A huge thank you to everyone who stayed and decorated the church. It went wonderfully and I am very thankful for all the volunteers who gave up their afternoons to make sure that the church was ready for the Advent season!
Mission Moment from India
Our Church is pleased to support CBF Global Missions in moments like these where unity and love are modeled and shared.
Sewing Training Centers are key platforms to share God's true love in India. Needy widows and teenage girls are the beneficiaries of this sustainable community-based program. With six months of training, each one develops a new skill to support their family with dignity and respect. At Graduation they receive a sewing machine, a Bible and a certificate that enables them to work anywhere with job orders coming directly to their homes. This program is opening hard hearts and dark corners of the community for the Gospel.
- Sam Bandela, CBF field personnel, India
Holidays at the UC
Christmas Offering
If you're looking for a Christmas gift for a loved one, choose to give a gift in their honor/memory through our Christmas Offering! Income we receive from this offering will be divided equally between our local mission partners, namely: Jackson County Neighbors in Need, The Community Table, The Good Samaritan Clinic of Jackson County, and Circles of Hope. When you make a contribution to this Christmas Offering, the church will send an informative–and handsome!–Christmas card to the person you are choosing to honor. Christmas Offering envelopes are available in the pew racks in both our sanctuary and church office.
Storage Area for Pews
First Baptist is trying to sell some of our church pews, but in the meantime, we are looking for a space to keep them. If anyone has space (maybe a storage unit or garage) and is willing to keep the pews there until we sell them, please contact John Dills or Harold Messer.
Volunteer with After School!
Many of you provide support for our 1st Explorers Ministry in numerous ways, however we don’t have many congregation members that are willing to come volunteer and that is one thing I encourage each of you to consider. Consider coming to visit one afternoon and spending time in a classroom getting to know the students and staff members that make our program great!
For the past three years Betty Blanton has come on Tuesday afternoons to form relationships with our students and staff. Heres what she has to say about her Tuesday afternoons with 1st Explorers:
I have been volunteering in the program for at least the past 3 years. I am there on most Tuesday afternoons. Folks this is one of the finest things our church has ever done when we started this back in 2013with about 6-106th graders from Fairview School.
It has been my privilege to work with many of these children but especially with my friend Joe Carnes. Joe has been in After school ever since it became a full-time program which I think was 3 years ago. He is a fine young man and he and I have become best friends. We talk and laugh much of the time when I am with him and share what we have done during the day. This is especially meaningful to me.
If you are retired and looking for something to help out with at church for one afternoon a week, contact Kelly Brown and volunteer to help with after school. I am sure Kelly would find a place for you to help. There are now about 60 kids in this program which is led by a fine staff from our church and students from WCU.
I sincerely hope this program will continue for years to come.
Please prayerfully consider volunteering with 1st Explorers on a consistent basis! Your presence will create lasting relationships with students and staff memebers!
Christmas Program Rehearsal Schedule
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" Rehearsal Schedule:
Nov. 30: 6:00-7:30
Dec. 4: 2:30-5:30
Dec. 7: 6:00-7:30
Dec. 11: 2:30-5:30
Dec. 14: 6:00-7:30
We hope you can join us for the program on Friday, December 16th at 7:00 PM
Poinsettias
It’s time to order your Poinsettia for Christmas!
The Decorations Team is taking orders for Christmas Poinsettias. The cost is $15.50 each.
Please fill out the information below and put it along with a check in the offering plate or bring it by the church office. Be sure to make the check payable to the First Baptist Church and put “Poinsettia” in the memo line.
Your Name _______________________________________________
In Honor of ________________________________________________ OR,
In Memory of ______________________________________________
Number of Poinsettias
______________________________________________
Thankful for Small Things
Someone wise once said: “It’s best to pay attention to the small things in life. Because one day, you may look back and discover that the big things in life were actually the small things.”
With that in mind, I’d like to consider the ‘small things’ in life for which I am thankful.
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I am thankful for the taste of fresh, homemade caramel.
I am thankful for the delicious sound of my children’s laughter when they are tickled.
I am thankful for the sound of rich, congregational singing at a funeral.
I am thankful for the sudden chill you feel when you approach a mountain spring in the summertime.
I am thankful when others say thank you.
I am thankful for the sound of a steady rain on a tin roof.
I am thankful for a good, pun-filled joke that catches me off guard.
I am thankful for the way a new book smells when you open its pages.
I am thankful for clean sheets after a hot shower.
I am thankful for clergy friends who understand the blessings and challenges of our calling.
I am thankful for our tradition of watching 'Rick Steve’s European Christmas' DVD while we decorate our tree.
I am thankful for the feeling of satisfaction after returning home from a successful family trip.
I am thankful for works of fiction that distract me from the realities of daily life.
I am thankful for the smell of the century-old barn on our family’s land in Yancey County.
I am thankful for gluten free pastries.
I am thankful for the way my children unconsciously swat at my kisses when I check on them before I turn in for the night.
I am thankful for fast, reliable WIFI when I travel.
I am thankful for that moment when rain turns into snow.
I am thankful for the beautiful geometry and precision of the game of baseball.
I am thankful for the sound of my wife’s voice when she sings hymns.
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Paul tells us to be thankful in all things. This Thanksgiving, don’t forget the small things.
Of course, we know the truth of the matter. Life is made up of small things.
Decorating for Christmas
We are decorating for Christmas on Sunday (Nov 27th) after the church service. All are welcome to help. A pizza lunch will be provided for all who lend a hand. Please let Jameson or Afton Stout know if you can help ring in the Christmas season.