First Light, Volume 93, Issue 12 - December 2011

In This Issue
Senior Adult Christmas Party Advent Worship Kelly Rose Named Interim Business Administrator 2 3 4

Advent 2011 at First Baptist Church

Advent Worship Opportunities
Advent began on November 27 with the Hanging of the Green service. At First Baptist Church, Advent is a season filled with beauty, fellowship, and festive singing. Mark your calendar for these special services, concerts, and events. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors as we anticipate the birth of the Christ Child. Childcare is provided unless otherwise noted.

Jennifer Marshall Named Organist for FBC Knoxville 4 Nativity Pageant 4

Volunteer for the Christmas Brunch 5 Womeon Mission Celebrating Grace Hymnal Dedication Youth Activities Kids on Missions Moms Connection Missions Banquet 2011 Border Mission Trip Year-End Giving 5 5 6 7 7 7 8 8

Christmas Joy!
December 4, 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary; doors open for seating at 6 PM; Childcare for preschoolers through age 5 First Baptist Church presents The Sanctuary Choir with instrumentalists from our community singing and performing various Christmas anthems grouped into segments of songs about Angels, Shepherds, the Birth, and the Magi. Come hear the Christmas story told through beautiful music and poetry.

Childrens Choirs Christmas Concert

Wednesday, December 7, 6 PM in the Sanctuary; Childcare for preschoolers through age 2 only First Baptist Church Childrens Choirs present The Christmas Festival. Listen to beautiful carols and arrangements sung by our talented childrens choirs. Enjoy this great time of music and fellowship together in the Sanctuary. This program will be interpreted for the deaf.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 18, 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary; Childcare provided through age 5 A highlight of the Christmas season, this service is comprised of music and the reading of Scripture. Nine readers from the congregation trace the prophecies and scriptures foretelling the birth of Christ from the Old and New Testaments. We will intersperse seasonal music and carols to illuminate Gods word. Make this service part of your preparations for Advent this year.

Regular Articles
First Thoughts Sermon Titles Sunday School and Worship Ministers on Call 2nd Mile Birthdays Financial Summary Calendar FBC Knoxville Contacts 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 8

Sermon Titles
First Community & 11 AM Worship December 4 The Kiss of Peace Psalm 85 December 11 When You Just Cant Wait Any Longer Isaiah 61:1-11 December 18 Overshadowed by the Spirit Luke 1:26-38 December 24 Birth Announcement Luke 2:1-20 December 25 From Jesus to Christmas Hebrews 1:1-12 Deaf Worship Rev. Greg Johannsen, Preaching December 4 John The Baptist Makes The Way Ready For The Coming Of Jesus Mark 1:1-8 December 11 Christian Living 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 December 18 The Visit from the Magi Matthew 2:1-12

