The Best Christmas Ever!

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Kerry Taylor
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1 December 9, 2018 Vol. 34 No. 48 CHURCH OF CHRIST A PLACE YOU CAN CALL HOME, WITH PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE FAMILY The Best Christmas Ever! Y

2 Your place for weekly news and updates! Whew! We've hit that busy time at the end of the year! There are so many different things going on, sometimes it's hard to keep up with everyone. I'm thankful Nathan and Jules are with our young people at their winter retreat this weekend. Thanks to Brian and Casey Maddox, Chad and Caylan McPherson, and Josh and Laken Fletcher for being chaperones on the trip, too. Several different groups at church will have an end of the year get together in the coming weeks. I hope you get to enjoy some great fellowship with friends during these final weeks of I also hope you'll take a moment and reflect on how you've grown this year. God has done amazing thing through our church family this year, and I hope you'll take some time to document what He has done for you personally, for your family, and for our church family. God is faithful and we are blessed to be His people! It's good at the end of a year to think about all He has done for us as we prepare to launch into an exciting new year of work for Him! -David Salisbury When Does Love Die? (Part 1) No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12 This article was written by a preacher friend of mine and is worth sharing. This is part one of two. "I just don't love her anymore," says the husband who not so many years before had pledged his undying love to that beautiful girl in the white dress. She nags at him too much, he says. She isn't supportive of him. Or, maybe, she's cheated. He feels angry, or hurt, or resentful. Or maybe he feels nothing. In any case, he's on his way out the door in spite of her tears and pleading. After all, when love dies, what's left? But when does love die? "Why can't he at least call?" says the father quietly as he paces the living room floor. He stares out the window in to the early morning darkness waiting for his son to get home. He knows he'll be nearly unrecognizable from the hours of partying. He doesn't want to see his son like that, but he knows what the alternative will be. And so he paces and prays that it's the scrape of his son's key in the lock that he hears, and not the purposeful knock of a highway patrolman. And when his son does come home at last, the angry words the father has prepared step into the background to wait patiently until morning. When his son finally opens the door, it's his father's loving embrace that welcomes him home. Again. And again. And ever again. When does love die? "That church doesn't appreciate us," the couple says on the way home. Their ideas have been put on the back burner by the church's leaders. The worship is too old-fashioned to appeal to new people. There aren't enough activities for their kids. By the time they get home, they've made their decision. Next Sunday, they'll begin the process of a finding a new church. One that appreciates them. When does love die? The husband holds his wife's soft, limp hand in his own gnarled arthritic one. "Aren't we a pair," he chuckles to her. The laughter has to force its way, though, through the lump in his throat. The only response is the hiss of the oxygen. Their kids say he should put her in the bright, clean nursing home they visited a few weeks ago. They say he's going to work himself to death trying to take care of her. They're right, of course. After fifty-two years, though, what has he got left if she's gone? Work himself to death, caring for the woman he loves? "Really," he thinks, "not a bad way to go." He kisses her forehead, and she stirs a little in her sleep. He wonders if -David 2 Corinthians 5:9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Bible Image of the week When you make it home from winter retreat! Christmas Party - December 11-6:00pm @ the Woolard's.

God is placing people in your path because He knows their hearts and He desires for you to reach out to them Paul listened to the call that started a movement in Macedonia.

We need to believe and trust that God is matching us up with honest and open hearts. God desires all people to be saved, and He uses humans to deliver the message.

