TheClarionV o l u m e l X V I I | N u m b e r 21 | N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016

In This Issue...

Coming up:

C h a p e l 6C h i l d r e n 4F i r s t l i ne s 3m i d w e e k m o o r i n g s 3m u s i c 10F i r s t S e r v e s 5T S P 7

N o V e m b e r 5First Serves: oak Springs Carnival & Habitat build DaySee pages 4 & 5 for more info

N o V e m b e r 6Installation service for rev. Dr. Griff martinSee page 7 for more info

N o V e m b e r 8 & 16First Austin unitesSee page 8 for more info

N o V e m b e r 12Parents’ Night OutSee page 4 for more info

N o V e m b e r 13ChapelSee page 6 for more info

music Dedication SundaySee page 10 for more info

Agape meal & ServiceSee back page for more info

N o V e m b e r 2 0Decorating the Church for ChristmasSee page 10 for more info

VIGIL: Contemplative Retreats for AdventTuesday, December 6th - 6 pm to 9 pm

Thursday, December 8th - 6 pm to 9 pm

Saturday, December 10th - 9 am to Noon

At Still Waters Retreat, 9409 Granada Hills Dr, Austin, Texas 78737

Mark you calendars for the evenings of December 6th or 8th or the morning of December 10th. During

the season of Advent at First Austin, we'll be opening our eyes to all the ways in which God invites us

to pay attention and keep watch.

VIGIL is a contemplative retreat for Advent guided by Pastor Griff at Still Waters. Because we know Christmas can be a very busy time, there will be three opportunities to participate. The Tuesday and Thursday evening retreats will begin at 6 pm and end with a simple soup and salad dinner and the Saturday morning retreat will start at 9 am and end with a simple brunch.

Space will be limited for this intimate guided retreat! Registration is NOW OPEN. Go to fbcaustin.org/VIGIL to learn more and sign-up.

***If you are unable to attend one of these retreats, personal guides will be made available for those wishing to take a personal retreat.

WorSHIP CAre IS CHIlD CAre DurING our SuNDAy morNING WorSHIP SerVICe. THeSe PerSoNS HAVe VoluNTeereD To HelP IN THe ComING WeekS:

Worship Care

Infants and CreepersNovember 6 Mary Helen &

David Wheelock

November 13 Jamie & Chad Ennis

November 20 Jenny &

David Schuchmann

ToddlersNovember 6 Tom Hoekstra &

Mary Smith

November 13

November 20 Bethany & Nathan Leach

2’s and 3’s November 6 Jim Ward &

Lisa Fehrenkamp

November 13 Amy & Chip Brees

November 20 Kim & Sam Myrick

Deadline Publication DateNovember 10 November 16December 1 December 7

Please email submissions to Clarion@fbcaustin.org

Clarion Deadline

The Zollie Steakley Men’s Bible Study Class is available online athttp://www.fbcaustin.org/content.cfm?id=2038

Listen on the Website

S u N D Ay, N o V e m b e r 6 9:00 am Youth Choir Rehearsal9:00 am Church Library Open9:30 am Sunday School11:00 am Worship: Dr. Terry York, preacher Installation service for Rev. Dr. Griff Martin12:00 pm Prime Time Meeting1:00 - 4:00 pm Texas Book Festival2:00 pm Cantamos Rehearsal

m o N D Ay, N o V e m b e r 7 6:45 am Men’s Bible Study5:30 pm Committee Meetings7:00 pm Church Council

T u e S D Ay, N o V e m b e r 8 10:00 am Staff Meeting12:00 pm Contemplative Prayer Service - Chapel

W e D N e S D Ay, N o V e m b e r 9 5:00 pm Children’s Choirs Rehearsal5:30-6:15 pm Dinner6:00-6:30 pm Midweek Meditations - Chapel 6:00 pm Mission Friends6:00 pm Community Prayer in the Fellowship Hall6:10 pm Midweek Moorings: Debra Watkins6:10 pm Midweek Readings - Parlor6:10 pm Midweek Merge - Youth6:10 pm Sanctuary Handbells Rehearsal6:15 pm GAs & RAs7:20 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

T H u r S D Ay, N o V e m b e r 10 Ministerial Retreat through Nov. 8

S A T u r D Ay, N o V e m b e r 12 5:30 pm Parnets’ Night Out

S u N D Ay, N o V e m b e r 13 9:00 am Church Library Open9:30 am Sunday School10:00 am Chapel11:00 am Worship: Griff Martin, preacher Music Dedication Service12:00 pm Cantamos Rehearsal5:30 pm Agape Meal & Service

m o N D Ay, N o V e m b e r 14 Prime TIme Trip to Big Bend through Nov. 186:45 am Men’s Bible Study

T u e S D Ay, N o V e m b e r 15 10:00 am Staff Meeting12:00 pm Reading Round Table

W e D N e S D Ay, N o V e m b e r 16 5:00 pm Children’s Choirs Rehearsal5:30-6:15 pm Dinner

C H u r C H C A l e N D A rW e e k ly

NoVember

21 Deacons’ Meeting

MLF Thanksgiving Feast

23-25 Holiday - Church Office Closed

30 Business Meeting

DeCember

4 Christmas Fair

Global Market

5 Committee Night

7-11 Border Mission Trip

10 Parents’ Day Out

11 Chapel

14 Cantamos Christmas Musical

17 Christmas Grams

19 MLF Christmas Feast

21 Christmas Music Service

25 Christmas Day

26 Chruch Office closed

28 No Midweek Moorings Activities

30 HUGGS

PA G e 2 NoVember 2 , 2016

C H u r C H C A l e N D A ry e A r ly

6:00-6:30 pm Midweek Meditations - Chapel 6:00 pm Mission Friends6:oo pm Community Prayer in the Fellowship Hall6:10 pm Midweek Moorings: Griff Martin 6:10 pm Midweek Readings - Parlor6:10 pm Midweek Merge - Youth6:10 pm Sanctuary Handbells Rehearsal6:15 pm GAs & RAs7:20 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

S u N D Ay, N o V e m b e r 2 0 9:00 am Youth Choir Rehearsal9:00 am Church Library Open9:30 am Sunday School11:00 am Worship: Griff Martin, preacher12:00 pm Decorate the church for Christmas3:00 pm Cantamos Rehearsal

N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016 PA G e 3

F I r S T l I N e S by Griff Martin

To celebrate the end of last school year I took Blake to New Orleans to see a performance of the musical Wicked. In my opinion, Wicked is one of the most phenomenal artistic experiences created in our lifetime. It’s a living text, and every time I have seen it I walk away with a different interpretation, a new meaning and new discoveries. It’s one of the rare works of art that continually speaks anew like Scripture or Grapes of Wrath, the lyrics of Guy Clark the words in the pages of Harry Potter, or almost all poetry.

This last spring when I saw it, Abby and I knew we were moving here but had not yet broken that news to our kids, our friends or our church. As excited as we were about this new adventure, we were beginning to grieve over those we were leaving.

At the beginning of the second act, there is a line that hit me for the first time, “Cause getting your dreams is strange but it seems, a little- well- complicated. There’s a kind of a sort of cost, a couple of things get lost...There are bridges you cross you didn’t know you crossed until you crossed.” And when the line was sung, I got it, like really got it... like Blake leaned over and asked, ‘Dad why are you crying?” got it.

Because although I knew God was up to something good, I had not yet truly registered that this something was going to involve saying goodbye and letting go of a place and people and church that I had come to deeply love and cherish. Saying yes to First Austin, I had crossed a bridge and was now looking back at the land I was leaving.

To me that is the true call of God, crossing bridges into unknown lands, ones we never expected to journey into.

One of the first bridges that I ever crossed was moving from a fundamentalist faith to that of a more free and open baptist. It was not an easy bridge to cross. There were those who truly believed that I was leaving the faith and those that felt the questions I was asking were dangerous, even heretical. Crossing that bridge meant losing a lot of unnecessary baggage that I had picked up over the years, but it also meant walking forward into a faith that was not as certain. It was a like a double edged sword, the tension of the fear I was losing my faith coupled with the celebration of discovering something that felt true in a way I had never before experienced.

And once that bridge was crossed, it gave me the courage to keep on crossing bridges.

I think about that right now as our church is on the verge of many new things. It might be helpful for us to think about our history and the bridges that we have crossed: our move from the old property to this new property, the bridge that lead us away from the Southern Baptist Convention, and the bridge from a system of only male leadership to equal leadership between genders.

All the way to our most recent bridge of inclusivity, where we bravely walked into a place that too few baptist churches have yet crossed over, saying that at First Austin, all are welcome and all are equal. This bridge has lead us to perform same sex weddings, ordain LBGTQ+ deacons, and has helped create a safe space in the baptist world for a group that was often excluded. Crossing that bridge has not come without cost. We have lost folks who

did not agree and have begun to understand this stance may cost us our place in some of our affiliations.

We prepared for this discussion last year at BGCT and it seems the issue has come up once again. We are addressing this through the upcoming budget. Also, together with our current Missions comittee and the help of the Denominational Relations task force, we are listening carefully to the words and the testimonies we are hearing, we are listening to our LBGTQ+ members and their testimonies, and we are most importantly listening to God and God’s call on us at this point. Perhaps we are crossing another bridge here and entering a new land.

One of the lines that keeps coming up in my mind is Willie Nelson: “I did not leave the church, the church left me.” Maybe that is what our bridge looks like this time, that is certainly what it feels like to me.

Even here in our community there are still differences of opinions and we will remain a big tent church, or maybe in this metaphor let’s say a big highway church. Our work is building bridges, not burning them.

Here’s the thing about those bridges...it does mean leaving lands behind and forging new paths so that those who walk behind us can follow. Each bridge I have crossed has led me to a place where I find God anew and I find further community. This is the very biblical journey where a bunch of exiles continually try to find their way to the promised land, bridge by bridge by bridge.

Grace and peace. Griff

Come be ANCHoreD AGAIN…mIDWeek moorINGS oN

WeDNeSDAy NIGHT S

5 : 0 0 P M - C h i l d r e N ’ s C h O i r r e h e a r s a l s

5 : 3 0 - 6 : 15 P m - D I N N e r

6 0 0 P m - m I S S I o N F r I e N D S

6 : 0 0 - 6 : 3 0 P m - m I D W e e k m e D I TAT I o N S - C H A P e l

6 : 0 0 P m - C o m m u N I T y P r Ay e r I N F e l l o W S H I P H A l l

6 : 10 P m - m I D W e e k m o o r I N G S : C A l l I N G A N D V o C A T I o N

6 : 10 P m - m I D W e e k r e A D I N G S - T A T T o o S o N T H e H e A r T6 : 10 P m - S A N C T u A r y H A N D b e l l S r e H e A r S A l

6 : 15 P m - m I S S I o N e D u C A T I o N F o r e l e m e N T A r y C H I l D r e N

7: 2 0 P m - S A N C T u A r y C H o I r r e H e A r S A l

MIDWEEK

MOORINGS

Coming Up: N o V e m b e r 9 - Debra Watkins - Calling and Vocation: Conversations on Our Passions and the World’s Needs N o V e m b e r 16 Griff Martin - Healing the Heart of Democracy

PA G e 4 N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016

Children’s MinistryCalendar of Events Every Sunday:Sunday School @ 9:30 am

WednesdaysChi ldren’s Choir rehear sal @ 5:00 pm

miss ion Fr iends @ 6:00 pm

rAs & GAs @ 6:15 pm

November5 oak Spr ings Carnival!

6 Preschool & Chi ldren’s commit tee meet -

ing

12 Parents’ Night Out

13 music Dedicat ion Sunday (choir s s ing!)

13 Agape meal

24 Thanksgiv ing!

December4 Chr is tmas Fair!

November Birthdays2 emanuel Celes t ino4 e l ianna5 Andy5 Annajean5 Nicholas6 bennet t13 Danie l le13 David16 mar ie l le28 mason

Please bring donations of large and small prizes to the green donation barrel outside the children’s area on the 1st floor. Bring monetary donations to the church office.Small prizes (small toys, stickers, pencils, etc.)

Raffle prizes (bicycles, appliances, household items, sports equipment, large toys, games, dolls, etc.)

Parents’ Night OutThe next Parents’ Night Out is November 12th from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Cost is $10 per child with a $20 family maximum. Pack a sack supper for your child. Please contact Elizabeth O’Brien at elizabethmeobrien@gmail.com to reserve a place for your child.The final 2016 date is December 10th, Parents’ Day Out.

Worship Training Complete!Thank you Julie Valentine for leading a terrific Worship Training for our 4 year olds and Kindergarteners! We look forward to worshipping with our youngest children in the sanctuary on Sundays!

