1. shopping
2. gifts

- Billy Bowie -
SPECIAL
THANKS
Wednesday Night Supper
December 24
There will be no supper on
the 24th or the 31st.
Thank you, to all who made last
Sunday such a worshipful, Christcentered event;
Adult Choir
Soloists: Kay, Melanie
& Stacy
♥ The Grace Notes
♥
♥
(under the direction of Mary Ann Ballew)
♥
Adult Handbells
♥ Piano Trio
The Witness
There will not be a Witness
mailed next week due to the
Christmas holiday. You will
receive the next Witness on
Wednesday, December 31st.
This Past Week
First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 547, 205 South Church Avenue, Louisville, Mississippi 39339
Music Notes
Sunday School – December 14, 2014
Adult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Preschool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Financial Record
Weekly Budget Goal . . . . $18,983.52
Tithes & Offerings . . .
$30,642.00
Designated Budget . . . . . .
$745.50
Designated Restricted . . . . $1,301.00
Acts 1:8 Offering . . . . . . $100,585.00
Lottie Moon Offering . . . $6,210.00
$580.00
Staff Christmas Bonus . .
Total Receipts . . . . . . . . . $140,063.50
(Leah, Mary Ann, & Sue Ann)
♥
Children’s Choir
(under the direction of
Gwen Clark & Leah Boydstun)
♥
PreSchool Choir
(under the direction of
Stacy Curran & Heather Fulton)
♥
Piano Duet
(Leah & JoLane)
2015 Offering Envelopes
Don’t forget to pick up your
box of envelopes in the foyer
near the elevator outside the
sanctuary organ door. If you
do not locate your box of
envelopes, please contact the
church office immediately.
Opportunities
ETC Ministry
Sundays, December 21 & 28, 2014
Mallory S. Eaves and Edna Overstreet
Media Crew for December
Pray for our Committee as
they seek God’s will for our
next Minister of Music.
Committee Members Are:
Mike Ard, Chairman
Mark Donald
Kyle Fulton
David Humphries
Johnny Johnson
Sylvia Wright
Gwen Clark
Rhonda Shotts
Prison Fellowship Angel
Tree
Because of you and several
other churches in Winston
County we were able to
purchase two gifts each for 82
children. Thank you for your
donations and gifts. They
will make these children a
little happier this Christmas
season.
Radio broadcast on WLSM at 11:00
a.m. and 6:00 p.m. are now tape delayed
of both previous Sunday services. Tape
delayed TV broadcast of the previous
Sunday morning and evening worship is
broadcast at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on
cable channel 18.
Director: Beth Mitchell
Broadcast Sound: Rusty Mitchell
House Sound: Jeffrey Woodward
Media: Anthony Sloan
Cameras: Jimmy Covington &
Eric Humphries
Offering Committee for December
Robert Clark, Chairman
Johnny Johnson
Bubba Hudspeth
Coker Fryery
Ronnie Jones
James Russell
Deacon on Call
December 19 - 21 December 26 - 28
Ray Ingram
William E. Donald
705-0886
736-6995
Transportation for December
Johnny Johnson
773-2279
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Published weekly (except Christmas
week) by First Baptist Church, 205 South
Church Avenue, Louisville, MS 39339.
Periodical postage paid at Louisville, MS
39339. Publication No. 195320
CHURCH STAFF
Rob Paul, Pastor
803-4589
Billy Bowie, Min of Music
803-4043
Terry Carter, Bldg. Supt.
803-3508
Newlie Long, Min of Ed
803-9421
Scott Lowrey, Min of Youth
601-416-5041
Church Office
773-6246
The WITNESS
Making Jesus known from the red hills of
Mississippi to the ends of the Earth.
Vol. 46
December 18, 2014
No. 46
Special Called Business Meeting
This Sunday, December 21st
At the conclusion of Morning Worship for the
Purpose of Voting on the Proposed 2015 Budget
(If you could not be at the Business Session on
Wenesday for the discussion, you can pick up a
copy of the Proposed Budget in the church
office during working hours. Copies will also be
available on Sunday morning.)
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion
Wednesday, December 24th
5:00 p.m.
This will be a casual worship experience
focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.
Bring your family and friends.
Pancakes and Painting
Tuesday, December 23
Meet in Fellowship Hall at 8:00 a.m.
(Thursday, the 18th, is the last day to register.)
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
for International Missions
Our Church Goal: $32,000.00
Given to Date: $8,250.00
Pastor’s Perspective
Minister of Education, Youth & Children’s Ministry
- Rob Paul -
- Newlie Long –
Merry Christmas! Years ago we would send Christmas
cards with a printed insert that gave a family narrative of
the year’s highlights. We don’t send Christmas cards
anymore, but looking back over 2014 I am reminded of
God’s tremendous blessings upon our family.
