Last Weekend

Profession of Faith

2012 Year End Tax Information & Stock Contributions

965 1,392 884 3,241 To ensure your contributions qualify for 2012, checks must be delivered or mailed (post-marked) on or before December 31, 2012. Checks placed in the church offering in 2013 will not qualify for 2012, even if the check is pre-dated to 2012. Please do not file your 2012 tax return until you have received your 2012 contribution statement from the church. Stock contributions in transfer form must be received into the churchs account no later than December 28, 2012. Please contact Conard Wrightsman at 596-8600 x257 for more information.

Decisions for Christ

Baptisms
Jessica Anderson Kevin Anderson Matthew Smith Mitchell Smith

December 15 & 16
Saturday Night Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. Total

Worship Attendance

Kasey Walden

Membership by Statement

Gilbert Anuez, Jr. Lena Anuez

$3,275,523

2012-2013 Operating Revenues July 1, 2012 - Dec 16, 2012 Budget Actual Variance

Financial Stewardship

December 15 & 16
Saturday 5:00 p.m. Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sunday 8:15 a.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. Home Groups Total

Bible & Life Attendance

22 672 117 288 585 467 2,151

RefresHer Winter Bible Study

New RefresHer study begins Tuesday, Jan 8 at 9am or Wednesday, Jan 9 at 6:30pm (both in the Worship Center). This 2 part, 13-week study will include Nehemiah: A Heart that Can Break by Kelly Minter, and Why Do You Believe That? A Faith Conversation by Mary Jo Sharp. Nehemiahs heart for the oppressed, suffering, and poor is a beacon whose light shines on the current call of the church to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Nehemiah had to have a heart that could break so he could restore a wall that was broken. In addition, this study addresses teamwork, integrity, generosity, truth in culture, Gods compassion, and much more. Discover what God has put in your heart to do through the study of His Word, and let God break your heart for the lost and hurting. A breaking heart is often what God uses to restore the broken. So then, a breaking heart is also a sharing heart. How confident do you feel in talking about matters of faith? Do you wish you could express your beliefs with more effectiveness? Join us as we study and gain understanding and skill to share effectively with others, and you will better understand your own faith. Answer your doubts, build your confidence, and start changing lives. Preschool childcare is available for both sessions. Please call the Preschool Ministry Office today at 596-8600 x360 to pre-register your child.

$3,079,448 ($196,075)

Debt balance as of Dec 16 $6,447,800 Deacon Assistance December 24 - 30

If you need assistance, please call the church deacon hotline at 800-732-9573. For Spanish, call 601-6051.

Next Week

Wednesday Family Meal No meal on Wednesday, December 26 or Wednesday, January 2. Meals will resume on Wednesday, January 9. `
www.fbcn.org/wednesdaymeal

Saturday, December 22
5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Weekly Schedule

Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus Worship Service: Worship Center Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus Worship Service: Worship Center Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus Worship Service: Worship Center Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus

Touch Points
There is a guest reception in the Commons following the Saturday night and Sunday morning 11am service. Come meet Pastor Wicker.

Guest Reception

Sunday, December 23
8:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.

For more information about any of our ministries, please visit our church website at and like us on Facebook at

Other events this week include: Christmas Eve Candlelight Services. Please see our weekly schedule at www.fbcn.org/weeklyschedule.

www.fbcn.org

Please note that the church offices are closed from Monday, December 24 - Tuesday, January 1. For your convenience, a secure drop box is located just outside the main church office.
In Case of Emergency If you have an emergency during the days that the church offices are closed, please call the Deacon hotline at 800-732-9573 and your call will be routed to the pastor on call and/or deacon on call for that day. You may also call the church office at 239-597-6057 and the prompts will direct you.

www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistChurchNaples.
3000 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Church Receptionist ............................................................. 597-6057 Enter ext. # for direct connection .......................................... 596-8600 Lighthouse Bookstore ........................................................... 449-4488 First Baptist Academy Naples .............................................. 597-2233 24-Hour Prayer Line ................................................597-PRAY (7729) Church Email .............................................................FBCN@fbcn.org