On October 30, 2016, Elizabeth and Colin Gilligan brought their daughter, Carys Louise Gilligan to be dedicated to God. We, their church family, promised to support them.

OAK SPRINGSElementary November 5, 2016 - Noon to 3 pm

November Sunday SchoolThe Elementary and Preschool classes are learning Bible stories about God’s people and the rise and fall of Jerusalem, the exile and return of the Israelites from the books of Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel.

Babies and toddlers will experience God’s love through the smiles and the gentle touch of their teachers and caregivers. Join us at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday! Teachers, friends and Bible stories are ready and waiting for your children.

Oak Springs Carnival Volunteers needed!Go to our church website to sign up to volunteer at the Oak Springs Carnival on Saturday, November 5, 2016. Sign up to help with the Raffle or the Cake Walk or the Kitchen! Sign up to donate cakes, prizes, or cash!

Family Dedication

COME TOGETHER

ServeBe Churchwith First Austin

Come help build an affordable home along with the family who will be living there.

It takes many hands and many hours to build these homes, and you will play a vital role in assisting with Habitat’s mission.

Our work day will be doing finish-up work on the Weldemichael’s new home. Hard workers needed for painting, installing hardware, and landscaping. Even more important, we need a crew to prepare and deliver lunch to the construction site.

Volunteer coordinator is David Wheelock, call/text: 512-461-7791 for information or to sign up.

Please sign up by going online to www.fbcaustin.org/firstserves

Habitat for HumanityNOVEMBER 5, 8am – 4pm

CHrIS TmAS PoINSeTT IASThe First Baptist Sanctuary will be decorated with poinsettias on December 11th

and 18th. Some of the poinsettias will be delivered to shut-in members of the Church Family after worship on the 18th. If you would like to assist by donating a poinsettia ($13 per plant) in honor or memory of someone, please complete the following form and return it to the church office, along with your check made payable to First Baptist Church and designated “poinsettia.” You may also email musicoffice@fbcaustin.org to reserve a poinsettia (name of donor and honoree) and pay online at www.fbcaustin.org. Those honored or memorialized will be listed in the Order of Worship. DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATION IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7th, BUT WE APPRECIATE EARLIER NOTIFICATION.

DONOR _________________________________________________________________

IN MEMORY OF _________________________________________________________

IN HONOR OF __________________________________________________________

# OF PLANTS __________

This year, we are focusing on serving two primary work sites in Austin. In this issue of The Clarion you’ll find more information about each site: Oak Springs Carnival and Habitat for Humanity. Sign up to serve at one of these two great opportunities to go out into your community and serve alongside people from First Austin.

For more information, and to be able to see where there is still need for volunteers, please visit www.fbcaustin.org/firstserves and click on the links to the service sites.

Please note that this year we will NOT gather early on the morning of Saturday, November 5th for worship service.

To sign-up to help with the Texas Book Festival, an event happening in our building, go to http://www.texasbookfestival.org/volunteer/

F IRST SERVES - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 TH

Please see page 4 for information on volunteering and donations.

OAK SPRINGSElementary

November 5, 2016 - Noon to 3 pm

N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016 PA G e 5

CHAPel IS TurNING oNe!I was home in East Texas recently and someone asked me, “How long have you been in Austin?” It’s a question I get asked ever so often because it’s the type of question that’s perfect fodder for small talk, but this

time it sort of caught me off guard.

“Gosh... I don’t know. Let me think... about two and half years, now I guess.”

If you didn’t know (in younger adult time) that’s an eternity. Since I left home for college in 2001 I’ve moved EIGHT times. That’s a move every 1.875 years. So, I’m starting to feel all manner of grown up and settled here in Austin, which is pretty weird.

This is similar to how I’m feeling about CHAPEL these days. On November 13th, we’ll gather for the 12th, and on December 11th we’ll celebrate a whole year of existing and thriving.

So many wonderful things have happened since that first experiment we called, “Mothers of God.” So many new faces have walked through the doors of First Austin and so many new voices

have been heard through music and word as we’ve sought to create a space for fresh, innovative liturgy that honors our deep tradition and listens faithfully to our spirt-filled, evolving world.

On that first Sunday, December 13th, 2015, I expected no more than 25-30 people to show up. With something so new and seemingly “risky,” I distinctly remember our conversations about how many chairs we ought to set out. Not wanting too many as to make it feel empty, we settled on 45.

