fbcmonroe.com

Vol. 45 Issue 38

First Baptist Monroe

November 15, 2017Newsletter

WARE IT ISDr. Todd WareSenior Pastor

When our son Daniel moved to Chattanooga earlier this year, he was kind enough to ask if I would be interested in any of his possessions that couldn’t make the trip. Since he is quite the

foodie, I didn’t hesitate saying yes when he offered me fish he would be leaving behind. Unlike his dad, Daniel doesn’t mind separating from cash when it comes to eating well. While Teri and I are generally chicken folks, I was looking forward to enjoying a choice filet of fish. The change of pace would be nice. When I finally made it by his abandoned Church Street apartment, you can imagine my surprise when I learned the frozen filet turned out to be a pet complete with an aquarium and all the accessories. Less than enthused, I loaded the newly acquired obligation into the bed of my pick-up and headed for the office. When I made it to the parking lot I was honestly surprised that “Bub” had survived the man-made tsunami created by our half-mile journey. It’s been five months since I began sharing my space with the unexpected guest. Since then Bub has gone onto the great aquarium in the sky. His humble abode, however, still demands a shelf on my wall where three other finned creatures have taken his place. While I have very little history with fish ownership, I have discovered I enjoy their presence as they look back across the room at me. They also have a powerful way of welcoming kids into my office. So much of life falls into the “Bub” category. We often set our sights on certain dreams only to find out that life takes us in a totally different direction. At first we often respond in frustration; after all, we didn’t get what we had our hearts set on. Over time, however, Bubs can grow on us and teach us to appreciate something new. Bubs can

become vehicles of grace. What’s your fish story? What has life brought your way that you neither asked for or expected? My prayer is for God to use our Bubs to reveal Himself to us and to draw us closer to Him. Through whatever challenges we face, may He give us eyes to clearly see His loving kindness which is always looking back at us.

Serving Jesus Together, Pastor Todd

First Baptist Church • 202 McDaniel Street • Monroe, GA 30655 Dr. Todd Ware, Senior Pastor • Dr. Greg DeLoach, Teaching Pastor • www.FBCMonroe.com

First Baptist Monroe Christmas Musical

Presented by the Sanctuary Choir, Handbells, & Orchestra

Sunday, December 3 at 11:00 a.m.

SEEING AND SAYING THANKSDr. Greg DeLoachTeaching Pastor

There is so much in life that is not fully appreciated until it is a memory. Relationships come quickly to mind. When Amy and I were newlyweds we lived on a very meager income, rented a garage apartment that smelled of

mothballs, and did not have a television for the first six months of marriage. It seems so long ago and as I now recall that first year my heart is warmed with gratitude that Amy and I said “I do.” A few years later children forevermore changed our lives. I remember those early days when our boys were infants and the midnight feedings and diapering as well as long sleepless nights of colic. To be honest, it was just about impossible to notice and be grateful. Yet looking back I am grateful, even for those grueling days of early parenting. Through the years we would gripe about driving all over the state to visit relatives during the holidays and wonder if we should just stay home. Now many of those same relatives are dead and we wish we could just share a sandwich.

We do not always see our gratitude until it is a reflection of the past. And then we are often rushing right past gratitude on the way to something else. Perhaps it is too obvious to point out that Christmas decorations have been out since early fall. I am not Scrooge, but I have a deep problem with our rush to Christmas because in doing so we trample Thanksgiving.

To be grateful is to both see and say our thanks. Alan Culpepper writes in his fine commentary on Luke: “Gratitude may be the purest measure of one’s character and spiritual condition.” Of course he is right. To be grateful shapes every relationship on earth as well as in heaven.

Here is what I have seen to given thanks:• My life: It is far from perfect – but mine nonetheless to enjoy and live fully within.• My wife whom I have enjoyed nearly thirty years of marriage where we are still raising each other.• My two boys whom I admire because they are becoming not the men I want them to be, but the men they are created to be.• Sunrises, sunsets, and nighttime skies full of stars.• Beautiful books written by brilliant people and for all those teachers that instilled upon me a love for reading. • The smoke of a campfire – its smell is homecoming.

I am thankful for you too:• Those delicate hands, gnarled with arthritis that grab my scruffy face in an embrace.• The children and youth of this church whose very presence blesses me beyond words. • Your stories – not just the ones of success but even the failures and tragedies, for they too have their meaning• And yes, for our time together sharing faith and hope.

Since I see it, I have to say it: thank you.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICEThis Sunday, November 19, at 6:00pm at Lighthouse World Outreach Center.

CALLING ALL SENIOR ADULTS!!! Thursday, December 7th we will take a one hour tour of the Fox Theatre from the “Mighty Mo” organ to the men’s restroom with the original furniture selected by the owner’s wife. The cost is $15.00 per person. We will follow the tour with lunch at the iconic Mary Mac restaurant. The meal will be dutch treat. Pay for the tour at the church to reserve your seat on the bus. Hurry. First come first served.

FROM THE MISSIONS COMMITTEEChristmas is right around the corner and there are many that are in need. We would like to bless as many people in the Walton County area as we can. We will have two opportunities; a FISH Medical Tree and a Hope Tree, representing the Ministry Village Foster Kids. You have an opportunity to choose an ornament from either tree with an attached envelope for a donation. You may contribute either online, in the offering plate or in the church office.

OCC TRUCKS NEEDEDTrucks needed Sunday, November 19 @2:00pm at XA house to help load and deliver shoeboxes.

