FBC Carthage E-News for December 21, 2009

First Baptist Church E-News
December 21, 2009

Incredible!

That’s what yesterday was, incredible! The one joint service was a great celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. The choir special was wonderful and I want to say a personal “Thank You” to Mallory, Clayton, Olivia, Bryson, and Gracie for helping me with the message. An estimated attendance was 320-350. The offering for missions was huge. You better sit down for this one: a total was given of $11,763 to missions. That is $8,822 for Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions and $2,941 for the Smith County Help Center! That makes me want to say, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men.”

Last night’s services in the homes went very well. I have heard great reports from the four homes and from the leaders. Thanks to all who participated in these special Christmas with our homebound and senior adults.

Speaking of special services, everyone is reminded and invited to the Christmas Eve service this Thursday, December 24 at 5:30 PM. We will have carols, communion, candlelight, and a Christmas message. Bring your family. Come as you are. Celebrate the glorious birth of Jesus.

This is Christmas week. Make those calls to your friends and family. Invite someone to the Christmas Eve service. Invite a neighbor or friend to join you for a Christmas meal. Greet everyone with a smile and a warm “Merry Christmas.”

Merry Christmas,

Bro. Tim


Here’s the news for Christmas Week:

1. We will have regularly scheduled services and activities on Wednesday nights, December 23 and 30.

2. You are invited to be a part of a Christmas Mission Team to the Baptist Children’s Home in Franklin, Tennessee, December 27-28. We will leave each morning at 7:00 AM from the Family Life Center. There will be several painting jobs and some other minor renovations done to two of the cottages on campus. Please sign-up by calling the church office at 735-1929. You can serve both days, or only one depending on your schedule.

3. A special “Thank You” from the Smith County Nursing Home for the gifts given in their Angel Tree program. All the angels were taken and gifts brought for all the residents.

4. For this Sunday, December 27, we will have a new Bible Reading Plan to Read the Bible through in 2010. This plan is called Bible Pathways. Each month, participants will receive a study guide for the month of readings. This guide will provide the day’s reading, commentary on that reading, and prayer requests for our national leaders and the countries of the world. The church will provide these guides each month, all we ask is that you let us know you would like to participate. We will establish our order after Sunday, January 13. This year will be a great year to read through the entire Word of God, the Bible.

5. On Sunday night, December 27 we will join in a special Missions Commissioning service at 6:00 PM at the New Middleton Baptist Church. Tony and Karen Stinnett will be going to Waimea, Hawaii to pastor a small church on the Big Island. This Commissioning service will be a spiritual send-off for this couple as they leave the familiar culture of Tennessee where Mark has served for many years as Pastor and go to a new place to do God’s work.

6. Be making your New Year’s Eve plans to join us for a fun-filled evening of games and refreshments in the Family Life Center, followed by a service of worship and prayer as we welcome in the year 2010. The activities begin at 9:00 PM and will conclude just after midnight. Bring finger-food, games and a hearty anticipation of a good beginning of the greatest year of our lives.

7. Date Change: All youth and parents, please note that the Youth Ski Trip is rescheduled for January 30-31.

8. Here is an E-mail I received earlier in the season that has several good thoughts in it. It is a fictitious letter written as if from the Lord Jesus Himself.
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8. If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS