Cowee Baptist Church. December Wednesday Eves at a Glance:

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1 The Gem Cowee Baptist Church December 2014 Church Newsletter Last Month s Averages: Based on 4-week s Morning Worship: 356 Sunday School: 217 Total Offerings: $ 55, Special Dates: (Specific times listed on pg. 3) Merry Christmas from the Church Office and Staff! 12/2- Dorcas SS Class Christmas Lunch 12/3- Week of Prayer Lunch, Sunset Missions Focus, Crossover Worship 12/7- Building Fund Sunday Macon Valley Nursing Service Children s Christmas Musical- Sing Around the World 12/10- No Family Missions in December 12/12- Adult Choir Christmas Party 12/14- White Christmas Food Project Adult Choir Christmas Program- A Country Christmas 12/17- Christmas Caroling Church Wide 12/19- Parents Night Out 12/21- Deacons Meeting 12/24- Office Closed Candlelight Communion Christmas Eve Service 12/25- Office Closed Christmas Day 12/26- Office Closed 12/31- New Year s Eve Celebration Inside this Issue: Announcements Pg. 1 Thank You s Pg. 2 Monthly Calendar Pg. 3 Children Pg. 4 Youth Pg. 5 Missions Pg. 6 LIA 365 & Cowee Gems Pg. 7 Announcements Pg. 8 December Wednesday Eves at a Glance: 12/3 Supper & Missions Focus, Youth, Fusion & Children 12/10 Supper & Adult Choir Dress Rehearsal, Youth, Fusion & Children 12/17 Church-wide Christmas Caroling, Soup & Sandwich Supper after Caroling Youth & Fusion 5/6 will be meeting. Children are encouraged to take part in Caroling with their family. (There will be no nursery, Mission Friends, RAs or GAs.) 12/24 Candlelight Communion Service, Church-wide (No Supper) 12/31 New Year s Eve Family Game & Prayer Night (Additional details TBA.) Candlelight Communion Christmas Eve Service... Wednesday, December 24, 6pm Join us in the Crossover Worship area. All are welcome. Bring your family as we worship our Savior.

2 Page 2 Monthly Macon Valley Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Service (3195 Old Murphy Rd.) This Sunday, December 7, 2:30pm, and on the first Sunday of each month following, Cowee Baptist Church will be leading a worship service at Macon Valley Nursing Home. All are welcome & encouraged to attend this time of fellowship & worship. New Small Group Study Continues, 11am in The Hub (Immediately following Crossover Worship.) All Adults Welcome. For more info, contact Josh Owens ( , jowens@maconbank.com) Thank you so much for all the prayers and meals you provided to myself and my family. Deborah Eldridge Hello my Cowee friends, thanks for your sweet prayer support. You are constantly an encouragement to me. God bless you all! Frank Page, President and Chief Exec. Officer, SBC To The Pastors and Cowee Family, You know those lights of the world? That salt of the earth? The ones our Lord Jesus said were blessed? That is you. We are deeply thankful for your kindness and expressions of love to our family during our visit to NC. Thank you so much for the time, gifts, and the unforgettable meal. You are incredible. Because of what you did, our faith is stronger than ever. You are all a blessing to us and the church here in NY. We love the way you share God s love. Thank you! May God bless you all. With love, Pastor Humberto, Patricia, Gabriel & Quiana Solis To the members of Cowee Baptist who hosted Vet Fete It was an incredible evening and we were honored just to be there and soak up the love. We were privileged to sit at a table in the fellowship hall that had two WWII veterans. What a national treasure these men are! The stories held us mesmerized because we were children during that conflict and talking to these vets was like having a living history unfold before you. What stories! A humbling experience. The attention to detail in order to honor us all was a gift of God and fulfills the law of love. Thank you so very much. Richard McCrite, USAF, Whittier, NC We just want you to know that we are always thankful for all of your support! God is continually moving at C2! Especially thanking ya ll for allowing us to use your baptismal tub. It allows for more people to witness the baptisms and people are getting excited! Yay, God! Thank you always! God Bless, Campus Church Thank you so much for the beautiful funeral service held in your church. Pastor Powell, Kaye and the women who prepared the food were so gracious and helped our hard day become easier. Thanks also for the cards, Sunday school literature and sweet prayers over the years. Mama, Daddy and Ellie loved Cowee Church and I am honored to have such a beautiful spot for their burial. Thank you again for