God Acts When People Pray Kids Game

Special Wednesday Night New Community Feature available in the online edition...

Vol. XXXIV • No. 1 • January 9, 2009

“Among Friends” There’s so much to look forward to in this new year! New Ministries Be sure to take a look at the New Community insert in the online version of this Outlook to see all of the great new ministries and classes coming on Wednesday nights beginning January 14th. Invite a neighbor! I am enormously excited about two new prayer-related ministries at FBC. The first is a ministry of praying each week during our two worship services. Beth Smith responded to God’s leading by beginning this ministry back in November and already some amazing stories are coming from those who’ve participated. Friends, “Calling on God’s everything we do as a congregation power during depends on prayer—I cannot stress this worship.” enough. Don’t miss an opportunity to see first-hand how God acts when people pray. Sign up today! (see more information in the Congregational Life section) Another prayer ministry is about to begin and is featured on this page—Prayers and Squares. I love the motto of this wonderful quilt-making ministry: “It’s not about the quilt—it’s about the prayers!” I’m grateful that Jeanette Corley and Laura Palmer let God tap them on the shoulder about starting this ministry and I am praying that a number of FBC folks respond.

“ ...it’s about the prayers”

New Ministerial Leadership This Sunday we will bless and pray for new deacons as they join the team of lay ministers already at work.

New Messages This Sunday we begin a 7-week romp together through the book of Acts. Of course seven weeks will give us just about enough time to water ski over the surface of this great book, waving at some of the highlights as we fly by. But I’m looking forward to it and I hope you are, too. New Missional Focus Author, leader and congregational coach George Bullard is joining us in February for what is sure to be a pivotal four days for our church. We invited George after some of our deacons and staff experienced his leadership gifts at Glen Memorial UMC last spring. George’s ministry is all about helping churches to reach their “kingdom potential,” as he puts it. Please start praying now for this weekend (February 20-23) and for all that God has in store for FBC Decatur. This is just a taste of what’s ahead. God is at work, friends! Blessings,

Starting this February Prayers & Squares is an interfaith outreach ministry that combines the gift of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt. But the purpose of Prayers & Squares is not to make and distribute quilts, but to promote prayer through the use of quilts. The motto is: "It's not about the quilt; it's all about the prayers." The idea is simple. A heavy thread is used to take stitches through the quilt layers, and the ends are left free to be tied with square knots. As each knot is tied by a member of the congregation, a silent prayer is said for someone in special need, who then receives the finished quilt. Jeanette Corley and Laura Palmer are heading up this ministry and will be presenting the idea to the Missions Team, the Women on Mission, and Sunday School classes this month. Watch for an announcement of an interest meeting in February.

Go...Be...Do! Missions Corner

Your 2009 Special Missions Offering envelope is different this year. Instead of sending special offerings to SBC general funds (Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong), we will be sending money directly to the accounts of the missionaries associated with First Baptist. Here’s how the special offering will be divided: First, we will complete the collection of $9,000 for continuing education for the staff of the Upland Holistic Development Project in Thailand. After that, 15% of the Special Missions Offering will go directly to our FBC missionaries on the field, 15% will go to special needs here in Decatur, and the rest will go to the CBF Global Missions Offering. Our goal for 2009 is $30,000. Thank you for your generosity.

Congregational Life FBC Deacon Mini-Retreat This Saturday Our deacons will gather in Carreker Hall this Saturday, January 10, from 9:00a – 1:30p for leadership development and preparation for the coming year. Please pray for our deacons and for the team of deacon officers who will lead this year: Bill Neal, Chair; Katie Howard, Vice-Chair; and Karen Hill, Secretary.

Prayer Concerns as of January 7, 2008 Sympathy To: •A friend of Wendy Bigbie who lost her 3-year old son. •The family of Ralph Turner. •The family of Carrie Thomason. •The family of Frances Walton.

