First Family News

simple desire to be with Christ not only in Spirit as we are now but also in physical form. This is the same longing that followers of God had in the first century as they awaited the coming of the promised Messiah, and it is the same longing with which the Apostle John closes the Book of Revelation. There is simply something about the presence of our Father, God that brings peace to His children. No one else will do. Sure, we enjoy our close earthly relationships, and we know how to have fun and appreciate the goodness of God’s creation. Still, there are mo-ments when we look around and realize that this is not our home . . . that something is missing. That something is the presence of Je-sus. We all long to see Him face to face. We desire the day when our faith shall become sight. Sometimes it seems unbearable to think of waiting for His return even another day. But take heart, for He is here with us now. His Spirit lives within you and dances be-tween you and your brothers and sisters in Christ. This Advent when you wonder when the Father is coming home, remember, He has already come once as a baby, and He will come again as a king! “Amen, Come Lord Jesus.”

When is Daddy Coming Home?

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” – Revelation 22:20-21 (ESV)

Can you remember, as a child, whenever one or both of your parents were gone for an extended period of time? Do you re-member the desire you had for them to return quickly? I remember one particular trip where my entire family (mom, dad, and both sis-ters) traveled to Nashville and left me at my grandmother’s house. Now, I love and enjoyed being with my grandmother (who doesn’t enjoy being spoiled by grandparents), but there was something about my immediate family being gone that stressed me out. I’m sure I annoyed my grandmother with the questioning refrain of, “When are they coming home?” I see the same stress now in my own children whenever their mother is gone for an extended period on a school trip and they’re left alone with me. We have fun togeth-er, and I probably spoil them a little more than their mother, but they still repeatedly ask me when she’s coming home . . . even after I’ve explained it to them 25 times! There’s just something about the presence of parents for young children that brings them peace. Mothers and fathers are heroes for children; able to scare away monsters in the night, go on fantas-tical adventures in the back yard, and cook 5-star restaurant level gourmet chicken nuggets in only a few minutes. Not only that, but there’s an instinctual knowledge within children telling them that sticking close with their parents is the best way to survive and thrive in a world that isn’t always safe. In other words, it’s both natural and good for children to long for their parents’ presence. Do you ever feel that way about our heavenly Father? The older we get the more we realize how truly unsafe the world around us is. There is seemingly no hiding from the impacts of a fallen world. Sometimes, when that unsafe reality is particularly intense, we might quietly wonder to ourselves or aloud to someone else, “When is Daddy coming home?” Hasn’t it been long enough? What in the world is God waiting on? Evil only seems to increase every day. If ever there was a time for Christ to return, save the day, and set every injustice right; today is that day, right?! When you desire the return of the Father, know that you have company. Not only do you have brothers and sisters in Christ to-day that long for His return, but you have countless saints through-out the history of the church that lived and died having that same desire. Advent is a reminder of the fact that our collective sense of longing for the coming of Christ is both natural and good. There is room for your discontent at an unjust age just as there is for your

It Came Upon

A Midnight Clear

Come celebrate at 6pm on

Tuesday, December 24, the

birth of our Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ, through worship

including scriptures, songs, the

Lord’s Supper and candlelight.

First Family News Page 2

An Unusual Birthday Celebration . . . It seems to be widely accepted by even the general public in our society that Christmas is a holiday when we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Most people, in our country at least, are somewhat familiar with the way in which birthdays are typically celebrat-ed—the one whose birthday is being cele-brated is given gifts by others. Of course,

this is where our various celebrations of Jesus’ birthday are often drastically different from our traditional birthday celebrations. It is not at all unusual for Jesus to be the only one not receiving gifts at Christmas! One way in which we seek to correct this error is through our Missions Savings Club. Individuals are encouraged to sign up and join the club in December and January. Club members then plan in advance to make gifts to missions throughout the year, with 3 months of gifts each being designated to State Missions and North American Missions and 6 months of gifts being designated to In-ternational Missions (formerly the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering). Generally we find that our missions offerings are more substan-tial when we give in this systematic manner rather than essentially giving “leftovers” during the three one-week periods when these offerings are specifically promoted. In fact, history has shown that a virtual handful of people (MSC members) have already given at least half of our church’s chosen goal for each missions offering before the official promotion week ever arrives. This is just one practical way in which we can honor the One whose birthday we celebrate. Certainly there are other ways—the Angel tree ministry and the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox ministry, for two examples—but let me encourage you to consider being a Missions Savings Club member in 2020. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can give to these missions causes when you plan your gifts in advance.

