First Baptist Fairhope
Vol. 8. No. 22 : : 11.19.14
Vote on the Proposed 2015 Budget and Commitment Day Sunday, November 23
in Each Morning Worship Service Each First Baptist family is asked to pray about what you will give toward helping us accomplish our mission in 2015 of
Knowing Him and making Him known by completing and turning in a COMMITMENT CARD this Sunday. If you cannot be with us, please mail in or drop your card by the Church Office as soon as possible.
FroM Your Pastor’s heart
jhenry@fbcfairhope.org
Sunday was overwhelming! Our “God’s Not Dead” culmination Sunday was awesome . We prayed for God to keep the rain away and He answered that prayer. The crowd was great and the spirit was beautiful. The movie was enjoyed, the meal was delicious, and even more, the atmosphere of love was felt. I thank each of you for your involvement. Those who called, prayed, wrote cards, cooked, served, decorated, picked visitors up, greeted, and the list goes on. Seeing our people working together in this outreach effort was so rewarding. My prayer is that we will continue to see the fruit of our labor in the coming days. Let us continue to show our community that God is not dead, but very much alive. How can I possibly describe how I felt Sunday night at my surprise Birthday fellowship? I was totally unaware that all of this was being planned! Thank you for all who took part in making everything possible. The many who blessed me with birthday wishes was so encouraging. The cards, gifts, and expressions of love are deeply appreciated. Thank you for blessing your pastor. Next Sunday should be another special Sunday. We turn in our shoeboxes and ask God for His blessings. The thoughts of children opening these gifts and the opportunity to show the love of Christ has a sense of God’s approval. Don’t miss the joy of this mission opportunity. Also a reminder to turn in your commitment cards. God has blessed us materially so let us be cheerful givers as we express our love and gratitude for our God - who gives and gives abundantly. Thanksgiving is almost here. The admonition of scripture is for us to give thanks whatever situation we find ourselves (I Thessalonians 5:18). Happy Thanksgiving! Your Pastor, Jerry Philippians 1:3
Welcome to the First Family Assisted Listening Devices
Judy and Vance McCrory Join by letter 203 Park Dr., FH, 990.6164
David and Kathy Sue Reid
Join by letter 450 Park Ave., FH, 833.7807 (his)
Rosanna Allen
For those needing additional aid in hearing our Worship Services, be sure to stop by the Welcome Center in the Gathering Space and sign out an Assisted Listening device. This simple device resembles a small radio with an on/off/ volume control button and an earbud. If you would prefer to purchase your own personal assisted listening device, the cost is $108.91. Make your check payable to: First Baptist Church, Fairhope for: Assisted Listening Device. Drop your check off to Laureen Davis, Music Ministry Assistant, in the church office. We’ll get your Assisted Listening device on order.
Joins by statement 316 Knollwood Ave. FH, 604.0849 First Edition - page 2
Volunteers Needed for “GOD’S NOT DEAD”
Follow Up… Sunday, November 23 @ 3:00 PM : : Gather in Social Hall
Thanks to the hard work of our Phone Calling & Prayer Teams, we had over 100 guests come for the service and over 80 stayed for the lunch. There were many others who indicated they would like to come but were not able to attend, so we need to FOLLOW UP with them this Sunday. We need 50-75 Teams to go out this Sunday and deliver information bags to those who did not attend and to let them know we would love for them to join us for Worship and Bible study. Let’s continue to plant seeds and allow God to send the harvest in due time!
SPECIAL THANKS To All Who Made “GOD’S NOT DEAD” a Success!
As a result of so many participating we were able to touch thousands of people on the Eastern Shore with the message that “GOD’S NOT DEAD”, Jesus loves you, and there is a church that cares. For those of you who like numbers and statistics: (1) 2,729 completed phone calls were made by our phone calling team. (2) We received prayer requests from 1,418 people. (3) Over 5,000 handwritten prayer cards were mailed out. (4) Over 200 of our members served in some capacity. We could not have had such a successful outreach without the help of so many people. Special thanks to the following who went the extra mile: -Ron Donaldson, John Hancock and all those on the Phone Calling Team -Lawson & Sharon Swearingen and all those on the Prayer Team -All those serving on the Congregation Intercessors Team -Vann Saltz and his cooking crew / serving team for a wonderful lunch -Amelia & John L. Pope and all those who were Table Hosts -Sharon Pippin and media techs who helped us to pull off showing the movie with flying colors. -LaSha Powell, Diana Bowman, Elaine Beech & Tammy Trammel for all their help with the daily mailings and all the administrative details…
Blessing of the
Boxes
Sunday, November 23
Please bring your shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child this Sunday and place them on the steps of the platform prior to the service beginning. All Children will be called to the front for a time of blessing of all the shoeboxes as they are sent out to touch the lives of children around the world
First Edition - Page 3
Thanksgiving S C H E D U L E November 23
Thanksgiving Service @ 6:00 PM
Tuesday, November 25
Drop off Pies for PIES FOR PRISONERS Project (8:00 – 11:30 AM in Social Hall)
Wednesday, November 26
Office Closes at Noon / No evening activities
Thursday, November 27 Office Closed
Friday, November 28
Thanksgiving
Service
Sunday, November 23 6:00 PM Join us for this special service of Thanksgiving featuring music by our Children and others. It will be a great way to get our hearts prepared for the Thanksgiving holidays.
