Ann Caldwell, organist; Don Kendrick, pianist Vineville Brass, Kelly Graves, director

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1 Ann Caldwell, organist; Don Kendrick, pianist Vineville Brass, Kelly Graves, director Prelude O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. Schelat Welcome Music for Meditation Gesu Bambino arr. Fox All are encouraged to use this time as intentional preparation for the worship of God. Invocation Cathy Corrigan Lighting of the Candle of Love Scarbroughs and the Preschoolers Pastor: Create in us, Our Lord, hearts of love that dispel the hatred, rancor, cynicism and anger of the world. People: We thank you, O Lord, for a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Pastor: We light this candle to symbolize the gift of Your love that ever ends. People: We thank you this morning for the gift of Love. *Hymn 104 Once in Royal David's City irby Pastoral Prayer The Lord's Prayer Ministry of Music Breath of Heaven Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-8 John Thomas Fry *Hymn 132 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear carol Offertory Prayer Offertory Meditation on forest green Bednall Scripture Reading Luke 2:9-20 Abby Tillery Ministry of Music Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child Larson Sermon and Nativity Tableau "How Doubt Could Steal Christmas" and the children of VBC *Hymn 127 Hark the Herald Angels Sing mendelssohn *Celebrations and Concerns *Benediction *Postlude Gloria Bedford

2 A Bit of Background We welcome you to our morning Christmas Eve service, as the children of our church present a nativity tableau while I share with you the Christmas story in poetic verse, a message entitled How Doubt Could Steal Christmas. I thank all of the children for helping me make the story come alive. Just a word of explanation: this sermon originated in my student pastorate, in Kentucky, where a family that had six children often welcomed Melissa and me into their household each weekend when we traveled from the seminary in Louisville to our student pastorate in Lebanon. Though several of these children were married adults, they reassembled as a family under one household each December to view How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They had memorized virtually every word of this tv classic based on Dr. Seuss poem, and invited Melissa and me to come share their viewing experience. Alas, our seminary responsibilities prevented us from accepting their invitation. But their invitation planted a seed, which germinated into this morning s message. We look forward to seeing everyone again tonight at 5 pm for our Candles, Carols and Communion service. Better come early! Remember also that we will have one service next Sunday morning, at 10:45 am, on New Year s Eve. John Pierce, a great friend of Vineville Baptist, will be delivering the morning message. And we WILL have Sunday School, too! A word from your pastor, Dr. Sympathy We extend Christian sympathy to Ray and Pat Wilkes and their family in the death of Ray s brother, Glenn Wilkes. Merry Christmas from the church staff! For unto us a child is bornunto us a Son is given.

3 Youth Today: No youth evening activities. All families are encouraged to come to the Christmas Eve service at 5:00 pm. Wednesday: No church activities. Missions Opportunity Puerto Rico Missions Opportunity: On June 2nd -8th, a mission team from Vineville will travel to Puerto Rico with Praying Pelican Missions to assist with disaster relief and with children and family ministry. Applications for this trip can be found on the table near the guest reception area. Please prayerfully consider this opportunity and return an application by January 21st if you are interested. We continue to pray for these areas still recovering from hurricane damage, and we are excited to lend a hand in the name of Jesus. Individual team members will be responsible for $250 of the trip cost, and discounts will be applied for multiple family members from the same immediate family. If you have questions, please contact or Jim Jones. Please return the applications to them as soon as possible. Year-End Contribution Contributions that you would like included on your 2017 financial giving statement must be turned into Peggy Jones by noon on Friday, December 29 or placed in the offering plate on Sunday, December 31. Any contributions that are received by mail that are postmarded by December 31 will be included on your 2017 statement. Any contributions received after this deadline will be applied to your 2018 financial statement. Old City Flower Festival Mark your calendar for the 7th annual Old City Flower Festival. Roslyn Platt will represent Vineville Baptist Church with her floral design. The festival will be held Jan at St. Paul s Episcopal Church on the corner of College and Forsyth streets. With a theme of Consider the Lilies of the Field, the festival will showcase the work of flower guilds from more than 15 Macon churches. The show, to be held in the sanctuary, will be open, at no charge, on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m., and on Monday, Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Complementing the show will be free mid-day organ recitals Saturday and Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a Sunday evensong service at 5 p.m. with special music, and a free flower arranging workshop on Monday at 10 a.m. led by Terry Holland in the Walter Harris Room of the Parish House. The Canterbury House, located next door to the church, will be open for soup and salad luncheons on Saturday and Monday. There will be two seatings each day, at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Reservations, $10, are required. Please call the church office at The Canterbury House will also be the setting for an art show of works by St. Paul s talented artists. A gift shop there will feature homemade jellies, painted cherry blossoms, and St. Paul s new cookbook. A representative from the Cathedral Bookstore in Atlanta will be on hand Saturday with special items for sale. Parking is available behind the church Parish House, 753 College St. For more information, please call the church office at or you may find us on Facebook at facebook.com/stpaulsmacon.org/

4 Upcoming Events December 24 Christmas Eve Service 5:00 pm December 25 Office Closed This Week at Vineville Sunday, December 24 8:15 am No Early Service 9:15 am Media Library 9:35 am Bible Study 10:45 am Worship/Nativity Tableau 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! Office Closed Tuesday, December 26 Wednesday, December 27 Thursday, December 28 Friday, December 29 Sunday, December 31 8:15 am No Early Service 9:15 am Media Library 9:35 am Bible Study 10:45 am Worship Sound, Lights, and Video December 24 No Early Worship Service House: Broadcast: Video: Morning Worship 10:45 am House: Todd Smith Broadcast: Willie Jones Video: Michael O Neal December 31 Early Worship 8:30 am House: Broadcast: Video: Morning Worship 10:45 am House: Todd Smith Broadcast: Willie Jones Video: Michael O Neal

5 Deacon of the Week The Deacon of the Week is Eric Blizzard. Next week is Len Hindsman. Report as of December 17 ATTENDANCE Bible Study 151 8:30 Worship 37 10:45 Worship 207 STEWARDSHIP Budget Offering $11,574 Following Christ 2 (ytd) $31,935 ytd Budget Contributions $778,934 Our Staff Peggy Jones Jody Thornton Ginny Ferguson Sandra Head Tonia Boyd Kathy McCray & Sherry Williams Pastor Minister of Music Minister to Youth Financial Administrator Administrative Assistant Receptionist Music Ministry Coordinator Weekday Morning School Co-Teachers of Higher Life Our Lay Leadership Church Council Todd Smith Deacon Ministry Mark Wood Grief Ministry Nell Jones Homebound Ann Purser Media Center Carol Lincoln Men s Ministry Todd Smith Missions Jim Jones Preschool Bobbie Scarbrough Senior Adults-XYZ Jackie Odom Sunday School Jeane Easom Women s Ministry Susan Milam