Happenings & Highlights

Hi Church Family,

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We're only one week into November and already the calendar has filled up! First, what a fun time we had at Trunk or Treat last weekend! We had a wonderful turnout with 12 decorated trunks, a special appearance by Batman, some pretty impressive card tricks, and I'm fairly certain I even spotted a skeleton rat wandering around! I loved seeing all of the creative trunks decked out, and it was such a great time being a part of it all. There were plenty of smiles, TONS of candy (thank you all!!) and we've got the pictures to prove it! Be sure to visit www.canton-fbc.org to take a look at all the fun. 

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Meanwhile, now that daylight saving time has ended, is anyone else fighting the urge to put on pajamas and call it a night by 6 PM? It certainly feels like the evenings have gotten shorter overnight! But with the holidays just around the corner things aren't slowing down one bit here at Canton First. This week's Happenings & Highlights is packed with important dates, upcoming gatherings, and a few reminders you'll wanna keep handy. So grab your calendar, settle in, and let's see what's happening for our church family. 

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The Week at a Glance: 

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There's quite a bit happening around Canton First these days, and we want to make sure everyone has an easy way to keep up with it all! Below, you'll find a look at what's happening this week, along with a few dates and reminders to keep in mind as we move further into November. We also encourage you to visit our website at www.canton-fbc.org  where you can find upcoming events, Church news, and updates that may come along between newsletters. Your Sunday bulletin and prayer sheet are also wonderful resources, and don't forget to take a peek at the announcements posted around the church while you're here. Well with the holiday season picking up speed, a quick glance here and there can help keep everything straight. We have some wonderful things happening in the weeks ahead, and we'd love for you to be a part of them!

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Sunday mornings are one of my favorite times to see our Church family come together. There's always a conversation happening in the hallway, someone catching up with a friend, or a familiar face making room for someone new. Sunday school begins at 10 AM, giving us time to spend together learning more about God's word and sharing a little life along the way. At 11 AM, we gather for morning worship, with music and a message to carry with us into the week ahead. And we certainly can't forget our younger crowd! During the children’s sermon time, Susan continues to find some of the most creative ways to teach the children about faith, and after last week's lesson involving mud, I'm not quite sure what she might come up with next! Once the children's sermon wraps up, the kids head to children's church where they're already putting some work into their Christmas program for December. Nursery Care is available during both Sunday school and worship, so our youngest little ones are taken care of as well. We always love seeing our church family on Sunday mornings, and there's room for you too! 

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And speaking of our younger crowd, they've got a little more fun planned for this Sunday! After morning worship, our JAM children and  workers will gather in the fellowship hall for lunch and an afternoon of making Christmas crafts together. I'm sure there will be plenty of creativity, a little bit of Christmas excitement, and probably a few masterpieces that will find their way onto refrigerators or Christmas trees at home! It's a sweet opportunity for our children to enjoy being together, and we hope our JAM families will stick around and join in the fun. 

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Our JOY club friends have a busy week ahead, and it looks like they've got some fun in store! First up is their monthly luncheon, which has been moved to this Tuesday, November 10, at 11:30 AM at Crestview Baptist Church. It's always nice to have a reason to get together, enjoy a good meal, and catch up on what's been happening in everyone's lives. But that's not all they've got planned! Thursday, November 12, is their Surprise Scarecrow outing, and there's still a little mystery surrounding just where this adventure will take them! Everyone who signed up will be heading out from Crestview Baptist Church at 11 AM and while we know a luncheon is part of the plan the rest is still a surprise. I can't wait to hear where they end up and what they've been up to! And speaking of their adventures, be sure to check out the website where you can keep up with our JOY club friends, and see photos from their outings. They're certainly not letting the calendar slow them down!

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It's funny how you can read the same passage of scripture over and over and then one day something catches your attention that you've never really thought about before. That's part of what we love about studying the Bible together. We all come with different experiences and questions, and sometimes hearing how someone else understands a passage helps us see it in an entirely new way. Our Wednesday evening Bible study is a relaxed time to open God's word and learn from one another, and there's always room for another Voice in the conversation! We'll meet this Wednesday at 6 PM in the fellowship hall and if you can't make it in person, you're welcome to join us through Zoom using the link below:

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84672760302

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A little reminder: The church office will be closed this Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day, but our evening Bible study and youth night will still take place as scheduled.

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If you've been anywhere near the choir room lately, you know our choir has been hard at work getting ready for Christmas! The cantata music is coming along, and with some special music planned throughout November, they've certainly got plenty on their plate. I always love hearing those familiar Christmas melodies begin to make their way through the church this time of year. And there's still room for a few more voices! You don't have to read music or have years of experience to join in. If singing brings you joy, that's a pretty good place to start. There will be no choir practice this Wednesday, November 11, but our choir will be back together soon, continuing our preparations for what promises to be a beautiful season of music. We are looking forward to hearing all that they've been working on!