60 people came.

Each second Sunday is an exercise in allowing God to do what God wants, regardless of my persistent fears and trust issues. We’re now at a point where every month we’re pushing up against and even beyond the 85 person capacity for our chapel, with people standing along the edges and sitting on the floor wherever they can find space.

What a fantastic challenge!

What will the future bring for CHAPEL? I don’t quite know, but we’re immensely grateful to all of you for giving us the opportunity to see where God is taking us.

peace,

Jared and the CHAPEL Creative Team*

*Carleigh, Debra, Charlotte, Melissa, Carrie, Tracee, Rod, Leigh, Luke, Alonda, Joe, Kelsey, Adrienne & Lindsey

PA G e 6 N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016

N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016 PA G e 7

TSP FundraiserTrinity Street Players held its third fundraiser on Sunday with seven church friends and nine guests volunteering over 50 hours of preparation to perform to a sold out audience on Sunday of both First Austin folks and visitors who want to support the arts! Almost $2500 was raised which will go into TSP’s designated account to fund Sarah Zeringue and Ann Pittman’s salaries and be used for unexpected expenses like replacing broken mics.

The show starred Baxter Lowrimore (grandson of Jane) as a “scared little boy” who spent Act One showing the audience all the terrifying people in the world: bullies... fundamentalists... dentists. But he was taught by his toys (soloists Sarah Danko, Scott Ferguson, Carl Gonzales, Ryan Smith, Steve Williams, and Ann Zarate) that instead of retreating into the fort he built out of his parents couch cushions, he should channel his imagination into making the world a better place. Act Two featured more “typical” Halloween performances with songs from Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, Into the Woods, and Rocky Horror Picture show, narrated by a now-empowered Baxter.

Our theatre ministry is finishing nine years of making art in the heart of Austin. Not only are church thespians and theatre lovers grateful, but the city of austin arts community is grateful. Our black box is one of only six theatre venues in the city.

TSP would like to extend special thank yous to not only our cast (named under the pictures) but also to Jared Slack, Dorothy and Robert Strickland, and Amy Downing for preparing amazingly designed and devastatingly delicious Halloween-themed concessions. It was icing on the cake for this spooktacular event.

Front L-R: Mary Jane Smith, Marillah King, Sarah Danko, Steve Williams, Baxter Lowirmore, Bill Newchurch, Ryan Smith, Ann Pittman, Back Row

L-R: Amie King, Megan Hudson, David Hammond, Joe Grady Moore, Adam Roberts, Scott Ferguson, Carl Gonzales, Jane Newchurch.

First Austin invites you to the installation of Griff Martin as our senior pastor

It is with great pleasure we announce the official installation of the Rev. Dr. Griff Martin as the 24th senior pastor of First Austin, a Baptist community of faith, sharing compassion and hope in the heart of downtown Austin and beyond for almost 170 years. Come meet Griff and his family — wife Abby, daughter Blake and son Jude — and celebrate this joyful occasion with us!

Installation Service at 11 am on November 6Reception at 9 am in the Great Hall

PA G e 8 N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016

FOR OUR NEIGHBORSAt the heart of the Christmas story is the profound truth:

The Word became flesh and blood,

and moved into the neighborhood.

(John 1:14 The Message)

The love of Christmas is a neighborly love, one that seeks the welfare

and good of one’s neighbor. This year for Advent, First Austin is seek-

ing out a partnership with the ArCH : AuS T IN reSourCe CeNTer F or

THe HomeleSS . The ARCH is a place where First Austin can embody

love and help to our neighbors: the chronically homeless and under-

served. Be on the look out as we continue engage this campaign:

For our Ne IGHborS .

Youth

THANkSGIVING meAl AT THe bCCIt is three weeks until Thanksgiving and The Baptist Community Center is gearing up for their annual meal.

Last year they served over 800 meals to the homeless and indigent in the Austin area.

They need our help with up to fourteen turkeys, hot, sliced and ready to serve on the morning of November 23rd to be delivered at a time TBD and seventeen pans of cornbread dressing also hot and ready to serve.

