Dr.

Hayes Wicker, Senior Pastor

Building the House
You may remember my series of messages from the Psalms
of Ascent, particularly this verse: Unless the Lord builds
the house, they labor in vain to build it (Psalm 127:1). That
Psalm also speaks of how our children are a gift of the
Lord (verse 3). Janet and I are certainly thrilled in how the
divine Architect and Builder is enlarging our household.
Our youngest daughter, Allyson, and her husband, Scott,
recently adopted a child whose biological parents are
African-American. Many of you have been praying for them
in the often agonizing time of waiting.
While I was in Romania preaching and teaching last week, I learned of the
birth of 7 pound 9 ounce Ruby Jane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I felt Pauls
frustration when he said that he hoped to come to see Timothy before long,
but was delayed (1 Timothy 3:14, 15). If you are a grandparent, you know how
important it is to see that precious new baby. From the time when she was a
middle schooler, Allyson has had a unique calling to adopt. We believe that
Jesus loves the little children of the world, red and yellow, black and white,
they are precious in His sight. Adoption is the best alternative to abortion. She
and Scott put no limitations on Gods choice of a child.
Scott and Allyson drove overnight from Ohio to get Ruby Jane and work through
various legalities of the adoption process. We enter Gods forever family through
faith in Christ and receive a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry out,
Abba! Father! (Romans 8:15). Ruby Jane reminds me of how God chose a
lost sinner like me and grafted me into the vine, as a Gentile who does not
pursue righteousness but is now called a son of the living God as one of His
people (Romans 9:30, 26). This is all because Jesus came to us as a Baby/
Savior.
We pray for a time when Ruby Jane will call Janet, Mimi and me, Poppy, and,
most importantly, to say later to Jesus, My Lord and my God (John 20:28).
May she receive Him without limitations or conditions.
Like Paul in 1 Timothy 3, we also experience delays in Building the house of
our church and ministries. Delays dont mean Gods denial. Detours develop
faith. We press on, waiting for the county permitting process for technological
improvement in the Chapel. This will greatly facilitate worship services both
there and with HD transmission during the season. We will begin our 11:00
worship service January 3, with me preaching in person in the worship center
and the message given by video recording from Saturday night in the Chapel. I
want to greatly thank those of you who prefer the 11:00 time for how you have
demonstrated patience in the process. We seem to have enough room at 9:30,
but that will not be true when the season truly gets under way. We will continue
to nourish all of our growing and vibrant worship times.
*There is a guest reception in the Commons following the Saturday night and
Sunday morning 11:00am worship services. Pastor would love to meet you!

Naples Christmas Spectacular

Performances Start This Sunday!

Prices are $8, $12.50, and $15. You can purchase tickets
online at fbcn.org, or at the church in the Commons
before services on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or inbetween services on Sundays. You can also purchase
tickets by phone, Monday-Friday (9am-6pm) at 888795-1559.
Performance dates are Sunday, Dec 6 (4pm & 7pm),
Thursday, Dec 10 (7pm), Friday, Dec 11 (7pm), and
Sunday, Dec 13 (4pm & 7pm).

Churchwide

Home Bible & Life Groups

Home Bible & Life Groups

Christmas Schedule

Our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Services will be on

December 24 at 3:00pm, 4:30pm, and 6:00pm, all in the
Worship Center. No childcare is provided for these services.
There will be no Wednesday night ministries on December
23 or December 30. There are no Bible and Life Groups
on December 26 or December 27. The church offices are
closed on December 24, December 25, and January 1.

Sunday 11:00am Seasonal Service

Start Back at the End of January

The winter/spring semester of our home group BLGs will begin

at the end of January. We are in the process of recruiting host
homes and facilitators for new groups. If you are interested,
or for more information, please contact John David Edie at
rwright@fbcn.org.

Seasonal Bible & Life Group

Returning Sunday, January 3 in the Worship Center

Dr. Steve Plaster Will Be Teaching on

Islam & Christianity: A Clash of Civilizations

Deacon Ordination Service

The church is faced with many challenges, but none is as

broad in scope as that of a resurgent Islam. Are their beliefs
compatible to ours? Are the Arab Spring, Muslim Brotherhood,
and ISIS the future of the Middle East? These and other topics
will be the subject of the class as developed from Dr. Plasters
latest book Islam Anthology.

