Christmas Season Events
Living Nativity Report 2009
I have HUGE thank you's for all who took part in our 2009 Living Nativity! First of all, I want to thank God for the great weather he gave us for the first time in a long time and for His wonderful servants here at FBCOGT. Thanks to those who donated food to feed the workers and cast, those who worked in the kitchen and those who helped coordinate costumes, to the crew who put the scenes up on Saturday and them down on Sunday, and to the young legs who traveled up and down the attic stairs to carry costumes and props. A big thanks to the cast who withstood the 20-minute shifts outside, to Mark for his leadership and to Robin Reimer’s sister Julie and her family (who did all dress as shepherds) for bringing their 4 sheep and 2 goats (what a great touch). Thank you to anyone who drove through to follow our path to the Light of our star. And especially, thank you for your prayers. It was because of all of you that our 2009 Living Nativity was a success! Patti Logan
Operation Christmas Child 2009 Report
SENDING CHRISTMAS JOY
The 2009 Operation Christmas Child sent 28 shoe boxes of Christmas Joy to children around the globe, and thanks to the electronic bar codes available this year, individuals will be notified of the destination of their box.
Thanks to all who provided completed boxes, materials for boxes, wrapping paper, and postage to make this ministry a success. Even during the most difficult of economic times, the First Baptist Family continues to share with those less fortunate.
In addition to our boxes, it was possible to provide dollars toward the purchase of Bibles to be placed in each shoe box at the North Carolina national distribution center. Bibles are in the language of the region to which the boxes are sent.
Please pray for those who will deliver the boxes as well as the children who will receive them.
Living Nativity Report 2008
To my wonderful First Baptist Church family: Thank you for helping to make our Living Nativity a success. God challenged us with cold temperatures, a stiff wind, and a sub-zero wind chill, but because of the dedication of so many of our members we were able to portray the Christmas story in three outdoor scenes and one indoor scene.
We have added many new memories to our Living Nativity experience—literally being frozen in place to portray our characters, Scott’s shoe being devoured by Romeo the camel while Scott was still wearing it, and the warmth of the fellowship to help thaw us out. Thank you to each of the committee chairmen who helped pre-plan the event. I also thank each of you who braved the cold to portray characters, set up and tear down the scenes and direct traffic; thank you to those who worked indoors to coordinate the scenes, dress our cast, and feed all of the workers, and especially to those of you who carried us through with your prayers.
God Bless each of you. Patti Logan, Living Nativity Co-Chair.
Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is a special symbol composed of a wreath of evergreen, in a circle, with 4 candles, 3 purple and one rose or pink. One Candle is lit every night during Advent. One purple one during the first week of Advent, the second purple nightly during the second week, and so on, until during the fourth week all four candles are lit. Some people also place a large white candle in the center to be lit on Christmas Day.
Many churches light the Advent candles in differing orders - some light the rose candle as the last before the Christ candle while some (as our church chooses) light it as the third candle. Also, the order of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace varies by congregation. The order you see below is just one way to celebrate Advent and by no means reflects an "required" way of presenting the Advent candles. However, it can be a wonderful guide for family Advent celebrations.