Cash contributions may be made to the WMU designated fund, account # 8157. For more information about how you can help, contact Ginger Craddock, virginiacraddock@yahoo.com

After an Election Season that has divided our country, the work of the church truly begins. In this tumultuous time, we all question what the future holds, and if the person named as the leader of our country can possibly draw us back together. The truth for this era has been spoken from our pulpit and offers the only real solution to what will come. “We don’t need a politician, we need a people.” Let us be the reconcilers of our age, the connectors of disparate groups and in essence, “That” people. Jo IN uS For T Wo oPPor TuN I T I eS T o l I S TeN AND PrAy . N o V e m b e r 8 - 12:00-12:45 ChapelRestore Us: A Contemplative Prayer Service for A Broken and Divided Nation Come gather with us at noon for a Taize style service where we will pray for our nation, listen together for the restorative and reconciling words of God, take communion together, and vow to be healers in the midst of all brokenness around us. N o V e m b e r 16 - 6:00-7:15 Fellowship HallHealing the Heart of Democracy This evening, Griff will lead our Midweek Moorings as we tackle the question, “What is next?” This study will be based on the work of author, educator, and activist, Parker Palmer. “The heart is where everything begins: that grounded place in each of us where we overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy as openings to new life for us and our nation.”

- Parker Palmer

FIrST AuSTIN uNITeS

N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016 PA G e 9

HouSe THe HomeleSSGreetings:

On behalf of House the Homeless, I would like to invite you to join us at this year’s Homeless Memorial Sunday, November 13th. The Key Note Speaker will be Rev. Dr. Griff Martin.

For 24 years, we have gathered on Auditorium Shores (just re-named Vic Mathias Shores) when we say goodbye to the women, men, and children who have died on our streets in poverty the previous year. This one hour service begins at Sunrise which should be at 6:57 am. The service ends on time with a fellowship gathering afterwards when we share coffee, cocoa and a bite to eat.

The Homeless Memorial is located at South First Street and Riverside Drive. The Memorial is on the south side of Lady Bird Lake on the Roy Butler trail. It is about 75 yards west of the Fanny Davis Gazebo and about 75 yards east of the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue. There should be plenty of parking at the parking area which you can access from Riverside Drive. Once you park, simply walk to the river and turn left. You will see us gathering on the right at the Homeless Memorial.

Thank you for joining us. You are welcome to invite your friends. You will be moved.

Richard R. Troxell

Over three dozen FBC campers gathered at Blanco State Park October 21-22 for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and bats. The weather was perfect for a campout with families enjoying fishing, hiking, and gathering around campfires to roast marshmallows and eat s'mores. First time campers included the Sidopulos family, Josh Rouw, and Mary Wells’ daughter Kaelyn with her two children. The Saturday pot-luck lunch was followed by a devotional accenting both the physical and emotional healing nature of the outdoors. That evening, many campers enjoyed a unique program at Old Tunnel State Park, where Rollo Newsom’s program set the stage for watching bats emerge from a former railroad tunnel. Our next outing is set for January 20-22 at Birch Creek State Park on Lake Somerville, so bring your kids and guests too! Contact kent@hemingson.net or 512.454.5904 for details.

FbC CAmPerS Go bATTyIN blANCo

ArT SHoWFirst Austin member and artist, Lyle Adair will be participating in the 12th

annual National Arts Program at the Dougherty Arts Center from November 1st through November 20th. Lyle will have two art pieces on display for this juried art show along with many others. Please come when you are able to view some wonderful art by local artists. An opening reception will be held Saturday, November 5th from 1pm to 3pm.

PA G e 10 N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016

C H o r A l r e H e A r S A l Sm u S I C m I N I S T r y

WorD & muSIC For WorSHIPSuNDAy, NoVember 6 - TWeNTy-FIFTH SuNDAy AFTer PeNTeCoST

INSTAllATIoN oF reV. Dr. GrIFF mArTIN AS SeNIor PASTorWord: Rev. Dr. Terry York, Preacher, Engraves on a Rock, Job 19:23-27Music: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty arr. by Mark Hayes, Sanctuary Choir; The Summons by John Bell, Jay Lea, Soloist

SuNDAy, NoVember 13 - TWeNTy-SIXTH SuNDAy AFTer PeNTeCoSTmuSIC DeDICATIoN SuNDAy

Word: Rev. Dr. Griff Martin, Preacher, Doing Our Part, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31Music: God of Rhythm, God of Sound by Michael Burkhardt, Sanctuary Choir; Make a Joyful Noise by Jeff Reeves, Melody, Carol and Celebration Choirs, Give Thanks by Henry Smith, arr. Anna Laura Page, Sanctuary Handbell Ringers

