2018 December Tapestry by The First Baptist Church of Redlands

The First Baptist Church of Redlands

T A PE S T R Y

DEC 2018

Wo v e n To g e t h e r I n L o v e : C o l o s s i a n s 2 : 2

Issue No. 12

A Message from Pastor Shawn

what d o we d o while we w a i t ? 10 The crowds asked, “What should we do?” 11 John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” 12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” 14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” Luke 3:10-14 It’s possible that you spent some time with family over Thanksgiving, or you may be anticipating such a gathering over the Christmas season. I have heard stories of families having to set rules about topics of conversation in order to keep peace at the dinner table. Maybe you don’t have formal “rules,” but you have those unspoken ones that keep people from entering “danger zones” that could lead to hurt feelings or, at least, indigestion. These days those forbidden topics tend to be in the realm of politics. Nobody is going to bring up what everyone already knows, that a bunch of you cancelled out the votes of the rest of you in the last election. People aren’t going to talk about the times that one member of the family offended other members of the family by posting a meme or an article on Facebook. Frankly, it seems like more than the “normal” family disagreements about politics. It seems like every day there is a barrage of news and information about what is going on in our country and in our world that feels overwhelming. Our minds and our hearts try to process

the information. Our sense of right and wrong, our sense of what can be compromised or not, our sense of what is “normal”—all of these are on overload right now…no matter where we are on the political spectrum. Add to that, we hear the news of people being murdered while worshipping, or shopping, or just doing their job. And then there are the “natural” disasters, like wildfires consuming whole neighborhoods and even cities, causing us to ask what we have done to cause such devastation. Deep down many of us are feeling the unrest deep in our souls and asking the question, “How long?” Just this week I have heard several people say, “These must be the end times.” As we bring all of these longings, questions and feelings into the season of Advent this year, we are reminded that it is not the only time in history when people have asked the questions, “How long?” It is not just those of us in Redlands asking that question. I think about the mother who has left everything she knows, not knowing what the future holds, but will do anything to remove her child from the violence that is rampant in her home. And so they walk hundreds of miles, with only what they can carry, dependent on the kindness of those they meet along the way, for the basics of life. I think about children who have never experienced anything other than life in a war zone. How long? Advent is a time of asking “How long?” It is a time that represents those times when we ask, “How long?” We are reminded of a people, chosen by God to bring light to world, moving from exile to captivity to subjugation, living in hope of the day that

God would send the Messiah. We look to a day when evil and death will be destroyed in the Reign of God. We live each struggle in our own lives with the hope that comes with the presence of God and the company of God’s people. So what do we do in what seems like an everlasting season of “How long?” As John the Baptist prepared the way of the One that would follow, he said to repent. When asked what that looked like, he told people to live with integrity, kindness and generosity. I wonder if we began with questions of, “What does it mean to live with integrity, kindness and generosity?” what our dinner conversations would be like, even with people with whom we disagree politically. But more than that, I wonder if we began and continued to be involved in actions that are rooted in integrity, kindness and generosity, if it would bring a sense of hope to the deep longings of “How long?” I wonder if such involvement would bring us together and maybe even change some of our perspectives as we broaden how we see the world through the eyes of another. The prophet said that what God requires of us is to “seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.” And so as we live in this season of “How long?” may we involve ourselves in daily, intentional practices that cause us to walk humbly with our God. May we find strength in our God and in each other as we live in hope during this season of Advent. May we follow Jesus together in integrity, kindness and generosity. Grace and Peace in Christ, Pastor Shawn

CONTENTS

The Tapestry is published monthly by The First Baptist Church of Redlands, 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373. All material for the Tapestry should be typed and emailed no later than the 10th of each month to tapestry@fbcredlands.org. If you would like to be added or removed from the Tapestry mailing list, please email tapestry@fbcredlands.org. Current and previous Tapestry issues are available in digital format at issuu.com/fbcr.

