CHURCH INFORMATION CHURCH STAFF Ross Shelton, Pastor rshelton@fbc-brenham.org
Annette Guenther, Comptroller aguenther@fbc-brenham.org
Troy Sikes, Associate Pastor tsikes@fbc-brenham.org
Donella Peevler, Church Receptionist dpeevler@fbc-brenham.org
Charles Covin, Music Minister ccovin@fbc-brenham.org
Jodi Beckendorf, Graphic Designer jbeckendorf@fbc-brenham.org
Chad Marrs, Minister to Students cmarrs@fbc-brenham.org
Stephanie Sheffield, Custodian Manager ssheffield@fbc-brenham.org
Alex Morrison, Minister to Children amorrison@fbc-brenham.org
Nancy Jahns, School Administrator njahns@fbcsbrenham.org
Stacey Strickland, Preschool Ministry sstrickland@fbc-brenham.org
Kristie Mendoza, Mother’s Day Out Dir. mdo@fbc-brenham.org
Teresa McGlasson, Office Manager tmcglasson@fbc-brenham.org
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Fri: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. Brenham’s First Baptist Church Contact Info: Ph: (979) 836-2807 Fax: (979) 830-0122 info@fbc-brenham.org Mailing address: PO Box 600, Brenham, TX 77834
LINKS TO CHECK OUT ONLINE CHURCH WEBSITE: www.fbc-brenham.org CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/Brenhamfbcs 2
I N THI S I SSUE:
Special Announcements...................................................page Church-wide Calendar .....................................................page From Pastor Ross ...............................................................page Music Ministry ....................................................................page Thank yous, Sympathies, and Mother’s Day Out .......page Bible Studies and more ....................................................page Encore Ministry...................................................................page A Letter From Reba & Piece Makers ..............................page Student Ministry ................................................................page Children’s Ministry ............................................................page Preschool Ministry ............................................................page FBC School & EEC ..............................................................page From Troy’s Heart ..............................................................page
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
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CHURCH-WIDE CALENDAR
DECEMBER-
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Lord’s Supper - Both Services Churchwide Business Meeting FBCS - Spelling Bee Piece Makers Christmas Encore Luncheon Christmas Choir Presentation Deacon’s Christmas Party Brenham’s Children Chorus Concert Brenham’s Children Chorus Concert Kids Klub Leader Christmas Celebration Combined Worship Service Family Christmas Eve Service Church Office Closed - Holiday No Wednesday Night Activites Combined Worship Service
4:00pm Gym 7:00pm Sanctuary 9:00am Student Center 11:00am Gym 7:00pm Sanctuary 6:00pm Sycamore House 7:00pm Sanctuary 2:00pm Sanctuary 6:00pm Morrision’s House 10:00am Sanctuary 6:00pm Sanctuary 10:00am Sanctuary
For more information on any of the above events please visit the church website: www.fbc-brenham.org www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch
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FROM PASTOR ROSS In my first church – First Baptist Church, Castroville – there was a godly, older man who was a deacon in the church and incredibly gracious to me as I came to the church as a twenty-five year-old pastor. One day as I was talking with him, he told me a story how God had challenged him in the area of financial giving. He was a young officer in the Air Force and had a young family. His family and he were attending church, but they were maxed out financially and gave very little to the church. One day, God challenged from Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” While he felt challenged, his family was not in a position to start giving 10% (a tithe). Nevertheless, he started giving 2%, and he found God was faithful. He started increasing the percentage along the way until he got to 10%. Each time, he found that God was faithful. By the time I met him, he had long been retired but was at the point where he was actually giving more than 10%. He was a wonderful example for everyone, especially a young pastor. His story is a wonderful example of what can happen as we align our lives with God’s ways. My wife and I have sought to walk a similar path with our finances. Even when we were in graduate school and our combined income was around $21,000, we tithed. Each step along the way, we have found God to be faithful. Even now, we tithe off the gross of our incomes, and in the case of my salary, we give a little more than the tithe. Any giving over this (Faith Building capital campaign, missions, other non-profits, etc.), we give as an offering and do not use the tithe for these items. As we close out the year, our church relies heavily on end-of-year giving. If you have not had the opportunity to do so, I want to encourage and challenge you to trust God with your finances. Trusting God means being obedient in His call to give. I can give you testimony after testimony in our church of people who have been obedient to God with the finances God has given them and has found God to be faithful. You can learn more about giving and give online by going to http://fbc-brenham.org/give/. There also giving envelopes in the pews, and giving envelopes are mailed to church members. Whatever the case, I pray you will see the call to give financially as an opportunity for you to experience God and His faithfulness in your life. 5
MUSIC MINISTRY
Brenham’s First Baptist Church Music Ministry
a musical event for the Christmas season
Dec. 8th & 9th - 7PM
Featuring Adult Choir, Kids’ Choir, Handbell Choir, and Orchestra!
