A Note from Your Pastor

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Ami Holland
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1 December, 2017

humanity. Each year the season of Advent begins a new church calendar. It allows us not just to recite history but also to become participants in the coming of Jesus.

2 A Note from Your Pastor It s that time of year again! Advent is the beginning of the church year, it is the entrance of our Savior into the world; the beginning of what would become the new covenant of grace and forgiveness between our creator and humanity. Each year the season of Advent begins a new church calendar. It allows us not just to recite history but also to become participants in the coming of Jesus. It gives us the ability to participate again in renewing our relationship with our precious Lord and King. When we are putting up greenery, we can take the opportunity to explain to our children that we use evergreens to represent everlasting life. When we hang lights we teach our children it is because the light of the world came and placed His light in our lives to illuminate the darkness of the world. We place gold and decorations and fill our homes with fragrance and give gifts because of the gifts of the Magi. We recognize that in one of the busiest seasons God shows up. If we are not careful we can miss the important moments. So as we run around and fill our calendars, we teach our children to pause and observe the incredible moments of joy and life. We can take these moments of the hustle and bustle to stop and use those moments to mention that Bethlehem was in much of the same state of crowded activity as our stores and our lives become today. Therefore, when your children ask you why you do all these things, make it a moment of teaching. Do not move the manger and nativity scenes to the corners of life, rather let us place them in the center of our intention. When anyone asks what it is all about, or wonders why we are doing this, let us take a lesson from Charles Schultz and answer through the words of Linus quoting Luke 2:8-12 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Otherwise we miss the point of reliving this turning point in the history of the world and can find ourselves simply caught up in the running and the emptiness of tradition simply for tradition s sake. Advent is also a time for us to prepare and anticipate what God is doing in our present lives, as well as to prepare for the return of Christ. We do not know when Christ will return; it will happen according to His promise in the blink of an eye. We are to be ready, to live as if God will tarry, but prepared as if it were today. So this Advent season, don t just bounce through the motions, being tossed and pushed to and fro by the events and activities you must be a part of. Instead move through it deliberately, with a purpose, so you may experience and live the coming of Jesus into your life, your heart and your surroundings. Use the moments to teach your children and others around you. Let the Light of the World shine through you. And make ready your heart and life for the coming of our King in All His Glory!

In the Church Family Prayer Requests James Patillo Tom Biviano Dean Farley Nan Berrian Cecile White Kathy Clements Loretta Beuchert Grace Chege Debbie Foringer Kelly Griffin s sister, brother-in-law

Dick Barber Don Bourbon If you would like a name included in this list, call the Church office (315-682-8941)or email admin@firstbaptist-manlius.org. Thank you.

3 In the Church Family Prayer Requests James Patillo Tom Biviano Dean Farley Nan Berrian Cecile White Kathy Clements Loretta Beuchert Grace Chege Debbie Foringer Kelly Griffin s sister, brother-in-law and children Jessie Mapstone Simon G. The Family of Betty Heller Erm Ferris Selena Short Carolyn Hendrickson Heather Miles Becky Mark Bell Lisa R. Dick Barber Don Bourbon If you would like a name included in this list, call the Church office ( )or admin@firstbaptist-manlius.org. Thank you. BIRTHDAYS Birthstone Turquoise Flower Narcissus 3. Bill Davison Gary Johnson 7. Heather Mills Linda Tessier 10. Michael Binder 17. Anne Miller Courtney (Shevchuk) Sanville) 19. Micah Granata Devin Short 21. Jason Morales 22. Christy Brownell Siau Richard Rick Wharton 23. JP Miller 24. Pauline Cole 29. Megan Corrice December ANNIVERSARIES 4. Cindy & Mark Mapstone 31. Jean & Gary Baker You are special to us and we want to remember your special dates. If you have any additions to our list, please contact the Church office or admin@ firstbaptist-manlius.org Advent & Christmas Events Saturday, December 2, 6:00 p.m. Master s Touch Chorale/ Reception/Chapel Sunday, December 3, 10:45 a.m. Invite a Friend 7:00 p.m. - Lessons and Carols Immaculate Conception Church, Fayetteville Wednesday, December 13, 5:30 p.m. Craft Night/Gym Sunday, December 17, 5:30 p.m. Christmas Carols/, Refreshments/Chapel Friday, December 22 10:30 a.m. - Playschool Christmas Program/ Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve* 10:45 a.m. Worship Service 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service and Communion Sunday, December 31, New Year s Eve* 10:45 a.m. Worship Service 7:00 p.m. Watch Night Service No Sunday School Christmas Eve or New Year s Eve.

Craft Night is back!!! Save this date: December 13 th 5:30-7:00pm So we have crafters (we can always use more ) and we have someone to make us a light dinner Now we need support staff!

