CHRISTMAS EVE

BREAKFAST & WORSHIP

Because the Fourth Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve this year, we will have multiple opportunities for fellowship and worship on December 24. The day will begin with an intergenerational breakfast at 9:45am. Since this is a potluck, please sign up here to bring your favorite breakfast item!

The final Advent service will take place at 11am, our usual worship time. There will be Extended Session for children on Sunday morning for worship, and as always, worship bags will be available in the Gathering Room for children attending the service. At 5pm, we'll celebrate Christ's birth together in a traditional service that includes hymns and texts of faith, the lighting of candles, and the celebration of communion. Children of all ages are invited to join us in the Sanctuary.

Both services will be in-person and live-streamed on our YouTube channel. We invite those who are joining us at home for the 5pm Christmas Eve Service to prepare bread or crackers and wine or juice so they can partake of these joyous elements with us when the time comes, as well as to prepare a candle to light with us as we sing of Christ’s birth at the end of the service.

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” the familiar carol proclaims, “O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.” We invite you join us as we celebrate this sacred truth together as a church family.

ISSUE FIFTEEN OF

FIRST FOUNDATIONS

The new issue of our First Foundations magazine is hot off the press, and ready for you to read! Magazines are currently available in the Lewis building lobby by the elevators. There are also copies of the magazine located at all entrances to the sanctuary for you to grab on your way out of worship. Feel free to get an extra copy for a neighbor who might like to know more about who we are, as we continue to reach beyond our walls. We are so grateful for all of our contributors (in order of their articles) — Anne Bullard, Warren Howell, Susan Elliott Kimball, Dennis Ellis, Carolyn Dickens, Crosby Rohrbaugh, Susan Kelly Nichols, and Jen Foster. A special thanks to our First Foundations magazine team that makes every publication come to life — Jen Foster, Anne Bullard, LouAnn Liverman, Claire Willmschen, and Leah Reed. You may access this issue through this digital copy or on the church website, along with previous issues of our magazines. If you would like to receive a copy of First Foundations in the mail, please email Deborah. We hope you enjoy reading about Epiphany from a wide range of voices from our community of faith!

CHURCHWIDE RETREAT

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendars and save the date for our churchwide retreat, April 19–21, 2024! We're headed back to the Blue Ridge Assembly in beautiful Black Mountain, and we hope your family will make plans to join us. More details about signing up, the theme, and all the specifics coming in January!

WINTER RETREAT & SKI TRIP

Our annual winter retreat and ski trip is coming up soon! Join us from January 5–7 for a trip to Pipestem, West Virginia. There will be a day of skiing at Winterplace Resort, however, if you would like to adventure outside of skiing, or just have a relaxing weekend in the beautiful mountain cabins by the fire, all are welcome to join. Please email Michael for more information!

TOY JOY WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, THANKS TO YOU!

What a successful day we had on Saturday, November 11! Everything went smoothly and our guests were well taken care of. Your kindness in serving is most appreciated. We rely on so many people to help Toy Joy run smoothly. Our WMU checked puzzles and games and our Thirty-Niners put together hundreds of wrapping kits so our families could have tape, tags, and bows to help wrap their children's presents. Our Japanese Ministry put together hundreds of Food Lion food bags for each family and several Sunday School classes helped to set up stations to help in packing the food bags. Leftover food bags were given to the Church of the Good Shepherd, which runs the soup kitchen and had a freezer break the very next week after Toy Joy. We also had several Sunday School classes help clean up on the day after our event. So many people donated time to help set up on the Friday before and many others donated money, their talents, toys and prayers for a successful day. All these efforts will help give many children a wonderful Christmas. Job well done! Your efforts helped us to serve about 274 families and over 800 children. Many hands make light work. THANK YOU! - Joyfully, The FBC Toy Joy Team

END-OF-YEAR GIVING & OFFERING ENVELOPES

We are thankful for the financial support First Baptist Church has received this year. As we near the end of the calendar year, we know you have many options to consider for charitable giving. We hope you will prayerfully consider your giving to First Baptist Church. Giving options, including stock gift instructions, are located here.

2023 financial year gifts must be post-marked or given electronically by December 31 in order to be recorded on your 2023 contribution statement. Gifts brought to the church office must be in the office by December 29 since the 31^st is a Sunday. The last Sunday to bring an offering is December 24.  If you have a question about your giving in 2023, please contact Kathy Rattie.

If you have used offering envelopes this year or have requested them for 2024, you will find contribution envelopes for 2024 on the first floor corridor leading to the Clothing Ministry on Sunday, December 24. If you would like some but have not requested them, please click here.



INCLEMENT WEATHER

Cancellation information about scheduled activities will be noted on a recorded greeting obtained by calling he office at 919-832-4485. Information will also be supplied to WRAL-TV (1st Baptist, Salisbury St), WTVD-TV (First Baptist Church-Salisbury St) and posted on our home page and on social media (X, Facebook, and Instagram).

CHILD CARE-GIVERS DURING WORSHIP NEEDED!

We are in need of adults and youth who are interested in serving once a quarter to provide top-notch care for our preschoolers during worship (10:45–12 noon). Folks interested must be church members or actively involved in the life of the church for at least six months.  You would know in advance your four dates for the year, and you can swap with others on the roster if one of your assigned dates doesn’t work with your schedule. Please contact Lynn as soon as possible if you’re interested.

CHURCH CONFERENCE TOMORROW



Our regularly scheduled church conference will be held Wednesday, December 13, at 6:15pm. Please note that our prayer time will begin at 6pm, so the conference can begin on time. The Zoom link is below, as well as a call-in number for those who would rather join via phone. Our by-laws require 50 members in attendance (in-person and Zoom) in order to transact business. Please make plans to attend so we can vote on important matters for our church.

The following documents will be referenced during the conference:

Church conference agenda

Finance chair summary report

Finance report 

Draft minutes of November church conference

View via Zoom with this link, 

meeting ID: 850 6201 7518, passcode: wDefe3. 

To view the speaker throughout the presentation, click the three dots

on the right portion of the screen and choose "pin this video." 

If you would prefer to call in,

use 646-558-8656, meeting ID: 850 6201 7518 Passcode: 490422.

AAWC CHRISTMAS PREORDERS

And Also with 'Cue is now accepting preorders for Christmas. Skip the long lines at the grocery store and countless hours in the kitchen and let David With cook for you!

All preorders are available on their website where you can select from Boston butt, brisket, BBQ, ham, ribs, and sides too. Orders will be accepted through Tuesday, December 19; you may pick up your food in the FBC parking lot on Thursday, December 21, between 10am and 2pm.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER — MEMORIAL & HONORIFIC GIFTS  

Capital Repair and Replacement Fund

In memory of:

Gwen Cavin

Nancy Jo Fleming

Andrew Casey Wilson

Peggy J. Frisbie

Fannie Memory Mitchell

Church Maintenance Endowment Fund

In memory of:

Andrew Casey Wilson

Nancy Jo Fleming

Peggy J. Frisbie

Day Mission Fund

In memory of:

Fannie Memory Mitchell

Nancy Jo Fleming

Andrew Casey Wilson

General Fund

In memory of:  

John Hiott

Peggy J. Frisbie

In honor of Carmen Hiott

Mike Morris Fellowship Fund

In memory of:

Nancy Jo Fleming

Peggy J. Frisbie

Music Ministry Designated Fund

In memory of Jennifer Lane

NC Missions Fund

In memory of Fannie Memory Mitchell