20 21
D ECE M BE R
F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H /J E F F E R S O N C I T Y, M O
Dear Church, In the next several months I want to use my writing space for The Beacon to update our congregation on progress that’s being made on multiple fronts of concern during this interim season. It’s not difficult to imagine that each member has a unique vantage point when they think about the church. Some are particularly focused on worship. Some are more focused on the mission of the church and how we go about serving our community in Christ’s name. Others share a commitment to others in a small group. It’s also not difficult to see how we are in a season that’s transitory as there are things in motion from what we were to what we will become. Staff Updates First Baptist Church has had steady, gifted leadership for nearly a quarter century. Most churches would say if
UPCOMING they had this for just a decade they would be blessed. While it has not been seamless, it has been amazingly steady. With Doyle’s death and now Rod’s retirement, we are seeing a level of change in pastoral leadership that we haven’t known since the last millennium. I was called here to serve as Intentional Interim Minister in late-August and will serve until the church calls their next Senior Minister. I’m working with a team of 14 members to organize three Sunday morning listening events. For these events, we will invite the entire church to come together in what I call “halftime,” that 90-minute time between our two worship services. In small groups we will focus on important topics that will help our Pastor Search Committee shape their search for a new pastor.
December 5 Christmas Musical; Youth Dessert Theatre December 7 Parents’ Night Out December 12 Celebration of Ministry for Rod Maples, 10a December 19 Special Called Business Meeting, 12p December 24 Candelight Lord’s Supper Service, 6p Dec 26 & Jan 2 One service only, 10a No Bible Teaching or Nursery
With Rod’s retirement, the Personnel Committee has approved a plan to fill the work he has done in his long ministry here. In particular, we will create interim positions for music & worship to serve our two worship services. We will also create an interim position for Senior Adults and Pastoral Care. We are not ready to make any announcements, but we are actively seeking to fill these interim positions with a January 1 start date. We will not seek to fill these positions permanently until we call our next pastor. Intentional Interim Update The Intentional Interim Process (IIP) is designed to help a congregation express their thoughts and opinions (aka, attitudes) about a comprehensive range of topics that will enable them and those leaders who will guide the search for a new pastor to have a better idea of how the congregation thinks and feels about the search for a new leader. No one is a mind reader and no one person can know how the members of the church think, feel, or believe about the church in its current setting. This process is designed to give all members an opportunity to share their thoughts in a guided process about the church in the present moment and to hear from the church for their wishes for the future.
This team, the IIP Planning Team, has designed three events to help the church share with one another what they think and feel. This process is meant to give each willing member a chance to speak about their feelings and convictions about the church in the present, and for how they wish to live as a faith community in the future. This process is meant to encourage all members to share their thoughts and convictions in a way that the PSC has an idea of what issues are clearly of value and to help the PSC seek a new leader who will best work with the church to move forward in the future. Put on your calendar these Sunday dates for the three listening events: January 23 February 27 April 3 In case of inclement weather, the following Sunday will serve as the alternate date for the event. Interim Pastor Keith Herron
Join us for worship each Sunday !
facebook.com/fbcjc yo u t u b e . c o m / f b c j c
In-Person and Livestreaming @ 8:15 & 10:45am You can once again watch our services on Blue Tiger Multi Media (formerly JCTV) each Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm on CenturyLink channel 99 or Mediacom channels 81 and HD 80.16. You may continue to view our services online at fbcjc.org; facebook.com/fbcjc; and youtube.com/fbcjc. You may also contact the church office to receive a DVD of the service each week.
G I V I N G OP T ION S 301 E. Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101
OFFERING ENVELOPES // Are you receiving offering envelopes you don’t need or want? You may remove yourself from receiving these by calling the church office or emailing: mary@fbcjc.org. Taking this action will save us a few dollars each year. Please note that it takes a couple of months before your removal is processed by our envelope vendor.
fbcjc.org/give
churchlife app
Stewardship REMINDERS
END YEAR GIVING // You may bring your gifts to the office by end of day Thursday, December 30, give online, or mail them. All end of year gifts and offerings must be postmarked by December 31. The church office will be closed December 31.
2nd Sunday of Advent – December 5 Lighting the Candle of Love Lord’s Supper; Christmas Musical Youth Dessert Theatre, 5 pm, Fellowship Hall 3rd Sunday of Advent – December 12 Lighting the Candle of Joy JOYFUL IN THE WAITING, Philippians 4:4-7 4th Sunday of Advent – December 19 Lighting the Candle of Peace FAITHFUL IN THE WAITING, Luke 1:39-45
Christmas Eve – December 24 Lighting the Christ Candle Candlelight Christmas Eve Service & Lord’s Supper; Online and In-Person, 6 pm Our Advent devotions began November 28. If you do not receive them via email but would like to, contact Mary Huhn at mary@fbcjc.org. Printed books are also available at the Welcome Center and the church office.
