FBC
Carthage E-News
November
27, 2017
Good Morning,
The Christmas season has
come and with Black Friday shopping and the Christmas parade behind us, it will
not be long to Christmas. I enjoy this
time of year with the decorations, festivities, and many special events. I also enjoy the openness you find of people
to the story of Jesus His birth in Bethlehem.
With nativity scenes on Main Street it is no secret that this season is
all about Jesus. We have been praying
each day for boldness to share the good news of Jesus. There is no better time than this month of
December to have courage and share the message of Jesus, His birth, life,
death, and resurrection. As the title of
our Sunday morning series says, “Go Tell It!”
Thank you to everyone who
contributed and worked so hard in the Operation Christmas Child effort. Although we did not quite reach our church
goal we did reach the collection point goal of 1658! Thanks to al the men and ladies who worked
tirelessly in the collection. Now, may
the Lord bless each box as it goes to a child in the world with the good news
of Jesus Christ and His love for them.
There are several ways you
can still give this Christmas. The
greatest opportunity we have each year is through the Lottie Moon Offering for
International Missions. This offering
goes to the more than 3,500 Southern Baptist missionaries who serve around the
world in over 100 countries. I always
see this offering as my Christmas gift given directly to Jesus. Give a generous gift to this mission offering
in 2017. Our mission force throughout
the world is one of the main factors that make us Southern Baptists.
This week we are also
receiving gifts to carry to Lighthouse Christian Camp foir their two Christmas
parties. This Saturday, December 2 is
the party for the girls and the following Saturday, December 9 is the party for
the boys. Any and all items can be used
as the children will be “shopping” for gifts for their families as well as
something for themselves. Simply bring any items you wish to send to
the church office before Saturday and we will carry them as we go. If you would like to have a Christmas
blessing, join us for either of the parties.
You can follow the church bus at 8:15 am each Saturday or meet us at
Lighthouse Camp at 9:00 am.
One additional mission
effort this season, for the next two weeks we will be collecting bar soap for a
mission trip to Honduras. Tommy Lee Bane
will be going to Honduras in January with a church in Trousdale County and they
will be carrying with them hundreds of bars of soap. You can bring your soap to the Connection
Point on or before Sunday, December 10 for this mission effort.
Thank you to everyone who
came out for the Singing on the Steps last night. I appreciate the participation through
singing, giving coffee and hot chocolate, and greeting our neighbors at the
Christmas Parade. A special thank you goes
to the worship and media team for coordinating the technical parts of this
event and to the ladies who prepared the coffee and hot chocolate.
I had an interesting phone
call this morning from my niece asking if I had heard the news from last
Wednesday of a meeting/alliance that took place between Russia, Iran, and
Turkey. What made this meeting
noteworthy is that these three countries are mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 as
forming an alliance in attack against Israel in the last days. Many people believe we are living in the last
days and when prophecies begin to be fulfilled it is exciting to think it may
be sooner than we think. The web is
filled with commentary on this historic meeting and its implications. I am reminded of Jesus’ words about the last
days in Matthew 24:42-44, “Watch therefore, for you do not know
what hour
your Lord
is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour
the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be
broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
you do not expect.” Let’s be watching. Let’s be ready. Let’s be busy for the Lord.
Have a blessed week as you
look for opportunities to serve others and share Jesus.
Bro. Tim
Here’s the news for the
week:
·
A safety and
security meeting will be held this Sunday, December 3 at 3:00 pm in the
Christian Life Center with Mark LeMay, Risk Management Consultant from the
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Everyone is invited to attend this important meeting.
·
Remember
the PRAY 4:29 emphasis as we pray Acts 4:29 each day at 4:29 AM and/or PM. Prayer
makes a difference as we ask the Lord for boldness to share His word with
others around us.
·
One final Surviving
the Holidays, a special one-session GriefShare class will be offered today, Monday,
November 28 at 2:00 PM at the Pavilion Assisted Living, 130 Lebanon Highway. Everyone who has lost a loved one is invited
to attend. There is no cost for this
special session and a special Surviving the Holiday’s booklet will be provided
by Bass Funeral Home and Sanderson Funeral Home.
·
There will be two
food trucks at the Ag Center in December.
On Friday, December 1, a full truck load will be given away starting
at 9 am. Then on Wednesday, December 13,
the regular monthly partial truck will be given away starting at 10 am. Volunteers are needed both dates around 8:00
AM.
·
This Sunday,
December 3, at 6:00 PM the children’s drama group will present a special
Christmas program called “The Crippled Lamb.”
You will want to be a part of this special Christmas presentation.
·
The Women on
Mission group will meet next Monday, December 4 at 6:30 pm at the home of
Marreet Hutchins, 649 Carmack Avenue. All ladies are invited to attend.
·
The Young at
Heart will have their monthly luncheon and Christmas program on Tuesday,
December 12 at 11:30 AM in the Christian Life Center. Bring a covered dish and invite a friend to
join you for lunch.
·
All
youth are reminded that now is the time to sign-up for Youth Winter Retreat! We
will be returning to the Strength to Stand Bible Conference Jan13-15, 2018.
·
Here are the
special events for the Christmas season.
Mark your calendar and plan to attend each one:
November 27 Surviving
the Holidays, 2:00 PM @ Pavilion
December 2 Lighthouse Christmas Party for girls, 8:30
AM
3 “Crippled
Lamb” Children’s Program, 6:00 PM
5 Women’s
Ornament Exchange, 6:30 PM @CLC
9 Lighthouse
Christmas Party for boys, 8:30 AM
10 Community Remembrance Service, 3:00 PM@ Ag Center
17 Sanctuary Choir Christmas presentation, 10:30 AM
Ornament Sharing
Service / White Christmas, 6:00 PM @CLC
20 Youth Christmas Party, 5:00 PM
24 Christmas Service, 10:45 AM
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 5:00 PM