Bill

Children’s Day Out Kids

Sing

Sunday, December 15, 11am

MUSIC

NOTES

Preston

COMING for FBC’s

Students

Come help assemble holiday baskets for our shut-ins and those in need of holiday cheer on Sunday, December 8th. We will begin assembling the baskets at 9:45am. Bring some goodies to add!

Annual Youth Christmas Party

Wednesday, December 18th 6pm

*No Youth Activities: Dec 25 and Jan 1.

DECEMBER DEACONS ON CALL

01 Jeff Moore ................................................. 817-933-2190

08 Wally Pippin .............................................. 817-648-8342

15 David Self ................................................. 817-929-4645

22 Jeff Hudson .............................................. 214-663-5976

29 Greg Firebaugh ........................................ 214-212-6328

We are gearing up for the holiday season! Thanksgiving just ended and Christmas is right around the corner. With all of the travel, events, lunch-eons, shopping, parties, and more, it is easy to lose sight of why we take time to celebrate the season. There are several times throughout the year where I think it is helpful to pause and take a look at how God is shaping the world around us. Especially in this Christmas season, we should take pause and look at how God is working. So often it is easy to fill our moments and our thoughts with to-do lists and full calendars. If we take a moment and reflect on the season, we are often drawn to celebrate the joy found in the Christmas sea-son of waiting. So, as we sing Christmas songs, start baking the holiday treats, and wrapping the endless piles of presents may we first look to Christ who steps into our busy seasons and provides comfort for the afflicted, hope for the downtrodden, and grace for the burdened. May we rest in the seasons of waiting and look forward to opportunities to celebrate what God is do-ing!

We have had a great semester so far in student ministry! Our students have been looking deeply at how we read our Bible and how to interpret scripture. Be in prayer for our students as they have Christmas break and gear up for one se-mester coming to a close and another

starting! We are looking forward to all that God has in store for the coming months!

Grace and Peace,

Joel

WORSHIP

First Family News Page 3

From the Children’s Director

Happy December! We are winding down our school semester at CDO, only 5 ½ days left!! We have had such a fun time this past month! Grandparents, I hope you had a wonderful time at our Cookies with Grandpar-ents! The kids always enjoy spending time with you. Also, I hope your Thanksgiving was an excellent holiday time with family and friends. December is another fun time with lots going on throughout the month! See below: Tuesday, December 10th, is wear RED day! Sunday, December 15th, our amazing CDO kiddos will be singing for big church in the 11:00 service! Parents, be watch-ing for a note with all the details in your child’s folder. Thursday, December 19th, is our last class day of the year! We will have Christmas parties, and PJ Day on that date. Check with your child’s teachers to find out the specifics for your child’s party. And don’t forget! December 19th is an early re-lease day . . . at 1pm. We will have before school care, but no aftercare for that day. Merry Christmas to our teachers and to our kids!! We would be lost without all of you!!

It’s A Pajama Party!!!!! Saturday, December 13, 6pm to 10pm

Ages: 6 Months to 5th Grade Cost: $10 First Child

$5 Each Additional Sibling

Includes childcare, snack and activities.

