Frank and to the Point

In our October business meeting, your staff presented a calendar that represented several changes to our weekly and monthly schedule. Several comments were voiced from members of our congregation that encouraged us to take an-other look at the Winter-Spring Discipleship Seminar schedule, Summer Nights, and a few other items which we were happy to do. I think most First Baptist members will be excited to learn that the proposed changes have been withdrawn in favor of a new calendar that you will hear more about soon.

I write about this for a couple of reasons. First, healthy dialogue is one of the marks of a healthy congregation. Even though the proposal had been presented to our deacon body where it appeared to be met with favorable but cautious comments, we were moved by what we heard from members in business meeting. This is the way business is usually conducted in a baptist church. It’s a heartfelt process and it works. Second, an overwhelming concern was voiced for the needs of young adults and young families with children. You continue to be a priority for this church and we cannot over-state our commitment to minister to your needs as we seek to reach people in our community for Christ. Thanks for letting us know how the proposal would affect you and thanks even more for helping us make a better proposal based on your input.

You will be able to find the completed calendar online and in print soon. It reflects your comments about Sunday nights, features a better time for us to conduct future business meetings, but even more important, it offers several new opportunities for us to be outreach-focused, which last time I read my Bible, was pretty important!

See you Sunday, Wednesday, under the steeple, and around town doing the great commission!

When the Whole Family Gets Together

Fifty years ago this Christmas, we were married at First Baptist Church. Our children grew up in this church; all four were married here. Add the four spouses, 14 grandchildren, plus other kinfolks and we have lots of times and people with whom to gather.

Through the years, we have found value in the whole family getting together. We get to know each other as we add members, build relationships, share family stories and traditions, celebrate likenesses and differences, feel the support and encouragement in the whole family unit, and celebrate God's plan for families from one generation to the next.

As the family grows, it often gets more difficult to find times to be together. Work, sports, school, church, and musical events, even family members moving to other areas of the country, make scheduling dates together harder. But we try to save some days regularly every year, like Christmas or other holidays. We have a big reunion every other year, usually after school is out and before summer activities begin. We pick a location close to most family members.

Reunions usually include talent shows, a worship service, pictures from the past, new pictures, and lots of activities--plus some time to rest! Everybody shares the expense and the work. We've gone camping, spent weekends at someone's house, and enjoyed special family events.

Families grow and change, add and subtract, but we have found faith, fun, support, sharing, and encouragement as we celebrate God's plan for families gathered. All families--small, medium, and large--can find value when the whole family gets together.

November Staff

BIRTHDAYS


6 Mary Garrott, Finance Assistant 

8 Myra Mathis, Business Assistant

23 Kim Hester, Pas-tor’s Assistant

The Next Door Graduation

Once again, First Baptist will host the November Graduation for several residents of The Next Door. This special event will be held on Sunday, November 18, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. in our chapel with a reception following in the foyer. You are invited to join us as we recognize these women and encourage them in the days ahead. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Lea Roselle at 297-9366.

New Church Pictorial Directory

Signups will be during the month of November for photo sessions with Olan Mills, an established, respected company with much experience not only in photography, but in producing high quality church pictorial directories. We will have signup tables in the foyer before and after church times and you may also signup online. We want this to be a great book with everyone in it so we will give ample opportunities for signups. There will be no pressure for you to purchase any photos, but they will show you proofs at the end of the session.

They will take photos in December and January and there will be no pressure for us to make purchases. We will have daytime and evening photo sessions. We feel that the holiday season will allow more of our college students to be involved. By contract, the books will be delivered within six weeks of the last photo session.

Click here to sign up online for your photography appointment with Olan Mills for our new church directory!

CONTACT: Sam Sanders, 664-6051

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.

Men’s Basketball


It’s time to start getting ready for church league basketball. The season begins the first week of December and goes through February. Most of the games are held in our gym. 

We have two men’s teams: the First Baptist Men’s Team— for younger men through age 34 and our Pops Men’s Team is for men age 35 and up. The Men’s Team plays on Thursday nights and the Pop’s Team plays on Monday nights. The player’s fee is $20 and the jerseys are provided.

For more information call 664-6051.

Crow's Corner

PRAYER TO GOD is such a powerful force that most of us underuse and underestimate. God says that all things are possible.

Please pray with us about several matters--they have little to do with calendars, with budgets, with program-ming --but rather, with reaching people. They have to do with IMPACTING LIVES for Christ. They have to do with revival at First Baptist Nashville.

1. Women's Bible class needed on Sunday mornings, to help ladies who want a group of women supporting them and learning with them.

2. We are making plans to enlarge our Newlywed/Nearlywed Class (eventually having an entire department for newlywed/nearlywed couples.) We plan to advertise and saturate the Nashville area via wedding planners and periodicals, bridal shops, etc., and more to reach hundreds of couples who are marrying and settling here. Additional teachers and outreach leaders are needed in this effort.

3. Leadership team needed of people committed to discipleship training --we are launching our new curriculum of support materials for small groups called LIVING FREE next year. There is a grass-roots desire we hear from members for providing for and reaching young adults, and for classes offered to meet the needs of adults in various life-stages. A leadership team is needed to recruit, pray, enlist teachers and design the proper courses of discipleship to help our people grow in their faith.

4. New member welcoming and introduction process needed for our First Baptist Nashville new members.

THANK YOU for your input and suggestions on the 2008 Calendar (see Pastor Frank's article for more information). The new proposal will reference Life Change University (discipleship classes) on Sunday evenings for winter/spring and fall 2008. We're excited about providing opportunities for reaching people for Christ in 2008 that you can engage in, support and invite believing that you will rise to the challenge of REVIVAL at First Baptist Nashville!

New Deacons Elected for 2008

The fifteen below were elected to serve four-year terms as deacons beginning 
January 1, 2008. We are grateful for these who will serve our church in the coming years and express appreciation to all who were willing to be considered.

Nancy Brock
Denise Bronaugh
Bob Bunn
Tom Clark
Steve Finch
Ric Herrera
Rick Mathis
Rusty McIntire
Andrea Overby
Philip Owens
Jason Rogers
Richard Roselle
Marlan Seward
Jason Shull
Hugh Sloan

The deacon ordination council will be held November 11 at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Deacons to be ordained include Larry Benton, Nancy Brock, Bob Bunn, Steve Finch, Rick Mathis, and Steve Walsh. Harold Smith, deacon chair, invites all ordained deacons to participate in the ordination council. A service of installation and the observance of the Lord’s Supper will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Plan to attend this service of commitment as an encouragement to our new deacons.

It’s Time to Reserve Poinsettias!

The Flower Committee will be placing poinsettias in the Sanctuary December 2 – 24. If you would like to place a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone, you may do so by submitting the information below. Cost of each plant is $10.00. Poinsettias may be picked up following evening worship on December 9 or 16 or following the Christmas Eve vesper services. A listing of donations will be printed in the December 9 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 25.

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

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

Nashville Christmas Parade Float

If you’ve been to the parade in recent years, you know that it is seriously lacking a religious aspect to the season! FBC wants to be that influence! We are entering a float in the 55th Annual Nashville Gas Christmas Parade (held on De-cember 7). We need your help to make this happen. We are recruiting people to help with float construction and painting (starting November 26), people to help put together nativity costumes, and people to walk alongside the float handing out Advent information to the parade goers! If you are interested in being part of this fun and exciting project,

Contact Sarah Galloway at 750-3986 or gallowaysx4@comcast.net.

Predators Night

December 8 AT 7:00 P.M.

NASHVILLE VS. ANAHEIM

We have reserved 50 seats for the Nashville Predators Hockey game on December 8. For $20 per person, we’ll provide parking, pre-game pizza, and a short lesson on the basics of hockey! This is open to church members and their guests. Please submit payment for the tickets by November 14. You’ll receive confirmation by mail. Reserve your seats by calling Sam at 664-6051 or e-mailing sam.sanders@firstbaptistnashville.org.

Thanksgiving Luncheon

We hope you will join us for a Thanksgiving Luncheon on Monday, November 19 at
12:00 P.M.

You may purchase tickets for $5 in the Foyer after worship on November 11, on Wednesday nights in the Fellowship Hall before Midweek Worship 
(November 7 and 14) or at Thursday Business Lunch (November 8 and 15).

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