helping us through this difficult time. Jane Privette, daughter of Margaret Smith Dear Cowee Church I wanted to say a very heartfelt Thank You for the precious card of prayers and support that I received from your church, just prior to my duties as the former President of our Baptist State Convention. I was handed your card just about an hour before I opened the Monday night session, and it truly meant so much to me, especially coming from one of our churches, to know they were lifting me up before the Lord. You may never know how your few words encouraged my heart and gave me energy and calmed my nervousness just before we began. Just know that I am so appreciative of your thoughtfulness and wanted to share my heart with you. C.J. Bordeaux, Gorman Baptist Church, Former President of BSCNC A very special THANKS to everyone that helped in any way to make our recent Vet Fete an evening to remember. The display of memorabilia was a beautiful tribute to those who have served our country. On behalf of the Cowee Gems - Thank You Middie McSwain, SAC I wish to express deep thanks to two of your parishioners from the Needmore Community who came to the aid of three kayakers too far up a creek for their own good. We didn't get their names, but they did say they were returning from Cowee Baptist Church. Like the Footprints in the Sand, they carried us at a time when we most needed it. Ed Halbig Boyd & I want to thank you for the prayers you sent up for our granddaughter, Haley. May God bless and keep you always. In Christ, Boyd & Frances Tallent 2014 Offering The last day to contribute towards the 2014 statement is December 28. Any offering received after that date will be posted to the 2015 offering. MEN S CONFERENCE WITH JOHNNY HUNT JANUARY 30-31, WOODSTOCK, GA Registration: $55/per person plus lodging (includes dinner Friday evening) Hotel lodging and prices to be announced. The red portion represents the paid down portion of the debt for the Children s Wing. The group will depart the church parking lot at approximately noon, Friday, January 30 and will return Saturday early evening. More details to be announced soon. For more info, contact Bill Duffell, , or bill@theduffells.com.

3 Cowee Baptist Church December 2014 Page 3. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday DEACON (30-12/6): David Morgan 1 2 DORCAS SS Class 3 Wk of Prayer Lunch, 11:30am, Christmas Luncheon, Sunset Restaurant 11:30am, Boiler Room 5:30-6:30pm (drop-in) Supper 6:00pm-Children s Choir Dress Rehearsal 6:30pm- MISSIONS FOCUS, Crossover Worship w/casey Jennings, Alex Dillard & The Hicks 4 5 Cowee Gems Trip to Dollywood 6 7 BUILDING FUND SUNDAY MACON VALLEY NURSING HOME SERVICE, 2:30pm Children s Choir Practice, 4pm CHILDREN S CHOIR MUSICAL, Sing Around the World, 6pm DEACON (7-13): Bruce Harwood 14 White Christmas, 10am ADULT CHOIR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM-A Country Christmas, 7pm 8 WIN Mission Group Shopping & Wrapping for Kids Gifts, 5:00pm Kmart 9 Ladies Study, 10am Ladies Study, 10am 10 NO Family Missions Night NO LIA 365 IN DECEMBER 5:30-6:30pm (drop-in) Supper 6:30pm Youth, Fusion 5/6 7pm Mission Fr., RA s, GA s 7pm-Dress Rehearsal Adult Choir Christmas Program 17 5:30-CHRISTMAS CAROLING Church Wide Event (Soup & Sandwiches served for Carolers after trip) Adult Choir Christmas Party, Shuler Barn, 6:30pm Parents Night Out, 5:30-8:30pm DEACON (14-20): Casey Jennings 6:30pm Youth, Fusion 5/6 21 Deacons Meeting, 4:30pm National Donor Sabbath OFFICE CLOSED CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE, 6PM 25 CHRISTMAS DAY OFFICE CLOSED 26 OFFICE CLOSED 27 DEACON (21-27): Ernie Pait 28 DEACON (28-1/3): Kaine Matthews *No other Church Service NEW YEAR S EVE Church Wide Event *No other Church Service December 7 is Building Fund Sunday! 11am Nursery 11am Preschool Children s Church 12/7 Tammy Foster, Jamie Shepherd, Carolyn West Katy & Joel Schick Ashley Matthews Sonya Adams 12/14 Kim Norton, Kathy Bates, Cindy Duffel Kyle Norton & Kelly Maisa Jennifer Hicks Jason Maisa 12/21 Sarah & Brent Holbrooks Gen Bingham Amanda Stewart Sabrina Scruggs Frances Gentry 12/28 Lacey Harwood, Barbara Roper Steve & Michelle Amanda Stewart Roy Burnette Green December Deacon of the Week: 30-12/6 David Morgan* 7-13 Bruce Harwood Casey Jennings Ernie Pait 28-1/3 Kaine Matthews *Changed from original December Ushers: Jack Baldwin Charles Cabe *Paul Dodge **Steve Green Eddie Guy Jeremy McGaha David Morgan Dennis Stamey *Leader, ** Assistant Leader Baptist Men will resume meeting in January. 