YOUTH NEWS
Upcoming Youth Activities
Parent Youth Meeting will be THIS Sunday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. See ya there.

WALK OF FAITH:
CHRIS AND RACHEL EMBLER
On Thursday, September 4th, the Emblers will be sharing their experiences and the faithfulness of God as they walked from Smithfield to Peru. Come to the fellowship hall at 7:00 p.m. to enjoy pictures and stories of God working as Chris and Rachael were used to minister to people along the way. This will be an exciting experience for young people and adults of all ages.

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Attention Men. Monday night Men’s Bible Study will be cranking up for our first meeting September 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. We will be studying the book of Judges. We will meet at times at my home during the study for purposes of watching DVDs by David Jeremiah on some of the Heroes of Judges. Workbooks will be provided. Your commitment will be to attend and participate in Christian discussion. More will be indicated in "The Visitor" in the next couple of weeks. Please let me know if you are interested so that I can make sure there are enough workbooks. Please call me at home: 919-300-1764 or on my cell: 919-634-1742. I'll appreciate hearing from you. Steve Adkins

OUR KNOWN SICK
Mac Stacy (Home), Bob McLamb (Wake Rehab, Zebulon), Sylvia Evans (Home), Helen Parham (Rex), Iris Adkins (Wake Med, Cary), Michelle Swinyer (Home), Billie Cretini (Wake)

ATTENTION 3RD – 6TH GRADERS
Join us for Friends Inc. Retreat weekend at Camp Oak Hill September 5 – 7. Cost: $95.00 per person. All registration forms and money are due in the church office by August 24. Brochures/registration forms and FBC Permission forms were mailed out earlier this month. Feel free to invite a friend. Additional forms are available in the church office. The theme this year is inspired by the 2008 Olympics, “Choices: Cross Training for the Christian Life.” If you have questions, please contact Tommy Cook at 934-9771 or by email, tommy@fbcsmithfield.org.

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST
Get ready for Christmas in August. For the remainder of the month, every M&Ms Cookbook you purchase at full price, you can purchase another one for half price. The first cookbook will be $20.00, but your second one will only be $10.00. This is a great way to stock up for Christmas. It will be here before you know it. Cookbooks will be available in the Church Fellowship Hall before Sunday School for the remainder of the month, or contact Michelle Ball for large quantities at 524-9631.

ATTENTION EVERYONE
LET’S GO TO SEE THE MUDCATS!!!
We have FREE Mudcat tickets for Friday, August 22nd (we had the date wrong last week.) We will go as a group OR you can meet us there. We still have a few tickets. Call the church office.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS RESUME
Wednesday Night Suppers will resume NEXT WEDNESDAY, August 27th. Sign up sheets will be in Sunday School classes. There will be cards in the pew racks in the Sanctuary for those who do not sign up in Sunday School.

As a reminder, below are some guidelines for Wednesday Night Suppers.
• Cost: $4.00 Adults, $2.00 Children (ages 2-9), $13.00 max. per family. No charge for children up to 2 years old. Independent children not living with family are not part of the “family” plan.
• Meals will be served from 5:30 – 6:15. Children in choir must eat before going to choir.
• All meals are to be eaten in the Fellowship Hall. Do not take to choir or classrooms.
• Parents, if you sign up your child for a child’s menu, please be sure that it is what your child gets. Pick up a red ticket when you pay for the meal.
• When you finish eating, please take your plate, silverware and glasses to the clean up area. If you wish to keep your tea/water, please get a paper cup. That way the dishwasher can get everything washed. This also helps those who are cleaning the tables.
• We do not encourage take-outs; however, if one is necessary, sign up when you pay for the meal. The take-outs will not be ready before 6:30, and there will be an additional charge of $.50 for each take-out.
• If you realize you cannot be at supper, please call the church office and cancel.

