Vol. XLIV December 14, 2016 No. 49

Dec 24: 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Dec 25: 10:00 am Christmas Morning Service (child friendly service)

Pastor’s Pen

Pastor Grant Bowles - Senior Pastor

What Are You Looking For?

Baptisms on Sunday! Those words get me excited. Two fathers will have the privilege of baptizing their chil-dren and I am honored to perform this ordinance for an-other new member. With our two Worship Services and Connect Bible Study schedule we are trying something new in regards to baptism. We will invite everyone to the Worship Center at 10:05. If you attend the 9:00 am ser-vice, please stay in your seat after the service concludes. Those in Connect Bible Study will join us as soon as we finish the first service. If you are in a Connect Bible Study at 9:00 am, please make sure you are at the Worship Center by 10:05 am. We need to begin the Baptism ser-vice at 10:10 am to finish by 10:20 am. That will give us 10 minutes to fellowship before the 10:30 am service begins. KidsZone teachers will bring the children down-stairs for the baptisms. They will return upstairs together afterwards. If you pick up your children after KidsZone, you will need to go upstairs as usual after the baptisms.

Why make the extra effort to bring everyone together? The Pastoral Staff believes strongly that baptism is a church-wide celebration and we want to ensure the entire church participates in this joyous celebration. Those be-ing baptized are formally joining our church family and I know we all want to join with them in this special time.

You don’t want to miss the celebration Sunday! Also we will be making a HUGE announcement about our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Missions on Sunday. I will only say that your Pastor has some apologizing to do.

Br. John Guerra - Associate Pastor

Acts 20:24:“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

After a life of pursuing wealth, fame and power, Paul was on a new hunt. He was committed to honoring and obeying the Father at all costs. What are you looking for? Are you looking to build up or tear down? Are you looking for ways to serve in the future or preserve the past? 2016 has been an interesting, exciting, challenging year that I’ll never forget. I’ve learned so much and once again have come to realize that I have so much to learn. Yes, there’s been a lot of change, but instead of dwelling on the changes, focus on the motivation: we are committed to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. You have a staff that genuinely wants to obey the command to make disciples of all nations. We have a heart for our community, so we continue to look for space and leadership in our discipleship efforts. We continue to look for ways to reach out and minister to our community like we have with God’s Table and hope to with God’s Garden. We continue to make missions a priority in our lives and church by providing opportunities for our members to be involved in local and international missions. From Gracias, Honduras, to Matamoros, Mexico to HWY 455, we want to go wherever the Lord leads us to go and work with Him where He is working. From our new hour of Connection Bible Study to our home Growth Groups, we are committed to making disciples. So, what are you looking for? If you’re looking for entertainment, you might find a little, but that’s not why we do what we do. If you’re looking for fulfillment, there are opportunities to serve and we’re here to help. If you want your life to make a difference, just make yourself available! God is making a difference through several of our ministries, but you’ll not find much fulfillment outside of a surrendered life. Give Him your heart and He will fill it, …. to overflowing. This is 2016’s last newsletter, so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and thank you for the opportunity to serve the Lord with you here at FBC Sanger.

The teen lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a fruitless search, he went inside and told his mother the lens was nowhere to be found. Undaunted, she went outside, and in a few minutes, she returned with the lens in her hand. "How did you find it, Mom?" the teen asked. Mom: "We weren't looking for the same thing. You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150." What we look for determines what we find.

For the Record - December 11 , 2016

Enrollment ............................................. 620 New Members ..............................................1 Guests ..........................................................3

Attendance Adults (337 enrolled) ..................... …….. 141 Youth (165 enrolled) ................................ 38 Children (52 enrolled) ............................... 17 Preschool (55 enrolled) ............................. 31 General Officers (4 enrolled) ........................3

Total Sunday School ............................... 230

Weekly Budget Needs .............. ..$17,572.00 Weekly Budget Received ............ $20,387.00 Building Fund .................................. $ 995.00 Lottie Moon ................................... $1,708.00 We Care ....................................... $ 1,055.00

Ryan Dunn - Youth Pastor ryan@fbcsanger.com

Youth Christmas Banquet

TONIGHT! 6:30 - 8:15 pm

Disciple Now

Weekend 2017

"Echoes"

Jan. 27-29, 2017

Cost: $35. Students sign up now.

Many Adult Volunteer positions

available. Sign up in foyer.

CONTACT RYAN FOR MORE DETAILS.

OUR 2016 GOAL = $15,000

Men’s Ministry

Wild Game Dinner

Friday, 1/6/17, FLC

Displays open at 6:00 pm | Dinner at 7:00 pm

*No Uprising - Wednesday, 12/21/16 *Regular Uprising - 12/28/16 *No Surge Growth Groups.12/18, 12/25, 1/1

Thank you Pastor Grant & all that prayed, sent cards or visited. Please continue the

prayers - they are helping. ~Leona Bowshier

IMPORTANT DATES *Wednesday, 12/21, No evening services or activities *Friday, 12/23, Church offices closed. *Monday, 12/26, Church offices closed. *Wednesday, 12/28, SSM meets, no other evening activities. *Friday, 12/30, Church offices closed. *Sunday, 1/1/17, Normal Morning Schedule. No evening services.

TREASURE PRINCIPLE SERIES

Begins Sunday, Jan 8

Thanks to my wonderful friends at FBC for your prayers, calls, visits, cards, and flowers after my shoulder replacement surgery. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. ~Don Taylor

WEEKLY CALENDAR!

VOLUNTEERS IN PRESCHOOL

December 18, 2016

1-2 yr olds: Carianne Lovelace

2-3 yr olds: Christina & Bridget Cost

God’s Table Volunteers Monday, Dec 19: Friday & Saunders classes

Monday, Dec 26: T. Muir class Monday, Jan 2 Nelms, Reed class

December 18 - First Responders David Miller/Jerry Saunders

NO CHOIR REHEARSAL: 12/18, 12/25, 1/1. WE WILL RESUME ON 1/8/17.

Sunday, Dec 18, 10:05 am Baptisms between services. All are encouraged to attend.

Monday, Dec 19, 6:00 - 7:00 pm GOD’S TABLE CHRISTMAS PARTY!

Tuesday, Jan 3, 9:00 am - Noon Peacemakers Quilt Ministry. FH.

Sunday, Jan 8, 7:00 pm Deacons’ Meeting. FH.

Sunday, Jan 8, 6:00 pm Committees Fellowship. FLC.

THIS IS OUR LAST NEWSLETTER OF 2016

Many blessings to you and yours!

The next newsletter will be Jan 4, 2017

Many blessings from the FBC Sanger staff & employees

CONNECTION CARD

Men’s Ministry Wild Came Attendance and Display

Participation

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. Psalm 47:6