1 Sharon Cook 10 Allie Archer 16 Tanner Shepherd 21 David Lightner 28 Lindsey Powell 2 Hayden Kiely 11 Bayley Rewis 18 Helen Burnette 22 Ashlee Welch 28 Isaiah Simpson 2 Kaye Plemmons 12 Margaret Anderson 18 Josephine Cabe 23 Madison Bueck 28 Emma Grace Vinson 2 Barbara Roper 13 Kaitlin Mullenix 18 Ondrea Cannon-McDonald 23 Clay Davis 29 Maggie Baldwin 3 Hank Martin 13 Mike Willis 18 Margaret Clark 23 Pam Hearn 29 Jackson Matthews 4 Kyle Cochran 14 Kim Clark 18 Kirstin Dodge 24 Bobbie Dillard 30 Lee Willis 6 Hannah Webb 14 Kendra Jordan 18 Linda Lane 24 Natalie Orr 31 Bennie Reynolds 7 Caden Birchard 15 Matt Bradley 20 Abigail Braswell 25 Kathy Medford 7 Bill Lightner 16 Cameron Adams 20 Levi Jacobs 25 Maddi Shuler 9 Rebecca Branson 16 Cindy Croston 21 Jay Bueck 26 Charles Clendenney 9 Anna Langlois 16 Martha Holbrook 21 Bubba Eaton 27 Carol Davis There is no Family Missions Night in December

4 Page 4 There will be NO Children s Council meeting in the month of December. Living Water The RA's & GA's are having a competition to see who can raise the most money for the Pure Water Pure Love ministry through WMU. GA's & RA's both have a collection jug they are trying to fill up. So, when they ask for help earning money, you will know why! HOLIDAY ANGELS Macon Program for Progress will offer assistance to low income families with young children or the elderly during the Christmas holidays. Holiday Angels is self-supported and operates solely on monetary donations and sponsorships. If you would like to be a sponsor, you will be matched to a family or elderly person the first week of December. As a sponsor, you receive information about your family or individual. You can shop and wrap gifts and deliver or you can bring to MPP to arrange for delivery. Please contact Sierra Womack if you would like to sponsor a family. Also, check with your Sunday School teacher because many Cowee classes sponsor children through Holiday Angels. We collected 268 boxes from our church family and packed an additional 232 at the packing party for a total of 500 boxes! In addition, we received over $800 in extra shipping donations. Glory to God! Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection Thanks to all those who helped make this a success! Children s Choir Musical Dress Rehearsal: Dec. 3, 6pm Final Rehearsal: Dec. 7, 4pm By Sierra Womack, Children s Ministry Director... CHILDREN S MUSICAL PRESENTATION: Sing Around the World December 7, 6:00pm Reception immediately following. Leader: Kim Clark Stephanie Jennings Fri., December 19, 5:30-8:30PM Kingdom Kids Center Supper provided. To sign your child up or volunteer to help with childcare, contact Sierra Womack (sierra@coweebaptist.org) As part of our lesson in Children s Worship the last few weeks, the children have been learning to pray. Below is an explanation of the method I m using to teach your children to pray. Today our hands are going to help us learn how to pray. You ve got five fingers and we ve got five parts of prayer. You ready? 1. PRAISE: Praise is saying what you love about someone. It s saying, God, I love that you are good. I love how you made the ocean. I love that you sent Jesus for our sins. (As you list each example, number them with your fingers and invite the children to do the same.) 2. CONFESS: Confession is a big word for spit up. It means to get the junk out of your life. It s when you ask for forgiveness of your sins. It s saying, I m sorry that I lied. Forgive me for getting in a fight with my brother. I m sorry for not loving you like I should. (As you list each, use your hands to mimic throwing up.) 3. READ: Reading God s word helps us see ourselves as in a mirror. It helps us understand who God is and who we are. It helps us to pray because we know who we re praying to. (Mimic turning pages or holding up a mirror.) 4. ASK: God says in Matthew 21:22 that, If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Pray for others. Pray for yourself. Ask for people to be saved, for God to provide, for wisdom to understand, for help in temptation, for people to be healed. (Invite children to fold their hands as in prayer.) 5. THANKS: God has done so much for us. What can you be thankful for today? (Invite children to list items. Lead the children in a lively worship song of praise/thanksgiving such as He has made me glad. Have them clap their hands in thanks.) This is a great way to pray with your children and is a really good reminder. I learned to pray this way and have never forgotten it! Sierra <><