CELEBRATING THE MINISTRY OF SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12 / 10 AM One Special Worship Service followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall As a part of our FBC thank-you to Rod and Sherry, we want to send them off with a card shower. A basket for your cards will be placed at the Welcome Center in the lobby beginning Sunday, November 28, and remaining through December 12. You may include a financial gift in your card (make any checks to Rod Maples, not the church). Place your card in the basket on one of those Sundays or you may drop off or mail your card to the church office prior to the 12th. The cards will be presented to the Maples at the Reception.
Rod Maples
The holiday season brings an opportunity to learn about and support the Global Missions of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). CBF is a Christian network of individuals and churches working together to spread the hope of Christ. The diverse CBF community works across the globe through a wide range of missions and ministries that give people meaningful opportunities to put their faith into action. The Fellowship supports longterm field personnel serving in 25 countries, as well as student interns and short-term mission teams. Field personnel serve alongside congregations within three primary contexts: global poverty, global migration and the global church. Globally, 1 in 8 persons suffer hunger, 2.8 billion live on less than $2 per day, 1 billion lack access to clean water and 35.8 million are enslaved. Cooperative Baptists seek sustainable responses to systems of poverty that devalue life and diminish the image of God. With more than 232 million migrants in the world, including 16.7 million refugees, we live in an age of unprecedented human mobility. The global migration initiative extends hope and hospitality to those who are driven by circumstance or drawn by opportunity away from their homes. Right here in Missouri, 70,000 Bosnians call St. Louis home. CBF field personnel with relevant cultural and linguistic skills address the spiritual and material needs of refugees through a network of partner congregations. We live in the era of a global church where no single tradition or culture can lay claim to the center of Christianity. Cooperative Baptists befriend Christians from around the world to share and receive gifts and to engage in God’s mission together through worship, fellowship, education and service. Please consider giving to our Global Missions Offering in December online, via special green envelopes or by mailing it to the church office. Please designate your gift to CBF Global MIssions, ChurchNet or the Lottie Moon (SBC). Undesignated gifts will be distributed equally between all three.
4 - MISSIONS
2022 FBCJC MISSION TRIPS
AFGHAN REFUGEE WELCOME
KENYA // June 18-29 Estimated cost is $3,000. Deadline to register is January 15, 2022. More info at fbcjc.org/mission-trips.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 5:45 pm, Room 101
The trip is open to adults and youth older than 16. Younger youth/children may go if they have a parent or guardian traveling with them. Questions: Contact Melissa Hatfield, Pastor of Youth and Missions, at 573.634.3603 or melissa@fbcjc.org or Rand Swanigan at 573.418.7797 or rand.swanigan@outlook.com. SOUTH DAKOTA // July 17-22 Two teams - one working with Dakota children, the other working construction with Habitat for Humanity on the reservation. Cost and registration information coming in January.
Nearly 300 Afghan refugees will be resettled in Columbia and Jefferson City by the end of the year. 43% of these refugees are children. There is an opportunity for FBC JC to welcome warmly the stranger in great need. This meeting is an opportunity to learn more and will help the MLT assess our church’s interest in becoming a community sponsor to a refugee family from Afghanistan. There are many ways to get involved, and this meeting will help answer those questions. If you are unable to attend but would like to know more, contact Melissa Hatfield at 573.634.3603 or melissa@fbcjc.org or Ron Medin, Missions Coordinator, at 573.821.4595 or ronmedin@gmail.com.
MIDWEEK FOR ALL AGES ON WEDNESDAYS - DEC. 1, 8 & 15 5:00 - 5:45 // Wednesday Night Meal (Visit fbcjc.org for meal costs. Pay cash, check or card in person) 5:45 - 7 pm // Preschool - Room 304 Children (Grades K-5) - Room 201 Middle School (Grades 6-8) - Refuge Room on 2nd Floor Adult Bible Study - Room 326 (see below)
WEDNESDAYS @ FBCJC
7:30 - 9 pm // High School (Grades 9-12) - Refuge Room on 2nd Floor
ADULT BIBLE TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES IN DECEMBER SUNDAYS, 9:30-10:30 am We have multiple Bible Study classes for all ages and life stages each Sunday. To read more about the classes, visit fbcjc.org/classes. WEDNESDAYS, 5:45-7:00 pm, Room 326 // Join Sondra Allen for conversations based upon the Dietrich Bonhoeffer book, God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas.
Families
FBC Kids Ministry is excited to offer a Christmas Parents’ Night out on Tuesday, December 7th. from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. The evening includes fun childcare for 3 years old and younger in the preschool area and Christmas games, crafts, and activities for 4 years old - 5th grade in the fellowship hall. Food will be provided for the children. A fun kid-friendly evening = gift for children. A few kid-free hours to shop, dine, or simply pause in the midst of the Christmas season = gift for parents. Merry Christmas!
