First Baptist Church
P.O. Box 779 Graham, NC 27253
(336) 226-7395 - Church Office
(336) 226-0261 - Fax
Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Permit No. 12 Graham, NC
Return Service Requested
2017 Newsletter and Calendar
Making Connections That Make A Difference
2nd Annual Downtown Graham Pumpkin Bash
First Baptist Church is planning to be a part of the Graham Pumpkin Bash on the evening of Friday, October 27 from 6:00 to 9:00 around the courthouse circle. This is a FREE event for the community of Graham and Alamance County.
First Baptist will have a table set up alongside other community groups and organizations, and we will give out treats to children and youth who come to this fun event! Organizers are expecting 1000 people to attend, and we need your help to be able to provide candy on that night. If you would like to buy large bags of individually wrapped candy or lollipops, bring them by the church office by Wednesday night, October 25, and place them in the donation box. Also, we would love to have volunteers help out during the event.
If you are interested in helping at our table at the Pumpkin Bash, please contact the church office (336-226-7395)
or email Shannon Hall at [email protected].
Hurricane Relief Offering
As a way of allowing our church family to respond to the immense need created by multiple devastating hurricanes over
the last two months, First Baptist Graham is currently receiving offerings to be sent to CBF Disaster Response.
CBF is networking with national and state partners to assist as requested. CBF, CBF Texas, and CBF Florida are in
contact with partners in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Bahamas, Cuba and Florida. CBF will work with all affected CBF state and
regional organizations, FEMA, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), and other local and
national partners in any response.
In keeping with CBF’s focus on long-term impact, CBF Disaster Response participates in networks seeking to help
communities after a devastating event, but employs most of its resources on the long-term recovery, rehabilitation and
resiliency of a community after first-responders have finished their work. Your gifts will allow these efforts to have
maximum effect.
In addition to financial help, please continue to pray for families who have lost everything they own and first-responders
who are giving everything they have to save lives. Pray for communities as they cope and as they heal.
Would you consider providing financial support so that funds can be used to respond in the most effective way to meet
needs? Checks can be made payable to First Baptist Graham, and we will then send all donations directly to the CBF
Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund. Please turn in all contributions by October 22nd. Thank you for your generosity!
Baptist Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, October 14th,
at 8:00 am in the Ministry Center.
Please sign up on the sheet located
on the registration table in the middle hallway.
Operation Christmas Child
Church Conference Wednesday, October 11, 2017
6:30 pm
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Good News. Great Joy.
The world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child uses gift-filled shoeboxes to share God’s love in a tangible way with needy children in over 150 countries. We can contribute to this wonderful ministry by participating in our church’s effort to pack 100 shoeboxes. Shoeboxes, along with information brochures, are available in the educational hallway. Please return your gift-filled shoeboxes no later than Sunday, November 12th, as we will be dedicating our shoe-boxes that morning during our worship service. A small shoebox can teach a child about the love of God, and lead him or her to faith in Christ. What goes into the shoebox is fun, but what comes out is eternal. Be a part of changing lives through the power of a sim-ple gift. If you are able, please include $7 per box to cover
cost of international shipping and handling.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Do you love to sing? Would you like to
join others like you in praising God
through music? If you answered yes, come join us on
Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30 in the FBCG choir
room as our Chancel Choir rehearses music for upcoming
Sundays as well as Festival of Carols in December. We do
work hard and also enjoy being together each week to learn
more about music, to sing new and familiar songs, and to
worship God through singing. Consider joining the Chancel
Choir--there is a place for you!
First Baptist Fall Fun Night On Friday, November 3,
at 6:00 p.m., everyone is invited to a Fall Fun Night in the
Ministry Center. All ages are encouraged to come be a part of this night of food, fun and games as we enjoy being together as a church family. We will have supper (fried chicken and sides!) as well as bingo, ping pong tournament, board games, and several of our famous carnival games (bowling, plinko, etc.). There will be something for everyone, and we hope you’ll join us!
It’s hard to believe we are already thinking
about next year’s camp schedule, but it’s true!
