2017 Ultimate Guide to Family-Friendly Holiday Happenings

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2 2017 Ultimate Guide to Family-Friendly Holiday Happenings Use this guide to plan a memory making outing for your family. Who knows, it might be the start of a great holiday tradition. PARENT S NIGHT OUT RHEMA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Nov 22, 2017 to Jan 01, 2018 Friday, December 8, :00 9:00 pm Enjoy a night out while your child(ren) engage in fun activities including CHRISTMAS CAROLING, CRAFTS & GAMES, DINNER and MUCH MORE! For children birth through 12 years old. HURRY AND REGISTER ONLINE, ONLY 30 SPOTS AVAILABLE. REGISTER at /pno! Last day to register is December 1st! Cost $5 per child Bixby s First Baptist Church 114 E Breckenridge Ave Bixby, OK Join over 200,000 annual visitors at the Rhema Christmas Lights display and witness over two million lights and over 100,000 shimmering bulbs synchronized to Christmas music. This much-loved lights display in Broken Arrow began in 1982 and has been attracting thousands of visitors ever since. Visitors to the Rhema Christmas Lights event can drive through the lights in their own vehicle, get out of the car and walk around the park, or view the spectacular displays from a carriage. Horsedrawn carriage rides will be available on select evenings. Don't miss the Rhema Park bridge, complete with over 90,000 lights draped across the bridge alone. Synchronized to both classic and modern Christmas music, these lights have delighted visitors of all ages. While there, enjoy concessions that include cups of hot chocolate, piping hot coffee or sweet apple cider while venturing into the displays. Popcorn, funnel cakes and other treats will also be available. Admission to Rhema Christmas Lights is free; however, donations are appreciated. Cost FREE Rhema Bible Church 1025 W Kenosha St Broken Arrow, OK

3 WINTERFEST November 24, 2017 to January 7, Step into a magical winter wonderland with a spellbinding trip to Tulsa s Winterfest. This annual tradition, held in the heart of downtown Tulsa, sets the season aglow with everything from an astounding 44-ft. tree decked out with over 35,000 lights to cozy horse-drawn carriage rides along the streets of T- town. Make your way to the BOK Center, the enchanting epicenter of Winterfest, for live entertainment, a holiday-themed marketplace and candy canes. Fly across the ice on the outdoor ice skating rink or mark your calendars for the festival s stunning parade of lights. Festivities run through the New Year. Downtown Tulsa, OK Phone: PHILBROOK FESTIVAL November 17 to December 31st, 2017 The Philbrook Museum of Art hosts the Philbrook Festival each winter, an annual holiday tradition in Tulsa. Experience this sixweek community celebration of the season, and see the museum decked out in festive Christmas decorations, holiday lights reflecting the spirit of the season and exciting winter events. Philbrook Museum of Art 2727 S Rockford Rd Tulsa, OK LIVING NATIVITY AT SHEPHERD S CROSS December 7 to December 16, 2017 For a living nativity without the winter chill, head to the indoor Living Nativity at Shepherd's Cross, a working farm located in Claremore. Bring your family to this walkthrough nativity and experience the birth of Jesus Christ. Meet Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, shepherds and angels who will be among the 100+ participants dressed in periodappropriate costumes. The nativity also features live animals including sheep, donkeys, chickens, mules, horses and guineas. Enjoy the peaceful reflection of a look back in time and create new Christmas memories as you stroll through the Amish-built gambrel roof barn. Shepherd's Cross E 450 Rd Claremore, OK Phone: FANTASY LAND OF LIGHTS November 19 to December 31 st, 2017 Bring the family out for this drive-through Christmas light show at Johnstone Park. Enjoy the music, synchronized lighted tunnel, animated displays and thousands of lights decorating the park each night the display is open. You'll be dazzled by the different colors and shapes of the displays coming together for a park full of Christmas cheer. Johnstone Park Bartlesville, OK Phone:

4 KRINGLE S CHRISTMAS LAND November 10 to December 31 st, 2017 Experience Victorian-era Christmas in the modern age as you walk through Kringle's Christmas Land. During this magical winter event, two stores in the Tulsa Promenade Mall will transform into a voice-narrated holiday story with life-size animated displays from the 1940s-1990s. Besides hand-painted human animations, visitors can also see Santa and his reindeer, as well as other animals. The elaborate special effects and realistic snow blowing in the middle of the blizzard scene truly bring this year's "Vintage Family Christmas" theme to life. Tulsa Promenade Mall 4107 S Yale Ave Tulsa, OK Phone: EDMOND OUTDOOR ICE RINK November 17, 2017 to January 7, 2018 Enjoy holiday ice skating in Mitch Park at the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink. Glide around the 117ft. x 56ft. under clear, starlit skies. Experience fresh air, laughter and shouts of holiday glee with friends and family at the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink. The largest metropolitan area ice rink offers free adjacent parking, open sessions, concessions, safety helmets, WiFi and indoor restrooms. Curling, hockey and figure skating are also available. Make new memories basking in the festive spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year s. Mitch Park 1501 W Covell Rd Edmond, OK Phone: WOOLAROC WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS November 24 to December 23 rd, 2017 Embark on a winter adventure to the Woolaroc Ranch, Museum & Wildlife Preserve near Bartlesville for the annual Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights. Visitors to this muchloved event are invited to ride a wagon or stroll the grounds to enjoy a spectacular display of more than 750,000 glistening lights decorating the Woolaroc grounds and facilities, creating an illuminating atmosphere of magical holiday wonder. Bring the family to Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights and enjoy live entertainment, snack on holiday refreshments and visit Santa Claus in the museum. Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd Bartlesville, OK Phone: BOYS RANCH TOWN DRIVE-THRU CHRISTMAS PAGEANT December 1 to December 3, 2017 The Boys Ranch Town Drive-Thru Christmas Pageant has been an annual gift from Boys Ranch Town to the community and visitors all over the state of Oklahoma since This living nativity presents the Boys Ranch Town residents, staff children and live animals from the ranch as they work together to depict the life of Jesus Christ including his birth, death and resurrection. Head to Edmond this December for an unforgettable evening of the miracle of Christmas. 4

5 5100 SE 33rd St Edmond, OK Phone: Toll Free: GARDEN OF LIGHTS November 24, 2017 to January 1, 2018 Experience animated displays and over 1,000,000 shimmering lights at Muskogee's annual Garden of Lights. Drive through Honor Heights Park and view 120 acres of trees, bushes and water areas decorated for the holiday season. Visit Garden of Lights and experience the natural beauty of the park filled with twinkling streams of light. View rose and azalea bushes illuminated with color, imitating their natural state during the blooming of spring. This Christmas light display will also feature lighted displays of deer, squirrels and birds scattered amongst a wide variety of trees wrapped in lights. Guests are invited to enjoy all this holiday beauty from the comfort of a hay ride or from an outdoor synthetic ice rink set up within the park called WinterSkate at the Papilion. Admission to Garden of Lights is free; however, donations are appreciated. Honor Heights Park 1400 Honor Heights Dr Muskogee, OK Phone: CASTLE CHRISTMAS November 23 to December 31, 2017 Experience one of the world's largest collections of holiday inflatables and Christmas lights at this year's Castle Christmas, held at the Castle of Muskogee. Take a drive through the kingdom's winter wonderland and enjoy over 1,000 displays in various holiday scenes ranging from four to 20 feet in height. Bring the whole family and hop on an old-fashioned, tractor-drawn hayride or chug along on the Christmas Train throughout the Christmas village. Castle Christmas will also feature camel and pony rides for the kids and a special visit from Santa and Rudolph. Visit the holiday gift shop and create a festive ornament with Santa's elves or enjoy a free holiday movie shown at the castle. This event is free; however, donations are much appreciated. Make your way to Muskogee for a breathtaking, oldfashioned Christmas celebration. The Castle of Muskogee 3400 W Fern Mountian Rd Muskogee, OK Phone: MOSCOW BALLET S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER November 24, 2017 Come see what the knock-out performance of Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker at Tulsa's Mabee Center this December. Moscow Ballet tours the Great Russian Nutcracker across North America with 40 top Russian dancers in each performance of this family Christmas story featuring lavish costumes, Russian puppets and nine hand-painted backdrops. Oral Roberts University Mabee Center Tulsa, OK Phone:

6 FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS CHRISTMAS PARADE December 1, 2017 Chandler Park will be ablaze with the sights and sounds of the holiday spirit during November and December. Drive through miles of bright lights and whimsical displays in celebration of Christmas during the city's annual Holiday Lights on the Hills event. Entry to the park is free; however, donations are appreciated. Downtown Sand Springs, OK Phone: Phone: Fax: HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW December 2, 2017 Scratch a few names off your Christmas gift list by making your way to the annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Show in Bixby. This event will feature over 70 booths of craft and commercial vendors, so get in the holiday spirit and complete your Christmas shopping before the season is over. Shop for a variety of items including handmade crafts, unique gifts, jewelry, art and more. Bixby Community Center 211 N Cabaniss Bixby, OK Phone: Fax: RIVER LIGHTS December 2, 2017 Celebrate the holidays on the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa at River Lights. The display is lit daily through the month of December and fills the park with dazzling holiday lights. Bundle up and walk the trails during the winter holidays for a special experience and fun excursion. Opening day events, which feature local performers, will take place at the 41st Street Plaza making this a great holiday celebration for the whole family. Stick around for free refreshments and the grand finale as River Parks flips the switch on the 2017 River Lights display. 41st St Plaza 41st & Riverside Tulsa, OK Phone: TULSA HOLIDAY MARKET December 8 to December 10, 2017 Come to Tulsa's Expo Square for this fun and unique holiday market benefiting the Junior League of Tulsa. At Tulsa's Holiday Market, both local and national vendors will be offering great deals on all kinds of holiday items including crafts, decorations and food. On Friday, there will be a lovely Jingle & Mingle event, as well as an evening Girls' Night Out. Saturday and Sunday, kids will have a chance to have their picture taken with Santa and also decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus. Don't miss out on this special event. Tulsa Expo Square 4145 E 21 St 6

7 Tulsa, OK Phone: TULSA CHRISTMAS PARADE December 9, 2017 Welcome the holiday season with the Tulsa Christmas Parade. This festive celebration includes floats, bands, drill teams, dancers and plenty of Christmas Cheer. Crowd favorites among parade onlookers are the gigantic helium balloons escorted by teams of balloon wranglers. Watch as towering balloons float through the streets of downtown Tulsa along the parade route. Bundle up and join family and friends for the highly anticipated Tulsa Christmas Parade to see downtown Tulsa come alive with thousands of people celebrating the spirit of Christmas and the holidays. Downtown Tulsa Tulsa, OK Phone: We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information. 7

8 ETERNAL LIFE: DO YOU HAVE IT? Do you know for certain that you have eternal life and that you will go to heaven when you die? God wants you to be sure. The Bible says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Another question to consider is: Suppose you were standing before God right now and He asked you, "Why should I let you into My heaven?" What do you think you would say? You may not know what you would say. But... You can know because God loves you and has a purpose for your life. The Bible states it this way, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). GOD'S PURPOSE IS THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. We receive eternal life as a free gift. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). We can live a full and meaningful life right now. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). 8

9 ETERNAL LIFE: DO YOU HAVE IT? We will spend eternity with Jesus in heaven. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John14:3). Eternal life gives meaning to life. Yet... Our sinful nature keeps us from fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. Thus... OUR NEED IS TO UNDERSTAND OUR PROBLEM. We are all sinners by nature and by choice. have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "All We deserve death and hell. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). It is true that: God is holy and just and must punish sin, yet He loves us and has provided forgiveness for our sin. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The good news is that God has provided for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus was resurrected from the dead. "(Jesus) was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25). That is good news,...but the only way Jesus can affect our lives is for us to receive Him. The Bible says, "As many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). The choice is ours. Thus... OUR RESPONSE IS TO RECEIVE JESUS. 9