First Kids/ First Friends Wednesdays @ FBC JC We are having a blast on Wednesday nights learning about loving God and loving people. Do you know a child age 3 - 5th grade? Invite them to come join the fun! 5 - 5:45 p - Supper (Fellowship Hall) 5:45 - 7 p - First Kids and First Friends
FRIENDSHIP SINGERS CHRISTMAS // Senior Adults Monday, December 13 - 10 am Friendship Singers Rehearsal & Celebration (Fellowship Hall)
DWELL (For College and Young Adults) Wednesday, December 29 7 pm White Elephant Exchange & Game Night at Mel’s House (4055 Scarborough Way) Follow us on Facebook and Instagram by searching for @dwell.fbcjc. Message Mel at melissa@fbcjc.org or 573.690.1286 to learn more!
^ D E C E M B E R M I DW E E K WEDNESDAYS - Dec 1, 8, & 15 MS (Grades 6-8) // 5:45-7 pm HS (Grades 9-12) // 7:30-9 pm Refuge Youth Room (2nd Floor) Christmas is almost here! Which means there’s a lot for us to look forward to — sometimes impatiently. But you know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? It’s true for Christmases now, but it was true on the very first Christmas as well. You see, the day Jesus came to earth wasn’t a sudden surprise. It was the first step in a long-awaited plan. In this 3-week series, we’ll hear the Christmas story from the perspective of the prophets in the Old Testament, who foretold and then waited for the good things God had in store. Christmas is a reminder of what the prophets proclaimed: that God has always had a plan, that Jesus completes God’s plan, and that God’s plans bring joy.
December 15 - Final MIDWEEK of 2020. We’ll worship and enjoy small group time before a two-week break. Instead of our normal white elephant gift exchange, bring $5 to go to a special offering for LOGAN VALLEY! Let’s bless them this year for Christmas!
FOR YOUTH IN GRADES 6 -12 Get text updates: RefugeJC to 313131
FIND US ONLINE @refugejc
refugejc.com
BASECAMP // Sundays - 9:30-10:30a No Basecamp Dec 26 and Jan 3. Worship only at 10 am.
YOUTH DESSERT THEATRE Sunday, December 5 @ 5 pm Fellowship Hall • 3 pm - Decorate & set-up; solos/ens rehearse • 3:30 pm - YC rehearse • 4 pm - Pizza (and solo/ens rehearse) • 4:30 pm - Greet guests • 5 pm - YDT • 6:30 pm - Clean-up
Questions / Contact Melissa Hatfield at melissa@fbcjc.org or 573.690.1286.
YO U T H -
7
HOMEBOUND
FRIENDSHIP
Joyce Phillips (12/3) 1214 Freedom Blvd. Room 220 Jefferson City, MO 65109
Marge Newell (12/15) 2303 Livingston Jefferson City, MO 65109
Mark Your Calendars! Monday, January 24, 2022, 11:30am Program: Music with Mike Michelson Meal: presented by Chef Michael & his kitchen staff
BIRTHDAYS BIRTHDAYS CLUB
Curt Taggart (12/7) 1646 E. Cardinal St. Springfield, MO 65804 Marilyn Barnard (12/10) Red Oak Residence 650 East North Bend Way North Bend Washington, WA 98045 Norma Braucksieker (12/15) 1303 Edmonds St. Apt. 203 Jefferson City, MO 65109
Dorsie Mosher (12/21) 305 Shagbark Jefferson City, MO 65101 Jean Lee (12/27) 239 Karen Drive Room 107 Holts Summit, MO 65043
Our homebound folks love hearing from you, even if they don’t know you! Contact Mary Huhn at mary@fbcjc.org or 573.634.3603 for names and addresses. Your notes would truly bless them!
Senior Adults
HOMEBOUND
THE N U MB E RS Bible Teaching Worship Attendance Attendance
Budget Offering
Budget needs to date . . . . . $1,167,790.67
Nov 7
190
229 $
38,838.73
Budget given to date . . . . . . $1,031,293.21
Nov 14
157
318 $
17,530.00
Budget expenses to date* . . . $937,058.68
Nov 21
183
233 $
16,013.00
Nov 28
196
230 $
NA**
*not all invoices have been received **Info not available at time of publication
Sympathy
Mary Anthony and family in the death of her sister Brant Anthony and family in the death of his aunt Norma Braucksieker in the death of her sister-in-law Gary Hemphill and family in the death of his aunt Kathren Choate and family in the death of her nephew
301 E. Capitol Ave. / Jefferson City, MO 65101 / fbcjc.org / 573.634.3603