COV E R 1 A Message from Pastor Shawn : “Gratitude” 2 Staff and Contents 3 Pastor Nick : “God Among Us”

MI N I S T RY 4 Music Ministry: “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” 5 A Prayer to God for Renewal and Peace 6 Children’s Ministry

M I S S ION S 7 Worldwide Prayer Concerns: Pakistan, Bolivia, India

F E L L O W S HI P 8 Interview with “Doc” Lawrence Sellars 9 FBCR in Action

N E WS 10 Church News 11 December Calendar

S TA F F Rev. Dr. Shawn Zambrows Senior Pastor shawn@fbcredlands.org Nicholas Quient Associate Pastor nicholas@fbcredlands.org Rev. Cheryl Sneller Director of Children’s Ministry cheryl@fbcredlands.org Richard W. Steffen Minister of Music rwsteffen@gmail.com Linda Gentile Organist Nathan Jones Youth Director youth@fbcredlands.org Angel Florence Office Administrator angel@fbcredlands.org Isa Terrell Communication Specialist isa@fbcredlands.org Richard Colunga Buildings/Grounds

CON TAC T S Telephone: 909-793-3289 Web: www.fbcredlands.org Email: admin@fbcredlands.org Office Hours Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

God Among Us Pastor Nick Quient

“The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” –John 1:14 (CEB) The incarnation of the Word of God is the singular event that has challenged and shaped human history. It has challenged those at the heights of political power and those at the lowest level of the food chain. Nobody remains untouched or unmoved by this particular event—often called by scholars “the ChristEvent.” For many, this event is the fountainhead of all of Christian theology: doctrines such as creation, redemption, anthropology, and the doctrine of the church all flow from the source of the incarnate Word. The incarnation is perhaps a premiere example of God’s love for humanity and for creation itself. But “when God our Savior’s kindness and love appeared, he saved us because of his mercy, not because of righteous things we had done. He did it through the washing of new birth and the renewing by the Holy Spirit, which God poured out upon us generously through Jesus Christ our savior. So, since we have been made righteous by his grace, we can inherit the hope for eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 (CEB) More pointedly, God’s love was exemplified by the bodily reality of Jesus in becoming flesh. God cares about the human person’s mental, existential, and physical wellbeing. In this season, where we are all running around trying to survive sales and some truly awful Christmas music (I’m looking at you, Regis Philbin—yes, he recorded one of the worst Christmas albums of all time!), let us be ever mindful of God’s love in the incarnation of his Son. This great act of love is our impetus to love others. As Baptists, we are often a rather fractious family, but at the heart of Baptist theology is the belief that we are one at the Table of Fellowship. The unity of the Body of Christ is especially necessary for these days and I am so blessed to see this at work in the lives of everyone here at First Baptist Church of Redlands! Also, it would not be a true nerdy article if I did not include a quote that I love! The incarnation even affects our social relationships, which I believe to be especially powerful in light of the history of sexism in much of the Christian church. T.F. Torrance was a major Reformed theologian and he wrote this statement. This argument was one of the major theological bridges that moved me toward seeing women as equal participants in the church—

and it helps that his argument is fitting in this Christmas season! “Moreover, the sovereign act of God in the virgin birth of Jesus carries with it not only a rejection of the sovereignty of man over his own life but also a rescinding of the domination of man over woman that resulted from the Fall (Gen 3:16). Thus any preeminence of the male sex or any vaunted superiority of man over woman was decisively set aside at the very inauguration of the new creation brought about by the incarnation.” T.F. Torrance, “The Ministry of Women.” The Christmas season is the advent of God’s reconciliation of humanity. God is at work in healing the enmity caused by sin and perpetuated by humanity. The Christmas season is where God dwelt and made all things new, and calls us to live into that new reality. So, as we participate in this wonderful season, let us remember that God is active, God is loving, and God became incarnate for us and for our hope of glory. As we see God’s glory at work in one another, may we be mindful of the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. As you pour yourself some hot chocolate and listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack (the best Christmas album ever created), remember to give thanks to God for his Son and for his body, the church, our home and our refuge. In Christ, Pastor Nick

