THE CALENDAR - First Baptist Church

THE CALENDAR
Expressing the Mission and Ministry of First Baptist Church
Chippewa Square
Savannah, Georgia
Interfaith Hospitality Network presents
Hymns for Hope
Sunday, January 25 at 5:00 p.m.
White Bluff United Methodist Church
11911 White Bluff Road
Tickets are $15.
F
IRST
THOUGHTS
Last week in my newsletter column, I shared with you some of Will Mancini’s observations from his
recent article entitled “The Most Important Trend of Church Trends in 2015 and What to Do About It.”
Specifically, there is one particular concern which he identifies as trending now – discovered in over fourteen
years of weekly conversations in churches representing a wide variety of sizes and denominations – and it is
this: The most committed persons in our churches will attend worship less frequently than ever in 2015.
After providing some reasons for why this is true within more and more congregations, Mancini leaves
his readers with some suggestions on how we can respond to this new paradigm. He suggests:
 Add value, not venues. Rather than mer ely cr eating mor e things for people to do “at church”
each week, we should add more value to people’s lives around the clock, and every day.
 Think training over teaching. The mor e that our wor ship is only about teaching and
inspiration, the easier it will become in the future for people to substitute what a church offers with
a digital alternative. Intimate Christian community is not easily fostered in many worship
environments, and consequently, we should offer people relationships and resources that will
change their lives.
 Design for ministry ends not means. Most chur ches alr eady ar e over -programmed and underdiscipled. Taking note of this, congregations should rediscover the difference between ministry
ends and ministry means. We can start by articulating the kind of disciple our church is trying to
produce.
Of course, caving in to this twenty-first century cultural phenomenon is not the entire answer to the
problem. I hope that our church will continue to find ways to emphasize the importance of full and faithful
participation in our faith community where we share our lives with each other in significant ways. Scripture
has it right in saying: “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting
to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). That is a trend that we can build our lives upon, and a strong church as well.
Hospitalizations
We are grateful that as this issue
of The Calendar is being
prepared, no members are known
to be hospitalized.
Children’s Time on January 18
Lauren Colwell
Lay Reader on January 18
Shirley Allen
Greeters on January 18
James Cubbedge and
Shirley Daughtry
Nursery Volunteer January 18
Eve Brawner
Family Night Menu
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
chili
coleslaw
cornbread
strawberry shortcake
Hospitality Hosts
Frank and Nancy Beard
Sanctuary Flowers
Sunday, January 18
given to the glory of God
and in memory of
Fenwick Nichols
by Jane Jennings.
Ushers Serving in January
Reed Creaser, captain
Joan Pusser
Barbara Stull
Les Stull
Bootsie Swicord
Deacons Serving in January
John Rabun, captain
Thelma Browne
Lynn Hadwin
Margaret Hardy
Curtis Lewis
Richard Lewis
Shannon Willhite
Stories
of
Grace +
Faith
Wednesday Evenings this Spring
WEDNESDAYS IN 2015
Join us for Wednesday Family Night activities each
Wednesday evening beginning with a meal at 5:00 p.m. in
Lewis Hall. The Adult study schedule for the first
Wednesday evenings in 2015 is as follows:
January 14:
George Whitefield at 300
(John Finley)
January 21:
Stories of Grace and Faith – Aaron
(John Finley)
January 28:
Stories of Grace and Faith – Nell Pharis
February 4:
Theology 101
February 11:
Cuba Mission Report
February 18:
Ash Wednesday Service
The youth will continue their study of re:form
which asks some difficult questions of scripture, the
church, and us as followers of Christ. The children will be
following along with worship and taking a closer look at a
lectionary text each week. The Joyful Voices Choir, Adult
Bell Choir, and Adult Choir will also continue. If you are a
regular attendee, welcome back. If not, try something new
and join us on Wednesday nights.
