dec 2013 voice

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THANK YOU!!! Lynda Hodge and church members: I want to thank you and all the members of the FBC of Sebring for allow- ing Special STARS to use your Recreation Outreach Center for our basketball program in September. We had 40 athletes compete in the event and they really love your facility. I look forward to working with you again next year. Special STARS provides 12 different sports and six recreational activities to approximately 400 children and adults with mental and physical disabilities in Highlands, Hardee and Okeechobee counties. Thanks again for making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Happy Holidays. Cindy Marshall Special STARS Coordinator Dear Church Family: Ed & I want to thank you for your prayers, the beautiful cards, and your notes of encour- agement during my illness. It’s been a long year and we are truly thankful for your faithfulness in remembering us for so long. Thank you all so much. Ed & Connie Joubert FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF (PHONE) 863-385-5154 (FAX) 863-385-4184 PRESCHOOL 863-385-4704 Intercessory Prayer Line 385-0120 www.fbsebring.com SENIOR PASTOR…………………………......REV. MATT CRAWFORD ASSOC. PASTOR MUSIC & SR ADULTS .…REV. NUNO NORBERTO HISPANIC PASTOR…………………..….. ….…..…….REV. LUIS LUNA PASTOR EMERITUS.………………..…...................DR. JAMES MCALL CHURCH BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR…...............GEORGE SMITH MUSIC, YOUTH & SR. ADULT SECRETARY…..…...LYNDA HODGE EDUCATION SECRETARY……………………..CONNIE RODRIGUEZ PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR……….…………....DIXIE LYNN KREULEN HOUSEKEEPER………….………..………….…….SANDYWISENBERG MAINTENANCE………….………………..…………... .WADE LINDLEY AFTER HOURS COORDINATOR………………………...HAL GRAVES OFFICE HOURS 8:00 AM TO 4:30 PM Closed for lunch 12:30-1:30 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 252 Crew Kindergarten Fifth Grade * Sundays at 10:30am * Room D203 Week One (Dec 1) Week Two (Dec 8) Family Worship Sunday in Sanctuary Zechariah and Elizabeth Happy Birthday, Jesus!! Luke 1:5-25; 57-79 In Fellowship Hall after service I can have joy because anything (Kids, Parents, Volunteers) is possible with God. Week Three (Dec 15) Week Four (Dec 22) Week Five (Dec 29) Jesus is Born Shepherds and Angels Simeon at the Temple Luke 2:1-7 Luke 2:8-20 Luke 2:21-35 I can have joy because God I can have joy because God’s I can have joy because God sent His Son. Story is for everyone. Has a plan to make things right. Mission Offering: Sponsor a local family in need who have three kids. We’re collecting Christmas toys, clothes and gift cards for them up until Sunday, Dec 22. YOUR CHURCH MEDIA LIBRARY Hark the Herald Angels Shout, “Come on in and Check One Out!” The Christmas Cross: A Story about Finding Your Way Home for the Holidays by Max Lucado Keeping Christ in Christmas: Helping Families Find Their Focus by Steve Russo In Search of...The Real Spirit of Christmas By Dan Schaeffer Christmas Treasures of the Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories and Traditions By Cheri Fuller The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham YOUR MEDIA CENTER IS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS ACROSS FROM THE ELEVATOR. HOURS: SUN. 9:00 - 10:15 A.M. & WED. 5:45 - 7:15 P.M. THE VOICE ISSUE #320 MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SEBRING, FLORIDA December 2013

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THANK YOU!!! Lynda Hodge and church members: I want to thank you and all the members of the FBC of Sebring for allow-

ing Special STARS to use your Recreation Outreach Center for our basketball program in September. We had 40

athletes compete in the event and they really love your facility. I look forward to working with you again next

year. Special STARS provides 12 different sports and six recreational activities to approximately 400 children and

adults with mental and physical disabilities in Highlands, Hardee and Okeechobee counties. Thanks again for

making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Happy Holidays.

Cindy Marshall Special STARS Coordinator

Dear Church Family: Ed & I want to thank you for your prayers, the beautiful cards, and your notes of encour-

agement during my illness. It’s been a long year and we are truly thankful for your faithfulness in remembering

us for so long. Thank you all so much.

