Frank and to the Point

November is a great time to get involved at First Baptist Nashville. A sense of newness is still in the air with the addi-tion of new staff, newly elected deacons, and new opportunities for service and spiritual growth resulting from our Build-ing Bridges Mission Challenge. Find a place to join us in Bible Study and worship as we give thanks to the Lord during this month of Thanksgiving.

I’m preaching from some of the very familiar miracle stories of Jesus in an attempt to help us celebrate the good news of God’s love this month. Every time I look at these stories, I see things I missed before. I think you will too.

We’re getting ready for Nashville’s annual Christmas Parade which will take place on December 1. Last year we served over 650 cups of hot cocoa to parade watchers who enjoyed the hospitality we provided. This year, we’ll have a living nativity, music from our upper patio, more hot cocoa, and lots of fun. Mark your calendar to join us for a great event when the city comes to our corner!

Finally, let me say a word of thanks to the members of First Baptist for the kind words and the beautifully framed print of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. These were wonderfully meaningful affirmations to my family and me on our ninth anniversary as your pastor. I can’t begin to tell you how blessed our family feels to be part of this great fellowship. Thank you for every expression of love you have shown us for the past nine years.

Blessings!

Christmas Parade is December 1

The Nashville Christmas Parade is Friday, December 1. First Baptist Nashville will be there - with activities for our children and students, and music and hot cocoa for everyone! We hope you'll join us!

4:30 P.M.
STUDENT MINISTRY
Christmas Tree Extravaganza

5:30 P.M.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
One Night in Bethlehem

6:00 P.M.
COME ONE, COME ALL!
Music & Hot Cocoa on the Patio

Thanksgiving Luncheon

We hope you will join us for a Thanksgiving Luncheon on Monday, November 20 at
12:00 P.M.

You may purchase tickets for $5 in the foyer after worship on November 12 or on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall before Midweek Worship.

For more information, contact Sam Sanders at 664-6051 or e-mail sam.sanders@firstbaptistnashville.org.

Senior Adults in New Orleans

On Monday morning, October 16, at the invitation of First Baptist New Orleans, 45 of us departed for Louisiana to help Pastor Crosby’s church do something for their city.

We stayed at the Providence House, guest housing for the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. We divided into two crews: construction and support. The construction crew leader was Marlan Seward, and the support crew leader was Sue Elder. Each morning, the construction crew went to their work sites. Incidentally, they worked in the same area that our youth worked last June. Talk to Mary Allen about her list of all the things that were accomplished. They ranged from caulking to painting to cleaning to pouring concrete to building storage shelves to…you get the idea. Our folks did what was asked of them, and by lunch time each day they welcomed the support crew bringing lunch! The support crew went shopping in the morning and prepared the day’s lunches, which consisted of making sandwiches, washing fruit, and packing every-thing into boxes for transport. After lunch, the construction crew went back to their job sites and the support crew helped the church staff prepare for a neighborhood Health Fair to take place the following Sunday afternoon. They sorted, stuffed, and stapled goody bags.

In the evenings we went to local restaurants except on Wednesday, when we went to First Baptist and provided the program for their prayer meeting.

Any of the group that went could give testimony to the good feeling of doing something to help in such a devastated area. We believe God sent us to do the work and to touch the lives connected to the homes we helped build. I believe all involved now understand more about the love of God and what it means to have a servant’s heart.

Spanning the Gulch

The new Demonbreun Street Viaduct is open, making it easier to reach First Baptist Nashville from points south of downtown. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday, October 25. Pastor Frank led the prayer of dedication and our kitchen staff provided sweets and hot cider for those attending the celebration.

Men’s Basketball

It’s time to think about playing basketball this winter. Church leagues begin the first week of December. All games are played in our gym with the possible exception of the league tournaments. We will have a men’s team that plays on Thursday evenings and a Pop’s team (35 years and up) that plays on Monday evenings. It is important that you let us know immediately if you are interested in playing. The player’s fee is $20 and the jerseys are provided. For more information call 664-6051.