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Planning Ahead:

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Just a little heads up for next Sunday, November 15. We will have our quarterly Church business meeting directly following the 11 AM morning worship service. We encourage all of our church members to make plans to stay as we take care of church business and hear what's happening in the life of Canton First. We will also be taking a look at our association with the cooperative Baptist fellowship and voting on how we will move forward for the future of our church. 

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2 - We wanted to give everyone advanced notice that there will be some landscaping going on in the coming weeks and months. Many of the church's trees and shrubs are in need of pruning and reshaping. Therefore, some of these might look 'barren' in the short-term, but the goal is to get them back to healthy, fruitful trees in the long-term. Additionally, we will be reclaiming the grass hillside over the coming months and years with native flowers and plants. The goal is for the hill to become a native meadow offering habitat to birds and pollinators while bringing forth wildflowers throughout the year. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Zachary Stines. (From our Deacons)

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Thanksgiving is right around the corner and before we celebrate around our own family tables we'd love to share a meal with our Canton First family! Join us on Wednesday, November 18 at 6 PM for a good old-fashioned covered dish Thanksgiving dinner! The turkey, ham, rolls, and drinks will be provided and we're inviting everyone to bring a favorite Thanksgiving side dish or dessert to share. Maybe it's a treasured family recipe that's been passed down through the years or that one dish Thanksgiving simply wouldn't be Thanksgiving without. We'd love to have a little taste of everyone's traditions at our table. More than anything, this evening is an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the wonderful church family. God has given us. We have so much to be thankful for and the people we share our pews with each Sunday are certainly among those blessings! There will be no Wednesday Bible study or JOLT Youth that evening, but choir practice will still follow after dinner. We hope you'll come hungry, pull up a chair, and enjoy an evening of Thanksgiving together. 

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HOLIDAY DATES TO KEEP IN MIND!!

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Christmas will be here before we know it, and we've got some wonderful Sundays ahead of us! On Sunday, November 29, we celebrate our Hanging of the Green service and the beginning of Advent. This is truly one of the most beautiful services of the year in our church, and I always look forward to seeing our sanctuary decorated for Christmas and sharing this special time with our church family.

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Sunday, December 13, is going to be a full day, and one you really don't want to miss! We begin with a church wide covered dish Christmas breakfast at 9 AM, giving us a chance to gather around the table before our children's Christmas program at 11 AM. Our children have already been preparing, and I can't wait to see what they've been working on! Following the morning program, our JAM Kids will continue the celebration with their Happy Birthday Jesus party. It's going to be a sweet Sunday for our whole church family.

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Our Sisters of Strength (SOS) Christmas party Is coming up on Wednesday, December 16. Andi will be sharing more information soon with the SOS ladies, so keep an eye out for those details!

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Then on Sunday, December 20, our Sanctuary Choir will present this year's Christmas cantata,”O Holy night.” The choir puts so much time and heart into preparing this music each year, and is always such a beautiful part of our Christmas season. We're looking forward to hearing It all come together!

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And finally we will gather on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, at 8 PM for our candlelight service here at Canton First. There's something so beautiful about ending the evening together in the quiet glow of candlelight, remembering the birth of Christ and the hope that Christmas brings. I hope you'll make plans to join us for this special night. 

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We've got some lovely moments ahead of us as a church family, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with all of you!

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YOUTH NEWS: 

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JOLT youth are off to a great start this November! Wednesday evenings continue to be a favorite part of the week, with everyone gathering from 5:30 to 6:45 PM for dinner, time with friends, some fun, and Bible study. Susan kicked off their new November series on gratitude this past week and we're looking forward to seeing where the lessons take them as the month continues! It's a wonderful opportunity for our youth to learn that thankfulness goes far beyond the Thanksgiving table and can become a part of how they see the world and treat those around them. We're excited to see what next Wednesday brings!

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We also want to give another big thank you to everyone who has helped provide meals for our youth on Wednesday evenings! It's been wonderful to see our Church family showing up for this growing ministry, and we appreciate every bit of it. Our December meal calendar will be going up this Sunday, and will be looking for a few more folks willing to help keep these Wednesday night dinners going! If you'd like to provide a meal, you can find the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the back hallway. It means so much to have people willing to give a little of their time to make these evenings possible.

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One area where we could still use a few extra helping hands is transportation on Wednesday evenings! We're looking for someone willing to help pick up our youth and get them home afterward. And here's the fun part: you're more than welcome to stick around for dinner while you're here! You might even find yourself joining in on a game or sitting in on Bible study. It's a great chance to spend a little time getting to know our youth while helping with something that makes a real difference for them.

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Watching our youth ministry grow has been such an encouragement and we want to make sure the support surrounding these young people grows right along with it. There's so much more to youth ministry than what happens during Bible study, and having church members who show up and take interest in their lives, makes a lasting difference. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our youth. We're excited about what's happening and even more excited about where this ministry is headed.  

