THE CONTACT: First Baptist Church of Burlington First Baptist Church of Burlington FirstBaptistBurlington.com Phone:336.226.2433 [email protected] Choir and Instrumental Ensemble CHURCH STAFF Dr. Terry E. Peele Christmas Musical Senior Pastor Office: 336.226.2433 Cell: 336.213.4559 Home: 336-261-3069 Sunday, December 11, 2016 Rev. Joel N. Marshall 6:30 p.m., FBC Sanctuary Associate Pastor of Music & Worship Rev. Stacey L. Grimm You will enjoy the beautiful Associate Pastor of Admin. & Communication Christmas music of our choir and Rev. Cameron M. West Associate Pastor of Children, Youth & Families instrumentalists as they present Gwen Mitchell Appalachian Winter by Joseph M. Martin. Church Secretary Carol Burnett Join us for a reception afterward as we celebrate Financial Secretary Rev. Joel Marshall’s 30th year of ministry at FBC. Katherine Thomas Principal Church Accompanist Belinda Wisterman Church Organist Al and Patricia Paschal Church Custodians Danny Scott Maintenance Technician Lisa Moore Child Development Center Director December, 2016 Vol. 10, Issue 12 Advent Sermon Series Dr. Terry E. Peele Something for Christmas December 4 Starting Something Matthew 1: 18-25 Luke 1: 67-79 John 3: 19-21 Isaiah 9: 2-7 December 11 Believing Something Luke 1: 11-22; 26-38 Matthew 2: 1-7 Micah 5: 2-5 December 18 Seeing Something Matthew 2: 9-12 Luke 2: 8-16 Isaiah 40: 28-31 December 25 Receiving Something Luke 2: 25-32 John 3:16 Isaiah 46: 1-13 Hanging of An Invitation the Greens From Sandy and Terry Peele Each year we look forward to sharing Sunday, December 4 Christmas with you in our home. We hope you will drop by on the afternoon of December 18 between four and six pm to share the holidays 6:30 p.m. with us. Our Christmas is not complete without this time with you our Christian family FBC Sanctuary and friends. We count it an honor and privilege to live and serve among you. This is a beautiful service of song, decoration, Sunday, December 18 102 Bell Tower Court, Elon, NC worship and celebration! Join us afterward in 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. the Fellowship Hall for a time of fellowship. World Missions Christmas Offering Our Church Goal : $18,000.00 In the Great Commission we are told to go "unto all the World." Most of us cannot go in person, but we can go in spirit, through our prayers and financial support. At this time of year we especially think of our internation- al missionaries. They are becoming more and more dependent on our gifts to the Lottie Moon Offering, and the Global Missions Offering. You may contribute to the SBC Lottie Moon Offering or the CBF Global Missions Offering. Please specify to which offering you are giving. they once did. with them, are going to challenge But, I still believe this. And, I be- our thinking about how church lieve the Scripture bears this out. ought to be done, but let’s give The church will survive in the thanks to God that what we see in Ten Years world until our Lord returns. We the future while challenging to us When next we meet I’ll have com- may find ourselves looking, is welcoming to them. God pleted ten years of service with sounding, meeting, and doing knows what He is doing among us this congregation. Wow! That missions differently, but we will and through us. Let’s trust Him! happened very quickly! Thank survive. The challenge for us is to My life’s calendar shows that I you for letting me be your pastor believe this. All the work that has have less than a handful of years . .and now a friend. .to you. been done in the past has pre- to serve our Lord as I have for We’ve been through some chal- pared us for what is ahead. And, over forty-three years. But, as I lenging times together. We’ve what is ahead will be of God just look at what the future holds for lost some friends and loved ones as what is in the past has been. this church and for me, I am pro- along the way. We’ve gained The successes of past and the foundly grateful for the past ten some other friends whose pres- ones we expect in the future will years. And, I am excited about ence here among us is encourag- have this one thing in common... the years ahead for this church ing to us as we consider the future God is in them. He wants the that will extend beyond my own of the church. .and of this church church to exist. Christ loved the time here. In some ways I feel like in this place. church and gave His life for it. It Moses standing on that mountain Friends, so much has changed in exists until He comes