Sharing God’s Love in the Heart of the City
First Baptist Church of Silver Spring
9727 Georgia Avenue
▪ Silver Spring, MD 20910-1458 ▪ 301-754-1100 ▪ www.fbcss.org
Multi-national, -cultural & -generational, united in Christ to worship, grow & serve
Volume 58 No. 23
December 14, 2014
WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS!!
In the last Tie Line I promised to write about the history of Advent in the early Christian Church. But,
events of this past week pushed me to write about the meaning of Christmas in a culture where we still
cannot openly discuss race, hoping to find a solution. That impasse exists in part because some in the
USA want to identify us as a Christian nation extremely linked to their interpretation of the Bible. And
that interpretation quietly creates a culture of superiority that has set our country at the brink of a civil
war.
Also, the recent decisions from Missouri and New York show a huge fault in our grand jury system.
District Attorneys cannot be impartial when called on to indict a police officer or politician. In grand
jury cases, police are arresting officers and witnesses for the prosecution. It is no surprise that DAs
almost never return indictments against police. When indictments come against politicians, invariably
accusations of politics are made—and they are usually right.
Our system is broken! But, it must be fixed by the politicians who use the system to “legalize” their
voting constituencies (gerrymandering). This name comes from Governor Elbridge Gerry, who
redistricted Massachusetts in 1812 to favor his political party. One district he redrew looked like a
salamander; thus, the Boston paper coined the term, “Gerrymandering.”
Today, sadly, that system defines “majority-minority districts,” supposedly to keep “illegal immigrants”
from defrauding the voting process. That old “ruse” is the method for the “unseen white rage” clothed in
the finesse of law and order, smoldering in closed rooms to map out strategies that dilute assistance for
the underprivileged and oppressed of our society and frame it as law and policies for public welfare.
For example, after the Civil War, Southern legislatures created Black Codes that restored white
supremacy, criminalized blackness, sanctioned forced labor, and undermined democracy. Again, in
1956, 101 members of Congress issued the Southern Manifesto, declaring war on Brown v. Board of
Education of Topeka (KS). Many governors drafted laws to nullify any federal law or court decision
with which their states disagreed. Tax dollars funded private education to overturn equal opportunity. In
1981, the key political strategist for an earlier president said in an interview: You start out in 1954
saying, ‘N-----,….’ By 1968 you can’t say ‘n---‘ –it backfires. So you say stuff like ‘forced busing,’
‘states’ rights’ …. (You get abstract); you’re talking about cutting taxes, … totally economic things,
and a byproduct of them is blacks get hurt worse than whites. And, subconsciously maybe that is part of
it….
The Tie Line ▪ December 14, 2014 ▪ Page 2
That can never be the message from a follower of Jesus the Christ who knows the real meaning of
Christmas! Christmas was the inauguration of TOTAL EQUALITY! Jesus’ birth declared emphatically
everyone is loved by God! We are all sinners and we are all equal candidates for redemption through
faith in Jesus! In Jesus, there can be no dividing walls between us anymore! Racism, sexism, ageism,
and all the rest belong to the sinful nature that died when we believed in Jesus! Let’s not, even
“subconsciously,” be agents again of anyone who wants to destroy the true meaning of Christmas!
Mean it when you say: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Pastor Mac
CONTRIBUTING TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Your tax-deductible contributions to the church may be received three ways:
 Placing cash and checks in the offering plate on Sunday morning;
 ONLINE BILL PAY: You may contribute electronically through your
bank’s ONLINE BILL PAY feature.
 CYBER GIVING: You may contribute electronically through the church’s website, FBCSS.org
by clicking the Online Giving button. After setting up your personal profile, you may choose
either to contribute a specific amount on a regular basis or make a one-time contribution.
Building Fund Contributions (as of December 7):
$306,883.68
DECK OUT DOWNTOWN
Need something fun to help deck out your holiday season? Downtown Silver Spring is here to get you
into the holiday spirit with fun for everyone every Saturday throughout the holidays. On Saturday,
December 20, enjoy:
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. School of Rock
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Blair High School's InToneNation
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. B Natural Group of Montgomery College
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DONATION DRIVE
Bring a new or slightly used musical instrument, and Hungry for Music will donate it
to school music programs throughout our community. Donation drop off will be
located in the breezeway next to the Wayne Avenue parking garage throughout the
holiday season. For more information about Hungry for Music, visit
http://www.hungryformusic.org/.
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
Mondays
7:00 p.m.
NO Meeting 12/29
Wednesdays 7:20 p.m.
Fridays
1:30 p.m.
NO Meeting 12/26
Sundays
10:00 a.m.
