Volume 68 | Week of November 29, 2015 | Number 48

First Baptist Church MontgomeryBeaconbring them in...build them up...send them out

www.montgomeryfbc.org | Office: 334.834.6310 | Prayer Line: 334.834.4585

For more information, visit www.montgomeryfbc.org or call the LCT ticket office at 241.5156.

Living Christmas Tree :: December 11-13Order your LCT Tickets online at www.thelivingchristmastree.orgTicket requests may also be returned in the offering plate on Sunday. Ticket request forms are available on the tables in the main sanctuary foyers. Tickets may be picked up on Sunday, November 29 in the main sanctuary foyer from 9:15 am to 12:30 pm and from 5:00 to 6:00 pm outside Stakely Sanctuary. The LCT Ticket

Office will be open from Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Stakely Music Suite at the Scott Street entrance.

Gratitude Motivators

The season of THANKSGIVING is highly necessary and well timed because we all tend to be forgetful. For instance, I have a photographic memory but I keep forgetting where I put the film! So we need gratitude motivators. Let me share three that work for me.

First, God’s Word Calls us to an attitude of Gratitude. “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him.” (Psalm 100:4) Expressing gratitude for every season and circumstance indicates we trust our gracious heavenly Father and believe He is the origin of our blessing and His power is bigger than our problem.

Secondly, our American Heritage invites us be grateful. America was founded as a Christian nation and the Pilgrims set the pace. Those brave first settlers experienced terrible adversity that took the lives of half of their group but they declared a time of thanksgiving to count their blessings instead of their losses. In 1789, as a reflection of our collective Christian faith, George Washington called our Nation to gratitude, “Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…I recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God.”

Third, I am motivated to gratitude by my personal list of blessings. My relationship to King Jesus pardons the past, empowers the present and illumines the future. Now I am part of the beautiful Body of Christ. God has given me a fabulous wife and a wonderful life. I am enriched by a healthy, stable, Christ-following, growing and productive family. God has gifted me with abundant material resources, physical capabilities and nurturing friendships. The assets greatly outweigh the liabilities!

When we add it up, there are compelling motivations to move beyond our natural proclivity to be grumbly hateful and become humbly grateful!

With great love and gratitude,

CONNEC IONS from your Pastor’s Heart

FBC Faithfulness | Sunday, November 22, 2015ATTENDANCEBible Fellowship Enrollment 5049 | Bible Fellowship Attendance 1645Weekly Attendance 2191 | Discipleship Attendance 834

OFFERINGRequired Weekly $123,557.69 | Received Sunday $107,266.82Required To Date $5,807,211.43 | Received To Date $5,466,015.56Building Fund Sunday $688.00 | Building Fund to Date $45,437.10Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® | $1,150.00

Under Budget | $341,195.87

Ministry AnnouncementsPreschool Ministry

All preschool children are asked to Help Decorate the Christmas Tree that will be at the preschool registration desk. We want to fill it with socks, so please bring a new pair (or bag) of socks to cover our tree. The socks will be donated to the Caring Center to help children keep their feet warm this winter. Please bring your present to your SS Class on or before Sunday, December 13.

Student MinistryAll students are invited to join us in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the Strength to Stand Conference on Monday, December 28 through Wednesday, December 30. This conference is designed to challenge your students to go beyond the surface of casual Christianity and bring them into a lifetime commitment to Jesus Christ. There are 48 spots available, so make your reservation by Sunday, November 22. The cost is $175, which can be paid online at www.montgomeryfbc.org/event-registration. For more information, contact Russell McCrory at 241.5163 or rmccrory@montgomeryfbc.org.

Hope Peace Love Joy

Sign up for the 2015 Advent eDevotionalSign up today for the 2015 advent eDevotional. Send your email address to Amanda Smith at

asmith@montgomeryfbc.org or visitwww.montgomeryfbc.org/adventdevotional.

