December 2015

Dear Friends,

  I am not telling you anything new when I note that

December is a busy time of the year for most people. While

Thanksgiving Eve is one of the busiest single days of the year

to travel, the entire month of December is filled with

opportunities and traveling necessities. Multiple trips to the malls and other stores for gift

shopping, multiple trips to the supermarkets for extra food for baking, hosting and celebrating

holiday events, visiting family and friends, parties and festivities make up some of the reasons we

will hit the road during December.

  When we read about the first Christmas, we also see the stories about the journeys people

took. Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem because of the Roman census. Those wise men

from the East traveled, some people estimate, as long as three years to come and see Jesus. Don’t

forget the angels came from heaven to tell the shepherds the good news about the birth of Jesus.

Then those same shepherds “went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in

the manger” (Luke 2:16).

Yes, traveling is part and parcel of this season. While the destination (Christmas) is vitally

important, this year let me encourage you to think about the journey you take to Christmas. Try

not to get so overwhelmed by the journey that by the time Christmas comes you’re exhausted.

Advent is an important time in the life of the church. The four Sundays leading up to Christmas

help us to prepare and get ready. We are intentional in taking time on the journey to Christmas to

focus and consider where we are going and why the trip is important. We don’t want Christmas to

sneak up on us and catch us unaware.

Journey with us and celebrate Christmas this year!

Sincerely,

Pastor Nevin 

First Baptist Church 

TIES THAT BIND 

127 Prince Street 

Bordentown, NJ 08505 

 

   Rev. Nevin Werron, Interim Pastor Church 609‐298‐0805 

               Cell  (856) 220‐6239       www.bordentownbaptist.org 

Advent Sermon Series

Leading up to Christmas this year, Pastor Nevin will be preaching a series of sermons that focus on Advent and the coming of Jesus at Christmas. November 29 - The Way To Bethlehem December 20th- Another Journey to Bethlehem Mark 1 I Samuel 16 December 6th - The Miracle of Birth December 24th - (Christmas Eve Service) Matthew 1 The Christ Candle Luke 2 December 13th - The Women In Jesus' Past December 27th -The Strangeness Of Christmas Matthew 1 I Corinthians 1

        

                                           

AN INVITATION

TO: All Church Members and Friends

MUSICAL CANTATA: CHRISTMAS in HIS PRESENCE

DATE: Sunday, December 13, 2015

TIME: 6:00 P.M.

PLACE: First Baptist Church of Bordentown

We invite you to attend an inspiring musical cantata "CHRISTMAS in HIS PRESENCE". Combined choirs from First Baptist, Chesterfield, Hedding and Columbus will tell the Timeless Story of His Coming.

There will be a Free Will Offering and light refreshments will be served following the performance. We hope you will be able to attend this wonderful presentation.

Holiday Gifts Needed for TASK

During the next few weeks we will be collecting the following items for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). These items will be given to their patrons as“holiday gifts”. Please note that TASK serves more men than women and more adults than children.

Please place your donations in the kitchen in the box marked “TASK Holiday

Gifts”. For more information please contact Joan Altman (298-1312).

New Items Only. Do Not Wrap the Gifts

ADULT GIFTS (Please note Men’s items are unisex to TASK patrons.)

Knit Caps (black,gray, navy or brown)

Gloves (large or x-large size)

Men’s White Crew or Tube Socks

Hooded Pouchos

Men’s Hooded Sweatshirts (x-large or larger sizes)

Mini Hygiene Kits (includes disposable razor, bar soap, washcloth)

Towel and Wash Cloth Set

Blankets

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

Hats * Scarves * Gloves

Blankets

DEADLINE: DECEMBER 13

MISSION STATEMENT       “To be a caring, Christian fellowship ‐ ‐ learning, living   

             and spreading the Word of God." 

