11/6 Peyton Gannon

11/7 Chuck Wyrick

11/8 Charis McTurnal

11/8 Janice Stultz

11/10 Anne Dollof

11/10 Ron Simons

11/11 Mary Greene

11/12 Calvin Pierce

11/15 Carol Bechtel

11/18 Christian Fred

11/19 Anthony Alegria

11/19 Cliff Gibson

11/22 Esco Lillback

11/24 Renee LaBarge

11/24 Margaret Watson

11/28 Hank Bartos

11/28 Joan Brining

11/29 Sharie Leonard

11/30 Fred Mack

Church Events

November 1- Red Cross Blood Drive

November 4-6- OCC Packing Party

November 16 - Men’s Breakfast

November 18 - CLC+

November 18 - 25 - OCC Drop Off Week

November 22 - 23 - Youth @ Heart’s On

Fire

November 23 - Thanksgiving Dinner

November 28 - Thanksgiving Day

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

First Baptist Church Fairfield Glade

130 Towne Centre Way, Crossville, TN 38571

931-484-6927 www.onhisrock.org ffgfbc@onhisrock.org

Dr. Doug Elders - Senior Pastor 931-202-2998

November Birthdays

2019

New Faces

The Messenger

Crystal Pitts Bob & Buddy

Pelt

Dr. Doug Elders

Senior Pastor

Robert McTurnal

Pastor of Discipleship and

Students

Kristie Isaacson

Worship & Music Leader

Jeremy Cole

Children’s Ministry Leader

11/1 Neal & Frances Putman

11/8 Bob & Jean Cooley

11/11 Dan & Diane Garmany

11/12 Carl Bell & Sue Brasel

11/15 Gary & Ann Kaufman

11/22 Wes & Joan Moss

11/24 Caleb & Marcey McCall

11/30 Richard & Judy DuBois

The Pastor’s Two Bits...

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is just around the corner. I hope that the holidays are a time you look forward to. I hope they bring to mind good memories and promise joyful celebrations. But I also hope for you, that they will be more than mere holidays. I hope they will be “holy days”. Thanksgiving and Christmas are meant to praise and celebrate God. Regardless of popular rewritten history, the first ‘thanksgiving’ celebration of the Pilgrims and Indians was in part, the Pilgrims way to recognize God’s hand in saving them from ruin. In a letter back home written by one of the pilgrims present at that first feast we read, “And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.” That first celebration was not named Thanksgiving, but it later grew into what we celebrate to-day.

In the earliest days of America, the Continental Congress designated thanksgiving days. Then on October 3, 1789, George Washington issued a proclamation Thursday, No-vember 26, be designated as a day to render God “our sin-cere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country”. His proclamation be-gan: “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits...”

Exactly 74 years later, on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lin-coln proclaimed a day “to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heav-ens.” That day was celebrated in America every year thereafter. In 1941, Franklin Roosevelt signed a bill perma-nently establishing Thanksgiving Day on the American cal-endar.

Thanksgiving Day was not meant to be a springboard into Christmas shopping or just a day to watch football or not even just to be a day to gather family. It was set aside as a national recognition of God’s grace on our country. As you celebrate this year, make it more of a holy day than a holi-day. Maybe we should get back to basics and “acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits...”

- Pastor Doug

It’s Operation Christmas Child Shoebox time again!

NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK 2019: I’M PACKING A SHOEBOX!! Let your friends and family know you are packing a shoe box gift

for Operation Christmas Child! Did you know you can pack a shoe box gift wherever you are in the U.S. and 10 other countries,

AND FFG First Baptist Church!

We are so thankful for all those who have participated in the past and look forward to seeing you and many more this year during

the National Collection Week November 18th – 25th. This year we have the opportunity to serve as one, of the two, Drop Off Lo-

cations in Cumberland County. Our Drop Off schedule is as follows:

Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Wednesday 20th 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Thursday 21st 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Friday 22nd 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Saturday 23rd 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Sunday 24th 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Monday 25th 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

We will also, for the first time, be offering a mini – Packing Party in our Fellowship Hall. This will operate as follows:

Monday, November 4th 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Set up only)

Tuesday, November 5th 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Set up only)

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Packing Party)

Wednesday, November 6th 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Packing Party)

A shoe box gift is so much more than just toys, hygiene items, and candy. They bring joy and smiles to hurting children, but more

importantly, they are Gospel opportunities. Alongside the gifts, children receive a Gospel storybook written in their own language

and learn about the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ. Children can also enroll in The Greatest Journey, a follow-up discipleship pro-

gram, and receive a Bible after completion.

Pack a shoe box AND change a child's life for eternity. This is the power of a simple gift.

For more information please contact Vanessa Petty @ 931-787-6998, Kristie Isaacson @ 931-200-6009, OR call our church office @

931-484-6927.

P.S.

This is the beginning of a new opportunity for our church and church family. Vanessa and I have been prayerfully planning and

working on possibilities for next Christmas…. Yes Christmas 2020. Keep your eyes and ears open for the new opportunities com-

ing!

Thank you for allowing me to be your Music and Worship Leader

-Kristie

We will offer an opportunity for sponsorships for boxes, as there may be some who can’t pay the $9 for shipping, we will

offer prayer for EVERY box that comes in, we will offer greeters and unloaders to meet any and all who come to drop off

there shoeboxes at FFG First Baptist. THANK YOU for all who have already reached out to help in any way but please know,

WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP! If you are interested and/or willing to offer your time to serve during the Drop Off week OR you

are interested in being part of the packing party, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU!

Upcoming Events…….

The Church Thanksgiving Dinner will be Saturday, November

23rd at 5pm. This will be a time of GREAT food and even

better fellowship. Everyone is encouraged to attend. For

more info contact Ann Kaufman.

November 18th - 25th is OCC Drop-Off week.

Make sure to FULLY READ the page in this news-

letter for more info and all the details about OCC

Drop Off Week. There is even a packing party!

Red Cross Blood Drive will be November 1st. At this

time of year, The Red Cross is in great need of all

types of blood. Please considering making an ap-

pointment and donating. Who knows, the life you

save, might be your own!

Men’s Breakfast will be on Saturday November 16th at

7:30am. Join this great group of guys (who also cook) for

a hearty breakfast, great fellowship, and devotion time.

The OCC Packing Party will be…..

Monday 11/4 - 8am to 12pm

Tuesday 11/5 - 1pm to 6pm

Wednesday 11/6 - 8 am to 12pm