First Baptist Church Naples

The Gift on the Tree

Janet and I have always enjoyed decorating our home for Christmas. After 38 years of marriage, we have quite a collection of beautiful ornaments, which we lovingly place on two Christmas trees. One is more formal and in the living room with many angels, while the other tree holds personal mementos of Christmases past and personal ones belonging to our children. Janet is incredibly creative. The origin of the Christmas tree is somewhat fuzzy. Ancient Dr. Hayes Wicker Scandinavians worshipped trees, and one theory is that they influenced early Christians toward evergreens. Most people Senior Pastor think that Martin Luther was the first to invent the idea of lights on the Christmas tree, putting candles on branches to portray the beauty of the stars above Bethlehem. Candles have always represented Christ as the Light of the World. We now use safe electric lights instead of Luthers flammable candles. Topping the tree with a star has often represented the one which led the Magi to Christ. Others have used an angel to represent the heavenly hosts, which appeared in the sky to the shepherds. There is an old custom of hanging nuts, cookies, candy canes, and strings of cranberries on the tree. Actually, some years ago people hung toys and gifts on their trees. However, the greatest gift of all was hung on an ugly wooden cross: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us; for it is written, cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. He was truly the gift on the tree. Hanging was not a Jewish method of execution. The hanging of a body referred to the practice of taking a criminals body, which had usually been killed by stoning and impaling him on a stake or nailing him to a tree. It was an act of utter humiliation. Moses Law forbade leaving a cursed body hanging overnight. That defiled the nation. This is the backdrop of Pauls jarring statement. Christ became a contemptible curse for us. The Beautiful Baby was not just born to be an object of devotion, but of humiliation for our sakes. The manure-filled manger was just the beginning. We cannot rely on keeping the law to gain Gods approval and eternal life. We must trust in Christs salvation. After all, the angels announced to the shepherds, Today there has been born for you a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). The Savior came to save you not only from something bad but for something good. He saves you from the penalty of sin and lostness in Hell and for a new life and a home in Heaven. You and I need deliverance from our I disease of self-sufficiency. When you see those gifts beneath the Christmas tree, thank God for His indescribable gift to and for you (2 Corinthians 9:15). Unwrap by faith this gift if you have never done so. Thank Him that His cradle was a bridge from Heaven to Calvary and back to Heaven. Invite an unsaved friend to one of the Christmas Eve services this week, Bringing good news of great joy which will be for all the people (Luke 2:10).