MENU FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2017Salad Bar, Ham, Mac and Cheese, Pineapple, Casserole, Green Peas, Rolls, DessertHelpers: Hal and Deborah Breedlove, Leigh Ann Malcom

PRAYER LISTSusanne Autry – Home after eye surgery 11/13Leena Banks – Home with hospiceJimmy Bowick (Arthur’s brother) – Rehab, Blackshear, GAChuck Bradley (son of Carol/Larry) - Home, Larry & Carol’sBarbara Brown - out patient eye surgery, 11/14Derrick Brown – Home, off his leg for 4 monthsRita Burney – Home, shinglesEllie Chambers - HomeTricia Cox - HomeRuss Dillard – Home after knee replacementBobbie Edwards - Home after hospital visitMarge Ellison - HomeMarcy Haymans – Home after hospitalPeggy Howard - HomeJim Head - HomeDerrick James (Cathy Inabinet’s son-in-law) - Stem cell transplant at DukeKaren Knight (Larry Richardson’s niece) leg amputee, healingDillon Lewis (Ginny Gregg’s nephew) – Shepherd’s ClinicWillene McNeal - TestLee Malcom – HomeMark Millians – Home after surgery 11/09Reba Plaster - Shoulder surgery 11/14, Eastside HospitalMike Reddish (Marvin Reddish’s nephew) - Home Texas, Praise for infection clearedIda Sanders (mother of Keith) - Home after surgery, 11/10Angie Shumate - St. Mary’s

BIRTHDAYS - NOV 19-NOV 25Londun SkinnerChuck Christie, JrScott RichardsonBetty ThomasWade MilliansKeith PratherAngie ShumateLynda TrailMarsha MilliansGene BentonJosephine ReynoldsSherry HanesMike MalcomKyle Brannen

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SHUT-IN OF THE WEEKFreida Cook621 N. Cherokee Rd. Social Circle, GA 30025

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSJohn & Janice Hendley731 Providence Club DriveMonroe, GA 30656

LAST WEEKNovember 12, 2017

NEXT WEEK GREETING TEAM8:30am

Sharon QueenSandy Cintron Susanne Autry Elizabeth Cabaniss

11:00amBuddy LeachCynthia CastleberryDonna Brown Helen Mullins

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS8:30amTeam Leader: Rebecca Barrett Babies:

Keeley GarrettVolunteer Needed

3-5 year olds:Anita Dodson Amy Smith

11:00amBabies:

Rita MilliansVolunteer Needed

3-5 year olds:Roger BrannenJoyce Wright

WEEKLY FINANCIALS Weekly Budget RequiredWeekly Budget Receipts Sunday Offerings Online Giving Stock GiftsBudget Required to DateBudget Received to DateDesignated GiftsGive to Go

$30,141.00

$17,866.86 $2,334.50

$48,097.37$ 1,386,486.00$1,374,220.40

$1,509.05$87,081.00

SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCEAdultsStudentsChildrenPreschoolTotalAttendance Goal

273633236

433404

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 198:30am Worship in Sanctuary9:30am Sunday School11:00am Worship in Sanctuary11:11am Worship in Fellowship Hall12:30 Students prepare OCC shoeboxes in the XA House7:00pm Student Ministry Worship Band rehearsal - The Loft

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2110:30am Intercessory Prayer Group

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22No Wednesday Activities1:00pm Church Office Closes

THURSDAY & FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23-24 Church Office Closed

DEACONS OF THE WEEK - NOVEMBER 16-22Kelly FarmerDaniel Donaldson

A gift was given by Mrs. Mary Garrett in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bowick

CONGRATULATIONS to Andrea (Roberts) & Joshua Reese at the October 23 birth of their son, Elam Beckett. The proud grandparents are Donna and Gene Roberts and great grandmother is Annie Belle Fambrough.

Carol Story – HomeKathryn Tullar – MRI, EEGDwayne Wommack (brother-in-law of Kelly Bryan) - CancerGene Wood (Judy Richardson’s brother) - HomeMatthew Young (Shannon Dominy’s brother) - Home, cancerSheila Young – Cancer, awaiting surgery

CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY ARE EXTENDED TO:•Billy and Lee Myers at the November 6 death of his father, Harvey Myers. •Adam and Jennifer Richardson at the November 11 death of her grandmother, Ann Buchanan, Alabama.•The family and friends of Jeanette Stone at her November 14 death.

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Nicolas PratherTodd WareGema Wilson

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U.S. POSTAGE P A I D

PERMIT #56

202 McDaniel Street PO Box 351 Monroe, Georgia 30655

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

DR. TODD WARE Senior PastorDR. GREG DELOACH Teaching PastorALEX BOSKOFF 8:30 Worship LeaderGLORIA BRISCOE Associate Student MinisterLYNN BROWN Ministry AssistantCHRIS BRYAN 11:11 Worship LeaderDARLENE CHRISTIE Director of Preschool MinistriesREV. GORDON DAVIDSON Associate PastorBROOKE GOUGE Family Ministry AssistantCARROL HOLMAN Financial SecretaryREV. ROYCE MCNEAL Minister to Senior AdultsREV. CURTIS MURDOCK 11:00 Worship LeaderSHANNON RADOSEVICH Minister to ChildrenELIZABETH YOUNG Ministry Assistant

OFFICE HOURS 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Thursday8:30am-1:00pm FridayOffice 770-267-5904 Fax 770-207-7383