We are excited to offer our Seasonal Sunday 11:00am Worship Service in the
Worship Center, with music led by Dr. Todd Stearns and our Choir and Orchestra,
starting on January 3. Please help us spread the word, and look for opportunities
to invite others to worship with you in whichever service you attend.

Sunday, January 10 at 6:00pm in the Chapel

All church members are invited and encouraged to attend this very moving service.

Womens Ministry

Special Evening for All Women

Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30pm

East Side of the Worship Center

Our speakers for this evening will be Paula Bulmer and

Robin Noel Jewell. Paula will highlight the sacrifice of Mary
of Bethany. Mary gave Jesus her most costly possession.
What gift will you bring this Christmas? What is in your purse?
Robin will minister with music and a personal testimony A
Purse for All Seasons. This will be an encouraging time and
will turn your focus onto Jesus as we prepare for Christmas.

Legacy Builders Senior Adults

Join the FBA 3rd Graders

Building Gingerbread Houses

Wednesday, Dec 9, 8:30-10:30am, Room DC121

Please sign-up and join us. This is always a great day of

fun, snacks, and fellowship. For details, please call Vada at
596-8600 x268.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theater Showboat

Thursday, January 7 (4:30-10:00pm)
Tickets must be purchased by December 23

Come aboard for an Broadway masterpiece that combines

songs, choreography, and a moving story. Set in 1890 to
1927, the production follows a troupe of Mississippi riverboat
performers. The show is proceeded by a delicious lunch buffet.
Please call Vada at 596-8600 x268. Tickets are $53 each.

Divorce Cares Surviving the Holidays

Saturday, December 12 at 7:15pm in Room DC113

When a marriage ends, the holiday season can be especially

painful. This seminar helps participants prepare for the
holidays and even discover hope for the future. For more
information, call Rhonda at 596-8600 x261.

Joy Comes in the Morning Potluck

Saturday, December 12 at 10:00am in Room DC109

Are you a widow seeking fellowship? Then join us for this

potluck (bring a dish to share). Lets encourage one another
through Gods Word, prayer, and sharing life together.
Please call Nancy at 596-8600 x115 for more information.

Begins Sunday, January 3 at 9:30am in Room DC121

Missions

Blessing Christ Ministry

This is Their Last Weekend in the Missions Kiosk

Start Christmas with a local mission trip delivering Gods Word

plus food and toys to needy families in Immokalee. Pick-up
a box at the missions kiosk this weekend. All instructions are
inside the box. You are invited to bring your box and join us
on Saturday, December 12 at the Collier County Fairgrounds
at 8:30am to deliver the boxes. For more information, see the
website blessingchrist.org or call Chao at 353-5909.

First Family Christmas

Pick-up a Childs Gift Request This Weekend

Stop by our table by the stairs in the Commons and pick-up

a gift request from a child of a single parent that is struggling
financially. Help this family by buying the child a Christmas
gift. Instructions are in the cards. Deadline to return gifts is
December 7.

Bibles for Inmates

Through our FBCN jail ministry, many inmates have come to

know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It is our desire to
put a copy of Gods Word into the hands of every inmate. We
have identified a jail-approved Bible, Free on the Inside, which
was developed in conjunction with Prison Fellowship. Would
you be willing to donate one or more copies of Gods Word?
You can do this by simply going to the FBCN Lighthouse
Bookstore and paying for as many copies as you would like to
donate ($6.29 each). The Bibles will be kept in the bookstore,
and jail ministry volunteers will pick them up and take them to
the jail.

Single Parents
Kids of Single Parents Shop for their Parent
Saturday, December 12 from 9am until Noon
in our Lighthouse Bookstore

Please sign-up by December 7. We also need adult

volunteers. Register in the bookstore, by calling 449-4488,
or by emailing rmanchester@fbcn.org.

