Seeking Hope, Peace, Joy, Love? Celebrate Advent at First Baptist Roswell

By Cyndi Braun

If your to-do list is overwhelming and you feel like something is missing this season, take a moment to reflect. The days leading up to Christmas should be filled with hope, peace, joy, and love. Perhaps its time you add Celebrate Advent to your list.

Advent at First Baptist Roswell creates anticipation, excitement, and joy, as we wait for Christmas Day, said Senior Pastor Kevin Head.

For the past 35 years, First Baptist Roswell has celebrated the beginning of Advent with the Greening Service held on the first Sunday of December. The Greening begins with a procession of fourth through twelfth grade choir members carrying poinsettias. The poinsettias, given in honor or memory of loved ones, are used to decorate the sanctuary.

While the Christmas decorations are set in place, the childrens choirs, youth choir, and chancel choir sing Christmas anthems, and worship leaders explain the symbolism of the decorations. For example, the circle of evergreens in the Advent wreath represents Gods eternity and perfection, while the candles remind us that God gave our world of darkness a gift of light through Jesus Christ. With the greenery in place, these stories help the church mark the beginning of Advent. At the end of the evening, all choir members (past and present) join in a solemn performance of O, Holy Night.

During December, the church offers two additional musical events that are also free and open to the public. The church orchestra and other instrumental groups present Instrumental Melodies of Christmas on December 9. The chancel choir presents One Incredible Moment on December 16.

Each Sunday during Advent, children light the candles of the Advent wreath. As an intergenerational church, First Baptist Roswell encourages the entire family to participate in worship and provides opportunities for children to take part.

On Christmas Eve, the church offers two services: 5:00pm and 11:00pm. Each service includes communion, Christmas carols, and a candlelight singing of Silent Night. The earlier service is designed for families with children.

Advent Sermon Series
Since the traditional themes of Advent (hope, peace, joy, and love) are missing from many of our lives, Dr. Head created a sermon series called Desperately Seeking, which explains why we need these things and their true origin.

We stumble through our days unaware that the nagging emptiness we feel is often because we experience a lack of hope, peace, joy, and love, said Dr. Head. Everyone desperately seeks these things.

Every Sunday during Advent, Dr. Head addresses each theme, inspiring the congregation to follow Christ. Stop by on Sunday to hear Dr. Heads sermon.

Week 1
Dec. 2 Desperately Seeking Hope, Isaiah 2:1-5. Our hope is not based on this world getting better, cleaner, wiser, or safer. The good news of Christmas is that our hope is found and experienced in this simple statement: Christ has come and promises to be with us always. Gods presence with us in every situation of life is our true hope.

Week 2
Dec. 9 Desperately Seeking Peace, Mark 1:1-4. Peace seems sorely lacking in our world today. Many people ask, Where is peace? Where can I find and experience peace? The good news of Christmas is found in realizing that we cannot create true peace only God can do that through Christ Jesus. But what we can do is similar to John the Baptist. We can prepare the way for Christ to create true peace within us and in our world.

Week 3
Dec. 16 Desperately Seeking Joy, Luke 1:46-55. Millions of people live every day of their lives without joy. The lack of joy spreads chaos not only in the mind and soul, but also affects people physically. God wants us to live a life filled with joy. Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly. The good news of Christmas is found in the lyrics of one of our favorite Christmas carols: Joy to the World, the Lord is Come.

Week 4
Dec. 23 Desperately Seeking Love, Matthew 2:13-23. The greatest need in life is to know that something or someone greater than us loves us. The purpose of Christmas is to send a message of love to every person: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Christmas reminds us that God is desperately seeking us and loves us unconditionally.

All Are Welcome
First Baptist Roswell offers music selections from all ages, beautiful decorations, participation from members in worship, lighting the candles of the Advent wreath, and an intentional focus on the traditional themes of Advent, said Dr. Head. This season is a holy, sacred time, and we hope you can join us.

Whatever your faith, whatever your age, First Baptist Roswell invites you to enjoy a month filled with Advent music and worship services.

Advent Events

December
2
Greening Service The Colors of Christmas
The 35th annual Greening Service includes performances by the childrens choirs, youth choir, and chancel choir. During the evening, the sanctuary is decorated with wreaths, garlands, and flowers. Young people participate in a procession of poinsettias purchased in memory or in honor of loved ones. The event ends with O, Holy Night, performed by current choir members, as well as former members, many of whom return specifically for this service. 6:30pm

9
Instrumental Melodies
of Christmas
FBR Orchestra presents a variety of sacred and secular Christmas music. Legacy Flute Quartet, FBR Woodwind Quintet, Mimosa Brass Ensemble, and Jubilee Ringers Handbell Choir will also perform. 7:00pm

16
One Incredible Moment
The chancel choir performs, as FBR celebrates the majesty of the manger, the splendor of the star, and the anthem of the angels while proclaiming redemptions timeless plan: In One Incredible Moment, God became man. 7:00pm

24
Christmas Eve
FBR offers a child-friendly 5:00pm candlelight service, as well as a traditional 11:00pm evening service. Both include communion. 5:00pm and 11:00pm

Advent Symbols

Advent Wreath
Circle of evergreens represents Gods eternity and perfection. Candles remind us that God gave our world of darkness a gift of life through Jesus Christ.

Garland Greenery
The green color symbolizes the everlasting light of Christmas and reminds us that the new life God gives us will never die.

Chrismon Tree
Gold and white ornaments represent majesty and purity. Each ornament symbolizes a Christian theme, including star (hope), dove (peace), butterfly (resurrection/joy), and heart (love).

Poinsettias
The star of the leaf represents the star that stood over the Christ child. The red flower represents the blood Christ shed.

First Baptist Roswell

710 Mimosa Boulevard
Roswell
770-587-6980

Worship Services
8:30am & 11:00am
FBRoswell.org