D E C E M B E R. Thank you for your generosity for our Appalachian Backpack Ministry. Volume 44, Issue 12

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1 Thank you for your generosity for our Appalachian Backpack Ministry CHRISTMAS IS COMING DITRICH BONHOFFR The article below is an excerpt from an advent sermon that Dietrich Bonhoeffer preached on Dec. 21, 1930 while he was visiting in Cuba. His words are pointed, and I (Pastor Jonathan) hope they will be a reminder to us that as we celebrate Christmas, many are hurting, many are disillusioned, many are seeking, but Christ has come to save that which was lost. As we celebrate Christmas, remember those who celebrate with a heavy heart. The Bible is full of assertions that the great miracle has happened without human help, by the action of God alone. According to the most holy decision in the heavens, the Son came from the Father and at the same moment, a baby was born in Bethlehem. A little child was born in a stable with the ox and the ass and a few shepherds in the fields celebrating the first Christmas. But above the stable, the heavens opened, and angels and stars rejoiced on that holy night. And God s love was showered upon this Child. On that Christmas Day, God himself decorated the Christmas tree! The decorations were the stars of the eternal Father in heaven. What had happened? God had looked upon the poor of the world and had Himself come to help. Now He was there, not as the Almighty One, but in the seclusion of humanity. Where there are sinners, the weak, the sorrowful, the poor in the (continued on page 3) D C M B R Volume 44, Issue 12

2 December 2018 CLBRATING THIS MONTH - BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVRSARIS Birthdays: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Different in December Sunday venings Different in December Sunday venings We will be collecting for the Lottie Moon Offering all month. We will be collecting for the Lottie Moon Offering all month 1 12/2 - Sheila Rimmer 12/13 - Juliann Chatman 12/7 - Nicole Coulon 12/27 - Bill Dickey 12/8 - Harris Taylor 12/30 - Madison Nielsen 12/9 - Brandon Mahon 12/30 - Kayla Stutts 12/12 - Pat Johnston Anniversaries: 12/15 - Bob & Carol Prentice 1st Sunday Week of Prayer and Mission Study for International Missions & Lottie Moon Christmas Offering December 2-9 Worship led by the Directors Trio 6:00 pm 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday Casual Convo 6:00 pm New Years ve Group 1:00 pm Group 1:00 pm Group 1:00 pm Missions Study Nat l Poinsettia Day Midweek Service No Midweek Service Only Believe Rev. Don Swinney WBAG (1150 AM) program 12:00-12:15 PM Mon. - Fri. Pray about what the Lord would have you give toward the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our church goal this year is $3,000. Members in Special Care or Homebound - (please keep them in your prayers) Dot Isley [Home] Larry & Janet Pender [Home] Doris Cole [Home] Reba Hall [Homeplace] Bruce Parker [Ralph Scott] Janet Hall [Virginia] Cecile Foster (Home)

3 (Continued from page 1) SRVING THIS MONTH Deacon: Toby Isley Ushers: Cort Shelton & Isaac Faucette Greeters: 12/2 - Harris & Frances Taylor 12/9 - Lacy & Kim Turner 12/16 - Cort & Nikki Shelton 12/23 - Rená Strader & Priscilla Carter 12/30 - Sharon Raymondi & Ann Vick Nursery Ministry: 12/2 - AM - Jordan Phillips & Nicole Coulon PM - Mary Bowman 12/5 - Midweek - Teri M. & Meris J. 12/9 - AM - Marc & Denise Garner PM - Terry Adcock 12/12 - Midweek - Brandy F. & Nikki S. 12/16 - AM - Derek & Holly Hunter PM - Meris Jenkins 12/19- Midweek - Teri M. & Meris J. 12/23 - AM - Cort & Nikki Shelton PM - Teri Mahon 12/26 - Midweek - Brandy F. & Nikki S. 12/30 - AM - Martha Anderson & Ann Vick PM - Meris Jenkins Meals on Wheels Ministry: (Dec ) Mon.- Marlyn Oldham Tues.- Shane Coulon Wed.- Kristie Ford Thurs.- Judy Jarrett Fri. - Lacy & Kim Turner Children s Church: 12/2 - Meris Jenkins & Heather Garner 12/9 - Derick & Marcie McKinney 12/16 - Family Worship 12/23 - Teri Mahon & Chris Mahon 12/30 - Meris Jenkins & Holly Hunter If you are interested in serving in the Children s Ministry, please see Nikki Shelton or Marcie McKinney world, that is where God goes. Here He lets himself be found by everyone. And this message goes throughout the world, year after year anew. We all come with different personal feelings to the Christmas festival. One comes with pure joy as he looks forward to this day of rejoicing, of friendships renewed, and of love. That is true of most children. Others look for a moment of peace under the Christmas tree, peace from the pressures of daily work. They want to dream of times and days long past. They want to forget all the unpleasant happenings around them and see the world only in the light of the Christmas tree; they want to hear the old Christmas carols. They long for this blessed forgetfulness. Others again approach Christmas with great apprehension. It will be no festival of joy for them. Personal sorrow is painful especially on this day for those whose loneliness is deepened at Christmas time. Human hearts feel emotions under the lights of the Christmas tree in so many different ways. And it is surely right that each one of us should look around at the outside world for a while. Perhaps, this year, something wonderful will occur that will help us celebrate Christmas. Before our eyes stand the crowds of the unemployed, the millions of children throughout the world in hunger and distress, the hungry in Christ, the oppressed in India, and those in our own unhappy land. All eyes tell us of helplessness and despair. And despite it all, Christmas comes. Whether we wish it or not, whether we are sure or not, we hear the words once again: Christ the Savior is here! The world that Christ comes to save is our fallen and lost world, none other. As we celebrate, be thankful, rejoice, and pray for your fellow believers and your fellow man. Available on the church website, itunes, & Google Play Store

