FirstUpdate | November 28, 2020

A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford

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Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

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We have much to be thankful for in 2020, despite a year of turmoil, death, political upheaval, government lockdowns, and present-day threats from some government leaders against gathering for Thanksgiving dinners. Please continue to give thanks to our gracious, loving Lord for His unlimited provision and care in good times and bad. Here is a beautiful poem that captures that sentiment:

The ABCs of Thanksgiving
(Author Unknown)

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high

Yes, there’ll be good times and yes some will be bad; but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Rick and Belinda

Worship With Us This Sunday!

Join us for worship this Sunday, November 29, as Pastor Rick begins our Advent message series, More Than A Baby, with the message "Unhappy Holidays at Christmas" from Revelation 12:1-6. During the service, we will light the first Advent candle and begin our emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. You can preview the service plan HERE and download the sermon outline HERE.

We hope to see you and your family for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45. We are also continuing to post our services online for those who can't join us in person. The worship service video will be posted no later than Monday to our Facebook page. It will also be available at FreeChurchOnline if you do not have a Facebook account. Be sure to comment and let us know that you're watching with us! If you need any technical assistance, email Josh Erisman.

2020 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 2020 church goal is $3,500. A special basket for the Lottie Moon offering is available at the back of the worship center. You can also designate an amount to Lottie Moon in the memo line of your tithe check or give online through Tithe.ly. We will receive the offering through Sunday, December 27.

Operation Christmas Child

Approximately 50 Operation Christmas Child boxes from First Baptist Church were dropped off earlier this week to Samaritan's Purse, all of the $9 donations have been made, and the labels have been activated! Watch for more details about how to track your boxes in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who filled boxes and donated funds for this important ministry!

"Light Up Strafford"

The City of Strafford, along with Strafford business and community partners (including First Baptist Church), invites you to “Light Up Strafford” this December! In addition to our annual Christmas parade, we’ve added some new and exciting traditions that we hope will make your season bright in the midst of this difficult year.

DECORATE THE CITY
First, we are asking everyone in the Strafford community to “go all out” with their decorations this year, businesses and homes alike, putting them up prior to Saturday, December 5. String up some lights, add a tree or two, put a nativity scene out on the lawn, bolt Santa and Rudolph to your roof…the possibilities are endless. We want to make the streets of Strafford THE destination for holiday lights and decorations this year!

Second, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 and make plans to head downtown for three thrilling events that evening:

CHRISTMAS PARADE
Our 9th annual “Small Town” Christmas Parade will look a bit different in 2020, as it will be our first evening parade and all entries will be required to include lights! We are also asking for a walking “spotter” with a light on each side of floats, vehicles, etc. for safety purposes. Line up will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Strafford Schools, with the parade starting at 5:00 p.m. The parade will proceed south through the elementary school parking lot, then head east on Pine St through downtown, turn north on Jefferson St, and go back west on McCabe St/Indian Way to the school. If you have any questions about the parade, call John Berry at 417-844-0555.

TREE LIGHTING
After the parade, everyone is invited to Delp Historic Park next to City Hall for the lighting of the new official Strafford Christmas tree! Carolers will be singing and the rumor is that Santa is slated to make an appearance as well. If you are interested in joining the carolers, contact Josh Erisman ASAP!

HOLIDAY FUN AT STRAFFORD BUSINESSES
The evening will conclude with special hours, sales, and holiday activities at our local businesses, downtown and elsewhere. Watch the event page for more details on these events coming soon!

For more information or if you have any questions, call Strafford City Hall at 417-736-2154. We hope to see you on Saturday, December 5 as we “Light Up Strafford” together!

Annual Business Meeting & Christmas Lunch

Our annual business meeting will be held immediately following worship on Sunday, December 6. We will be voting on the 2021 budget as well as new officers and committees. Copies of the proposed 2021 budget will be distributed on Sunday, November 22. If you have any questions about the budget, talk with Terry Bruton (church treasurer) or Josh Erisman.

After the business meeting, we will move to the fellowship hall for a delicious church-wide Christmas lunch, catered by Sheila's Place in Marshfield (however, the deadline to sign up for the lunch has passed).

SBC Missionary Highlight

Our missionaries Jim and Teresa Flora have served 11 years in Africa, in the nation of Lesotho. That’s a separate country, but it is completely surrounded by South Africa. All Lesotho is mountainous and high altitude. It’s hard to get around; the dirt roads are sometimes not passable.

More than 2 million people live in Lesotho and almost all of them need to hear the gospel. Most people are poor, but the blue jeans you wear may have been sewn here in a factory.

Jim and Teresa bring in teams of volunteers from Southern Baptist churches in the United States to help them. Teresa is a nurse, so they often bring in medical teams to hold clinics. Partnerships with Southern Baptists are vital to their work.

Our own church is also partnering with Jim and Teresa, because we support them through our Cooperative Program giving.

Over the past 11 years, hundreds of people have come to faith in Christ, mostly because they hear the Bible stories Jim and Teresa tell to all who will listen.

This week, let’s pray for these brave missionaries, who live in a hard place so people will know Christ.

In every edition of the FirstUpdate, we are highlighting the efforts of the International Mission Board (IMB), the North American Mission Board (NAMB), the six Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) seminaries, and the various Baptist state conventions. Each month, our church and the other 47,000+ churches in the SBC contribute a portion of our undesignated offerings to these important Cooperative Program (CP) ministries. For more information about CP, click HERE.

Giving Options

Even if you aren't joining us for in-person worship on Sunday, please continue to remember your tithes and offerings. The church’s ministries and operational expenses go on in spite of the current situation. We want to be a blessing to our community and it takes resources to do that. Your faithful giving makes it possible!

In addition to dropping cash or checks in the offering box on Sunday morning, there are multiple ways to give your tithes and offerings:

Online through Tithe.ly or the Tithe.ly app
Mail a check to First Baptist Church, PO Box 367, Strafford, MO 65757
Several of our members have begun using online bill pay through their bank to send in their offering. This is a free service that some banks provide. All you have to do is add the church’s name and address as a vendor, just like you would the electric company or any other business.
You can also drop your offering by the church office, but please call ahead to make sure that someone will be in the office.

Thank you again, church family, for your generous and faithful giving! If you need help setting up online giving or have any questions, contact Josh Erisman.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

FB Group

Give Now

Tithe.ly App

This Week @ FBC Strafford

Sunday, November 29
Advent begins
Week of Prayer for International Missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering begins
9:30 a.m. | Sunday School
10:45 a.m. | Worship Service
3:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, December 2
6:00 p.m. | NOW Free Family Meal
6:30 p.m. | KidsNOW & StudentsNOW
7:00 p.m. | LivingNOW (Adults)

Thursday, December 3
12:00 noon | Painting Class

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, November 29

ECM | Terry B. & Aroara F.
Greeters | Dennis & Wenda N.
Audio | Jeremy F.
Video | Gibson D.
Security | Gary M. & Randi R.
Counters | Clarence B. & 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!