MINI S T RY

Sleep in Heavenly Peace Richard W. Steffen, Minister of Music

What Christmas carol lyrics were first written as a poem? What Christmas carol lyrics were written in Austria? What Christmas carol lyrics were originally written in German? What Christmas carol lyrics were written by a Roman Catholic priest? What Christmas carol lyrics were translated into English over 40 years after they were first written? What Christmas carol lyrics were translated into English by an American Episcopal priest? What Christmas carol music was written by a primary school teacher, who was also an organist and composer? What Christmas carol music was written for 2 voices and choir? What Christmas carol music was first accompanied by guitar (since the organ was broken)? What Christmas carol was first sung ON A CHRISTMAS EVE? What Christmas carol was shown by an organ repairman to two singing families in his Austrian town? What Christmas carol was first performed in German in the United States – by way of Leipzig – 20 years after it was written? What Christmas carol was first performed in the United States by an Austrian singing family (no, not the von Trapp family)? Yes, it’s “‘Silent Night (Stille Nacht)” and this beloved carol is 200 years old this coming Christmas Eve. Why does this carol move us so much? Markus Giesler, writing for the Huffingtonpost.com shares his insight: “ ‘Silent Night’s’ status is that what anthropologists call a sacred or inalienable object — your grandmother’s wedding ring, the American Constitution or the family portrait, in other words, objects that carry special meaning for us. Sacred objects are created when an important event or sentiment is transferred onto a token – in this case a song, and thus that event’s meaning becomes moveable across time and space.” And this “sacred object” has certainly come through many places to get to us: the lyrics were written as a poem in German by Father Joseph Mohr, an Austrian Roman Catholic priest, who asked Franz Gruber, his church’s substitute organist, to write the music for a duet and choir accompanied by guitar for the Christmas Eve Mass at his church, St. Nicholaus Church in Oberndorf, Austria. And the organist had only a few hours before the Christmas Eve service was to begin! And our wonderful translation comes

to us by John Freeman Young, an American Episcopal priest, 20 years after hearing it sung IN GERMAN by the Rainer family from Austria who had performed it at his church in New York City, Trinity Church, 20 years after it was written. The original German Christmas carol originally had 6 stanzas. With the words of the poem being written in 1816, stanza 4 may have come from Mohr’s war-time experience in Mariapfarr, Austria, where he lived. The Napoleonic wars and the economic depression that followed there were very hard. Here is an English translation of stanza 4: “Silent night! Holy night! Where on this day all power of fatherly love poured forth and like a brother lovingly embraced Jesus and the peoples of the world, Jesus and the peoples of the world.” Our English version from 1859 has 3 stanzas, inspired by stanzas 1, 2, and 6 of the original. And how meaningful was the effect of “Silent Night” during another war. Several months after the fighting began in World War I, newly chosen Pope Benedict XV gave an impassioned plea for a ceasefire during the days of Christmas. But an unofficial truce was experienced and it included the singing of “Silent Night.” B. Francis Morlan tells the story in “The True Story of Silent Night” from the trenches on the battlefield at No Man’s Land on Christmas Eve in 1914: “For a short period of time, no shots were fired. The following day, men who only hours before fought fiercely now stood side by side and buried their dead. Together, with heads uncovered, they held a service to memorialize their fallen comrades. Before departing for another frozen night in the trenches, a solitary voice began to sing ‘Silent Night,’ in French. He was joined by another voice — this one singing in German — the words of a hymn known and beloved by all. Together they contemplated ‘heavenly peace.’ ” The first half of the Worship Choir’s cantata ends with a moving setting of “Silent Night.” And we will sing it with the Choir holding candles on Christmas Eve in our sanctuary. As you sing it and sing it and sing it this year, may the words and the music bless you.

“Our prayers run along one road and God’s answers by another, and by and by they meet.” –Adoniram Judson Loving God,

by Pastor Nick Quient

Sometimes it is difficult to pray. For many of us, it requires opening up old wounds. For others, it is an incredible act of vulnerability. We ask that as we all come before you, that your merciful presence would overwhelm us, hold us, embrace us as we confess our sins and our fears and our desires to you. Make us holy as you are holy, righteous as you are righteous. Empower us to be imitators of your Son through your Spirit. We pray for the freedom and safety to confess our sins to you and to one another, and we pray for forgiveness for what we have done and for what we have not done. Help us to be a just people consumed by the desire for you and your kingdom. We pray for our government and for the people of this nation. And not only the people of this nation, but for the people of every nation. We pray for mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends and enemies. We pray for peace in our nation, we pray for kindness to rain down like a mighty storm, washing away our sins and our evil impulses. Remake us. Cleanse us. Hold us tightly as we seek you ever more. Through all of this, give us the grace to be kind. As John Wesley so passionately prayed, I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