Ed & Connie Joubert

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF

(PHONE) 863-385-5154 (FAX) 863-385-4184

PRESCHOOL 863-385-4704

Intercessory Prayer Line 385-0120

www.fbsebring.com

SENIOR PASTOR…………………………......REV. MATT CRAWFORD

ASSOC. PASTOR MUSIC & SR ADULTS .…REV. NUNO NORBERTO

HISPANIC PASTOR…………………..….. ….…..…….REV. LUIS LUNA

PASTOR EMERITUS.………………..…...................DR. JAMES MCALL

CHURCH BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR…...............GEORGE SMITH

MUSIC, YOUTH & SR. ADULT SECRETARY…..…...LYNDA HODGE

EDUCATION SECRETARY……………………..CONNIE RODRIGUEZ

PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR……….…………....DIXIE LYNN KREULEN

HOUSEKEEPER………….………..………….…….SANDYWISENBERG

MAINTENANCE………….………………..…………... .WADE LINDLEY

AFTER HOURS COORDINATOR………………………...HAL GRAVES

OFFICE HOURS 8:00 AM TO 4:30 PM

Closed for lunch 12:30-1:30

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

252 Crew Kindergarten – Fifth Grade * Sundays at 10:30am * Room D203

Week One (Dec 1) Week Two (Dec 8)

Family Worship Sunday in Sanctuary Zechariah and Elizabeth

Happy Birthday, Jesus!! Luke 1:5-25; 57-79

In Fellowship Hall after service I can have joy because anything

(Kids, Parents, Volunteers) is possible with God.

Week Three (Dec 15) Week Four (Dec 22) Week Five (Dec 29)

Jesus is Born Shepherds and Angels Simeon at the Temple Luke 2:1-7 Luke 2:8-20 Luke 2:21-35

I can have joy because God I can have joy because God’s I can have joy because God

sent His Son. Story is for everyone. Has a plan to make things right.

Mission Offering: Sponsor a local family in need who have three kids. We’re collecting Christmas toys, clothes

and gift cards for them up until Sunday, Dec 22.

YOUR CHURCH MEDIA LIBRARY

Hark the Herald Angels Shout,

“Come on in and Check One Out!”

The Christmas Cross: A Story about Finding Your Way

Home for the Holidays by Max Lucado

Keeping Christ in Christmas: Helping Families Find Their Focus

by Steve Russo

In Search of...The Real Spirit of Christmas

By Dan Schaeffer

Christmas Treasures of the Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming

Stories and Traditions By Cheri Fuller

The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham

YOUR MEDIA CENTER IS LOCATED AT THE

TOP OF THE STAIRS ACROSS FROM THE ELEVATOR.

HOURS: SUN. 9:00 - 10:15 A.M. & WED. 5:45 - 7:15 P.M.

TH

E V

OIC

E

ISSUE #320 MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SEBRING, FLORIDA December 2013

We, the First Baptist Church of Sebring,

are committed to become fully devoted followers

of Jesus Christ, fulfilling the Great Commandment

(Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission

(Matthew 28:18-20) in order to reach and convert

the lost and to equip the saved to be on mission

with the Lord.

THE LORD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

2013 ANNUAL CHURCH BUDGET….…..$895,000

BUDGET NEEDS TO DATE………….......$803,174

BUDGET RECEIPTS TO DATE…....…......$748,987

NOVEMBER REQUIREMENTS……..........$66,856

NOVEMBER RECEIPTS.…….....................$74,890

OUR MISSION STATEMENT Under the Lord Jesus Christ, we will connect with

others, grow as disciples,

and serve with our gifts.

Merry Christmas, FBCS family!

I am so excited to enter this time of

year together with you! We have

enjoyed seeing how the town of Sebring really gets

into celebrations during the different seasons, so our

family is looking forward to experiencing Christmas

as members of this community. I especially look

forward to celebrating Jesus’ Incarnation and birth

with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. And

doing so with our newly-arrived winter friends will

be a joy.

Thank you for your encouraging words about our

new sermon series. I pray that the Lord uses to

change all of our hearts, so that we approach giving

with joy and worshipful anticipation. The Lord is

gracious to bring us into His work of redeeming and

changing lives.