SuNDAy, NoVember 20 - TWeNTy-SeVeNTH SuNDAy AFTer PeNTeCoSTreIGN oF CHrIST SuNDAy

Word: Rev. Dr. Griff Martin, Preacher, Psalm 46Music: Come, Let Us Sing a Song of Joy by Giovanni Gabrielli, arr. Dayton Nordin, Sanctuary Choir and Trombone Quartet

WEDNESDAYS, NOVEMBER 9, 16, 30NO CHOIR REHEARSALS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

SANCTUARY CHOIR WILL MEET FROM 7-8:30 ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

beTHleHem CHoIr 5:15 to 5:45 pm in Room 129 in the Preschool Suite, three-year-olds; Sybi Ward, Teacher

meloDy CHoIr 5 to 5:40 pm in Room 152 – four to five-year-olds; Debra Watkins, Teacher

CArol CHoIr 5 to 5:45 pm in Room 164 – 1st & 2nd graders; Louise Avant and Elizabeth Gilligan, Teachers

CelebrATIoN CHoIr 5 to 5:50 pm in the Rehearsal Hall, 3rd-5th Grade; Margaret Henderson, Teacher

SANCTuAry HANDbell rINGerS - 6:10-7:00 pm in Rm. 168, Bob Avant, Director

SANCTuAry CHoIr - 7:20 to 9 pm in the Rehearsal Hall, Louise Avant, Director

SUNDAYS, NOVEMBER 6, 13, 20

youTH CHoIr (6th-12th grades) – 9:00 - 9:45 am in the Rehearsal Hall, Louise Avant and Deb Keenan, Directors

CANTAmoS (Women’s Ensemble) – 2:00-4:00 pm in the Rehearsal Hall, Louise Avant, Director

We extend to you an open invitation to join choir!! Please call Louise Avant, our Minister of Music,

at 478-2241 for more information.

muSIC mINISTry mISSIoN STATemeNTWe will actively endeavor to impart the Gospel message through words and song, using the best of our faith, our resources, and ourselves. We will assist the congregation in discovering and developing their artistic gifts, preparing them to participate fully in worship. We will use our creative gifts to reach out into the community and draw people to God through all forms of art, including dance, drama, music and the visual arts.

muSIC DeDICATIoN SuNDAyWe will honor our God for the gift of music during 11:00 am worship on November 13. First Austin is blessed to have so many musicians willing to give of their talent for us. We have the Chapel musicians who create beautiful worship for the Chapel service the 2nd Sunday of each month. There are the children and youth who sing for MidWeek Moorings, for Christmas Grams and for worship. The Sanctuary Handbells, Cantamos and Sanctuary Choir play and sing often in worship, in the community and for special events. We also have a wonderful organist who plays our magnificent Casavant each Sunday and accompanies several choirs. And, most important of all is YOU, the congregation, who lifts your voice in song each week as we praise our Creator. Come on November 13th, bring your voice and joyful spirit as we dedicate these musicians for all they give to us and to God.

There are trees to put up, garland and wreaths to hang, bows to place, and candles to arrange. On Sunday, November 20th we will gather right after worship for a pizza and salad lunch and start decorating soon thereafter. Last year was great fun as two dozen of us pranced around the Great Hall and Sanctuary with red bows, glittery decorations, and yards and yards of garland. Hope you can join us this year!

Maybe helping decorate the church will get you in the mood to decorate your own house. It will certainly get you in the mood to welcome the Newborn King.

NoVember 20 AFTer WorSHIP

m I N I S T e r I A l S T A F F

Griff Martin, Senior Pastor gmartin@fbcaustin.org ext. 202

Doug Keenan, Minister of Pastoral Care dkeenan@fbcaustin.org ext. 210

Dorothy Strickland, Minister to Children dstrickland@fbcaustin.org ext. 208

Louise Avant, Minister of Music lavant@fbcaustin.org ext. 218

Joe Bumbulis, Minister to Students and Mission jbumbulis@fbcaustin.org ext. 209

Jared Slack, Minister to Young Adults & Discipleship jslack@fbcaustin.org ext. 205

o F F I C e S T A F FMarshall Smith, Business Administrator msmith@fbcaustin.org ext. 207

