FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH MONTHLY BULLETIN

DECEMBER, 2016 11:00 a.m.

Dr. Rodney D. Waller, Senior Pastor

2700 Hanes Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23222

(804) 329-7279—firstabc2700@gmail.com Website: firstafricanbaptist.org / Fax: 804-321-5939

PRAYER LINE – 1-641-715-3570 Code 316838

SUNDAYS

SUNDAY SCHOOL DEVOTION 9:15 A.M.

SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 A.M.

WORSHIP SERVICE 11:00 A.M.

WEDNESDAYS

NOONDAY BIBLE STUDY 12:00 P.M.

YOUTH BIBLE STUDY 7:00 P.M.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY 7:00 P.M.

YOUTH SUNDAYS

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY

11:00 A.M.

YOUTH ZONE

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

†—————†

** Period of Praise

The Call To Worship Opening Hymn

**

Scripture Reading Corporate Prayer Choral Response

**

Welcome To Our Visiting Friends Announcements

Tithes And Offerings

** Prayer

Worship In Song

THE SERMON

Invitation To Christian Discipleship

Benediction

Closing

**Worshipers may enter the sanctuary

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DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Dawayvon & Tremeca Jones Clanton

December 6—2 years

Fronell & Sylvia Weaver December 6—30 years

Willard & Harriet Pettus December 27—35 years

* * * * * * * * *

SICK AND SHUT-IN

Sis. Bernardine Brown

Dea. Joseph Daniels Sis. Estelle Davis

Bro. Jonathan Davis Sis. Piney Doyle

Sis. Gwendolyn Hicks Sis. Laura Holmes

Deac. Romaine Jackson Sis. Catherine Johnson

Sis. Evelyn Jones Dr. Evora Jones

Trustee Annie Jordan Bro. Aaron Robinson, Jr.

Sis. Jesse Robinson Sis. Zora Royster

Sis. Ascilena Taylor Sis. Grayce Thompson

Fronell Weaver Sis. Gloria J. Wright

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MISSION STATEMENT

Our Mission is to bring people to Christ and membership

in this church by providing

ministries that foster Christian discipleship and improve services

to the community and the world. * * * * * * * * * *

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Carrie Roane—December 19 Patricia Miller—December 19 Karen Brown—December 19 Alexis Lamb—December 19

Keshia Anderson—December 21 Sylvia Brown—December 21

Deaconess Mary Conyers—December 21 Patricia Parris—December 21 Jasmine Smith—December 22

Delbert Thomas, Jr.—December 22 Kelvin Murray—December 23 Kaila Corprew—December 24 Katlin Corprew—December 24

Valencia Glasper-Thomas—December 25 Don Harris—December 25

Antoine Scott—December 25 Jorden Bond—December 26

Ashton Turner—December 26 Derrick Williams—December 26

Lisa Johnson—December 27 Helene Lovell—December 27 Harriet Pettus—December 27

Karla Tyler—December 27 Sylvia Weaver—December 27 Beatrice James—December 28

Ralph Stafford, Sr.—December 28 Ciana Turner—December 28 Jatoyri Lewis—December 29

Letitia Kauffman—December 31 Tracey Oliver—December 31 Virginia Silver—December 31 Ruth Williams—December 31

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DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Kenya Griffin—December 1 Shirelle Lewis—December 2

Charmaine Mills—December 2 Frank Roane—December 3

Deacon Lamont Brown—December 4 Jamariah Champion—December 4

Tanisha Vincent—December 4 Doris Williams—December 4 Robert Walker—December 5

Dr. Rodney Waller—December 5 Lolita Hill—December 7

Lucy Johnson—December 7 Tonya Browne—December 9 Joyce Chandler—December 9

Michael Chandler—December 9 Gwendolyn Hicks—December 9

Rev. Delores Booker—December 10 Sharon Anderson—December 11

Antoinette Northington—December 11 Jasmine Moon—December 12

Shequeria Barfield—December 13 Tamia Bond—December 13

David Fitzgerald III—December 13 Tedarra Williams—December 13

Takeisha Tyler—December 14 Byron Miller—December 15 India Moon—December 15

Juan Johnson—December 16 Kiwanda Johnson—December 16

Debra Harrison—December 17 Mark Adamson—December 18

Minister Kathy Brandt—December 18

** Selection The B. J. Winston Bell Choir

“Westminster Chimes” **

“HANGING OF THE GREENS”

Narrators:

Kinah Tucker, Kamryn Eaddy,

Cameron McCargo, Jacobi Page

Please remain seated during this portion of the

service.