Loving God, in the ruins of our hearts, you speak to the poor. In the dark night of our souls, you bring light to carry us home. In the blinding light of your glory, you shroud us in your presence, helping us to see you clearly. We thank you for this time to dwell on the work and goodness of your Son as he dwelt among us (John 1:14), as he made himself at home among us. We pray for relaxation and a spirit of calm as we hurtle into the holiday season. As the early Syriac Christians prayed during this holiday season, we close with this ancient prayer prayed by our fathers and mothers of the faith. The radiance of the Father’s splendor, the Father’s visible image, Jesus Christ our God, peerless among counselors, Prince of Peace, Father of the world to come, the model after which Adam was formed, for our sakes became like a slave: in the womb of Mary the virgin, without assistance from any man, he took flesh.… Enable us, Lord, to reach the end of this luminous feast in peace, forsaking all idle words, acting virtuously, shunning our passions, and raising ourselves above the things of this world. Bless your church, which you brought into being long ago and attached to yourself through your own life-giving blood. Help all orthodox pastors, heads of churches, and doctors [theologians]. Bless your servants, whose trust is all in you; bless all Christian souls, the sick, those tormented by evil spirits, and those who have asked us to pray for them. Show yourself as merciful as you are rich in grace; save and preserve us; enable us to obtain those good things to come which will never know an end. May we celebrate your glorious birth, and the Father who sent you to redeem us, and your Spirit, the Giver of life, now and forever, age after age. Amen. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pastor Nick Quient

C HILDR E N’S MINI S T RY

children’s sunday school program

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY WORSHIP TIME

Children’s Sunday School Hour for Junior Disciples (3rd through 5th grade) and God’s Kids (preschool through 2nd grade) starts at 9:00 for choir and 9:30 for class time.

For visiting children who do not want to attend the God’s Kids class there is an activity bag at an early childhood level located by the sanctuary’s back double doors in the pink basket.

Infant and toddler care in the nursery/toddler room starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs to the end of the service. Their Sunday School time is at 9:00.

Junior Disciples (grades 3rd through 5th) are participants in the worship service. If they like they may pick up a sermon note activity bag housed in the blue tub by the sanctuary’s double doors.

The children will be practicing songs for the holiday with Jonathan, Doris and Richard. Has God brought to mind a child that would benefit from the care and teaching of a church family like ours? Perhaps you are the vehicle to drive them to our church.

do it together family opportunities

and

THURSDAY NIGHT DINNERS & CHILDREN’S BIBLE STUDY On Thursday night, November 1st, we unveiled “The Colorful Advent Poster Project”. The coloring continues every Thursday night so come and join us. This is how the artists from Illustrated Children’s Ministry described their posters: “we are looking through the lens of Mary’s Song found in Luke 1:46-55. This passage is also known as the Magnificat Prayer ….Mary’s revolutionary and subversive song and prayer …felt like an important message to share.” This is an all ages family church project to prepare for the coming of God’s incarnation. The “Hanging of the Greens” Dinner and Program is on Thursday, Dec. 6th. After dinner we will move into the sanctuary and decorate the Church in Advent anticipation. We will incorporate even our littlest children into this Church family event. There will be no child care that night except for choir rehearsal time. The La Posada community event is happening on Saturday Dec. 15th. Meeting at Trinity Episcopal Church at 3:50 p.m. No child care is provided. Fiesta Night is Thursday, Dec. 20th. Fiesta Dinner starts at 5:45 and at 6:45 the children and young at heart move up to the chapel to enjoy special refreshments, a holiday movie and a visit

from Santa. You are welcome to wear your pajamas. Child care will be provided for the choir participants. Although there is no child care provided for Christmas Eve service, there will be a parents’ and infant/toddler center behind the sanctuary in the lounge. Parents, please feel free to move in and out of the sanctuary according to your child’s needs. We will set up rocking chairs, floor blankets, toys and books. Young Families continue to meet on Wednesdays at 10:30. Call Kathy Alexander (909) 435-9667, bmeelker68@yahoo.com) for the location because they move around to exciting places for the young ones to experience and explore. The group is suitable for parents with babies up through Kindergarten. Families are you and your children looking to give this season to worthy projects? There are so many and you may have a special one in mind already. Here is the American Baptist website address for the on-going projects of International Ministries: https://www.internationalministries.org/category/projects/

