The MESSENGER (USPS 591-280) is published weekly except the week of Christmas by

First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801. Periodical postage

paid at Huntsville, Alabama 31801-5178. POSTMASTER send change of address to THE

MESSENGER, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801.

office: 256-428-9400

weekend minister on call: 256-428-9457

24-hour prayer line: 256-428-9460

The Messengerfbchsv.org

firsT bapTisT hunTsville

this sunday

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

First Baptist Church

600 Governors Drive

Huntsville, AL 35801

Volume 63 / Week Number 3 / January 19, 2012

January 22, 2012Third Sunday After the Epiphany

Sermon“Come With Me”

Mark 1:14-20

First Fellowship Worship - 8:15 a.m.Music from the First Fellowship Band

Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m.Bible Study for all ages

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Sanctuary Choir Anthem

Here I Am, Lord - Shutte, arr. Courtney

Vocal Quartet - Great Gettin’ Up Morning

Ladies Luncheon - Fellowship HallFollowing Sanctuary Worship

Evening ActivitiesFoundations for Life Classes

www.fbchsv.org/foundationsforlife

FIrST THoUGHTSDavid Hull, Pastor

As our construction is progressing, let’s remember why we are building in the first place. Several sights and sounds from last week remind us of the need for the new building. In case you did not see or hear them, let me share with you a few observations.

Worship Space – The week began with our First Fellowship service meeting in the Fellowship Hall at 8:15. You may have read in the Messenger last week that we had 424 people in First Fellowship worship.

That is a combination of 405 people in the worship service and 19 in childcare. We set up 400 chairs each week. We need room to grow! That is why we are going to take the gym from the CLC and transform it into a space where over 700 people can worship. It is time to stretch out and provide the space so that our First Fellowship worship service can grow.

Youth Space - on Wednesday night of last week we had right at 90 youth who gathered for the Wednesday night youth service. At least 10 workers and leaders brought the number in the Student Ministry on that night to over 100. our Student Ministry is growing – we need to provide the right kind of space for worship and Bible study. Soon we will see the steel rising from the concrete foundation that will give shape to the Student Ministry area in the new building. It is time to stretch out and provide the best space for our growing Student Ministry.

Sunday School Space - During the week you may have heard the sounds of walls coming down. Our Baptist Builders were working on the third floor to take down walls so that Sunday School space can be created that is more appropriate to the educational needs of our church today. With the move of the Student Ministry into their new space, and with the relocation of First Fellowship worship into the renovated space, there will be a “ripple effect” that opens up classroom space for Sunday School. We have been badly in need of this kind of space. Soon we will be able to start new classes in Sunday School – and that is an important element in a growing Sunday School.

I just wanted to make sure that we remember the “Why?” as we watch the “What?” of the new construction. Let’s keep on growing!

Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. in the Parlor.

A new season of GriefShare began January 17. All who have experienced the loss of a

loved one are invited.

The Hallelujah Choir begins a new year this Monday, January 23 at 10:30 a.m.

LIVING WELL ALABAMA A Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

A free six-week workshop will be offered to adults age 60 and older who want to take charge of their ongoing health problems and learn to manage the effects of chronic illness. Classes will meet on Mondays from 9-11:30 a.m. in room 118

beginning January 23. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Call 256-428-9403 to register.

Celebrating GraceHymnal for Baptist Worship

We have surpassed 1100 hymnals in memorial and honor gifts! Thank you for your support in providing copies of

Celebrating Grace—Hymnal for Baptist Worship for First Baptist Church. If you have not yet given a hymnal in memory

or honor of loved ones, it is not too late to do so. Simply turn in your contributions to the finance office. Gifts will be accepted

throughout January and February.

Hymnal Dedication Service February 26 at 5:00 p.m.

Church Security

In today’s world, violence and various other crises have become a focus of concern for those who are responsible for safety where large numbers of people gather – churches, schools, public buildings, etc. Security professionals concur that being prepared to respond to any negative occurrences is an important and necessary first step.

The Trustees have initiated that first step with the hiring of off-duty police officers to be present during our Sunday worship services. This action is one component of the requirements of a Safety and Security Manual that the Trustees have been working on for the last eighteen months. As we move toward adoption of this manual by the church in the following months, you will be able to review all aspects of the proposed plan. In the meantime, the Trustees thought it prudent to move ahead with the hiring of security personnel.

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

Family Matters

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY

Pam and Alan Jones in the loss of her mother, Angela and Robert Sentell, Robert and Randie Jones in the loss of their grandmother, Rebekah and Jonathan Sentell in the loss of their great-grandmother, Bobbie Horton

Ann and Robert McMillan in the loss of her cousin, Sara Nell Mangram

Library Hours Sunday 9-9:15 AM | 10:10-10:45 AM | 11:40-12:00 PMTuesday 10:00 AM-12:00 PMWednesday 4:00-5:00 PM

Wednesday Night Dinner MenuWednesday, January 25

AdultsShepard’s Pie

Fried okraroll

SaladFried Chicken Salad

(reservations for salad must be turned in by noon on Wednesday.)

STEWArDSHIP rEPorT

Unavailable due to bank holiday

www.fbchsv.org/give

ATTENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 66

Children 87

Students 105

Adults 669

Brookdale 19

Visitors 17

ToTAL 966

Worship ServicesFirst Fellowship 322

Sanctuary Worship 651

Youth Trip 35

ToTAL 1008

THANK YoU

A thank you note has been received from Tom and Mary owen. It has been placed on the

bulletin board across from the church office.

Choose Lifeo f n o r t h a l a b a m a

This Sunday is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Our church works in partnership with Choose Life to minister to women with unwanted pregnancies. Choose Life of North Alabama has been sharing the beauty of life with clients in this community for over 30 years. While they may see the obvious beauty in an unborn child, the difficult circumstances of some of their clients can hide that beauty from their view. It’s all about perspective. That’s why their number one goal is to share the gospel with their clients. Only with God’s perspective can they fully appreciate the value and beauty of every life.

Choose Life is “going mobile.” Partnering with ICU Mobile, they will soon have an ultrasound equipped RV ready to, literally, deliver the gospel and the message of hope to the women of North Alabama.

As a non-profit ministry, they receive no government funding, and are supported completely by donations from local churches, businesses and individuals. All of their services are FREE! They offer pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, after-abortion counseling, one-on-one mentoring, abstinence-only education and more. Last year, they served over 4,400 clients, and 96% of their pregnant clients chose life for their unborn babies.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please contact their office at 256-534-1996 or visit them at chooselifehuntsville.org

Offerings are down 10% compared

to last year’s first quarter.

Ministry PlanOctober - December, FY 2012

YTD Goal YTD ActualMinistry Receipts $ 1,320,90 $ 1,207,919Ministry Expenditures:Vision for Ministry: Worship 19,845 12,082 Evangelism 54,250 47,493 Spiritual Growth 50,316 40,214 Ministry Development 6,025 322 Congregational Life 34,620 25,331 Missions 158,508 144,950 Total $ 323,564 $ 270,392

Equipping for Ministry 462,619 448,185Support for Ministry 320,775 240,207

Total Ministry Expenditures $ 1,106,958 $ 958,784Excess $ 213,942 $ 249,135

December a year ago, we gave a total of $726,487 to our ministry budget. This past December, FY2012, we gave a total of $582,543 to fund our ministry budget – a 19.8% decrease.

First quarter giving a year ago was $1,336,979, compared to the $1,207,919 given for the first quarter of FY2012 – a decrease of 10%. Historical giving patterns of our church show that approximately 32.5% of our annual giving is received in the first quarter of the fiscal year. It is of great concern that this first quarter giving represents only 29% of our annual budgeted giving.

While our giving to the ministry budget was below expectations this first quarter, giving in other areas of our ministry remain strong. You have given over 61% of our total pledge to Faith Steps in the first 13 months of this program. Our missions offering goal of $39,900 for international missions was exceeded by almost $16,000. Our goal of 1100 orders for purchasing new hymnals was met and exceeded.

Where are you in your giving to the ministry budget of FBC?

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE1st Quarter 2012

Ask Yourself

Our accountability to God is an absolute. Ask yourself, as you begin this New Year...