5 By Pastor Jason, Associate Pastor & Minister of Students and Families... Page 5 It was a blessing to be part of our 1st Annual Children s Volunteer Appreciation Reception. God has blessed us with many precious children each week and also with many faithful volunteers that serve so faithfully to point them to Christ. At the reception we honored some workers that had served for many years in our nursery and children s department, and heard great stories from their years of service. We celebrated the importance of ministry to children, and were reminded of this critical time in the lives of these little ones God has allowed us to minister to. According to the Barna Research Group (BRG), unless a person accepts Christ as Savior before the age of 14, the likelihood of ever doing so is slim. What an honor it is to point these little ones to Christ and share His great love with them. There was a portion of the time together that was focused on some new and exciting tools that we are implementing to communicate with volunteers, and better serve our children and their families. If you serve in our children's department and were unable to attend this celebration, make sure to stop by the children's desk for a packet of material that was handed out at the training portion of the event. Thanks so much for loving and serving our children. If you are not currently volunteering in our Children s Ministry Department, there is room for you and the difference you make could be eternal. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14NASB JANUARY 2-4, 2015 College age through 25 yrs. welcome. See Casey Jennings or Pastor Jason for more information. STRENGTH TO STAND Jan 17 19, Pigeon Forge, TN Sign up with Pastor Jason. Info packets available at the entrance to student worship/crossover & the church office. Speakers: Scott Dawson, Ed Newton, Joey Hill, The Skit Guys Leading Worship: Finding Favour, Rush of Fools In Concert: Rend Collective & Lecrae Cost: $ (Scholarship, full or partial available.) Payments can be made in installments to help spread the cost. This will include meals at the cabin, lodging for two nights, travel, and the conference. The church is offsetting the cost of the weekend. Students will need money for two meals and the rest will be provided at the cabin. December 3rd Missions Celebration Join us Wednesday December 3 in the Crossover Worship area beginning at 6:30pm with the Worship Band. At 7pm Cowee missionaries from Haiti and Africa will be speaking and sharing their experiences. Join us as we support missions!

6 Page 6 White Christmas December 14 Mission Opportunities December 1-7: Week of Prayer for International Missions, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Goal: $10,000 December 3: Week of Prayer Lunch, Sunset, 11:30am December 8: WIN (Women Involved Now mission group) annual shopping/ wrapping party for children s gifts, 5:00pm at Kmart, then on to the home of Kaye Rickman December 10: NO FAMILY MISSIONS NIGHT December 14: White Christmas Food Project, drop food items off in Fellowship Hall by 10:00am, sponsored by WMU (see assignments at right) December 17: Annual Christmas Caroling followed by supper, 5:30pm Christmas Caroling Wednesday, December 17, 5:30pm A holiday food ministry project sponsored by WMU SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS ASSIGNMENTS Children and Youth: Candy Men s Classes: Canned Vegetables Ladies Classes: Canned Meats 10:00am Mixed Adults: Boxed Food Items, Fruit (canned or cups) 11:00am Small Group Adults: Fresh Fruit Week of Prayer for International Missions Week of Prayer Lunch December 3 11:30am-12:30pm Sunset Restaurant Private Room Drop-in during your lunch hour to fellowship and participate in a time of prayer for missionaries serving with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Attendees will pay for their own meals.) Week of Prayer for International Missions Nov. 30 Dec. 7 Pray ~ Give ~ Go Bring your family and join us for our annual caroling as we share the sounds of the season with our homebound. The bus will depart at 5:30pm. A soup supper for carolers will follow. There will be NO Mission Friends, GAs, RAs or choir practice. Sponsored By: WMU NOTE: Drop off food Sunday, December 14, in the Fellowship Hall, by 10:00am. If you know of a family in need of a food box, contact Kaye Rickman (kaye@dnet.net). Your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering enable missionaries, serving with the International Mission Board, to extend your witness through full-time ministry. OFFERING GOAL: $10,000 (Collecting throughout December) NO FAMILY MISSIONS NIGHT in DECEMBER.

