BRANCHThe January 4, 2016

From the same gate, another small WORSHIP Rustlings plane was bound for Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Chuck was sitting and BY JIM DANT Sunday, waiting; reading a book. A young man sat next to him…wearing a January 10, 2016 Rolling Stones t-shirt. I waited. The First Sunday after Epiphany Nothing happened. The young man 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary Chuck Leavell is a tree farmer got on my plane to Greenville…sat in middle Georgia. He’s been next to me…and I asked him, “Do Proclaimer: Jim Dant recognized by the state of Georgia, you know who was sitting beside Scripture: Acts 6:1-7 and the Forestry Commission and many you in the airport?” When I told him, Luke 3:15-22 other conservation groups for his he looked as if he’d missed the Sermon: The Defined Life work in land restoration. Chuck moment of a lifetime. Service Choir: Sanctuary Choir Leavell is also an author. With The New Year – 52 Sundays – is Hearing aid receivers and magnifying books titled Between a Rock and a ahead of us in 2016. They will glasses available for all worship Home Place, Forever Green: The services. History and Hope of the American include: Communion, Churchwide Retreat, Cuba Mission Team The 10:30 a.m. worship will be simulcast Forest, The Tree Farmer (a live on WLFJ 660 AM and 92.9 FM from children’s book) and his most recent Celebration, the Lux Aeterna of 10:30-11:30 a.m. A Better America: Smart, Strong, Morten Lauridsen, the celebrations Sanctuary Decorations Sustainable, he has established of Lent and Easter, youth and himself among modern writers. But children leadership, a multi-lingual The flowers in the Sanctuary on Chuck is best known for his music. Pentecost celebration, a visit from Sunday, January 10, are given in Livingston Taylor (’s loving memory of Lois B. Green by As a keyboardist, he has produced brother), baby dedications, A her family. or recorded with: The Allman Brothers, , Christmas Day Service (Christmas is Extended Session Gov’t Mule, , John on Sunday this year! How much fun will that be!) and much, much more. Directors: Robert and Sarah Farrar Mayer, , , and more. I hope you will make an effort – a Infants: TBD But…but…he is best known as the commitment – to be in worship as Twos: J.R. Christy and Ann long-time touring keyboardist (for often as possible. You may not get to Godfrey years and years and years) of The sit beside Chuck Leavell, but you will Threes: Susan and Warren Clayton Rolling Stones… be in the presence of God and good Fours: Justin and Whitney Blum friends. And I wouldn’t want you to I was sitting in the Atlanta airport a miss it. Fives: Carol Ann and Paul Good few years ago waiting to board a Pianist: Peggy Nielson prop plane to Greenville, Mississippi. — Jim Worship Leader: Helen Lee Turner

Save the Dates!

Churchwide Retreat March 4-6 Operation Inasmuch April 9 Neighborhood Partnership Yard Sale April 16 January December First Friday Birthdays Lunch and More

Please remember these with January Forty-eight persons from FBG and birthdays who are not always able to be Enoree Church attended the First with us in worship on Sunday mornings. Friday gathering and enjoyed all January 11

SENIOR ADULTS of the special events, including Sherry McCollum a visit from Santa Claus and bell 6654 Lake Run Drive ringing by Robert Beaver from Flowery Branch, GA 30542 FBC Belton. Pictured is Sandra January 21 Corder who did one of her classic Keeter Horton book reviews and “give aways” 10 Fountainview Terrace of her favorite books. Don’t miss Greenville, SC 29607 out on the fun. Go ahead and put January 31 February 5 on your calendar for Martha Power the next First Friday Lunch and 6 Fountainview Terrace, Apt. 110 Greenville, SC 29607 More! — Gene Morin

Kindergarten and Infant Toddler Program Registration 2016-2017

Parents offered these reflections Registration for the 2016-2017 (age 2 by Sept. 1, 2016 through about our Kindergarten and Infant- school year for First Baptist Church age 5), pick up registration forms Toddler Program: members will be held January 11 in the kindergarten office beginning ITP - FBCK through January 15, 2016. To enroll January 6 or call the office to have It’s a school that believes children your child in the Infant-Toddler a package mailed to you. The are already whole and capable. Program (ages 2 – 24 months), enrollment card and registration fee pick up registration materials on must be turned in by January 15 to You create an environment where the table in the Nursery Lobby. To secure a placement. Registration she is free to discover the world enroll your child in kindergarten for families on the wait list will around her, to develop interests begin January 18. For more ITP without boundaries. information, contact Rosemary New at 370-2515 ext. 127, or rosemary. You create a community of [email protected]. engaged and confident lifetime Contact Dewanda Martin at 271- learners, problem solvers, and 2613 ext. 131 or dewanda.martin@ communicators. firstbaptistgreenville.com with FBCK questions. First Baptist has had a profound — Dewanda and Rosemary impact in our girls’ lives by establishing a deep love of learning in each of them. text

organization which works to reduce addiction as a Serenity Place leading cause of family collapse and harm to children in Upstate South Carolina. When addiction in the home is

FOCUS ON MISSIONS MISSIONS healed, child abuse, neglect and domestic violence are prevented, and a stronger, more responsible family is During the months of January, February and March, created. we are collecting items to make “calm-down kits” for children at Serenity Place. We will assemble the kits on Please place the following items in the purple collection April 9 during Operation Inasmuch. bins around the church: Serenity Place is a residential treatment center for Small bottles of bubbles Squishy balls pregnant women, young mothers and their preschool- Crayons Silly Putty age children. It is part of The Family Effect, a nonprofit Coloring books Bubble wrap