• How have I been involved in mission and ministry? Take stock of your personal involvement in reaching others for Christ.

• Have I done something as simple as inviting a neighbor or coworker to church?

• Am I committed to regular worship and Bible study with fellow Christians?

• Have I gone out of my way to welcome a guest to Sunday School or church?

• Am I ministering in some way to someone less fortunate than myself?

• Am I giving regularly to support God’s Kingdom work through FBC?

Christmas Missions Offerings

Goal - $39,900Actual - $55,822

Sunday, Jan. 22 First Fellowship 8:15 AMMorning Bible Study 9:15 AMSanctuary Worship 10:30 AMLadies Luncheon/FH 12:00 PMMusic reh./Sanct. 1:00 PMChildren’s Handbells 4:00 PMFinancial Peace/Parlor 4:00 PMMarriage/108 4:00 PMChildren’s Bible Drill/225-226 5:00 PMYouth Choir/Cr 5:00 PMFoundations for Life 5:00 PM Pastor’s Class/FHYouth Choir Snacks/241 6:00 PM

Monday, Jan. 23MoPS/241 9:00 AMLiving Well FBC/118 9:00 AMLetter Writing/242 9:00 AMHallelujah Choir/Cr 10:30 AM

Tuesday, Jan. 24Student Prayer BreakfastTues. Morn. Intercess./242 7:00 AMHYo Classes/140-141, 241 5:00 PMGrief Share/Parlor 6:00 PMForum/118 6:30 PMAdult Handbells 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 25Precept Bible St./342 9:00 AMSupper/FH 4:45 PMStewardship Comm./115 5:30 PMMusic & Missions/2nd FL 5:45 PMYoung Adult M&M/229 5:45 PMH2o Bible St./114 5:45 PMPrayer Meeting/FH 5:45 PMLift off/309-310 6:00 PMorchestra/Sanct. 6:00 PMSanctuary Choir/Cr 7:00 PM

Thursday, Jan. 26Mom’s Bible St./Parlor 11:30 AM

Saturday, Jan. 28Sanctuary Choir retreat 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

Family Matters

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY

Pam and Alan Jones in the loss of her mother, Angela and Robert Sentell, Robert and Randie Jones in the loss of their grandmother, Rebekah and Jonathan Sentell in the loss of their great-grandmother, Bobbie Horton

Ann and Robert McMillan in the loss of her cousin, Sara Nell Mangram

Library Hours Sunday 9-9:15 AM | 10:10-10:45 AM | 11:40-12:00 PMTuesday 10:00 AM-12:00 PMWednesday 4:00-5:00 PM

Wednesday Night Dinner MenuWednesday, January 25

AdultsShepard’s Pie

Fried okraroll

SaladFried Chicken Salad

(reservations for salad must be turned in by noon on Wednesday.)

STEWArDSHIP rEPorT

Unavailable due to bank holiday

www.fbchsv.org/give

ATTENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 66

Children 87

Students 105

Adults 669

Brookdale 19

Visitors 17

ToTAL 966

Worship ServicesFirst Fellowship 322

Sanctuary Worship 651

Youth Trip 35

ToTAL 1008

THANK YoU

A thank you note has been received from Tom and Mary owen. It has been placed on the

bulletin board across from the church office.

Choose Lifeo f n o r t h a l a b a m a

This Sunday is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Our church works in partnership with Choose Life to minister to women with unwanted pregnancies. Choose Life of North Alabama has been sharing the beauty of life with clients in this community for over 30 years. While they may see the obvious beauty in an unborn child, the difficult circumstances of some of their clients can hide that beauty from their view. It’s all about perspective. That’s why their number one goal is to share the gospel with their clients. Only with God’s perspective can they fully appreciate the value and beauty of every life.

Choose Life is “going mobile.” Partnering with ICU Mobile, they will soon have an ultrasound equipped RV ready to, literally, deliver the gospel and the message of hope to the women of North Alabama.

As a non-profit ministry, they receive no government funding, and are supported completely by donations from local churches, businesses and individuals. All of their services are FREE! They offer pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, after-abortion counseling, one-on-one mentoring, abstinence-only education and more. Last year, they served over 4,400 clients, and 96% of their pregnant clients chose life for their unborn babies.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please contact their office at 256-534-1996 or visit them at chooselifehuntsville.org

Offerings are down 10% compared

to last year’s first quarter.

