Volume XLI November 26, 2014 No. 46

Salvation Army Angel Tree

The angel tree will be

available this Sunday,

November 30, outside the

parlor. Please take one or

two names to help with a

family Christmas. If you

have questions, please

call Peggy Lanier at

919-774-4689.

All families are encouraged to pick up a free Advent devotional book this Sunday. The books will be available on the table outside of the church office. This year’s devotional is composed of contributions written by our own First Baptist Church members. A children’s advent devotional will be handed out to the Sunday School classes this Sunday. Extras will be available at the visitor’s center outside the Chapel.

Advent Calendar

Thursday, December 4, 6:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Weekday Education Center Program

Sunday, December 7, 6:00 p.m.

Children's Choir and Youth Program

Wednesday December 10, 5:00 p.m.

Last Wednesday night meal

Sunday, December 14, 6:00 p.m.

Love Feast

Sunday, December 21, 8:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Chancel Choir and Orchestra

Christmas Concert

Tuesday, December 23

Youth Ring the Bells at JC Penney

Wednesday, December 24, 5:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve service

Live Nativity before the service

Sunday, December 30, 11:00 a.m.

(No 8:45 service)

“Student Day at Christmas”

WMU CORNER "One Sacred Effort"

Imagine joining the Author of all history in "One Sacred Effort". The missions offering helps move us toward that goal. The FBC church goal this year is $24,000. Our National Goal is $175 Million. Week of Prayer is November 30 - December 7 Materials for the week of prayer will be found on the table in the hall next to the church office.

FAMILY PROMISE begins on Sunday, December 7. We

have Wednesday night, Friday night and Saturday morning open to

spend time with our families. For transportation we need drivers for

Friday afternoon (5:15) and Sunday morning the 14th (8:30). We also

need set up and take down helpers Sunday December 7 and Sunday

December 15. Also needed are about ten laundry volunteers who will

rotate weeks. —Janet Tucker and Gretchen Fox

This Sunday, November 30, you

will be able to see the children’s

live nativity outside the chapel/

office area. The children’s na-

tivity can be seen every Sunday

until Christmas Eve. There will

be a final nativity on Christmas

Eve at 4:30 before the Christ-

mas Eve service begins.

A Newsletter of the First Baptist Church, Sanford, NC

As I attended the Community Thanksgiving Service last night in our church, I heard the songs and words of praise ring out in joyful sounds. But as I looked around, I saw many in the congregation who have had a difficult year. Some have gone through sickness and suffering, some have had emotional experiences, and still others have struggled with joblessness and poverty. I saw a recent widow sitting alone in a pew, and a family that has been split apart through divorce. There was a homeless person there, and others who have struggled financially this year. There were some whose children have disappointed them, and many who were not there because they were going through a hard time in their life. One son was sitting by the bedside of his

mother at Duke, and a wife was sitting by her husband’s bed side in Wake Forest. One is a caretaker for someone very ill, and another is searching for the next step in his life. As we worshiped together and praised God, I knew we all had things to be thankful for in both good and in difficult times. There is a wonderful song sung by Mandisa, that has beautiful words of thanksgiving and praise. I include the lyrics here for those of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving at a difficult time in your lives.

“Broken Hallelujah” With my love and my sadness I come before you Lord My heart's in a thousand pieces Maybe even more. Yet I trust in this moment You’re with me somehow And You’ve always been faithful So Lord even now

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for each of you. In Christ, Cindy

FLC NEWS

The first word of Advent is hope. I find that most of us lack the un-derstanding of what true hope really is. I get the feeling in my own heart that often times I confuse hope with wishing. And for the record—hope and wishing are two entirely different things. I love what Eugene Peterson says about it. “Wishing is something all of us do. It projects what we want or think we need into the future. Just because we wish for something good or holy we think it qualifies as hope. It does not. Wishing extends our egos into the future; hope grows out of our faith. Hope is oriented toward what God is doing; wishing is oriented toward what we are doing.” Peterson goes on to say that wishing is pointing toward that thing we most want to possess. Hope is just the oppo-site. It is that which comes from God out of the future, pointing toward us. “Hope,” he continues, “means being surprised, because we don't know what is best for us or how our lives are going to be completed. To cultivate hope is to suppress wishing -- to refuse to fantasize about what we want, but live in anticipation of what God is going to do next.” Advent is about the desperate need for forgiveness and the restoration of hope via a loving relationship with God. Anything less than that doesn't speak to our most urgent needs. We need God who is our hope—in person, tangible. Not a message, not a text, not even just a star in the sky. “Come to save us!” we cry out to God. And God does. And that is a message of hope.

Blessings, Jeff

Reflections from the Pastor

Yet I trust in this moment You’re with me somehow And You’ve always been faithful So Lord even now

When all that I can sing Is a broken hallelujah

When my only offering Is shattered praise Still a song of adoration Will rise up from these ruins I will worship You and give You thanks Even when my only praise Is a broken hallelujah

HOPE

& WISHING

Are Two Entirely Different Things

First Baptist Church of Sanford, NC 919-774-4220 www.firstbaptistsanford.com Family Life Center 919-776-6137

Sunday, November 30 (FLC open by reservation only) 8:45 a.m. Worship in the Chapel 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary Monday, December 1 (FLC 7:00-2:00 p.m.; 5:00-8:00 p.m.) 9:00 a.m. Morning Movers, FLC 9:00 a.m.–12:00 Weekday Education Center (M—F) 2:30-5:30 p.m. After School Care (M—F) 5:00 p.m. Zumba 5:30 p.m. TOPS, Craft Room 6:00 p.m. Chapel Voices 6:15 p.m. Pickleball 7:00 p.m. Ju“bell”ation Ringers Tuesday, December 2 (FLC 7:00-2:00 p.m.; 5:00-8:00 p.m.) 8:00-10:30 a.m. FBC Adult B-ball 8:45 a.m. Breadbasket 9:30 a.m. Different Strokes Art Class, Craft Room 10:00 a.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry 10:30 a.m. Hymns and Hers 12:30 p.m. Line Dancing 1:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Bloodmobile 1:30 p.m. Prayer Ministry, Parlor 5:00 p.m. Zumba Class, gym 7:00 p.m. Scouts 7:00 p.m. Upward Coaches Meeting, Chapel Wednesday, December 3 (FLC 7:00-2:00 p.m.) 8:30 a.m. Jobseekers 9:00 a.m. Morning Movers, FLC 10:30 a.m. Meals on Wheels 4:00 p.m. Prayer/Bible Study in the Chapel 5:00 p.m. First Baptist Church Meal 6:00 p.m. Children’s Choirs 6:00 p.m. Family Promise Meeting 6:15 p.m. Yoga 6:30 p.m. Acteens and Youth RA’s, SonShine Group 6:45 p.m. Mission Friends, GA’s and RA’s 6:50 p.m. Trinity Singers 7:20 p.m. Chancel Choir Thursday, Dec. 4 (FLC 7:00-2:00 p.m.; 5:00-8:00 p.m.) 5:00 p.m. Zumba Class, gym 6:00 p.m. Weekday Education Center, Sanctuary 7:00 p.m. Weekday Education Center, Sanctuary (No “Bread” this evening) Friday, December 5 (FLC 7:00-11:00 a.m.) 9:00 a.m. Morning Movers, FLC 10:00 a.m. Line Dancing Class Saturday, December 6 (FLC closed)

Worship at First Baptist November 30, 2014

Beginning of Advent 8:45 a.m. & Dr. Jeff Clark 11:00 a.m. “In Need of a Helping Hand” I Corinthians 1:3-9 8:45 a.m. “Mary, Did You Know?” by Buddy Greene Jill Blum, Solo with Jim Powers and David Spivey

11:00 “When We See Him” by David Lantz Chancel Choir

“Waiting” by Pepper Choplin

Trinity Singers with Chip Watts, Guitar

Mike’s Musings

Advent - Patience ... waiting ... longing ... searching ... hoping ... listening ... words pregnant with meaning as we step into Advent this Sunday! Looking forward to celebrating this most wonderful season with my church family this year. Triple L - In response to our lunch last week with Peggy Taphorn we are changing up our plans in January a bit. We are doing lunch on Thursday, the 22nd and then going to see the Temple’s production of I'll Never Be Hungry Again. We’ll have details soon, but mark that day for a great time! And don't forget our Christmas party on December 16th at 2:00.

Thank you to our church family for embracing us in your love and support over the past 2 ½ years of Brian’s illness. You have no idea how your cards, prayer, food, support and kind words have buoyed us through the most difficult time of our lives. We appreciate the expression of God’s love you have shown us and we thank God for each one of you. With love, Sara Harrington and husband, Brian Johnson We want to thank all those in the Church who have been praying for our daughter and our grand-daughter. Because of your many prayers, great progress has been made toward their healing. thank you again for your love and your caring. Don and Page Cossett

Wednesday Night Meal

“Soup-A-Paloosa”, Potato Soup, Vegetable Beef Soup, Chicken Taco Chili, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Dessert Kitchen Helper: Diana Jones

SS Class Servers: Life Matters

Money Collector: Ellie Smith Cost of meals: $5.00 per adult, $3.00 per child, and a family of four or more

only pays $15.00. Carry-out meals cost $1.00 extra. Sign-up in the church office or email Cindy Godwin at sanfbcadmin@windstream.net. (Before Friday please)

No Bible Study this Sunday night!

December 7

Children’s Choirs and Youth Concert

December 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Love Feast

December 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Youth Christmas party at the Blum’s December 23 at 6:00 p.m.

Youth Ring the Bells at JC Penney

HOSPITAL

CENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL: Steve Everette, Juanita Sluss WAKE FOREST BAPTIST: Brian Johnson

NURSERY HOUR WORKERS November 30 Workers: Donna Utley; Carolyn Lee and Regina Edwards; Ben and Martha Lucas, Chad Spivey Nursery Security Usher (Early): Brent Saunders Early Service Ushers: Bobby Wicker and Jimmy Tucker

AT A GLANCE Weekly Budget Requirement………..……….…..…….….. 18,942.31 Budget Received…………………………………………...….… 10,488.98 Building/Capital Improvement……………….…..…...…… 345.00 Other………………………………………………………...….……. 8,819.00 TOTAL…….……………………………………...………………… $19,652.98

Sara Harrington

910 Whitford Street Sanford, NC 27330

First Baptist Church of Sanford, NC 919-774-4220 www.firstbaptistsanford.com Family Life Center 919-776-6137