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The Witness VOLUME 61, EDITION 10, NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

CANTON FIRST MINISTRY ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Community Kitchen Ministry Team: Be in prayer for our volunteers who prepare and serve the meal the first Thursday of each month. To volunteer, see Cathy Walsh.

BackPack Ministry November 1: Canton First Backpack Ministry serves along-side the Canton Missional Network to assist displaced families through backpacks of food and needed items distributed through the schools. On our day of service we pick up, pack, and return filled packs. To receive email updates, email Susan Shu-molis at sshumolis@gmail.com.

Operation Christmas Child Church-wide Pack Party: Saturday, November 3 from 1-3pm everyone is invited to the Pack Party in the fellowship hall. Bring items to put in the shoe boxes to go to children around the world in poverty and distress and open the door for the gospel and Christ’s love to be shared. The ingathering and dedication will be Sunday, November 11 in Worship.

Fall Back: Move your clock back one hour Saturday, November 3.

WNCBF Conference and Dinner: join us Sunday, November 4 from 3-7pm at Hominy Baptist Church for a challenge Re-imagining Evangelism. The coach will leave at 2:30 pm for us to go over. RSVP is required and $15 for dinner.

JOY (Just Older Youth) Fellowship: All JOY club members please reserve your place to enjoy catered lunch together at Canton First on Saturday November 10 and Saturday December 1 by calling Lowell or Sandra. Call them to get tickets to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on Dec 7 in Franklin.

Kids Lunch & Gem Mining Sunday, November 11 at Noon: Kids will have lunch and go gem mining after morning worship. See Lisa or Kevin for forms and details.

Budget Discussion Church Conference: The annual Budget Discussion Church Conference will be November 11 at 5pm. Everyone is asked to participate. We will vote without discussion on the budget in morning worship Sunday, November 18.

Thanksgiving Covered Dish Banquet: Invite everyone to a feast at 6pm Wednes-day November 14. The church will provide turkey, dressing, bread, and drinks. Please bring other meats, casseroles, vegetables, salads, and desserts to share.

G.U.M. (God Use Me) Drop Ministry Saturday, November 17 8am to noon: Volunteer for this day of service to our church family and community who need help with fall cleanup. Every age can help. Bring rakes, gloves, tarps, blowers, etc. Meet at the church at 8am to go out to the work sites together. For more infor-mation call the church office at 828.648.2367, or see Carroll & Barbara Wright or Skip & Jan Holland.

Hanging of the Green Worship Service: Celebrate a festive morning worship kickoff of the Advent Season at 11 am on Sunday, Nov. 25.

Canton Christmas Parade Outreach Ministry: Plan to participate Thursday Dec 6 in the Canton Christmas Parade and our outreach ministry that day. Ride, hand out invitation cards, place flyers on cars and celebrate the reason for the season!

And It Came to Pass...Emmanuel: The Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra lead in worship and music Sunday December 9 at 6pm. Reception will follow.

Christmas Covered Dish Dinner: Wednesday Dec 12 6pm. Invite Guests.

Christmas Breakfast and Combined Adult Sunday School: Bring your favorite Breakfast dish Sunday Dec 16 at 9am for the Churchwide breakfast. All adults will remain in the fellowship hall for a combined Sunday School class.

Happy Birthday Jesus Party: All Children and youth are invited for lunch and fellowship on Sunday 16 after morning worship.

Open House: Join us Thursday, December 20 from 1-5pm for Open House.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion: bring the whole family and guests to the 6pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion on December 24.

Fifth Sunday Food Drive Sunday, December 30: Please place non-perishable food and hygiene items in the baskets on the landing.

Youth Events: See Kevin for details about Fall Festival, Bonfire, Shopping Trips, Lock-In, Service Projects, Mission Opportunities and more youth events coming up.