to claim it as looking at the land of promise. church life in America in His own. Though I may not live in that land just the past ten years. Attend- As we look into the future let’s once it is fully occupied, I am so ance trends in the vast majority of trust Him. We already see His glad to see what I see for the gen- churches are not encouraging. hand at work in our new initiatives erations that will live in that land. Giving to churches continues a with young families whose busy Sandy and I have been blessed to marked decline that is written lives bring them to us at times be among you for these past ten about everywhere. Church in that are non-traditional. Soon, years. For all that has been and America is in direct competition we will be expanding our reach the goodness in all that has been with secular activities and priori- and embrace of these young fam- . .thank you. For what may lie ties for the time and resources of ilies. We are going to ahead for the remainder of our America’s families. It is a chal- acknowledge that their lives are time with you in service to our lenging time to be in ministry as hectic, in transition all the time, Lord. .Yes!!! the church confronts new chal- and unpredictable. Ministries al- Blessed! lenges with strategies and expec- ready underway, for them and tations that no longer work as Christmas Events at First Baptist Sunday, December 4 11:00 a.m. Worship Service, Sanctuary Second Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Peace Candle Special Music by Sanctuary Handbells 6:30 p.m.—Hanging of the Greens Service and Fellowship A service of carols, decoration, and celebration– A Fellowship will follow service Special Music by Children's Choirs, Sanctuary Handbells, and the Sanctuary Choir Sunday, December 11 11:00 a.m.—Worship Service, Sanctuary Third Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Joy Candle Special Music by the Instrumental Ensemble Special Recognition for Rev. Joel Marshall’s 30th Anniversary at FBC 6:30 p.m.—Christmas Musical, Appalachian Winter Celebrate the Christmas Season with our Adult Choir, Orchestra, Narration and Soloists Everyone invited - Invite a friend or neighbor to join us! 7:30 p.m.—30th Anniversary Celebration for Rev. Joel Marshall Join us for this time of Fellowship and Celebration Sunday, December 18 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Fourth Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Love Candle Ingathering of Global Missions / Lottie Moon Christmas Offerings Special Music by Charlene Smith, Soloist 4:00-6:00 p.m. Peele Christmas Drop-in Terry and Sandy Peele invite you to a Christmas Drop-In 102 Bell Tower Court in Elon Wednesday, December 21 No Evening Service or Church Activities Sunday, December 25 10:00 a.m. Worship Service, Sanctuary Christmas Sunday – Lighting of the Christ Candle– Communion 10:00 a.m. Service only, No Sunday School Special Music and Worship Leadership by our Students No Evening Service or Activities Wednesday, December 28 No Evening Service or Church Activities From Your 2016 Personnel Committee Thank You to Our Church Staff! It has been said that a church staff are like the prompters in a play – God is the audience, we are the participants in our worship, and the staff are the prompters, making sure we know what to do, reminding us when we forget something, and prompting us with prayers and songs and messages to think about how we might apply God’s word to our lives. The role of prompter requires three characteristics: they must know the words, they must love the words, and they must have no ego. Regardless of the role and the title, a church’s staff all share in the role of prompter, and help us, as the worship participants, give our best to God. Our church ministerial staff exemplifies these qualities. They are each students of the Word and they know the Word. Listening to any of them as they preach, pray, read scriptures and lead us in song makes it clear to all of us that they truly love the Word. And, I can honestly say that during my Christian walk, I have not seen a group of four who better exemplify the charac- teristic of No Ego. Their actions and efforts as they lead us to worship show clearly that none of them believes this is about them, everything they do is done to give glory to God. We are truly lucky to have this team to lead us. Thank You All! Congratulations On Service Anniversaries! When members of our staff reach service anniversaries, we need to recognize them and celebrate with them.