BRANCHThe January 22, 2019

WORSHIP Rustlings Sunday, BY JIM DANT January 27, 2019 or Wednesday evening, we rarely 10:30am in the Sanctuary have time to talk, laugh, share Deacon Ordination and Installation our stories, share our struggles Proclaimer: Dylan Rigg It’s probably on your back burner. and enjoy casual company. At Maybe you’ve set the idea aside Scripture: retreat, however, I always see Isaiah 58:6-14, because you truly believe you do Luke 4:14-21 new friendships emerge and old not need it. Maybe you’ve set it friendships deepen. People find Sermon: Continually Rooted in Sacred aside because you’re not sure it’s sofas and corners and cups of Purpose worth the cost. Maybe it just got lost coffee and time to get to know one Service Choir: Sanctuary Choir in the shuffle of a hundred other another. This is your faith family… Anthem: “The Olive Tree” – CORNISH things you are presently doing and your church home…let’s spend a hundred more things vying for some time together… Sanctuary Flowers time on your calendar. Whatever The flowers in the Sanctuary today are the case, if you have not registered You need to hear what will be given in celebration of the birthday of for our 2019 Church Retreat, I want said and sung. This year’s retreat Carol Riddle Bevis and in memory of you to register today. Here’s why… ‘Bless Your Heart’ is an entertaining C. Dayton Riddle Jr. by their families. but inspirational twist of southern If you would like to enhance our You need a break. Don’t look at humor and biblical truth. The music worship space by placing flowers for retreat as ‘one more thing you have of Kate Campbell and my session one of our services, please contact to do.’ Embrace this time as a gift to lessons will be geared toward Kimberly Coates at kimberly.coates@ yourself. There is childcare provided helping you add some joy, stability firstbaptistgreenville.com or 233-2527 for your preschooler and child. and purpose to your day-to-day life. ext. 128. The next available dates are The chairs are already arranged, February 3 and 17. the music is live, the lessons are This edition of The Branch is solely meaningful and brief…and on dedicated to our annual retreat. Friday night the cash bar is open. Read each article, then register. Really, give yourself a break and The retreat is in town at the Westin relax… Poinsett Hotel. It’s less expensive than years past. It’s open to the You get to know your church public, so you can bring a friend or family better. We are a large friends. There’s no need for it to be congregation. Most of us are on the back burner any longer. See acquainted with only a small portion you there! of our faith family. In the tight schedule of any Sunday morning — Jim

Reminders Make Reservations for Make Reservations for the Wednesday Night Supper Churchwide Retreat Enjoy Family Time March 1-3, 2019 | Downtown Greenville https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/ https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/ wednesday-night-supper/ churchwide-retreat/ Bless Your Heart!

In 2016, our church family established a new tradition: Retreat. It’s easy to spell and pronounce and not terribly hard to define or understand. However, this simplicity masks a word full of power and significance. RETREAT It’s a verb that instills fear, trepidation, hostility telling us to flee, run, fall back, escape; but it also encourages us to find peace by purposefully withdrawing for respite and solitude. As a noun, it symbolizes this fear, often referencing defeat and decline while simultaneously providing a haven for refuge, reflection and sanctuary – in isolation or amongst others. Whether you are actively running from or towards something in your life or looking for that space to find recovery, safety or peace, the FBG Retreat, Bless Your Heart, has a place for you.

Below you will find a schedule of events for our time together, with additional details to follow.

Friday, March 1 7:00pm Retreat Check-in and Welcome Party featuring Friday and Saturday sessions will take place at the Cappuccino Funk, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar Westin Poinsett Hotel at 120 S. Main Street in downtown Greenville. Saturday, March 2 10:00am Session 1 Sunday Worship will be in the FBG Sanctuary. 11:30am Lunch 1:00pm Session 2 Childcare for infants through 5th grade will be provided Sunday, March 3 onsite at First Baptist Greenville. 10:30am Worship – FBG Sanctuary

While the weekend dates remain the same, we’ve changed the schedule to provide a new experience for all attendees, whether this is your first time or you are a veteran of the occasion. Having spent the last 3 yearsin retreat to the mountains, it seemed like we were being called this year to find retreat here at home. We look forward to sharing this with you in just a few short weeks.

For more information and to register, visit here: https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/churchwide-retreat/

Beyond wonderful. A time of renewal and reflection we treasure. AMAZING - what a blessing it was!

Wonderful fellowship time for family and church community! WE LOVE IT!

