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

94

Volume 62 / Week Number 50 / December 22, 2011

December 25, 2011

Sermon“The HeartSong of Christmas”

Luke 2:1-20

No Morning Bible Study

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Music from the Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

“When Love was Born” - arr. Sterling

Solo by Jeremy Wilkerson

No Evening Activities

The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center

The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center requests that you please remember to

designate our organization in your year-end giving to The United Way.

Since The Vine is a non-profit organization, the United Way will pass the contribution

to us if you designate us in your giving. We remain available to serve you and members of your congregation. Please don’t hesitate

to contact us if there is a need. 256-461-8580.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service

5:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Singing of Christmas CarolsChildren’s Time

Special Music by soloists andinstrumentalists

Message by our Pastor“Christ the Savior is Born”

Luke 2:8-12Observance of the Lord’s Supper

Candlelighting Ceremony

Year-End Contributions

The offices of FBC will close on December 30 at 1:00 p.m. Therefore, contributions to be posted for 2011 should be received in the Finance Office by 1:00 p.m. on December 30. Of course, any donations postmarked by December 31 will also be counted. If you have any questions, please contact Alison at 256-428-9417 or alison@fbchsv.org. You may also give online

at www.fbchsv.org/give

**Remember that stock gifts, IRAs, and other appreciated securities are a great way to donate! Call Alison if you have questions.

Merry Christmas from your Church Staff!Can you guess who is who? Answers on page 4

12 3

8

13

16

1716

2220

24

1. Amanda Allen 2. Alison Hoskins 3. Cindy Thompson 4. Darryl McLaughlin 5. Scott Goosby 6. Angela Seanor 7. Bailey Alderson 8. David Hull 9. Reta Tomlin 10. Jamie Mackey 11. Mark Seanor 12. Lea Anne Hardy 13. Nancy Moore 14. Billy Orton 15. Debbie Bell 16. Cindy Russell 17. Jud Reasons 18. Dru Murphree 19. Laura Roberts 20. Hope Davis 21. Elizabeth Hostetter 22. Joy Moore 23. Kristi Taylor 24. Yulonda Douglas 25. Jeremy Wilkerson 26. Edna Zimmerman 27. Pam LaPier 28. Joyce Zackie 29. Roger Hayes 30. Pam McDaniel 31. Mike Pearce 32. Mike Hopkins

5

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27

28

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18

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30 31

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

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

FAMILY MATTERS

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHYCharlotte Schlittler in the loss of her husband, Will and Christi League in the loss of his stepfather, Bentley, Wills and Betty Jean League in the loss of their grandfather, Roger Schlittler

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu

No Wednesday Evening ActivitiesWednesday Evening Activities will resume

January 4, 2012

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

12/18/11Year-to-Date Goal $1,149,225.00Offering This Week $78,965.21 YTD $879,908.13Debt Retirement This Week $550.00 YTD $16,390.00

Faith Steps to the Future: This Week $48,132.23 YTD $427,386.11 To Date: $2,834,117.06

www.fbchsv.org/give

MISSIONS GIVINGGlobal Missions 15,036.00

Lottie Moon 27,998.00

Total 43,034.00

ATTENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 67Children 90Students 164Adults 631Brookdale 15Visitors 25TOTAL 993

Worship ServicesSanctuary Worship 1072TOTAL 1072

THANK YOU

Thank you notes have been recieved from the Carter family (Mark, Denise, Chris, Megan, Juliana, and Daphine Collins), from Virginia Selman, and

from Betty Wright. They have been placed on the bulletin board across from the church office.

Library Holiday Hours The library will be CLOSED on the following days in

December:

Tuesday, Dec. 27 10 AM-12:00 PMWednesday, Dec. 28 4-5:00 PM

Renovation UpdateDecember 2011

The project continues to move forward and remains on schedule and within budget. The construction has moved from underground to above ground, and sometimes high in the air! The concrete slab for the administrative area has been poured and the first steel is being erected in that area. You can begin to see the curved shape for the new front of the building. Once the “heavy” steel work for the admin area is completed, the roof system will be installed. The contractors will also be pouring concrete in the area by the chapel, and joining the buildings together to create the new front entry. There has been good progress in that upper area between the buildings, and the footings and waterproofing there are nearly complete.