Bring your child’s dinner! Reservations are due in the office no later than 4pm on Wednesday, December 11.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!” Welcome Decem-ber! I love this time of year! We have a busy month ahead of us. On December 8th, we will have our Gingerbread House Ex-travaganza. Bring the WHOLE family and make a gingerbread house together!! I will have all the stuff here for you to use, and all you have to do is show up. We will be in the Fellowship Hall at 6pm. This was such a fun time last year. I hope you can make it!! We will have pizza for dinner! Can you believe it? December 13h is the last Parent’s Night Out of the year! We are having a PJ Party! Please let us know no later than 4pm on December 11th if your child is coming. We will keep kids from 6-10pm. Please remember to bring your child dinner! The cost is $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child. Our Six Flags Family Day is December 15th! If you purchased tickets, please see Amy on or before the 15th to pick up the tick-et! The deadline to buy our special $20 rate tickets is Decem-ber 1st. NO tickets will be sold after this date! You will be re-sponsible for your own parking and meal fees. We will have our FBC Kids Christmas Party on Wednesday December 18th. We will start at 6:30pm, have games, snacks and other surprises. It will be a fun night!!! We are always looking for additional people to help with kids ministry. If you would like to serve with us, please let me know! Some dates to remember: No Wednesday Night Activities December 25th or January 1st. Enjoy time with the family! I hope your Christmas is a wonderful time with friends and family! It is the best time of the year because we celebrate the birth of Christ! It is also a wonderful time to share with not just children, but with the whole family and/or friends about what Jesus can do in your life!

Ms. Amy

Ms. Amy

Wear Red Day Tuesday, December 10th

Build A Gingerbread House Free Family Event

Sunday, December 8 6 O’clock

FBC Fellowship Hall

Bring the family or join one of ours.

NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage

PAID Grandview, TX Permit No. 8

First Baptist Church PO Box 454 Grandview, Texas 76050 (817) 866-4430 www.gvfbc.org / gvfbc@usapathway.com Corey Cornutt, Pastor Joel Allen, Interim Minister of Students Amy Curry, Children’s Ministry Director Bill Louthan, Minister of Music Joel Allen, Contemporary Worship & Media Minister

Sundays - Traditional Worship 8:30am Sunday AM GROW Grps 9:45am Contemporary Worship 11:00am Sr Adult Grp 4:00pm

Wednesdays - Student Ministry Grp 6:00pm FBC Kids 6:30pm Ladies/Men’s GROW Grps 6:30pm Mixed Adults GROW Grps 6:30pm

FOR THE RECORD WEEK OF: Oct 27 Nov 03 Nov 10 Nov 17* SS Attendance: 166 153 159 168 8:30 Worship: 72 79 85 Combined 11:00 Worship: 140 123 119 176 Income Rec’d: 10232.74 14060.93 21239.84 8200.16 BUDGET: YTD Required: 504086.85 515809.80 527532.75 539255.70 YTD Receipts: 444510.48 457641.06 476093.49 482153.38 Wkly Required: 11722.95 11722.95 11722.95 11722.95 Wkly Receipts: 7998.03 13130.58 18452.43 6814.14

*All online donations may or may not have been reported /included this date at newsletter print time.

Address Service Requested

Ladies Christmas Tea Inspirational Message & Music • Delicious Food

Wonderful Fellowship • Door Prizes

Saturday, December 7th, 10am

Brenda Hayley Joel Allen & Family Guest Speaker Musical Guests

FBC’s Personnel Committee is

recommending

JOEL ALLEN as our new

Youth & Worship Minister (Combining the Minister of Students and

Contemporary Worship Minister positions.)

Joel has been on staff here at FBC as our Contemporary Worship Minister since February, 2017, has added being our media tech this year, and has also included Interim Min-ister of Students to his duties since this past September. He will preach on Sunday, December 8th. A Called Church Conference will then be held immediately following both worship services for the purpose of voting on extend-ing a call to Joel as FBC’s Youth & Worship Minister.

Help Our Youth Bring Some Holiday Cheer to Our Shut Ins &

Those in Need of Extra Care Sunday, December 8th, 9:45am

Please provide/deliver to the Youth Kitchen: individually wrapped baked

goods (muffins, brownies, cookies), jellies, nuts, fresh fruit, hot chocolate/coffee packets, candies, etc.

