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

School Supply Collectionfor Lakewood Elementary School

This Sunday is the last day to drop off school supplies. All supplies are still needed

but here are our greatest needs:

Sanitizing wipesHand sanitizer

Half inch binders

Drop off supplies in the blue bin in the East Welcome Center. Thank you for your support of Lakewood Elementary School!

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Living Your Life as a Beautiful OfferingA Bible Study based on the the Sermon on

the Mountby Angela Thomas

Begins September 4Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.

Room 343

Study sessions include:A beautiful offering | The cup of your soul |

God delights and shows mercy | You belong to heaven | Keeping a secret life |

He’ll raise you up

To Sign Up:Book cost is $10

Contact Becky Soutullo at becky100emc@gmail.com

Childcare is provided by calling the Children’s Ministry Office

at 256-428-9411.

Deadline to sign up is August 24. All women are welcome to attend!

How to Study Your Bible

September 12, 19 and 26 from 9-11:00 a.m.

• Carefully observe Scripture to see what it says

• Learn how to develop its context• Accurately interpret the Word to

understand its meaning• Apply truth to your life that you may

glorify God

Books are $15 and need to be ordered by August 30. If you are interested in this 3

week study, contact Kennie Worlund at 256-539-4275 or kworlund@comcast.

Volume 63 / Week Number 32 / August 9, 2012

August 12, 2012Sermon

“Run for the Gold”1 Corinthians 9:24-27

First Fellowship Worship - 8:15 a.m.Celebration of Baptism

Music from the First Fellowship Band

Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m.Bible Study for all ages

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Sanctuary Choir Anthem

Bound for the Promised Land - arr.WilbergWorship Song by the Lewallen Family

I Can’t Sit DownMusic from the FBC Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass & Stained Glass 2 - 5:00 p.m.The presentation will feature our vibrant and versatile Sanctuary Choir and our wonderful

FBC Bluegrass Band

FiRSt thouGhtSDavid hull, Pastor

Sometimes you taste something that is so good you need a second helping. Well, that is what is happening in our church this week. The first taste was on May 16, 2010. Our Sanctuary Choir teamed with a bluegrass band and presented a memorable evening called “Bluegrass and Stained Glass.” It tasted so good we need a second helping. This Sunday night the same groups are presenting “Bluegrass and Stained Glass – 2.” It

promises to be even better the second time around.

I hope that you will be present in the Sanctuary this Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. Even more than that, I encourage you to use this opportunity to invite some of your friends to come with you. Let’s reach out to the community with a very special event. You can help us draw the crowd.

I am most grateful for our entire Music Ministry. We offer a wide range of Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Handbells, choirs for preschoolers, children and youth, bands for First Fellowship and the Student Ministry plus a host of other ensembles in the total Music Ministry of our church. With the concert coming up this Sunday night, let me offer a special word of thanks to the Sanctuary Choir. This is a dedicated group of folks who rehearse on Wednesday nights and lead us in worship every Sunday. They commit their time, talents, and energy to the glory of God. I am blessed in worship by their singing. Thank you, Sanctuary Choir, for what you do each week. Thank you for what you will be doing this Sunday night. I am ready for a second helping!

Don’t wait until Sunday night to come. Join us on Sunday morning for worship. Have you been watching the Olympics over the last few days? This grand pageant of sport will end on Sunday. It might be a good day for us to think about how the Christian life is like running a race. The Apostle Paul looked at the world of athletics around him and wrote some wonderful words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. We will talk about “Run for the Gold” when we worship on Sunday morning.

I hope to see you in worship this Sunday.

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

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

First Baptist Church and a Digital SignDid you know over 35,000 people drive by our church every day? Do you think those 35,000 knew that Music Camp was July 9-13 or that our Sanctuary Worship is at 10:30 and First Fellowship starts at 8:15? Have you ever tried to actually read our current “sign/banner” while driving by?

Churches all over the country are seeking new ways to attract visitors and ensure that the local community is aware of upcoming events. Digital signage is being used in today’s churches to communicate with their congregations and get valuable information to visitors – like worship times and ministry opportunities. In fact, many new members cite signage as the reason they decided to visit a particular church.

Digital signage can be a useful tool to current members. Digital software can be scheduled to relay content at specific times – so when the congregation is arriving for services, messages about future events can be relayed. Digital signage can be used to welcome visiting groups or persons to our campus or congratulate certain segments of our congregation – like graduating high school seniors. The following are examples of messages we could display on a digital sign:

Sunday’s Message: “Listen to Me” Mark 1: 21-28Veterans Day Concert, Sunday, Nov 13 at 5:00 pm

Men’s Tailgate Fellowship, Sunday, 6:00 pmWELCOME! All City Chorus. Presentation tonight at 7 pm

Family Night this Friday, 6:00 pm. Join Us!Serving the City as One, Saturday, April 12.