A Sight to Behold!

Did you see it? Many of you did. I saw some of it.

I’m talking about the sight of First Baptist folk hiking to the Shelby Street Bridge a couple of Sundays ago. I had told Susie on the way to church that with overcast skies and fall nip in the air, we were absolutely going to freeze out there. Wrong! Two hours later, in the bright and warm sunlight, more than 750 of us—the young and not-so-young, members and not-yet-members, on foot and in buses, golf carts, strollers, and wagons—made our way to the bridge for a spectacular view of downtown.

All that was pretty obvious, but there were other sights more subtle. While Joy Atkins and Susan Owens were “signing” a new version of the old hymn, some sweet child lost the handle on her helium balloon just as they reached the line “take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine.” It could not have been scripted any better. And then when Joy and Susan turned to sign toward the city, I saw our collective heart go with them. From my vantage point in the “balcony” of our temporary sanctuary and through the web of structural steel, I saw the framed face of one of our own, a candidate for governor, not up front campaigning, but off to the side committing with the rest of us. And then there was that sunny day rainbow that our pastor spotted—where did that come from?

But there’s one more thing that I saw. After the masses had been fed I asked Allen Adcox (overseeing the food service) how things went. He reported they ordered food for 600, “he of little faith” cut it to 500, they used more than 700 plates, and there was food left. Hmm! Okay, who brought the five loaves?

What did you see? In due season, we shall see.

Everlasting Light Books Available

Looking for a Christmas gift idea? Additional copies of Everlasting Light: from Generation to Generation are available for purchase. This book tells the story of the stained-glass windows of First Baptist Nashville and includes reflections from our members of what the windows mean to them. Cost of the book is $15, and copies are available from Kim Hester, pastor’s assistant.

Pray for Our TBC Messengers

The Tennessee Baptist Convention gathers for its annual meeting November 14 – 15 at Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tennessee. Please pray for the convention sessions and the messengers elected from First Baptist Church: Beth Ervin, Tad Harris, Frank Lewis, Candy Phillips, Bettye Pow-ers, Vern Powers, Wes Turner, and Richard Winstead.

The Next Door Graduation Coming to FBC

First Baptist will host the November graduation for several residents of The Next Door on Sunday, November 19, from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M. in the Chapel. You are invited to join us as we recognize these women and encourage them in these days ahead. If you have any questions, please call Mary Lea Roselle at 297-9366.

It’s Time to Reserve Poinsettias!

The Flower Committee will be placing poinsettias in the Sanctuary December 3 – 24. If you would like to place a poin-settia in honor or memory of someone, you may do so by filling out the form on the right. Cost of each plant is $8.00. Poinsettias may be picked up following evening worship on December 10 or 17 or following the Christmas Eve vesper service. A listing of donations will be printed in the December 10 Order of Worship.

Checks should be made payable to First Baptist Church and turned in with this form to First Baptist Church, 108 7th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, Attn: Laurie Hall. The deadline for participation is Sunday, November 26.

Please submit the following information and include it with your check:

· Donor Name
· Address
· Phone Number
· Amount Enclosed
· In Memory of
· In Honor of

New Deacons Elected

New Deacons Elected
The fifteen persons pictured were elected to serve four-year terms as deacons beginning
January 1, 2007.

We are grateful for these who will serve our church in the coming years and express appreciation to all who were will-ing to be considered.

The deacon ordination council for Lisa Pruitt will be held Sunday, November 12, at 4:30 P.M. in the Chapel. Jason Rogers, deacon chair, invites all ordained deacons to participate.

A service of installation will follow at 6:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary. We will observe the Lord’s Supper, and the Chapel Choir will provide special music. Plan to attend this service of commitment.

Ronnie Boling	Norma Gabhart	Jim Lowry	David Meriwether	Jeff Mobley
Chris O'Rear	Lisa Pruitt	Nancy Ryals	Tommy Scudder	Barney Self
Wes Turner	Brandon Walker	Mike White	Larry Yarborough	Bill Young