Retreat Leaders JIM DANT KATE CAMPBELL SESSION LEADER CONFERENCE MUSICIAN

An author, a Kate Campbell, a southern singer-songwriter, writes and sings musician – both a memorable folk songs with undercurrents of delta blues, folk, classical guitarist pop and country. She has resisted the temptation to follow and an electric musical trends and has chosen to set her own pace for her bass player – a musical journey. Her songwriting follows in the southern standup comedian, literary tradition with an emphasis on a sense of place, race a Texas Hold and religion. Campbell’s endearing, clear-water vocal delivery ‘Em instructor, a and her eloquent gift of storytelling have drawn repeated theology professor, comparisons to such bastions of the Southern literary tradition an Ironman, and as Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty and William Faulkner. We a pastor, Dr. Jim are blessed to have her sing us stories at our retreat. Dant’s diverse interests and background make him Originally from the Mississippi Delta and the daughter of a relatable to people in all walks of life; he is Baptist preacher, Kate’s formative years were spent in the a sought-out conference and retreat leader very core of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and the throughout the country. First Baptist Greenville indelible experiences of those years have shaped her heart is blessed to have him serve as both our retreat and character as well as her songwriting. Her easy command leader and senior minister of our congregation. of a full range of American musical styles has earned her recognition as a formidable talent Dr. Dant is a graduate of Georgia State by critics with both Time Out University, The Southern Baptist Theological London and the Boston Globe Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. proclaiming her a “major talent” He has post-graduate studies at Princeton and the Chicago Daily Herald Theological Seminary, Hebrew College, Macon describing her as a “world-class State College, and the Mercy Center. He singer-songwriter.” Music legends has served churches in Georgia, Kentucky such as , Rodney and South Carolina. In 2012, he co-founded Crowell, , Guy Faithlab, a creative services firm that assists Clark, Maura O’Connell, John churches with their organizational and Prine, Mac McAnally, Buddy communications needs. Jim has served as an Miller, and adjunct professor at Brewton Parker College, the heart of the Muscle Shoals Mercer University and Mercers’ McAfee School classic soul and R&B hit- of Theology. making machine are both admirers and collaborators in her distinctly literate musical vision. THE BRANCH (USPS No. 597060) is published weekly January thru December (except one week in July and December). Periodicals postage paid at Greenville, SC 29602. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to THE BRANCH, 847 Cleveland Street Greenville, SC 29601. (Phone 864-233-2527). 847 Cleveland Street, Kimberly Coates, Editor. of faith and baptism another from denomination. Erik is Greenville, South Carolina 29601-4495 by previous profession (864) 233-2527 www.firstbaptistgreenville.com Introducing... Vol. LX January 22, 2019 No. 3 Vol. Erik Freeman and Fritz Whitemore, and Fritz Whitemore, Erik Freeman Easley 29640, joined FBG 203 King Circle, January 20, during worship on Sunday, employed with Publix Supermarket, and Fritz is employed with TD Bank. They are engaged.

Howard Wimmer, Wimmer, Howard

Sylvia Clanton, and Choirs Rehearsal Rehab Menu Anne Lindsey, Marie Anne Lindsey, Youth Bible Study Youth Fellowship MidWeek Serving Lines Open Missions Children’s Joe Leaphart Hospitals Beverly Greer January 23 January 30 Fruit, Cookies 4:45-6:00pm. Skip Foster, Earline Skip Foster, Sanctuary Choir

Care List Care : Sympathy to... as of 1/22/19 ReturnedHome Youth Hang Time and Supper Youth Fresh Fruit, Cookies Fruit, Fresh Beef Tips and Rice, Steamed Beef Tips and Rice, Steamed Chicken Divan, Rice, Steamed Chicken Divan, Rice, Chicken Nuggets, Tater Tots, Tots, Chicken Nuggets, Tater Congratulations to…

Mac and Cheese, Veggies and Dip, Mac and Cheese, Veggies Wednesday Supper Wednesday available. Serving lines are open Serving lines are available. Vegetables, Salad, Bread, Dessert Salad, Bread, Vegetables, Kids: Layered Salad, Yeast Rolls, Dessert Salad, Yeast Layered office. Permanent reservations are reservations office. Permanent Adults: Adults: Vegetable Medley, Pineapple Casserole, Casserole, Pineapple Medley, Vegetable Wednesdays at First Schedule Wednesdays Kids: Exceptions and details noted in calendar. 6:15pm 7:00-8:30pm the church website or calling the church or calling the church website the church Required reservations for the meal must for the reservations Required be made by noon on Monday by visiting noon on Monday be made by 3:00pm 4:45-6:00pm 5:30-7:00pm 6:00pm St. Francis- Downtown: NHC-Greenville: NHC-Mauldin Carter’s older sister is in Charleston, SC. Carter’s in our church Anson, and his grandparents Cindy Craig and Michael Craig. are Clay Martha Franks: Kirby, Mike Payne, Tom Roland Freeman, to Westminster Joan Garrett Gayle and Barbara Gulley and family in the death of their sister-in-law. Jason and Cara Craig on the birth of a son Craig, on December 31, 2018, Carter Watson Cathy Ballard Memorial: Greenville Anne Cargill Shabkie Care: Shepherd’s

Activities Vocare Vocare Vocare Vocare

Activities Sunday Night Live for Puerto Rico LGBTQ and Friends First Friday Lunch and Roadrunners Depart for Roadrunners Depart Ministry Children’s and Deacon Ordination $94,900 $155,769 Jim Dant

Emergencies.” 551-0829 (m) January 21-27 Kyle Matthews Receipts of 1/14 478-737-7298 (m) Pastoral Care Pastoral Participant Meeting (AYMC) (Parlor) Support Group (AYMC) Youth More (Fellowship Hall) Rehearsal (Choir Room) King Jr. Holiday King Jr. Lunch at Bimini’s Game Event: Family Hockey Dylan Rigg, Proclaimer Rehearsal (Choir Room) Rehearsal Guests Host IHN of Martin Luther in Observance LIVING GENEROUSLY “199” for “Pastoral Care “199” for “Pastoral Care January 28-February 3 For Your Calendar! Your For Wednesdays at First Wednesdays 11:30am-12:30pm Wednesdays at First Wednesdays AYMC and Church Offices Closed and Church AYMC 11:30am-12:30pm Financial Needs as of 1/19 864-233-2527, and leave a please call the Church Office, please call the Church If you are unable to reach this unable to reach If you are minister at the above number, minister at the above number, message by pressing the number message by pressing On Call Nights and Weekends 2/1 10:30am 5:00-7:00pm 1/30 5:00pm 3:30-5:30pm 1/27 10:30am Night Installation 1/23 1/25 7:00pm 1/22 11:15am 1/20-27 1/21 1/20