He is Risen! Christ is risen indeed!Grief Share, 6:00 pm on Tuesdays

Women’s Crafts and Conversation, Nov 4, 6-9:00 pmWriting Your Life Story, Wednesdays, 11-12:30

Marriage Forum, Sunday, 4-6:00 pmCommunity Health Fair, Friday, 9-2:00 pm. Free health screening.

Because our property is classified a “neighborhood business C-1”, the City Sign Control Regulations state that we are only allowed a ground sign having a maximum of 35 square feet for every 250 feet of street frontage. We have approximately 985 feet of frontage on Governors Drive. We are proposing a two-sided sign which will measure 10’6” X 12’6” or approximately 134 square feet. Given the size of our facility and the fact that we border a seven lane highway, this size sign will be needed to be proportional to the building and allow passing motorists to read our messages. Erecting a sign of this size will require a variance from the Huntsville Board of Zoning Adjustment. By code, we could erect four 35 square feet signs along Governors Drive, but obviously we do not want four different signs – only one monument entrance sign. It will be ten feet from the property line and will be located to the left – just as you enter the campus at the corner of the sanctuary. Below is a mock-up of the proposed sign. You will note that the top portion of the sign, with the logo, is a permanent feature of the sign and is illuminated for night viewing. The bottom half of the sign, measuring 4’ X 12’6” is the digital portion of the sign. The end of the sign facing Governors Drive will feature a brushed silver cross, which will also be illuminated.

Sign control regulations will restrict us by requiring that there be no motion in our digital display (no flashing messages, moving video, or streaming content) and that we must have static messages which can only be changed every hour. So you will not drive by and see antimated messages which might be a distraction for a passing motorist or an

embarassment for our congregation.

First Baptist is very recognizable in our community, but how many people truly know what’s going on inside our walls? We have been using the old style canvas banner to convey to the public some of our major events. These banners cost $415 apiece, cannot really be read as you drive by the church, cannot be seen at night, and must be physically produced and then hung each time we change the message. With a digital sign, it is very easy to make last minute changes and substitute the message. This type of signage would be an excellent opportunity to convey who we are and what we are doing. Why not utilize this digital technology as an outreach tool to our community?

The cost of the digital sign is approximately $80,000. That includes the construction of the base and the cost of the sign. We propose to fund this expense with $16,000 coming from the building project and the balance coming from our 500 Governors Drive Rental Account, administered through our Trustees. This funding plan has been endorsed by the Trustees, Finance Committee and Leadership Council.

There will be a church-wide vote on Sunday, August 19. Absentee voting will also be available online at www.fbchsv.org and in the church office.

Library hours Sunday 9-9:15 AM | 10:10-10:45 AM | 11:40-12:00 PMtuesday 10:00 AM-12:00 PMWednesday 4:00-5:00 PM

Foundations for Life Classesbeginning August 19, 2012

“By the Book: Doorways to the Bible”5:00-6:00 PM • Fellowship Hall • Taught by Jane and David Hull

Sticky Faith • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 241Facilitated by Jamie Mackey

“Stepping Stones to Faith” • 5:00-6:00 PMRoom 229 • Facilitated by Joy Moore and Cindy Russell

“Words of Worship” • 5:00-6:00 PM • ParlorFacilitated by Jeremy Wilkerson

Women’s Bible Study • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 114“James” by Beth Moore • Facilitated by Nannette O’Dell

Men’s Bible Study • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 108“Challenging Church” by Mark Dever - A study of I Corinthians 1-9 • Led by Heinrich DuBose-Schmitt and Bill Walton

“Five Love Languages” • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 111Marriage Care • Facilitated by Pam McDaniel

Student Choir • 5:00 PM • Choir RoomBilly Orton, leader; Sherry Upshaw, accompanist

Preschool Foundations • 5:00 PM • Room 216

Classes for Grades 1-3 • 5:00 PM • Room 227

Classes for Grades 4-6 • 5:00 PM • Room 230

Babies – 2’s • 5:00 PM • Childcare • Room 206

Wednesday Night Dinner MenuWednesday, August 15

AdultsBeef BrisketBaked Beans

PotatoesFire Roasted Vegetables

Romaine Noodle SlawRolls

SaladFried Chicken Salad

(Reservations for salad must be turned in by noon on Wednesday.)