Retreats, or extended periods of time, provide Youth Retreats… Why do opportunities to delve deeper into a topic, which enhances impact and memorability. While the them? sometimes short-lived “spiritual high” of a retreat may fade, youth were provided with an opportunity to learn YOUTH Spending an extended time with peers will help to how to pursue God on their own in personal devotion create unique memories, which are vital parts of forming time as well as recognize God in their every day more authentic and long-lasting friendships. circumstances and life. While we are away, our youth 2016 Winter Retreat — Appalachian Mountain & are surrounded with mentors and adults who provide an YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly atmosphere of love that extends the experience of the Youth Winter Retreat: January 29 - 30 love of Christ among the group. This will help your child College Winter Retreat: January 30 – 31 grow to love and find comfort in the church and the Contact Kendall Parks to sign up – kendall.parks@ people in it more and more. firstbaptistgreenville.com Quite simply: youth who attend and participate in Church Wide Retreat — YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly retreats experience God in ways impossible to convey March 4 – 6 in a couple hours a week in a church building. They are also much more likely to enjoy and be excited about Youth are encouraged to sign up individually or with being a part of the youth group and Sunday school. their families, and join Mary Carol for a great weekend away with our church family! Join us for all of our retreats this year! Youth retreats have become a central feature of most Winter Retreats: January 29 - 31 youth ministries. The reason for this is simple: they are Church Wide Retreat: March 4 - 6 effective! Studies have shown—and I have personally Mission Trip: June 12 - 17 witnessed—that one of the greatest indicators of a youth’s serious involvement in anything is the Unidiversity Youth Camp: July 18 - 23 relationships they enjoy within that context. Meaning, if Rockmont, Fall Retreat: September 3 - 5 a teenager knows and enjoys being around their youth minister, Sunday school teacher(s) and peers in their — Mary Carol youth group, they will pursue Christ in the context of church more passionately and with more dedication. Retreats, or trips with an overnight stay, provide youth the opportunity to develop more substantial relationships. Experiencing different environments and new challenges along with spending an extended time with their peers will help to create unique memories, which are vital parts of forming more authentic and long-lasting friendships. Our lives are hugely impacted by the friends we keep: with whom do you want your children to be closest? (864) 233-2527(864) For Your Calendar! Wednesday Supper Greenville, South Carolina 29601-4495 1/6 Wednesdays at First

Menu 847 Cleveland Street, 4:45-6:00pm Remember to make reservations www.firstbaptistgreenville.com Supper by noon on Monday, online at our 5:30-7:00pm web site. If internet is a problem, Children’s Choir and contact the church office. Missions 6:15pm Serving lines are open 4:45-6:00pm MidWeek Fellowship 7:00-8:30pm

January 6

SC 29601. (Phone 864-233-2527). Kimberly Coates, Editor. Coates, Kimberly 864-233-2527). (Phone 29601. SC

addressStreet Cleveland 847 NEWS, THE to changes Greenville,

postage paid at Greenville, at paid postage Send POSTMASTER: 29602. SC December (except one week in July and December). Periodicals Periodicals December). and July in week one (except December Sanctuary Choir thru January weekly published is 597060) No. (USPS NEWS THE 1/8-9 Sanctuary Choir Retreat Pasta Bar, Salad, Italian Green Beans, French Bread 1/10 10:30am Deacon Ordination Kids: Pizza Bread, Buttered Family Dedication: Plating Noodles, Fruit, Cookies Jim Dant, proclaimer 1/10 5:00pm January 13 Combined Youth Choir and Country Style Steak, Rice and Bible Study Gravy, Roasted Beggies, Layered 1/13 Wednesdays at First Salad, Yeast Rolls 1/17 10:30am Kids: Chicken Fingers, Tater Tots, Communion Fruit, Cookies Cuba Reflections Jim Dant, proclaimer Vol. LVII January 4, 2016 No. 1

LIVING GENEROUSLY Care List Introducing as of 1/4/2016 Financial Needs as of 12/31 Judy Heard, 103 $2,300,000 Hospitals Stone Creek Road, Greer, Memorial: Betty Morin Receipts as of 12/31 29650, joined $2,385,711 Returned Home: John Smetana the church Lula Whilden as of 12/31 Sympathy to: by previous $131,268 profession ...Susan Wetmore and family in the of faith and death of her mother. baptism on Pastoral Care ...the family of Donna Forrester. Sunday, December 20. Judy is On Call Nights and Weekends ...Marie Richards and family in the employed with Greenville County death of her grandmother. Schools. January 4-10 Logan Campbell, Kyle Matthews ...Michael Craig and family in the death of his mother. Furman Box 236-8587 (h) 27702, 3300 ...the family of Robbie Bell. 370-2522 ext. 199 Poinsett January 11-17 Highway, Frank Smith Greenville, 29613, joined 268-3890 (h) the church 370-2522 ext. 199 by promise of If you are unable to reach this letter from another Baptist church minister immediately, please call on Sunday December 20. Logan is a the Church Office, 233-2527, and junior at Furman University. leave a message by pressing the number “3” for “Pastoral Care Emergencies.”