Blessings, Pastor Cheryl

MI S S ION S

Worldwide Pray er Concerns

“But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.” –Hebrews 10:32-33

pakistan

Associated Press Praise God for the release of Asia Bibi! We have been praying for her since she was falsely imprisoned under Pakistan’s blasphemy law and sentenced to death in 2010. All these years, she has languished in prison, away from her husband and children, while her legal appeals were delayed or denied. But in late October, the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted her, saying the prosecution had not proven their case, and ordered her to be set free. However, while many in the West were overjoyed by the news and the European Parliament invited her to move to Europe, hard-line Muslims in Pakistan denounced the verdict and renewed their calls for her execution. Days of protests that included damage to vehicles and property dispersed only after the Prime Minister promised that he would deny Asia Bibi permission to leave Pakistan and direct the court court to review a motion challenging her acquittal. Pray that Asia Bibi and her family would be kept safe from those who want to harm them. Pray that the Holy Spirit would transform the hearts of those who are blinded by hatred. Pray that Asia Bibi and her family would hold on to the hope in Christ in the midst of this ongoing ordeal.

bolivia

www.internationalministries.org Sarah Nash is very close to reaching her fundraising goal and will be having her commissioning service on December 15. Sarah is traveling to Bolivia to serve women and children at the House of Hope using her gifts as an educator and trained dental assistant. We were blessed to have her visit our church and share about her mission, and we continue to pray that God would use her to bless the people who come through the House of Hope. Pray for the remainder of her fundraising to be quickly completed. Pray for all the planning and logistics that comes with moving to a new country.

india

International Christian Concern and Voice of the Martyrs Pray for pastors in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, where Hindu nationalists are waging a coordinated campaign of violence and intimidation against Christians. Pray for pastors to have faith and courage despite facing threats, beatings, or false arrests. Praise God for the growth of house churches in the area as many have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would transform the hearts of those who are persecuting the church.

- Jonathan Peske If you have information to share about the persecuted church or news from the mission field, please share it with Jonathan Peske.

F E L L O WS HIP

FBCR in

action

childrenâ€™s choir I OCT. 25

UNVEILING THE COLORFUL ADVENT POSTER I NOV. 1 (RIGHT) Sorting food i NOV. 10 (BELOW) BLESSING OF THE FOOD I NOV. 11

Local Outreach would like to thank the generous congregation, for their donations, to Family Service. The church received 599.99 lbs. of food, and $200.00 in cash and Stater Bros. cards.

Refresh and Renew is sponsoring a Holiday in Redlands Dec. 8th, 4p.m. to 8p.m. Lincoln Memorial Shrine Fun activities for all the family!

family attended, and she agreed to visit the church with Doc; this church was pastored by Richard Foster. (Of course, Dallas Willard and Richard Foster became well-known Christian writers.) Doc and Letha were married in 1972 by Richard Foster, and Dallas Willard preached the sermon at their wedding. To regress, Doc’s first church experience was at Shiloh Baptist Church in Cobden, Illinois. He remembers one of his Sunday School teachers, Mrs. Aldridge, with great fondness. He responded to an alter call in a Baptist church in northern Illinois when he was 13 years old. However, Christ did not become important in his life until he was in his late twenties and early thirties; this was the time he came under the influence of Foster and Willard. After Doc and Letha retired in 2011 they moved to Beaumont where they tried a few churches, but there was not a good fit. They were in this “church shopping” mode when they first came to FBRC in October 2016, and they decided to stay. Doc’s favorite Bible verses are found in Ephesians 2:18-22”