MISSIONS & MINISTRY COMING UP Community Children’s Christmas Ministry: Pray for this ministry which has been a vital outreach ministry of Canton First Baptist for over 8 decades. The CCC Ministry team is already at work preparing for this ministry as it takes months of preparation and coordination. We work with the schools and social workers to identify children and families who would best benefit from this ministry. The par-ents are then contacted and given an invitation and then they complete forms and return them to assist us with the preparations. We need you to Volunteer to help sort, setup, cleanup, lead crafts, serve supper, and have fun with our guests. You are the living representation of Christ that many of them will see. Please pray about participating in whatever way you can. Your smile, hug, and encouragement may be the best gift they receive this Christmas. Another way you can help is to serve as a Host to a child and their family on the day of the event Sunday, December 2. You will greet them when they arrive at 4pm, show them around, take them to the crafts area, host them for supper and talk with their families and help them to have a few moments with a special guest, then take them to the sanctuary for the pro-gram at 6pm, continue to shadow them as they sing carols and hear the Christmas story, receive gifts, sharing the love of Jesus with them and their family as they enjoy fun, and fellowship. You get to make a connection with that child and fami-ly. This year we are planning for 50+ children yet there are always more who need us. We can only provide gifts for the children that are registered. We will have treat bags for all children and siblings. If you know of a family in need, contact the church office by November 5 with contact information so that we can see if they are eligible. Give to sponsor a child for $30 to help with gifts and expenses of this ministry. Financial gifts of any size are welcome. Please write on your envelope Community Children’s Christmas Ministry. We can always use unopened Lego sets, Barbie Dolls, or other children’s items you may have laying around. For more information contact the church office, Lisa Ledford or Pam Floyd.

Extension Ministry Christmas Cards: Please prepare Christmas cards for our shut-ins, homebound, nursing home and special friends. Lists of names will be available mid November from the office, literature racks, on the counter next to the copier, and in the Sunday School classes. This means so much to our friends who are not able to attend. Place your cards in the bags in the hallway by December 10 and the Extension Ministry team will deliver.

Poinsettia Memorials and Honorariums Ministry: Your gift of $20 provides poinsettias for homebound, shut-ins, and nursing home residents delivered by their deacon to bring them cheer throughout the Christmas season and provides the dec-orations in the church for this season. For your gift of $20, your name and “in Memory or in Honor” designation will be listed in the memorial bulletin on De-cember 16. Completed forms and donations are due by December 10.

PLEASE NOTE Phone System: Please be patient with us as the decades old phone system is not working at capacity and is unable to be repaired. We have limited phone service at this time while we seek appropriate new phone and communication technology to better serve you for the years to come. We apologize for any inconvenience. You can always reach the staff on their cell phones. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Reservations: If your class or group is planning a gathering this season, please be sure to call the church office to place reservations on the church calendar.

Weather Policy: During the week, when Haywood County Schools are dismissed or closed due to inclement weather, activities at Canton First are postponed and CFBC is closed. During a weather event, decisions are made as soon as possible and sent first to the Deacons. Please check WLOS, WPTL, Facebook, and our website for weather related program or time changes. Please travel only if it is safe to drive and walk.

To Reach the Ministers & Staff: Because of schedules, please try to call the church with your requests on Monday through Wednesday between 10am and 2pm. When possible try to reach us by email at cantonfirst@gmail.com or the staff specific email. Messages will be returned as soon as possible.

Budget Gifts: Your gifts to Canton First Baptist support our many partnership min-istries and missions as well as fund the work of the ministry we do here locally. Thank you for your continued faithfulness and commitment to our community.

End of Year Gifts: Your gifts are important to us. For gifts to count for this year, they must be received, postmarked or donated online by December 31. Thank you for your generosity throughout this Ministry Season!

