E-Vision

November 9, 2022

Dear Friends,

The holiday season is shifting into full gear all around us. Lights are twinkling. Carols are playing. Black Friday ads are playing. Do you feel tired yet?

Hit pause on the noise for a moment. Take a deep breath. Ok, maybe three deep breaths. (It really works.) Don't bypass the Advent Conspiracy post — we're going to take a deep dive into the motivations that shape our behaviors and thinking about the Christmas season.

Make time for your church family this week. Invite someone to come along with you to worship or to a Wednesday meal. Definitely invite that friend to join us for the concert next week to honor our veterans.

Please invite your friends and family!

The Seipp/Sheets Duo craft a unique, engaging, and entertaining concert experience with powerful and innovative videos that create connections to audiences of all ages. Music of Bach, Vivaldi, Handel to rock icon, Freddie Mercury, and inspirational patriotic selections that honor our country’s veterans will be presented.

If you are hesitant about driving at night and would like transportation to the concert, please respond with this link to let us know of your interest no later than November 14th at 5:00 p.m..

Before the Holiday Rush Begins...

This Christmas season, we want to hit the "pause button" and take stock of a different kind of inventory when it comes to gift giving and holiday checklists. We invite you to learn more over the next few weeks (leading up to Advent) about a different kind of thinking — an approach to Christmas that will resonate more with the true Christmas story than anything you will find in popular culture. It's based on an international initiative called the Advent Conspiracy.

Ladies, we invite you to join us on November 28 for a delicious meal and inspiring speakers at our annual Advent by Candlelight event in Morgan Hall. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but we require a reservation before November 23. If you would like to host a table, we encourage you to let us know early and to refer to our website for more details.

Attention Campers!

Are you registered for our FBC Camping/Glamping trips?

February 19-23, 2023:

George L. Smith State Park



October 8-11, 2023:

Cloudland Canyon State Park 

Email Ellee if you are registered,

so she can plan the FBC meal for

one of the camping nights.

Calling all 4th and 5th graders!

Bring your best game for this epic glow-in-the-dark dodgeball event! Oh, and come hungry, because we're having pizza!

You know Advent is near when we start talking about poinsettias at FBC. This year, we will observe the traditional Hanging of the Green in the Celebration Service, where our Children's Choir will lead worship alongside the Sanctuary Choir and a special Trombone Ensemble.  In our Connexion Service, we will usher in the Advent season with a simple children's poinsettia processional as the congregation joins in worship. 

See you in the Student Center TONIGHT!

Join us for worship, games, and Bible study starting at 6:3o p.m.

It won't be long now...

February 20-24, 2023

WinterPlace West Virginia

This annual ski trip is a highlight of the year for the Student Ministry. Students build memories that last a lifetime, learn more about Jesus, and have a lot of fun, too! The cost is $425 per student. This includes lodging, lift tickets, ski/snowboard rental, and lunch each day. 

Take note of a few important dates for Student Ministry:

Basecamp Summit — January 15, 2023

Ski Trip — February 20-24, 2023

Basecamp — July 17-21, 2023

Handbells

Rehearsal from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. on 11/9

Rehearsal on Sunday, 11/13 from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.

Orchestra

Rehearsal from 6:00-6:45 p.m. on 11/9 in the Sanctuary

Connexion Musicians

Vocalists rehearse at 6:30p.m. and full band rehearses at 7:00 p.m. on 11/9

Sanctuary Choir

Rehearsal begins at 7:00 p.m. on 11/9

Ukulele Ensemble

Rehearsal in the

Instrumental Room

Thursdays at noon

Beginning Ukulele

Instrumental Room

Tuesdays at 12:15

Community: FBC Around Town

Let Your Praises Ring!

Mark your calendars, because Santa is coming to town on December 2, and the Handbell Ensemble will be ringing in the season at the Historic City Hall in downtown Griffin! More details to come.

Missions

Christmas Toy Shop 

The time is here for us to rally together in support of the Christmas Toy Shop. This ministry affords families (who otherwise couldn't) an opportunity to provide each of their children with two Christmas gifts. Your generosity and volunteer support shares the love of Jesus with these families. Please pray about the way you can best support this ministry. Here are the needs for the Toy Shop.

• On December 4th at 12:15 p.m. (following Connexion Worship), we need help setting up the Toy Shop. Lunch will be provided. Please call, text, or email Lori Harvey to sign up: 404-274-4824 or lorihharvey@gmail.com.
• On December 5th and 6th, the Toy Shop will be open. We need help assisting the Toy Shop clients. Volunteer sign ups will take place on November 20th and November 27th following the Celebration and Connexion services.

As part of the Christmas Toy Shop ministry this year, we will be holding a “Sock It to Me!” sock collection drive. For more information about this ministry, please contact Lori Harvey or Joyce McCartney.

Helping the Hungry

The Benevolence team will be sorting canned good donations in the gym on Thursday, November 10th at 2:00 p.m. These donations are bagged to share with those who need an extra bit of help during the holiday season. If you would like to assist, we invite you to join us.