through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Bible Image of the week When you make it home from winter retreat! Christmas Party - December the Woolard's. Bring a gift (worth no more than $10) and wear a tacky Christmas outfit! Questions or Suggestions? Nathan Woolard - Youth and Family Minister nathan@hcofc.com or (919) SIGN UP HCOFC.COM Go to hcofc.com and look under "Youth" to find the links to register for upcoming events. You can even pay online when you register (or you still have the choice to pay in person)! Sign-up sheets for CYC (February 22-24) and EU (January 18-20) are currently available. EU is for High school only. You must sign up and pay by December 16th for both of these events! Be sure to sign up for the remind groups below that apply to your family and text your name to (919) Christmas Party - Dec 11 Adopt-a-Family Shopping - Dec 16 CYC Sign-up Deadline - Dec 16 EU Sign-up Deadline - Dec 16 There are online sign-up sheets available for CYC and EU. Go to hcofc.com for the link. Excerpt from Natural Evangelism by Matthew Morine: "One of the key aspects of reaching out is that God is working before you arrive and after you have gone. God is placing people in your path because He knows their hearts and He desires for you to reach out to them Paul listened to the call that started a movement in Macedonia. God stopped Paul from traveling to Asia, but He sent him to a place where good hearts waited for the Word. God has and will always lead His work. We need to believe and trust that God is matching us up with honest and open hearts. God desires all people to be saved, and He uses humans to deliver the message. Second Thessalonians 2:13-14 says, 'But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Notice that God chose people through the gospel. Without us preaching the gospel, how can God continue to choose people? Without human partnership, how can the process of evangelism happen (Romans 10:14)? It is interesting that, before he received the Macedonian call, there were roadblocks in Paul's path, but Paul was not discouraged by all the barriers put before him. As missionaries for the Lord, we need to trust that, if we have willing hearts to share the message of salvation, God will point us in the right direction. We cannot walk blindly down the path, staring at the ground, seeing no one around us. We must reach out to those God has placed before us." (YOUTH ONLY) Youth Group - to Sr. High - to Jr. High - to 81010

4 Serving the Assembly Sunday, 12.9 AM Service Announcements - Karl Dawson Song Leader - Kenny Brantley Opening Prayer - Bob McIndoo Scripture Reading - Rodney Newton Sermon - David Salisbury Closing Prayer - Leland Steely Sunday, 12.9 PM Service Opening Prayer - Mark Springer Scripture Reading - Chris Thompson Closing Prayer - Chad McPherson Wednesday, Service Song Leader - Leland Steely Opening Prayer - Shane Boggess Devotional - Jason Arvin Closing Prayer - Chris Thompson Prepare Lord's Supper - Dec. Jean Jenkins Greeters 12.9 Josh Fletcher Laken Fletcher Jean Jenkins Communion Servers Green Street Side Fred Barnett Bob Eckels Orlen Donnelly Michael Lloyd Parking Lot Side Shane Boggess Karl Dawson Mike Coffman Bill Bridwell The Plan of Salvation Hearing (John 8:32) Belief (John 20:31) Repentance (Acts 17:30) Confession (Romans 10:10) Baptism (Gal 3:27) Faithful Living (Rom 12:1-2) What does it mean? To be a Christian is often described as being in Christ. When do I move from being outside of Christ to being in Him? Scripture shows us over and over that individuals who believed in God and repented of their sins were baptized. Paul says that baptism is the moment we put on Christ. The word describes putting on a coat or robe. To be in Christ, I must put Him on and that happens at the moment I am baptized. For The Record: Week of December 2, 2018 Sunday AM Class Sunday AM Worship Sunday PM Worship - 84 Wednesday Bible Study - 89 Contribution - $ 15, Congregational Leadership Elders: Fred Barnett, Bob McIndoo, Rodney Newton, Stephen Stilwell Deacons: Jason Arvin, Shane Boggess, Micah Busbey, Brad Carter, Karl Dawson, Josh Fletcher, Brian Maddox, Juan Nunez, Mark Springer, Leland Steely, Tim Tapp Minister: David Salisbury Youth and Family Minister: Nathan Woolard