304 N. Market - www.fbc-brenham.org 6
THANK YOUS & SYMPATHIES Dear Bro. Ross, Staff and Members of FBC, We were so blessed to worship with you recently; we are doubly blessed to know you are praying for us. We have an army of prayer warriors interceding for us of which we are thankful and appreciative. God hears and answers, Kathy & Michael Holster First Baptist Church, Our family appreciates the plant you gave in honor of Jim. Your thoughtfulness will be remembered. The Jim White Family To Whom It May Concern, Lester and Helen want to thank you. God bless you. Lester & Helen Yeakley
Thank you very much for all of the cards, phone calls, words of encouragement and plants during the recent loss of my Dad. Kelley & Troy Sikes
SYMPATHIES:
-Mary Kay Billington and family in the loss of her mother. -Roxie Cowan and family of the loss of her brother. -Suzanne Butler and family in the loss of her husband, Weldon Butler. -Sikes family in the loss of Kelley’s dad.
Ellie Van Dyke 7
BIBLE STUDIES & MORE
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “Deuteronomy” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Pastor’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112 Bible 101: How It Fits Together Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111
Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage “Undaunted” by Christine Caine Women’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Sycamore Downstairs
Young Mom’s Bible Study: Wisdom for Mothers Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Upstairs in Sycamore House
HOME TEAM GROUPS ·Scott and Tricia Schroeder – 620 Country Place W., Meets 1st & 3rd Sunday at 5pm. ·Roger and Juanita Atkins – 9250 Lake Dr. Chappell Hill, Meeting one Sunday a month. Please call 281-389-2859 to confirm meeting time. ·Rick and Diane Houston – 808 Spinn, Every other Sunday at 7:00pm, ·Ronnie and Debbie Fathauer – 1607 Longhofer, Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 6:00pm. ·Widows & Single Ladies – Pahl House, 1st & 3rd Monday at 6:00pm.
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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS
CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Ted Low, IV Sherrie Foerster Dorothy Lesser Barbara Klussmann Reba Pair Arlen Thielemann Johnnie Rutledge Debbie Patranella Martha Pittman Bob Young Mary Helen Charette Callie Korth Maria Cadwallader Beth Taylor Patrick Mulligan David Moore Carrie Baker Jim Humphrey Debbie Yeager Marilyn Kleypas
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Doc Pair Rhonda Porter Brett Smith Charles Blank Jerry Norman Judy Whitaker Jerry Allen Sonny Dannhaus Edna Stewart Shirley Schulz Morris Fraley James Fritz Rebecca Presswood RL Mayeur Victor Brier, Jr Anne Beyer Lori Gaddie
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A LETTER FROM REBA Here we are again at the end of another year that has seems to have flown by. As I look back on this year it is easy to see how blessed we have been. Doc and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary this year. We were amazed when we had so many attend our celebration party here in Brenham. We had couples from out of state, and from other homes in Texas where we have lived. We were blessed to get to go back to Hawaii and Alaska this year to just soak in the majesty of God’s creation from the islands to the glaciers. We flew over 5 glaciers while in Alaska and I just can’t put into words how inspiring that was for both of us. When we returned home I got prepared to have knee replacement surgery. I can only say that I have done so well so far, because of the prayers of our friends far and wide. Thank you all who have been a part in my recovery by praying for me. As we get closer to Christmas, my challenge to you and your family is to share the greatest story of all time with your family and friends. Share the Christmas spirit when you are out in your neighborhoods with a smile and a kind word. Let us all show Washington County, Texas what December is all about! Go share God’s Love!