10755 McGregor Dr., Columbia
301-307-0021
Led by Don Keuch, Bill Kreitlow, Bob Holt
Online Bible Study (using Google Hangout)
9727 Georgia Ave. (Montgomery Hills Baptist) 301-221-2607
Led by Sharon Husic, Rayness Mayne
@ Takoma Park Community Center
The Tie Line ▪ December 14, 2014 ▪ Page 3
MULTICULTURAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT
TODAY at 4:00 p.m., our Celebration Ringers, along with the choirs of First Baptist Church,
Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel, Eglise Baptiste de la Foi, Montgomery Hills Baptist Church.
Salem Gospel Ministries (French African), and Washington Brazilian Seventh Day
Adventist will present music of the Christmas season, along with
additional instrumental music. Donations for the Food Closet (nonperishable foods, Christmas toys, monetary) will graciously be accepted.
CHRISTMAS TOYS FOR OUR FOOD CLOSET CLIENTS &
CHRISTMAS COOKIES FOR OUR CONCERT RECEPTION
All elves may bring children’s gifts (unwrapped) to the Concert.
All bakers may bring your cookies to the Fellowship Hall this
afternoon on your way to the Christmas Concert this afternoon.
THANK YOU
The faith community depends heavily on volunteers to serve in mission, worship, and administration.
We started worshiping here at Takoma Park Community Center one year ago. We are thankful for this
interim worship space as well as the interim administrative offices at Montgomery Hills Baptist. Beyond
venues, we praise God for people of faith who have worked tirelessly to make sure that things run
smoothly and who have taken on responsibilities to help us--the church--continue doing the Lord's work.
Thank you
...to our ushers, deacons, trustees, choir members, handbell ringers, Sunday school teachers,
counters, and food closet team members who have continued their commitments from 8415 Fenton
Street to wherever the Lord has need of them;
...to those who represent First Baptist at Shepherd's Table each first Thursday of the month by
helping to serve meals to those in need;
...to those who stepped up and answered the call for new ministries: volunteers who run the
PowerPoint presentation each Sunday; volunteers who drive the church van or bus to provide
transportation to TPCC; members who have opened their homes for group meetings (weekly Bible
study, Young Adults, deacons, etc.); people who lead the weekly Bible studies, including the one online;
and
...to those who provide opportunities for fellowship beyond Sunday: Saints Alive (luncheon and
program on first Thursdays of each month); Women In Action (game nights; Halloween Harvest Party
for the children; community projects, e.g., White Cross)
…to Sara Reed who heads our Sunday School efforts, coordinates our transportation ministry,
spearheaded our school supply drive and Food Closet toy collection appeal;
…to Curdella Forbes for coordinating our PowerPoint presentation team;
…to Jim Reed who heads the Trustees and does the grocery shopping and stocking, with help
from Don Keuch and Bob Holt;
…to Nene for her thoughtful cards to those who are experiencing various life events: a birthday,
an illness, a special joy or sadness;
…to those who transport materials or equipment in and out each week for our use at Takoma
Park, e.g., Sunday school teachers; Special Ed instructors; Don Keuch and Judy Eden, and Gerald and
Rosemary Piercey who transport and store the keyboard equipment;
…to Bill Kreitlow who records the sermons each week, and, assisted by Charlotte Peddicord,
handles our accounting;
The Tie Line ▪ December 14, 2014 ▪ Page 4
…to Donna Snowden who, in addition to work, often spends as much time addressing member
needs as she does with her own children and grandchildren;
…to Barbara Williams who maintains our website;
…to Jennifer Martin who puts our newsletter together; and
…to those who keep us “up and running,” often working behind the scenes (e.g., Linda and Bill
Kreitlow coordinating this afternoon’s reception) or quietly meeting an unmet need.
3
5
9
11
13
14
15
Fran Walterman
Monica Green
Alexis Beale
Jim Reed
Kemi John
Maddala Sarita Kumar
Esdale McInnis
Hunter Walterman
Sara Kelly
18
19
24
26
28
30
Constance Dixon
Dick Stange
Alice Bonner
Millie Flickinger
Dorine Faulkner
Florine Faulkner
Sara Carrier
Stephen Akwe-Efesoa
Gloria Crowther
DECEMBER 2014
@MHBC
Christmas Concert
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14
4:00 p.m.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15
7:00 p.m.
Bible Study @ 10755 McGregor Dr., Columbia
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17
7:20 p.m.
Online Bible Study (using Google Hangout)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 @ MHBC
6:00 p.m.
Handbells
7:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
@ MHBC
10:00 a.m.-Noon
Food Closet (Team C)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
@ Takoma Park Community Center
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Worship Service
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Worship Service
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Children’s Bible Study
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24
@ MHBC
7:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS
Church Office closed
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27
10:00 a.m.–Noon
Food Closet (Team D)