Passport Camp Registration starts on October
2, and we would like to reserve our spots at
camp as soon as possible. If you have a child
who will have finished third grade by summer
of 2018, he or she is old enough to attend
PASSPORTkids next summer! And if you
have a student who will have completed 7th
grade by summer of 2018, he or she is old
enough to go to camp with our youth. We al-
ways have a wonderful and life-changing time
at Passport Camp, and we would love to take
more of our church’s young people with us in
2018. If you are interested in knowing more
about Passport Camps, contact Shannon or
David Hall or go to www.passportcamps.org.
New Children’s
Sunday School Class
We have exciting news to share
regarding our new Sunday School class for 4th
through 7th graders. On October 8th this new class
will meet for the first time with Whitney Russell
leading the group! This class will meet in the room
right next door to our younger children's Sunday
School classroom.
Our older children have been a part of Ms. Patsy and
Ms. Brenda's class for a very long time, and we are
so thankful for the amazing teachers they are and the
great class that gathers with them each Sunday.
Now, these older students are ready to learn and
interact with each other in a way that is right for
them as they are growing older. Patsy and Brenda
will honor these special class members on October
8th at 9:30 with refreshments for students and their
parents and other family members. Also, during
worship on October 1st, we will celebrate with a time
of promotion for our older children as they move into
their new class.
NOVEMBER 5
SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE
In morning worship
Church Staff Rev. Travis Russell, Pastor
Rev. Shannon Hall, Associate Pastor of Music & Family Ministries Ann Holt, Organist
Diann Clapp, Administrative Assistant
Tune in to Station
1200-AM or 104.5-FM
at 11:00 am,
for a live broadcast
of our service.
Visit our website –
www.fbcgraham.org
Last week Whitney and I took the boys to Lowe’s Home Improvement to purchase a few Halloween decorations for our
front porch and yard. At first the boys were excited, but quickly they became frightened. The Halloween aisle was full of
spooky inflatables, ghostly figurines, shrieking skeletons, and all kinds of ghastly creatures with glowing eyes and sharp
teeth. It was quite a scene. In response, the boys quickly ran back to Whitney and me with all kinds of questions and
descriptions. They clung to us and told us all about what they had experienced. They wanted us to help them understand
what they had seen, our affirmation that it was all pretend, and our assurance that we would keep them safe.
As adults, I think we need that same assurance. We live in a world of repeated natural disasters, global threats of war and
terrorism, heated racial tensions, a completely polarized political scene, and a multitude of views on the shape and reality
of “freedom and justice for all”. We are all thankful for the country in which we live—it is a blessing to us in more ways
than one. Yet based on the current climate, we do not have to go far to find a scary aisle or two; unfortunately, unlike the
Halloween aisle at Lowe’s, these aisles are not pretend.
How do we respond? What can we do? According to scripture, out of all of the responsibilities to which Christ calls us,
one of the most important is prayer—but maybe not the kind of prayer to which we are accustomed. In “Working the An-
gles” by Eugene Peterson, he describes prayer in this way: “Prayer is not something we think up to get God’s attention or
enlist his favor. Prayer is answering speech. The first word is God’s word. Prayer is a human word and is never the first
word, never the primary word, never the initiating and shaping word simply because we are never first, never primary . . .
the first word is everywhere and always God’s word to us, not ours to him” (Peterson, 47).
When Jesus was faced with a scary aisle of evil and temptation in the wilderness, he responded by saying, “It is written:
‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus knew
the necessity of listening to God, which is why he would often find a quiet, secluded place to pray. As he declared to Sa-
tan in the wilderness, the word that comes from God gives life—it feeds, nourishes, and sustains. And yet the only way to
receive that word is to listen. John repeatedly said it this way in the book of Revelation, “Let anyone who has an ear lis-
ten to what the Spirit is saying” . . . (Revelation 2:7).
By listening, Paul heard the voice of Christ and was given a new name and mission. By listening, Peter heard the voice of
God and discovered his view of the Gospel was too small. By listening, Jesus overcame his fears, went to the cross and
saved the world. All throughout scripture we see the power and impact of listening to God. Lives are not transformed by
what is said to God, but rather what is heard from God. Fear is not squelched by what is described to God, but rather
what is revealed in God. The world is not changed by those who speak for God, but rather by those through whom God
speaks. In the coming days, if we happen to find ourselves on a scary aisle or two, may we run to God, cling to him, de-
scribe what we’ve experienced, and then be willing to listen for his response—our lives might just be changed by what
we hear.
Dear Church Family,
Thank you for the generous scholarship presented
to me in August. It is so comforting to know I
have such a great support system at home.
Love,
Sydney Smith
FROM OUR PASTOR Rev. Travis Russell
Dear First Baptist Church,
Your kind expression of sympathy is gratefully ac-
knowledged and deeply appreciated. You were so
kind to prepare such a great meal for our family.
Our mother loved her church family and serving her
Lord in music. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
God Bless you!
Peggy McSwain Family
To my Church Family, Thank you for all your sympathy and car-ing. You shared in so many different ways with us during Pete’s illness and “Homegoing.” Your prayers led the way, your kindness lifted us, lighted our paths and smoothed our journey, carrying us through. Our families and I will be forever grateful. With love, Doris Foster Norwood
Those Serving This Month
Deacon of the Week 1 - Mike Harden
8 - Judy Henderson 15 - Reade Allen 22 - Linda Moore 29 - Cathy Phelps
Nursery 1 - Patsy Godwin & Betty Euliss 8 - Lionell Johnson & Robin Self 15 - Ronda Howe & Manivone Sisouphanh 22 - Gwen Sharpe & Butch Farrell 29 - Jan Peterman & Brittney Moody
Deacon Greeters Judy Henderson & Debbie Farrell
Usher Captains Brewer Roberts & Vernon Taylor
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Meals on Wheels - October 3 October 17 October 31
1 9:30 am – Sunday School, Open Assembly, Dixie Mann Room 11:00 am - Worship Service 5:00 pm - Celebration Choir 5:45 pm - Spark 6:00 pm - Handbell Choir
2 6:30 pm - AIM meet in the Ministry Center
3 6:30 pm - Properties Team
4 6:30 pm – Midweek Bible Study 7:30 pm - Chancel Choir
5
6 7 11:30 am – Starfish
Ministry (Team 1)
8 COMMUNION SUNDAY 9:30 am – Sunday School, Open Assembly, Dixie Mann Room 11:00 am - Worship Service, Communion 5:00 pm - Missions Team 5:00 pm - Celebration Choir 5:45 pm - Spark 6:00 pm - Handbell Choir
9 10 1:00 pm - Volunteer Enlistment Team 6:00 pm - Stewardship Team
11 6:30 pm – Church Conference/Midweek Prayer Service 7:30 pm - Chancel Choir
12
13
14 8:00 am - Baptist Men’s Breakfast Ministry Center 11:30 am – Starfish Ministry (Team 2)
15 9:30 am – Sunday School, Open Assembly, Dixie Mann Room 11:00 am - Worship Service, Deacon Nominations 5:00 pm - Celebration Choir 5:45 pm - Spark 6:00 pm - Handbell Choir
16
17
18 6:30 pm – MidWeek Bible Study 7:30 pm – Chancel Choir
19 20 21 11:30 am – Starfish Ministry (Team 3)
22 9:30 am – Sunday School, Open Assembly, Dixie Mann Room 11:00 am - Worship Service 5:00 pm - Celebration Choir 5:45 pm - Spark 6:00 pm - Deacons’ Meeting
23
24 25 6:30 pm – MidWeek Bible Study 7:30 pm – Chancel Choir
26 27 6:00 pm - Graham Pumpkin Bash
28 11:30 am – Starfish Ministry (Team 4)
29 9:30 am – Sunday School, Open Assembly, Dixie Mann Room 11:00 am - Worship Service 5:00 pm - Celebration Choir 5:45 pm - Spark 6:00 pm - Handbell Choir
30
31 HALLOWEEN
October 1 Allen Chatman
Donna Harden
October 3 Cathy Phelps
October 4
Clarence Brown October 6
Frankie Blair
October 7 Sandra Arnette
Deborah Elbel
Jeff Walker
October 8
Norma Smith October 9
Mary Lou Allison
October 14
Tommy Bruton October 15
Linda Naylor
Adam Robertson
October 18
Betty Euliss
October 19
Dalton Byrd
Stephanie Chatman
Michael Foster
October 20
Nicholas Graham October 23
Jean Way
October 30
Amy Woolard October 31
Julie Webster