The Spiral - Keeping the people informed THE PASTOR S DESK P I T T S B O R O B A P T I S T C H U R C H. December Volume 61, Issue 12

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1 P I T T S B O R O B A P T I S T C H U R C H THE PASTOR S DESK Volume 61, Issue 12 December 2017 The Spiral - Keeping the people informed As we continue our Spiral series on stewardship I know what some of you are thinking Stewardship doesn t feel very Christmasy. Christmas is the time of year when we see more generous giving than any other time. It is also the time of year when we see the most waste. We have a tendency to spend too much money on things that we won t use and that we ultimately can t keep. For many people there are places in their home or property where unused gifts from Christmases past are stored up. So, maybe this is the best time of year to talk about stewardship. 1st Timothy 5:8 says that if a man doesn t take care of his family, he has denied the faith. The Scriptures don t call us to live a penniless life. Instead they encourage us to use resources wisely. For example, Eph. 4:28 says, Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. We are to invest in something, setting a portion aside so that when a need arises, we will be able to help meet it. On the other hand, the Bible clearly warns against making our possessions into treasures. It s not wrong to have possessions, but it is wrong to make them our meaning in life. In Mark 10:24 the Lord said, How hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God. It s just too easy to let money rule your life. That is why the apostle Paul warned: Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life (1Tim. 6:17-19). Our trust is not in our wealth, but in our God. If we lost all our money, it shouldn t destroy our lives. We are going to lose it all someday anyway. Now check this out-jesus tells us that all our earthly stuff, if we gained it honestly, it is a blessing from the Lord. But all of that earthly stuff will one day be gone. It will ruin, rust, and rot. (continued page 2)

2 Page 2 (continued from page 1) In ancient times, wealth was frequently measured in part by clothing. Compared to our day of mass-produced clothes, clothes then represented a considerable investment. Rich people sometimes had golden threads woven into their clothing, to display and to store their wealth. But the best clothes were made of wool, which the moth loves to eat. So even the richest people had trouble protecting their assets. Wealth was also measured in grain (parable of the rich farmer). The grain can be eaten by rats, mice, worms and insects. Of course, any kind of wealth is subject to thieves. Nothing that we own is completely safe from destruction or theft. And even if we keep our possessions perfectly secured during our entire lives, we are certainly separated from them at death. Many millionaires will be heavenly paupers, and many paupers will be heavenly millionaires. Treasures In Heaven - Matthew 6:20 - But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. On the other hand, if we invest in heavenly treasures, they are not subject to the same forces. They can t get ruined. Moths can t eat them. They never rust. They are not subject to robbery, because no one can steal into heaven and take your treasure. The point is that where you need to put your treasure, where you need to be singleminded, what you need to be living for is not treasures here where fraud and force can take those things from you. But rather invest in and put your treasure in a place where fraud and force can never take it away from you. Heavenly security is the only absolute security. So, the question is left... how do you store up treasures in heaven? The Bible gives us some very easy ways. Live openhanded (generous) lives. We care for the widow and orphan in their distress. We live lives marked by generosity where we outdo others in honor. We are marked by a spirit of generosity, where our hands are open to how God has blessed us, what God has given to us. We are not to be hoarders. Are you familiar with the show Hoarders? That s us spiritually if we are laying up treasures on earth instead of in heaven. Think about how we perceive our stuff. Do you perceive your self as being a steward of what God has given you; or view everything as yours? This is mine and I want more of it. But we store up treasures in heaven by living openhanded (generous) lives that invest in the kingdom of God, caring for the widow and orphan in their distress, pushing back what is dark in the world investing in evangelism, missions and ministry with the resources we ve been given, whether that s money, time, energy, (continued page 3)

