hope of new life.
Friday
Saturday
26 Donate money, time, or your talents to a local charity.
Give toys to a toy drive.
19
12
5
Practice a period of silence to understand those who don’t have a voice. Share your experience online.
Give household items to new refugee families as they hope for a new start.
First Baptist Church Halifax—Advent Calendar December 2015
This is the time of year when we plan our White Gift Program and service (December 13th). Last year, members of the congregation generously donated $9,600 to the program. This year we are hoping to provide gifts for at least 80 people and donate a minimum of $1000 for Christmas dinners as well as support a few other worthy organizations. Volunteers are needed to shop, help pack the food boxes on December 18, 6 - 8pm at the Ward 5 Ne i gh b o u rh o o d Ce n t re , deliver the food boxes and gifts on Dec. 19, 9am. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board outside the parlour. Please use your offering, or a pew envelope to record your donation.
Halifax’s Great Explosion to be Recognized On Sunday, December 6th at 9:05am, First Baptist Church along with other participating churches in Halifax with bells or chimes will sound a lively celebratory ring for 60 seconds immediately after the sounding of the cannon at the Citadel. The sounding of the bells and chimes will give positive recognition to the lives of those who suffered and the work of those locally and from Boston who contributed to relief efforts during the aftermath with great generosity and compassion.
CHRISTMAS CHURCH AND OFFICE HOURS The Church Office will be closed on December 24th. The Church will be closed on December 25 and 29th.
Congregational Life - April 1 - November 18, 2015 .
In Memory of Members and Adherents Rev. Terry Tingley, June 27, 2015 Ellen Nickerson, July 1, 2015 Florene Hebb, July 27, 2015 Doris Gorman, September 3, 2015 Sally Illsley, October 11, 2015
Dedication Lilah Anneliese Haddad, September 13, 2015 Parents: Jake and Jan Haddad
Baptisms Justin Henderson, April 5, 2015 Angeline Moore, May 24, 2015
New Members Caitlin Smithers, April 5, 2015 - Linda MacDonald, April 5, 2015 Arla Johnson, April 5, 2015 - Julie Shore, April 5, 2015 Christine Fall-Moore, May 24, 2015 - Daniel Cheverie, November 1, 2015 Darcy Gillis, November 1, 2015
Weddings Anthony and Amanda (Seymour) Zadeh, June 27, 2015 Adam and Emily (Bishop) Johnston, July 4, 2015 Alaina Boyd and Amy Holland, August 22, 2015
Births Charlie Elizabeth Dexter - April 5, 2015 Parents: James and Carla Dexter Grandparents: David and Marlene Dexter Glenn Angus Balsom - April 13, 2015 Parents: Janet and Michael Balsom August Theodore David Whitney - May 19, 2015 Parents: Stewart and Tara Whitney Grandparents: Dahrl and Joan Whitney
Of Special Note Rev. John E. Boyd retired from service to FBC Halifax, July 31, 2015 Rev. Jenny Csinos was ordained for Christian Ministry, October 25, 2015 Dr. Lynne (Clyde) Evans received her PhD in English Literature from Dalhousie University on November 2, 2015 Zena (Mom), Hamza (18), Haidar (14) and Miriam (11) our last sponsored refugee family - became Canadian citizens on November 10, 2015 Evelyn Denton turned 107 years old on November 12, 2015
CHRISTMAS MEMORIAL FLOWERS Congregation members, and friends of First Baptist Church are invited to place memorial flowers in the church for the Christmas season. If you wish to make a donation, please call/email the church office to provide the wording of the dedication. Deadline Dec. 10. The flowers will be placed in the church for Sunday, December 13th.
Brunswick Street Mission Breakfast Program FBC will be preparing and serving breakfast for the Brunswick Street Mission on Sat., December 12, 2015 at 5:30am. Although a busy time of year for everyone, we are hoping that lots of volunteers will sign up for this rewarding outreach project. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board outside the parlour.
A congregational meeting will be held December 6, 2015 in the Assembly Hall following the Worship Service. A light lunch will be served. On the agenda will be a Litany for the New Floor, a report from the Diaconate and the Transition Leadership Team, a report on Transition Expenses to date, a report from the Refugee Working Group, and a discussion on the 2016 FBCH Mission Fund. All Donations for the 2015 calendar year must be received at the office, or post marked, December 31, 2015. All expenses for reimbursement to staff, Boards or Committees, must be received by the church office by January 5, 2016. All staff, Board or Committee reports for inclusion in the 2015 Annual Report Book are to be received by the church office no later than January 18, 2016. Bulletin Information Submissions - Announcements for the December 24 and 27 and January 3 bulletins should be into the church office by Friday, December 18 if at all possible. On January 31, 2016 a Congregational Meeting will be held for discussion and approval of the 2016 Operating Budget and the 2016 FBC Mission Budget. The 2015 Annual Business Meeting will be held February 28, 2016.
Christmas 1 December 27th, 2015 "A Sight for Certain Eyes" Rev. Nelson Metcalfe Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3 Psalm 148 Galatians 4:4 - 7 Luke 2:22 - 40
Faith in Action Supporting the Mission of the Church A Message from the Diaconate At this time of the year it is important to pause and to consider how we can be part of supporting the Church’s Mission. Like all Churches, First Baptist Church Halifax is supported solely by the generous and ongoing donations and endowments and by the labour of its staff and members. These individual offerings enable the work of principal ministries - Worship, Christian Education, Pastoral Care and Outreach.
Each week, we are lead in Worship by caring ministers, musicians and lay leaders. Each week, we nurture faithful learning across all ages from summer camps for youth to the education of new Clergy. We support youth programmes by offering space to the Guiding and Scouting movements. Each week, Clergy brighten the lives of those who are ill or shut it visiting more than 600 individuals throughout the year and volunteers provide many more visits. We support Chaplains in our hospitals. We provide emergency relief to persons in need. Each week, we reach out to communities near and far supporting: breakfast programmes, Christmas hampers and gifts for the disadvantaged; support for refugees; reintegration for released offenders; those working against gender and sexual discrimination; food banks and many more.
Within the scope of your ability we invite you to be part of this Mission – bringing to bear your gifts of time and resources.
Our Vision To be a Christ-centered community of diverse people experiencing God’s unconditional love and acceptance, finding opportunities to grow and nurture our faith, and sharing that love, acceptance and faith with the world.