CELEBRATION WORSHIP SANCTUARY 9:30 A.M.

☩ - When you see this symbol, we ask that you stand, if able.

In following best practices to prevent the potential spread of disease, we ask that you allow our worship leader to sing on our behalf in this morning’s service.

Please note you will find the offering plates at the exit doors.

Chiming of the Hour Tim Evans

Prelude Becky Mozo-Adams & Ellee Hilley

Call to Worship Sarah Murray

Hymn 127 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the ever lasting Lord; late in time behold Him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity, pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!"

Welcome Ellee Hilley

Lighting the Advent Candle: Joy Nancy Blake & Jackie Lee

☩ Scripture Reading The Harkleroad Family

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Always be joyful. 

All: Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

All: Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. All: Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.  All: God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. These are the practices of God’s people.

All: May the Spirit increase our joy through these practices.

Special Music Diane Mostiler & Liz Jester I Wonder as I Wander

Affirmation of Faith Seth Brown

Great Creator, we are in awe of you. All: We will never know how you managed to dream up mountains and valleys, Freckles, dimples, and curly hair, All: A cool morning mist, The change of seasons, All: Or the magic of music. Your greatness is beyond our reckoning. All: And because we are in awe of you, we believe we must follow Mary’s lead and allow our souls to sing. We believe that the appropriate reaction to your goodness is complete gratitude, which looks like love for our neighbor, All: Justice for the poor, Food for the hungry, All: And joy that overflows. And even though we do not always believe in ourselves, We believe that our song is pleasing to you. All: We believe. Help our unbelief.

Pastoral Prayer Seth Brown

At the conclusion of the prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Hymn 102 Joy to the World! The Lord is Come ANTIOCH

Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love.

Offertory Prayer Lloyd Bohannon

Musical Offering Tim Evans

☩ Presentation of the Offering The Doxology VENI EMMANUEL

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him, above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Time for Children Sarah Murray

Special Music Alicia Stratton & Fletcher Stratton God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Ding Dong, Merrily on High

Sermon Rejoice Steven Norris

Hymn 139 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W ZLOBIE LEZY

Infant holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall; oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging, angels singing, noels ringing, ridings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true. Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing greet the morrow: Christ the Babe is Lord of all, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Benediction Steven Norris

Postlude Tim Evans

NEWS AND EVENTS Church ConferenceJoin us for conference today in Morgan Hall immediately following the conclusion of the 11am service. Members who prefer to attend by Zoom received a link by email this morning.

International Missions OfferingPlease take a moment to read more about our support of the CBF (Global Mission Offering) and the IMB (Lottie Moon) and their work on the mission field at our website (https://fbcgriffin.org/tis-the-season-to-give-to-international-missions/). Your support of these ministries helps missionaries reach those in greatest need.

A Message from the FBC FoundationAs we enter the Christmas season, our hearts turn to thoughts of sharing our gifts in ways that will bring blessings to others. If you are looking for a way to make your gift benefit others through your church, please consider making a donation to the First Baptist Church of Griffin, GA, Endowment Foundation. Gifts may be designated or undesignated and may be given in honor or memory of loved ones. Please consider a gift that continues to give. You may give by check made payable to the Foundation or via PayPal. We thank God for His love, His blessings, and His Son whose birthday we celebrate! Merry Christmas!

The Search Committee Needs to Hear from YouMembers recently received an email link to a survey from the church’s Search Committee. The feedback you provide on this survey is important to us and to decisions we will make in the near future. Please take a moment to complete the survey before December 20. If you did not receive the email link, you may request a paper copy from the church office during regular business hours or ask that we resend the link.

New Online Giving Portal Coming SoonIn just a few weeks, giving will be easier than ever at FBC! We will go live with a new giving platform through Community Church Builder (CCB) called Pushpay. More information is coming along with any help you might need transitioning your giving to this new system.

Children’s Ministry OfferingsChildcare is available for ages 6 weeks - 3 years and children’s worship for children ages 4 through 2nd grade. To register, go to https://fbcgriffin.org/together-is-a-wonderful-place-to-be/.

Library Curb ServiceYou’re invited to call (770-227-5517, ext. 130) or email (library@fbcgriffin.org) to reserve materials for pick up from the church library via curb service.

Thank you from the Christmas Toy Ministry Planning TeamThank you for your generosity and promptness to supply gifts to children in need in our community. Through extra financial support we have also been able to provide a gift-wrapped Bible for each child. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Ordination of Marcia Henry-Day Today!2Q�0D\����������)%&�*ULIˋQ�YRWHG�LQ�FKXUFK�FRQIHUHQFH�WR�RUGDLQ�Marcia Henry-Day to the Gospel ministry. Please make plans to join XV�RQ�6XQGD\��6HSWHPEHU����������DV�ZH�RIˋFLDOO\�FHOHEUDWH�KHU�FDOOLQJ�and ordination to the Gospel Ministry. As a community, let us plan to JDWKHU�WR�EOHVV�KHU�DQG�DIˋUP�WKH�FDOOLQJ�WKDW�*RG�KDV�SODFHG�RQ�KHU�OLIH�GXULQJ�WKLV�VSHFLDO�WLPH��7KH�VHUYLFH�ZLOO�KHOG�LQ�WKH�)%&�*ULIˋQ�sanctuary at 4:00 p.m.