StEWARDShiP REPoRt

08/05/12

Year-to-Date Goal $ 3,658,200.00

offering

this Week $ 88,029.09

YtD $ 3,464,429.24

Debt Retirement

this Week $ 1,331.00

YtD $ 41,625.50

Faith Steps to the Future

this Week $ 17,002.00

YtD $ 1,331,586.72

to Date: $ 3,738,317.67

AttENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 70

Children 81

Students 115

Adults 599

Brookdale 17

Visitors 37

totAL 918

Worship ServicesFirst Fellowship 343

Sanctuary Worship 611

totAL 954

thANK Youthank you notes have been received from

Jean and tom houser, Evelyn Rutland, Carolyn Nalls, and Ruth Moon. they have been placed on the bulletin board across

from the church office.

Staff News

Welcome to Lisa Wilson who will begin Monday, August 13 as Ministry Assistant to our Experienced Adults in the morning hours and Ministry Assistant to the Pastor and Associate Pastor in the afternoon hours. Lisa is known and loved by our church staff already as she has been serving temporarily in a part-time role for our Experienced Adults. Having joined our church family 28 years ago, Lisa knows our church family well. She is very well qualified for the job with an eye for detail, a love for people and ministry at FBC. As you see Lisa around the church, welcome her to the staff family of FBC!

Sunday, Aug. 12First Fellowship 8:15 AM BaptismMorning Bible Study 9:15 AMSanctuary Worship 10:30 AMBluegrass & Stained Glass Concert 5:00 PM Monday, Aug. 13Letter Writing/242 9:00 AM

tuesday, Aug. 14 tues. Morn. intercess./242 7:00 AMPictorial Directory/242 2:00 PMVenture Scouts/342 5:30 PMGriefShare/Parlor 6:00 PMBoy Scouts/343 6:30 PM

Wednesday, Aug. 15 Pictorial Directory/242 2:00 PMSupper/Fh 4:45 PM“under the Big top”/M&M Kickoff 5:00 PMPrayer Service/Fh 5:45 PMSanctuary Choir Reh./ Ch. Rm. 7:00 PM

thursday, Aug. 16 Young Adult Guys’ Bible Study 6:00 AMPictorial Directory/242 2:00 PM

Friday, Aug. 17Pictorial Directory/242 1:00 PM

Saturday, Aug. 18Pictorial Directory/242 10:00 AM

fbchsv.org

ministry calendar

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

First Baptist Church and a Digital SignDid you know over 35,000 people drive by our church every day? Do you think those 35,000 knew that Music Camp was July 9-13 or that our Sanctuary Worship is at 10:30 and First Fellowship starts at 8:15? Have you ever tried to actually read our current “sign/banner” while driving by?

Churches all over the country are seeking new ways to attract visitors and ensure that the local community is aware of upcoming events. Digital signage is being used in today’s churches to communicate with their congregations and get valuable information to visitors – like worship times and ministry opportunities. In fact, many new members cite signage as the reason they decided to visit a particular church.

Digital signage can be a useful tool to current members. Digital software can be scheduled to relay content at specific times – so when the congregation is arriving for services, messages about future events can be relayed. Digital signage can be used to welcome visiting groups or persons to our campus or congratulate certain segments of our congregation – like graduating high school seniors. The following are examples of messages we could display on a digital sign:

Sunday’s Message: “Listen to Me” Mark 1: 21-28Veterans Day Concert, Sunday, Nov 13 at 5:00 pm

Men’s Tailgate Fellowship, Sunday, 6:00 pmWELCOME! All City Chorus. Presentation tonight at 7 pm

Family Night this Friday, 6:00 pm. Join Us!Serving the City as One, Saturday, April 12.

He is Risen! Christ is risen indeed!Grief Share, 6:00 pm on Tuesdays

Women’s Crafts and Conversation, Nov 4, 6-9:00 pmWriting Your Life Story, Wednesdays, 11-12:30

Marriage Forum, Sunday, 4-6:00 pmCommunity Health Fair, Friday, 9-2:00 pm. Free health screening.

Because our property is classified a “neighborhood business C-1”, the City Sign Control Regulations state that we are only allowed a ground sign having a maximum of 35 square feet for every 250 feet of street frontage. We have approximately 985 feet of frontage on Governors Drive. We are proposing a two-sided sign which will measure 10’6” X 12’6” or approximately 134 square feet. Given the size of our facility and the fact that we border a seven lane highway, this size sign will be needed to be proportional to the building and allow passing motorists to read our messages. Erecting a sign of this size will require a variance from the Huntsville Board of Zoning Adjustment. By code, we could erect four 35 square feet signs along Governors Drive, but obviously we do not want four different signs – only one monument entrance sign. It will be ten feet from the property line and will be located to the left – just as you enter the campus at the corner of the sanctuary. Below is a mock-up of the proposed sign. You will note that the top portion of the sign, with the logo, is a permanent feature of the sign and is illuminated for night viewing. The bottom half of the sign, measuring 4’ X 12’6” is the digital portion of the sign. The end of the sign facing Governors Drive will feature a brushed silver cross, which will also be illuminated.