For the month of December, please note the follow-

ing schedule for Sunday evening:

December 1: normal Sunday schedule

December 8: “A Classical Christmas” presented by our

Music Ministry along with Sebring High School Choirs

- 7 PM

December 15: In lieu of evening service, we encourage

adult Bible Study classes to have in-home Christmas

fellowships. From 5-8 PM, childcare for ages birth to

preschool at the church will be provided at no cost to

you, but you must RSVP by Friday, December 13 by

emailing Connie at [email protected] or

calling the office at 385-5154.

December 22 AND 29: No evening services.

God bless you and your family this

Christmas!

Pastor Matt

SENIOR PASTOR

December Keenager Program

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 11:15 a.m.

Sebring High School Show Choir with Luanne Hawk

Celebrating and caring for one another. Serving and ministering in Christ’s Name.

Enjoying fellowship with God and each other.

It’s that time of the year! The year has gone by

so fast. We have had many celebrations this year

within our family: Taylor is now 1; my grandma

turned 80; our church family celebrated the

arrival of the Crawford family as our pastoral

family. So many exciting things have happened

to all of us and now is time to be thankful and to celebrate!

December is marked by the celebration of the birth of our Savior!

Hallelujah! We celebrate Jesus!

Reading Robert Morgan’s special version of his book Then Sings

My Soul, made me want to share a little story about the composer of

one of the most well known songs of all times. George F. Handel’s

father wanted him to follow a legal career and tried to discourage

him from musical talents. But his love for the organ, violin, and

harpsichord was much bigger than anything. One day while

improvising on the organ, his music made its way to ears of Duke

Johann Adolf. Adolf loved it and soon encouraged him to start

writing his own music. Quickly, Handel became the most well paid

composer of his time and many would come from far away to hear

his music be performed.

But the time passed, and his music and his body started to become

old. One said at the time “Handel’s great days are over…his

inspiration is exhausted’’.

One day a friend gave to Handel a word-for-word collection of

biblical texts about Christ. The opening words of Isaiah 40 moved

Handel: ‘Comfort ye, comfort ye my people…’ The words about

Christ inspired the old composer and on that day in the year of

1741, Handel shut the door of his apartment and 23 days later the

oratorio Messiah with its famous Hallelujah Chorus was written.

During this Christmas season, take time to shout Hallelujah to the

reason for the season!

Hallelujah! For He Shall reign forever and ever! This is the truth we

proclaim! For Jesus’ love endures forever and ever; Amen!

Love you in Christ!

Jezimar Nuno Norberto

Associate Pastor, Music and Senior Adults

MINISTER OF MUSIC

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a

Savior, which is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:11 As we all get ready for this Christmas season, please let us not forget what the

true meaning of Christmas is all about. It’s not about how many gifts we have

to buy, or making sure we get that perfect gift, but about the ultimate gift that

God gave to us. His Son. Because of His gift to us, we all can have eternal life with Him.

Please join us December 16th at 6:30pm as our Preschoolers sing about what happened on that

wonderful night that Christ was born.

Dixie Kreulen, Director

Como se mide el nivel espiritual de la

iglesia.

El nivel espiritual de la iglesia no se mide

como se nos ha hecho creer.

Por el número de personas, el numero de servicios o la

cantidad del presupuesto (esto no es malo) la medida de

una iglesia está en el cumplimiento de su misión…el

éxito es otra forma de derrota si se nos olvidan las prio-

ridades.

Una iglesia no debe olvidar sus prioridades, si alcanzar

las masas quiere decir que no se van a atender las nece-

sidades profundas de las personas entonces no se puede

considerar un éxito.

Cuál es la misión de la iglesia? Hasta que no sepamos lo

que la iglesia debe hacer no mediremos adecuadamente

el éxito o las faltas.

La escritura nos dice que la misión de la iglesia es la

misma que tuvo Jesucristo.

Porque el Hijo del Hombre vino a buscar y salvar lo que

se había perdido. Lucas: 19:10.

Su hermano en Cristo;

Luis Luna

HISPANIC MISSION