FirstUpdate | November 27, 2019

A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford

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The church office will be closed Wednesday, November 27 and Thursday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Our Wednesday night NOW ministry will NOT meet tonight. Enjoy the time with family and friends!

Thank You, Lord, For Your Blessings On Me

<<First Name>>,

There are two important events happening this week. The first is Thanksgiving. This is always a fun time around our house. Belinda and I will spend Thanksgiving Day with my mother and my family. She is 86 and wanted to do dinner for everyone! I spoke with her last week and she was already cleaning her house. Her house is always extremely clean. Our sons and their families will be at our home late Thursday. This means we will have our precious grandchildren to spoil for a few days then send them home. I want to encourage our church family to make this Thanksgiving a special day by thanking God for His blessings on you. Also, take time to invest time with your family by giving thanks for each other.

The second event this week is the beginning of the Advent season on Sunday, December 1. We will light the first candle which represents the “Prophets.” The message from the sermon series: The Cast of Christmas, is “The Prophets: Preparation and Expectation.” A key scripture for this message comes from Micah 5:2: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” As our church celebrates the Advent season, may we go forth and tell our friends, family, and neighbors about the “Good News” of Jesus’ birth coming by way of a virgin named Mary into this earthly world and willfully dying on a cross and raising to life three days later for your sin and mine. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Happy Thanksgiving for our Savior,

Pastor Rick & Belinda

Worship With Us This Sunday!

Join us for worship at First Baptist Church this Sunday, December 1, as Pastor Rick begins a five-week Advent message series, The Cast of Christmas, exploring the characters of the nativity and discovering how they fit in with how we prepare and celebrate for Christmas now. This week's message, "The Prophets: Preparation and Expectation," is based on Micah 5:2.

We hope to see you and your family this Sunday morning for Sunday School at 9:30 and worship at 10:45. During the service, we will light the first candle of the Advent wreath and begin our emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Music will be led by our worship choir, ThreeSixTEENS student ensemble, band, and orchestra. Click HERE to preview the service plan.

2019 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Your giving (above and beyond your tithe) to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions enables Southern Baptist missionaries to be sent to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God. What will YOU give so that others can go?

Our 2019 church goal is $3,500. Special offering envelopes will be available in the pew racks beginning this Sunday. We will receive the offering through Sunday, December 29.

Live Nativity

Churches around the Springfield area will perform a FREE live dramatic presentation of the story of Christ's birth and life Thursday, December 5 through Saturday, December 7 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Arena. Performances will be at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. each night. Members of our choir will be participating in the nativity choir.

The church bus will be going one of the three nights. Sign up at the Information Desk if you're interested in going. For more information, contact Doris Buckner or Mike Bruton.

Baby Shower for Richmond Joines

The baby shower for Richmond Joines and Baby Boy Joines originally scheduled for November 16 has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m. For more information, contact Courtney Ellis.

Christmas Dinner & Annual Business Meeting

Our annual church-wide Christmas dinner will be held on Sunday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. The church will provide the meat and drinks. Plan to bring at least one dish per adult/teenage member of your family. No nuts due to food allergies, please. Following the meal, we'll move the worship center for our annual business meeting to vote on the 2020 budget as well as new officers and committees.

Copies of the proposed 2020 budget are available at the Information Desk. If you have any questions about the budget, talk with Terry Bruton (church treasurer) or Josh Erisman.

Christmas Program

Be here Sunday, December 15 at 10:45 a.m. for a special Christmas program, featuring music from the FBC worship choir, the ThreeSixTEENS student ensemble, the KidsNOW children's choir, and our band and orchestra.

This Week @ FBC Strafford

Wednesday, November 27
Church Office Closed
No NOW

Thursday, November 28
Thanksgiving Day
Church Office Closed

Saturday, November 30
10:00 a.m. - DJ Choate Visitation & Funeral Service @ FBC

Sunday, December 1
Advent Begins
Week of Prayer for International Missions & Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (through December 8)
9:00 a.m. - TA Truck Stop Service
9:30 a.m. - Sunday School
10:45 a.m. - Worship Service
3:30 p.m. - Choir Rehearsal
5:00 p.m. - ThreeSixTEENS Rehearsal

Tuesday, December 3
1:00 p.m. - Painting Class

Wednesday, December 4
6:00 p.m. - NOW Free Family Meal
6:30 p.m. - KidsNOW (Birth to 6th Grade) / StudentsNOW (7th to 12th)
7:00 p.m. - LivingNOW (Adults)

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, December 1

ECM - Terry B./Aroara F.
Greeters -Darlene M./Sandy S.
Information Desk - Denise C.
Kids Check-In - Belinda D.
Van Driver - Mike B.
Audio - Jeremy F.
Video - Gibson D.
Security - Mike B./Gary J.
Children's Church - Ryan & Stephanie F.
Counters - Randy A./Brenda M.

If you cannot serve on your assigned Sunday, please arrange a substitute and let the church office know by calling 736-2148 or emailing church@fbcstrafford.org. Thank you to all those who serve our church in these important roles each Sunday morning!

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