FBC Carthage E-News for December 23, 2013

FBC Carthage E-News

December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Do you say of Christmas, “It is finally here, the day we have looked forward to all year long”; or do you find yourself saying “It’s here already, seems like we just got through with last Christmas.”  Well, whether you thought this day would never come or you wonder where the year went, Christmas is here!  This is the climax week of a month-long celebration and remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ.   I hope you have allowed the Lord to be the center of your Christmas.  Beyond the presents and decorations, beyond the family gatherings and special church services, beyond the hustle and bustle Christmas is simply the birthday celebration of Jesus.  May these last two days leading up to Christmas Day be focused on Him.   Listen again the words of the angels to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-14,

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

One last special service, the Christmas Eve Service, will be centered completely on Jesus and His birth.  This service will begin on Tuesday, December 24 at 5:00 PM.  We will have Christmas carols, special music, a Christmas message, observance of the Lord’s Supper and a candle lighting service.  Bring your family and come as you are for this time of celebration and reflection.

I enjoyed the Christmas videos yesterday and want to share the link with you.  You may want to view them again and send them to a friend. 

          Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Painting

           http://skitguys.com/videos/item/come-thou-long-expected-jesus

           Christmas Connection – “That’s the Same Guy”

          http://skitguys.com/videos/item/christmas-connection

Enjoy this week as you celebrate His birth,

Bro. Tim

Here’s the news for the week:

1.      We will have a special Christmas Eve Service on Tuesday, December 24 at 5:00 PM.  We will not have regular Wednesday services this week.

2.      Pray for our youth and leaders as they travel this week to Sevierville for the Youth Winter Conference , December 27-29 at Wilderness in the Smokies Resort.  

3.     Our mission trip to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home in Franklin on January 2-3, 2014.  We will leave both days at 7:00 AM from FBC Carthage and return each evening around 6:00 PM.  There is no cost for this trip, just money for lunch at one of the local restaurants.  We will be working in their gymnasium and in one of the cottages.  Weather permitting we will also do some outside work on leaves and gutters.   This is a great way to begin the New Year, on missions for the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is still opportunity for you and your family to be a part of this mission effort.

5.     We will observe the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, December 29 in both morning services.

6.     The Youth have a New Year’s Eve Fellowship planned for all 7^th-12^th graders on Tuesday, December 31 from 7:00 PM to 12:30 AM in the Christian Life Center.  Join in the fun as we see in the New Year 2014.

7.     In 2014 we are providing the Bible Pathway booklets each month which give a plan for reading through the Bible in the year.  If you have never read through the entire Bible or if you have read it through many times,  I encourage every person to take this challenge and read the entire Bible in 2014.  There are copies of the Bible Pathway in the front foyer and the Connection Point.  We have enough for everyone to have a copy of the January booklet.  Pick yours up this week.

8.     Speaking of the New Year, it is a good time between Christmas and the first of the year to consider your walk with the Lord and your service to Him.  You may want to take a quiet hour or more to reflect on your commitments, priorities, and ministry.  Examine your devotion to Jesus and your closeness to Him.  Instead of resolutions for the New Year, why not renew your commitment to Jesus, to His church, and to the work He has called you to do.  Dedicate this year to Jesus Christ.   It’s a new year of opportunities to love Him, worship Him, obey Him, and share Him with others. 

9.     We have been given 500 New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs to give away in 2014.  Pick up several copies and begin giving them to people you meet.  In addition to the scriptures, they have many pages of helps and study material.  In the past two weeks we have given away almost 300 of these New Testaments.  As you give away the remaining copies we will get more to continue getting the Word out.

10.  One last Christmas video for this week is posted below.  It is a hilarious presentation of Christmas through the eyes of the Bethlehem Inn Keeper.  It is about 10 minutes long so pour that second cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy “The Inn Keeper’s Dilemma.”

              http://skitguys.com/videos/item/the-innkeepers-dilemma