               DIACONATE

The Diaconate would like to thank everyone who contributed to the November Communion Offering. As usual we made our goal, which was to contribute $800 to the American Bible Society. The next communion Offering will be held on Sunday, December 6th. This offering is one of our most popular as it is directed to the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Fund. It is a way to say "Thank You" to those who dedicated their lives to helping serve God as it assists retired American Baptist Ministers and Missionaries meet financial needs. Speaking of helping meet financial needs, this is the season of Angel Tree. Prayerfully consider helping a child by providing for a gift or new clothing need that their family might otherwise not be able to meet. You can help keep the wonderment of this season in the mind of a child. Exciting things are happening on our bulletin board in the church foyer. The Flower Chart for next year will soon be posted. If you have a specific weekend or time of year during which you wish to place memorial flowers in church in memory of or to honor a loved one, please sign the Flower Chart. The cost is $30.00 per arrangement and checks can be made payable to the Deacon's Fund, First Baptist Church. Checks can be given to Bev Alustiza or Anthony Pegues. Christmas greeting cards to your church family can also be placed on the bulletin board beginning December 6th. Our annual Sunday School Christmas Program will be held during worship service on Sunday, December 13th. Come out and support the

children and youth of our Sunday School as they perform this season. Finally two other dates to keep in mind, our beautiful Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will begin at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 24th and on the last Sunday of the year, December 27th we will have the Dedication of Memorial Gifts received during 2015. These Memorial Gifts enable our church to purchase special items that otherwise we could not affort.

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

The Sunday School Harvest Party was a great success! Thank you to the Youth Group for organizing the games and to all the children who attended.

The Youth Group continues to meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Meeting dates and special events will be posted on the bulletin board in the church foyer.

The Christmas Season is quickly approaching! The Sunday School Children's Program is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 13th during the church service. This year the children will be sharing "Symbols of Christmas" with the congregation. Nursery services will be available after the program concludes.

          

BD of Christian ED. continued 

The nursery schedule for December is as follows. If you are interested in volunteering, please see Melanie de la Cruz or Helen Bosma. NURSERY SCHEDULE 

Dec. 6  Janet Strusz  Sean McWhirk

Dec. 13  Holly Studzinski  Katie Studzinski

Dec. 20  Robin Caruso  Arianna Erbes

Dec. 27  Thelma Carroll  Colleen Carroll

WOMEN'S SOCIETY Thank you to all who donated items and came out to support our Fall Festival. The Christmas Tree is ready for your "little red stocking”. The Women's Society will be handing out the red stockings for the next few Sundays. We hope to give each of the Baptist Home residents $5.00. We encourage you to attend the Christmas Cantata, "CHRISTMAS in HIS PRESENCE" on Sunday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. A free will offering will be taken and light refreshments will be served. Our next meeting will be a covered dish supper on Tuesday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. Lynn McCabe will lead us in our Love Gift devotions. Hostesses will be Cheryl Danley, Ruth Heitzenroeder and Mary Johnson. Don't forget your donation for the Food Pantry. Food Pantry Items for the Bordentown Food Pantry located at St. Mary’s Catholic Church can be brought to church on any Sunday.  Please place the non‐perishable items on the upstairs kitchen counter. Please check the expiration date on the items,  as no outdated items will be accepted.  

  

 

Motel Ministry Churches in the Bordentown area continue to provide a bag of groceries to needy people in the area motels. Our church is responsible for providing Cartons of Milk that require no refrigeration (i.e., Parmalat or Hershey brands), non-perishable Microwaveable Meals, Canned Meats with pop-up lids and Soup with pop-up lids. These items continue to be needed due to the economy and the number of individuals staying in the motels. Please place these items on the upstairs kitchen counter. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Kettner at 298-9258. Prayer List We will list the name of an individual who is in need of our prayers in the Sunday bulletin for four consecutive weeks. A person with a long-term illness will be listed on our long-term list. If someone has gotten better and can be removed from the list, please inform Tracey Benton (790-7361).  

