November 2007

FBC Informer - November 2007

Table of Contents

Pastor’s Column
Announcements
Calendar

Worshipping God

• Sanctuary Choir
• Special Worship Services
• November Worship Schedule
• Flower Calendar
• Children’s Worship
• Schedule for Children’s Church Workers

Growing Together

• Children Ministry News
• Youth Ministry News
• Senior Adult Ministry News
• Ladies Night Out
• Wednesday Night Activities

Serving Others

• Thanksgiving Baskets
• Operation Angel Tree
• Flu Shots Thanks
• Heifer International
• Local Missions Opportunities

“A Thankful Heart”

I want to take this opportunity to thank you as a congregation on behalf of John and myself. We appreciate everyone who helped us in our move. We could not have done it without you. I had recently had retinal eye surgery and wasn’t able to pack very much and could not move any thing at all. We truly would not be here now if it were not for your generous hearts and selfless work. I would also like to thank everyone who participated in our pounding. We would have had nothing to eat or drink if it had not been for you. Everyone here has truly made us feel loved and at home. You don’t know how much a smile, handshake, and a hug can mean until you move away from home for the first time. In this way everyone here has participated in welcoming us.

I must send a special thank you to the social committee. The receptions for my welcome weekend were wonderful. It helped both John and me to feel right at home when we came because we got to meet so many people before hand. And I cannot say enough good things about the reception for my installation. It was a luncheon! Thank you so much for making me feel so special.

My installation gifts were another surprise that I do not have the words to begin to express my gratitude. Until now I had nothing to hang my diploma from Duke in. Now I can hang it in a beautiful frame and always remember the loving congregation that presented it to me when I look at it. The same goes for my lovely stole.

The gifts, the food, and the fellowship have all been wonderful. However, I must say the thing I am most thankful for is the opportunity to serve you as a congregation. I am truly honored and humbled to be your associate pastor. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to an amazing future working with you through Gods grace. I know that we can accomplish almost anything.

Thank you and many blessings,
Amanda Johnston

Daylight Savings Time Change

Daylight Savings Time ends this year on November 4 at 2:00 a.m.
Don’t forget to “Fall Back” one hour! Please join us at 9:45 a.m. for Sunday School and stay for our Baptism worship service at 11 a.m.!

$1,400 Alma Hunt State Missions Offering Goal Met!

We collected $1,523.40 for our Alma Hunt State Missions Offering. Thanks to everyone who made a contribution to this effort!

Consecration Sunday Update

We have currently received 69 pledge cards for a total of $190,018. If you have not yet turned in your card, please do so soon. Thanks!

Called Business Meeting to Approve Budget, Sunday, November 11

There will be a called Business Meeting on Sunday, November 11 to approve the 2008 Church Budget. There will be a budget discussion on Wednesday, November 7, 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. A copy of the budget will be available on Sunday, November 4.

Upcoming Events for Your Calendar

Please mark your calendars with these upcoming events:

November 4 ……….Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 7 ……….Budget Discussion Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
November 8 ……….Missions & Outreach Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
November 9 ……….Children’s Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
November 11 ……..Church Council Meeting, 8:30 a.m.; Called Business Meeting, 9:45 a.m.
November 13-14 ..BGAV Annual Meeting-Richmond
November 18 ……..Deacon’s Meeting, 5:00 p.m.
November 19 ……..Newsletter Articles Due;Music & Worship Meeting, 5:45 p.m.
November 20 …….Thanksgiving Service-First Baptist, 7:00 p.m.
November 21 ……..No Preschool
November 22-23 ..Thanksgiving-Church Office Closed

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal, Monday, Nov. 19

There will be a Sanctuary Choir rehearsal on Monday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. since there will be no choir rehearsal Wed., Nov. 21.

College-Led Worship Service, Nov. 18

On Sunday, November 18 at 11:00 a.m., we will have a Thanksgiving worship service that will mostly be led by college students from both Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College. They will be leading prayers and readings, offering special music, and Jeannine Milne, a first-year Longwood graduate student will give the message.

After the service, our College Committee will host a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall for our students. All college students and “adoptive parents” are invited to attend the luncheon.

FAMA Thanksgiving Service, Nov. 20 at 7:00 p.m.

The Farmville Area Ministerial Association will host its annual community-wide Thanksgiving Service at First Baptist, Farmville on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Father James Glass of St. Theresa Catholic Church will be the speaker. We encourage you to attend this service!

Hanging of the Greens Service, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.

On Sunday, December 2, at 6 p.m. in our sanctuary, we will have our annual “Hanging of the Green” worship service. This service combines scripture readings, carols and special music from our choirs as we decorate the sanctuary for Advent. Light refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall after the service.

November Worship Services

11/4 “Being Worthy of God’s Calling” - 2 Thess. 1:1-4, 11-12
11/11 “Stand Firm”/Communion - 2 Thess. 2:1-5, 13-17
11/18 “Give Thanks” - Isaiah 12 - College-Led Service
11/25 “Cosmic Christ” - Colossians 1:11-20

2007-08 Calendar for Flowers in Sunday Worship

The 2007-2008 Flower Calendar is on the bulletin board across from the Sunday School office. Please sign up for the coming year to put flowers in the church in memory/honor of a loved one.

Children’s Worship Service

During our main worship service we are also offering a Children’s Worship Service, for children kindergarten to second grade, in the Fellowship Hall. Children in those grades will leave the sanctuary following the children’s lesson and will typically return to the adult service in the sanctuary during the offertory. Older children are welcome to sign up to be “guest readers,” serving as worship leaders on the specific Sundays for which they sign up. Children’s church will take place every week except the third Sunday of each month, when Edith Ann and Katherine Austin will continue to lead missions activities.