Tithes & Offerings Katie Howard, Vice-Chair

Karen Hill, Secretary Bill Neal, Chair

Financial Peace University (Wed. Session-E-210 and Sun. Session-Carreker Hall) Zeno Douglas and Mark Carter will lead this study that includes videos by radio personality Dave Ramsey and small group discussion and support for those who want to gain control of their finances, eliminate debt, and learn to give generously. $110 fee. Sundays 4-6 pm beginning January 11 Contact Mark Carter at [email protected] or 404-805-3442. Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 pm beginning January 14 Contact Zeno Douglas at [email protected] or 404-320-0600. Young At Heart trip to Savannah The Young at Heart trip to Savannah is right around the corner on March 23-27. If you are interested in visiting Savannah all payments are due by January 21. The cost for the trip is $399. AARP Driver Safety Driving Class Offered Feb. 16-17 There will be an AARP Driver Safety Driving class on Feb. 16 and 17 from 9:30-1:30 here at FBC Decatur. If you are interested in signing up please call the church office (404-373-1653) to get on the class list. The cost is $14 and you get a discount with an AARP membership card. Another Young at Heart Trip Opportunity The Young at Heart will take a cruise of the Greek Isles leaving November 7, 2009 for 8 days and 7 nights on Caribbean Cruise Lines. If you are interested in going on this cruise we need a deposit of $350/person for double occupancy or $700/person for single occupancy by February 15, 2009. For more information or to sign up contact Bob Williamson in the church office, 404-373-1653. FBCD Men Gather for Bible Study/Outreach Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. a group of men gather for Bible Study at Dusty’s Barbecue Restaurant, 1815 Briarcliff Road. Albert Trujillo is leading a study of Genesis. This group has two purposes: spiritual growth for FBCD men and an outreach opportunity for men who may not be interested in “churchy” things. Come, invite others, leave when you need to get to work. For more information, call Al at 404-235-7848. Praying for Worship Services The people who meet in the first-floor prayer chapel to pray during Fresh Start and during the 11:00 worship service are providing much appreciated support for those leading worship and for folks who bring their struggles and pain into this building every week. This is a ministry in which we can all participate. Contact Beth Smith at 404-321-0508 or [email protected]. Organ Renovation/Repair Fund Established Due to the sanctuary fire in 1976, a new Holtkamp pipe organ was installed in 1978. The organ contains over 3,100 pipes with a four manual console and is appraised at over $1,000,000. Many of the components, pipes, and parts of the organ are in need of replacement and repair, including a total re-leathering of the instrument which will cost over $200,000. An Organ Fund has been established to begin the process of renovation and contributions are now being accepted.

A Generous People 2008 Ministry Action Plan Preliminary Year-End Figures December MTD................$ 161,430 2008 YTD......................$ 1,281,787 2007 YTD......................$ 1,254,073 “Years of Opportunity 2007-09” Campaign December MTD..................$ 16,008 2008 YTD...........................$ 99,853 Missions Offering December MTD....................$ 6,539 2008 YTD...........................$ 25,112

Wednesday Dinner Menus January 14 Pick one of the following menus: Blue Plate Menu Poppyseed Chicken, White Rice, Stewed Squash, Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls, Pineapple Upside Down Cake “Lighter Side” Menu Vegetable Soup, Baked Potato/Salad Bar, Chicken Salad, “The Works” Pizza, Fruit Bowl January 21 Pick one of the following menus: Blue Plate Menu Roast Beef w/ Potatoes and Carrots, Steamed Cabbage, Broccoli Salad, Corn Bread Muffins, Coconut Cake “Lighter Side” Menu Tomato Soup, Baked Potato/Salad Bar, Grilled Pork Chop, Cheese Pizza, Light Yogurt

Youth Sp•t

Kid’s Zone

The Youth Ministry is looking forward to a great 2009. All of our big dates have been set and we are now working on getting many of the details worked out and leadership recruited. We are also in the midst of preparing for our annual yard sale. This yard sale provides the majority of the funding that our youth ministry operates on and as our youth ministry has grown over the past year it makes the yard sale even more successful, so please help us by donating the things in your life that you no longer use or need. We will take just about anything and we also need the donations of your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members. Please know that our pickup operation is now in full swing after a few months of operating on a reduced schedule. So please feel free to call the church office or email Kurt ([email protected]) to find out more or to schedule a pickup.

Annual Youth Ski Retreat

3 year olds (since Sept. 1, 2008) - 5th grade: Activities include: singing, crafts for younger children, handbells and Orff instruments for older children, opportunities for worship leadership, music education, and more! Melody Makers - 3 year olds Music Friends - 4 & 5 year olds Music Makers - grades 1 & 2 Young Musicians - grades 3—5

~ January 1 – 4, 2009 ~ Snowshoe, West Virginia

Jan. 11 Visser Palmer Milton

Upcoming Extended Session Volunteers Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Dalton Morris Hinkle Smith Fisher Carter Mwangura Madden Salcedo Hamrick

Volunteer Opportunities in the Library! The Media Center programs are growing and we could use more volunteers to keep things running! There are many places to fit in: Circulation Automated cataloging Processing new items Story times for First School kids Repairs—books and A/V Organizing author talks Shelving Supervising After-School kids Bulletin Boards Book reviews for the website Call us at 404.373.1653 ext. 2229, day or night. Thanks! The Outlook, a publication of the First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia, is mailed to members and friends of the First Baptist family. Main Office......................................404-373-1653 Finance.............................................404-370-7694 First School ......................................404-370-7688 Activities ..........................................404-373-2442 FAX ..................................................404-370-7692 Debbie Britt .....................................404-373-1653 Sharyn Dowd....................................404-373-1653 Ryan Forbes.....................................404-370-7690 Julie Pennington-Russell.................404-370-7684 Kurt Varney......................................404-373-1653 Bob Williamson ...............................404-370-7687 Computer Connections: Website—www.fbcdecatur.com E-Mail—[email protected]

The Outlook, USPS 600-320, is published bi-weekly, except Christmas week, by First Baptist Church Decatur, GA Postmaster: Please send address changes to First Baptist Church, 308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030