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Holland, OH
43528
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Reports & Pictures from Past Years
Christmas 2002 Reports

Reflections on the Advent Season 2002 at First Baptist
By Becky Spencer

December is a wonderful month at our church. We are busy, but it is the kind of busy that is rewarding. Our choir had several extra Saturday morning rehearsals to prepare for the Christmas Concert and for the Christmas Eve Service. Gentlemen from our church took time from their Saturdays to build the Manger and set-up the scenes for Living Nativity. Songs and scripts were written, and back-up sound tracks developed for the Christmas Program. Wooden animals were cut and painted, promotional materials were sent to the media and local churches. These are just a few of the tasks accomplished to make our month a success.

I particularly want to thank my husband who was always there to keep the home fires burning while I was at the extra practices, making calls to volunteers and away from home. Larry is great. He keeps telling me, “Whatever you need me to do, Becky, just let me know.” What reassuring words for a woman who takes on tremendous amounts of responsibility. The support is always there.

On another note, our Living Nativity has turned into a First Baptist reunion. The individuals who first started our Living Nativity are now young adults who came back to fill the last 14 cast members that we desperately needed. Living Nativity is a tradition that hopefully will keep our past tied to the future for years to come.

Finally, thank you to everyone who donated time, talents, and donations, promoted programs, cooked, rang bells, sang, acted, wrote, read, danced, invited visitors, coordinated, directed, drove, hammered, painted, cut and showed-up!

Our Christmas at First Baptist is busy but in the heart of the activity is to focus on the Birth of Christ. Lauren Clarke sang in the Christmas program: “Jesus is the heart of Christmas.” As we move into the new year and our 150th Anniversary of our church and to maintain the busy schedules that are inevitable, if we keep Jesus in our heart, think of the spirit and love and joy that can be shared not only in December, but throughout the year.

Christmas 2001 Pictorial Report

Christmas 2000 Report

Christmas 2000 will probably be remembered most of all for its weather. It never let up. We had every condition imaginable. It began with snow early in the season and ended with snow. There was snow and then more snow. In between there was rain and then more rain, followed by fog. All through the season it got colder and colder so that when the high temperature finally reached twenty degrees we thought we were having a heat wave. 

The weather did affect attendance. Many were not able to participate in worship and activities at church the way they would have liked because it was too treacherous outside.

In spite of these conditions, what we will remember most from the season of Advent and Christmas is a congregation that embodied the most fantastic expression of the Christmas Spirit I have ever witnessed. At times it even reached heroic proportions as on the night of our Living Nativity.

The wind chill was below 20. Roads were slick and snowy and almost deserted. The live animals canceled, but we did not. We modified the scenes, reduced them to five, two of them indoors, and the outdoor scenes were presented in 10 minutes intervals. In spite of the hardship, at least 60 First Baptist members showed up and participated. Because of the severe road conditions only 54 cars drove through, but we kept our appointment with the community.

On that same cold weekend members of our Men's Fellowship were stationed at an outdoor kettle for the Salvation Army at a local supermarket. 

Inside the church the spirit of generosity reigned with all our special mission projects. At Thanksgiving we provided $740 of food gift certificates and turkeys for 12 families at Good Shepherd, our Hispanic mission church in Toledo. At Christmas we provided $800 of food gift certificates and hams for 12 families and gifts for 30 children.

Additionally the Junior Class provided Christmas gifts for four children in another family and the Alive In Christ Class sponsored still another family.

For the first time we sponsored a church Christmas card with proceeds going to Rev. David Frey, Campus Minister at the University of Iowa. Although the final figure is not known to me at this time, I do know it approaches $250.00 Again we took a special offering for retired ministers and missionaries and I believe we set a new record of $750.00.

This year more than ever I believe we learned what it means to give. We found our Christmas in giving. And on Christmas Eve when we made our way through the cold and snow and were greeted at the church with 214 luminaries (another record) leading the way up the driveway and into the parking lot, and inside were met with the glow of candlelight, red poinsettias and a new Christmas tree, I think we were all aware, as much as we had gave, more was received.

We felt the blessing of our life, the joy in sharing, and at the manger, a deeper awareness of God's gift to us. Someone said to me, "The service had a special glow," and I believe it and I think in part that glow was caused by the open generosity in our own hearts that make it possible for the dear Christ to "enter in." 


ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS AT FIRST BAPTIST

One of the best ways to teach your children and experience as a family and individuals the true heart and soul of Christmas is through the activities and programs of the church. Consider making the church the center of your advent and Christmas observance. The following is a listing of opportunities in which you and your family might want to participate during the next few weeks. Additional information on these programs is provided by clicking on the underlined links.

ADVENT WORSHIP, Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Each week we lit another candle on the advent wreath. It was a wonderful way of connecting children's growing excitement with the birth of Jesus. We also encouraged everyone to have advent wreaths in their homes.

ADVENT WORKSHOP was held Sunday, December 3, 2000. 

CHRISTMAS POTLUCK & SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM was held Sunday, December 10, 5:00 p.m. It was like getting together with all the relatives at Christmas only this family is the church family.

SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING - Men's Fellowship rang bells for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 16, 2000.  

LIVING NATIVITY was held Sunday, December 17, 6:00 - 8:15 p.m. The temperature held at 5° the entire evening with wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour. The wind chill hovered around -38° with blowing a drifting snow.  To see pictures and learn more about our Living Nativity 2000, CLICK HERE!

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST, Saturday, December 23, 8:00 a.m. It was a terrific way to begin the Saturday before Christmas. The breakfast was held at The Holiday Inn French Quarter.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE, Sunday, December 24, 7:30 p.m. Candlelight, favorite carols, choirs, brass quintet, communion. It was a service of great beauty and light. 

 
 

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