INTERVIEW WITH

“Doc“ Lawrence Sellars by Ann Smith

“Doc” was born in the town of Anna in Southern Illinois (for the geography challenged, that’s about 15 miles south of Carbondale). He was the next to youngest of twelve children. His parents named him Lawrence, but his parents nick named him “Docky” supposedly to rhyme with his brother Richard’s nick name… Dicky. When he was in his thirties, “Docky” shortened his name to “Doc” which is how he is known by friends and acquaintances today. He lived in Cobden, IL (immediately adjacent to Anna) until he was nine. At that time, the family moved to Lockport, Illinois (about forty miles south of Chicago). He graduated from Lockport West High School in 1964. Six of his eleven brothers and sisters have pre-deceased him. His eldest sister, Emma Lou, is a retired elementary school teacher, and his oldest surviving brother, Carl, is retired from the U.S. Navy. His sister Daisy is a homemaker and retired tax consultant, and his brother Richard is a retired welder (Caterpillar Tractor Company). His youngest brother, David, who recently turned 65 is a retired janitor. Doc himself retired from the San Bernardino County Probation Department in 2011. Doc was introduced to his wife, Letha, by a mutual friend from Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship. This was around the same time he met Dr. Dallas Willard, a philosophy professor at USC (not far from UCLA where Doc attended). By chance (or Divine Design) Letha lived close to a Quaker Church where Dallas Willard and his

“You are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And you (individually) too are being built together to become a dwelling (tabernacle) in which God lives by his Spirit.” He likes this passage for three reasons: 1) It affirms our reliance on Jesus. 2) he likes the comparison of Christ’s Church to the Jewish Temple. 3) Paul tells us, as mature believers, that we are analogous to the Old Testament Tabernacle. Doc’s favorite Bible story is Joseph’s dream when he is considering what to do about the angel’s Annunciation to Mary. In the dream the angel declares that the child will save his people from their sins. Doc believes that an earlier meaning of this declaration points to the coming end of the Jewish exile, that is, an end to their estrangement from God and the freedom to live in His way (the Kingdom of God). Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus is Doc’s favorite hymn because it reminds him of two visions and one dream of Jesus in his youth. The earliest vision at age ten followed a period of one to two years when he claimed to be an atheist. Jesus asked him in that vision, “Do you believe in me?” Doc’s answer, “I guess that I have to, I see you.” The latter dream involved him on a white horse and seeing Jesus on a white horse beside him. There were many, many “angels” on white horses too. Finally, Doc says that he is helped by a life of prayer along with other “disciple” practices. He came out of an abusive family, and he currently is thankful for the ways FBCR helps him come to grips with that and move beyond it. He is extremely grateful for the ways Pastor Shawn encourages discipleship by practicing Spiritual Disciplines.

NE WS

CHICKEN SALAD

HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS TO...

Liz Laine Ingredient amounts are not given and are a matter of personal preference. Largest amounts are at the top of the list working down to the smallest.

2 - Marge Emrick

22 - Darla Dillow

3 - Johdalene Mitchell

22 - Scott Nelson

5 - Janet Johnson

22 - Katie Zabaleta

7 - Alexander Brown

23 - Colin Melcher

7 - Melinda Kluza

23 - Ross Melcher

9 - Alex Lowe

26 - Nicholas Daniel

10 - Emma DeDoes

26 - Giselle Martinez

11 - Matt DeDoes

26 - Melody Wolfe

12 - Tracy Agboke

27 - Chris Keierleber

15 - Fred Bandel

28 - Erin Estey

16 - Charlie Zureick

28 - Janet Lee

God gave His Gift,

17 - Allison Kishimoto

29 - Brendan Morgan

The Gift of Love,

17 - Lyla Schultz

31 - William Sullivan

Out of His perfect love.

18 - Kate Applebee

31 - Carol Townsend

So too, I give my gifts

18 - Luthor Parks

31 - Ellen Tseng

21 - Jose Mendoza

31 - Maja Whitley

Do you have church news, photos, or recipes that you would like to share? Send them over to tapestry@fbcredlands.org by December 15th.

Finely chopped cooked chicken Cooked white rice. Chopped celery.

Small or chopped red grapes Finely chopped red onion Mayonnaise mixed with curry powder to taste.

Combine all and serve with Rosemary sprig garnish.

MEDITATION ON CHRISTMAS by Berva Smith

Reflections of that Love received; A love so perfect That it grows in me And transforms . . . transcends Even my imperfect expression of it. And so I give . . . and receive Because you, too,

Ron Sandel (1/2/47 to 9/29/18) Survived by sister, Anne Sandel --Thank you for all the many expressions of condelence as I am moving through this time of dealing with the loss of my brother, Ron. Your kindness has provided peace and comfort. With deepest gratitude, Anne Sandel

- HANGING OF THE GREENS Come and welcome in the Advent season at the Hanging of the Greens Service on Thursday, Dec. 6th, at 6:45 in the sanctuary. Join us for readings, caroling and hanging the decorations and ornaments on our Christmas trees.