Sign control regulations will restrict us by requiring that there be no motion in our digital display (no flashing messages, moving video, or streaming content) and that we must have static messages which can only be changed every hour. So you will not drive by and see antimated messages which might be a distraction for a passing motorist or an

embarassment for our congregation.

First Baptist is very recognizable in our community, but how many people truly know what’s going on inside our walls? We have been using the old style canvas banner to convey to the public some of our major events. These banners cost $415 apiece, cannot really be read as you drive by the church, cannot be seen at night, and must be physically produced and then hung each time we change the message. With a digital sign, it is very easy to make last minute changes and substitute the message. This type of signage would be an excellent opportunity to convey who we are and what we are doing. Why not utilize this digital technology as an outreach tool to our community?

The cost of the digital sign is approximately $80,000. That includes the construction of the base and the cost of the sign. We propose to fund this expense with $16,000 coming from the building project and the balance coming from our 500 Governors Drive Rental Account, administered through our Trustees. This funding plan has been endorsed by the Trustees, Finance Committee and Leadership Council.

There will be a church-wide vote on Sunday, August 19. Absentee voting will also be available online at www.fbchsv.org and in the church office.

Library hours Sunday 9-9:15 AM | 10:10-10:45 AM | 11:40-12:00 PMtuesday 10:00 AM-12:00 PMWednesday 4:00-5:00 PM

Foundations for Life Classesbeginning August 19, 2012

“By the Book: Doorways to the Bible”5:00-6:00 PM • Fellowship Hall • Taught by Jane and David Hull

Sticky Faith • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 241Facilitated by Jamie Mackey

“Stepping Stones to Faith” • 5:00-6:00 PMRoom 229 • Facilitated by Joy Moore and Cindy Russell

“Words of Worship” • 5:00-6:00 PM • ParlorFacilitated by Jeremy Wilkerson

Women’s Bible Study • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 114“James” by Beth Moore • Facilitated by Nannette O’Dell

Men’s Bible Study • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 108“Challenging Church” by Mark Dever - A study of I Corinthians 1-9 • Led by Heinrich DuBose-Schmitt and Bill Walton

“Five Love Languages” • 5:00-6:00 PM • Room 111Marriage Care • Facilitated by Pam McDaniel

Student Choir • 5:00 PM • Choir RoomBilly Orton, leader; Sherry Upshaw, accompanist

Preschool Foundations • 5:00 PM • Room 216

Classes for Grades 1-3 • 5:00 PM • Room 227

Classes for Grades 4-6 • 5:00 PM • Room 230

Babies – 2’s • 5:00 PM • Childcare • Room 206

Wednesday Night Dinner MenuWednesday, August 15

AdultsBeef BrisketBaked Beans

PotatoesFire Roasted Vegetables

Romaine Noodle SlawRolls

SaladFried Chicken Salad

(Reservations for salad must be turned in by noon on Wednesday.)

StEWARDShiP REPoRt

08/05/12

Year-to-Date Goal $ 3,658,200.00

offering

this Week $ 88,029.09

YtD $ 3,464,429.24

Debt Retirement

this Week $ 1,331.00

YtD $ 41,625.50

Faith Steps to the Future

this Week $ 17,002.00

YtD $ 1,331,586.72

to Date: $ 3,738,317.67

AttENDANCE

Sunday SchoolPreschool 70

Children 81

Students 115

Adults 599

Brookdale 17

Visitors 37

totAL 918

Worship ServicesFirst Fellowship 343

Sanctuary Worship 611

totAL 954

thANK Youthank you notes have been received from

Jean and tom houser, Evelyn Rutland, Carolyn Nalls, and Ruth Moon. they have been placed on the bulletin board across

from the church office.

Staff News

Welcome to Lisa Wilson who will begin Monday, August 13 as Ministry Assistant to our Experienced Adults in the morning hours and Ministry Assistant to the Pastor and Associate Pastor in the afternoon hours. Lisa is known and loved by our church staff already as she has been serving temporarily in a part-time role for our Experienced Adults. Having joined our church family 28 years ago, Lisa knows our church family well. She is very well qualified for the job with an eye for detail, a love for people and ministry at FBC. As you see Lisa around the church, welcome her to the staff family of FBC!

