FBC Carthage E-News
December 21, 2015
Merry Christmas!
This is Christmas week and
it is always amazing how quickly Christmas Day slips up on me. You would think with a month of sermons and
services focused on the birth of Jesus that I would be primed and ready but it
has surprised me again. Ready or not,
this is the week of celebration, family gatherings, gift giving, and “Merry
Christmas” wishes. May this be a special
week for you and your family as you remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for all the
prayers last week while I was under the weather. I am feeling much better and ready for the
joy of Christmas week.
Thank you to Steve Dowell,
the Sanctuary Choir, musicians, and sound techs for a wonderful musical
presentation yesterday in the service. Wow!
It was a great celebration of Jesus’ birth. I was especially moved as Jerry Wilmore sang
a solo, the first one since his cancer surgery.
Yesterday was an extra-special day of worship and praise. Glory to God in the highest!
We had four shut-in
services yesterday afternoon and evening.
I always enjoy these home services.
These are always a blessed time of sharing with our older members. Thanks to all who participated in these
services.
Speaking of special
services, I remind you of the Christmas Eve Service this Thursday, December 24
at 5:00 PM. Bring your family and join
us for this time of carols, communion, and candle-light service. The dress is casual and the invitation is to
everyone to join in this Christmas Eve Service.
This past month we have
focused our prays and giving toward International Missions through the Lottie
Moon Christmas Offering. Yesterday’s
offering for missions was $7,104.66 which brings the total given to
$15,164.66. There is still opportunity
for you to give to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. This is our gift to Jesus as we give to share
His message of salvation to the ends of the earth.
Thank you to all those who
have given faithfully throughout the year to the work of the Lord through First
Baptist Church Carthage. In this final
week of the year I encourage you to consider making a special end-of-the-year
contribution to First Baptist as we close out the 2015 giving year.
During this week, take
some extra time as a family or individually to read the Christmas accounts in
Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Reflect on the
great gift God has given in Jesus Christ and the hope, peace, joy, and love we
have because He was born. Listen to some
Christmas Carols. Look through Christmas
cards. Write down your Christmas reflections
in a journal. Slow down and focus on
Jesus. Christmas is all about
Jesus. Happy Birthday Jesus!
Merry Christmas as you
celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Bro. Tim
Here’s the News for the
week:
·
The Christmas Eve Service will be Thursday,
December 24 at 5:00 PM. Come as you are
and bring your family and friends. We
will have carols and a candle lighting service.
There will also be a special Christmas Communion Service.
·
There will be no Wednesday night services or
activities this week.
·
We will be going for our annual mission trip
to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home in Franklin on December 29-30 for two
days of projects, leaf raking, gutter cleaning, painting, etc. You are needed
on one or both of these days as we serve with our partners in ministry. We will leave from FBC Carthage at 7:30 AM each
morning and return around 5:00 PM. If
you are planning on going, please send Bro. Tim an email and specify Tuesday,
Wednesday or Both Days. Send your
response to tfrank@fbccarthage.com.
·
A local young man
from Carthage, Mitchell Manning is carrying a 12 foot cross across America,
from Florida to California. Mitchell is
a member of Christ Church Fellowship (The Building) here in Carthage and began
his journey in October. You can follow
him on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/crosswalkamerica/?fref=ts. He already has 5,250 likes and his page is
called Cross Walk America.
·
There are many
special Christmas movies during this season of the year. The 1951 version of a Christmas Carol is one
of the best I have seen this year. It
does a great job of showing the difference that occurs in Scrooge’s heart and
life as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas. You can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEryQo5RxDc
·
If you are
looking for some Christmas music to play, check out this three hour playlist
at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmg5lEfFGHQ.
·
Here is the final
Read the Bible for Life passages for 2015.
Congratulations to all who read the Bible through in 2015!
Day
1 1 John; 2 John; 3 John
Day
2 Revelation 1-5
Day
3 Revelation 6-10
Day
4 Revelation 11-13
Day
5 Revelation 14-18
Day
6 Revelation 19-22