Reflect His love

What is a Grandmother? by Unknown I Brought to you by a third grader

A grandmother is a lady who has no little children of her own. She likes other people’s. A grandfather is a man grandmother. Grandmothers don’t have to do anything except be there. They are old, so they shouldn’t play hard or run. It is enough if they drive us to the market and have a lot of dimes ready. When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and catepillars. They never say “hurry up.” Usually, grandmothers are fat. But not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums out. Grandmothers don’t have to be smart. Only answer questions like “why isn’t God married?” and “How come dogs chase cats?” When they read to us, they don’t skip, or mind if we ask for the same story over again. Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don’t have television, because they are the only grownups who have time.

Pray for S.S. Teachers

Pray for Worship Choir

Pray for Glen & Rita Chapman

Pray for the Congo

Pray for Church Meetings

Pray for the Nominating Cmte.

Pray for Christmas Peace

MERRY CHRISTMAS! OFFICE CLOSED

23 Pray for Church Greeters 24 Pray for Families/ 30 Pray for Junior Disciples 31 Pray for the New Year 25

7 p.m. Prayer Meeting, Board Room

8 a.m. Men’s Breakfast Plymouth Village

7 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Service

Pray for Worship Commission

6:30 p.m. Diaconate, Lounge 7 p.m. Christian Ed, Field Hall Fin. & Prop., Judson Hall Local Outreach, FH SS 1 Worship, Board Room

8:45 a.m. Nursery/Toddlers 9 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Cantata 11:30 a.m. Fellowship Time 11:45 a.m. Prayer Meeting

8:45 a.m. Nursery/Toddlers CHRISTMAS EVE 9 a.m. Sunday School Classes OFFICE HALF DAY 10:15 a.m. Children’s Program 11:30 a.m. Fellowship Time 8 a.m. Men’s Breakfast 11:45 a.m. Prayer Meeting Plymouth Village

Tuesday

7 p.m. Prayer Meeting, Board Room

17 Pray for a Loving Heart 18

8 a.m. Men’s Breakfast Plymouth Village

Monday

16 Pray for Ushers

8:45 a.m. Nursery/Toddlers 9 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Fellowship Time 11:45 a.m. Prayer Meeting

8:45 a.m. Nursery/Toddlers 9 a.m. Sunday School Classes 10:15 a.m. Worship Service 11:30 a.m. Fellowship Time 11:45 a.m. Prayer Meeting 12:00 p.m. Marge Emrick B.Day Celebration, Fellowship Hall

Sunday

Pray for Caregivers

Pray for Guidance

OFFICE CLOSED

Pray for Angel

10 a.m. Toddler Play Group

12 Pray for our Country

10 a.m. Toddler Play Group

Wednesday

See events online at: http://www.fbcredlands.org/upcomingevents.html

Pray for Richard Colunga

OFFICE CLOSED 9 a.m. Tapestry Team

27 Pray for the Hopeless

5:45 p.m. Thursday Dinner 6:45 p.m. Double Feature with a visit from Santa 7:45 p.m. Choir Practice

20 Pray for Needy

5:45 p.m. Thursday Dinner 7:45 p.m. Choir Practice

Cheryl Sneller

13 Pray for

5:45 p.m. Thursday Dinner 6:45 p.m. Hanging of the Greens 7:45 p.m. Choir Practice

Thursday

OFFICE CLOSED

Pray for the Dental Team

Pray for Fathers

Pray for Mothers

Pray for World Peace

Friday

Pray for a Pure Heart

Pray for Recreation

Pray for Grace

Pray for Healing

7:30 a.m. Walking for the Health of It

29 Pray for Faithfulness

7:30 a.m. Walking for the Health of It

7:30 a.m. Walking for the Health of It 3:50 p.m. Las Posadas & Fiesta, Trinity Episcopal

7:30 a.m. Walking for the Health of It

Saturday

DE CEMBER 2 018

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The First Baptist Church of Redlands 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands CA 92373-5243 909-793-3289 | www. fbcredlands.org

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit No. 2111

- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service D e c e m b e r 2 4 th, 7 : 0 0 p m