Year-End GivingThe Church Business Office is here to serve you as we approach the end of the year. All gifts must be postmarked by Thursday, December 31 in order to go toward your 2015 giving record. If you are gifting appreciated assets, please make the business office aware of those gifts and the designation of the gifts. Please contact Patti Shoemaker at 241.5181 or Gwen Keene at 241.5185 for more information.

First Family Dinner | Wednesday, December 2No reservations required!

Adult & Children’s Meal: Spaghetti, Salad, Bread and Dessert

Adult Family Meal – $5; Child’s Meal (12 & under) – $3Maximum Family Amount – $20 (immediate family only)

Angel Tree 2015Please bring your Angel Tree gifts unwrapped, in a bag with the child’s name securely on each gift, to the reception area at the Scott Street entrance on or before Sunday, December 6. Thank you for providing a happier Christmas for a prisoner’s child.

FBC Offering Envelopes are now sent quarterly. The first quarter of 2016 will be mailed in December. Please contact Jill Johnson at 241.5183 or Patti Shoemaker at 241.5181 if you requested envelopes and do not receive them.

Save the Date for Disciple Now on Friday, January 15 through Sunday, January 17. Register online at www.montgomeryfbc.org/event-registration.

Missions MinistryPre-order your copy of the FBC Missions book, Our First Priority, online at www.montgomeryfbc.org/ourfirstpriority. Cost is $15. The books will be released in February 2016.

Children’s HopeChildren’s Hope is in need of child sponsorships! For just $35/month, you can provide a child with housing, clothes, food, education, and a place to learn about God’s love. To sponsor a child, you can go to www.childrens-hope.com, make a check payable to Children’s Hope, or contact Ann Amster at teamamster@mac.com.

FBC FoundationHave you considered that resources such as the equity in your home, life insurance and retirement plans will need to be stewarded after you leave this earth? PhilanthroCorp can help you identify this unknown treasure and create a plan to ensure it is transferred to the best next steward for greater impact for your family and the Kingdom for generations to come. To learn more, contact Alissa Irvin at airvin@montgomeryfbc.org or 334.241.5127.

Churchwide News & EventsPrison Fellowship has asked our church to sponsor 94 children in Calhoun County for Angel Tree. Please bring a $25 Wal-Mart gift card to the reception desk at Scott Street by Monday, December 14. It will be sent along with a letter from our youth, an ABC tract and a metal cross. For more information, call Ken Brothers at 220.6519. Thank you for letting these children know they are not forgotten this Christmas.

New MembersBy Letter

Mr. Mbangeni Maphosa915 S Jackson Street | Montgomery, AL 36104

Our Church FamilyIf you would like to add someone to the prayer list, contact Carolyn Bryan at 241.5120.

Sympathy Extended toMr. & Mrs. Rhon Jones (Deanne) in the death of his father; Will, Mary Baker, Jack and Luke Jones in the death of their grandfather

Baptist EastConnie Moore

JacksonRuth Collier

Crowne Healthcare & RehabJohnnie Powell

Central Alabama Veterans HealthcareChad Lynn

Congratulations Extended toMr. & Mrs. Mark Villacis (Lisa) in the birth of a daughter; Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Bright (Lynn) in the birth of a granddaughterMr. & Mrs. Andrew Pair (Kana) in the birth of a daughter; Ms. Kaye Pair in the birth of a granddaughter

Ministerial Staff BirthdaysKathy Cooper (December 5)

Senior Adult Christmas Banquet

Tuesday, December 15

5:00 pm | Fellowship Hall | $8

Our special guest is Michele Lott

Tickets, on sale through Sunday, December 6,

are available in your Bible Fellowship Class or call

Mary Virginia Crum at 241.5180.

Christmas is about giving!

Because God generously gave to us, consider giving generously to our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® for International Missions. In giving, we help advance God’s ultimate goal “That All Peoples May Know Him.” Your gift will fuel our global missions work. As givers, you become partners with Southern Baptist missionaries in 160 countries who are effectively sharing the Good News of King Jesus with a vast array of people.

WMU invites you to join us from Sunday, November 29 through Sunday, December 6 in praying for International Missions. For more information, contact Brian Gay at 241.5131.

