The Hanging of the Green
December 2, 7:00 p.m.
Congregational Carols, music by Brandon Allen, flute, Baptist Blend Quartet, Kathi Nixon and Hinton Edgerton (guitar and violin),
Stephen Jones, vocalist
Come at 6:30 if you would like to help with the decorating. The nursery will be open.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, BEGINS ADVENT AT FIRST BAPTIST
About Advent: The name Advent comes from the Latin words, advenire (to come to) & adventus (an arrival), and refers to Christ's coming into this world. It is that time when the church invites the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the feast of Christmas, the anniversary of the birth and coming of Jesus Christ. The focus of Advent is by no means limited to just Christ's first coming. An equal, if not more important theme found in Advent is the Second Coming of Christ when He comes again to judge the world.

Advent is similar to Lent which prepares us for Easter, the greatest feast in the calendar of the Church. Originally the observance of Advent was made up of fasting and took up forty days as with Lent, but was reduced to four weeks.

The first Sunday of Advent is also the first Sunday of the new Church liturgical year. Advent marks the beginning of the new Church calendar.

The liturgical color for the season of Advent is purple, showing the majesty which heralds the coming of the King of Kings.

At First Baptist this year, we light the Advent wreath with a series of monologues, “Glowing with Advent.”

YOUTH NEWS
FBC Youth Group is in recess until January.

TWO spaces are left for REVOLVE TOUR winter retreat for Teen Girls. It is January 25-26 in Charlotte. If you are interested in going call Tommy.

Middle School Christmas Tree Ornament Search (a Christmas Scavenger Hunt), Saturday, December 8, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet at the busses and bring $ for lunch at CC’s Pizza.

Senior High Progressive Dinner Saturday, December 15th at 6:00 p.m. Meet in the Fellowship Hall. Please contact the church office by December 7th if you are coming!

Youth Auction, February 23, 2008, mark your calendar. You can make donations NOW! More information next week.

MANO E MANO
Man to Man/One on One
A Youth Retreat for Guys only!!! January 11 & 12 at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest NC. Cost:$60 per person (Cost includes 3 meals, housing and High Ropes Course). Sign up by December 16 with a $20 deposit (balance is due on January 6.) At the retreat we will challenge each other to be the best men of God we can be as we play, laugh, encourage each other on the ropes course and take some time to flex our muscles for God!

HISTORY TIDBIT
An open house was held for the new church building on Wednesday night, April 5, 1950. Over 1,600 members and citizens of Smithfield and Johnston County toured the new facility. The first worship service was held on Easter Sunday, Apirl 9, 1950, which featured the choirs, the new 80-watt Baldwin organ and the Gillespie Chimes. Eight hundred worshipers attended.

175th CELEBRATION DVD
Would you like to purchase a DVD of the 175th Birthday Celebration? DVD sets are $15.00 and include a history DVD and a worship service DVD. Interested church members should call Chris Aker at 934-0402.

DECORATION DONATIONS
Donations of $10.00 are being taken to help with the cost of the Christmas decorations for our Sanctuary. You may give these donations in honor or memory of a loved one or a special friend. Drop off your donation at the church office.

COMING FOR RETIRED ADULTS IN DECEMBER
Two events specifically for retired folk have been planned in December: Tuesday, December 4, a Christmas shopping outing (Raleigh Mall), and Thursday evening, December 13, an outing to see local Christmas lights. Mark your calendars and make plans to attend. Call the church to sign up.

MEDICAL SKILLS TEAM
If you are a medical professional (nurse, EMT, Doctor, etc.) and would be willing to be on the church Medical Skills Team to respond to emergencies on Sunday mornings, please contact the church office at 934-9771.
THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who donated stuffed animals to help with my Senior Project. The box was well filled and overflowing. Through your kindness and generosity my project was a success. If you did not get a chance to bring your stuffed animals to the church, please give me a call at 934-8365 and I will be glad to pick-up through December 2. Again, thank you so much for your help. Travis Cook

MUSIC NOTES
Advent begins this Sunday December 2nd with the lighting of the Advent candles in worship and this year a dramatic series entitled “Glowing with Advent.” Special Sunday night services will be as follows:
Dec. 2 – 7:00 p.m. – Hanging of the Green
Dec. 9 – 7:00 p.m. – Children’s Christmas Music Program including “Christmas at Bethlehem Gulch”
Dec. 16 – 7:00 p.m. – Sanctuary Choir Christmas Program including bells, instruments, older children’s choir
Dec. 22 – 6:30 p.m. – Church-wide caroling outing followed by a dessert fellowship
Dec. 24 - 7:30 p.m. – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

INVITATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY
Centenary Methodist invites us to the Traditional Love Feast on Sunday evening December 2, 5:30 p.m. The Johnston Couinty Chorale, which rehearses in our music room, invites us to its annual Christmas Gala at JCC on Sat., Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. For tickets call the auditorium box office or chorale members Joe Morgan (938-3025) or Doug Strickland (965-5450).

EARLY WORSHIP IN DECEMBER
The following musical groups will be leading at Early Worship (8:45 service) in December: 2nd-Ladies’ Trio; December 9-SOS; December 16-Baptist Blend Quartet; December 23—Sanctuary Choir.

OUR KNOWN SICK
Joyce Smith (JMH), Max Creech (Home), Nellie Tucker (JMH), Eunice Weeks (JMH), Becky Blackmon (Home), Doug Strickland (Home), Lucille Stevens (Wake), Maxine LaCarter (JMH), Gale Stanfield (Duke)

COOKBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!
Cookbooks have arrived and can be purchased from Shelley Gardner, Michelle Ball, any M & M member or in the church office. They will also be available Sunday mornings before Sunday School and Wednesday nights in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $20. They would make great Christmas gifts!

KENNEDY HOME OPEN HOUSE
The Kennedy Home open house will be Sunday, December 9, 2007 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. At 4:00 p.m. First Baptist Church, Kinston, will be performing a musical program at the Kennedy Home church. There will also be touring of the cottages and Cedar Dell Mansion. If you are interested in attending, please call Carolyn Tharrington at 934-3749.

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST
Join us Sunday,
December 9th at 8:15 a.m. for our
Church-wide Christmas Breakfast
Come enjoy lots of yummy, delicious, mouth-waterin’
good food, and fellowship.
Everyone is invited.

MISSION NEWS
Many thanks to all who helped on Thanksgiving Day. Ourd inner was a success and a blessing! It is good to see my church family turn out early and willing to work and cook! At least 130 plates were served and at least 150 meals delivered. For the first time, no left overs! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
ALSO
The Soup Kitchen will be open Christmas Eve from 11:30 – 12:30. We will deliver meals to senior citizens, or home bound persons needing a meal. What better way to spend an hour or two on Christmas Eve giving to others because we love them. Please come and help. Please call me, Anesha Johnson, 934-1601, if you can help.

TELL ME!
The Week of Prayer for International Missions will be held in our church December 2-9, 2007. The theme is “Tell Me! the Story of Jesus.” When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and the Soviet Union collapsed two years later, the world changed. In the decade and a half since, Southern Baptists have sent hundreds of missionaries and thousands of volunteers to spread the Good News and help plant churches in the former Soviet Union. Yet more that 280 mission people in 350 unreached people groups in the former Soviet Union still haven’t heard that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Come to our mission study on Wednesday night, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. after Family Night Supper and hear about Moldova taught by Donnye Rooks. It’s time to pray and give. Our missionaries depend on your prayers and your generous gifts.

M & M’s DECEMBER MEETING
The M & M’s December Meeting will be held at the home of Shelley Gardner, 240 Carissa Drive, Smithfield, 934-9675. Bring your $10 ornament of the ornament exchange and items for our mission project. Also, bring your favorite appetizer or dessert.

NEW MEMBERS
We welcome into our Christian fellowship Michael and Sandy Fusco. They come by statement of faith and previous baptism.

We welcome into our Christian fellowship William Hillman who comes to us from First Assembly.

NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL DAY
National Children’s Memorial Day, light a candle in memory of all children who have died…that their light may always shine. Sunday, December 9, 2007, 7:00 p.m. (arrive by 6:45 p.m.) at Wilson’s Mills Christian Church, 179 Dire Department Road, Wilson’s Mills. The Candlelight Memorial is open to all families and friends to remember with love all children who have died, at any age, from any circumstance. If you need more information or if you would like your child’s name listed in the program, please contact Sheree Murray at 553-6000 or email to jcchildrenmem@aol.com.

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

* Nursery provided