3 Page 3 (continued from page 2) or talents. We are Kingdom citizens. We are salt and light, openhanded, and we are investing in what is eternal, not into what is transient & temporary. Do we really want to be investing into the stuff of future yard sales and trips to the dump? We are sowing into the stuff that lasts forever. That s what we are to be marked by. Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The contrast between the two potential portfolios lies mainly in the area of security. In what do we trust? Wherever we put our treasures, that reveals the location of our heart. The heart is like the control center of our lives, giving direction to our innermost desires. Every time we make an investment, we need to consider our desires. Remember, our heart influences our treasure. If we were to attend a wealth building seminar, one of the first questions we would hear is what do you want? What is your desire? No one climbs the ladder of success without wanting to. The fact is, the people putting on the get rich quick workshops and a positive attitude seminars understand that the heart influences our treasure. If a person has a heart for the church and the kingdom then they will be involved, part of the music program, teaching a Sunday school class for children, involved in other ministries of the church. Our treasure, what we value, influences our hearts. It s not solely an issue of money, but of desire. Jesus isn t saying that if we put our treasure in the right place, then our heart will be in the right place. No, the location of our treasure indicates where the heart already is. You prove that you have the heart of the kingdom citizen when you are investing in the kingdom. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about a man s desire for treasure. He reminds that Christ recognizes this desire in man, so he provides the opportunity to create treasure. But the treasure the Lord offers is not an earthly treasure that will fade away. It is an eternal, spiritual treasure that glories in God. Unfortunately, people seem willing to settle for a cheaper sort of treasure - one that won t last. If we pursue treasure on earth, we settled for too little. Our goals are too small. God has given us the opportunity to invest in something far greater, extending beyond our lives, accruing interest for eternity. We take our interest in treasure to a whole new level. But it requires great desire to do that, and far too many Christians lack the desire to obtain something so great.

4 Page 4 Merry Christmas! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! By Jennifer Cashion, PBC Children s Minister We had a very busy and exciting November with the Children s Ministry. Our walk-a-thon to raise money for the hurricane victims was very successful. We had 13 kids walk to raise money, some completing 6 laps (or 6 miles) around the track. We are still collecting donations, and plan to donate 100% to the Baptist on Mission in December. We rounded out November with a few of our kids helping with Operation Christmas Child, and delivering Thanksgiving meals to those in need in our community. Sometimes you question as a parent if you are over scheduling your kids with so many activities, but when they climb in bed at night and start to pray for the lady that has the sick husband and all the people that need our help after being a part of the community outreach, you quickly realize it s not about the number of activities on the calendar, it s about the impact of each of them. I pray that teaching our kids to share the love of Christ and to reach out beyond the walls of PBC will continue to be Children gather around Children s Minister Jennifer Cashion at the November 19th worship service to collect Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes to distribute to members of the congregation, who then prayed for each child who will receive the boxes. our focus in children s ministry and will define us in the year to come. Mark your calendars for this year s Pittsboro Christmas Parade, December 10 th at 3pm. PBC will have a float in the parade this year. If you are interested in having your child ride on the float, it is first come first served and you will need to sign a waiver. If your child is 4 and under, please plan to ride on the float with them. I will be riding and I m happy to be responsible for kids 5 and up. Just remind them they have to stay seated and listen to me to ensure their safety. Join us December 17 th at 3:30pm as we gather in the Fellowship Hall and warm up our vocals before going out in the community to bless others with some sweet Christmas carols. We will be visiting a nearby neighborhood to hand out Food Lion gift cards and then will proceed to Twin Rivers to continue to spread Christmas joy with our neighbors. We hope you and your family will join us! I continue to pray for each of you and your families. Merry Christmas! Hurricane Relief Walk a-thon Participants. (Kneeling L-R )Rylee Gunter, Brooke Smith (2nd Row) Caroline Cashion, Conner Cashion, Darby Powers, Ruthie Magee, Jenna Smith, (3rd Row) Adeline Magee, Isaac Harmon, Marley Daniels, (Back Row) Hannah O Neill, Haley O Neill

5 Page 5 To PBC Family: My deep thanks and blessings to all of you for the many cards, notes, phone calls, texts, visits, food and prayers given to me during the surgery, death and funeral for my long time companion and best friend, Jane Mason. Jane used the gifts God gave her of love, kindness, and gentleness, to all she met. You, my friends and family, have done the same and I will always be eternally grateful Thank you again and may God bless you always. In His Love, Bill Griffin We are pleased and excited to officially welcome new members to our Pittsboro Baptist Church family: Jenna Smith, daughter of Jeremy and Tara Smith; and Richard and Christine Trogdon, who have three children: Dominic, Annastyn, and Dante. There will be a baptismal service scheduled in the near future. For many months, the Pittsboro Baptist Church Prayer Quilt Ministry (PQM) has been selling raffle tickets for a beautiful hand-crafted heirloom quality quilt valued at over $400. All proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward supplies used by the ministry. PQM members are grateful to all who purchased tickets. On November 15, Pastor Tripp Harmon reached for the winning ticket as PQM members looked on with anticipation. Congratulations to PBC member Peggy Newton who had the winning ticket. Prayer Quilt Ministry members presented the quilt to Peggy Newton after the November 19 worship service.

