Calling all 4th – 7th Graders
Pastor’s Class begins Monday, January 8th
immediately after school in the Youth Room
and will end at 5:00 p.m.
Hope to see you then.  Bring a friend.

 

Please look at the small groups available on Wednesday night for the spring block.  Contact the church office (934.9771) to sign up and to make payment for materials.  The spring block small groups will start January 10. 

2006 - 2007 Fellowship Hall Schedule

Experiencing God (12 Weeks- Fall and Spring Blocks)
The group will study, share and reflect upon knowing and doing the will of God.

Crown Ministries Financial Concepts (12 Weeks- Fall and Spring Blocks)
A small group examining how you can honor God with your finances.  By the end of the ten weeks participants will be equipped to facilitate a Crown small group themselves.

Equipping Parents (8 Weeks- Spring Block Only)
Discuss and explore parenting challenges.  Investigate Biblical insights that can serve as a foundation to build innovative approaches in addressing parenting issues and concerns.

Family Clogs & Our Heavenly Plumber (12 Weeks- Spring Block Only)
Explore the dynamics of why your family does what it does.  What insight does God’s Word give us into creating and nurturing a Christian home?

We will fill out 2007 Permission Forms, get information about upcoming events, Mission Trip, Caswell and much more. Don’t forget to bring your insurance card & information.  Notaries will be on hand to notarize free of charge.  You will be charged a small fee after this date.

February 9-11, Cost: $80, Where:  Camp Caraway in Asheboro, NC, $25 deposit is past due.  Call Tommy to sign up.

When:  Friday, January 26, Cost: $40, Sign up by January 12
Meet in the FBC Fellowship Hall at 5:00 p.m. on the 26th!!!  We will go to a Hurricanes game and much more.  Watch the Visitor for more info.

We’re looking forward to a great event for the church and our youth!  The Youth Mission Trip Auction is the biggest fundraiser for the youth’s mission trip.  We need items such as:  Antiques, Professional Services, Cakes and Pies, Vacation Home Weekends, Gift Certificates, Homemade Quilts/Afghans, Sports Tickets, New Electronics, etc… AND IT’S NOT TOO EARLY TO CONTRIBUTE!!!

Questions?  See Art Andrews, Margie Crumley, or Tommy Cook

OUR KNOWN SICK
Ruth High (Home), Perk Braswell (Home), Ethan Faulconer (Home), Rose Walsh (Home), Tyrus McCullers (Home), Tyler Wood (Home)

NEW MEMBER
We welcome into our Christian fellowship Harrison Allen who comes to us by profession of faith and for believer's baptism.

WEBSITE UPDATES

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
The WMU will be collecting unwanted Christmas decorations during the month of January.  There will be a collection box located in the Fellowship Hall for you to carefully place your donated items.  The decorations will be used in hosting various outreach events during the Christmas season.  If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Gainey at 934-1420.

MUSIC NOTES
Thank you to all the volunteer musicians and planners whose leadership made the Advent and Christmas seasons of worship so meaningful.  All ages of singers, ringers, actors, and instrumentalists shared their God-given talents both on Sunday morning and in special programs such as our Hanging of the Green and Journey to Bethlehem.  We are truly a blessed church family.

Now is a great time to join a music group as rehearsals begin for the new season!  All are welcome to share their talents.  See below for rehearsal start up times:

MUSICAL OUTING TO HEAR
PEPPER CHOPLIN AND JOSEPH MARTIN
On Friday evening Jan. 19 the bus will leave church at 5 p.m. to go to north Raleigh for a dutch supper (cafeteria) and then to attend a free worship concert at Greystone Baptist by Pepper Choplin and Joseph Martin, two of our adult choir’s favorite composers.  The concert begins at 7 p.m.  All are invited to attend.  Call the church office to sign up.  There is no charge, but we will “pass the hat” on the bus to cover the gas expense.

BIBLE DRILL AND BIBLE BUDDIES
 RESUME THIS WEEK
This Sunday January 7 the Bible Drill and Bible Buddies will resume meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.  All 2nd-3rd graders (Buddies) and 4th-6th graders (Drill) are welcome to attend.

SYMPATHY
We express our Christian sympathy to Ruth Andrews in the recent homegoing of her brother, William Barnes.

We express our Christian sympathy to Jo Justice in the recent homegoing of her mother.

We express our Chrisitan sympathy to Tim Bradshaw in the recent homegoing of his father, Arne Bradshaw.

175th BIRTHDAY!
This year we will be celebrating the 175th birthday of our church.  Each week we will have a “History Section” in the Visitor so we can become familiar with the history of our church.

CHURCH DECORATIONS
The following memorials and honorariums for Christmas decorations were received after December 20th :
Memorials In Memory Of:   Beulah Gudac       By: Chris & Mary Aker

OFFERING ENVELOPES
2007 offering envelopes have been mailed.  Thanks to you, 412 out of 743 envelopes were picked up during the month of December, thus saving the church about $115.00 in postage - now that’s good stewardship!  Also, please remember to throw away your old offering envelopes.  Since all new numbers are assigned each year, contributions may get credited incorrectly if old numbers are used.

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS
2006 contributions statements will be mailed within the next 2 weeks.  To ensure your church contributions are tax deductible, do not file your 2006 income tax return until you have received your contribution statement from the church.  Some of your contributions may not be tax deductible if you file your tax return before receiving this written acknowledgement.

CALLING ALL WOMEN
Please join us February 23 – 25 for the Women’s Retreat at Caswell.  This year's theme is “The Potter’s Wheel.”  Come and share in this three day retreat for women of all ages and be challenged to live with joy and expectation in all of life’s circumstances.  This year’s speaker is Sandra Morrison Harrison.  The cost is $110 and a deposit of $55 is due by Monday, January 15.  We will be staying at Lantana Lodge.  Please contact Sandy Baker at 934-8365 to sign up to go.  Don’t miss this time of fun, fellowship and enrichment.

THANK YOU FROM FBC STAFF
We would like to thank all of those who brought gifts, food, cards, and well wishes during the Christmas season.  They were all most appreciated.  We hope that you have had a joyous Christmas visiting with family and friends and will continue to remember the reason we celebrate – the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  First Baptist Church Staff

THANK YOU
I moved from Pennsylvania with only a few items.  I have never met a kinder, more empathetic gentleman than Bill Wiggs.  I feel that everyone in this congregation is blessed with the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Without your generosity, I would be without a lot.  But not only did your beautiful “Household Closet” assist me in getting back on my feet, it gave me the precious opportunity to meet Christians in the process…..just as I prayed I would!  I love you all and thank you with all my heart.  Merry Christmas!  Norene Christy

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 3RD – 6TH GRADERS

What:   PassportKids Camp for children in the 3rd – 6th Grades
When:  SUMMER 2007, June 19-22
Where: Wingate University Campus (in Wingate near Charlotte, NC)
Cost:     $125, $60 deposit due by Jan 14
PassportKids Camp is a fun camp for children that explores the Gospel through Mission Interaction.  Passport, Inc. (in partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) is an independent, nonprofit organization begun in 1993.  The children of First Baptist Church have an opportunity to join over 200 children from other churches in this experience.  Shannon and David Council have agreed to lead our children on this journey to Wingate where they will also learn to reach out to others in the world. 

Greeters: Dan & Vickie Evans

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

* Nursery provided