Limited Tickets: $12.50 On Sale

in the Church Office

First Family News Insert

Sunday, December 15 — Sunday, December 22

Church Goal: $4000.00

International Missions Board: imb.org

Faith Bible Institute

Satellite Class Spring 2020 Enrollment

Classes are held in the Missions Building classroom on Sunday evenings (with childcare by reservation only) from 6-9 or on Thursday mornings from 9-12. Courses being offered this semester are: Bible 103: Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chroni-

cles, 1 Kings 1-11, & 2 Chronicles 1-9 Bible 213: James, Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians,

& Romans Bible 123: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, & Song

of Solomon Brochures are available on media tables around the church building or go to www.FBIClass.com for fees and more information. To register use the school location name “Grandview TX” and School ID # 1134 online at

https://faithbibleinstitute.com/register/ Still have questions? Call Beverly Papan at 817-648-0285.

NEXT PRIMETIMERS LUNCH BUNCH: January 27

01 Chris Gabel 02 Shasta Smith 03 Alex Jenkins, Robert Poynter, Jordan Willis 05 Sarah Anderson, Christi Bennett 06 Paola Chernosky, Tricia Miller, Barbara Peppers 07 Cal Emery 09 Reagan Post 10 Judd Hudson, Ashlynn Schlegel 11 Bryan Anderson, LaNell Laird 12 Deborah Lubke, Richard Roberts, LeAnne Self, Jay Smith 13 Armando Ibarra 14 Beverly Papan, Malinda Scharnhorst, Thomas Willis 15 Diana Richardson 16 Sandy Horton 17 Pat Elliott, Cindy Farmer, Sean Gray 18 Jeff Hudson 19 Janet Fulford 20 Mel Stroder 21 Timothy Wallace, Joe White 22 David Bridge, Tyler Poynter, Zachary Stewart 23 Pat Brown, Ross Gaston 24 Mike Chernosky, Jake Ricke 25 Sarah Hale, Hardin Killion 26 Harlan Hanson, Marie Moore 29 Codi Collins, Kaitlyn Kharrazi, Logan Strona 30 Brandon Cummings 31 Jacyln Akers, Tessa Martinez, Noah Pippin

Changes 1) Children’s Day Out, Thursday, December 19th—Christmas

Party Day, Early Dismissal at 1pm. 2) Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th—Office

Closed and No Wed PM Activities. 3) Thursday, December 26th—Office Closed. 4) Sunday, December 29th—Regular Worship Schedule but

NO Wiggle Worms during the 11am Service. 5) New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1st—Office Closed

and No Wed PM Activities.

Celebrating Birthdays

Week of Prayer for

and the

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Scot Cloud

Dec 2 7 Yrs

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:45 Choir Rehearsal 8:00 Prayer Time 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sun AM GROW Grps 11:00 Worship 2:00 GV Nursing Hm 4:00 Sr Adult Grp 6:00 FBI Class 6:00 Deacons Party

2 9:00 Sew ‘n Sews 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group

3 7:30/8:30 CDO 9:00 Staff Mtg 9:00 Wives/Moms Prayer Group

4 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group 6:00 Wed PM Supper 6:00 Student Ministry 6:30 FBC Kids 6:30 Adult GROW Grp Ladies GROW Grp Men’s GROW Grp

5 7:30/8:30 CDO 9:00 FBI Class 5:00 Primetimers

6 7 10:00 Ladies Christmas Tea

8 7:45 Choir Rehearsal 8:00 Prayer Time 8:30 Worship* 9:45 Youth Holiday Baskets 9:45 Sun AM GROW Grps 11:00 Worship* 4:00 Sr Adult Grp 6:00 FBI Class 6:00 Gingerbread House Event

9 9:00 Sew ‘n Sews 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group

10 7:30/8:30 CDO Wear Red Day 9:00 Staff Mtg 9:00 Wives/Moms Prayer Group

11 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group 4:00 PNO Reservations Due 6:00 Wed PM Supper 6:00 Student Ministry 6:30 FBC Kids 6:30 Adult GROW Grp Ladies GROW Grp Men’s GROW Grp 7:30 B/F Mtg

12 7:30/8:30 CDO 9:00 FBI Class 5:00 Primetimers

13 6:00-10:00 Parents Night Out

14 6:00 Grandview Christmas Parade + Activities

15 7:45 Choir Rehearsal 8:00 Prayer Time 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sun AM GROW Grps 11:00 Worship 1:00 Six Flags Depart 4:00 Sr Adult Grp 6:00 FBI Class