6 Page 6 Christmas Pittsboro Baptist Church The spirit of the season 3Ls Laugh Live Longer Age 55+? You re invited to the 3L s Annual Covered Dish Christmas Luncheon Tuesday, December 12, 10:30 a.m. Pittsboro Baptist Church Fellowship Hall Bring a covered dish to share. The Annual Pittsboro Christmas Parade will be extra special this year because our Children s and Youth Ministries will be participating. Be there to cheer them along on December 10, 3:00p.m. Pittsboro Baptist Church Choir s Christmas Musical Presentation Sunday, December 10 10:30a.m. Morning Worship Service December 17, 3:30p.m. Meet at the Fellowship Hall. Bless our neighbors with carols and gift cards, then end up at Twin Rivers for more caroling. We want everyone to join us as we spread the Joy of Jesus birth Christmas Eve Service A musical presentation by the Kidz of Faith with the 1 Way Youth Choir. Sunday, December 17, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service.

7 Page 7 Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. What to Expect GriefShare is a support group that meets weekly. You ll find a warm, caring environment and will come to see your group as an oasis on your long journey through grief. There are three key parts to your GriefShare experience: Video seminar Encouraging, information packed videos featuring leading grief recovery experts. Support group Small group discussion about the weekly video content Workbook Journaling and personal study exercises that reinforce the weekly session topics. When & Where GriefShare meets at Pittsboro Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, Sunday afternoons, 2:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Cost There is a $20 fee to participate in a GriefShare cycle (orientation + thirteen seminars). You are welcome to begin attending our GriefShare group at any point. Each session is self-contained, so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will be able to pick up any sessions you missed in our next 13- week cycle. How to Sign-up Telephone the Pittsboro Baptist Church office at , sign up at the back table or contact: Rhonda Myers Julie LoRusso rflym@gmail.com julie@jilcpa.com (hm) (cell) Orientation (one hour) January 7 Is This Normal? January 14 Challenges of Grief January 21 The Journey of Grief- January 28 Part One The Journey of Grief- February 4 Part Two Grief and Your February 11 Relationships Seminar Topics and Calendar Why? February 18 Guilt and Anger February 25 Complicating Factors March 4 Stuck March 11 Lessons of Grief Part One March 18 Lessons of Grief Part Two March 25 Heaven April 8 What Do I Live for Now? April 15

8 Page 8 Each of the life groups invite you to have lunch with them. We know you are curious about what life group is all about, who is in each life group and we know how hungry you are after church. Come visit and see if you would like to join a group! Sunday, January 28 12:00pm Fellowship Hall Bring the kids! We ask that you do just one thing for us sign up at the back table. If you are already in a LIFE group, please sign up with your leader/host if you will be attending the lunch If you have any questions call or Paul and Julie LoRusso , paul@jilcpa.com or julie@jilcpa.com. The Annual Women s Caswell Retreat usually held in February will be September 14-16, Please mark your calendars, now. BUDGET DISCUSSION December 3, 4:00p.m. 5:00p.m. PBC Fellowship Hall The Finance & Budget Committee is giving you the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the proposed church budget. Please attend. December 13, 6:30 p.m. PBC Fellowship Hall The PBC Finance & Budget Committee will present a budget to be voted upon by the church. Please attend.

9 Page 9 1 Connor Goodwin 3 Dottie Griffin Morgan Crutchfield Karlie May Charlie & Wanda Hudgins Richard & Martha Brigman 4 Suzanne Longmire 7 Don Whitt 11 Rudolph & Geraldine Howard 12 Jeanne Mitchell 13 Nim Brann 14 Diane Braswell Wanda Hudgins Cody Morgan 15 Kelly Kivette Katie Scheffler 16 Wilson Braxton Brittany Lasater Jeff Magee Munro & Beth Parker 18 Barry Maxwell 19 Doris Vaughan 22 Wilson & Dorothy Braxton Leslie Wilkins Colman Brann 23 Larry & Jeannie Gillam 24 Betty Jean Whitt 30 Caroline Hancock Traditionally, Pastor Appreciation Month is in October, but Chairman of Deacons Roderick Parker explained at the November 19 Worship Service that the Thanksgiving season is more appropriate to express our gratitude to Pastor Tripp Harmon for his service to Pittsboro Baptist Church. Roderick presented an envelope filled with cards and monetary gifts from church members to the pastor.