First Thoughts.... William D. Shiell, Ph.D., Senior Pastor

Advent exchanges the new things we have accumulated over the past year for something timeless. The season invites us to begin again with some very old habits of remembering promises, restoring relationships, receiving grace, reflecting the power of the spirit, and rejoicing at the birth of a Savior. Jonathan Franzen captures this sense of Advent in his novel Freedom. He describes the lives of the Berglund family. They operate a small forgotten family-owned hotel on the outskirts of town but spend their lives trying to unload their dream. They live in a land of freedom but find themselves enslaved to their own passions, materialism, and misplaced priorities. The season of Advent, however, renews their relationships and their minds. In December, the family makes candy and delivers goodies to their neighbors and friends over the years. Franzen writes: The candy job was too large and important to be left to Dorothy and Walter alone. Production began on the first Sunday of Advent and continued through most of December. . . . On the last weekend of Advent, when eighty to a hundred tins had been lined with waxed paper and packed with fudge and toffee and garnished with Jordan almonds, Gene and Dorothy and Walter went out giving. It took the entire weekend, often longer. Walters older brother, Mitch, stayed behind at the motel with Brent, who, although he later became an Air Force pilot, as a child was easily made carsick. The candy went first to Genes many friends in Hibbing and then, with much backtracking and dead-ending, to farther-flung friends and relatives, down through the Iron Range to Grand Rapids and beyond. It was unthinkable not to accept coffee or a cookie at every house. Between stops, Walter sat in the back seat with a book, watching a feeble window-shaped patch of sunlight hold stead on the seat and then, when a right-angle turn was finally reached, slide across the canyon of the floor and reappear, in twisted form, on the back of the front seat . . . . On the seat beside him was the growing pile of packages from homes already visitedScandinavian baked goods, Finnish and Croatian delicaciesand the slowly dwindling pile of Berglund tins. These tins chief merit was that they contained the same candy that Gene and Dorothy had been giving since they were married. The candy had gradually morphed, over the years, from a treat into a reminder of treats past. It was the annual gift the poor Berglunds could still be wealthy in (Franzen, 450-451). Welcome again to Advent, where we find our true source of wealth through the timeless traditions of baking, giving, receiving, worshipping, and celebrating. By so doing, we discover the greatest treasure of all in the One that God has given us through his son Jesus Christ.

Ministers on Call (865) 246-4650

Michael McEntyre December 2-4 Bill Shiell December 9-10 Dave Ward December 16-18 Bill Shiell December 23-25 Kely Hatley Dec. 30-Jan. 1

Senior Adult Christmas Party

Average Sunday School and Worship Attendance October 23-November 13 Sunday School First Community 11 AM Worship Deaf Worship Combined Worship 2 382 75 412 45 532

Thursday, December 15, 5:30 PM, Trentham Hall Everyone is invited to join the Senior Adults for their annual Christmas party on December 15. Dinner by The Entertainer will begin at 5:30 PM with "Program by the FBC Network - Details at 6 PM" following. You won't want to miss all the fun, laughs and fellowship! Tickets are $13 and may be purchased on Sunday mornings on the 3rd floor crossover.

2nd Mile Birthdays

December 1 Alma Elliott 809 E Emerald Ave, Rm 323A, 37917 December 5 William Davis 5806 Sunset Rd, 37920 December 10 Ona Powers 401 Catherine McAuley Way, 37919 December 11 Juanita Weaver 8121 Hayden Dr, 37919 Ann Henderson 801 Vanosdale Rd #201, 37909 December 16 Melvin Faulkner 7424 Middlebrook Pk, 37918 December 26 Pearl Johnson 4700 Seminole Rd, 37918 December 27 Lena Hines 700 Markhill Dr, Rm 5, Sevierville, TN 37862 December 29 Mary Alyce Wishart 10040 El Pinar Dr, 37922

Advent Worship Opportunities (contd from page 1) Open House at The Shiells
Tuesday, December 20, 5-8 PM 8406 Thornbury Court, Knoxville, TN 37919 Dr. and Mrs. Shiell, Parker, and Drake invite you to join them for a time of fellowship. Children are welcome!

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Saturday, December 24, 5 PM in the Sanctuary; doors and Childcare through age 5 open at 4 PM This service is perhaps one of the best-loved services of the year. Come with your family and make this time of worship a centerpiece of your family Christmas tradition. Beautiful dcor, lovely music, candlelight ambiance, and most importantly, Gods Word is shared with all. This service will be webcast live; no television broadcast.

Christmas Day Combined Worship Service

Sunday, December 25, 11:00 am in the Sanctuary There will be no First Community worship service, no childcare, and no Sunday School. Deaf Worship services are combined with 11 AM worship and will be interpreted for the deaf.