Sunday, Aug. 12First Fellowship 8:15 AM BaptismMorning Bible Study 9:15 AMSanctuary Worship 10:30 AMBluegrass & Stained Glass Concert 5:00 PM Monday, Aug. 13Letter Writing/242 9:00 AM

tuesday, Aug. 14 tues. Morn. intercess./242 7:00 AMPictorial Directory/242 2:00 PMVenture Scouts/342 5:30 PMGriefShare/Parlor 6:00 PMBoy Scouts/343 6:30 PM

Wednesday, Aug. 15 Pictorial Directory/242 2:00 PMSupper/Fh 4:45 PM“under the Big top”/M&M Kickoff 5:00 PMPrayer Service/Fh 5:45 PMSanctuary Choir Reh./ Ch. Rm. 7:00 PM

thursday, Aug. 16 Young Adult Guys’ Bible Study 6:00 AMPictorial Directory/242 2:00 PM

Friday, Aug. 17Pictorial Directory/242 1:00 PM

Saturday, Aug. 18Pictorial Directory/242 10:00 AM

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

School Supply Collectionfor Lakewood Elementary School

This Sunday is the last day to drop off school supplies. All supplies are still needed

but here are our greatest needs:

Sanitizing wipesHand sanitizer

Half inch binders

Drop off supplies in the blue bin in the East Welcome Center. Thank you for your support of Lakewood Elementary School!

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Living Your Life as a Beautiful OfferingA Bible Study based on the the Sermon on

the Mountby Angela Thomas

Begins September 4Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.

Room 343

Study sessions include:A beautiful offering | The cup of your soul |

God delights and shows mercy | You belong to heaven | Keeping a secret life |

He’ll raise you up

To Sign Up:Book cost is $10

Contact Becky Soutullo at becky100emc@gmail.com

Childcare is provided by calling the Children’s Ministry Office

at 256-428-9411.

Deadline to sign up is August 24. All women are welcome to attend!

How to Study Your Bible

September 12, 19 and 26 from 9-11:00 a.m.

• Carefully observe Scripture to see what it says

• Learn how to develop its context• Accurately interpret the Word to

understand its meaning• Apply truth to your life that you may

glorify God

Books are $15 and need to be ordered by August 30. If you are interested in this 3

week study, contact Kennie Worlund at 256-539-4275 or kworlund@comcast.

Volume 63 / Week Number 32 / August 9, 2012

August 12, 2012Sermon

“Run for the Gold”1 Corinthians 9:24-27

First Fellowship Worship - 8:15 a.m.Celebration of Baptism

Music from the First Fellowship Band

Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m.Bible Study for all ages

Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.Sanctuary Choir Anthem

Bound for the Promised Land - arr.WilbergWorship Song by the Lewallen Family

I Can’t Sit DownMusic from the FBC Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass & Stained Glass 2 - 5:00 p.m.The presentation will feature our vibrant and versatile Sanctuary Choir and our wonderful

FBC Bluegrass Band

FiRSt thouGhtSDavid hull, Pastor

Sometimes you taste something that is so good you need a second helping. Well, that is what is happening in our church this week. The first taste was on May 16, 2010. Our Sanctuary Choir teamed with a bluegrass band and presented a memorable evening called “Bluegrass and Stained Glass.” It tasted so good we need a second helping. This Sunday night the same groups are presenting “Bluegrass and Stained Glass – 2.” It

promises to be even better the second time around.

I hope that you will be present in the Sanctuary this Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. Even more than that, I encourage you to use this opportunity to invite some of your friends to come with you. Let’s reach out to the community with a very special event. You can help us draw the crowd.

I am most grateful for our entire Music Ministry. We offer a wide range of Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Handbells, choirs for preschoolers, children and youth, bands for First Fellowship and the Student Ministry plus a host of other ensembles in the total Music Ministry of our church. With the concert coming up this Sunday night, let me offer a special word of thanks to the Sanctuary Choir. This is a dedicated group of folks who rehearse on Wednesday nights and lead us in worship every Sunday. They commit their time, talents, and energy to the glory of God. I am blessed in worship by their singing. Thank you, Sanctuary Choir, for what you do each week. Thank you for what you will be doing this Sunday night. I am ready for a second helping!

Don’t wait until Sunday night to come. Join us on Sunday morning for worship. Have you been watching the Olympics over the last few days? This grand pageant of sport will end on Sunday. It might be a good day for us to think about how the Christian life is like running a race. The Apostle Paul looked at the world of athletics around him and wrote some wonderful words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. We will talk about “Run for the Gold” when we worship on Sunday morning.

I hope to see you in worship this Sunday.