FBC Carthage E-News for December 27, 2010

FBC Carthage E-News
December 27, 2010

Good morning,

The Christmas services have been fantastic this year and I want to say a special word of appreciation to everyone who has participated. Each service has been unique and special as we have focused on God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. I have also enjoyed the weekly mission emphasis and the outward focus of taking the gospel to the peoples of the world.

As we look toward the New Year, I believe 2011 will be our greatest year of impact for Jesus Christ in this community and around the world. Our mission spirit and emphasis has just begun. Each week we will continue our focus on the world and pray for our role in reaching those without Christ. We will continue to pray for the Inuit people group of Canada and ask the Lord to open a door for us to minister to them.

As we enter 2011, I encourage you to consider the following points from yesterday’s message:
· Praise – Take time to thank God and praise Him for all He has done in your life and in the life of our church in this past year. Praise Him for those who have trusted Jesus and followed Him in baptism. Praise Him for lives that have been touched. Praise Him for calling Zeke and Layne Tomaselli to come and serve with us. Praise Him for all the blessings in your life.

· Purpose – Consider your purpose in life and the call of God upon your heart and life. Remember and live out our church purpose statement:
Exalt Christ. Establish Connections. Express compassion.

· Passion – What has God placed on your heart? Maybe ministry with children or youth? Perhaps singing in the choir or visiting the homebound? As you sense that Godly passion to serve in a specific area, allow the Lord to direct you I that service. As a believer, expect God to direct your life in His ways and for His purposes (Proverbs 3:5-6).

· Priorities- What is the most important things/people in your life? Intentionally live the priorities of your life. Do not live on “auto-pilot”. Focus on God’s best and do not settle on just “getting’ by”. Life is to short to put off the important priorities: your relationship with God through faith in Jesus and your relationships with people, especially your family.

· Plans – I encourage you this week to consider the purpose, passion, and priorities of your life and make plans toward them. Someone has said, “Plan your work and then work your plans.” What needs to be accomplished in your spiritual life this year? Your family life? Your personal life? Whatever it is, it will take a conscious plan and actions to accomplish.

· Prayer – Let’ make 2011 a focused year of prayer for each one individually and together as a congregation. Many of our plans, priorities, passions and purpose are spiritual in nature and can only be accomplished by spiritual means. Take time each day to pray, seeking God’s direction, asking His will, and celebrating His faithfulness.

· Partnership – We are in this together. Your Christian life is not just about you and God. We need each other and the encouragement, challenge, comfort we give. I pray that 2011 will be a great year of building real connections of care and concern within the congregation. We also seek to build those connections with brothers and sisters in other churches throughout our community. Its not about FBC Carthage, its about Jesus Christ. Let’s get to know those we will be with through eternity.

Thank you for a wonderful 2010. It has been an honor to serve this year as your Pastor. I am excited as we enter a brand new year and as continue this “Amazing Journey” with one another and with Jesus Christ.

Happy New Year,
Bro. Tim


Here’s the week’s news:
1. Pray for our friend, Tony Fleenor. He has had a difficult year and needs our prayers. Take a minute to stop right now and pray for Tony. He is a great friend and served as the Interim Pastor of FBC Carthage just prior to my coming in 2008.

2. We will have regular Wednesday night activities and services this week:
5:00 PM Supper $3 per person, $10 per family
6:30 PM Adult Prayer and Bible Study
Youth Worship Service
Preschool and Children’s Missions and Choir
7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

3. On Friday, December 3, we will have a Church-Wide New Year’s Eve Fellowship and Prayer Service. We will gather at 8:00 PM in the Christian Life Center for FBC Carthage’s rendition of “The Amazing Race”. Teams will follow clues, win prizes, and have a lot of fun. Bring finger food for refreshments after the game. We will plan to meet in the Sanctuary at 11:15 PM for a time of praise, reflection and prayer for the New Year.

4. Sunday, January 2 begins “The Amazing Journey” as we focus on the journey we are on as Christians. The plan will be to preach and study through the entire Bible during 2011. This will truly be an amazing journey as we see God’s love and redemption for people in the pages of the Bible. A special study notebook will be available for additional study during your quiet times.

5. We will be back on our regular Sunday schedule this Sunday:
8:00 AM Worship
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:45 AM Worship
6:00 PM Worship

6. The First Baptist Church will host an “Answers in Genesis Weekend” on January 8-9, 2011. We will have Jim Gardner as our special guest speaker. Jim travels throughout the nation and in foreign countries sharing the truths of God’s Word. Here are the special messages he will share that weekend:
·Saturday, January 8
6:30 PM UFO’s, Aliens, and other Strange Creatures

·Sunday, January 9
8:00 & 10:45 AM The Consequence of the Path You Choose
9:30 AM Why Question Biblical Authority
5:30 PM Dinosaurs and Dragons: Fact or Myth
6:30 PM Questions and Answers

For more information on Jim Gardner you can go to:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/outreach/speakers/james-gardner/bio/

For more information on Answers In Genesis you can go to their website at http://www.answersingenesis.org/

7. Wild Game Dinner
The New Salem Association is hosting a Wild Game Dinner on Friday, January 21 at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church Carthage. Everyone is invited to bring a covered dish salad, vegetable, or desert and join in the fun. If you have wild game, bring your favorite dish(es). David Turner, a Christian ventriloquist from Alexandria, will be our special program for the evening. If you have pictures of trophy fish or game, bring them with you.

8. The Church Council and Deacons will meet this Sunday, January 2 at 4:00 and 5:00 PM respectfully.

9. The 2010 Contribution Statements will be open to receive contributions through December 31. If you would like to have a contribution recorded within the 2010 tax year, stop by the church office this week. We will be open Tuesday – Friday.