Last Weekend

Worship Attendance

Decisions for Christ

November 28 & 29

Baptisms
Gracia Raymer
Rhett Raymer

Saturday Night
Sunday 9:30am
Sunday 11:00am
Total

Statement of Faith
Dana Crossland
Jacqueline Forbes

366

Bible & Life Attendance

2015-2016 Operating Revenues

July 1, 2015 - November 29, 2015
Budget
Actual Variance

$3,045,000

FBA Football

What an amazing season for our FBA

Lions Varsity Football Team! They
started the 2015 season with a young
team after graduating 15 seniors
last year, and they finished out the
season playing in the State Semifinals.
Along the way, they won their fourth
district title and second regional title.
Congratulations to all the young men
and coaches who were part of this
history-making team!

1,001
1,536
471
3,008

Thanksgiving Service

Financial Stewardship

First Baptist Academy

November 28 & 29
Saturday Night
Sunday 8:15am
Sunday 9:30am
Sunday 11:00am
Home Groups
Total

$2,971,974 ($73,026)

Kingdom Missions Offering

YTD through November 29
Pledges
Received
$343,488
$365,643

564
151
247
716
599
2,277

This Upcoming Week

Deacon of the Week
December 7 - 13
Chad Moore
&
Norm Long

Top Round of Beef, New Potatoes,

Vegetable, Salad, and Dessert

If you need assistance, please call

the church deacon hotline
at 800-732-9573.

Tickets may be purchased at the Lighthouse

Cafe or at the door for $6 each or $25 for a
family. Alternate choices available.

Wednesday Family Meal

December 9 (4:45-6:00 p.m. in the

Fellowship/Recreation Gym)

Weekly Schedule

Operation Christmas Child Report

Thank You

Record Breaking Year for FBCN

Thank you to everyone who participated in filling shoeboxes

this year. Our grand total was 2,594. This is the highest number
of shoeboxes we have ever sent! We are praising the Lord for
His wonderful Christmas blessing. Please pray that each child
who receives a shoebox from our church will come to know
the greatest gift of all this year, the gift of Jesus Christ!

The Parking/Traffic Ministry

Needs Volunteers

The parking/traffic ministry needs volunteers to drive the

carts for Sunday morning services and Naples Christmas
Spectacular presentations. Please email Sandy Graham at
sgraham@fbcn.org or call 596-8600 x630.

Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord

Denny Whalen passed away on October 29.
Scott Harris passed away on November 20.
John Greene passed away on November 28.
We express our sympathy to these families
and are praying for them.

Saturday, December 5

6:00 p.m. Worship Service: Worship Center

7:30 p.m. Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus

Sunday, December 6
8:15 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.

Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus

Haitian Bible Study & Worship: ED206
Vietnamese Worship & Bible Study: DC221
Worship Service: Worship Center
Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus
Spanish Worship Service: Family Life Center
Romanian Bible Study & Worship: Modular 4
Worship Service: Chapel
Bible and Life Groups: Various Rooms on Campus
Romanian Worship Service: Modular 4
Haitian Worship Service: ED206

Tuesday, December 8

9:00 a.m. RefresHer Womens Bible Study: Worship Center

Wednesday, December 9
4:45 p.m.
6:20 p.m.
6:25 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.

Family Meal: Fellowship Recreation-Gym

AWANA for Kids: Education Building
Band of Brothers Mens Bible Study: Chapel
RefresHer Womens Bible Study: Worship Center
High School Ministry: Student Center by 6pm (to go to Home Groups)
Middle School Ministry: Student Center
Worship Choir Rehearsal: Choir Room

Other events this week include: Naples Christmas Spectacular Performances,

Legacy Builders Building Gingerbread Houses with FBA, Celebrate Recovery,
Kids of Single Parents Shopping, Joy Comes in the Morning Potluck

Happy 70th Wedding Anniversary

Jack and Gloria Palmer will celebrate their 70th wedding

anniversary on December 9. Congratulations!

FBCN Staff December Anniversaries

John David Edie Pastor of Discipleship Ministry

Ivan Bonilla AVL Technician

2 years
1 year

Contact Us

First Baptist Church Naples

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

FBCNaples

fbcn.org