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Norman Cross
968-8260
The Encourager
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Sunday Morning Transportation:
The Encourager is published weekly by the
First Baptist Church
50 Stanford Ave., Lexington, TN 38351.
(731-968-3685) www.fbclexington.com
Periodicals Postage PAID at Lexington, Tennessee.
Sunday, November 23
Deacons/Counselors:
John Bobbitt (968-9802),
Freddie Carrington (968-5964)
Preschool Workers:
Beth Collins, Shawna Swearingen, Dee Lowrance,
Nancy Deere, Kathy Belew, Brandon & April Cross,
Jason & Molly Britt, Dachelle Renfroe,
Dean Martin (AM), Angela Henderson (PM)
Prayer Warriors:
Henry Martin (AM), Nancy Russell (PM)
Security Ministry:
Sam Faught, Jeff Moore
Menu for Wednesday,
November 26 (No Services)
Hospital List:
Local: Juanita Helms
Jackson General: Adelyn Grace (332-Robert &
Jessica Cramer’s infant daughter), Gary Creasy
(213), Betty Palmer (886), Ruth Martin
Rehabilitation, Nashville: Ginger Pollock
Vanderbilt: Zubie Martin (6024)
Thank you…We have received a thank you note
from the following people this week:
Martha Dickson, Dr. Clay Hallmark, & Betty Dunivan
They are posted on the bulletin board
outside the Fellowship Hall.
Last Sunday’s Report
568
Sunday School Attendance
112
Discipleship Training Attendance
$18,615.77
Regular Budget
$25,480.39
Weekly Budget Requirement
Building Fund (Current Bldg. Upkeep) $45.00
$472.81
Designated Offering
$26,472.10
Moving for the Master Gifts (Loan)
$12,833.77
Moving for the Master Loan Balance
(Roof, Bus, Piano, Sound/Light System)
November 19, 2014
Our Staff
Dr. Jerry Tidwell, Interim Pastor
Tommy Crocker,
Associate Pastor/Minister of Education & Outreach
Bob Hull, Minister of Music
Dr. Gilbert Cubbison, Minister of Senior Adults/Pastoral Care
Angela Henderson, Director of Preschool/Children
Ryan Keaton, Youth Minister
Ministry Assistants
Annette Fitzgerald
Angie Larson
Marguerite Nicholson
Dee Lowrance
Worship with Us
Sunday:
Library Open………………….....8:15-8:50 a.m.
Sunday School……….…………9:00-10:00 a.m.
Worship……………………….10:15-11:15 a.m.
Library Open………………….....5:00-5:55 p.m.
Discipleship Training…………….5:00-5:55 p.m.
Worship……………………….....6:00-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday:
Fellowship Dinner……………….5:00-6:30 p.m.
Choir....................................................6:15-7:45 p.m.
Bible Study…............……………..6:30-7:30 p.m.
Children’s and Youth Groups
Theme: “Jesus Christ Is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
for
Lexington’s
First Baptist Church
USPS 445-110
Volume 38, No. 21 November 19, 2014
Connecting....by Bro. Tommy Crocker
Many of you have been calling the office asking “How much was the Harvest Offering? Was enough given
to cancel the church’s debt?” Here are the results. A total of $26,472.10 was given, and the church’s debt has
been decreased to $12,833.77. Give God the glory!
While leading a Bible study today, our thoughts at the end were focused on Thanksgiving. I asked each to
state their favorite food that they hoped to enjoy sometime during the next several days. Some said, “I like ham
so much more than turkey.” Others said, “Oh, no, turkey is so much better than ham.” Another replied, “I sure
hope to get sweet potatoes with marsh mellows on top.” And one replied, “I like dressing and cranberry sauce!”
This just proves that we all have our opinions and our likes and dislikes. However, may we all agree as to
whom deserves our greatest gratitude. Hopefully this is no one other than God.
Many years ago, actually in 1995, one of Lifeway’s church bulletins contained a timely poem about Thanksgiving that teaches us to remember the little things.
“Thank you God for the comfort of a bed, a pillow soft beneath my head,
The blankets warm, the elder down, to cover me when I lie down;
Four walls secure, a roof above, all prove to me that God is love.”
-H. Cockrell, “Sunday School Times”
Here’s something funny to share entitled “My New Parrot.” Recently I (not me) received a parrot as a gift.
The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious, and laced with profanity.
I tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music, and
anything else I could think of to “clean up” the bird’s vocabulary. Finally, I was fed up, and I yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. I even shook the parrot, and it got angrier and even ruder.
So, in desperation, I threw up my hands, grabbed the bird, and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the
parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then, suddenly, there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over
a minute.
Fearing that I’d hurt the parrot, I quickly opened the freezer door. The parrot calmly stepped out into my
outstretched arms and said, “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions, and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my
rude and unforgivable behavior.”