Sunday Schedule for Children’s Church Workers

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Hallelujah Harvest Festival, November 3

All children from preschool through 6th grade are invited to attend the 3rd Annual Hallelujah Harvest Party on Saturday, November 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Longwood University. This is a costume party! There will be candy, games, snacks, and prizes. Please RSVP to the church office by Nov. 1 if you plan to attend, so the BCM can plan accordingly.

Family Movie Night, and Children’s Committee Meeting

Friday, November 9
We’ll be showing “Meet The Robinsons” (rated G; 95 min.) in the Preschool Department, Room 3. The movie starts at 7 p.m. sharp. There will be an intermission where popcorn and water will be served. Invite your friends! Contact Amanda Johnston for more information.

“Go Fish” Concert Friday, November 30th, 6:45 p.m.

On November 30th, the Christian band Go Fish is coming to Fellowship Bible Church in Winchester. Go Fish is a group of three guys who are committed to creating great music for kids that won’t drive parents bonkers. The concert begins at 6:45 p.m. Tickets in advance are $5 a person or $20 a family. Tickets at the door are $7 a person or $30 a family. Please contact Farrah Schmidt at 392-4320 if you are interested in going. For more information on the band “Go Fish,” please go to www.gofishguys.com.

Youth Schedule for November

Ruth Class Get Togethers

The senior adult Ruth Class has been getting together once a month for dinner at a restaurant. Please contact Cecil & Phyllis Yeatts 392-8770 for more information about the next get together.

Ladies Night Out, Nov. 13

There will be a Ladies Night Out gathering on Tuesday, November 13, at Rock-n-Sam’s down Route 15 (past H-SC) at 6:00 pm. Please contact Elizabeth Whiley 315-0160 to RSVP or for more information.

Wed. Night Adult Discipleship Study, 6:30 to 7:10 p.m.

11/7 Budget Discussion Meeting
11/14 Nooma: “Following Jesus?” - “Dust”
11/21 No Wednesday Activities (Thanksgiving)
11/29 Nooma: “Scaring People into Loving God?” - “Bullhorn”
12/5 “Service of Remembrance,” in the Fellowship Hall

Wednesday Night Activities

Menus for November

COST: $4 for adults; $2.00 for children; $12 family limit.

Thanksgiving Baskets

Farmville Baptist church will be putting together Thanksgiving baskets for eight families in need. We need the following items in family or large size (enough of each to feed a family of four) for the baskets before November 11: stuffing, instant potatoes, string beans, butter beans, frozen rolls, frozen pies, yams, and cranberry sauce.

Please bring any food donations to the church office. You may also make a monetary donation toward this mission project. We will assemble the baskets on Wednesday night, November 14, at 6:30 p.m.

Each Sunday School class has been assigned a particular item. Please check with your Sunday school teacher or Amanda to find out what your assigned item is. If you are not currently in a Sunday school class please help us make this a successful mission by bringing any of the items on the list or making a donation.

Operation Angel Tree

This year, Farmville Baptist Church will be promoting a program called Operation Angel Tree which is part of a ministry known as Prison Fellowship.

Through the Operation Angel Tree project, Farmville area children, whose parents are currently incarcerated, will receive age appropriate gifts for Christmas. We need families from our congregation to sponsor ten children.

There will be a “tree” on our bulletin board posted with ten children, and their ages, sizes and the type of toy they would like to receive. You will be asked to purchase two gifts: a clothing item and a toy, each costing in the $15-20 range. The gifts will be given to the child in the name of their parents and also as a symbol of Jesus’ love for them.

The deadline for sponsoring a child is November 18. Please have your gifts wrapped by December 5. We will be inviting these children and their families to our church-wide Christmas dinner on December 9 and will present them with their gifts at that time. Please contact Elizabeth Whiley at 315-0160 if you have any questions.

Flu Shots Thanks

Many thanks to Ruth Patteson, Dot Shumaker, Phyllis Yeatts, and Nancy Andrews and all phone volunteers for helping Dr. Witten administer fifty flu shots on Wednesday, October 10.

Heifer International Christmas Mission Project

Give the gift that keeps on giving. This year, our church Christmas mission will be to serve others by buying animals for families in need around the world through Heifer International. If you have never heard of The Heifer Project, go to their website www.heifer.org. If you do know about Heifer, you know that giving bees, sheep, goats, ducks, or chicks to families in need can help those families not just today, not just tomorrow, but for generations to come. Today, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables. Families who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses. Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read. And people, who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else around the world, will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving. More information in our December newsletter!

The Jail Ministry Team invites you . . .

On the first Sunday of each month from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., a small team visits the Piedmont Regional Jail to lead the female inmates in a time of singing, devotion and prayer. This ministry requires no specialized talents, just an open and flexible spirit. Please contact Anita Lynn, 391-3751, for more information and to participate.

Meals on Wheels

SCOPE Meals on Wheels provide approximately ninety plus meals per day to local residents. It takes at least 10 drivers each day to make the deliveries. Currently there is a need for drivers. If you can help please call Hoke Currie at 434-392-8797. This is a great mission opportunity!

Thank You . . .

Dear Christian Friends of Farmville Baptist Church,

Thank you very much for keeping Nancy Noel in your prayers. Thanks to your prayers and those of others of her friends and family and especially to the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has made a most remarkable recovery. She has a few lingering, but minor, problems and has returned home to rejoin our family. Please know that the power of prayer is awesome. –Howard Noel