I am thankful that God led the pastor search committee
to focus on my resume, and I am really thankful that I
answered the phone that Sunday afternoon as we
drove home from Monroe, Louisiana. I would like to
think that Mark Donald would’ve kept calling until he
got me, but you never know…
I am thankful for the immediate bond we developed with
the search committee after our first meeting and for
the way God has deepened and multiplied those
relationships to include our entire First Baptist family.
I am thankful for your commitment to the gospel, for
allowing God to work in your life and for your
willingness to make Jesus known from the red hills of
Mississippi to the ends of the earth.
I am thankful that you continue to introduce yourselves
to Melanie and me when you see us at WalMart (and
other places). I know we’ve been here for over half
of a year, but I am still terrible with names. At least I
am now getting to the point where I can blame it on
my age…
I am thankful for your continued prayers on our behalf.
While this has been a wonderful transition for our
family, it has not been without challenge. Please
continue…
Can’t wait until Sunday…
Rejoice!
There will be no Wednesday
night activities for the youth
for the next two weeks. That
does not mean that ministry
ends though!
This is the
perfect time to spend some
quality time with friends and
family sharing with them the
difference Christ has made in
your life!
Join us on
Wednesday, January 7th as we
launch into a new year, a new
series, and a new format!!!
Don’t miss out as we focus on
growing as disciples.
DiscipleNow Weekend
There’s no better way to start
off the new semester than
hanging out with 200 of your
closest and newest friends
worshipping and growing
together. Sign up now along
with your friends for this
amazing weekend. Cost is
o nl y $ 2 0 and c o ve r s
everything!
Keep a look out….we will
begin registering for the
Spring Break Mission Trip and
Summer Camp soon.
For
spring break, we will head to
Southbridge Church in
Statesboro, GA to help one of
Continued in next column...
DiscipleNow continued...
Children’s News continued...
our Acts 1:8 partner churches
do outreach to their
community.
We will also
sneak over to Savannah, GA
and enjoy the beach and the
history of this great city.
Summer camp will be at the
beach again this year, June 1
- 5. This will be a special time
for God to speak to your heart
and prepare you for what is
next. You will also want to get
plugged into fundraisers to
help offset the costs for these
trips.
begin the first of the year. We
do have limited spots, so
register quickly! We will go
to Lake Forest Ranch again on
May 28 - 31! We will also
be organizing a mission trip
for our 4 - 6 grade students
this summer! We will be
working with younger
children in a community right
here in Mississippi! What a
great way for you as a family
to gain mission training for
ministry in our own back
yard!
Children’s News…
Pancakes & Painting
Tuesday, December 23rd
Meet at 8:00 a.m.
in the Fellowship Hall
for a Pancake Breakfast
Reindeer painting will take
place in the Crossing!
The cost is $12 and the last
day to register is Thursday,
December 18th. Cindy Baker
will instruct the kids’ painting.
Volunteers are needed. Call
Missy, 803-3562, if you can
help!
Just a reminder that there will
be no children’s church until
the new year!
Summer Camp is right around
the corner! Registration will
Continued in next column...
Missions
We will have interest
meetings for the May
Cambodia trip and the July
Haiti trip on January 17th.
The Cambodia team will meet
at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship
Hall and the Haiti team will
meet at 7:00 p.m. in the
Fellowship Hall. This will be
your opportunity to hear about
the trip, walk through costs
and funding options, and ask
every question that you have
in regards to these trips! Be
in prayer about whether God
is asking you to go. If no, be
in prayer for those called to go
and seek to partner with them
through the Acts 1:8 offering.
Story after story continue to
pour in as to what God is
doing in these areas.
FBC Calendar of Activities
December 18 - January 1
Sunday, December 21
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
6:00 p.m. Evening Worship
Monday, December 22
1:00 p.m. Good News Club
Christmas Party
Tuesday, December 23
8:00 a.m. Pancakes & Painting
Wednesday, December 24
The church office will close at Noon.
5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve
Communion Service
Thursday & Friday
December 25 & 26
The church office will be closed for
the Christmas Holidays.
Sunday, December 28
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
There will be no evening activities.
Wednesday, December 31
There will be no evening activities.
Thursday, January 1st
The church office will be closed for
the New Year Holiday.
2014 Contributions
Don’t forget that the 2014
contributions have to be
in the church office no
later than noon on
Wednesday, December
31st.
Due to IRS
regulations, we cannot
accept 2014 contributions
after this date.