10 Page 10 Ushers Bill Griffin, Luke Fowler, Jay Beaver Greeters Jimmy & Susie Griffin, Geraldine Howard December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24 December 31 December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24 December 31 Roderick & Katherine Parker Karl Shaffer & Jennifer Cashion Jennifer & Jackson Davis Tara & Jeremy Smith Kelly Fowler & Carolyn Johnson Andrew & Amy Dibb Ron & Jen Gunter Christian & Ashley Batcheller Amy Harmon & Karlie Wiggins Aaron & Kelly Kivette Kathryn Poe & Jen Gunter No Children s Church No Children s Church Darren & Maria Powers Chad & Jill Lambert

11 Page 11 The lyrics of a Paul Simon song come to mind this time of year, Slow down, you move too fast. You gotta make the moment last. Christmas is the celebration of our Lord becoming human. With it comes decorating, gift purchasing/giving, parties, and general hecticness. It can be fun, but often is stressful. This year, slow down, cherish the time with family and friends. Even take a moment to relax and read a book. Your Pittsboro Baptist Church Library has an array of books with the Christmas theme. This month s selections offer an apologist s view of the season, a romantic tale, and a story for children that provides the true meaning of the season. The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel Who was in the manger that first Christmas morning? Some say he would become a great moral leader. Others, a social critic. Still others view Jesus as a profound philosopher, a rabbi, a feminist, a prophet, and more. Many are convinced he was the divine Son of God. Who was he really? And how can you know for sure? Consulting experts on the Bible, archaeology, and messianic prophecy, Lee Strobel searches out the true identity of the child in the manger. Join him as he asks the tough, pointed questions you d expect from an award-winning legal journalist. If Jesus really was God in the flesh, then there ought to be credible evidence, including Eyewitness Evidence: Can the biographies of Jesus be trusted? Scientific Evidence: What does archaeology reveal? Profile Evidence: Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God? Fingerprint Evidence: Did Jesus uniquely match the identity of the Messiah? The Case for Christmas invites you to consider why Christmas matters in the first place. Somewhere beyond the traditions of the holiday lies the truth. It may be more compelling than you ve realized. Weigh the facts... and decide for yourself. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author. Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a mega-bestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives. Digging deep into Finn s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When

12 Page 12 she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart. Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places. One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham A classic Christmas picture book, One Wintry Nigh tells the story of a mountain boy who is injured in a snowstorm and seeks refuge in a cabin. While he waits out the storm, the woman who lives there tells him the Christmas story. In a magnificent blend of a contemporary setting with the history of God s redeeming love, Ruth Graham created a wonderful and unique version of the Christmas story. Breathtakingly illustrated by renowned artist Richard Jesse Watson, One Wintry Night is perfect for the young and the young-at-heart that will fascinate both those who have heard the Bible story many times and those who know only a few details.all reviews copied from amazon.com In His Service Kathy Shaffer December Library Schedule 9-9:30a.m :30a.m. December 3 Judy Beaver Barbara Jones December 10 Cindy Springle Roderick Parker December 17 Kathy Shaffer Kathy Shaffer December 24 Susie Griffin Roderick Parker December 31 Kathy Shaffer Kathy Shaffer A Point in Time- Historical Tidbits about PBC In the early history of Pittsboro Baptist Church, Joanna Burke Foushee wanted the congregation to have a communion set to celebrate the Lord s Supper. She sold her jewelry to pay for the lovely silver set which included a chalice, a plate, and a decanter. In 1950, a new communion set was donated to the church so it was decided to return the older set, for which she sacrificed, to Mrs. Foushee. Sadly she was seriously ill at the time. Rev. K.E. Bryant carried the items to her home and gave her communion from them. Three weeks later she died. The antique communion set was given back to the church by the Foushee family in It is on display in the Church History Room encased in a mahogany cabinet also donated by Mrs. Foushee s family.

13 10 Adult Christmas Musical 10:30a.m.; 13 Prayer Quilt Ministry 10a.m.; Senior Choir, Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3Budget Discussion 4:00p.m. Kidz of Faith/1Way Choir 4:30p.m.; JDs 6p.m. Youth 6p.m. Pittsboro Christmas Parade 3p.m.; JDs 6p.m. Youth 6p.m. 17Kidz of Faith Musical 10:30a.m.; Caroling & Outreach 3:30p.m. Youth 6p.m. 24 Christmas Eve Service 4p.m Staff Meeting 9:30a.m. 11 Staff Meeting 9:30a.m; Deacons 7p.m. 18 Staff Meeting 9:30a.m 25 Christmas 5 6 Prayer Quilt Ministry 11a.m. 3Ls at Myrtle Beach 12 3Ls Christmas Luncheon 10:30a.m. Property Management 7p.m. Cambridge Hills, 3p.m.; Laurels, 3:45pm; Called Church Conference 6 pm 7 Choir 7p.m. 14 Senior Choir, Twin Rivers, 3p.m, Praise Team 7p.m. 1 2 Praise Team 3p.m Youth Christmas Party