4 WMU - Serving Him Martha Anderson PASTOR JONATHAN JNKINS Hello to all of you! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with your family and had lots of good food to eat. The main thing, though, was that you were with family. I hope you counted your blessings and thanked our dear Lord for them. Sometimes we get so caught up in our routines that we take our blessings for granted, but we should thank God every day and know that without Him, we are nothing. I told you last month that I would report on the Backpack Ministry for the Appalachian Region. On Sunday evening, October 28th, we had 45 backpacks brought in. There were 10 backpacks upstairs that were offered to us, and I bought 7 extra, so that made a total of 62, the same number that we filled last year. Dot Strader and I had a good time shopping for supplies to fill the extra backpacks. It was a good feeling to know that a child somewhere in the Appalachian Region would be so excited and happy to receive their backpack. Thank you to all of you who filled one or more backpacks. Thank you also to those who gave money to help fill one. And thank you to all who brought soup, dessert and drinks for the Soup and Sandwich get-together. veryone seemed to enjoy the fellowship that night. I would also like to thank Patsy Rohrer, Dot Strader and our dear Pastor Jonathan for loading the backpacks into his truck to be taken to First Baptist Church of Burlington on November 2nd. From there, they went to the distribution center in Red Springs or Shelby. I look forward to doing this again next year. I ve already started on my backpacks for It s time for us to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. We will be collecting for this the month of December. Have you prayed about what you will give? Our church s goal is $3,000. It was so good to see Mickie Hubbard at church again. Reach out to her, let her know you love her and are glad she s back. Congratulations to Isaac and Brandy Faucette on the birth of their son, Grayson Timothy on November 24th, and to Michael and rin Davis on the birth of their son, Parker Nelson on the 25th. Pray for these young parents as they raise these little ones. It s a blessing to have so many children in our church, to see their smiling faces and all their energy. They also need our prayers. Christmas will be here before we know it. We all like to receive presents, but let s remember that the gift of Jesus to the world is the reason for the season. Do something for someone who is in need. Let them know that you love them. Let others see Jesus in you! See you next month! Adoration is an interesting word. It is more than just admiration, yet it is not as simple as worship. Adoration is a word that encompasses worship, veneration, love, respect, and honor. When we think of the word adoration, we think much higher than simply thinking good thoughts about someone or giving love to them; we think about being deeply devoted them because of the love we have for them. That is why adoration is such a powerful word, and that is why adoration is the perfect word for our feelings toward Jesus Christ during this Advent season. Psalm 95:6 says: Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! This should be our posture of praise every day, but especially during the Advent season, as we are reminded that the One we worship, the Word made flesh (John 1:14) is to be adored. He is to be worshipped, revered, venerated, and loved. When we adore Him, we worship the God-Man, Jesus Christ, all the while remembering that we are worshipping the One who is our Maker. This Advent season, as we get busy with to-do lists, parties, celebrations, gift giving and receiving, and everything else that goes along with the Christmas holiday, let us not forget to take time to stand still, to bow down, and to marvel at the majesty of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. This Advent season, take time to come and adore Him in every sense of the word. Resource (Book) of the Month: From Pastor Jonathan Come Let Us Adore Him (Advent Devotional) by Paul David Tripp

5 508. Main Street Haw River, NC Phone: mail: The Mission of FBC Haw River is to ncourage all people to know, grow, and go in Jesus' Name. There's a place for you at the river. Drop your questions in the box in the Welcome Center, and we ll answer them during an upcoming service. As part of our Different in December Series, we will be blessed to have The Directors Trio leading us in a special time of worship Sunday evening, Dec. 9th at 6:00 p.m. Mark your calendar, as you won t want to miss this. Sundays: Opportunities for Worship & Study 9:45am - Small Groups/Sunday School 11:00am - Worship Service 6:00 pm - Worship Service December 2nd, 6:00 p.m. December 9th, 6:00 p.m. through the church website Wednesdays: 6:45pm - Midweek Bible Study Children in Action Youth Bible Study LDRS & MINISTRY STAFF Senior Pastor - Rev. Jonathan Jenkins Associate Pastor - Student Ministry - Rev. Derick McKinney Minister of Music - Felicia Massey Ministry Assistant - Carol Prentice Assistant Secretary - Karen Dickey December 16th, 6:00 p.m. December 30th, 6:00 p.m. Fellowship, Dec.23, 6 p.m.