The contractors have been removing the clerestory windows from the original gym roof. A new low-slope roof system will be installed over the original trusses once that's complete. Inside the original gym, the contractors are doing some concrete sawing to remove the walls along the former racquetball courts. The roof in that area has been temporarily braced with heavy steel, and a large steel beam will be installed to carry that load. This is one of the more challenging parts of the construction, and it will provide us a large auditorium space with unobstructed views. The original gym restroom space has been cleared out, and it will be converted into the storage area for the auditorium. New restrooms will be built in the area between the buildings.

The soggy weather has slowed the concrete work in the student area some, but that effort should accelerate over the next several days. The footings along the west wall show the curved shape and size of the gathering space, and the main electrical service is being installed.

Over the next few weeks, two new 6” pipes will be installed above the ceiling to connect the existing air conditioning chillers to the new building. These pipes will run from the mechanical room near the kitchen, through the fellowship hall, across room 118, and down the hallway. The work has been scheduled to create the least impact possible on our activities, but be aware that the area will be closed at times during this process.

It is exciting to see the building begin to emerge from the ground and take shape. Continue praying for safety of the workers, for progress in the construction, and for the positive impact this facility will have on our city.

FBC Building Committee

The 2011 Living Christmas Tree was a wonderful and tremendous experience. Six excellent presentations plus Sunday morning! The presence and message of Jesus Christ was experienced as our church touched thousands of lives with this Christmas gift. The spirit was absolutely incredible! From the kickoff in September, through many weeks of musical and logistical preparation, to the

construction and decoration, this year’s Tree brought forth the very best of First Baptist. The leadership team exceeded expectations in every area, with each member working diligently and cooperatively. The Tree involved huge numbers of people, stretching across all segments of our church. Many persons contributed time, skill and energy for the first time this year or for the first time in several years. The shared vision of touching our city with the Christmas message was such a uniting force. Thank you to all who served with tickets, promotion, construction, decoration, parking, ushering, sound and lighting, videotaping, logistics and the many behind the scenes tasks that helped to bring the LCT to life. The LCT Choir this year was one of our best ever. The beauty of tone they produced was undoubtedly linked to the beauty of their spirit, which was exceptional. The beauty of their music was also certainly linked to faithful rehearsal attendance, the best we can remember. Alvy Powell of the U.S. Army Chorus was our guest soloist. What a singer! Many remembered him from two previous appearances with our choir on Sunday mornings in recent years. Alvy’s magnificent voice was such a blessing. Our own soloists and orchestra were also wonderfully effective. Such talent, and given with such love as well as excellence.

The artistry of the dancers from North Alabama Dance Center was matched by their desire to communicate the Christmas message with clarity. Special gratitude is expressed to these young students whose truly outstanding performances touched many a heart. The depth and breadth of First Baptist skill was very evident as our technical teams rose to the unique

challenges of this year’s presentation. We also added a new row to the Tree, quite a significant step in the 27-year history of this ministry. How grateful we are for individuals who selflessly contributed to the greater good of the whole. Thank you, First Baptist family, for this latest investment into the ministry of the Living Christmas Tree. Our hearts sang, indeed!

Holiday Schedule

December 21 – No Wednesday Evening ActivitiesDecember 23 – Offices ClosedDecember 24 – Christmas Eve Service, 5:00 p.m. in the SanctuaryDecember 25 – No Morning Bible Study, Combined worship in the Sanctuary, 10:30 a.m., No Evening ActivitiesDecember 26 – Offices ClosedJanuary 1 - Regular morning schedule, No Evening ActivitiesJanuary 2 - Offices Closed

There will be no Messenger next week due to Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 25 Library Open 10:10 AM-10:30 AM

Sanctuary Worship 10:30 AM

Library Open 11:40 AM-12:00 PM

Monday, Dec. 26CHURCH OFFICES CLOSED

Tuesday, Dec. 27LCT De-Decking/Sanct. 8 AM-5:00 PM*

Tuesday Morning Intercess./242 7:00 AM

Wednesday, Dec. 28LCT De-Decking/Sanct. 8 AM-12:00 PM*

Thursday, Dec. 29Newcomers Club/241 1:00 PM

*De-decking begins on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 29 8:00 a.m. until noon (if needed). Families are encouraged to participate. For further information, contact Holly Canup at hollycanup@aol.com.

Giving a hymnal to our church to memorialize a friend or family member is appropriate for all ages and is a lasting gift. A hymnal gift is great for Christmas, but you don’t have to wait. Make

your $20 donation now. Contact the Music Ministry Office (256-428-9421) or the Church Office (256-428-9400) if you would like to ob-tain the contribution envelopes or if you need

more information.