STATE MISSIONS OFFERING DESIGNATION
At the August 10, 2008, Deacon’s Meeting our Deacons recommended that our church designate 33% of the NC State Missions Offering collected in September to support the NC WMU, which no longer receives funds through the State Convention. The offering continues to support NC Baptist Men, Church Planting and Evangelism, Mission Education and Promotion, Association Projects and Missions Work Camp.

THANK YOU
To my precious church family, I never knew the value of a Hallmark card until I found myself “clinging” to each word in each card I have received over the past couple of weeks. My dad and brothers witnessed what “Godly” love really is by the presence of so many of you at both the funeral home and funeral of my mom. I thank you for loving me and for your prayers for my family at this time. Christ has used each one of you to help dry my tears, to lift my burdens, and to give me a glimpse of unconditional love….agape love! I love you dear family. Donna Johnson

CALLING ALL SINGERS AND OTHER MUSIC MAKERS
It’s time to think about joining a music group! Rehearsal times are as follows, all resuming Weds. August 27 or Sunday September 7:
FOR ADULTS, we have two vocal groups, the Sanctuary Choir and SOS Early Service Ensemble. There are two adult handbell choirs as well.
• SOS Early Service Ensemble (singing at least once monthly)—Wednesdays at 6:30. Marshall Tyson, interim director.
• Sanctuary Choir, singing weekly at 10:55—Wednesdays at 7:30. Kelley Garris, director.
• Praise Ringers Handbells, playing several times Sept.-April, Sundays at 6:30 p.m. Vertie Perry, director.
• First Baptist Belles (ladies group), playing several times Sept.-May, Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Kelley Garris, director.

FOR YOUTH, we have Sunday afternoon opportunities:
• Youth WAM (Worship Arts Ministry)—Creative arts such as drama, movement, singing and signing-Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
(variety of adult leadership)
• Youth Instrumental Ensemble—leading worship several times a year, Sundays at 4:45, Kelley Garris, director
• PB&J Youth Praise Band—senior high musicians leading youth group worship, rehearsals TBA, Tommy Cook, leader

FOR CHILDREN, a full graded choir program:
• Older Children’s Choir, grades 3-6, meeting 6-6:45 Wednesdays, Kelley Garris, director
• Younger Children’s Choir, grades 1-2, meeting 6-6:30 Wednesdays, Thad Hardee, director
• Preschool choir (ages pre-K and Kindergarten)-meeting 6-6:30 Wednesdays, Emily White, director

Call Kelley Garris in the church office if you are interested in joining a group or have questions. Everyone is welcome!

PRIMETIMERS UPDATE
December 8-9—Dates for trip to Charlotte to pack Operation Christmas Child Boxes for Samaritan’s purse. Details are still being worked out, but we will leave Monday morning, do something “fun” on the way to Charlotte, spend the night Monday evening in Charlotte, work at the warehouse Tuesday 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., return home by early evening. Watch for more information soon.

MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES
The Soup Kitchen is in need of canned foods and left overs. Your help is so needed. Please bring your left overs or canned food to the Ryberg Hall kitchen on Monday and Thursday. We can use cream of chicken, mushroom or celery soup, cans of stew beef, veggies, apple sauce, chili, etc. We also need drivers to deliver food. It takes about 45 minutes to one hour of time. Please consider this mission opportunity to help others. Your generosity is appreciated.

SOUP KITCHEN BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
WE ARE FIVE YEARS OLD SEPTEMBER 12TH!
Calling all Soup Kitchen volunteers to come to our Birthday Party on September 12, 2008 at Smithfield Community Park at 6:00 p.m. Please bring a covered dish, veggies and/or salad, or bread. Meat, dessert and beverages will be furnished. Let’s have a good time! Call Anesha at 934-1601 if you will be attending and what you will be bringing.

ON TO COLLEGE
Travis Frierson will be attending Johnston Community College.

ATTENTION LADIES
Wednesday afternoon Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

* Nursery provided