November & December Stewardship Emphasis: Operation Christmas Child - Pack Party November 3, Shoe box Ingathering November 11

Poinsettia Memorial Ministry - begin placing memorials in November. Community Children’s Christmas Ministry Sponsor in November - Party December 2

Lottie Moon Ingathering for International Missions December 16 Room at the Inn Christmas Eve Offering 8pm December 24

Weekly & Regular Events & Activities - Everyone Welcome! Sunday School: All ages meet at 9:45am each Sunday for Bible Study Sunday Morning Worship: Everyone begins together, then children go to kids worship. Kids Missions & Music: Kids grades K3 to 5th grade meet at 5pm on Sunday. Men’s Breakfast: Men are invited to Breakfast Bible Study & Prayer at 7am the 1st Tuesday of each month at Clyde’s Restaurant and the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Bojangles in Canton. Ladies Mission Groups: All ladies are invited to join the mission group that best fits their schedule. Jean Teague Group meets the first Tuesday morning of each month at 10 am. Irene Berry Smith Group meets the second Monday of each month at 7pm. Small Group Studies: See Kevin McDaniel for details, to request topics, to volunteer to lead, or to sign up. Bible Study Wednesday at 6pm: Study and prayer led by Pastor Court Greene at CFBC. Childcare is available. Youth Study & Fellowship Wednesday at 6pm: All 6-12 grade students are invited. Sanctuary Choir: Rehearses each Wednesday at 7:00 pm. All voices welcome.

Upcoming Events & Activities Calendar Nov 1 10:00 Backpack Day of Service 4:00 Community Kitchen Ministry 6:00 FH Reserved Nov 3 1:00 Operation Christmas Child Packing Party for all Ages 10:00 Set your clocks back one hour Nov 4 2:30 Coach leaves to go to Hominy Baptist Church 3:00 WNCBF conference and dinner at Hominy Baptist Church Nov 6 Election Day 7:00 Men's Breakfast Bible Study & Prayer @ Clyde's Rest. 10:00 Jean Teague Ladies Missions Group Nov 8 4:00 Finance Meeting Nov 10 12:00 JOY Club Lunch at CFBC RSVP to 648-2367 Nov 11 11:00 OCC Shoebox Ingather in Morning Worship 12:00 Kids Lunch & Gem Mining Fellowship 5:00 Budget Discussion Church Conference Nov 12 Veteran’s Day - HCS Closed 7:00 Irene Berry Smith Ladies Mission Group Nov 14 6:00 Church-wide Covered Dish Thanksgiving Feast Nov 16 3:30 Feed the Bears & Devotion PHS Varsity Nov 17 8:00 Operation G.U.M. Drop (God Use Me) Ministry Nov 18 11:00 Budget Affirmation Vote in Morning Worship - No Discussion 6:30 Community Thanksgiving Service at Canton Presbyterian Nov 20 7:00 Men’s Breakfast Bible Study & Prayer at Bojangles Nov 21-23 Thanksgiving Holiday - Office Closed Nov 24 9:00 Decorations and Preparation Day Nov 25 11:00 Hanging of Green Nov 27 10:00 Deacon Poinsettia Ministry begins Nov 28 6:00 Community Children Christmas Ministry Prep & Wrapping Party Dec 1 12:00 JOY Club Lunch at CFBC RSVP to 648-2367 Dec 2 5:00 Community Children’s Christmas Ministry Party - Crafts and Fun Fellowship 6:00 Supper and Special Guest Appearance 6:30 Carols & Christmas Story in Sanctuary Dec 6 4:00 Christmas Parade Outreach Dec 7 3:30 JOY Club to “Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever” At Smoky Mtn Center Dec 9 6:00 “And It Came To Pass - Emmanuel” Sanctuary Choir & Orchestra Cantata & Reception Dec 10 Last day for Cards for Extension Ministry & Poinsettia Memorials Dec 12 6:00 Christmas Covered Dish Feast Dec 16 9:00 Church-wide Covered Dish Breakfast 9:45 Combined Adult Sunday School in Fellowship Hall 12:00 Children’s Happy Birthday Jesus Party Dec 20 1:00 Open House Dec 24 6:00 Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service Dec 30 5th Sunday Food Drive

We are praying for and extend Christian love and sympathy to the families of: Dot Hyatt, Scott Goodman, Virginia James, Bobby Pace, & Bennie Jo Sutton