A Christmas Message by Dr. Ryan Wilson

Transcription

1 Vision Statement Our vision is to be more than a refuge; it is to be a revitalizing community where all may be saved, healed, strengthened, and equipped to go into the world on active mission for our Lord Jesus Christ. Published by Trinity Baptist Church A Christmas Message by Dr. Ryan Wilson December 25th is a monumental day for us as Christians! God loves us so much that we are blessed to receive the gift of God s Son, Jesus Christ. In some ways the world that Jesus was born into was very different than ours today. But in other ways our world is very similar. In his book, Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale, Frederick Buechner writes, It is a world of magic and mystery, of deep darkness and flickering starlight. It is a world where terrible things happen and wonderful things too. It is a world where goodness is pitted against evil, love against hate, order against chaos, in a great struggle where often it is hard to be sure who belongs to which side because appearances are endlessly deceptive. Yet for all its confusion and wildness, it is a world where the battle goes ultimately to the good, who live happily ever after, and where in the long run everybody, good and evil alike, becomes known by his true name...that is the fairy tale of the Gospel with, of course, one crucial difference from all other fairy tales, which is that the claim made for it is that it is true, that it not only happened once upon a time but has kept on happening ever since and is happening still. God has a vested claim upon our world, and Jesus birth reminds us that God loves us enough to come in the form of a baby. Jesus Christ was born once in a manger in Bethlehem, and the Good News is that Christ continues to be born in our lives if we let Him. Let Christ into your life and experience the happily ever after/the abundant life that God wants us to have! I hope that everyone will have a wonderful December and a very Merry Christmas! Ryan

2 Youth News from Kelli Callahan Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their families and are looking forward to this great Christmas season coming up! I know all the youth and kids (as well as myself) are excited to have a long break from school! We have a really fun event for the youth planned right after school gets out! We will be having a Progressive Dinner AND a lock in on December 21st! This will be a ton of fun as well as a great way to get our Christmas breaks going! I will need to know exact numbers closer to this date and will be letting the youth know when. We have three homes already lined up for the Progressive Dinner as well as a few people volunteering to help cook! I thank everyone who has responded to let me know that they are willing to help. If anyone else is interested, please send me an letting me know! The youth are also starting a new study on the movie, Soul Surfer. I think this is going to be a really exciting study because there are all trials that we face in our lives. This movie and devotion really take a look at how we can handle these struggles if we just look to God and rely on our faith. Thank you all again for everything. I look forward to our fun filled December! Also reminder! Please remember to keep signing up for the youth Ski Trip and put down your deposit. We also will be attending the Winter Jam concert on February 8th, so mark you calendars! Thanks! Kelli Callahan Tony Vincent Minister of Christian Education Advent Devotional 2012 Is Here! We have been blessed with gifted, thoughtful reflections once again this year in our daily Advent Devotionals! Be sure to pick one up in the Gathering Area or in the vestibule, beginning Sunday, December 2 nd! Voices from Trinity s past, present, and future will help you as you journey once again to Bethlehem! Thanks to all who made such wonderful contributions to our devotional! Gathering IS Growing Ugh, I ve got something every night this week! I don t know how I ll find time for all these parties! If you re like me, you ve said these or similar statements during this crazy time of year. We find ourselves frantic and moving from one engagement to the next. Here s a better perspective: How can this event or party help me to grow into a better Christfollower? Recognize that even in eating, visiting and reuniting with loved ones during the Christmas season that we can learn from each other and grow together into the people God is calling us to be. Use each of the varied events of the season to help you grow! Did You Know? Did you know that the greenery in our sanctuary during Advent has a powerful symbolic meaning? Did you know that the purple that the ministers and the choir wear is representative of the season of the year? The beautiful adornments of our sanctuary are rich in meaning and bring much to our worship. Read in the back of our worship guide, which can be found in the pew racks, just what all these elements represent! Thanks to our Advent and Chrismon committees for their beautiful and meaningful work!

