Fee Fee Baptist Church

Tag: Christmas Program

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 16

    Looking for Baby Jesus

    As you know in our Christmas presentation of the Nativity we always want a live baby for the part of baby Jesus. We like to have a tiny baby about 3 months or a little younger. We would not necessarily need the same baby for each performance. The presentation dates are Friday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m., and again on Sunday, December 18, at 3:00 p.m. Please let me know if you might know of a baby who would be in an age range to represent baby Jesus. Please contact tara@feefeebc.org.

    Seeking and Praying for Laborers: In This Case – SINGERS

    Please come forward and join us in singing. We always need singers committed to the main choir. However, there may be some who want to “test the waters” and do a short stint to see what it’s all about. Choose a four-week window to participate and sing in worship when you feel comfortable. We welcome you on your terms. Just show up on any Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room. Still others may wish to participate in special events such as the Christmas choir.  Please consider being a “laborer” in the harvest.  Singing will give you an opportunity to share His love.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 61, No. 23

    Save the Dates (at least one of them!)

    Our Christmas program, Noel (Night of Everlasting Love) will be presented on Saturday, December 18, and again on Sunday, December 19. Both performances will begin at 3:00 p.m. You will hear some beautiful arrangements of Christmas classics as you watch the traditional pageantry of the Nativity story.

    Mark your calendar! This would be a good time to invite friends and neighbors or folks you barely know for an afternoon of worship!

    Trumpets in the Old Testament

    As our church family is now reading in the book of Numbers on our journey through the Pentateuch, I have noticed the importance of the use of trumpets in these scriptures, which has prompted me to do a little reading on trumpets in the Old Testament.

    The trumpet is the instrument most frequently referenced in the Bible and its uses were many and varied.

    The following list gives specific uses:

    1. To assemble a large group of people

    2. To give direction to a large group of people.

    3. To alert people to coming danger of judgement.

    4. Used along with other instruments and singers to celebrate holy days and sacred events.

    5. As a battle signal.

    6. To make an announcement or proclamation.

    7. As a regular part of worship ceremonies.

    8. And most importantly – To praise God.

    We find in Numbers 10:1-13, that the silver trumpets had two primary purposes: to make people alert and gain their attention and to sound the alarm of battle.

    The High Priests or the representatives in the priestly line were to blow the silver trumpets. This compares with end times when a representative of our High Priest Yeshua will blow the final trumpet blast to summon His people to resurrection and war against evil.

    “The LORD spoke further to Moses, saying, ‘Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out,” (Numbers 10:1-2 NASB).

    It is truly amazing how all the events we are reading about point forward to the time of Jesus!

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 25

    Thanks to all!

    By the time you are reading this we will have celebrated with our 2020 Christmas program. There are so many to thank.  From the participants in our virtual Christmas choir to our live singers and instrumentalists, our technicians, our children’s Nativity producers, ushers and greeters. There are far too many to list in one short article!  However, I must give a special thank you to Andrea Jennings who patiently and cheerfully recorded many of our virtual choir singers. Our children’s Nativity “mini-movie” was a product of creative persons like Vance Stewart and Justin Flack, assisted by Dann Webber. It really blows me away to think about the technical talent it takes to do a virtual production!

    It takes many and varied talents to do anything of significance, including even a scaled back Christmas performance. Thanks to each and every one!

    The Joy of Music

    “David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals,” (1 Chronicles 15:18).

    Throughout all the seasons of our lives – childhood, teens and on – music is a part of our existence. Certain songs bring back memories. We remember times when music helped us and blessed us through hard times and good times. To try and explain music is nearly impossible. Music is not meant to be explained, but rather experienced.

    There are times that music can express what we feel when words fail us. Music is poetry put to rhythm. It is rhyme put to a steady beat. It is a power that moves and stirs the soul. It is a gift from God.

    Has music ever been therapeutic for you? Has it ever lifted your spirits? Indeed, it can lift us when we are down and bring healing to a wounded spirit. Music can enable us to lift our voices to God in praise and worship. Music is one of God’s greatest gifts. Lift your soul with music. Let it carry your thanks and praise to God in times of joy and sorrow.

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 24

    As I write this, I think about how many things are going to be so different with Christmas this year at our church. Every time I walk into the sanctuary, there is a stark reminder of how different things are just based on what isn’t there…we don’t have our massive Christmas tree and we won’t have our Singing Tree performance this year. It’s going to be a big change.

    However, rather than lamenting what we can’t have, I want to take a second to praise our staff and volunteers for their adaptability. Sure, the Singing Tree is quite conspicuous in its absence. But we are still going to have an incredible Christmas performance. I am so thankful for all of the hard work that has been put into our Christmas presentation which will have a combination of virtual and live elements. Our staff and volunteers have worked really hard to get things prepared for this performance. I am confident that whether you are watching here, in person, or tuning in online, you are going to be entertained by this year’s performance.

