Frank and to the Point

by Dr. Frank Lewis, Pastor

On a recent Sunday morning I shared an illustration based on the events that took place in Jena, Louisiana, this past year where racial tensions erupted after an African-American student sat under the shade of a tree in the center of the public school’s courtyard. The problem with his sitting under the tree was that it was considered by the majority of the students a “Whites Only” tree. The following day two or three hangmans’ nooses were placed on the tree. That’s when the racial tensions got stirred just a bit more. A clear reference to the lynching days of old, these nooses were intended to intimidate and marginalize. One thing led to another until six students were charged with beating a classmate. He suffered a concussion but was released from the hospital later the same day.

Arrests were made, followed by demonstrations, a riotous summer, an attempted arson attack, and nationwide publicity. On July 31, the tree in the center of the controversy was cut down. And remember, the only thing it did was provide shade to students in a hot little Louisiana town. It neither caused the racial tensions nor hung the nooses. It simply attracted students who were drawn to the shade it provided, students of all races. You can hear the entire sermon at (pod-cast address).

What I failed to stress in that illustration is that today there is a hopeless looking stump in the courtyard of a high school in Jena, Louisiana (much like the stump of Jesse in Isaiah 11:1). Maybe in another ten years there will be a tender shoot that emerges and grows to a height of fifteen or twenty feet. Maybe in another five or ten years that shoot will spread out its limbs enough to provide shade again. The big question is, will we learn to sit under the shade with others who are different from us when and if that day rolls around? The lion may not be ready to lie down with the lamb just yet, but every time we learn to sit beside a stranger, we have the opportunity to make a new friend. And when that happens, a candle is lit somewhere making the world just a little less dark.

I hope you will take time to light such a candle this Advent!

The peace of Christ be with you!

Christmas Eve Communion Services

Christmas Eve at First Baptist Nashville is going to be a very special night for our church family and the many friends and extended family members who join us. We are offering two Christmas Eve services this year and each one has a unique focus. Our hope is that you will attend one, pray for both, and bring someone with you if you are in town.

At 5:00 P.M. we will gather in the Sanctuary for a service that is similar to what we have done in recent years. It will be a service of Carols, Candles, Children, and Communion. A living nativity will be presented by children early in the service in place of a Children’s Feature. You will not want to miss this. We’ll light the Christ Candle and observe Communion inviting all believers present to participate with us.

At 8:00 P.M. we will gather in the Foyer off Seventh Avenue for a Christmas Eve service in the round. It’s going to be very different from anything we’ve ever done before. Todd MacDonald will provide acoustic guitar arrangements of many of our favorite carols and worship choruses. The service will have an intimate feeling as we sit close to the Communion table in the center of the room. Worshippers will be invited to the table to receive the elements and then return to their seats for a continued time of prayer and worship.

Childcare will not be provided at either service, but families with infants and younger children are encouraged to bring their children to either celebration.

January Bible Study

God’s Amazing Grace

Join us as we begin “God’s Amazing Grace: Studies in Romans.” Books may be purchased at a cost of $7.00 per person in the education office during the month of December. Pastor Frank will preach a series of sermons in January/February corresponding to the study guide that members may use at home on Sunday nights.

For more information, contact Lori Towns at 664-6001.

Parents Night Out

• For babies – grade 6
• Friday, January 11
• 6:00 – 10:00 P.M.
• $7 per child (payable at time of registration)

Your child must be registered in order to participate. To register, fill out one of the designated envelopes located in the preschool suite or on the third floor. Place your money in the envelope and return it either to Pam’s office or the church office.

Deadline for registration is Wednesday, January 9.

Crow's Corner

by Tom Crow, executive pastor

2007 is ending on great notes! It's been a fabulous year at First Baptist Nashville and the Lord has blessed us all richly even in the face of change, challenge and opportunity. Thank you for your faithfulness in so many facets--leading, teaching, attending, witnessing, praying, giving, inviting. Please be faithful to support the Lord's work here as we complete 2007--the needs are great, your gifts make a personal difference in the lives of many, and your investment is for eternity! Your gifts to First Baptist Nashville for 2007 must be received on or before December 31 or postmarked by December 31 in order to be included as 2007 gifts for contribution credit. It's been a record year of giving and we look forward to what the Lord has in store for His church!

CHANGE is a constant in our world. But that doesn't make it easy. We have received the resignation of Children's Minister, Connie Hartzell as she has accepted a position of Preschool Minister for another local church. Connie is certain of the Lord's leadership in this change, and we will miss her greatly. However, we know that He will place her in the perfect opportunity and give us the perfect solution. Please pray for Connie, Deane and their children--we will miss them and will pray for them faith-fully. Connie's last Sunday with First Baptist Nashville is December 23--you will want to share your encouragement and thankfulness for her ministry with us. Following morning worship on December 23, Connie and her family will be available for us to share our love and appreciation. "God bless you, Connie--we ask the Lord's blessings upon you!"

LIFE CHANGE UNIVERSITY--A new name for the program we offer providing various discipleship courses--and we hope that adults will find life change as you participate! As we begin 2008, you will find new opportunities of various courses in our Life Change University, beginning with our Winter Semester. February 3 is Preview Sunday--you'll find exhibits in the foyer of various course offerings during the morning.

Wedding Invitation

Dr. & Mrs. Cleatis Roach request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter,
Heather Ellen to Lieutenant James Henry Hannabass, United States Army, on Saturday, the twenty-ninth of December, Two thousand and seven at four o’clock in the afternoon at
First Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.

2007 Contribution Deadlines

You may bring your offering on Sunday, December 30 (or bring it to the church office on Monday, December 31). If you mail your contribution, it must be postmarked by December 31 to count toward your 2007 contribution record. If you have questions about your contributions for 2007, please contact Mary Garrott at 664-6005.

January Staff

BIRTHDAYS
5 Wesley Lankford, sound system coordinator
13 Vicki Wright, organist
16 Angie Poore, director of food service
31 Rus Roach, minister of pastoral care

ANNIVERSARIES
1 Joe Cortez, plant manager, 16 years
Wesley Lankford, sound system coordinator, 13 years
Rickey Sullivan, custodian, 1 year
3 Mary Garrott, finance assistant, 7 years
John Ross, receptionist/pastoral care assistant, 3 years
Angie Poore, director of food service, 8 years
9 Diane Parish, records assistant, 2 years

Living FREE

Living Free begins in February

LIVING FREE is a new discipleship training opportunity that assists us in addressing the challenges of life. It is a small group study with set curriculum provided for courses of 8 – 11 weeks and will be held on Sunday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and offered during the week as facilitators/participants come forward.

We will offer courses with the start of our Life Change University in February in such topics as dealing with building godly marriages; godly parenting; anger—our master or our servant; understanding depression; caregiving for aging family; search for significance, etc.

Living Free Training

January 11: 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
January 12: 8:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Rooms 140 & 150
Cost $14

The Living Free small groups will exist as part of our discipleship training opportunities in February now entitled Life Change University. Training is provided to those who wish to lead a group or are in need of additional information.

Tex Reardon, of Ruth Graham & Friends, will facilitate our training and enable us to assist those dealing with”past or present problems or loved ones that are.”

For more information, contact Lori Towns at 664-6001.

Craft Your Christmas! Wrap-Up

by Margi Hawkins, senior adult and recreation ministry assistant

Did you miss it again? Oh no! If you'd taken one of the six classes offered this year you'd have a couple of those names on your list checked off by now...although folks are usually so pleased with what they've made there's a strong temptation to keep it. But at least the skill has been acquired and one can always make more.

That's only one of the reasons we do "Craft Your Christmas!" Others include fellowship, outreach and talent discovery/development. Some who have never considered themselves "crafty" find out they can, indeed, make a beaded necklace with Joyce's patient instruction. Church members who have never met each other get acquainted. They share admiring encouragements over finished projects and laughter over glue encrusted fingertips.

Thanks to our faculty for the gift of their time and efforts: Patsy Brethen, Patsy Buckner, Joyce Lowry, Headly and Mary Alice McMains, David Scutt and Lisa Wilson.

Fellowship among God's people is spirit lifting! Plan on joining us next year. "A cheerful heart has a continual feast" (Proverbs 15:15).

Moving Them Toward Independence

Raising children to be independent can be a challenge. When do you turn over appropriate tasks to them so they can perform their own tasks? One of my seminary professors used to say, “Once a child has learned a task, let it be theirs—it may take longer and may not be done the way you would do it, but it instills confidence.”

I don’t always enjoy the process of getting up and getting ready. With that in mind, Joy and I came up with a challenge for Emma and Luke as they were getting ready to enter first grade. We made a calendar with the number of school days they had in the month. Their tasks included waking up, getting dressed and putting away their pajamas, eating breakfast and cleaning up after themselves, brushing their teeth and hair, and getting to the car on time. They would receive a check mark for that day if all their morning tasks were completed and they were in the car on time. Clear guidelines and expectations helped them understand how to achieve success.

They set their own alarm clock—one they could hear. The first week, I’d remind them to watch their time and tell me what task they should be doing. The second week, I would only remind them to watch their schedule. By week three, they were on their own.

At the end of the month, rewards were given. If they had check marks for 75% of the month, they got a $10 gift card. For 95%, they got a $20 gift card. They could get an extra $5 if they went above 95% or completed additional tasks not on the list. On days they were late, they gave us a quarter!

To be successful, children must continue to complete their daily challenges or there will be consequences. This helps them keep their eye on completion and get ready for new challenges.

Reserve Sanctuary Flowers for 2008

You may place a memorial or honor someone special by donating flowers for worship. Please sign up on the 2008 flower calendar posted outside Fellowship Hall with your name and phone number, call Laurie Hall at 664–6030, or click here to sign up using the online form for Sanctuary Flowers available on the church website.

Our Holiday Schedule

December 23
Bible Study & Morning Worship
No Evening Activities

December 24
Christmas Eve Communion at 5 and 8 p.m.
Church Offices Closed

December 25
Merry Christmas!

Church Offices Closed

December 26 – 31
Silent Week (No Activities)

December 30
Bible Study & Morning Worship
No Evening Activities

December 31
2007 Contributions Deadline

January 1
Church Offices Closed

January 2
No Wednesday Activities