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Hands & Hearts at Work:​

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First, I want to give a great big thank you to everyone who has already donated to help get our First Mission Boutique off the ground! It has been wonderful to see our Church family come through and help turn this little idea into something that will soon be serving our neighbors. And now we're just one week away from opening our doors for the very first time! First Mission Boutique will officially open on Saturday, November 14, from 9 AM to 11 AM. Will also be open on Saturday, November 21, and Saturday, December 5, from 9 AM to 11 AM, with additional times available by appointment. I am so excited to see this ministry begin welcoming people from our community! But before we open those doors, we still have some shelves and racks that need filling! We are especially in need of coats for men, women, and children of all sizes, along with warm blankets. So here's my little challenge to everyone this week: dig into those closets! Take a look at the coats that haven't been worn in a while, the ones the kids have outgrown, are those extra blankets tucked away that could be keeping someone else warm this winter. We ask that all donations be clean, and new or gently used. Please contact the church office to arrange a time to bring them by rather than leaving items outside the doors. And there's one more little thing! Thanks to a generous gift card donation, we will be holding a special drawing on December 5 as a small thank you to those who have donated to the boutique. When you bring in your donations, we will be happy to add your name to the drawing. It's just a little way to share some appreciation for the kindness that's already been shown. More than anything I hope this boutique becomes a place where our neighbors feel welcome and know that someone cares about what they're going through. Every coat and blanket represents an opportunity to offer someone a little comfort and remind them that they're not facing less harder, seasons alone. Thank you for helping us make this possible. I truly believe we're just getting started!

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Our JOY Club is continuing to partner with the Joyful Hearts from Crestview Baptist Church as we prepare Christmas bags for residents at Pigeon Valley Rest Home, Silver Bluff, and several of our own church members living in other areas and care facilities. A big THANK YOU to everyone who has already donated. That collection of items is starting to grow and it is so heartwarming to see that our church will help to provide for these sweet residents. Every contribution is helping us get a little closer to having them ready. We are still collecting full-size baby shampoo, baby soap, socks and more items listed on the main bulletin board. Any donations can be placed in the basket in the back hallway. There’s still plenty of time to be part of this project, and we’re grateful for every little bit that helps us make these bags special for the people receiving them. 

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One of the things I've come to appreciate most about being part of Canton first Baptist is getting to see just how much of yourselves you pour into this church. Working in the office gives me a little behind the scenes look at things that others may never even notice. I see people stopping by to offer their help, making time in their already busy schedules to serve, and quietly taking care of things simply because they know something needs to be done. And I don't think you always realize how much that means. I've come to understand that what makes a church feel like family isn't necessarily the big events or the things we plan weeks in advance. It's the people who care enough to keep showing up for one another. I hope you know that your kindness doesn't go unnoticed even on the days when nobody thinks to say thank you. I'm grateful for each of you, and I'm especially grateful that I get to be part of a church family that has made me feel so much at home.

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A Thought to Carry With You:

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Last Sunday with our All Saint’s Service, along with the memories that this particular time of year brings, has made this a quieter, more reflective week for me. But something I found myself thinking about is just how much there is to be thankful for in the life I'm living today. I've had the privilege of knowing some truly wonderful people throughout my life. Some have stayed for years, others were only part of a season, and some are just now becoming part of my story. Each has brought something different into my life, and I find that pretty remarkable when I really stopped to think about it.

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I think sometimes we're so busy keeping up with everything that needs our attention that we forget to appreciate how much goodness is already happening around us. There are friendships that make ordinary days a little brighter, conversations that leave us smiling long after they're over, and people who show up in ways we never expected. There are new opportunities, taking shape, things we are looking forward to, and little moments of happiness that we might overlook if we aren't paying attention. And the beautiful thing is that we don't have to wait until something becomes a memory to recognize how much it means to us.

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I realize lately how grateful I am for the life that's unfolding around me. For the people who are a part of it right now, for the relationships that continue to grow, and for the excitement of not knowing all that still lies ahead. I'm enjoying living in the moment. There are things in my life today that I had once hoped and prayed for, and there are blessings I never even knew to ask for. I don't want to become so accustomed to those things that I forget what a gift they really are. There's a lot of joy in simply being able to look around at this life we're building and recognize that, even in the middle of ordinary days, we are living through moments worth being thankful for.

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Maybe that's something we can all carry with us this November. Gratitude isn't only looking back and appreciating where we've been. It's also about noticing the goodness God has placed in our lives today and being excited about what He's still doing. There are people to love, memories yet to be made, and so many reasons to look forward with a grateful heart. One day we may look back on these very days with the same bonus we have for some of our favorite memories. What a beautiful thought that we get to recognize their worth while we're still living them.

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With love and gratitude,
Rene Ownsby