Note the Following Schedule Changes for Advent

December 21, 28, January 4 - Cancelled: Wednesday Dinner or Activities December 24 -- Christmas Eve Worship Service, 5 PM. Nursery care opens at 4 PM. This service is broadcast live at http://live.fbcknox.org; no television broadcast. December 25 - Combined Worship Service at 11 AM. Cancelled: Sunday School, Deaf Service, First Community, Nursery, and Passage. December 26-27 - Church Offices closed. January 1 - Combined Worship Service at 11 AM. Regular Sunday School, Childcare, and Passage. Cancelled: First Community and Deaf Worship. January 11 - Regular Wednesday night schedule resumes

Staff Birthdays

Financial Summary
October 23-November 13 Weekly Giving (Avg) MTD Giving Monthly Need YTD Giving YTD Need

$30,455.45 $98,841.51 $156,333.33 $1,445,361.63 $1,605,423.08

Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Advent begins November 27, and you are invited to contribute toward decorating the Sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas season. Decorations include poinsettias, wreaths, garlands, and ribbons. You may contribute as individuals, families, classes or departments. Please designate In Memory of or In Honor of for gifts of $20 or more. Complete the form and give it to Kim Pieratt. Your Name __________________________________ Amount Enclosed $ ________ Circle ONE: In Memory of OR In Honor of

SunTrust Loan November 13 Beginning Balance $ 650,000.00 Principal Current Balance Interest

$222,325.69 $427,674.32 $33,117.89

Name ________________________________________________________________ 3

Kelly Rose Named Interim Business Administrator

Kelly Rose began November 14 as the new interim Business Administrator. Kelly is no stranger to Knoxville. She grew up in Corryton and currently lives in Maryville. She and her husband Jeff, who is principal at McGill and Associates, have two daughters. One is at UT, the other a senior at Maryville High School. For the past eleven years, Kelly has served as the Church Administrator and Pastor of Spiritual Gifts at First Baptist Maryville and has received NACBA certification as a Church Business Administrator. In the early '90s, she was Bob Hall's administrative assistant at the BCM. Kelly will be part time working a Monday-Wednesday schedule in November. On December 4, her schedule will change to Sunday-Wednesday. Kelly is scheduled to be with us until Easter to give the associate pastor search committee time to work through their process. Kelly will supervise Amy DePriest, Jim Snell, Herman Weaver, and Janice Cunningham. She will serve as staff liaison to the finance committee, facilities committee (with Jim), and discipleship council. She will administer the church's finances in coordination with Wade Boswell and Amy DePriest and will handle operational needs. She will also serve as staff liaison for the February generosity emphasis and continue the work that has already been started on this program. Kelly can be reached in the office or at 865-363-5345 or krose@fbcknox.org

4 Concert Series: Christmas Joy! 6:30 PM 5 FISH Pantry 9 AM Volunteer Appreciation Banquet 6:30 PM 7 Childrens Choirs Christmas Concert 6 PM 18 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 6:30 PM 20 Open House at the Shiells 5-8 PM 21 Wed. Night Activities Cancelled 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 5 PM 25 Combined Worship 11 AM 26-27 Church Offices Closed 28- Wed. Night Activities Cancelled

December Calendar

Each Week
Sunday
Worship, First Community Library Open Deaf Sunday School Hearing Sunday School College Bible Study Deaf Worship, Chapel 8:42 AM (except Dec. 25) 8:45 AM 9:30 AM (except Dec. 25) 9:45 AM (except Dec. 25) 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM

First Baptist Welcomes New Organist

After much prayer and searching, our church has hired a new organist. Dr. Jennifer Marshall will begin as our new organist on Epiphany Sunday, January 8. Dr. Marshall holds her Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees in Organ Performance. In addtion, she also has a Master's degree in Divinity from GardnerWebb University. Growing up in the First Baptist Church of Newberry, South Carolina, Dr. Marshall is familiar with Baptist life and music. She is married to Dr. Zach Marshall who teaches at East Tennessee State University. We are so fortunate to have her join our music ministry staff. Look for her in January and make her feel welcome.