Ministry PlanOctober - December, FY 2012

YTD Goal YTD ActualMinistry Receipts $ 1,320,90 $ 1,207,919Ministry Expenditures:Vision for Ministry: Worship 19,845 12,082 Evangelism 54,250 47,493 Spiritual Growth 50,316 40,214 Ministry Development 6,025 322 Congregational Life 34,620 25,331 Missions 158,508 144,950 Total $ 323,564 $ 270,392

Equipping for Ministry 462,619 448,185Support for Ministry 320,775 240,207

Total Ministry Expenditures $ 1,106,958 $ 958,784Excess $ 213,942 $ 249,135

December a year ago, we gave a total of $726,487 to our ministry budget. This past December, FY2012, we gave a total of $582,543 to fund our ministry budget – a 19.8% decrease.

First quarter giving a year ago was $1,336,979, compared to the $1,207,919 given for the first quarter of FY2012 – a decrease of 10%. Historical giving patterns of our church show that approximately 32.5% of our annual giving is received in the first quarter of the fiscal year. It is of great concern that this first quarter giving represents only 29% of our annual budgeted giving.

While our giving to the ministry budget was below expectations this first quarter, giving in other areas of our ministry remain strong. You have given over 61% of our total pledge to Faith Steps in the first 13 months of this program. Our missions offering goal of $39,900 for international missions was exceeded by almost $16,000. Our goal of 1100 orders for purchasing new hymnals was met and exceeded.

Where are you in your giving to the ministry budget of FBC?

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE1st Quarter 2012

Ask Yourself

Our accountability to God is an absolute. Ask yourself, as you begin this New Year...

• How have I been involved in mission and ministry? Take stock of your personal involvement in reaching others for Christ.

• Have I done something as simple as inviting a neighbor or coworker to church?

• Am I committed to regular worship and Bible study with fellow Christians?

• Have I gone out of my way to welcome a guest to Sunday School or church?

• Am I ministering in some way to someone less fortunate than myself?

• Am I giving regularly to support God’s Kingdom work through FBC?

Christmas Missions Offerings

Goal - $39,900Actual - $55,822

Sunday, Jan. 22 First Fellowship 8:15 AMMorning Bible Study 9:15 AMSanctuary Worship 10:30 AMLadies Luncheon/FH 12:00 PMMusic reh./Sanct. 1:00 PMChildren’s Handbells 4:00 PMFinancial Peace/Parlor 4:00 PMMarriage/108 4:00 PMChildren’s Bible Drill/225-226 5:00 PMYouth Choir/Cr 5:00 PMFoundations for Life 5:00 PM Pastor’s Class/FHYouth Choir Snacks/241 6:00 PM

Monday, Jan. 23MoPS/241 9:00 AMLiving Well FBC/118 9:00 AMLetter Writing/242 9:00 AMHallelujah Choir/Cr 10:30 AM

Tuesday, Jan. 24Student Prayer BreakfastTues. Morn. Intercess./242 7:00 AMHYo Classes/140-141, 241 5:00 PMGrief Share/Parlor 6:00 PMForum/118 6:30 PMAdult Handbells 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 25Precept Bible St./342 9:00 AMSupper/FH 4:45 PMStewardship Comm./115 5:30 PMMusic & Missions/2nd FL 5:45 PMYoung Adult M&M/229 5:45 PMH2o Bible St./114 5:45 PMPrayer Meeting/FH 5:45 PMLift off/309-310 6:00 PMorchestra/Sanct. 6:00 PMSanctuary Choir/Cr 7:00 PM

Thursday, Jan. 26Mom’s Bible St./Parlor 11:30 AM

Saturday, Jan. 28Sanctuary Choir retreat 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

The MESSENGER (USPS 591-280) is published weekly except the week of Christmas by

First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801. Periodical postage

paid at Huntsville, Alabama 31801-5178. POSTMASTER send change of address to THE

MESSENGER, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801.

office: 256-428-9400

weekend minister on call: 256-428-9457

24-hour prayer line: 256-428-9460

The Messengerfbchsv.org

firsT bapTisT hunTsville

this sunday

knowing, lov ing, serv ing Christ...together

First Baptist Church

600 Governors Drive

Huntsville, AL 35801

Volume 63 / Week Number 3 / January 19, 2012

January 22, 2012Third Sunday After the Epiphany

Sermon“Come With Me”

Mark 1:14-20

First Fellowship Worship - 8:15 a.m.Music from the First Fellowship Band

Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m.Bible Study for all ages

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Sanctuary Choir Anthem

Here I Am, Lord - Shutte, arr. Courtney

Vocal Quartet - Great Gettin’ Up Morning

Ladies Luncheon - Fellowship HallFollowing Sanctuary Worship

Evening ActivitiesFoundations for Life Classes

www.fbchsv.org/foundationsforlife

FIrST THoUGHTSDavid Hull, Pastor

As our construction is progressing, let’s remember why we are building in the first place. Several sights and sounds from last week remind us of the need for the new building. In case you did not see or hear them, let me share with you a few observations.

Worship Space – The week began with our First Fellowship service meeting in the Fellowship Hall at 8:15. You may have read in the Messenger last week that we had 424 people in First Fellowship worship.

That is a combination of 405 people in the worship service and 19 in childcare. We set up 400 chairs each week. We need room to grow! That is why we are going to take the gym from the CLC and transform it into a space where over 700 people can worship. It is time to stretch out and provide the space so that our First Fellowship worship service can grow.

Youth Space - on Wednesday night of last week we had right at 90 youth who gathered for the Wednesday night youth service. At least 10 workers and leaders brought the number in the Student Ministry on that night to over 100. our Student Ministry is growing – we need to provide the right kind of space for worship and Bible study. Soon we will see the steel rising from the concrete foundation that will give shape to the Student Ministry area in the new building. It is time to stretch out and provide the best space for our growing Student Ministry.

Sunday School Space - During the week you may have heard the sounds of walls coming down. Our Baptist Builders were working on the third floor to take down walls so that Sunday School space can be created that is more appropriate to the educational needs of our church today. With the move of the Student Ministry into their new space, and with the relocation of First Fellowship worship into the renovated space, there will be a “ripple effect” that opens up classroom space for Sunday School. We have been badly in need of this kind of space. Soon we will be able to start new classes in Sunday School – and that is an important element in a growing Sunday School.

I just wanted to make sure that we remember the “Why?” as we watch the “What?” of the new construction. Let’s keep on growing!

Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. in the Parlor.

A new season of GriefShare began January 17. All who have experienced the loss of a

loved one are invited.

The Hallelujah Choir begins a new year this Monday, January 23 at 10:30 a.m.

LIVING WELL ALABAMA A Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

A free six-week workshop will be offered to adults age 60 and older who want to take charge of their ongoing health problems and learn to manage the effects of chronic illness. Classes will meet on Mondays from 9-11:30 a.m. in room 118

beginning January 23. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Call 256-428-9403 to register.

Celebrating GraceHymnal for Baptist Worship

We have surpassed 1100 hymnals in memorial and honor gifts! Thank you for your support in providing copies of

Celebrating Grace—Hymnal for Baptist Worship for First Baptist Church. If you have not yet given a hymnal in memory

or honor of loved ones, it is not too late to do so. Simply turn in your contributions to the finance office. Gifts will be accepted

throughout January and February.

Hymnal Dedication Service February 26 at 5:00 p.m.

Church Security

In today’s world, violence and various other crises have become a focus of concern for those who are responsible for safety where large numbers of people gather – churches, schools, public buildings, etc. Security professionals concur that being prepared to respond to any negative occurrences is an important and necessary first step.

The Trustees have initiated that first step with the hiring of off-duty police officers to be present during our Sunday worship services. This action is one component of the requirements of a Safety and Security Manual that the Trustees have been working on for the last eighteen months. As we move toward adoption of this manual by the church in the following months, you will be able to review all aspects of the proposed plan. In the meantime, the Trustees thought it prudent to move ahead with the hiring of security personnel.