16 9:00 Sew ‘n Sews 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group 6:00 Staff Christmas Party

17 7:30/8:30 CDO 9:00 Staff Mtg 9:00 Wives/Moms Prayer Group

18 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group 6:00 Wed PM Supper 6:00 Student Ministry 6:30 FBC Kids 6:30 Adult GROW Grp Ladies GROW Grp Men’s GROW Grp

19 7:30/8:30 CDO Christmas Party Day 9:00 FBI Class 1:00 CDO Early Dismissal 5:00 Primetimers

20 21 10:15 Homeless Ministry Servers Depart

22 7:45 Choir Rehearsal 8:00 Prayer Time 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sun AM GROW Grps 11:00 Worship 4:00 Sr Adult Grp

23 9:00 Sew ‘n Sews 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group

24 5:30 Worship Com 6:00 Christmas Eve Candlelight & Lord’s Supper Service

25 Christmas Day Office Closed

26 5:00 Primetimers

Office Closed

27 28

29 8:00 Prayer Time 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sun AM GROW Grps 11:00 Worship— No Wiggle Worms 4:00 Sr Adult Grp

30 9:00 Sew ‘n Sews 9:00 Golden Girls Exercise Group

31

Scott Cloud Dec 2 7 Years

Decorating for Ladies Tea

Week of Prayer for International Missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering —December 15 thru 22nd

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First Family News Insert

By Letter Misty Maddux

Our Christian love & sympathy are extended to . . .

Nick and Katrini Powell and family on the loss of his cousin, Christine Rossi.

Georgeann Allen and family on the loss of her cousin,

J. R. Fiedler.

Joel and Phillip Chamberlain-Brookshire Richard and Emily Roberts Special Memorial Buck Ferguson Barbara Peppers Foreign Missions J. R. Fiedler Collectibles Sunday School Class GF Ben Mosley Barbara Peppers Foreign Missions Carl Peppers Barbara Peppers Foreign Missions Troy York Barbara Peppers Foreign Missions

Opportunities to Give

to

Those in Need

During

The Holiday Season

Once again FBC will be participating in the Salvation Army Christmas Angels and the Grandview Nursing Home Angels Programs. As the angels are turned in to us, we will post them on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Individuals and groups are encouraged to adopt an angel or angels to purchase gifts for Christmas. There will be separate sign up sheets for the Salvation Army Angels and the Grandview Nursing Home Angels. Be sure to mark your name, phone number and the angel’s code on the sign up sheet. The deadline to return the gifts to the church* will be posted on the sign up sheets. Re-member that the Salvation Army Angel gifts are to be bound together UNWRAPPED with the angel code attached. The Grandview Nursing Home Angel gifts are to be returned WRAPPED with the angel’s code attached. Please prayerfully consider reaching out and touching lives through worthy causes such as these and passing on the bless-ings and love of Christ that we know and have had bestowed upon us.

*Salvation Army Angel gifts deadline—Fri, Dec 13th,10am. **Grandview Nursing Home Angel gifts deadline—TBD.

Did you realize that FBC takes a group every month, with the exception of July — mission trip month, to Unity Park in Fort Worth to feed the homeless? On the third Saturdays, our cook trailer is loaded up and is transported to the park to meet the needs of so many who are hungry. Those wishing to help serve will meet at 10:15am in the Missions Building parking lot to trav-el together and assist our cooks. On the average they will serve approximately 300 meals. Come join us this month on Saturday, December 21st, (or any month) to not only serve meals, but to let these folks we serve know that Jesus cares about them and so do you.

BF Building Fund BN Benevolence Fund BTSF Back to School Fair CDO Children’s Day Out CDO Sch Children’s Day Out Scholarship Fund CCF Children Camp Fund CM Children Ministry

CF Choir Fund FFF Funeral Food Fund

GF General Fund HM Homeless Ministry

IM International Missions KF Kitchen Fund LF Library Fund

MF Memorial Fund

MisF Missions Fund MTF Mission Trip MusF Music Fund

NC New Construction OO Overcoming Obstacles

SSF Sew ‘n Sews Fund YCS Youth Camp Scholarship

YF Youth Fund