Office Closed
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION Wednesday, December 3 5:45 -7:30 PM : : Choir Room
FIRST CLASS is for all recent NEW MEMBERS and for REGULAR ATTENDERS who are thinking about Church Membership. At FIRST CLASS you will have the opportunity to meet our Pastor and Staff, learn more about our key beliefs, our Mission, where things are located, how to get more involved and more. A FREE MEAL is included for you and your family, so plan to join us. TO SIGN UP: Contact LaSha Powell in the Church Office (928-8685 or lpowell@fbcfairhope.org) by noon on Wednesday, December 3. You may also SIGN UP ONLINE at fbcfairhope.org.
First Edition - page 4
Go Behind the Scenes
Operation Christmas Child Mission Trip December 12 – 13, 2014 -- Atlanta Processing Center
Want to experience the feeling of what Samaritan’s Purse is doing globally through Operation Christmas Child? Then, join us for this fun time at the Atlanta Processing Center where you will feel like you are working in Santa’s Workshop with hundreds of other volunteers. We have spaces reserved for 16 people, so contact Brent Shaw if you would like to go (928-8685 or bshaw@fbcfairhope.org). WATCH FOR MORE INFO ON THE COST!
How’s that Shoebox coming along??
Be sure to bring it this Sunday to Morning Worship. We will have the blessing of the boxes in each service.
8th Annual Women’s Care Medical Center Christmas Tree Project
The Christmas Tree Project is a great way to celebrate the life of a child. This is how it works. You choose an ornament from the Christmas tree that will be in the hallway between the Social Hall and Fellowship Hall. You purchase the item listed on the ornament and return it to the tree location. Your gifts will help fill the care closet with items that are given to moms and dads that earn them through taking the parenting classes at Women’s Care Medical Center.
Womens Care Medical Center Volunteers Needed!
The Center is in need of Pregnancy Consultants, Nurses, Man-to-Man Consultants, and Abstinence Presenters in the schools. If God is calling you to help in the wonderful life-changing ministry, please contact the Center at 251.947.2111. An application if available at www.friendsofwcmc.org
Baldwin Baptist Association PIES FOR PRISONERS Project Our WMU is helping us to collect pies for the men who are at the Loxley Work Release Center for Thanksgiving. There are a number of Christian men who are currently incarcerated there who have come to know the Lord while they have been at the Center in addition to many others who need to know they have not been forgotten during the holiday season. (1) Please drop off your pies on Tuesday, November 25 at the Social Hall between 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM. (2) Pies must not need any refrigeration. Thanks for your help in ministering to these men who need a touch and reminder that God loves them and has a plan for their lives while they pay their debt to society.
First Edition - page 5
“DIG DEEP, GIVE WELL” Tanzania Trip - Deposit Due
Plans are still in the works for a team to go from our church along with others from our community to help with water wells and sharing the Gospel in Tanzania in 2015. There will be several trips next summer during July and the cost for each trip is $3,600. For more information contact Brent Shaw in the Church Office (928-8685 or bshaw@fbcfairhope.org) or go to the Dig Deep, Give Well website: www.digdeepgivewell.org. NOTE: A $100 non-refundable deposit is due by December 31, 2014, made payable to “Dig Deep, Give Well.”
PRESCHOOLERS
DATES TO KNOW Sunday Morning November 23rd Blessing of the Shoeboxes in the am services.
Sunday Night
November 23rd
Community Thanksgiving Service with preschoolers singing in the service. This includes 3, 4 and 5 year old Wednesday night music makers. Please have your child in their preschool music classes at 5:30pm to give them time to get ready for the service. After your child sings, they will be taken to their classes for a craft and snack. We encourage parents to stay in the Sanctuary for the remainder of the service.
Wednesday Night November 26th NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES Enjoy Thanksgiving week with your family!
Sunday Night November 30th
Annual Build a Bear at Eastern Shore Center. ‘ The Kindergartners have been invited to go on this trip with the children’s ministry. Please look in the First Edition for more information about this special night. We will LEAVE the church by 5:00 pm and return by 7:00pm. Please don’t be late. The Birth-4 year old classes will be kept at the church in childcare.
Friday, December 5th Fairhope Christmas Parade Downtown Fairhope
Yikesssss! There are TURKEYS in our TREE! There’s a lot of ‘Turkey Talk’ going around TLT this week about our upcoming Feast. The children will learn about The First Thanksgiving, dress like Pilgrims and Indians, and celebrate with turkey, pumpkin muffins and all the trimmings! Thanksgiving blessings, Lynn Carroll, Director
To be presented by our Children’s Music Ministry
December 1 7, 6:30pm In the Sanctuary Bible Drill and
Sunday PM Dates to Know
This Sunday November 9th is our final regularly scheduled Bible Drill for 2014. Bible Drill will resume Sunday, January 11th from 5:00-7:00 pm. Please make note of the following Sunday Night dates for children’s ministry activities in November. Sunday, Nov. 16th – Royal Ambassadors Host Baptist Children’s Home Dinner. (No graded activities at Church this night)
Sunday, Nov. 23rd – Community Thanksgiving Service (kids sing in pm worship) (Kids participate in corporate worship with parents) Sunday, Nov. 30th – Annual Build A Bear Party at Eastern Shore Center (Kids leave church by 5:00 pm and return by 7:00 pm) DO NOT BE LATE! First Edition - page 6
Build a Bear Party On Sunday Evening, November 30th
from 5:00-7:00 pm all kids 1st-5th grade are invited to our annual Build a Bear Party at the Eastern Shore Center in Spanish Fort. Each child will build a bear to be donated to Women’s Care Medical Center. This is a huge ministry and a unique way to touch a life in the name of Jesus. We will leave at 5:00 pm (DO NOT BE LATE) and will return by 7:00 pm. Cost for this event is $10 per child and covers the cost of the bear. See Kevin for details.