MISSION BYRAM MANGER TREE PROJECT

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1 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 4 DECEMBER 2016 DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSIONS MISSION BYRAM MANGER TREE PROJECT OUR ANNUAL MANGER TREE PROJECT will take place during the month of December. Our goal is to provide clothing and one toy for each of the children who request assistance. Last Christmas 100% of our Manger Tree Children were selected and we pray that will be the case this year. TO PARTICIPATE, go to the Manger Tree located next to the Mission Kiosk and select a child from the tree. The name of the child, his or her age and clothing size will be listed on the tag. Also a small toy request will be included as well. Once you select a child, go to the Mission Kiosk and let us know which child you selected. Next, purchase and wrap the requested items and include the Manger Tree tag on the outside of the wrapped presents. THE DEADLINE to return the wrapped and tagged presents is Sunday, December 11. We will distribute the Christmas gifts on Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. during Mission Byram. If you would like to help distribute the gifts, please be at the gym by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 17. Debbie, Allie and I hope you and your family have a wonderful and Blessed Christmas and we want to thank you in advance for helping make Christmas special for the children of Mission Byram. Many Blessings Mark

2 FROM YOUR PASTOR WHERE DID 2016 GO??? Wow!!! What a whirlwind of a year!!! And now as we move into the final month, we do so with a new President about to take office amidst lots of uncertainty & unrest in our nation. Whether you voted for Donald Trump or not, he definitely needs our prayers as he begins his work as President of the United States! IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE CRAZINESS & UPROAR, ONE THING IS FOR SURE: JESUS IS STILL THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS! He has been victorious over the grave, & leads His people forward in victory. So, take heart, brothers & sisters! The Christ-child who came to Bethlehem will be the conquering King who is coming again! We move into 2017 with a renewed passion for DEVELOPING DEVOTED DISCIPLES here at Country Woods. God has blessed us in SO many ways, & we must continue to press forward in obedience to His Commission to make disciples of all nations. Winning people to Christ & discipling them in that relationship with Him is STILL our #1 mandate as a Church FAMILY! So, let s renew our commitment to Him & Developing Devoted Disciples watch His Church GROW in spiritual maturity, in numbers, & in faith! The Daniels family is so thankful that God has allowed us to spend 9 Christmases with you as our Church FAMILY! We love y all so much & pray that you will experience the peace & joy that only CHRIST can bring this Christmas! In His Grip, Jon

3 WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM and a from our family to all of you! Laurie and I are so so thankful for each and every one of you. It is a blessing to be a part of the Country Woods family. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

4 50 FIFTY PLUS Merry Christmas my friends. I have been so very blessed this year with old friends and new friends here at Country Woods. I hope that you are saying the same as you reflect back over the year. It seems impossible that December is already here but I am excited to think of our Savior s birth and that our God loved us so much that He sent His Son to walk and experience this same earth as we do. I pray that He blesses you this Christmas season and that He uses Country Woods to bless this community. Love you all and wishing you the very Happiest Christmas!!! FYI: I am not going to be with family until after Christmas day. My sister is working all day but I am cooking Christmas lunch. So... if you will not be with family this year following the church service and would like to eat with a few friends, please contact me. I do need to know by the Sunday before to make sure that I cook plenty of food. So, call the church office or contact me at

5 STUDENT MINISTRIES the Room Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us. Matthew 1:23 HIS BIRTH IN HISTORY. that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord s birth was an advent the appearance of God in human form. HIS BIRTH IN ME. My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a Bethlehem for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. You must be born again (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me. And once Christ is formed in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me. GOD EVIDENT IN THE FLESH. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ. Gunner and Amanda Wilson