Sarah Zeringue, Ministry Assistant szeringue@fbcaustin.org ext. 204

Carrie Houston, Ministry Assistant chouston@fbcaustin.org ext. 201

Kathy Bonner, Financial Secretary kbonner@fbcaustin.org ext. 206

Elizabeth O’Brien, Music & Bulletin ext. 219 musicoffice@fbcaustin.org bulletin@fbcaustin.org

Publications clarion@fbcaustin.org ext. 212 Amie King, Media Coordinator media@fbcaustin.org

b u I l D I N G S T A F FJim Stanford, Facilities Manager jstanford@fbcaustin.org ext. 226

(USPS 193-420)Periodicals Postage Paid

at Austin, TexasPublished semi-monthly by First Baptist Church,

901 Trinity, Austin, Texas

Mailer - Austex PrintingPOSTMASTER:

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The Clarion

o N e m I N u T e F I N A N C I A l S

N o V e m b e r 2 , 2 016 PA G e 11

Thank you for your contributions. Time, talents and financial involvement are all important to the health of our congregation. Big or small, your gifts matter. Through September, our tithes and offerings were $129,375 less than budgeted, andour General Fund expenses had exceeded our income by $186,804.

We owe $1,427,160 on our garage loan.

u N I F I e D m I S S I o N S G I V I N G , F I S C A l y e A r ( A u G - J u ly ) :

$ 2 , 3 6 6Charles Eaddy

Rena Hoelscher

Pat Presley

Kay Williams

Cara Lowrimore

Bob and Millie Downer

Vernon and Bertha Harris

Donald Keeney

Cliff Nauert

* Herman Bolton

* Daniel Elzner

* Camilla Garrett

* Shirley Wucher

* Bob Carlile

* Christopher Chance

* friends and family

SPeCIAl PrAyerS

If you enjoy the beautiful flowers we have in worship each Sunday, consider contributing to the flower fund in memory or in honor of a loved one’s birthday, anniversary or special event. Please contact Carrie Houston at the church office, 512-476-2625.

orDer AlTAr FloWerS

ClArIoN oN-lINeIf you are willing and able to view The Clarion on-line, just sign up to receive the FBC e-News. You will receive the link to The Clarion when each issue is published. To sign up, e-mail Carrie Houston at chouston@fbcaustin.org or fill out an E-news card in the pews during worship.

If you wish to no longer receive a hard-copy of The Clarion, please email Carrie Houston at chouston@fbcaustin.org.

m I S S I o N S T A T e m e N TThe mission of First baptist Church of Austin:

To worship God in Christ with heart, mind and spirit;To share the Good News of God’s love and saving grace;

To teach all who come to be disciples, nurturing within each the discovery of

spiritual gifts for the sake of the kingdom;To embrace our community and beyond, serving all people as if they were Christ;

To encourage the sharing of our life together, deepening our commitment to the

responsible stewardship of all our resources.

9 01 T r I N I T y A u S T I N , T e X A S 7 87 01 P H o N e : 512 . 476 . 2 6 2 5 F A X : 512 . 474 . 4 3 6 0 W W W. F b C A u S T I N . o r G

P e r I o D I C A l SP o S T A G e PA I D

A T A u S T I N , T e X A S

AGAPEMeal & ServiceHAVE YOU ATTENDED AN AGAPE MEAL AT F IRST BAPT IST? I F YOU HAVE , YOU KNOW THE BLESS INGS THE EVEN ING CAN BR ING . I F YOU HAVE NOT, LET TH IS BE YOUR YEAR TO ATTEND!

Since November 17, 1968, during the pastorate of Dr. Bill Denham, the Agape Meal has been an annual tradition and recalls the ancient worship of first-century Christians, referred to as the “love feast.” It was a fellowship meal and the church’s occasion to worship fully remembering the Last Supper.

We will gather this year in Fellowship Hall on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 TH AT 5 : 30 PM . No reservations are necessary. Just come and delight in your church family as we enjoy a simple meal of stew, bread, and fruit, hear faith stories from a few of our members, share in conversation and Communion and enjoy special music. Children are welcome and encouraged! Childcare will be provided throughout the evening for babies and toddlers and for preschoolers after the meal.

We hope you will attend one of our few intergenerational events, participating in a unique experience of Christian love. If you are in need of a ride, please call the church office at 512-476-2625, and we will be happy to provide transportation.