2015 DEC 3 pg 1 s.com

PERCEPTIONS

By Bro. Bill MCCullin

Babe Ruth, one of the famous baseball players of all time, finished his career in a slump. According to a legendary story, he was ridiculed mercilessly one game as he made his way back to the dugout.The fans continued to boo and yell obscenities until a little boy jumped the fence and ran to Babe's side.

The child threw his arms around Babe's legs, crying as he hugged him. Moved by the young boy's display of affection, Ruth gently lifted the boy up into his arms. As they walked off the field, the man and the boy

First Baptist Vidalia - 00000426

The Bridge

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 3, 2015 100 N. Hickory St.

Phone: 318-336-7111

cried together. This young boy demonstrated the true nature of

compassion- he sympathized with the sorrows of another. His example reminds us that a compassionate man does not stand detached from the suffering of others. Rather, he steps into the world of the hurting and feels the pain and anguish of the one suffering. And he expresses his compassion through a sincere concern, through a listening ear, a shed tear.

Our church is full of hurting people, many who are longing for a compassionate friend.Will you be that friend?

--Bro. Bill

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY December 11, 6-9 PM

YOUTH "White Elephant" CHRISTMAS PARTY

December 11, 6 PM

Sunday, December 13, 6 PM

First Baptist Church, Vidalia A Night of Celebration: Worship with Candlelight

Service, Special Music, and Congregational Singing Presented by the FBC Vidalia Choir

Led by Matt Duff

Followed by refreshments in the foyer.

MISSION OPPORTUNITY: GEORGIA BARNETTE MISSION CONFERENCE CENTER

Construction Volunteers needed to help complete the building. Place Tall Timbers Christian Conference

Center, Forest Hill, Louisiana. RV Hook ups Available. Meal Provided: 3 a day, free to workers.

Housing at Tall Timbers free to workers.

Volunteers will be needed throughout the year until building is completed around March.

Contact Julia Parker, LBS Coordinator 318-794-4481 or Bill & Joyce Temple: On site Coordinators 318-368-5129

First Baptist Vidalia! Connecting People to God, to Each Other, and to the World

History of Christmas Carols by James Cooper Submitted by Matt Duff

Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles (The word carol originally meant to dance to something). The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy! Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived.

Early Christians took over the pagan solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people Christian songs to sing instead of pagan ones. In AD 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song called "Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another famous early Christmas Hymn was written in 760AD, by Comas of Jerusalem, for the Greek Orthodox Church. Soon after this many composers all over Europe started to write 'Christmas carols'. However, not many people liked them as they were all written and sung in Latin, a language that the normal people couldn't understand. By the time of the Middles Ages (the 1200s), most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether. This was changed by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he started

his Nativity Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or 'canticles' that told the story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in! The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries.

The earliest carol, like this, was written in 1410. Sadly only a very small fragment of it still exists. The carol was about Mary and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem. Most Carols from this time and the Elizabethan period are untrue stories, very loosely based on the Christmas story, about the holy family and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung in homes rather than in churches! Traveling singers or Minstrels started singing these carols and the words were changed for the local people wherever they were traveling. One carol that changed like this is 'I Saw Three Ships'.

When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England in 1647, the celebration of Christmas and singing carols was stopped. However, the carols survived as people still sang them in secret. Carols remained mainly unsung until Victorian times, when two men called William Sandys and Davis Gilbert collected lots of old Christmas music from villages in England.

YOUTH NEWS

by Jase Ellis

Good Day Church, Thanksgiving is behind us which means we can now openly

celebrate the Christmas season without being judged by our friends on Facebook! Our youth have some upcoming events I would like to point out as we celebrate this season.

On December 11 we will be having our youth Christmas party. 6pm ? 9pm(ish). This party will be a white elephant party. Students are encouraged to bring a gift for an exchange. The price cap on the gifts is $10. At the conclusion of the white elephant exchange three prizes will be awarded to

the three students who brought the best gift, the most creative gift, and the most absurd gift. Food and games will be provided free of charge and we look forward to having your kids join us for this evening of fun. On December 17 we will be visiting shut-ins and bringing them gifts to let them know we care for them and to help them celebrate this season with us. Parents are invited and encouraged to participate in this event as well. As always, it is with great joy that I work with your students and help equip them for a life of obedient service to our Lord. There is no greater life than one spent in the will of our Lord. And I look forward to celebrating the incarnation of Jesus Christ with them this season. -Jase

STUDENTS GR 6-12

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP

Wednesdays 6:30 "Worship in the Word" Youth Leadership Meetings

Each 1st and 3rd Sundays at 1:30-3:00 pm

Children/Youth Activities

Children's Christmas Party 6 ?9 PM in the Gym

Youth "White Elephant" Christmas Party

Dec 11, 6 PM in the Warehouse

Youth Visit Shut-Ins Dec 17th

YOUNG AT HEART

CHRISTMAS PARTY

TUESDAY DECEMBER 8TH

FELLOWSHIP AT 5:30 ~ MEAL AT 6:00

"It's a "Cajun Christmas Exchange"

Wrapped Gifts are to be gender specific, ranging in price from $4 to $5

Menu: Ham, rolls and tea furnished You bring sides and desserts

ALL ADULTS 50 PLUS ARE INVITED!