4 Craft Night is back!!! Save this date: December 13 th 5:30-7:00pm So we have crafters (we can always use more ) and we have someone to make us a light dinner Now we need support staff! Could you be Advertising executive and notify the community? Host/hostess to greet people as they enter, describe the process and options? Custodians and set up tables, take down tables, and sweep up? Photographer and take pictures of the event for our newsletter and individual pictures for kids to take home? Missions coordinator and provide spot for guests to donate small personal hygiene items for the Rescue Mission as well a tree for children to donate ornaments for the pediatric units at the hospitals? Savings executive to collect/label craft items on a drying table, making sure they get picked up later and taken home? If you would like to be involved in any way, Ellen (Party Planner) at ebe622@twcny.rr.com or call and leave a message. Master s Touch Chorale Saturday, December 2 6:00 pm The RMMO is back! Wait, what in the world is the RMMO? Good question. Answer: The Retired Ministers and Missionary Offering. It is a way for us to remember those who have served the Kingdom of God throughout their lives as pastors, chaplains, missionaries both oversees and here at home. The reality is that many who committed their lives to serve God did so at extreme sacrifices of income compared to their earnings if they had worked in the secular world. They often had enough to get by daily, but not enough to plan ahead for the days to come. This offering is one way in which God continues to meet their needs. Each year, those who served and are now retired receive a thank you check from the RMMO. This check is often a lifeline for those who are trying to make ends meet after serving faithfully. But that is not all it does! It provides emergency grants when pastors or their spouses encounter high medical bills. It allows for us to help say thank you to those who gave of themselves to serve wherever God sent them so we may have a foundation of faith and commitment to Christ today. It offers relief to those on a continuing basis who have no other source of income due to unforeseen circumstances. For those who during their entire lives depended on God in a walk of faith to provide for them and their ministries, it allows them to find in retirement that God has not abandoned them, rather He continues to provide through the church who has not forgotten them and their service. UNITY FELLOWSHIP No Meeting in December See you in January!

5 CALENDAR FOR FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MANLIUS - DECEMBER 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 No Unity Fellowship Meeting in December. Spradling/ 3 1st Sunday of Advent :50 am Bells & Choir/ 9:30 am Sunday School Invite a Friend Sunday 1:00 pm Prayer Team/ 5:00-9:30 pm Spradling/ 6:45 pm Board Meeting/ Spradling/ Spradling/ 10 2 nd Sunday of Advent :50 am Bells/Room 201 1:00 pm Prayer Team/ 8:00 am Staff Meeting Spradling/ Spradling/ 9:05 am Choir/ 9:30 am Sunday School Meeting after Worship 5:00-9:30 pm Spradling/ 5:30-7:00 pm Craft Night/Gym 17 3rd Sunday of Advent :50 am Choir/ 9:30 am Sunday School 5:30 pm Christmas Carols 1:00 pm Prayer Team/ 5:00-9:30 pm Spradling/ Spradling/ 10:30 am 12:00 pm Playschool Christmas Program Spradling/ 24 4 th Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve Merry Christmas!! Spradling/ Spradling/ 8:50 am Bells/ 7 pm Candlelight Service 11 pm Candlelight & Communion Service 31 New Year s Eve No Sunday School Christmas Eve and New Year s Eve - No Sunday School 7 pm Watch Night Service 9:00 am 1:00 pm VPCC Board/ 1:00 pm 3:00 pm VPCC Board/Chapel 6:00 pm Master s Touch Chorale/ & Chapel

6 First Baptist Church of Manlius 408 Pleasant Street Manlius, NY Office Phone: Website: Rev. Dr. John R. Buskey, Pastor In case of emergency: Wendy Stearns, Director King s Kids and Playschool Preschool Playschool Office Phone: Playschool408@yahoo.com King s Kids Christian Child Care Office Phone: Director.KingsKids@gmail.com Mary Schwarz, Director of Music Ministry John Spradling, Organist Marjorie Torelli, Administrative Assistant mschwarz@abc-nys.org johnspradling@gmail.com admin@firstbaptist-manlius.org Sharon Argus, Bookkeeper Phone: bookkeeper@firstbaptist-manlius.org December, 2017 Inviting People to New Life Mission Statement In celebration of the good news shown to us in Jesus Christ, we will invite others to unite with us as part of the family of God, sharing the Gospel through Worship, Education, Encouragement of one another, and the Support of Mission As we serve Manlius and our surrounding communities.

and Christmas December 2016

and Christmas December 2016 ONE ANOTHERING... Would Jesus Go To Church? In spite of the WWJD gimmicks, no one can say for certain what Jesus would do. We know what he did. But no one knows for sure what