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

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

FAMILY MATTERS

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHYCharlotte Schlittler in the loss of her husband, Will and Christi League in the loss of his stepfather, Bentley, Wills and Betty Jean League in the loss of their grandfather, Roger Schlittler

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu

No Wednesday Evening ActivitiesWednesday Evening Activities will resume

January 4, 2012

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

12/18/11Year-to-Date Goal $1,149,225.00Offering This Week $78,965.21 YTD $879,908.13Debt Retirement This Week $550.00 YTD $16,390.00

Faith Steps to the Future: This Week $48,132.23 YTD $427,386.11 To Date: $2,834,117.06

www.fbchsv.org/give

MISSIONS GIVINGGlobal Missions 15,036.00

Lottie Moon 27,998.00

Total 43,034.00

ATTENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 67Children 90Students 164Adults 631Brookdale 15Visitors 25TOTAL 993

Worship ServicesSanctuary Worship 1072TOTAL 1072

THANK YOU

Thank you notes have been recieved from the Carter family (Mark, Denise, Chris, Megan, Juliana, and Daphine Collins), from Virginia Selman, and

from Betty Wright. They have been placed on the bulletin board across from the church office.

Library Holiday Hours The library will be CLOSED on the following days in

December:

Tuesday, Dec. 27 10 AM-12:00 PMWednesday, Dec. 28 4-5:00 PM

Renovation UpdateDecember 2011

The project continues to move forward and remains on schedule and within budget. The construction has moved from underground to above ground, and sometimes high in the air! The concrete slab for the administrative area has been poured and the first steel is being erected in that area. You can begin to see the curved shape for the new front of the building. Once the “heavy” steel work for the admin area is completed, the roof system will be installed. The contractors will also be pouring concrete in the area by the chapel, and joining the buildings together to create the new front entry. There has been good progress in that upper area between the buildings, and the footings and waterproofing there are nearly complete.

The contractors have been removing the clerestory windows from the original gym roof. A new low-slope roof system will be installed over the original trusses once that's complete. Inside the original gym, the contractors are doing some concrete sawing to remove the walls along the former racquetball courts. The roof in that area has been temporarily braced with heavy steel, and a large steel beam will be installed to carry that load. This is one of the more challenging parts of the construction, and it will provide us a large auditorium space with unobstructed views. The original gym restroom space has been cleared out, and it will be converted into the storage area for the auditorium. New restrooms will be built in the area between the buildings.

The soggy weather has slowed the concrete work in the student area some, but that effort should accelerate over the next several days. The footings along the west wall show the curved shape and size of the gathering space, and the main electrical service is being installed.

Over the next few weeks, two new 6” pipes will be installed above the ceiling to connect the existing air conditioning chillers to the new building. These pipes will run from the mechanical room near the kitchen, through the fellowship hall, across room 118, and down the hallway. The work has been scheduled to create the least impact possible on our activities, but be aware that the area will be closed at times during this process.

It is exciting to see the building begin to emerge from the ground and take shape. Continue praying for safety of the workers, for progress in the construction, and for the positive impact this facility will have on our city.

FBC Building Committee

The 2011 Living Christmas Tree was a wonderful and tremendous experience. Six excellent presentations plus Sunday morning! The presence and message of Jesus Christ was experienced as our church touched thousands of lives with this Christmas gift. The spirit was absolutely incredible! From the kickoff in September, through many weeks of musical and logistical preparation, to the

construction and decoration, this year’s Tree brought forth the very best of First Baptist. The leadership team exceeded expectations in every area, with each member working diligently and cooperatively. The Tree involved huge numbers of people, stretching across all segments of our church. Many persons contributed time, skill and energy for the first time this year or for the first time in several years. The shared vision of touching our city with the Christmas message was such a uniting force. Thank you to all who served with tickets, promotion, construction, decoration, parking, ushering, sound and lighting, videotaping, logistics and the many behind the scenes tasks that helped to bring the LCT to life. The LCT Choir this year was one of our best ever. The beauty of tone they produced was undoubtedly linked to the beauty of their spirit, which was exceptional. The beauty of their music was also certainly linked to faithful rehearsal attendance, the best we can remember. Alvy Powell of the U.S. Army Chorus was our guest soloist. What a singer! Many remembered him from two previous appearances with our choir on Sunday mornings in recent years. Alvy’s magnificent voice was such a blessing. Our own soloists and orchestra were also wonderfully effective. Such talent, and given with such love as well as excellence.