Televised Worship (Broadcast on Fox 43) Deaf FPU HS Breathe

2:00 PM 6:30PM

Monday
Yoga Class 5:30 PM

Wednesday
Supper Line Opens Preschool & Childrens Choirs Bible Study Deaf Bible Study MS Bible Study ESOL Class 5:00 PM 5:40 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM

Nativity Pageant

Sunday, December 11, 3 PM, and December 12, 13 at 7 PM Whatever else be lost among the years, let us keep Christmas its meaning never ends. For this reason, we present the Nativity Pageant for the 43rd consecutive year. The one-hour performance starts in darkness. Please be sure to arrive early to avoid having to find seats in the dark. Children are welcome, all performances are family-friendly. Because it is free to everyone, there are no tickets and it is open seating. During the Sunday performance, part of Section N is reserved for the deaf and hearing impaired. 4

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

Thursday
Yoga Class Golden Notes Choir & Lunch 5:30 PM 10:30 AM

Saturday
Worship, CH 12 Deaf Worship, CH 12 Noon 4:00 PM

Volunteer for the Christmas Brunch

Saturday, December 10, is our 7th Annual Christmas Brunch. You can sign up to help with the Brunch by filling out one of the volunteer forms located in the reception area and placing it in the box labeled Christmas Brunch Volunteers in the reception area. When you sign up in advance, it helps the Brunch Coordinators and Team Leaders better plan for the event. Christmas Brunch All Volunteer Meeting On Sunday, December 3, immediately following 11 AM worship, all Christmas Brunch volunteers will meet in the Sanctuary. Thank you for volunteering and for making this a special day for guests each year. What items will we be giving away at the Christmas Brunch? Begin shopping for the items that will be given out during the Brunch. We will begin collecting the items beginning October 30. This years gifts are: Children ages 3-14 - pajamas Families - Reusable grocery bags and filled with one of the following: Laundry supplies like laundry detergent, dryer sheets, stain remover Kitchen supplies like dish washing liquid, Comet, sponges, dish towels Personal Hygiene items like toilet paper, deodorant, full size bottles of shampoo Homeless - hygiene kits with items like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste Adults and children - socks If you have questions about the Brunch you may contact Carol McEntyre, Community Minister at 246-4661 or cmcentyre@fbcknox.org, or talk with one of this years Brunch Coordinators: Jaynie Moore, Jenny Lewis, Stephanie Dunn, Emily Plemmons, Yvonne Satterfield, and Tere Atwater.

WOMEN ON MISSION

Tuesday, December 6, 11 AM, Room 302 Jesus has commissioned us to be His heart, His hands, and His voice. Through praying for missions, giving to missions and doing missions we are a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. Everyone is invited to Greg Johannsens report about missions in Kiev, East Asia, and Honduras. Lunch ($6) will be served following the program. Bible study and multi-focus groups meet at 10 AM. Lunch for Western Heights - December 5. Bring desserts to the kitchen December 4. Thanks for all the gifts for Jamie Walker and her family! Only two months left to collect quarters for Pure Water, Pure Love. Through this ministry, WMU provides free water filters for missionaries, the people they serve and grant money for well drilling projects.

Celebrating Grace Hymnal Dedication Festival Concert

February 26, 7 PM, Sanctuary Thank you all for helping our church to make the purchase of the new worship resource, the Celebrating Grace Hymnal. The hymnals are in the pew racks now and we are enjoying them in our worship services. We would like to remind everyone to reserve the evening of February 26 at 7 PM for our exciting Hymn Festival, which is the last event in our concert series season. We will officially dedicate the hymnals in that service with a commemorative program listing all of the memorials and honorees. We will also feature the new talents of our new organist, Dr. Jennifer Marshall as a part of the festival. Invite family and friends to mark that date on their calendars. It will be a service to remember!

