Grab your “valentine” and join us for an evening of good food andfellowship at our annual

VALENTINE BANQUET
Sponsored by our Baptist Men.
We will enjoy Chicken, Tossed salad with assorted dressings, Rice, Steamed Vegetables, Chocolate Cake, Coffee/Tea.


FOR YOUR VALENTINE
Want to do something for that special someone on Valentine’s Day? Let us help. The Baptist Blend Quartet will deliver a “Singing Valentine” for you. The cost is a donation to the Baptist Blend Quartet fund. We will be limited to the Smithfield area. If you are interested please call the church office to sign up.

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
On Valentine’s Day, February 14, wouldn’t it be nice to take your special “Valentine” out for a quiet dinner without the kids? Well, here’s your chance! Let us watch the kids. On February 14th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. you can drop off your children in the K-1 Sunday School Room for pizza, crafts and games. The cost is $20 for the first child and $10 for each additional child. All proceeds will go to Relay for Life. Sign up in Sunday School or call Debbie Jones at 934-7861 or Susan Culbreth at 965-9141 for more information.

YOUTH NEWS
FBC Youth will NOT meet in the evening Sunday, February 10th due to the Valentine Banquet. You will meet after worship Sunday morning at host homes. See below.

SUNDAY LUNCH YOUTH GROUP MEETING
ON LOCATION
Sunday, Feb. 10 after worship (locations subject to change)
7-8th Grade – Sydney Ball’s house
9th -10th Grade – Brandon Allen’s house
11th -12th Grade – Jonathan Daniel’s house
Meet in the Fellowship Hall. Just bring yourself and a Bible. We will bus youth to the host home where lunch will be served and we will continue our study on the book of James. (back at the church by 2:30 p.m.)

OUR KNOWN SICK
John Hamilton (Brian Center, Clayton), Gale Stanfield (Home), James Odom (Home), Mabel Schrebeis (Home), Richard Watts (Home), Ann Stacey (Home), Jeanette Massengill (Home)

SYMPATHY
We express our Christian sympathy to John Hamilton in the recent homegoing of his daughter.

We express our Christian sympathy to Sam Newsome in the recent homegoing of his father.

We express our Christian sympathy to Carolyn Crumpler in the recent homegoing of her mother.

ANNUAL FOOD AND SUPPLY DRIVE
FOR BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMES
Please plan to participate in the Annual Food and Supplies Drive for the Baptist Children’s Homes of NC on April 28 and 29. This year Johnston Baptist Association will donate paper products, cleaning supplies, and laundry detergent. Please begin gathering these items or if you or your class would like to begin saving to donate money, the Tharringtons will be happy to purchase these supplies for you.

RAFFLE TICKETS
Relay for Life will be selling Raffle Tickets. We have been blessed to have Jackie Jones, along with some other church members, make a quilt out of Relay T-Shirts. The tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00. If you would like tickets, call Mary Ball at 934-6382 or Carolyn Jones at 934-7742 or 631-5617.

ATTENTION MEN
The Men’s Bible Study will begin a new study in the New Testament book of Hebrews. The class will begin Monday February 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. If you are interested in attending, please call the church office or Steve Adkins at 965-3782.

FYI
If you are interested in learning more about Mormonism, Monday and Tuesday, February 11 and 12, at 9:00 p.m. UNC-TV will air the History of Mormons.
AUCTION TO BENEFIT
THE YOUTH MISSION TRIPS!!!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd
We’re looking forward to a great event for the church and our youth! We need items such as: Antiques, Professional Services, Cakes and Pies, Vacation Home Weekends, Gift Certificates, Homemade Quilts/Afghans, Sports Tickets, New Electronics, etc. Questions? See Art Andrews, Margie Crumley, or Tommy Cook. The following are items donated since last Wednesday, January 30th.
• (6) crocheted clothes hangers by Linda Jones
• (2) crocheted hanging hand towels, crocheted dish cloth, and matching pot holder by Linda Jones
• Crocheted yellow baby afghan by Ann Clouse
• 2004 White House Christmas ornament
• Good 'ol homecooked meal for your family by Jean High
• (2) coconut caramel delight pies made by Jean High
• 07 Cinncinnati Reds warm-up jacket worn by coach
• Battery-operated foot massager
• Elite rotisserie oven
• Set of 2 hurricane candle holders
• 1 year Unlimited car washes at Sun Auto Wash
• Webkinz Lil' kinz white bunny donated by DeWayne's Home & Garden
• Webkinz pink horse donated by DeWayne's Home & Garden
• Royal Limited crystal covered dish
• Lead crystal footed bowl
• Set of 8 Bohemia crystal punch cups
• 8" plush poseable Pooh w/star
• 9" Grumpy plush stuffed Disney character
• 9" Mickey & Minnie plush stuffed Disney set
• (6) child's Disney tobaggan & scarf sets with either Bambi, Mickey, or Minnie embroidered on each
• Plush Ty cat with blue ribbon
• 7 X 9 framed print "For a Special Home" by Kathy Seek
• 6 1/2 X 6 1/2 framed print "Special Day" by Kathy Seek
• Austrian crystal necklace and earrings set donated by Jewel's Formals
• Set of 6 fluted glasses
• Sour cream pound cake by Roy Williams
• Homemade pickles by Roy Williams
• Handmade bluebird house by Roy Williams
• 1 grass cutting with trim work by Dean Andrews
Watch the Visitor next week for an insert of all items donated for this event.

JOURNEY TO THE CROSS SIGN-UPS
Sign up to participate as an actor or behind the scenes support for Journey to the Cross March 16 and 17. Sign ups sheets are on the bulletin board behind the Sanctuary. Many different talents are needed including donations for refreshments. Sign up by February 17.

LENT AT FIRST BAPTIST
Lent is the forty-day period before Easter. It began on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 6). Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

At First Baptist, we observe Lent in a number of ways. Our pastor will bring messages associated with Christ’s journey to the cross. At the Sunday early service (8:45), a number of adults led by Danny Hensley as the Jerusalem Postal Service man will present weekly skits entitled “Whose Cup Is It, Anyway?” This is a sequel to the series presented last year. At the late service, a tableau on the communion table will display objects associated with the cross. Each week the congregation will receive an object to take home as a reminder of this holy season.

We also have opportunity to participate in Wednesday mid-day Lenten services at First Presbyterian with other Christians from the community. This week, Feb. 13, our own pastor Lee Colbert brings the message. Another way to deepen our walk with Christ during Lent is attendance at our church’s spring renewal services March 2-5, led by the Rev. Jack Causey. The dramatic climax of this season will be participation and attendance at “Journey to the Cross” presented by our church’s music and drama ministry March 16-17.

Join in the events of Lent, as we remember Jesus’ journey, and prepare to celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday March 23.

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

* Nursery provided