YOUTH NEWS
FBC Youth meet Sunday, February 4 at LUNCH and will be going to host homes for lunch and Bible Study.  We will leave the church at 12:15 p.m. and return to the church by 2:00 p.m.  (See front page.)

YOUTH WINTER RETREAT
It’s next weekend…..February 9-11, Cost: $80, Where:  Camp Caraway in Asheboro, NC, $25 deposit is past due.  Call Tommy to sign up.

ON MISSION TO GRIFTON
We will be going to Grifton leaving Friday, February 16 and returning Saturday, February 17.  If you would like to go please call Karen Brown at 934-2555 or call the church office.

LADIES….IT’S NOT TOO LATE
If you wish to go on the Women’s Retreat at Caswell February 23 – 25, the NEW deadline for a deposit is January 31.  Women of all ages are invited.  The theme is “The Potter’s Wheel” and we will be led by Sandra Morrison Harrison.  Brochures are located in the foyer of the office and on the table at the Welcome Center.  Call Sandy Baker at 934-8365 with questions or to sign up.  Feel free to invite a friend or co-worker.

ALZHEIMER’S WORKSHOP
If you are interested in knowing more about how to work with individuals who have Alzheimer’s, there is a workshop on Thursday, February 22 from 9:30 - 12:30 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.  Please email Judy Williams at judithw222@msn.com or call 934-0261 if you are interested in attending.

NC BAPTIST MISSIONS CONFERENCE AND BAPTIST MEN’S CONVENTION
The NC Baptist Missions Conference and Baptist Men’s Convention will be held at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC March 30 – 31.  Join us and fellow believers to experience a weekend of celebration and focus on Missions.  Be encouraged, inspired and informed on how to heed God’s call “to serve one another in love.”  Featured this year are Gary Smalley, Dennis Swanberg and the Annie Moses Band.  If you are interested in attending, please call Anesha Johnson at 934-1601 for a registration form.

THANK YOU
The family of Ann Morgan would like to thank our church family for their prayers, cards, visits and food during her recent surgery and visit to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.  Prayer is a wonderful thing!  Jim & Ann Morgan and family.

I would like to thank my church family for their caring visits, cards, food and prayers in the recent death of my sister Hilda Jones.  Joyce Thompson

OUR KNOWN SICK
Effie Hinton (JMH), Ann Morgan (Home), Mac Culbreth (Home), Linda Jones (Home)

HISTORY TIDBIT
On August 7, 1834, the church purchased from Samuel Mitchiner and Thomas Lockhart a lot on the corner of Second Street and Church Street “in consideration of the respect which we have and bear to the cause of Jesus Christ and for further consideration of fifty cents.”

MUSIC NOTES
Twenty members of our Older Children’s Choir and three adult chaperones attended the 2nd annual Children’s Choir Festival sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, held at Temple Baptist in Durham, on Saturday January 27.  For several hours they rehearsed and polished music they had learned ahead of time, then presented a closing worship concert for parents and congregational visitors. We’re proud of our children; they were well-behaved, well-prepared, learned a lot, and were the largest group represented among eighteen churches from all over North Carolina.

Thank you First Baptist for hosting the NC Baptist Singers on January 29!  At the worship concert that evening, the sanctuary was packed with between 550 and 600 worshippers who enjoyed the spirit of the evening.  Many volunteers helped with set-up of the room, serving meals, and clean up.  Among them are Jay Sasser (sound technician), Thad Hardee (all day gopher), Gayle Bizzell and Jackie Jones (fellowship hall set up and meal serving); Carolyn Crumpler (snack coordinator), and Billy Wiggs (usher coordinator).  Thank you Sanctuary Choir members for cooking desserts and helping serve.  We are proud of our own church members who played with the orchestra:  SSS Band members Evan Garris, Nikki Crumley, Olivia Brown, and Madison Garris, and mandolin player Kathi Nixon.

The Early Service Adult Ensemble, directed by Donna Johnson, now has an “official” name.  It is “S.O.S.2”  This is an acronym for “Servants of Song, Seekers of Souls.”  We are grateful to these volunteers who rehearse regularly to provide choral sound for our early service.  They sing about once a month.  We have also used the talents of Tommy Cook, Robert Goodwin and Bob Goodwin on guitar and Berry Oliver on drums.

ATTENTION FBC HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Applications and guidelines for the Johnston Baptist Association WMU Mitchiner Scholarship are in the office.  See Glenda or Janice for an application.  All information is due at the JBA office by March 16, 2007.

WMU BOOK STUDY
Phyllis Elliott Elvington will give a presentation on Wanda Lee’s Live the Call.  Smithfield Fist Baptist will host the meeting on February 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.  All WMU groups are encouraged to attend.

NEW ARRIVAL
Congratulations to Rob and Mary Wilkinson on the arrival of their infant daughter, Jennifer “Jenna” Claire.  The proud grandparents are Larry and Kay Denning.  The proud great grandmother is Helen Denning.

BLOODMOBILE
The BloodMobile will be in Ryberg Hall on Tuesday, February 6th from 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.  For an appointment call the Red Cross at 934-8481.

ATTENTION
BIBLE BUDDIES AND BIBLE DRILL
This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and we are doing something different.  Join us for a celebration lunch immediately following the 10:55 church service in our classroom followed by Bible Drill and Bible Buddies meeting (instead of Sunday night at 6:30).  We will conclude at 1:30 p.m.  Parents please be available to pick up your children then.

SUMMER COLLEGE STUDENT MINISTRY INTERN
First Baptist Church is accepting resumes for a Summer Ministry Intern who will work with the Youth ministry and some of the children’s summer programming.  Applicants must have completed their second year of college, have a sense of calling toward full-time Christian Ministry, and be an active participant in at least one Christian organization at college.  Interested students should forward their resume by mail, with a letter of interest and three references to First Baptist Church, 202 S. Fourth Street, Smithfield, NC  27577 attention Tommy Cook, or by email to tommy@fbcsmithfield.org by February 28, 2006.

Valentine Banquet Mark your calendar and grab your Valentine and join us Sunday, February 11th for the annual Valentine’s Banquet sponsored by our Baptist Men.  Come enjoy an evening of good food, fellowship and entertainment.  Serving this year will be our Deacons.

Greeters:  Dan & Vickie Evans

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

* Nursery provided