3 Notes From Jo Vickery Our hearts have been blessed with music from all ages of choirs during the month of November, As we anticipate the joyous season of Christmas, we will remember our special time with other churches in our community to sing The Messiah choruses by Handel on November 25th. Our children s choirs will sing on December 2nd during our worship service. Our Sanctuary Choir will sing each Sunday, presenting our cantata, Take Me Back to Bethlehem by Pepper Choplin on December 16th. We will have a special rehearsal at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 15th, followed by our Christmas brunch. We are excited to have some new choir members to join us. I am so blessed to have such a faithful choir family. We are always happy for others to join us in singing to the glory of God. Plan to be here for our Christmas Eve service. We will have special music and end in the lighting of candles as we sing Silent Night and then depart in silence. For our morning service on December 30th our ladies will sing Mary s Little Boy-Child. May this Christmas season be a time of joy and love for all of us! Have a blessed Christmas! Jo P.S. The Glenn Draper Singers concert, originally scheduled for Monday, December 10th at 7:00 p.m. has been cancelled due to the health of their director. Preston Cooley Children s News Hey everyone! I hope everyone got their fill of Thanksgiving food, I know I did. The Seneca Christmas parade is December 3rd. Come out to Mrs. Laura s yard to watch it. We will be shopping for local area children on Sunday, December 9th at 4:00 p.m, followed by pizza and cookies in the Fellowship Hall. The children's musical for 1st-5th graders will start in January on Sunday nights. Ask Laura if you need extra information on that. One last thing, the dates are set for Camp Prism for completed 3rd through 5th graders. It will be held July 16th through the 19th. K eep that in mind when you are making plans this summer, because I would love to have your children join us for that exciting time! Happy Holidays! Preston

4 The Carillon (USPS ) Publication Office, Seneca, SC Published Monthly Trinity Baptist Church 504 S. Oak Street, Seneca, SC Periodicals postage paid at Seneca, SC POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Carillon, 504 S. Oak St., Seneca, SC VOL. 28 December, 2012 No. 12 Mrs. Susan Brock, Preschool Director Mr. Harold Rice, Food Service Director Ms. Kelli Callahan, Youth Minister Mrs. Debbie Toop, Administrative Secretary Mr. Preston Cooley, Children s Minister Mrs. Jo Vickery, Minister of Music Mrs. Linda Hobbs, Organist Rev. Tony Vincent, Minister of Education (cell no ) Mr. John Moore, Custodian Dr. Ryan Wilson, Pastor (cell no ) Mr. Kelvin Moore, Custodian Church website: trinitybaptistsc.org Church phone no: WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS DEACONS 2-Curtis Brock 9-Brenda Shaver 16-Gary Jones 23-Felicia LeRoy 30-Mac McMillin USHERS 2 & 30-Scott Foster, Tim Hydrick, Hazel McAlister, Chuck Middleton, Greg Nimmons, Tony Williams 9-Josh Barker, Junior Bearden, Jason Crawford, Will Derrick, John Fassino, Anthony Smith 16-Gregg Davis, Gerry Dilworth, Jim Jackson, Frank Shaw, David Skyles 23-Dale Hopkins, Kent Norman, Buddy Poole, Joe Robinson, Tommy Shaver, John Vaught COUNTING COMMITTEE 2-Josh Barker, Buddy Poole, Kent Norman 9-Martin Hemphill, Greg Towe 16-Pat Cromer, John Harbin, Jack Dodd 23-Anthony Smith, Joe Robinson 30-Wendy Evans, Hazel Smith NURSERY 2-Teri & Kristen Elliott, Eileen Jones, Karon Nation, Norma, Erin & Morgan Townsend 9-Elizabeth Evans, Ginny Howell, John, Jill & Chelsea Huston, Jeff & Becky Nix 16-Cheryl Arledge, Lori Fiest, Keith & Debra Hart, Pam & Garrison Scruggs, Kay Wilson 23-Josh & Sara Barker, Barry & Michelle Duvall, Al & Jennifer Shadwick 30-Cherry Bell, Emily Derrick, Leigh O Brien, Kim Phillis, Gail Rosier CHILDREN S CHURCH LEADERS 2-Kay Wilson & Brianna Derrick 9-Jody & Pam Hall 16, 23 & 30-Preston Cooley SUNDAY AM FELLOWSHIP 2-Howard Grant 9-Joe Robinson 16-John Fassino 23-Kent Norman 30-Buddy Poole FLOWERS Christmas poinsettias will be in the sanctuary for Advent 30-Mr. & Mrs. Harry Hamilton If you place flowers in the sanctuary and do not pick them up by Tuesday morning, they will be delivered to shut-ins. Wednesday Supper Menu (Suppers include beverage and dessert) 5-Chili, homemade soup, tossed salad, grilled cheese sandwiches 12-Christmas dinner: Ham, green beans, candied yams, rolls, macaroni & cheese Wednesday Serving Crew 5-Francis Bell, Marie Massey, Stephen Scruggs, Nancy Sutherland 12-Barbara Hopkins, Dot James, Frances & Todd Wilson Wednesday Clean-up Crew 5-Cherry Bell, Steve Carwile, Layvonne Foster, John Huston, Felicia LeRoy, Charlie & Debbie Simmons 12-Curtis & Susan Brock, Tracey Crawford, Emily Derrick, David Howle, Drew Merck, Tony Williams, Barbara Yuda You might want to purchase one of our cookbooks, A Taste of Trinity as a Christmas gift for that someone special. The cost is $15.00 each and are available in the gathering area or in the church office. FINISHING TOUCHES Anyone wanting to contribute to our Finishing Touches project is welcome to do so through December 31, Please talk with Glenda Condrey, Marcia Hydrick, Elaine Turner or Ryan Wilson for more details. End of Year Finances Check Requests: Please turn in your check requests for this year by Monday, December 10. Contributions: for this year must be turned into the office or postmarked by Monday, December 31.