“For unto you is born on this day... a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Reba
PIECE MAKERS Pictured are Cheri Baker, Volunteer Coordinator for Miracle Farm, accepting pillowcases made by Piece Makers as Chad Marrs assists in the presentation. Miracle Farm is a local residential care and guidance facility centered in our Christian faith and supported by our church. It offers teenage boys the chance to experience healing while earning an education and learning respect in a ranch setting. Members of Piece Makers enjoy sewing pillowcases and other small projects as well as learning quilting skills. Come join us to serve our church, community and missions at home and abroad on the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 2 pm in the Student Center. All are welcome. Sewing machines are available for your use. 10
STUDENT MINISTRY I can’t believe we are here again at the end of the year. Wasn’t I just writing about back-to school? Time is soaring by at break-neck pace. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU to all those sent me cards and goodies in October for Pastor Appreciation. I feel very appreciated, loved, and fattened up by the cookies and brownies. With the end of the year comes the start of much of my work. Preparations are underway for the Honduras Mission Trip. SPOILER ALERT: the Summer trip to Honduras has been MOVED to SPRING BREAK. The dates for the trip are March 9, 2019 to March 17, 2019. As you can imagine things are happening rapido to get this trip FINALIZED. I am so excited (as always) about the group the Lord is putting together this year. I look forward to sharing the Gospel with the Hondurans. Disciple Now is also quickly approaching. January 25th-27th our students will be participating in the annual discipleship weekend. I’m still looking for a few more host homes. Also, registration has started online. Parents – please get your students and their friends signed up today. WiRED Camp in Waco, Texas, at Latham Springs Encampment will be June 7–June 11, 2019. Registration will begin in January! Last, but certainly NOT least, the Men’s Cake Bake will be February 10, 2019. Don’t let the trash-talking, open mocking (of the Pastor), or the steeeeep competition deter you. This friendly competition where the men take over the kitchen for a day (or 4 days in my house) is the backbone of the student ministry fundraising efforts. Plus, we find out who has the best baking skills and who gets to walk away with the bragging rights. So I invite you ALL now – we’ll need the seasoned veterans who actually know the meaning of ganache; we’ll need the creative geniuses who’ve been adding to their Pinterest boards all year; we’ll need some newbies to breathe new inspiration into the mix; and we’ll need the faithful and loyal yellow cake mix “I tried my best” bakers (ahem, Ross). ALL MEN are invited to bring a cake. Everyone is invited to participate in the auction AND get a fabulous meal prepared by the real chef in my family. This event means SO much to our students and their families by keeping the cost of camp down. As a father of a houseful of teenagers, this makes all the difference for us. As the minister to your students, it means I can take students who would have NO OTHER way to go to camp without a scholarship. Thank you all so much for your support…not just financially, but with your prayers. I appreciate you, Church Family, in how you care for our students and others and set a wonderful example of generosity and compassion. In Him, Bro. Chad
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Good Morning, By the time most of you are reading this, December will be well under way. I wanted to talk about how much sooner Christmas comes each year and the anticipation that creates in my heart. However, I feel God wants me to share something greater with you this month – something more real. Have you ever had a bad day? Sure you have. All of us have. So, lemme ask, “Have you ever had a bad week? month? year?” Have you been in a spot where you feel as if you are being hit from all sides? Trust me, I would rather discuss different ways to celebrate Christmas with your family right now. However, God won’t let me go there. Life is hard. We have bills to pay, jobs to endure (sometimes we get to enjoy them), relationships to nurture, and schedules to keep. Most of us take a break from the fray and relax on the weekends. Then, the car breaks down and the repairs are more than in your emergency fund. Your supervisor comes to let you know, “the good news is you get to keep your job, but we have to reduce your hours.” You misread something your mother says to you, your response is not as eloquent as you planned and now you and she are not talking to each other. Because you now need to make more money to make ends meet, your schedule is now filled with a part-time job in the evenings and weekends. Then, you get news that your wife is sick – like real sick. When will it stop? Where will the next hit come from? Each knock at the door, and ring of the telephone, makes you jump out of shellshock in anticipation for the next hit. The above narrative is strictly a “what-if?” No real persons