The artistry of the dancers from North Alabama Dance Center was matched by their desire to communicate the Christmas message with clarity. Special gratitude is expressed to these young students whose truly outstanding performances touched many a heart. The depth and breadth of First Baptist skill was very evident as our technical teams rose to the unique

challenges of this year’s presentation. We also added a new row to the Tree, quite a significant step in the 27-year history of this ministry. How grateful we are for individuals who selflessly contributed to the greater good of the whole. Thank you, First Baptist family, for this latest investment into the ministry of the Living Christmas Tree. Our hearts sang, indeed!

Holiday Schedule

December 21 – No Wednesday Evening ActivitiesDecember 23 – Offices ClosedDecember 24 – Christmas Eve Service, 5:00 p.m. in the SanctuaryDecember 25 – No Morning Bible Study, Combined worship in the Sanctuary, 10:30 a.m., No Evening ActivitiesDecember 26 – Offices ClosedJanuary 1 - Regular morning schedule, No Evening ActivitiesJanuary 2 - Offices Closed

There will be no Messenger next week due to Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 25 Library Open 10:10 AM-10:30 AM

Sanctuary Worship 10:30 AM

Library Open 11:40 AM-12:00 PM

Monday, Dec. 26CHURCH OFFICES CLOSED

Tuesday, Dec. 27LCT De-Decking/Sanct. 8 AM-5:00 PM*

Tuesday Morning Intercess./242 7:00 AM

Wednesday, Dec. 28LCT De-Decking/Sanct. 8 AM-12:00 PM*

Thursday, Dec. 29Newcomers Club/241 1:00 PM

*De-decking begins on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 29 8:00 a.m. until noon (if needed). Families are encouraged to participate. For further information, contact Holly Canup at hollycanup@aol.com.

Giving a hymnal to our church to memorialize a friend or family member is appropriate for all ages and is a lasting gift. A hymnal gift is great for Christmas, but you don’t have to wait. Make

your $20 donation now. Contact the Music Ministry Office (256-428-9421) or the Church Office (256-428-9400) if you would like to ob-tain the contribution envelopes or if you need

more information.

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

94

Volume 62 / Week Number 50 / December 22, 2011

December 25, 2011

Sermon“The HeartSong of Christmas”

Luke 2:1-20

No Morning Bible Study

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Music from the Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

“When Love was Born” - arr. Sterling

Solo by Jeremy Wilkerson

No Evening Activities

The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center

The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center requests that you please remember to

designate our organization in your year-end giving to The United Way.

Since The Vine is a non-profit organization, the United Way will pass the contribution

to us if you designate us in your giving. We remain available to serve you and members of your congregation. Please don’t hesitate

to contact us if there is a need. 256-461-8580.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service

5:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Singing of Christmas CarolsChildren’s Time

Special Music by soloists andinstrumentalists

Message by our Pastor“Christ the Savior is Born”

Luke 2:8-12Observance of the Lord’s Supper

Candlelighting Ceremony

Year-End Contributions

The offices of FBC will close on December 30 at 1:00 p.m. Therefore, contributions to be posted for 2011 should be received in the Finance Office by 1:00 p.m. on December 30. Of course, any donations postmarked by December 31 will also be counted. If you have any questions, please contact Alison at 256-428-9417 or alison@fbchsv.org. You may also give online

at www.fbchsv.org/give

**Remember that stock gifts, IRAs, and other appreciated securities are a great way to donate! Call Alison if you have questions.

Merry Christmas from your Church Staff!Can you guess who is who? Answers on page 4

12 3

8

13

16

1716

2220

24

1. Amanda Allen 2. Alison Hoskins 3. Cindy Thompson 4. Darryl McLaughlin 5. Scott Goosby 6. Angela Seanor 7. Bailey Alderson 8. David Hull 9. Reta Tomlin 10. Jamie Mackey 11. Mark Seanor 12. Lea Anne Hardy 13. Nancy Moore 14. Billy Orton 15. Debbie Bell 16. Cindy Russell 17. Jud Reasons 18. Dru Murphree 19. Laura Roberts 20. Hope Davis 21. Elizabeth Hostetter 22. Joy Moore 23. Kristi Taylor 24. Yulonda Douglas 25. Jeremy Wilkerson 26. Edna Zimmerman 27. Pam LaPier 28. Joyce Zackie 29. Roger Hayes 30. Pam McDaniel 31. Mike Pearce 32. Mike Hopkins

5

116

7

13

19

23

27

28

10

14 15

18

26

32

12

21

25

29

30 31