    What is much more important than being entertained, however, is the reminder that God loved us enough to send His Son to rescue us! The cradle has so much meaning because it led to the cross. God made a way for us to be in right relationship with Him!

    I want to invite you to join us for our Christmas performance. It’s called Christmas: Night of Angels, and it will be on Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20. On both dates, the performance will start at 3:00 p.m. There are two ways that you can watch the performances. First, you can go online to our website and reserve your spot. Since we are at 25% capacity, we need everyone who is planning on being here physically to make a reservation. It doesn’t cost anything, but we need to make sure we stay within the county’s guidelines. Or, you can always watch the performance online. It will be shown on our website and also streamed on our church’s Facebook page.

    Besides our Christmas performance, we will also have a Christmas Eve service. You will need to reserve your spot for this special service as well if you are coming in person. However, we will also stream this service online. Finally, our deacon body is leading a Christmas morning service in our chapel. We’d love to have you come to this as well.

    Finally, as we are on the subject of Christmas, I want to remind you to prayerfully give to our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our church has set a goal of $25,000 for this special offering. 100% of your gift will go directly to supporting missionaries around the world. Please pray for our missionaries and that God will use them to reach the lost with the truth of the Gospel!

    For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

    John 3:16

    Christmas might be different this year, but the message is the same: God loves us and sent His Son! Let’s praise Him for that! I’m praying you have a great Christmas!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 24

    Christmas Program 2020

    Our Christmas program will look a little different this year, but will nonetheless, still capture the joys of our Savior’s birth. No doubt you will enjoy a mini movie by our kids and will agree that there is stardom in their future. Many thanks to Vance Stewart and Justin Flack who have used their uniquely creative skills to produce the Christmas Nativity story as told by our wonderful kids.

    Following the children’s Nativity will be our musical, Christmas, Night of Angels, told from the viewpoint of Mary and Joseph as they remember the events leading to the miraculous birth of Jesus, our Savior. The music will be presented by our virtual Christmas choir and live ensembles. You may view this program live or online.  If attending in person you will need to go to our website to get a free ticket for performances on Saturday, December 19 or Sunday, December 20, both at 3:00 p.m.  We hope you will plan to celebrate with us!

    The Animals of the Nativity

    The animals of the Nativity have been featured in various poems and songs. One of the most famous poems/songs starring the Christmas animals is a carol entitled The Friendly Beasts.  The text of the piece focuses on the humble contributions of the stable animals assumed present at the birth of Christ. It is sung from the perspective of the donkey who lovingly carried Mary on her long journey to Bethlehem, the cow who donated the manger in which Christ lay, the sheep who gave up his wool for the swaddling clothes, and the dove who gently sang the Christ child to sleep on the night of His birth. Each verse begins with the refrain “I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown,” or “I, said the sheep with the curly horn,” and the carol’s last verse runs as follows:

    Thus every beast by some glad spell,

    in the stable dark was glad to tell

    Of the gift he gave Emmanuel.

    The gift he gave Emmanuel.

    Another poem that gives perspective from the eyes of the animals is The Nativity by C.S. Lewis. Lewis cites the various virtues of the animals in response to the presence of the Christ child – wishing to be able to respond to Christ’s presence with the virtues which symbolically belong to these same animals.

    Among the oxen (like an ox I’m slow)

    I see a glory in the stable grow

    Which, with the ox’s dullness might at length

    Give me an ox’s strength.

    Among the asses (stubborn I as they)

    I see my Saviour where I looked for hay;

    So may my beastlike folly learn at least

    The patience of a beast.

    Among the sheep (I like a sheep have strayed)

    I watch the manger where my Lord is laid;

    Oh that my baa-ing nature would win thence

    Some woolly innocence!

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 23

    Christmas Program 2020!

    Yes, it’s happening! This year will look a little different as I’m sure you have guessed by now. The theme for this year is “Christmas, Night of Angels.” This piece is narrated by Joseph and Mary and tells the Christmas story through angel visitations recorded in scripture. The presentation will feature a virtual choir and live smaller ensembles.

    You may attend on Saturday, December 19 or Sunday, December 20. Both programs will begin at 3:00 p.m. and run approximately an hour.

    Plan to attend. Invite a friend. Let us know how many are coming by reserving your seat – watch our website for details!

    Two Christian Songs That Inspire Gratitude

    Through it All

    Andraé Crouch, 1970s

    The text of this song came to Andraé Crouch after he experienced, in the span of two years, the loss of his parents and a brother. Through it All simply recognized that his sad experiences taught him everything about trust.

    Especially meaningful is the lyric of the second verse:

    I thank Him for the mountains, 

    and I thank Him for the valleys,

    I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

    For if I’d never had a problem,

    I wouldn’t know that God could solve them,

    I’d never know what faith in God could do.

    His Eye is on the Sparrow written in 1905 by lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel.

    I sing because I’m happy,

    I sing because I’m free.

    That is why we sing.  Because He takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field – Because His eye is on the sparrow, I KNOW He is watching me.