DECLARE HIS GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS HIS WONDERFUL WORKS AMONG ALL PEOPLES

Syria's Hope It's hard to imagine anything but a continued descending darkness closing in on Syrian & Iraqi refugees, victims of brutality caused by ISIS and the Syrian regime. While images & reports of beheadings, cruelty, & pure evil continue to shadow refugees (numbering in the millions) from any light of hope, there is hope in the good news of Jesus Christ. Only a loving God Who cares deeply for all who are fleeing violence can push back that darkness. Peter, a Christian worker, works tirelessly to bring refugees God's shining hope. But his work comes at great cost to the many he serves & to him personally, as he ministers in the midst of tremendous suffering. "The hardest thing in this ministry is just sitting down & listening to their hurts," Peter says. "They come, they arrive with little children just with the clothes on their back, their businesses are destroyed ... women have been raped .... Real torture goes on among men & young men in Syria." Through Southern Baptist support, Peter is able to work along the Syrian border, distributing food & other critical necessities. As more Syrians flee, he hopes to give hope through Christ --A message they've never heard.

BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS ... and BECAUSE YOU GIVE IMB HELPS SEND MISSIONARIES TO THE BILLIONS WHO HAVE YET TO HEAR.

2015 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

``PRAY--GIVE--GO--SEND" FBC VIDALIA GOAL $10,500

Mission March December 6th 10:30 service

Psalm 96:3 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. (ESV)

FBC Vidalia - Page 3

Children's Christmas Party

December 11th 6pm-9pm FBCV Gym

* CHRISTMAS STORY READ BY SANTA * * COOKIE DECORATING * GAMES * * CRAFTS *

* FOOD * HAY RIDE * HOT CHOCOLATE *

*Hay Ride to look at Christmas lights so bring a warm blanket and a good cup to enjoy hot chocolate along the way!

BIRTH to FIFTH GRADE

Parents are invited to join in the fun with their children.

GARAGE SALE BENEFIT

The proceeds will go to help pay for Marty Probst's medical expenses DATE: December 4 & 5

PLACE: First Baptist Church Vidalia Call Evelyn Stiner (601-334-6674) if you want to volunteer to help or if you have items to donate.

LADIES PRISON MINISTRY

At the Concordia Correctional Facility

NEEDED ITEMS for CHRISTMAS PARTY BAGS

We need the following items: Women's fuzzy socks (with grips if possible) Toothbrush and Toothpaste (large size Aim or Pepsodent)

Body Wash (12 oz size) Shampoo/Conditioner combo (12 oz size)

Candy/Cookies Please bring them to the church office before Dec 7th.

P. S. "Have I told you lately that `Jesus loves you.'"

Women on Mission News

Next Monthly Meeting

December 7, 2:30 pm at the church International Mission Study

December Mission Action:

Assist with preparing gift bags for Ladies' Prison Ministry

Sympathy!

Love and prayers for

Jenny Emfinger

in the loss of her mother Liz Stewart

Enjoy the Christmas Holidays with the FBCV Family

Dec 6 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Mission March

Dec 8 Young at Heart Christmas Party Dec 11 Youth & Children's Parties

Dec 13 FBCV Choir: "Christmas Begins with Christ"

Dec 17 Youth visit to "Shut-ins"

Current Sunday School & Financial Reports

ARE NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO HOLIDAY PRINTING SCHEDULE

CELEBRATE RECOVERY! THURSDAYS 6 PM, FBC VIDALIA

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-Centered Program for ANYONE with hurts, habits,

and/or hang-ups ... past or present.

Coming Events

Dec 4-5: Friends of the Probst's Benefit Dec 7: Women on Mission Dec 8: Young at Heart Dec 11: Children's Christmas Party Dec 11: Youth Christmas Party Dec 13: Christmas Musical Dec 23: No Services Dec 24-25: Office Closed

Sharing a thought ...

In "The Daily Dr. Cloud", writer & speaker Dr. Henry Cloud recently wrote, "Time will pass, what you do with it will remain." At my age, that statement really resonated with me!! Then, my daily Bible reading was Psalm 31; in verse 14-15 David says, "But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord ... My times are in Your hand." Wow! God must have been trying to get my attention ... And He did!