Youth Activities for Christmas

Angel Tree Offering & Shopping Sunday, December 4 The Angel Tree Offering will be taken up in Sunday School at 9:45 AM on December 4. The offering is used to sponsor families from South Knox Elementary School. Your gifts will help provide Christmas for those in need. Around 12:30pm on December 4, youth will meet at Salsaritas on Kingston Pike near West Town Mall. After eating lunch (bring money for lunch), youth will divide into shopping teams to buy presents for Angel Tree families. Parents may pick up youth at Target (Ray Mears Blvd.) at 3 PM, or pick them up from the church after we wrap presents. Transportation requests can be made by contacting Jenny Bopp at jbopp@fbcknox.org or 546-9661 or Michael at mmcentyre@fbcknox.org. Parents are welcome to join us for this event. This is a great opportunity to start your Christmas season right. We hope to see you there! Youth Week Elections The 2012 Youth Week officers will be elected on December 4, during Sunday School. These students will help plan and participate in our Youth-led worship service on Sunday, January 22. More details in the January edition of First Light. Youth Bible Studies Middle school students will continue to meet on Wednesday nights through December 7. Dinner is available in Trentham Hall for $5. The youth room opens at 5 PM; activities are from 6-7:30 PM. High school Breathe community groups will join our Advent evening services for the remainder of the year. FBC Basketball Practice FBC youth basketball teams are gearing up for another great season of fun. Any student in middle school or high school who does not play for a school team qualifies to play on an FBC team. Details about practices and games will be posted online at youth.fbcknox.org. Youth Christmas Parties Middle School Christmas Party -- Wednesday, December 14, 5:30-7:30 PM High School Christmas Party -- Saturday, December 17, 6-8 PM Both events will be at the McEntyres house (1905 Kemper Lane, Knoxville, 37920) Join us at the party for the Tacky Christmas Outfit contest. Prizes will be given to the two students who have the best outfits. Youth are also asked to bring a $5-10 gift for our traditional gift exchange. Great gift ideas include gift cards, movie passes, crazy toys, fun games, and favorite foods. Youth are encouraged to be creative with appropriate and respectful gifts. In other words, dont bring something you wouldnt want yourself! All gifts should be wrapped or put in a gift bag. Each youth should also bring the appropriate item below. 6th Graders - a dessert to share (Christmas cookies, brownies, cup cakes, etc) 7th Graders - one 2 liter beverage 8th Graders - finger foods (sweets, veggies, dips, fruits, sandwiches) 9th & 10th Graders - finger foods (sweets, veggies, dips, fruits, sandwiches) 11th & 12th Graders - a dessert to share (Christmas cookies, brownies, cup cakes, etc) Disciple Now January 13-15; $55 payment for Disciple Now is due January 1 Disciple Now weekend will focus on poverty, both global and local, and how Christians are called to respond. As the mission project for the weekend, MERGE is partnering with Feed My Starving Children to host a MobilePack event on Saturday, January 14, where students will help pack over 100,000 meals to be sent to Africa. Students will worship on Friday and Saturday nights with the band Making Malorie. On Friday night, Kurt Holiday, one of the missionaries we worked with in South Africa, will speak to us about global poverty. On Saturday night, former football star Inky Johnson will share his testimony and talk about ministry opportunities here in Knoxville. 6

Kids on Missions
The Preschool and Childrens Ministries of FBC are intentional about providing a variety of opportunities to both hear about missions and to DO missions whenever possible. Childrens Mission groups were able to meet with Josh, Caroline, and Bella Smith, the missionaries adopted by First Baptist, before they left on their mission to South Africa. The Smiths are now working with AIDS victims and orphans in Johannesburg. The Mission Friends threw a birthday party for Caroline and sent her pictures of the celebration, which she enjoyed. Our mission groups will continue to provide prayer and support for this family during their mission. The RAs have been collecting clothing for Montgomery Village, and on Wednesday, November 16, presented this clothing to them. Both RAs and GAs have been involved with the Habitat House build and working on items for the family. Kids Connection kids have been decorating 2 large flower pots that will be filled with flowers and presented to the Habitat House at the dedication ceremony. Kids Connection will be involved with the annual Christmas Brunch, too. Grades 4-5 will be working in the sanctuary greeting and handing out prayer cards to our guests. Grades 1-3 will be in Trentham Hall wiping off tables and greeting guests as they enjoy their breakfast. Passage children made Thanksgiving cards to go in the baskets for South Knoxville families.