Living Christmas Trees Praise Report

During the 2012 Living Christmas Trees... 194 people prayed to receive Christ 17 requested more information about Christ 118 requested prayer 63 asked to receive more information about FBCN TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Upcoming Events
Public Issues Team Meeting - Sunday, January 6 at 4:00pm in Room WC117. Anyone is welcome to join us if you are excited about bringing awareness of public issues to our congregation. Deacon Ordination Service - Sunday, January 6 at 6:00pm in the Chapel. This is always a very special worship service. Worship Ministry Weekend - January 11-13 for our Sunday Worship Choir/Orchestra, Saturday Worship Team (Band and Vocalists), and Media Team. Join us as we jump-start the season with a time of inspiration and music preparation! The schedule for the weekend is: Friday night 6-9pm dinner/ rehearsals, Saturday 8:30-noon breakfast/rehearsals, Sunday afternoon rehearsals followed by the Night of Praise. Featuring a Night of Praise on Sunday, January 13 at 6:30pm in the Worship Center. Combining Saturday and Sunday Worship Teams and Media Ministry for a spectacular night of worship! Contact Tina at 596-8600 x229 for more information in joining the Music Ministry. Contact John at 596-8600 x231 if you are interested in joining the Media Ministry. Parent Dedication Class - Saturday, January 12 at 5pm in Room ED164. This class is for parents wanting to dedicate themselves and their child to the Lord during a Worship Service. Please call Kim at 596-8600 x360 to make your reservation. Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University - begins Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30pm in Room DC108. To sign-up or for information, please go to www.fbcn.org/fpu. You will learn about super saving common sense, relating with money, cash flow planning, dumping debt, buyer beware, the role of insurance, retirement and college planning, real estate and mortgages, and the great giving misunderstanding. Please visit their table in the Commons this weekend for more details. Southern Gospel Concert featuring The Taylors, with our own Lindsey Graham - Friday, January 25 at 7pm. General Admission tickets are $20 at the door. A love offering will be taken to benefit our Car Care Ministry. Blood Drive - Sunday, January 27 from 9am until 2pm in the FBCN church parking lot. Please call 436-5455 to schedule a time. Discovering First Baptist Church Naples - Monday, January 28 at 6:30pm in Room DC121 (Discipleship Center, across the hall from KidzTown). Led by Senior Pastor Hayes Wicker, this is a dinner seminar for those who are new to FBCN, want to join the church, or would like more information about our church and ministries. Please RSVP at 596-8600 x679. Childcare reservations must be made separately by calling 596-8600 x360.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - Southern Baptist churches all over America collect this offering during the month of December for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. Every penny of this offering goes to the International Mission Boards overseas budget, thus supporting our missionaries and their work. Please use the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering envelope in the chair backs and make your check payable to First Baptist Church Naples (put Lottie Moon in the memo section). C2 (College/Career in their 20s) New Years Eve Party - Monday, December 31 at 8:30pm at Terry & Pam Coles house (9062 Autumn Haze Drive). For information or to RSVP, please contact Pam at pcole@fbcn.org or 272-5583, or Terry at terrycole@hmeng.com or 572-3316. Middle School New Years Eve Party (Strike & Hike) - Monday, December 31 at 2pm-6pm. Meet at the Family Life Center for this fun event consisting of bowling and a scavenger hunt. Registration is $5. Register at www.fbcn.org/msm. New Seasonal BLG - Islam and Bible Prophecy begins on Sunday, January 6 and will be taught by Steve Plaster at 11am in Room WC117. This class will run through March 24. Can prophecy really be understood? This study will explore three sources to discover how the Bible, the Koran, and current events reveal and explain end times prophecy. This will give you insight into the state of our world from a Biblical perspective that better explains the prophetic references in Scripture in light of the importance of Islam to our understanding of the end times. DNOW 2013 - We need families that are willing to open their home to host groups of 8-10 students the weekend of Jan 18-20. Please contact the Student Ministry office at 449-4480. ALL DNOW host home leaders and DNOW volunteer meeting Wednesday, January 9 at 8:15pm in the Student Center. DNOW Weekend - January 18-20 and is open to all 5th-12th grade students. Kick-off will be January 16. Registration is $35 through Dec 31 (afterwards it is $40). Register at www.fbcn.org. Single Adults - We have some new Bible & Life Groups beginning Saturday night, January 19 at 7:30pm. Endurance is a group for endurance athletes and will meet in Room DC213. Going Deeper is a group study that will study such things as systematic theology, Bible doctrine, and how to study the Bible. We will meet in Room DC216. Also, a new session of Divorce Recovery begins in Room DC208. Each month, the Fine Arts Department at First Baptist Academy prepares their students to minister to our neighbor, Harbor Chase Assisted Living Center. In October, 7th & 8th grade string students performed several pieces and spent time with the residents making Thanksgiving themed crafts. In November, two of our young Artists in Residence showcased their artwork and greeted guests. This month of December, our High School Worship Team and Voices of FBA will present a collection of Christmas music. For those residents who are unable to attend the presentation, the students will walk the halls singing Christmas carols. FBA is thankful to Harbor Chase for providing this opportunity to serve utilizing the talents God has given these students.

Ministries

Holiday Schedule
Our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight services will be held on Monday, December 24 at 4pm and then again at 6pm in the Worship Center. Childcare will not be provided for either Christmas Eve service. All Worship Services and BLGs will meet as normal throughout the holidays. On Wednesday, January 2, our Mens Ministry and Womens Ministry will gather together for a special viewing of the movie October Baby in the Worship Center at 6:30pm.