Job 14:5 says, "A person's days are determined; You have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed." Our lives run on God's timetable not ours, we don't have control over when "our time" begins or when it ends. But we do have control over what we do with "our time" and what "remains" after our time passes! I hope that you are challenged as I was, and that by the grace and mercy of God when we're gone, what "remains" will bring good to others and glory to God.

Thanks for letting me share. Allie LaBorde

PLEASE CHECK YOUR BULLETIN FOR ANY CHANGES IN OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE

DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Birthday Greengs

Dec 6: Bunny Barlow, Greg Randall, Chris Strong, Lindsey Crum, Brennan Breeland

Dec 7: Marlie Hargon, Jackson Shirley, Meredith Shirley

Dec 9: James Sgall, Ryan Boles Dec 10: Lynn Case, Mona Manchester,

Joanie Herring Dec 11: Bey Harris, Eric Adams Dec 12: Alethia Lawrence Dec 13: Holly Hutchins, Emma Bryan Dec 15: Stephanie Sandrock, Will Johnson,

Bryce Anderson Dec 16: Teressa Reynolds, Cole Cupit Dec 17: Tiffany Paul Dec 19: Buck Denny, Shayne Knapp

First Bapst Vidalia: Published December 3, 2015

Contact Informaon 100 N. Hickory St., Vidalia LA 71373

Phone 318-336-7111 Fax 318-336-7112

Website:

Our Staff

Rev. Bill McCullin, Senior Pastor Email: bill@

Rev. Ma Duff, Assoc. Pastor of Worship & Creave Ministries

Email: ma@

Jase Ellis, Assoc. Pastor of Youth & Educaon Email: Jase@

Carrie Vest, Director of Children's Ministries Email: Carrie@

Allie LaBorde, Church Secretary Email: allie@

Mitzi Roby, Financial Secretary Email: mitzi@

Sylvia Strahan, Part-Time Secretary Email: sylvia@

Acve Deacons: 2015-2016

Jon Betts, Junior Williams, Randy Ainsworth, Bo Strahan, Jamie Lawrence, Kent Ozment, Clare Shields, Tommy Probst, John Tuttle, Tance Hughes, Michael Garrett

Regular Schedule

Weekly

Sunday

Worship

9:00 am

Sunday School

9:15 am

Worship

10:30 am

Wednesday

Pastor's Bible Study: Open Class

10:00 am

One Accord Signing Class

5:30 pm

A.W.A.N.A.

6:15 pm

W.O.W. - Mid-Week Service

6:30 pm

Wednesday Night Youth "Legacy" Gr 6-12 6:15 pm

Sanctuary Choir Pracce

7:30 pm

Thurs

Celebrate Recovery

6:00 pm

Celebraon Place

6:00 pm

Monthly

Deacons' Meeng - 2nd Sunday Young at Heart - 2nd Tuesday

3:00 pm 5:30 pm

As Announced

Small Group Studies

Check bullen

FIRST BAPTIST VIP's "... It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:24b

Dec 6: Nursery: Linda Crain, Kayce Hinson, Peggy Kemp, Una Knapp, Misti Ellis, Jami/Randy Ainsworth, Jessica Clayton 12/9 Tammy/Clare Shields Greeters: Roy McKinney, Chris Sanders, Chris Roberts, Marie Allred, Jo Sebille, Angie Weeks, Grady Boykin 12/9 J.D. Whitehead Counter: 12/7 Art Verdel Children's Church: Pam Higgins, David/ Dawn Moss, Beth Houghton

Dec 13: Nursery: John/Erin Woodruff, April Garrett, Kristen Hendricks, Diane Hargon, Betty Woody, Charla Knapp, Elaine Daniels 12/16 Sue Wilson Greeters: Jimmy/Sheryl Neely, Dorothy Ames, J.D. Whitehead, Ann Pickering, Peggy McCall, Doug Clark; 12/16 Hil Burge Counter: 12/14 Marie Allred Children's Church: Pam Higgins, Dawn/ David Moss, Lillian Breeland

Dec 20: Nursery: Denise/Daniel Davis, Mandy Hedrick, Lacy Jester, Jill Brown, Jennifer Bryant, Ann Pickering, Linda Newburn 12/23 Greg/Kathrine Green Greeters: Keith Darnell, Linda Wilson, Mary A. Doughty, Donis Craft, Kim/Jerry Clark, Keith Darnell; 12/23 Linda Crain Counter: 12/21 Billie Chandler Children's Church: Pam Higgins, Dawn/ David Moss, Natalie Creel

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