FBC Goal: $220,000

On Sunday, December 6, we will hear from Duane Ostrem, Affinity Group Strategy Leader for Southeast Asian Peoples for the International Mission Board. Duane holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Limestone College and served in the corporate world as a VP and later as founder and CEO of his own company. Duane and his wife Jeanne have served in mission service in South East Asia since 2003. They are the parents of three children and have seven grandchildren.

Schedule of Events:

Monday, November 30 | 9:30 amWhere: Oak Grove Inn3801 Oak Grove DriveHostesses: Betty Bridgman & Maureen ParksSpeaker: Goodson McLemore (France & North Africa)Prayer: Linda Haigler

Tuesday, December 1 | 9:30 am to 12:00 pmESL International Christmas BrunchWhere: Home of Jane Burdeshaw6251 Henley Way

Wednesday, December 2 | 9:30 amAssociational WMU MeetingWhere: Montgomery Baptist Association Office 20 Interstate Park Drive

Thursday, December 3 | 9:30 amWhere: Home of Eleanor McElvy5600 Woodside CircleSpeaker: Ann Amster & Sarah Denney (Haiti)Prayer: Kelly Treadwell

Friday, December 4 | 9:30 amWhere: Home of Lou Phillips100 Cherry Hill PlaceSpeaker: Laura Saucer (Turkey)Prayer: Sharon Windham

Duane & Jeanne Ostrem

This week at FBC MontgomeryFor the complete calendar, visit www.montgomeryfbc.org.

Wednesday, December 28:30 English as a Second Language12:10 War Room2:15 Baldwin Bible Study4:45 Wednesday Night Supper5:15 LCT Children’s Choir Rehearsal5:30 Tutoring Orchestra Rehearsal5:45 Preschool & Children’s Choirs6:00 First Family Prayer Time6:30 Student Ministry: Powerhouse6:35 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal6:45 LCT Orchestra Rehearsal Ejamat Prayer TimeThursday, December 39:00 Conversational English10:00 Caregivers Support Group6:00 English as a Second Language

Friday, December 46:45 Friday Morning Men’s Group5:00 Nehemiah Basketball

Saturday, December 56:00 Narcotics Anonymous

Sunday, November 298:30 Worship Service 9:45 Bible Fellowship Classes11:00 Worship Service5:00 Visitation One Heart/One Voice Choirs6:35 Joy Singers Christmas ProgramMonday, November 308:30 English as a Second Language10:00 JOY Singers5:15 Sanctuary Bells5:30 Men’s Bible Study Recovery Support GroupTuesday, December 18:30 English as a Second Language9:30 Ladies Bible Study11:30 Children’s Hope Prayer Time2:00 Bell Oaks Bible Study3:45 Children’s Ministry: Good News Club5:30 Women’s Support Group6:00 Narcotics Anonymous Samford Ministry Training Institute8:00 ELEVATE College Worship

The Beacon (USPS #046-620) is published and printed weekly by First Baptist Church, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-4292. Periodical postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Beacon, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-4292.

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Morning Worship (8:30 & 11:00 am)

Welcome Child of the Light | Ichthus Ensemble

Offertory Solo | Karen Mullins

Message | Jay Wolf

Evening Worship (6:15 pm)

Advent Worship Servicefeaturing the JOY SingersStakely Sanctuary

In Home Ministry Member :: Elizabeth Baldwin3590 S Georgetown Drive | Montgomery, Alabama 36109-2232

CrossRoads Broadcast Schedule Watch the sermon at the time below or online at www.montgomeryfbc.org.

Frazer Channel 13 (Montgomery & Prattville)Brighthouse Channel 122 (Elmore County)Sunday, 1:30 pm (full hour) & 6:00 pm

Tuesday, 7:30 pm Thursday, 9:30 am & 6:00 pm

WSFA-TV Channel 12 | Sunday, 10:30 am

FBC Stewardship Goal: $6,525,000Pledged to Date :: $5,801,494.00 (88.91%)

Remember, it’s never too late to give!