News for January 15, 2018

FBC Carthage E-News

January 15, 2018

Good Morning,

Today is a special holiday as we remember the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”  Today, let us reflect on the fact that all lives are of worth and dignity and that we are all created equal before God.  There is only One who is supreme and that One is Jesus Christ.  We are all sinners before a holy God with no merit or good standing of our own.  Every person, regardless of race, language, or color needs the Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love the passage in Revelation 7:9-10 as the saved gather in praise around the throne, “ After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  The redeemed of the Lord are from every nation, tribe, and tongue, giving praise to the One Savior of all, Jesus Christ.  There are still many great challenges in our nation that divide us but, my prayer is that this may be a day of unity in Jesus.

As we continue the “Rekindle” series, the message yesterday was on the presence of God.  Here is a link to a short 5 question survey that helps to explore and focus on rekindling the sense of the presence of God in our church.  I would like your interaction through these questions as we seek to be all we can be for the Lord Jesus Christ.  This can be a helpful exercise for us all as you have opportunity to share your thoughts and dreams for our church.  To complete the survey, simply go to:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GZLZ9BP

Children’s Church, for children 3 year old – 1^st Grade began a new process yesterday of meeting through the entire service.  If you have children in this age group, simply take them to the Preschool area prior to the beginning of the morning service and check them in.  The new, expanded program will provide for them through the entire service.  For those in Sunday School, the preschool children will remain in their class through Sunday School and Children’s Church.  Thank you to Elizabeth Davis and all our preschool and children leaders who are constantly serving to make our children’s experience at church the best it can be for the glory of Jesus.

Pray4TN is a specific program of prayer for the neighbors and friends who live around you.  You are asked and encouraged to sign-up online to pray for your neighbors.  Here’s how it works; once you sign-up you will begin receiving names of 5 of your neighbors by email.  You choose how many times each week you want to receive names.  I have been a part of this process for several months to test it out and each Monday and Friday an email comes with names of five of my neighbors.  It helps to raise the awareness of our neighbors and gives a simple reminder to be praying for them.  You can check out the site and sign-up at www.blesseveryhome.com.  In addition to providing names of neighbors for prayer, the site also has many helpful articles and videos for training. 

Here is the Bible Reading Plan for this week.  It includes both an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading each day.  An easy way to keep up with your readings is through the Bible Gateway Bible App on your phone or computer.  Sign in and sign up for the OT/NT Plan and Bible Gateway will send you a reminder email each day.  We will also have the weekly readings in the bulletin.  Here is the web site for Bible Gateway:  www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans.   Click on Subscribe under the Old/New Testament plan.  Then click on "Start this Devotional on January 1, 2018.”   You can choose to receive an email reminder each day that links to the readings for the day. 

 Readings for January 15-21

1/15            Genesis 36-38      Matthew 10:21-42

1/16   Genesis 39-40       Matthew 11

1/17  Genesis 41-42       Matthew 12:1-23

1/18            Genesis 43-45      Matthew 12:24-50

1/19    Genesis 46-48               Matthew 13:1-30

1/20   Genesis 49-50       Matthew 13:31-58

1/21   Exodus 1-3          Matthew 14:1-21

Be praying for many of our members who have lost loved ones and close friends in the past several weeks.  Carolyn Petty, a long-time member of FBC Carthage passed away last week and her visitation is today at Sanderson Funeral Home from 2-7 PM and her funeral will be at the church on Tuesday at 1PM.

Thank you for a great year of financial giving and generosity in 2017.  For those who gave using the envelopes provided by the church, a year-end contribution statement has been prepared and may be picked up this Sunday, January 21 in the Connection Point.  If you are not receiving offering envelopes each month through the mail, contact the church office and we will get you added to the list.

Have a blessed week,

Bro. Tim

Check out this week’s news:

·        Due to the predicted bad weather on Tuesday, GriefShare will not meet this week.

·        This month we are collecting a special offering for the Pregnancy Help Center of Smith County through our Baby Bottle Offering.  Pick up a baby bottle in the Connection Point and fill it.  Bring your bottles on January 21 or 28 and place on the table in the Connection Point for this special ministry to the unborn, babies, moms, and families. 

·        The Sew-n-Sews, women’s sewing group have a new day to meet each month beginning Monday, January 22 at 9 AM in the Christian Life Center.  This group meets and sews pillow case dresses for the Operation Christmas Child boxes.  All ladies are invited to attend.

·        We are in the process of upgrading our entry doors and hardware.  As we do this we will change all the door locks and we will issue new keys.  The original key still works for now on the front door, but all other door locks have been changed.  Contact the church office of see Bro. Tim for more information. 

·        The Building and Grounds Committee has set up a special fund for renovation and remodeling of the sanctuary.  You may make donations to this fund at any time.  Just mark your offering “Sanctuary Fund.”