Moms Connection
After a late start, Moms Connection is off and running! All moms are invited to come and be a part of this great group! We have some exciting programs planned as well as some mission opportunities to participate in. Some months we will be doing some craft projects as well. On December 9, we will be helping with last minute preparations for the Christmas Brunch. Bring a goodie and meet in Trentham Hall at 10 AM. Moms Connection meets the second Friday of each month (unless otherwise noted) at 10 AM in the Blue Room. Childcare may be reserved by contacting Susan Tatum at statum@fbcknox.org or 246-4666. If you have questions about Moms Connection, contact Holly McGee or Susan Tatum at statum@fbcknox.org.

Missions Banquet 2011 - All the Way from South Africa

Wednesday, December 14, 6 PM, Trentham Hall; Dinner served at 5 PM The Missions Banquet will feature Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionaries Josh and Caroline Smith, who have been adopted by First Baptist. As December approaches that means that it is time for us to turn out thoughts to missions in far away countries. December 4-11 is our annual week of prayer for international missions when the Womens Missionary Union focuses on the Lottie Moon and Global Missions offerings. And when we will show our appreciation to the Mission Friends, GA and RA leaders who teach our children the importance of missions. Your prayers and gifts to the Lottie Moon and CBF Global Missions offering help to spread the message of Christs love and saving power around the world. And this year, your gift to the CBF Global Missions offering will help support our new ministry partners, Josh and Caroline Smith, as they work in South Africa. Thank you, Gerry Jack, WMU Director 7

First Baptist Church

510 W. Main Street Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 546-9661 Phone (865) 546-3732 Fax (865) 524-8123 TTY (866) 954-8373 VP (hearing) (865) 622-2298 (deaf) www.fbcknox.org First Light (USPS 192580) is published monthly by First Baptist Church, 510 W. Main St., Knoxville, TN 37902. Periodicals postage paid at Knoxville, TN. Editor: Brandon Moore POSTMASTER: Send change of address to above address.

Periodicals Postage PAID Knoxville, TN

FBC Knoxville Contacts

To email any member of the staff, use the first initial with the full last name and add @fbcknox.org. To phone staff, dial (865) 246- plus the four-digit number found beside the staff members name, or call the main number, 546-9661.
Bill Shiell, Senior Pastor Kelly Rose, Church Administrator Brandon Moore, Director of Communications Carol Mc Entyre, Community Minister Rhonda Ward, Ministry Assistant Janice Cunningham, Ministry Assistant Amy DePriest, Finance Assistant Kely Hatley, Minister of Music Debby Daniel, Pianist Brian Daniel, Organist Dave Ward, Pastoral Care Minister Kim Pieratt, Ministry Assistant Michael McEntyre, Youth Minister Greg Johannsen, Deaf Pastor Susan Tatum, Preschool & Children Jenny Bopp, Ministry Assistant David Lovett, Pastoral Counselor Jim Snell, Building Superintendent Herman Weaver, Church Host December 2011 (4652) (4660) (4662) (4661) (4652) (4653) (4654) (4668) (4667) (4655) (4663) (4669) (4666) (4678) (4656)

Year-End Giving
Any charitable gifts that you wish to claim for in the calendar year 2011 must be received in the church office by Friday, December 30 at 5 PM, or postmarked by December 31. If you are making a gift of stocks or other assets, transfers must be received in a church account by close of business on Friday, December 30. Keep in mind that IRA owners age 70 or over can directly transfer, tax-free, any amount up to $100,000 per year to the church. According to the IRS website, eligible IRA owners can take advantage of this provision, regardless of whether they itemize their deductions. There are many opportunities and multiple ways to support your church in this season of giving. If you need additional information regarding a gift you wish to make, please contact Amy DePriest in the church office at 246-4654 or by email to adepriest@fbcknox.org.