FBC Carthage E-News for November 22, 2010

FBC Carthage E-News
November 22,2010

Good Morning and Happy Thanksgiving,

This is an exciting week as we enter the holiday season with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have so much for which to be thankful. God’s grace and mercy, His great love, the cross and resurrection, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and many more blessings are ours through faith in Jesus Christ. Wow! Take some time this week to stop and reflect on God’s blessings. Live this week as a Thanksgiving offering to the Lord.

Please note, we will not be having services this Wednesday night, November 24. This allows you some extra time to spend with family and prepare for your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Also, the church office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday. Any information for the bulletin should be to Deborah by Tuesday, November 23.

Speaking of thanks, I want to say a special “Thank You” to everyone who brought food and attended the Thanksgiving Dinner last night. It was a great time together and a wonderful meal. Thanks to the Special Events Committee for their leadership and work in preparing for the evening.

I also want to thank all who brought soup, chili, sandwiches, and deserts for the Deer Hunter’s Luncheon. We had double the attendance from last year’s breakfast and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I look forward to seeing this luncheon grow and become a FBC Carthage tradition.

On a personal note, please be praying for me and my family in the death of my brother, Morris Frank. I got a call just before the Thanksgiving Dinner that he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Fran and I left after the devotional and went to the hospital in Smyrna to be with the family. He has four children and eight grandchildren. This will be a sad week for the family but a week of thanksgiving for hope, life, and peace that comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving week,

Bro. Tim

Here’s the news for the week:
1. Next Sunday, November 28 begins the Advent/Christmas season. Here are the special services, times and dates for your calendar:
November 28 First Sunday of Advent
Special Missions emphasis for all ages
Week of Prayer for International Missions
November 29 Carthage Christmas Parade and Singing on the Steps
December 4 & 11 Lighthouse Children’s Christmas Parties @ 8:30 AM
5 Children’s Choir Program and Refreshments @ 6:00 PM
12 Christmas Singing and Share Service @ 6:00 PM
15 Youth Christmas Party
19 Christmas Celebration at Smith County High 10AM
Youth Caroling @ 6:00 PM
24 Christmas Eve Service @ 5:30 PM
25 Christmas Day
31 New Year’s Eve Family Night and Midnight Service

2. “Are We There Yet?” is the theme for the 2010 International Missions Week of Prayer which begins next Sunday, November 28. During December, we will be emphasizing missions and receiving a special missions offering called the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. Our church goal for this offering is $11,000 which goes to support over 5,100 missionaries in countries around the world. To learn more about International Missions click on the link: http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709

To learn more about Lottie Moon, who she was, and what she did, click on the link: http://www.imb.org/main/give/page.asp?StoryID=5524&LanguageID=1709

Here is a video about the life of Lottie Moon: http://www.imb.org/main/downloads/flashvideos.asp?filename=/files/62/6294/6294-34373.flv

3. The Carthage Christmas parade will be next Monday evening, November 29 at 6:00 PM and we will have a float in the parade as well as our annual “Singing on the Steps.” Parents and youth are to meet in the parking lot across from Save-A-Lot at 5:00 PM. Everyone else is invited and urged to join us on the front steps of the church at 5:30 PM as we sing familiar Christmas carols and give out hot chocolate and coffee.

4. This Sunday night, November 28, Jim Wilburn, our former Minister to Music and now the Pastor of the North Shores Baptist Church in Kings Park, New York will be bringing our evening message at 6:00 PM. Jim and his wife, Karen, and son, Colin, have been serving in New York for almost two years. I am looking forward to seeing them and hearing Jim share from God’s Word.

5. Please remember to bring your gifts for Lighthouse Children’s Christmas parties this Sunday. We are collecting the gifts in the Sunday School classroom to the right of the sanctuary. Even if you didn’t pick up a gift tag, bring a gift for a girl or boy this Sunday. A group from FBC Carthage will be going to Lighthouse next Monday, November 29 at 9:00 AM to deliver the gifts and help with the preparations for the parties. If you would like to go, see Deborah Bane or Kandy Smith on Sunday.

6. You can also be a part of the Christmas parties at Lighthouse on December 4 for the girls and December 11 for the boys. Simply arrive at the camp by 8:30 AM. Lighthouse Christian Camp is located on Hurricane Ridge in Smithville, Tennessee.

7. Speaking of Christmas gifts, the Smith County Noon Rotary Club will be collecting gifts along the Christmas Parade route for the Smith County Help Center’s Christmas Toyland. Over 80 families from Smith County have already signed up to receive Christmas gifts for their children. Bring a gift to the parade and the Rotary members will pick it up and get it to the Help Center.

8. Here is a brief history of Thanksgiving from the History Channel that might be of interest during this week. In fact, you may have an opportunity to share with a group and remind them of the first Thanksgiving: http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving