Please join us
Sunday, December 24, 2006
At 7:30 p.m.
For the

Christmas Eve Candle Light
Communion Service

We will enjoy Instrumental,
Vocal and Choir Specials,
And Lighting of the Christ Candle

YOUTH NEWS
PARENT/YOUTH MEETING
Sunday   January 7, 2007!!!!!  6 p.m.
We will fill out 2007 Permission Forms, get information about up coming 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.

FBC YOUTH MINISTRY THANK YOU
As 2006 comes to an end, I think back at the many ways this church has given to your youth (prayer support, teaching and chaperoning, fund raisers, homes for DiscipleNow, food… the list goes on).  Thank you for your love for young people in Smithfield!  Tommy 

AUCTION TO BENEFIT
THE YOUTH MISSION TRIP!!!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd  
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 Certficates, 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

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

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

FEEL FREE TO JOIN US
The Men’s Bible Study that meets on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. would like to say “come and join us.”  We have been meeting for several weeks but it is not too late to join.  Nine of us meet and have a great time discussing the book of Acts.  We will meet in December on the 4th, 11th, and 18th.  Hope you will join us!

OUR KNOWN SICK
Golda Pittman (Home), Perk Braswell (Dix), Ann Morgan (Home), Ethan Faulconer (Wake), Ruth Pariseau (JMH), Rose Walsh (Wake), Tyrus McCullers (JMH), Jay Wood (Home)

2006 CONTRIBUTIONS
Important Notice
To comply with tax law, contributors must deliver or mail (and postmark) checks on or before December 31, 2006 to claim a charitable contribution deduction for 2006.  Checks that are given to the church after December 31st will not qualify for a charitable contribution in 2006.  However, checks that are dated, mailed, and postmarked in 2006 will be deductible in 2006 even though they are not received in the church office until 2007.  The church office will be open on December 29th until 5:00 pm to accommodate your needs. 

Thank you for your continued support of First Baptist Church and its ministries to continue God’s work.  “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:  ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  (Acts 20:35)

CHRISTMAS DINNER  AND  MEALS ON WHEELS
The Soup Kitchen will be open on Christmas from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Please call me (934-1601) if you wish to help.  Christmas is for giving.  A little time to give on this day is a wonderful blessing.  Anesha Johnson 

Also, Meals on Wheels will also need drivers and packers for Christmas day.  Call Geri Hubbard at 300-3675 if you can help.

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. 

Experiencing God (12 Weeks- Fall and Spring Blocks), The group will study, share and reflect upon knowing and doing the will of God.     Cost: $15 per person, Location: Conference Room, Class Size: 12, Facilitators: Bill and Faye Downs

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.  Cost: $45.00 per couple/person, Location: Rm. 221, Class Size: 12, Facilitators: Ken Williams, Henry Wright

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.  Cost: To Be Announced, Location: Parlor, Class Size: 14, Facilitators: Tim & Debbie Johnson

Family Clogs and Our Heavenly Plumber (12 Weeks- Spring 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?  Cost: To Be Announced, Location: Rm. 222, Class Size: 12, Facilitator: Bryan Harris

NEW MEMBER
We welcome into our Christian Fellowship Wanda Blow who comes to us by letter from Pine Level Free Will Baptist Church.

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM THANK YOU
Thanks to the following for their help and participation in Journey to Bethlehem:

• Sets: Will Hinnant, Daniel Hinnant, Joe Morgan, Dean Andrews, Dirk and DJ Langdon, Billy Baker, Matt Gardner, Henry Wright
• Props Team Leader:  Geri Hubbard
• Lights:  John Leposa
• Costumes coordinator:  Ann Stallings
• Luminaries:  Joe and Nancy Morgan, Bill Perry, John Hamilton, Senior High Youth
• Animals:  Dirk Langdon family, Jerry Ball family
• Greeters:  Billy Wiggs, Harvey Evans
• Ushers:  Joyce Hodge, Beverly Braswell, Sybil Edwards, Ella Price, Kelley Garris
• Guides:  Recruited by Evelyn Garris and Eunice Norton:  Caroline Hester, Lisa McMileen, Lisa Gainey, Shelley Gardner, Carolyn Carroll, Valerie Vann, Pam Williams, Michelle Ball, Cheryl Campbell, Siera Baker, Lynn Daniels
• Centurions:  Lamar Armstrong, Rodney Taylor, Brian Hale, Hinton Armstrong
• Women at the Well:  Margie Littlefield, Candace Jackson, Freida Spragins, Martha Pope, Debbie Jones
• Blacksmith:  Billy Baker, Wallace Ashley IV
• Marketplace:  Wallace Ashley III, AJ Ball, Bill Downs, Elizabeth Ashley, Johnnie Williams, Katie Williams, Logan Vann, Sean David, Beth Watson, Parker Watson, Annie Watson, Gracie Watson, Brandon Allen
• Beggars:  Isaiah David, Cameron Garris
• Leper:  Jeremiah David
• Jewish School:  Mike Carroll, Harrison Howell, Cooper Andrews, Victor Harrison, Kipp Harrison, Tyler Watson, James McMillen
• Carpenter Shop:  Doug Strickland
• Jewish Home:  Bill and Angela Dotson, Libby and Lillian Dotson, Jessica and Zoe Hubbard, Tommy & Sabrina Dees, Thomas & Tyler Dees
• Synagogue:  Mike Vinson
• Shepherd’s Field:   Sydney Ball, Scott Wright, Michael Littlefield, Paul Burgess, Raiford Gainey
• Inn:  Hank, Sarai, Lynn, and Nan Daniels, Logan and Hayden Salas, Courtney Bailey, Nils Schultz
• Nativity:  Will and Paige Barnes, Chris and Rebecca Riley, Joe and Abby Salas, Richard Upton, Stan and Beth Watson, Lindy Faulkner, Vic Medlin, Claire Watson, Alison McMillen, Mark McMillen, Dave Neville
• Refreshments:  Selma Davis (coordinator), Monica Cheek, Ann Stacy, Ann Lassiter, Jan Barry, Joyce Upton, Faye Hardee, Jean Simmons, JoAnn Wiggs, Ruby Holt, Lura Grimes, Ann Clouse, Jean Williams
• Ryberg Hall Carolers:  Members of the Sanctuary Choir
• Sanctuary Music:  Chris Gilbert (coordinator), Melba Woodruff, Todd Johnson, Kathi Nixon and children, Thad Hardee, Patty Goodwin, Olive Cooke, Jean Williams, Hortense Wilkins
• Clean-up:  Thank you to numerous cast members and visitors who assisted with take down of the set!
  
  

  JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM VISITORS
  Between 550 and 600 members of our church and community took the “Journey” to Bethlehem on December 17th and 18th.  Thanks to good weather and the efforts of over 100 volunteers, this ministry of music and drama retold the Christmas story.

  THE VISITOR WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK.

   

Greeters:  Doug & Glenda Strickland

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK

* Nursery provided