Hymn: “Angels We Have Heard On High” #89

“THE POINSETTIAS”

Hymn “Jesus, the Son of God”

“THE TREES AND ORNAMENTS”

Hymn “Oh Christmas Tree” (Instrumental) **

“THE CANDLES”

Hymn “Now Behold the Lamb” SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 40:1-5

“THE WREATH”

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HAPPY 8TH ANNIVERSARY

PASTOR RODNEY D. WALLER

THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

Hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” A PARTIAL BLESSING Dr. Rodney D. Waller

MUSICAL INTERLUDE MORNING PRAYER PRAYER CHANT ** Welcome To Our Visiting Friends Announcements Tithes and Offerings

** Worship In Song

The Sermon

DR. RODNEY D.WALLER Invitation to Christian Discipleship

Benediction Closing

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SUNDAY DECEMBER 18— Sermon Theme:__________________________ Scripture:_______________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ SUNDAY DECEMBER 25— Sermon Theme:__________________________ Scripture:_______________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

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1ST SUNDAY ADVENT LITANY

LEADER: This is the season of hope, when people brighten the drab corners with festive decorations and send messages proclaiming their joy and best wishes to friends and family.

PEOPLE: This is the season of peace, when humankind takes a breather from the struggles and daily routine, and listens to the still small voice of God through the marvels of the Advent season.

LEADER: This is the season of love, when everyone seems to be more kind, where the potential for sharing Christ’s love is all around us. Let us awaken to the possibility of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

PEOPLE: This is the season of joy, joy that is deep and often ignored or overlooked. We are joyful and rejoice in the promise that God love us enough to demonstrate His love to us in Christ.

LEADER: So be it! As we decorate our sanctuary with hope, peace, love and joy, and may it be a reflection of the transformation in our own hearts.

PEOPLE: Emmanuel, God is with Us, Amen!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 4— Sermon Theme:__________________________ Scripture:_______________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ SUNDAY DECEMBER 11 — Sermon Theme:__________________________ Scripture:_______________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

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2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT LITANY

LEADER: While we were yet sinners, Jesus came at the right time, after forty-two generations.

PEOPLE: During this Advent season the whole church, the Body of Christ, looks forward to the second coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

LEADER: God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to announce to the virgin Mary that she had found favor with God. Her cousin Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42).

PEOPLE: As the Word made flesh, Jesus came to an unprepared people in an unprepared place.

LEADER: We remember our Savior's humble and obscure entry into our world.

PEOPLE: O God, we remember your love for your creation and thank you for Jesus, your only begotten Son.

LEADER: God, help us to understand and appreciate the ways in which you use the forgotten, the marginalized, the outcast, the weak, the poor, the imprisoned, and the afflicted to proclaim the presence of the Kingdom.

PEOPLE: At the birth of our Savior, angels sang with jubilation and shep-herds praised Jesus and glorified God.

LEADER: Lord Jesus, as we reflect upon the joyous miracle of your birth, it deep-ens our understanding of the purpose of your coming.

PEOPLE: When you came as a tender baby to save a fallen world, Mary wrapped you in swaddling clothes.

LEADER: And when you died upon a cross at Calvary to redeem and restore a lost creation, Joseph of Arimathea wrapped you in burial clothes.

PEOPLE: And when you ascended to your Father in Heaven, God clothed you with all power in heaven and on earth!

LEADER: You told your disciples you would come again to receive us unto your-self. Thus every day we look forward to your second coming with great anticipation.

PEOPLE: We herald your coming, Wonderful Counselor, for you are the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. We love you. We adore you. You alone are worthy of all our praise! (See Isaiah 9:6.)

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3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT—LITANY

LEADER: Slowly and surely, we are finding hope and peace.

PEOPLE: Today is a day of joy.

LEADER: The branch on our worship center was bare; then sud-denly there were signs of hope in the emergence of little leaves.

PEOPLE: Look carefully! What do you see? Can you see the bud beginning? It is only a little show of flower yet to come. It will happen. Just wait.

LEADER: Yes, there are buds—almost like the budding of joy at this time.

PEOPLE: The joy will burst into full flower in the fullness of God’s time. Just wait. It will happen.

LEADER: All the wrappings and trimmings cannot compete with the gift of new life.

PEOPLE: Praise be to God who surprises us with hope, peace and joy. AMEN!

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LAST SUNDAY OF ADVENT—LITANY LEADER: Beloved in the Lord Jesus, today is the fourth Sunday of Advent! PEOPLE: So, we gather eager to celebrate Christ’s birth. LEADER: We also gather in expectation of his return. PEOPLE: Indeed, one without the other is only half of the gospel. LEADER: In the beginning the Spirit of God hovered over the form-less deep. PEOPLE: God decided to create. LEADER: Light was separated from darkness and water from dry land. PEOPLE: Animals were spoken into existence and humanity was formed. LEADER: In God’s image, we were created – both male and female. PEOPLE: Despite our created perfection, we choose to sin, LEADER: Yet God remained faithful. PEOPLE: Over the centuries, our sin continued to increase, LEADER: Yet God remained faithful. PEOPLE: Finally, when the time was right, Jesus was born.

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PRAYER LINE – 1-641-715-3570 Code 316838

Youth Prayer Line (YPL) – Join us on Monday nights at

8:00 p.m. A 15-minute devotion and prayer dedicated to

youth only to jump start their week.

Join us, each night, Monday through Friday, at 9:45 p.m.

We will be on the Prayer Line with the Evangelism Ministry

and we encourage everyone to join in prayer. We will pray

for church growth, spiritual growth, and all things.

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