December, 2019 Vol. 13, Issue 12
THE CONTACT: First Baptist Church of Burlington
First Baptist Church of Burlington
FirstBaptistBurlington.com
Phone:336.226.2433
Sunday Service Broadcast Live
on 1150 AM and 105.9 FM
CHURCH STAFF
Dr. Terry E. Peele Senior Pastor
Rev. Joel N. Marshall Associate Pastor of Music & Worship
Rev. Stacey L. Grimm Associate Pastor of Admin. & Communication
Rev. Cameron M. West NextGen Pastor
Katherine Thomas Lucier Principal Church Accompanist
Jerry Cerezo Awakening Worship Leader
Lydia Jones
Children’s Ministry Intern
Gwen Mitchell Ministry Coordinator
Lynn Anderson Financial Secretary
Al and Patricia Paschal Church Custodians
Danny Scott Maintenance Technician
Lisa Moore Child Development Center Director
Deck the Halls!
On Wednesday, Dec 4th, FBC will host a new event
called Deck the Halls! This will be in place of our tradi-
tional Hanging of the Greens. We will enjoy a spaghetti
dinner at 5pm in the Worship Center/Fellowship Hall. At
6:00 pm we will all go to the Sanctuary for a very brief
service and then, we will all Deck the Halls!
This is a casual service of participation. There will be
something everyone can do. You may want to help dec-
orate or you may want to sit and sing Christmas carols
to add to the festivity of the evening. This is a wonderful
opportunity for our whole church to come together in
fellowship, worship and fun! Please don’t miss this
chance to enjoy old friends and make new ones. Let’s
Deck the Halls together!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
The staff, congregants and members of First Baptist Burlington are happy to
welcome Ernie and Pamela Keck!
Our Deepest Sympathy
The ministers, staff, and congregants of
First Baptist extend our deepest sympathy to:
The Finley family and friends in the loss of Sarah Finley
At the end of December we will say goodbye to our Ministry Coordina-
tor, Gwen Mitchell. Gwen has decided to retire after over 11 years of
service here at First Baptist. Gwen has gone above and beyond in her
service to First Baptist. She has loved and cared for us. There have
been countless times over these last years when Gwen has saved the
day! She always finds a way to get things done! She is loved and treas-
ured by us all. While we selfishly hate to see her go, we wish her all
the best!
On Sunday, December 15, after our 11:00 Worship Service, everyone is
invited to join us in the Gathering Place for a reception in Gwen’s hon-
or. We will also be receiving a love offering for her in December. We
encourage everyone to take a moment over these next few weeks to
express gratitude to and for Gwen.
THIS IS OUR FAVORITE PICTURE OF GWEN.
IT SHOWS HER BEAUTY INSIDE AND OUT!
Thank you, Gwen Mitchell!
World Missions Christmas Offering
Our Church Goal : $16,000.00
Christ said, "I have come that they might have life and they might have it more abundant-
ly." John 10:10 We are all part of reaching every nation with the gospel. We can all con-
tribute to the World Missions Christmas Offering. You may give to either the SBC Lottie
Moon Offering, or the CBF Global Missions Offering. Please specify. Please be prayerful
and generous. Thank you.
Transition Team Update
Transition Team Members: Ralph Harwood, Christine Landess, Roger Phillips, Jani Rosario, and David Smith
On January 26, 2020, Dr. Bill Wilson of “The Center for Healthy Churches” will be with us. He will preach at
the 9 AM and 11 AM services. He will also be available that morning during the SS/D-Group time to answer
questions relating to his role in our transition process.
He has been an invaluable resource for our transition team as he leads us in our transition process. His
experience and wisdom in how to form an effective search team, how to develop a profile of our congrega-
tion and how to determine, “what we need,” in a pastor, rather than, “what we want,” has been very in-
sightful and helpful to our transition team.
Dr. Wilson has been active in Baptist life for 33 years serving as a Senior Pastor, on church staff, President
of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and on the Richmond and Mercer Universities Trustee
Boards, and in many other capacities of Christian service.
His profile states, “Bill’s work with churches and ministers is marked by a positive and unyielding belief that
Christ-centered ministry is fulfilling and relevant. His deepest desire is to encourage churches and clergy to
discover a vital and vibrant future. He believes that, as difficult as it is to be the church today, there has
never been a day when the church was more needed.
Please be in prayer as we enter into this time of transition, and plan to join us on January 26.
Merry Christmas!
Now Get Out of My Way!!
Several years ago someone in our
church came up with what we all
thought was a very good idea.
Since the patrons of the annual
Burlington Christmas Parade fill
up our parking lot for the event,
why not encourage parkers to
bring a canned food or make a do-
nation to help the local helping
agencies in our community?
Great idea? Should have been. . .
We did what we could to notify
the community of this opportuni-
ty. We were prepared to be un-
derstanding and gracious to
parkers who had not heard or did
not bring a donation. No prob-
lem! They would be welcomed to
park anyway. Sounds like a good
attitude? Should have been. . .
The Saturday of the parade we
were ready! All the attendants at
the entrances to the church park-
ing lots knew the plan. Everyone
was on board with the
“understanding and gracious” atti-
tude. Grace! Smile! Merry Christ-
mas!
Well, it seems some of the parking
public had developed a sense of
entitlement about parking at First
Baptist! While many folks had
heard about and prepared to
make a donation, a number of
folks were not. Of those who
were not, most were appropriate
in response to our grace, smiles,
and Merry Christmas! But, Grinch
did come. In fact, a number of
“Grinchy” folks came. And, they
were not having any of the dona-
tion idea, the grace that was
offered, the smiles that were
smiled, or the Merry Christmas
that was offered.
They were here for the party. . .
the parade. They were entitled to
park wherever they chose, and
many of them had chosen First
Baptist for years. . .for parking at
least. It was soon evident that
what was really a good idea in
theory would not be an idea we’d
continue in practice.
When Christ came to a people
who’d been preparing for His
coming for centuries, He man-
aged to show up during a busy,
busy time. There was no place for
his parents to “park” even to have
the One who had been promised.
And, truth be told, it would have
been impossible for Joseph and
Mary to convince anyone that
they, this humble couple of low
estate, were awaiting this most
important birth. . .the birth of the
One so many had longed to see.
Soon, we will all be busy. We’ll be
scrambling around to get ready
for Christmas. We’ll be rubbing
shoulders with plenty of others
who are also in “panic mode.”
And, we’ll be bumping into folks
with “entitlement syndrome.”
There will be plenty of moments
when the reason for the season
will be completely lost.
But, let’s pledge now that we’ll
not lose this Season. None of us
are entitled to grace. None of us
can bring salvation into the world.
We can do very little it seems to
control the actions of others dur-
ing the Christmas Season. We
can, however, control how we let
our actions impact others and
how their actions impact us.
We can be gracious. We can
smile. We can issue a warm
“Merry Christmas” in the most try-
ing of circumstances. You see, we
know He came. We know why He
came. We know the gift we’ve
been given. The peace, hope, joy,
and love of the season are not ab-
stract emotions. They are real
and renewing in us during this
Season.
Jesus, the Savior, endured so
much and never lost the purpose
of His coming. Our gift to Him
and others is to do the same as
often as it is required. Trust me.
It will be a challenge at times to
do this with grace, a smile, and a
Merry Christmas to a world that
often wants us to just stay out of
the way while they do their own
Christmas “thing.”
Merry Christmas!
Terry
Advent 2019 at First Baptist Church
Dr. Terry E. Peele, the Church Staff, and Congregation of
First Baptist Church
400 S. Broad St., Burlington NC
. . . Cordially invite you to join us as we celebrate the Christmas season!
DECEMBER 1-8
Week of Prayer for International Missions Christmas Offerings
World Missions Christmas Offering
Our Church Goal: $16,000
Our gifts to the World Missions Christmas Offering enable us to send missionaries around the world. They depend on us to support them with our prayers and our financial gifts.
Remember to designate your gift for the Lottie Moon Offering (SBC) or the Global Missions Offering (CBF). Ingathering Sunday is December 22.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
First Sunday in Advent 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
First Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Hope Candle
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
Dinner at 5:00 p.m. for Everyone – Fellowship Hall
Deck the Halls Service, 6:00 p.m. – Sanctuary
This year, instead of our traditional Hanging of the Greens service, we will be Decking the Halls on Wednesday, December 4th. Dinner will be served at 5:00
in Fellowship Hall, followed by our Deck the Halls Service in the Sanctuary at 6:00 with whole-church participation in decorating the building for Christmas!
Our FBC Children’s Choir and Handbells will share Christmas music with us. This will be a casual, informal fun time with friends and family for the entire church.
There will be several teams and places to plug in for you to choose from! Please sign up in the Church Office for Dinner
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
Second Sunday in Advent 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
Second Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Peace Candle
Guest Missionary Speakers
Christmas Handbell Concert, Sanctuary 6:30 p.m. First Baptist and Grove Park Handbell Choirs – FBC Sanctuary
Celebrate the Christmas Season as our combined Handbell Choirs from First Baptist and Grove Park Baptist present a service of song, celebration and worship
in the First Baptist Sanctuary – Everyone invited – a Fellowship will follow
Advent 2019 at First Baptist Church
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
Third Sunday in Advent 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
Third Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Joy Candle
Retirement Reception for Gwen Mitchell, Church Secretary 12:00 p.m. in the Gathering Place
The joy of your presence is appreciated
Christmas Presence, by Pepper Choplin 6:00 p.m. at Grove Park Baptist, 108 Trail One, Burlington
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22
Fourth Sunday in Advent 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
Fourth Sunday in Advent – Lighting of the Love Candle
Christmas at Awakening 6:00 p.m. in Worship Center
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29
Sunday after Christmas 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5
Epiphany Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
Christmas Presence, by Pepper Choplin 6:30 p.m., First Baptist Sanctuary – Everyone is invited
Join us for a Celebration of the Christmas Season
as our Music Ministry presents
Pepper Choplin’s Christmas Musical, Christmas Presence
at First Baptist Church, 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary
with First Baptist Choir, Orchestra, Narration, and Guest Singers
with Special Guest Soloist, John Stitt
For more information, contact us at:
First Baptist Church, 400 S. Broad St., Burlington
Phone 336-226-2433 or visit our Website at
www.FirstBaptistBurlington.com
First Baptist Church of Burlington 400 South Broad Street P.O. Box 2686 Burlington, North Carolina 27216-2686
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Come Celebrate With Us!