Prayer Partners If you have a specific concern and would like a member of the Prayer Team to pray for you, please place your request in the prayer box located in the back of the sanctuary. A Prayer Team member will pray everyday for a week for each request. In an emergency, you can call Tracey Benton at 790-7361 or Helen Magowan at 298-1401 and she will start a prayer chain.The Prayer Team will be glad to pray for you or with you.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Temple B'nai Abraham will sponsor an American Red Cross Blood drive on Monday, December 21, 2015 in a bloodmobile parked in front of Temple B'nai Abraham, 58 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. The holiday season is traditionally a difficult time for meeting the blood needs of patients. Donations decline at this time because people are busy with holiday preparations and celebrations. Donating blood is a heartwarming experience and provides a unique opportunity to reach out and directly contribute to saving a life. Please give the gift of life. To make an appointment to give blood on December 21, please call 609-298-6485 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code Temple B'nai Abraham. Thank you, Randye Bloom Blood Drive Chairperson

         

Thank You

Dear Church Family, Thank you for your cards, telephone calls, flowers, visits and for you many prayers during my recent illnesses. A thank you to Rev. Werron for his visits to me while I was in the hospital. I ask that you continue to pray for me. God Bless You! In Christian Love, Rose Zaiss

         DECEMBER BIRTHDAY’S 

Lynn McCabe    1           Joshua Scassero  18 Alex Palkovich   8           Carol Bagley    18 Emily Huber    9          Joyce Maugeri   21 Kristen Palkovich  10           Louise Weida    21 Bob McCormick  15          Sue Inman    27 Neissa Cheriza   16          Tammy Werron  28 Tony de la Cruz  18          Bobette Bohannan  31  

    

    Jacob Andrew Mike Barley Adam Bengis John Brady Andrea Carson Ginny Corson Lisa Dunham Beatrice Furth Betty Goad Joseph Hayden Shirley Hauser Phil Heitzenroeder                          

 

 

Long Term Prayer Rev. Erin Phillips Sally Radosti Greg Schetter Thomas Sedor Mae Smires Kristen Traver Smith Madeline Strusz Dorothy Wilbert Mary Wood Terry Zahorchak Rose Zaiss Truck Stop Ministry

 

Mary Lou Hengeli Woody Hutson John Kellher Mike Immordino Rev. Bill LeConey Marion Letts Robert Letts Scott Magowan Mike McCormick Katherine Miller B.J. Morton Betty Nelson Veronica Noel 

 

First Baptist Church  127 Prince Street Bordentown, NJ 08505  ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED  

 

 

                                  NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: Mary Johnson: 298‐0972, Terry Bell, Marilyn Fraser, Bette Roberts and Bob McCormick  

 

 

NEWS AND REMINDERS        Sunday, December 13 Sunday School Christmas Program Presentation @ 10:15 A.M. Christmas Cantata - - CHRISTMAS in HIS PRESENCE @ 6:00 P.M.

Monday, December 21 Soup Kitchen @ 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service @ 6:45 P.M.

Friday, December 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday, December 27 Dedication of Memorial Gifts @ 10:15 a.m.

Items for the Food Pantry can be given on any Sunday. Please place your donations on the counter in the kitchen. No outdated items will be accepted. Cartons of milk that requires no refrigeration non-perishable microwavable meals, canned meats with pop- up lids and soup with pop-up lids are needed for our Motel Ministry on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Please place these items on the counter in the kitchen.   Deadline for the January issue of TIES THAT BIND is December 15. 

    Non‐Profit   Organization     U.S. Postage         PAID   Trenton, NJ Permit, No.  440 

 

 

BD. Of Chr. ED 7:00 P.M. Bible Study

7:15 p.m.

Christmas Eve Service 6:45 p.m.

Bible Study 7:15 p.m. 

Bible Study 7:15 p.m. 

Bible Study 7:15 p.m. 

Bell Choir 6:00 p.m. Sr. Choir 7:30 p.m. 

Bell Choir 6:00 p.m. Sr. Choir 7:30 p.m. 

Bell Choir 6:00 p.m. Sr. Choir 7:30 p.m. 

Trustees Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Women' s Society 7:00 p.m.

Motel Ministry 3:00 p.m.

Merry Christmas!

Soup Kitchen 9:30 a.m.

  9:00 a.m. S.S. 10:15 a.m. Worship 11:15 a.m. Jr. Choir

9:00 a.m. S.S. 10:15 a.m. Worship 11:15 a.m. Jr. Choir

9:00 a.m. S.S. 10:15 a.m. Worship 11:15 a.m. Jr. Choir

 

Sunday, December 13, 2015 @  First Baptist Church, 6:00 p.m. 

  9:00 a.m. S.S. 10:15 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Diaconate