10 ETERNAL LIFE: DO YOU HAVE IT? We must repent of sin. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sin. "Repent and turn to God, and do works [which give evidence of] repentance" (Acts 26:20). Repentance is turning to god through Jesus and away from our sin. It's like making a U- turn. As we turn... We must place our faith in Jesus. "By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is not just believing facts about Jesus. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). Faith is trusting in Jesus. It's like taking a trip on an airplane. You will never make the trip until you trust the plane enough to board it. To trust in Jesus means... We must surrender to Jesus as Lord. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For... with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). Surrendering to Jesus as Lord is not just saying we give our lives to Jesus. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Surrendering to Jesus as Lord means giving Jesus control of our lives. That is, we must give all we know of ourselves to all we know of God. To give Jesus control of our lives is like driving down the highway with another person. As long as you are driving, you are in control. If you realize you don't know the way, but the other person does, you might say, "You take the wheel and drive." Then the other person is in control and the two of you take the route he or she chooses. As evidence of giving Jesus control, you will want to identify with Him. The New Testament way of identification is to confess Jesus publicly (Matthew 10:32-33) and to follow Him in baptism and church membership (Acts 2:41). THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS: Does what you have been reading make sense to you? Is there any reason you would not be willing to receive God's gift of eternal life? Are you willing to turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus right now? 10

11 ETERNAL LIFE: DO YOU HAVE IT? The Bible says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). You need to ask the Lord Jesus to save you. Read this prayer and see if that it says what you want to say to God. Dear God, I know that Jesus is Your Son, and that He died on the cross and was raised from the dead. I know I have sinned and need forgiveness. I am willing to turn from my sins and receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Call on the Lord in repentance, faith, and surrender, using these or similar words of your own; and Jesus will become your Savior and Lord. Welcome to the family of God. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, you have just made the most important decision of your life. You can be sure you are saved and have eternal life. YOUR ASSURANCE...You know you have eternal life because: God keeps His promises. You repented of your sin (Acts 3:19). You placed your faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). You surrendered to Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). God heard your prayer. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). God recorded your commitment. "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). You need to grow as a Christian. The Bible calls new Christians "babes in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1). Without certain essentials, babies will not develop normally. The church is to a new Christian what the home and family are to a baby. You identify with your new family by confessing Jesus publicly and by experiencing believer's baptism. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). Attend church Sunday and share with the pastor that you want to be baptized and become a member of the church. Praying is to spiritual life what breathing is to physical life. Breathing must be regular and continuous. The Bible says, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Learn to be specific in your praying. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). God's Word is to a new Christian what good food is to a baby. Good food is a daily requirement for proper growth. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow" (1 Peter 2:2). My best time for daily prayer and Bible reading is 11

12 ETERNAL LIFE: DO YOU HAVE IT? (Write down your answer...) Learning to witness is to a new Christian what learing to talk is to a baby. Christ commands us to share the good news with others. "Ye shall be witnesses" (Acts 1:8). Write the name of a person who will be happy to learn about your decision for Christ. Write the name of a person who needs to receive Christ. Will you tell them about your new life? I received Christ (date) (name) (Write down your answers...) WE CARE ABOUT YOU. If this page has made a difference in your life, please contact us at the following mailing address or via the address listed below. When using the address, please put "Salvation" in the Subject line. Bixby s First Baptist Church 114 E Breckenridge Ave Bixby, OK info@fbcbixby.org The original Eternal Life tract is Copyrighted 1992, Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. North American Mission Board 4200 North Point Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA A Southern Baptist Convention agency supported by the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering For general information, call (770) ; To order materials, call the Customer Service Center at

13 THINGS TO DO: PARENT S NIGHT OUT 13

14 THINGS TO DO: CHRISTMAS SUNDAY 14

15 WHO WE ARE: BIXBY S FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Contact us 9:23 am, 10:30 am, 5:00 pm 114 E Breckenridge Ave Bixby, OK Tel: info@fbcbixby.org Get directions on the map Service Times Sunday School 9:23 am Morning Worship 10:30 am Evening Bible Study 5:00 pm Wednesday Night 6:30 pm Reach Student 6:30 pm Bible Study for all 6:30 pm Connect with us on Social Media. We seek to keep you informed of upcoming events, recent happenings, and provide motivation and inspiration to help get you through your day. Bixby s First Baptist Church 114 E Breckenridge Ave Bixby, OK