LifeSong Ministries

LifeSong had a wonderful graduation celebration on Thursday, November 3 in Morgan Hall. We are so grateful for First Baptist Church and the many volunteers that supported these women who are striving to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Please continue to pray for Amber, April, Kayla, Lauren, Michelle, and Susan. Here are a few highlights from the evening.

The next LifeSong class will begin on February 27, 2023. If you know a woman that would benefit from the LifeSong program, please have them contact the ministry at 404-980-5549. You may also contact the program on behalf of a woman you would like to be considered for the program. Thank you for the prayer support and the love you show to these women. 

Thank you from the Harkleroads!

Dear Church Family,

Jennifer and I would like to thank the mission council, Sunday School classes, groups, and individual members who recently donated to the soccer program in the Kangondo community of Kigali. The funds you generously donated will help provide soccer shoes, equipment, school fees, food, devotion materials and other resources to this community. Your donations could not have come at a better time as Kangondo community is in transition. Many of the families have been displaced and their houses demolished. Twenty five of our students have been directly impacted and the other sixty have been indirectly impacted.

Thank you for helping us partner with the Kangondo community, at this critical time. We are honored to be an extension of First Baptist Church as together we extend the "Community of Grace" outside the walls of our church to Griffin, to Georgia, and around the world.

We love you and know that we are loved and there is nothing we can do about it.

Blessings,

Hundley

The Caregiver's Clothes Closet NEEDS Mens's coats sizes XL and above.

(They also need men's shoes and clothing.)

Service

Grits Made with Love

Have you ever tasted those delightful grits available in the Common Grounds Coffeehouse on Sunday mornings? It should make your mouth water just thinking about it.

Those grits are made possible because hard-working volunteers like Ken come early in the morning to fix them.

Thank you for supporting the Coffeehouse Ministry.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to know how to get involved, please contact Seth Brown.

We are still looking for a few mentors! Please pray about your participation in this important program.

The mentor program through Griffin Spalding County Schools is looking for adults willing to serve as a mentor for a child at a minimum of 45 minutes a month during school hours (typically between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.). Mentoring takes many forms — reading a book, being read to, helping with school work, playing cards or board games, and even just being present and listening. To qualify to join our team of FBC Mentors, we need you to commit to there is a two hour training, a background check, and willingness to commit to meeting with your student for the rest of the school year. 

We hope you will drop by the Library to check out our newest display honoring veterans. While you are there, perhaps you can pick up a good read for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thank you for supporting your Church Library.

Check out the newest children's books in the Church Library:

Trudy Ludwig, The Invisible Boy

Laura Numeroff, If You Take a Mouse to School

Jacqueline Rogers, Tiptoe into Kindergarten

Susan Rosson Spain, The Twelve Days of Christmas in Georgia

Jacqueline Woodson, Each Kindness

Year A lectionary readings, both daily and Sunday, will begin at the end of November. If you would like the Church Library to provide you with a lectionary packet for Year A, please sign up at the library circulation desk no later than November 16 on the clipboard provided there. Packets will be available beginning November 20 to those requesting them.

Library Hours

Sundays

10:00-11:30 a.m.

Wednesdays

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Want to search the Church Library from your phone? Download the Librista app today! Sign in to First Baptist Griffin and you can see our collection. Contact the Church Libraryfor more information.

Other News & Events Around the Church

Chef Neel will be serving beef vegetable soup, cornbread, and dessert at our Wednesday night supper tonight. You can RSVP here. 

Have YOU Got the Look?

With the fall season upon us, wouldn’t you like something cozy to wear? Consider a fashionable vest, a long-sleeved hoodie, or a stylish jacket — all with an FBC logo! You can now preorder these shirts, which are embroidered locally. Check out the selection and order today! For more details, or to place an order, follow the link below.

The church will be decorated for Advent and Christmas with fresh poinsettias and wreaths. If you would like to make a contribution in memory or in honor of someone to go toward this expense, please place your gift of $15.00 (per listing) and the name(s) of the person(s) you are remembering or honoring in the offering plate by Sunday, December 11. Gifts received provide wreaths, poinsettias, and other supplies. You may give online and enter the name of the honoree in the memo space.

Happy Work-a-versary!

Leigh Ann Williams — one of our newest members and also our Church Administrator — joined the staff of FBC on November 15, 2010.

Leila Wells Rogers joined the staff at FBC on November 16, 2020.

We wish both of you the happiest of work anniversaries! Thank you for all you do.

Upcoming Events and Meetings

What happened last week?

These 15 fine-looking folks traveled to Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday, November 6 to attend the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia's State Meeting. On Monday, November 7, Steven accepted the role of Moderator for the organization effective January 2023. The Moderator is the highest-elected office in CBF-GA and carries the responsibilities of leading the business meeting at the state gathering, as well as facilitating in committees throughout the year.

If you would like a sneak peek at a bit of shenanigans behind the scenes at the gathering, check out the coronation photo with Jody Long here.

A Day of Remembrance

On November 6, our church remembered by name those from our congregation who had passed away in the previous 12 months. Candles were lit in both services.

Don't forget to share with us how we can be praying for you this week.