I was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. As I was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird said, “May I ask what the turkey did?”
Preschool/Children News
By Angela Henderson
Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us
be thankful, and so worship God acceptably
with reverence and awe.”
This week our children will be studying about
the early church in the book of Acts. The early
church set an example for us in the way they
prayed for boldness to share the good news
about Jesus even in the face of persecution.
They spent time listening to the apostles teaching, praying, and praising God. They gave their
money to help people in need, spent time eating
and fellowshipping together and others noticed
and wanted to join them. Praying that our
church will follow this example and draw others
into the faith. “Let us not become weary in doing
good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Baby Dedication: Sunday, November 23rd—
Please contact the church office to participate in
this event. If you have a conflict for this date,
another service will take place in May.
Angel Breakfast—Sunday, December 7th 8:00
-10:00 — For our children Babies—6th Grade
and their families. A special time to celebrate
the true meaning of Christmas and the real reason for the season…The Birthday of a King!
Singing Christmas Tree — December 13th—
Bellevue Baptist Church—Tickets have been
ordered for families that committed to attend
this trip. If you have not paid for your tickets,
please do so this week. We plan to leave at 10
a.m. from the church, eat lunch at Wolfchase
Mall, and attend the 2 p.m. performance and
return by 6 p.m.
Senior Sayings...Dr. Gilbert Cubbison
What are my Christian Responsibilities?
To my Lord: I am to love, honor and serve
Him. I am to reverence and obey Him and His
Word.
To my family: I am to love and care for my
family.
To my local church: I am to attend regularly
and to pray for its ministry. I am to give freely
and cheerfully of my time, energy, abilities,
and money.
To the pastor: Pray daily that he will spend
time in prayer and study as he leads the church.
To my Bible: Since it is the Word of God, I
must read it regularly. I must apply to my life
what I read.
To the unsaved: I must live a godly and consistent life before the world.
To fellow believers; I am to pray for them,
help them with their burdens, and conduct myself as an example.
To myself: I am to grow spiritually, to progress in my Christian life, and to strive toward
maturity.
The security ministry needs more
volunteers to make sure the church is
secure during services. If you would
like to volunteer for this ministry, please call the
church office at 968-3685.
Thanksgiving Service
First Baptist Church
Tuesday, November 25
6:30 p.m.
Meal at 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $6/person $24 max per family
(Tickets are on sale now
in the church office)
The WMU is collecting Campbell’s Soup
labels for the Appalachian Outreach Ministry of Carson-Newman Univ. They need 1
million labels to purchase a van. The collection box is located in our Welcome Center.
Ministry through Music
by Bob Hull
Sunday, November 23
6:00 p.m.
Let’s Give Thanks!
This Sunday evening we will come together for
a special hour of praise, music and thanksgiving. It will be a time in which we can share our
testimonies of God’s love and mercy in our
lives. As we share our faith in this way there is
great power and great encouragement for the
family. Ask the Lord if there is something you
can share that will strengthen the faith of others
and be prepared to step forward on Sunday
evening. You know that God has blessed you
in a marvelous way and it is time to share with
others what the Lord has done for you! You
can bring God glory with your testimony!
Let the peoples praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
Psalm 67:3
You are invited to celebrate the marriage
of
Katie Lynn Lawson
daughter of Max and Beverly Lawson
to
Christopher Scott Story
son of Kevin and Susan Stroup
and Michael and Lilly Story
Saturday, November 22, 2014
3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church
Music will begin at 2:30 p.m.
YOUTH NEWS
by Ryan Keaton
Isaiah 64:8 tells us, “Yet you, LORD, are
our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.” This past
weekend our youth, and youth from our community, dove into this passage and looked at its
application on our lives. We had at least 3
come to salvation and many others who recommitted and strengthened their relationship with
Christ. Praise God for this Disciple Now
Weekend.
Our next event is the Strength to Stand
youth conference. This conference is January
17-19 in Pigeon Forge, TN. We will have an
info meeting on January 4th right after the
morning service for this event and that is when
the remaining $80 is due.
We are starting a new Large Group series
during River’s Edge entitled, “Our Hope” as
we look at Jesus being prophesied about and
then coming to save us of our sins.
Thank you for your continued prayers and
support of our student ministry!
Foster Children’s Christmas Party
Our church again has the opportunity
to host a Christmas Party on December 9
for this area’s foster children and their
families.
We need your help to provide items
for a “store” where the children will shop
for gifts for their family members.
Please bring new or like new things
for men, women, and children. Examples:
Jewelry, billfolds, tools, candy, household
items, toys, etc. by December 7. Donation
boxes will be at the four main entrances.
We also need all sizes of gift bags and
tissue paper.
Call Kaye Rhodes at
614-3981 for more information.