7 Page 7 Church Library Dedications... Captive in Iran by Maryam Rostampour & Marziyeh Amiraizadeh has been placed in the church library in memory of Pauline Freeman and Maxine Arvey, sisters of Earl Simons. In this book, Maryam and Marziyeh recount how God used their 259 days in Evin Prison to bring about a miraculous reversal: shining light into one of the world's darkest places, giving hope to those who had lost everything, and showing love to those in despair. Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury has been placed in the church library in memory of Mary Lou Zeller, sister of Joyce Raby. Somewhere in heaven, a decision has been made. An Angels Walking team has been assigned to a desperate mission: a broken baseball player, the love he left behind, and the miracle that might save a whole city. Angels Walking is the first book in a new series by Karen Kingsbury. Your Legacy by Dr. James Dobson has been placed in the church library in memory of Virgil Bacon, brother of Jeri Johnson. This book is about building meaningful faith in children and passing it along to future generations. For parents who believe passionately in Jesus Christ and anticipate His promised gift of eternal life, there is no higher priority in life than providing effective spiritual training at home. Agents of the Apocalypse by Dr. David Jeremiah has been placed in the church library in memory of Stephen Koon, brother of Maggie Jennings. In this book, noted prophecy expert Dr. David Jeremiah does what no Bible teacher has done before. He explores the book of Revelation through the lens of its major players: the exile, the martyrs, the 144,000, the two witnesses, the dragon, the beast from the earth, the beast from the sea, the Victor, the King and the Judge. The stage is set, and the curtain is about to rise on earth's final act. Will you be ready? Cowee Gems Mark Your Calendars... DOLLYWOOD- Friday, Dec.5 The Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival at Dollywood. The bus will depart the church parking lot at 10:59am (gates open at 2pm). Register at The Gem Mine. Visit the Gem Mine for more information and registration. Love in Action 365 Will Resume January 7, 2015 During the Month of December We encourage you to reach out and show the Love of Jesus, whether you are on your own or have a family. Use this Christmas season to bring joy and love to a dying world. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1: Offering Envelopes Offering envelopes are now available at the entrances of the church. Please feel free to take a set for your family. Please note, in order for us to record your offering in your name, all contributions must be turned in via envelope with your name and the amount clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. Please contact the church office if you would like info to set up an automatic draft statements will be mailed/ ed no later than Jan 30, Benevolence If you or someone you know is in need, please contact the church office or a member of the Benevolence Committee: Harvey Fouts, Bennie Reynolds, Otela Bolick, Cindy Duffell, Diane Holbrook, or Robbie Robison Inclement Weather... In the event of inclement weather, please call the church office, , and choose extension 23 to listen for cancellations of services or tune in to local radio stations. Also, see us on Facebook for updates. Sunday delays or cancellations will be announced by 8pm Saturday evening, when possible, or by 8am (for Crossover), and 9am (for 11am Service), on Sunday morning. If public school is cancelled on Wednesday, there will be no evening services that Wednesday evening.

8 Cowee Baptist Church 6301 Bryson City Road Franklin, NC (828) Contact Us Phone: (828) Fax: (828) We re on the Web! Visit us at: Addresses Pastor David: Rev. Jason Smith: Rev. Ronnie Branson: Children s Ministry Director: sierra@coweebaptist.org Church Office: office@coweebaptist.org Sound Techs: audiovisual@coweebaptist.org CD/DVD Requests: request@coweebaptist.org Welcome November Baptisms: Mac Grady New Members.. Page 8 Bevan Curenton, Toni Lundberg, Christy Wang and David, Sonya, Cameron & Eli Adams & Travis & Kendra Jordan