6 CHILDREN S MINISTRY It s the most wonderful time of the year! Unfortunately, it s also the busiest time of the year. Each year we try to cram 100 Christmas traditions into the month of December. Everything has to be perfect- the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect photo for the Christmas card. This year, take some time to escape from the busy Christmas madness to stop and reflect for a minute. God sent Jesus, who was perfect, to take the punishment for our sin. When we stop and think about that for a minute, our perfect Christmas doesn t seem that important anymore. Enjoy this season with your family! Use every Christmas tradition and activity this month to teach your children the greatest story ever told! Merry Christmas! Ellie Lynch Upcoming Events: Byram Christmas Parade - Saturday, December 3: The kids will ride the float and pass out candy. Meet at the float by 9:00. The float will be parked on Byram Parkway. Christmas Parties - Sunday, December 18: The children will have christmas parties in their Life Group classes beginning at 9:00. Parents, please provide a breakfast snack or treat to share! Teachers will provide games and activities. Children s Choir to sing - Sunday, December 18: The 1st-6th Graders will sing in the morning worship service. They will have a brief practice at 9:45 in the Worship Center. Meet Me at the Manger - Wednesday, December 21: The children have been preparing for this special Christmas presentation on Wednesday nights at 6:00. Join us for Manger Tales, the Christmas story told by the animals that witnessed the event!

7 FUNDAMENTALS THAT WILL HELP US STAY FOCUSED & FAITHFUL IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD ARE: Essential Spiritual Disciplines: Bible intake & prayer Tolerance for Sin We need to develop a deep, white-hot hatred for sin in our lives. Direction to Go Forward in faith! Important Questions: Am I saved? Am I serving the Lord through my church? Am I supporting my church with my tithes & offerings? Am I speaking life into others lives? Am I sharing the Gospel through my life & through my words? AM I STUCK?

8 DECEMBER 2016 CALENDAR SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY :00 12:00 Mission Byram Christmas Parade Gun Safety Class 4 9:00 am Life Group 10:30 am Worship Gathering 6:00 pm Gary Permenter 3D Service DeLaughter Class Party after Service :00-11: :00 Refresh Farrish Life Group 10:00-12:00 WMT Practice Christmas Get Mission Byram Students Together UC Lunch 4 Christ :00 am Life Group 10:30 am Worship Gathering 6:00 pm An Evening in December Mahaffey Life Group Family Life Center Kid s Club Springlake Apts 3:30-5:00 6:00 Refresh WMT Practice Students UC 10:00 12:00 Mission Byram Gift Day Community Meal :00 am Adult Life Group Leaders Breakfast 9:00 am Life Group 10:30 am Worship Gathering 20 9:00-11: :00 pm Meet me at the Manger Service Christmas Eve Service 5:00 pm Children Christmas Parties in Classrooms :30 am Worship Gathering No Life Group Christmas 27 No Springlake

9 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS SYMPATHY MELISSA DAVIS S Family in the loss of her mother-in-law Ruth Davis. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE The Church office will be closed the week of December 26 thru December GRIEF SHARE CLASSES Leader: Ann Lieb Start date Wednesday, October 5th Room 120 Morning Group 10:00 a.m. Night Group 6:00 p.m. GRIEF SHARE is a network of 12,000+ churches equipped to offer grief support groups featuring biblical concepts for healing from loss. The Grief Support Group will feature encouraging, information-packed videos featuring leading grief recovery experts, and a workbook for journaling and personal study exercised that reinforce the weekly session topics. Sign up at the desk and contact Ann Lieb with any questions. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS DONNA WARD KELLY JOHNSON TABATHA JOHNSON ANNA BELL JOHNSON BRANTLEY JOHNSON PRICE FOIL LINDA RANEY... COUNTRY WOODS STAFF JON DANIELS Senior Pastor JIM FARRISH Music Pastor MARK SANDIFER Discipleship & Missions Pastor TAMMIE MILLER SR Adult Minister/Business Administrator GUNNER WILSON Student Pastor ELLIE LYNCH Children s Minister MELISSA DAVIS Spiritual Development Assistant LAURIE FARRISH Music Assistant TOMM WILSON Buildings & Grounds Supervisor CONNIE PRICE Administrative Assistant OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP AND GROWTH SUNDAYS: 9:00 a.m. Life Groups 9:15 a.m. The Mix Students 10:30 a.m. Worship Gathering 5:00 p.m. Cell Groups (Students) WEDNESDAYS: Life Apps. 6:00-7:30 p.m. REFRESH Adults Psalm 31:8 Students Hands on Bible Preschool The U.C. K-5 - Grade 6 Worship Ministry Team Rehearsal CHURCH OFFICE DEACON ON CALL CELL PHONE: FAX: CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m Siwell Rd. Byram, MS countrywoods.net