First Baptist Church

From the Pastor

Tis the season to be jolly! In reality for us who are Christians, jolly is always the

season that we dwell in because the Christ that we follow and serve has given us an

everlasting joy. Yes, we are confronted with many challenges in this life, but joy is still

ours to have because of Jesus. We ought to continue to carry with us the spirit of

thanksgiving and apply it to all of life. Be thankful for all of the things that the Lord has

done for us in the past and that which he will do for us in the future. Thank him for

that hope that never dies. Thank him for that hope of a constant walk with him that

leads us into eternity.

As we look to Christmas and the celebration that’s just around the corner, let us be

reminded that it is all about giving. God the Father gave his son to die for our sins and we in turn

are to give our lives in service for the saving of others. It is also our responsibility to give of the

resources that God has given to us to advance the blessed kingdom of God. Let us not lose

sight of the reason for the season of Christmas. The reason has to do with

Jesus and the kingdom that he came to proclaim. The message of

Christmas has to do with salvation, redemption, and deliverance. It is these

things that we must strive to advance in the mission field to which we have

been assigned. And that mission field is here and everywhere. Happy

Birthday Jesus! We love you Jesus because you are our Rock!

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Christmas Candlelight, Kwanzaa Celebration

31

Watch Night Service 11:00p.m.

DECEMBER Upcoming Events

Volume 10, Issue December 11, 2011

FBC Excel

Titus Head - United States Navy. Basic training in San Diego, CA. Titus was stationed on the USS Forrestal air craft carrier. He served his country for 9 years completing his duty in 1997 as an electronics technician.

P. S. Randy Lee Allen United States Marine Corp. January 1, 1987 - September 21, 1989. Boot camp was in Paris Island, South Carolina. Bro. Allen was stationed at camp Pendleton, California.

Larry Jackson - United states Army. Stationed in Korea, Colorado, and Fort Benning's infantry division for 12 years.

MSG. William T. Brown - United States Army. Served in Texas, Louisiana, Kuwait, Saudi Arabi, and Pakistan. Bro Brown has served in the Army for over 18 years.

Darell Jackson– Has more than 20 years of military service. He served in the United States army, air force, and national guard.

Tech. Sergeant Tommy Williams served in the United States air force for 24 years.

The year 2011 will see the 46th annual Kwanzaa, the African American holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It is estimated that some 18 million African Americans take part in Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace Christmas. It was created by Dr. Maulana "Ron" Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, in 1966. At this time of great social change for African Americans, Karenga sought to design a celebration that would honor the values of ancient African cultures and inspire African Americans who were working for progress. Kwanzaa is based on the year-end harvest festivals that have taken place throughout Africa for thousands of years. The name comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits of the harvest." Karenga chose a phrase from Swahili because the language is used by various peoples throughout Africa.

Kwanzaa Celebration

more VeteransFBC EXCEL

Page 2

Literacy Ministry 2012 THEME: WE ARE FAMILY

We, the members of the Sylvia Ann Frazier Anderson Literacy Ministry,

are excited about the 2012 book discussion selections. The 2012’s theme –

‘We Are FAMILY’ is one we all can identify with. It is our hope that we

will continue to appreciate our heritage and to learn from the different book

discussions how the African American family has survived and thrived

under adverse circumstances and conditions. The selected books all have

one common theme-that education, love and HARD WORK go hand in

hand and the family is that unit that holds everything together.

‘A Raisin in the Sun’ (first play written by an African American

woman, Lorraine Hansberry, to be produced on Broadway, is a classic of

20th Century drama) and ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’ (Maya

Angelou’s autobiography continues to be taught today) are considered as

literary classics where excerpts can be found on a variety of test, such as the

PSAT, ACT, SAT as well as other achievement test. The choice for the

adult group was submitted by Yvonne Pittman. Our June 2012 adult book

was submitted by Minister of Music, LeGree McCamey, Make the

impossible possible by Bill Strickland. If you feel you have a book which

may be of interest to the group, please submit your choice to the director of

the literacy ministry, Sis. Connie Frazier.

Our complete book selections for January 28, 2012, consist of: Pre K and first grade…………. Lola at the Library Second and third grades… …... Dancing in the Wings (Debbie Allen) Fourth-sixth grades…………... Barack Obama United States President Seventh and eighth grades…… A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry) Ninth-twelfth grades…… …… I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou) Adults…………………………. The Ditch Digger’s Daughters (Yvonne S. Thornton)

The brochures are available at Sister Sams’ box. The price is still the

same: $3 for children’s books and $5 for adult books. We ask that parents

purchase books early and help children with the vocabulary words and

allow them to write short summaries. Please see Sister Pam Huff to

purchase books. Also, check your calendar to make sure you can attend on

Saturday, January 28, 2012 before purchasing a book.

The typical image of New Year’s Eve is a group of revelers with party hats and noisemakers, ringing in the new year with champagne and Auld Lang Syne. But on that same night, FBC welcome the coming year in a different way with a Watch Night service. Watch Night services have special significance in the African-American community, where they date back to the days of slavery. At the end of the year, owners tallied their property and often sold slaves

to pay debts. They didn’t know

after tallying if they’d be separated. New Year’s Eve was often the last night a family of slaves would be together. Watch Night took on even more significance during the Civil War. When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, it was to take effect Jan. 1, 1863. Slaves sat up the night before, waiting for their freedom to arrive at midnight. Today, Watch Night Service is a time for the church to come together to celebrate life itself. It’s celebrating surviving dangers seen and unseen. The service is always upbeat, people rejoice in making it to

the end of another year. There’s a time of testimony and sharing

how we’ve progressed and been blessed, before prayers are rendered while waiting the arrival of the new year. Watch Night service is also a safe

alternative to a New Year’s Eve party.

WATCH NIGHT

SERVICE: A SPIRTUAL

WAY TO BRING IN THE NEW

YEAR

Page 3 Volume 10, Issue 11

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

1 Can (20 Oz.) Crushed Pineapples

1/3 cup butter or margarine melted

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

12 to 13 maraschino cherries cut in half

1 pkg. (18.25oz) yellow or pineapple-flavored cake mix

Drain pineapple; reserve juice. Stir together melted butter

and brown sugar. Evenly divide sugar mixture into

muffin cups sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Evenly

divide drained pineapple over sugar mixture. Place

cherries in center, sliced side up. Prepare cake mix

according to package direction, replacing amount of water

called for with reserved juice and water. Evenly pour

batter (about ¼ cup) into muffin cups. Bake at 350

degrees F, 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in

center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen edges and

invert onto cookie sheet. Makes 24 to 26 servings.

Submitted by:

Sis. Margaret Gilbert of Margaret’s Homemade Cakes

“Just Like My Mom Use to Make”

TyDarius Brown

Quanesha Bruce

Dwayne Carter Jr.

Dwayne Carter Sr.

Charde Franklin

Marcus Franklin

Robert Franklin Sr.

Robert Franklin Jr.

Symone Franklin

Terry Franklin

Angela Little

Jada Little

WELCOME New Members

MINI UPSIDE DOWN PINEAPPLE CAKES

FBC Excel Newsletter Staff: Delores Brewer, Dorsey Brewer, Shirley Cox, Pam

Huff, Kim Kendall, Candace McGhee, June Nelson, Dr. Clarence Sams, Pastor

204 Fannin Street

P.O. Box 1464

LaGrange, Georgia 30241

Phone (706)882-1525

Fax (706)884-8041

FBC MISSION STATEMENT

To win the lost to Christ through preaching,

teaching, worship and fellowship.

The Excel staff will make every effort to see that information submitted by the deadline is published.