5 Continue to Remember Frances Abell Kaycee Burrough Lyn Carter Carol Cummings Juanita Dockery Cathy Fletcher Frieda Higgs Mary Kissell Odie Mays Jim McIllwain Jane Putman Friends and Family Sherry Rashidian JoAn Rearden Magdalene Shelton Johnnie Simon Laverne Thomason Brad Whitledge Cheryl Bealmear - cancer - mother of Todd Bealmear Joyce Belt - Karen Shockley & Regina Taylor's mother June Bollinger - Marlene Stilwell s mother Kenny Bolte - Gina Schue's father Wesley Campbell - Jean Campbell's son Jason Chaplin - Leukemia - Rhonda Fyffe s nephew Margaret Clayton - Jerry Buchanan's cousin Ronnie Clothier - Parkinson s - Sharry West s brother Tracy Critser - cancer - Mike Coffman's daughter Hyland & Norma Darnall - Sharon Bundy's parents Jasper Deer - infant great grandson of Odie Mays Curt Dills - Juanita Dockery s brother Mary Dixon - Robert Dixon & Linda Johnson's mother Thomas Elkins - Barbara Barr's brother-in-law Hannah Gates - 5 year old friend of David & Janice Leigh Bill Gotee - cancer - J.B. Slaughter s brother-in-law Lee Groves - cancer - Mary Taylor's brother Martha Harrod - Sue Farris' sister Randall & Joan Hedges - friends of the Steely family Jeannette Hickerson - broken hip - Marva Gendek's cousin Lane Hinton - melanoma - Sue Ginn's nephew Vickie Rogers - cancer - Stephen Roger s wife Nancy Rummans - cancer - Mary Sue Slaughter's cousin Robin Ryan - cancer - Sherry Rashidan's sister Richard Salisbury - David Salisbury's father Robbie Slaughter - JB & Caroline Slaughter's brother Sylvia Slaughter - JB & Caroline Slaughter s sister Ryan Smith - Mary Steely's nephew Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10 PRAYER LIST Updates: Greg Rose, uncle of Julianna Woolard, broke his back and is recovering at home. Emily Suttles, 8 yr old niece of Heather Salisbury, had an appendectomy Thursday. Richard Salisbury, father of David Salisbury, is back in respiratory rehab and improving. Hannah Gates, 5 year old daughter of church members in Sebree, heart surgery at Vanderbilt has been rescheduled for December 13. Sympathy Our deepest sympathy is extended to JB Slaughter on the loss of his uncle, RJ Slaughter. Friends and Family continued Theresa Smith - cancer - Samantha Thompson's mother Robin Jenkins Thomas - former member Linda VanBritson - cancer - Drew VanBritson's grandmother Joe Wilder - cancer - Marlena Buchanan's friend's son Mildred Yates - Mary Taylor's sister

Tuesday - Tuesday Morning Bible Class Christmas Party - at the home of Jean Jenkins at 10:00. You may ride the bus with David.

Tin Assembly - Friday Delivery - Saturday Nursing Home Service Every Sunday at 4:00 at RedBanks You can meet us there or ride the

December 16 Leadership Meeting - The Elders will meet at 4:00 and the Deacons will join them at 5:00.

December 17- WOW Group Christmas Party December 18 - Ladies Ornament Making - at the home of Casey Maddox.

Adopt-a-Family We are taking donations to help make Christmas special for a family in need this year.

6 Tuesday - Tuesday Morning Bible Class Christmas Party - at the home of Jean Jenkins at 10:00. You may ride the bus with David. See Jean if you have any questions. Cookies for Angels - Please signup in the lobby if you can help in one of the following areas: Bakers - We still need bakers to sign up to bring cookies. Tin Assembly - Friday Delivery - Saturday Nursing Home Service Every Sunday at 4:00 at RedBanks You can meet us there or ride the church bus from the church parking lot at 3:45. December 16 Leadership Meeting - The Elders will meet at 4:00 and the Deacons will join them at 5:00. Potluck - Following evening services. Everyone is encouraged to spend some good time in fellowship. December 17- WOW Group Christmas Party December 18 - Ladies Ornament Making - at the home of Casey Maddox. There is a sign up sheet in the lobby. Adopt-a-Family We are taking donations to help make Christmas special for a family in need this year. Money will be collected during Bible class. We will be collecting thru next Sunday, December 16. Cookies for Angels If you would like to make a weekly donation or set up an automated gift online, please go to our church website at hcofc.com and click on the red DONATE button. Every year we deliver cookies to anyone who might appreciate a gift of good will from the church. Please turn in names & addresses for recipients using the forms in the tract rack. Also, there are sign up sheets on the bulletin board to help bake, pack containers and to deliver cookies. See Brad Carter if you have any questions.

The Best Christmas Ever!

WWW.HCOFC.COM December 16, 2018 Vol. 34 No. 49 CHURCH OF CHRIST A PLACE YOU CAN CALL HOME, WITH PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE FAMILY The Best Christmas Ever! Y Your place for weekly news and updates! Thank you