2014 FINANCIAL REPORT
Beginning Balance:
Total Budget Gifts:
Total Budget Expenditures:
Ending Balance:
$ 84,027
$585,664
$616,146
$ 53,545
TASK FORCES – ORDINANCES
Task Forces offer a way for members of
our congregation to use their unique gifts to
serve the church in a variety of ways. Anyone
is welcome to join a Task Force at any time.
This week we are highlighting the Ordinances
Task Force.
This group of people is
responsible for setting up communion on the
first Sunday of the month and at other special
times. They also assist when we have a
baptism. If you are interested in joining the
Ordinances Task Force and taking a special role
in our observance of communion, please
contact chair Wyc Rountree or liaison Kyle
Ballantine.
QUARTERLY CHURCH CONFERENCE
Our Quarterly Church Conference will
take place on Sunday, January 25. If you are a
2014 committee or task force chair you are
invited to deliver a report of the work of your
committee or task force over the past year. We
hope that everyone is able to attend so that we
can celebrate a year of mission and ministry
and plan for another.
CLASSICS
On Tuesday, January 27 the Classics
will take a guided tour of Savannah’s Recycling
Center led by Center Director, Nathaniel
Glover. Afterwards, they will have lunch at
Fatz Restaurant in Pooler. Please call the
church office to make reservations or indicate if
you need a ride.
CUBA TRIP
Several of our people will return to
Cuba to visit our sister congregation in Sancti
Spiritus from Tuesday, January 27 to
Wednesday, February 4. If you are able to
donate any over-the-counter medications or
vitamins, please bring them to the church office
by Sunday, January 25.
INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY GUESTS
Our Interfaith Hospitality Network
guests will return February 1-7, 2015 and many
volunteers are needed to help prepare food, stay
as overnight hosts, set up, and clean up. If you
are able to help, please contact Gaye Rountree.
JANUARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Audio: Bill Rober ts
Greeters: Donna Plunkett
Ordinances: Emily Gar r ar d, Wyc Rountr ee
Sanctuary: J oe McNellage
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
facing Chippewa Square
at 223 Bull Street
First Baptist Church
P.O. Box 9551
Savannah, GA 31412-9551
Offices located behind the sanctuary
at 102 West McDonough Street
Phone 912-234-2671
Fax 912-236-4493
Email [email protected]
Website www.fbc-sav.org
Office hours Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00
Address service requested
CHURCH STAFF
John M. Finley - Senior Minister
[email protected]
Lauren E. Colwell - Associate Minister
for Spiritual Formation and Families
[email protected]
Kyle J. Ballantine - Organist and Choir Director
[email protected]
Faye Anderson - Secretary
[email protected]
Karen Jerald - Secretary
[email protected]
Janice Quarterman - Custodian
Bill Roberts - Custodian
Vol. 81
The Calendar
Lauren Colwell, Editor
January 14, 2015
Schedule of Activities
January 18-24, 2015
SUNDAY, January 18
9:45 Sunday School
11:00 Morning Worship
MONDAY, January 19
MLK, Jr. Holiday
Church Offices Closed
TUESDAY, January 20
10:00 Staff Meeting
Conference Room
WEDNESDAY, January 21
5:00 Family Night Meal
and Activities
5:00 Endowment Committee
Conference Room
5:00 Youth and Children’s
Committee
Library
7:00 Adult Choir Rehearsal
Room 300
No. 2
The Worship of God
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
January 18, 2015
Eleven O’clock
Sermon:
“Listening for the Call”
First Lesson:
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Family Night Activities
January 21, 2015
5:00
5:30
5:45
5:45
6:00
Second Lesson:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Gospel Lesson:
John 1:43-51
Anthem:
“He’s Got the Whole World
in His Hand”
William Jensen Reynolds
6:15
6:15
6:15
7:00
Family Night Meal
Lewis Hall
Nursery Opens
Room 201
Prayer Concerns
Lewis Hall
Joyful Voices Choir
Room 300
Adult Gathering:
Stories of Grace and
Faith – Aaron
Lewis Hall
Children’s Gathering
Room 202
Youth Gathering
Room 402
Bell Choir
Room 305
Adult Choir
Room 300

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