FirstUpdate | December 1, 2022

A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford

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Live Nativity Begins TONIGHT!

Due to the demolition of the Corwin Arena, this year's Live Nativity will be taking place in the Central Buildings Event Center. Enter off of Smith Street into Gate 10 or off of Grant Street into Gate 11. Parking is directly north of the new building.

If you would be interested in singing with the carolers at the "Light Up Strafford" tree lighting, Josh would love to have you! You can join the Strafford Community Singers group for more details. But basically, we will be gathering under the Delp Park pavilion immediately following the Christmas parade (which will actually start around 5:15 p.m. due to the basketball tournament at Strafford High School). Wear Christmas attire of some sort. Contact Josh if you have any questions!

Worship With Us This Sunday!

We invite you to join us for worship this Sunday, December 4, as our FBC Missions & Cultural Impact team shares about our church's missions efforts in 2022 and what lies ahead for 2023 and beyond. We will also hear from guest speaker Bill Baer, who served for 34 years as an International Mission Board missionary in Latin America, and begin our emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

We hope to see you and your family for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45 a.m. Music will be led by our worship choir, band, and orchestra. You can preview the service plan HERE. The bulletin is available for download HERE.

Our annual church-wide Christmas dinner will be held this Sunday, December 4 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. Following the meal, we'll move the worship center for our annual business meeting to vote on the 2023 budget as well as new officers and committees.

Copies of the proposed 2023 budget are now available at the Information Desk. If you have any questions about the budget, talk with treasurer Terry Bruton or finance committee chairman Ryan Flowers.

Hand-Painted Christmas Cards

If you know of a shut-in, someone in the nursing home, someone in the military, someone sick or alone, etc., add their name to the list at the Information Desk. Our painting class would like to send them a beautiful, hand-painted Christmas card to let them know we are praying for them. Contact Jane Love or Wenda Neese for more information.

Sign up for Bless Every Home!

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life."

The Lord planted our church where we are to help our neighbors discover the light of life. So, we're asking each member of our church to consider becoming a Light to their neighbors and living intentional "pray-care-share" lifestyles.

Becoming a Light is free and confidential. You'll receive a map and list of your closest neighbors, along with emails at the frequency of your choice to pray for your next five neighbors that day. When you get a chance, walk or drive by those homes as you pray for them.

To learn more about this opportunity visit the following link to sign up on the website: https://blesseveryhome.com/fbcstrafford

SBC Missionary Highlight & Prayer Prompt

Jacob and Francine Zailian planted Set Free Church in Sanger, California, to reach people no one else is reaching—addicts and the homeless. God saved Jacob while in the Fresno County Jail and now he is trying to help others who feel forgotten and beyond the love of God.

As part of the church’s ministry, they provide free food and serve hot meals several times a week. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacob and his family set up tables in their driveway where they put fruit, vegetables, and bread to help their neighbors through difficult financial times.

Jacob helps the people he leads to Jesus find a path to recovery. He connects them to a Christian recovery ministry. The church has also opened a residential program at a renovated house where people can be discipled for up to a year after they finish recovery.

THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM is the financial fuel for reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation. Your support through the Cooperative Program provides hope through the Gospel to people who desperately need it.

PRAY that God would give the Zailian family perseverance as they serve Jesus in this difficult ministry.

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

Church family, we appreciate your ongoing commitment in giving your tithes and offerings. In addition to FBC's ministries and operations, we want to be a blessing to our community and our partner ministries around the world and it takes resources to do that. Your faithful giving makes it possible!

In addition to dropping cash or checks in the offering plate or 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 giving! If you need help setting up online giving or have any questions, contact Josh Erisman.

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This Week @ FBC Strafford

Thursday, December 1
10:00 a.m. | Painting Class
6:30/7:30 p.m. | SGF Live Nativity

Friday, December 2
6:00 p.m. | Psalm 119 Club
6:30/7:30 p.m. | SGF Live Nativity

Saturday, December 3
11:00 a.m. | Prayer Walk
5:15 p.m. | #LightUpStrafford Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
6:30/7:30 p.m. | SGF Live Nativity

December 4-11
Week of Prayer for International Missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Sunday, December 4
8:45 a.m. | Worship Team Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. | Sunday School
10:45 a.m. | Worship Service
12:15 p.m. | Israel Trip Info Meeting
3:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal
6:00 p.m. | Church Christmas Dinner & Annual Business Meeting

Wednesday, December 7
6:00 p.m. | NOW Free Family Meal
6:30 p.m. | KidsNOW (Birth-6th Grade)
6:30 p.m. | M-power Youth (7th-12th)
6:30 p.m. | LivingNOW (Adults)
8:00 p.m. | Orchestra Rehearsal

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022

ECM | Terry B. & Kenzie W.
Greeters | Dennis & Wenda N.
Information Desk | J. Martindale
Audio | Jeremy F.
Video | Garrett D.
Security | Ray S. & Gary M.
Counters | Ryan F. & Jameson E.

If you cannot serve on your assigned Sunday, please arrange a substitute and let the church office know by calling (417) 736-2148 or emailing us. Thank you to all those who serve our church in these important roles each Sunday morning!

Week ending November 27, 2022
Worship Attendance - 87
Sunday School Attendance - 67

Undesignated Giving - $5,256.25
Weekly Budget Goal - $4,961.54
Q4 Giving - $49,572.29
(111.0% of budget through 9 weeks)
YTD Giving - $227,499.68
(95.5% of budget through 48 weeks)

NOW Attendance - N/A (Nov. 23)