5 by Susan Brock, Director The Preschool has been a busy place the last couple of months. October was a fun filled month. The children enjoyed our Fall Fun Day on October 23. We had inflatables, games and cotton candy. That same night many of our Preschool students joined us at the church's Fall Festival. It is wonderful to have our students and parents join us at our church activities. Then on October 31 the children traveled to Mr. Curtis's Pumpkin Patch. They enjoyed a fun filled morning of hayrides, feeding the animals, milking the "cow", feeding the chickens and most of all getting to pick their pumpkin. Thanks to all the parents that came out and helped us with all the activities. A special thanks to Josh Nimmons (Atleigh's Dad) for building our milking cow. November was also been a busy month. The students have been learning all about the Pilgrims and Indians. We ended this study with our Annual Thanksgiving Feast on November 19. The classes dressed as Indians, Pilgrims and Turkeys. After our Feast we gathered in the sanctuary for our Thanksgiving Chapel Service led by Mr. Ryan. Our parents and grandparents joined us for this program. December is shaping up to be as busy as the past two months. We will begin our month by participating in the Seneca Christmas Parade. We will also travel to Sorrell's Christmas Tree Farm to pick out trees for our classrooms. These trees will be given to families in need of a tree when Preschool closes for the Holidays. Our Christmas program will be on December 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Everyone is invited to join us as the children present "Here We Come A Caroling". Our last day of Preschool will be December 19. Aftercare will be open on a limited basis during the holidays. The Preschool staff wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We welcome the following people who joined our church this month: Casey Alexander joined on November 4th by profession of faith and baptism. Casey resides at 503 Sherwood Drive, Seneca, SC and his phone number is Kerry Nimmons joined on November 4th by profession of faith and baptism. Kerry resides with her family at 114 Whispering Brook Drive, Seneca, SC and their phone number is Nikki Hardin joined on November 18th by profession of faith and baptism. Nikki resides with her family at 314 Woodland Drive, Seneca, SC and their phone number is Jim & Pat Copeland joined on November 18th by statement. They reside at 15 Gold Green Lane, Salem, SC and their phone number is John, Kelly, AJ & Peyton McRoberts joined on November 18th by letter from a sister church. They reside at 213 Horsehead Point Drive, Seneca, SC and their phone number is Glenda Condrey would like to thank everyone who donated eye glasses, eye drops and money for her mission trip to Ethiopia. Everyone was so grateful for these donations. Dear Trinity Church Family, Don and I wish to express our gratitude and thanks to a wonderful family at Trinity for the cards, food, prayers, visits and many words of comfort during our sadness of the loss of our mother, Fay Hobbs. She is very happy now! Don and Linda Hobbs