RSVPPlanning to be here in person on Sunday? Don’t forget to RSVP online at ZZZ�IEFJULIˋQ�RUJ�UVYS. To help us plan for worship materials and needs, we are asking that everyone RSVP each week for our in-person Sunday worship.

Memorial Flowers7KH�ˌRZHUV�LQ�WKH�VDQFWXDU\�RQ�6HSWHPEHU����ZHUH�JLYHQ�WR�WKH�JORU\�of God and in honor of the anniversaries of Chuck and Janet Prothro, 44 years, and Curtis and Sallianne Hardwick, 5 years.

Offering Plates7KH�RIIHULQJ�SODWHV�DUH�ORFDWHG�E\�HDFK�H[LW�GRRU�DV�\RX�HQWHU�OHDYH��

News & EventsSermon Notes

September 27, 2020

“If you’re grateful, you’re not fearful, and if you’re not fearful, you’re not violent. If you’re grateful, you act out of a sense

of enough and not a sense of scarcity, and you are willing to share. If you are grateful, you are enjoying the differences

between people, and you are respectful to everybody, and that changes this power pyramid under which we live.”

David Steindl-Rast

����:HVW�7D\ORU�6WUHHW��*ULIÀQ��*HRUJLD�������������������_�ZZZ�IEFJULIÀQ�RUJ

Steven NorrisSENIOR PASTOR

Ellee HilleyDIRECTOR OF WORSHIP ARTS

Seth BrownMINISTER TO STUDENTS

Sarah MurrayMINISTER TO FAMILIES WITH

CHILDREN

Erin ClarkeMINISTER OF MUSIC

%UXFH�0RUJDQPASTOR EMERITUS

Guest Card/Prayer Request (Please tear off and place in the offering plate.)

Name ________________________________

How can we contact you? (email or phone)

___________________________________________________________

How can we pray for you?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Ordination of Marcia Henry-Day Today!2Q�0D\����������)%&�*ULIˋQ�YRWHG�LQ�FKXUFK�FRQIHUHQFH�WR�RUGDLQ�Marcia Henry-Day to the Gospel ministry. Please make plans to join XV�RQ�6XQGD\��6HSWHPEHU����������DV�ZH�RIˋFLDOO\�FHOHEUDWH�KHU�FDOOLQJ�and ordination to the Gospel Ministry. As a community, let us plan to JDWKHU�WR�EOHVV�KHU�DQG�DIˋUP�WKH�FDOOLQJ�WKDW�*RG�KDV�SODFHG�RQ�KHU�OLIH�GXULQJ�WKLV�VSHFLDO�WLPH��7KH�VHUYLFH�ZLOO�KHOG�LQ�WKH�)%&�*ULIˋQ�sanctuary at 4:00 p.m.

RSVPPlanning to be here in person on Sunday? Don’t forget to RSVP online at ZZZ�IEFJULIˋQ�RUJ�UVYS. To help us plan for worship materials and needs, we are asking that everyone RSVP each week for our in-person Sunday worship.

Memorial Flowers7KH�ˌRZHUV�LQ�WKH�VDQFWXDU\�RQ�6HSWHPEHU����ZHUH�JLYHQ�WR�WKH�JORU\�of God and in honor of the anniversaries of Chuck and Janet Prothro, 44 years, and Curtis and Sallianne Hardwick, 5 years.

Offering Plates7KH�RIIHULQJ�SODWHV�DUH�ORFDWHG�E\�HDFK�H[LW�GRRU�DV�\RX�HQWHU�OHDYH��

News & EventsSermon Notes

September 27, 2020

“If you’re grateful, you’re not fearful, and if you’re not fearful, you’re not violent. If you’re grateful, you act out of a sense

of enough and not a sense of scarcity, and you are willing to share. If you are grateful, you are enjoying the differences

between people, and you are respectful to everybody, and that changes this power pyramid under which we live.”

David Steindl-Rast

����:HVW�7D\ORU�6WUHHW��*ULIÀQ��*HRUJLD�������������������_�ZZZ�IEFJULIÀQ�RUJ

Steven NorrisSENIOR PASTOR

Ellee HilleyDIRECTOR OF WORSHIP ARTS

Seth BrownMINISTER TO STUDENTS

Sarah MurrayMINISTER TO FAMILIES WITH

CHILDREN

Erin ClarkeMINISTER OF MUSIC

%UXFH�0RUJDQPASTOR EMERITUS

Guest Card/Prayer Request (Please tear off and place in the offering plate.)

Name ________________________________

How can we contact you? (email or phone)

___________________________________________________________

How can we pray for you?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

"Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit."

Matthew Henry

GUEST CARD/ PRAYER REQUEST (Please tear off and place in the offering plate)

Name

___________________________________How can we contact you? (email or phone)

___________________________________How can we pray for you?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 13, 2020

SERMON NOTES