represent the above scenario. Yet, I will venture to guess that more than one of you relate to the above situation. I would think that some of you may even know someone going through something like the above. And now to remind you that Christmas is coming. How jolly do you think it is going to be for people in these struggles? I fully believe that people can, and should, find joy in Christ even in the midst of their struggles, but this encouragement is for those surrounding the hurting. How has God provided or prepared you to lift the spirits of those surrounding you where He has placed you? Some of these people may be family. Some may be neighbors, or sit next to you in the pew. Others may be strangers sitting on the park bench too exhausted to lift their head, or exhale enough breath to voice, “hello.” They might even share an office with you. Again, let me remind you, it is Christmas time. This is the time of the year we celebrate the greatest gift of all. Look around, and see with whom you can share His gift of life through the Gospel and make His love be felt through gifts of care. His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex
Upcoming Events:
December 8 & 9 – Christmas Musical Presentation December 18 – Kid’s Klub Leadership Christmas Celebration December 19 – Kid’s Klub Christmas Celebration December 23 – No Sunday School (One Worship Service @ 10:00 am) December 25 – Merry Christmas! December 26 – NO Wednesday Night Service
PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES
Sunday Mornings in December
Memory Verse: “You know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.” Hosea 13:4b Big Picture Question: Is there anything God can not do? God can do all things.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONI SCHWARTZ 12-05
REBA PAIR 12-10
HARPER ROYALL 12-12 BRADY WALLACE 12-14 ELIZA SOAPE 12/23
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FBC SCHOOL & EEC We have had a busy fall semester! We have worked hard academically as well as been challenged spiritually during chapel and class Bible time. We have hosted See You At the Pole, Book Fair, Grandparents’ Day, Noah’s Ark Day and the Veterans’ Day Program. We have competed in volleyball, football, and basketball. More than anything, we have done our best to love on those we serve.
“for the Mighty One has done great things for – holy is his name.” Luke 1:49
As we look to the New Year, I pray for wisdom and discernment as we, the church and school, seek His plan for each of us. We are looking forward to what is before us as we have gratitude for what He has already done for us! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Serving Him, Nancy Jahns
UPCOMING EVENTS
WE ARE COLLECTING DONATIONS & ITEMS FOR TEXAS CELEBRATION WHICH WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 1, 2019.
December
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Christmas Parade 6:00 Downtown Spelling Bee @ 6:00 in sanctuary Ms. LouLou – preschool chapel only Ms. LouLou – elementary chapel only Core Essentials – elementary only Jump Rope for Heart Preschool Christmas Program @ 10:00 in sanctuary 19 11:30 dismissal for school; EEC open 20-21 EEC open 24-25 EEC closed for Christmas 26-28;31 EEC open January 1 FBCS & EEC closed 2-4 EEC open 7 Students return to class
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FROM TROY’S HEART Merry Christmas to you and your family! More than likely you have already started your Christmas preparations because a lot goes into Christmas: ·Christmas Tree – Two Options 1. Unpack from the dusty box in the attic or garage and hope the lights work. 2. Search for the tree at a store parking lot or tree farm. Remember, no bare spots on the tree! ·Ornaments – unpack from the same attic or garage and hope they are not crushed. ·Presents – gather the list from relatives and make a list for Santa. Remember who has been naughty and nice.
·Plan the shopping trips or strap yourself to the computer to search the internet for the best deals. If you do plan to shop in public, remember to keep the Christmas spirit of joy!
·Food – make the two-page grocery list of all of the items to be consumed by the distant relatives and close family members. Once completed, put on battle gear and fight other shoppers for cranberry sauce.
·Travel arrangements – Who will arrive and when? What will they need? What do they eat? When will we see the grandparents? When do we open gifts and at whose house? We have to make it to the Christmas Eve service at 6:00pm, get everyone dressed.
·Get the cookies and milk ready for Santa. Don’t forget the reindeer snacks! Yes, so much goes into Christmas that, if we aren’t careful, we could miss it. Christmas is about Jesus and just like that first Christmas in Bethlehem, everyone can be so busy they don’t have time for the manger. Think about it, the first Christmas there wasn’t enough room for Jesus, they had to find room. Please don’t let that happen in your house. In the middle of Christmas preparations, leave a lot of room for Jesus.
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Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600
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