December Volume 26 Issue Highway 65, Conway, SC

Transcription

1 Volume 26 Issue 12 December 2014 Witold Pilecki was a captain in the Polish army during World War II. In September of 1940, he did the unthinkable he snuck into Auschwitz. Pilecki knew that something was terribly wrong with the concentration camp and as a committed Christian and a Polish patriot he couldn't sit by and watch. There was only one way to get information on Auschwitz, and that was to get inside the camp. Provided with a false identity card with a Jewish name, Pilecki allowed the Germans to arrest him during a routine Warsaw street roundup. Pilecki was sent to Auschwitz and assigned inmate number He became just like any other prisoner despised, beaten, and threatened with death. From inside the camp he wrote, "The game I was now playing at Auschwitz was dangerous. In fact, I had gone far beyond what people in the real world would consider dangerous." In 1941, prisoner number 4859 started organizing the inmates into resistance units, boosting morale and documenting the war crimes. Couriers smuggled out detailed reports on the atrocities. By 1942, he helped organize a secret radio station using scrap parts. The information he supplied from inside the camp provided Western allies with key intelligence information about Auschwitz. In the spring of 1943, Pilecki joined the camp bakery where he overpowered a guard and escaped. Once free, he finished his report, estimating that around 2 million souls had been killed at Auschwitz. Officials in London thought he was exaggerating. In time, his report was proved correct. A contemporary Jewish journal summarized Pilecki's life: "Once he set his mind to the good, he never wavered, never stopped. He crossed the great human divide that separates knowing the right thing from doing the right thing." In his report Pilecki said, "There is always a difference between saying you will do something and actually doing it. A long time before, many years before, I had worked on myself in order to be able to fuse the two." This true story reminds us of another true story where one descended into the horrors of human sin to live among us. That story is summarized this way. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. His grace was demonstrated through His death and resurrection through which we are given the way of escape from the prison of sin. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift! -Pastor Gary 4500 Highway 65, Conway, SC maplebaptist@yahoo.com cell pastormbc4500@yahoo.com

2 Monday Nights: 7:00 pm, Alternately Spearman/Hall Homes Wednesday Nights: Supper6:30, Children, Youth, Young Adult Discipleship 7:15 Sundays: 10:00am Kid s Bible Study, 11:00am Mission Friends, 6:00 pm GAs & RAs & Acteens meet Conway Christmas Tree Lighting Thursday December 4 6:00pm Youth leave from Maple Baptist at 4:30 to hand out Hot Chocolate and cookies! The Cross is My Christmas Tree Senior Trip to the Billy Graham Library December 8 & 9, 2014 December 24, :30pm Nothing was more exciting to me as a child than going with my dad, along with my other siblings, and finding that one perfect tree that would become a part of our family for only a few weeks. I can remember my mom making ornaments out of Styrofoam and gold glitter. The shapes would be stars, snowflakes, candy canes, and other typical Christmas designs. But there was one particular shape she made and it stood alone, not being reproduced as the others, trying to fill the space on the tree. That one particular piece was a cross. I can remember asking her why she had so many of the others but only had one cross. She told me that this was a special ornament, because it was made to stand alone, to be separate from the others because it held special meaning. Being into the excitement of decorating the tree, I never gave it much thought after that simple explanation. However, I do remember that she placed it out in front on the longest branch of the tree. When daddy plugged the lights in, there was one single bulb that seemed to shine the brightest over that cross ornament. It s amazing how God can save a memory of a child for such a time as this. I honestly think she explained that to me knowing that one day I would get it. How special my mom was in her ability to have faith that God would one day bring that memory back to me at the appointed time. You see, the cross really does stand alone and a lot of people will say that Christmas is about the birth of Christ, which is true. However the cross, to me represents a gift that God gave to me on the day that Christ was born. It is a gift that continues to give every single year. It began in a manger, it walked the earth for 32 years, and then that gift was opened on the cross, from one whose name is Jesus; arms stretched out nailed, and feet one on top of the other, nailed, and bloody and beaten. On that one day in seven hours, with His head lowered in death, an amazing gift was poured out for the entire world to receive. Page 2 You see, it took God a long time to make my gift, to shape it, in order that at that perfected time, it would be opened and I would find a gift that will never break down, will never need batteries, will never need updating; a gift I will never out grow, or become bored with and tossed aside and eventually end up in the trash or a yard sale.. So mom, I finally understand what you meant about that cross on our Christmas tree, and how that gift still stands alone from the manger to Calvary, the greatest gift of all. So I ask you, what will be the most important ornament on your Christmas tree this year? I pray that before you open what s under your tree this year, you will look up and find the cross in your Christmas tree. God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, That is Christ Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace Christmas Blessings, Julia The Maple Messenger

3 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 A sweet spirit was present at Pleasant Meadow Baptist Church during the 2014 Baptist Women s World Day of Prayer on Monday, November 3! Dr. Wayne Brown taught the group to sing without song books, and Mrs. Brown (Joy) led in signing! Debby Akerman brought a beautiful Bible Study; Eunice Williamson led in celebrating missionaries birthdays; and Geraldine Coats gave the offertory prayer, and Pleasant Meadow Girls in Action took a love offering of $333.10, to benefit the North American Baptist Women s Union. We re Here for You was observed Association-wide by churches, individuals, or groups undertaking special projects on November 7; the association-wide project was collection of non-perishable food items which were delivered to CAP in Conway for distribution to those in need. Guests of Waccamaw WMU enjoyed hearing the latest news of WMU and learning more about the WMU Foundation at the Lunch on Monday event on November 17, Special guests included Dr. Jeff Gaskins, pastor of North Conway Baptist Church; Debby Akerman, WMU President; Laurie Register, Executive Director of South Carolina WMU; and David George, President of the WMU Foundation. WMU Meeting Dates Dec 6 Dorothea Long Sewing Ministry 8:30am-noon Dec 1 Bible Study/ Fellowship Group TBA Ethel Stephens Circle Dec 16 6:30 pm Sallie Powell Group 2:30 pm Upcoming in 2015: January 14, Coping with PTSD Event, Wampee Baptist Church February 8, Missions Celebration at Maple Baptist Church Christmas - a season of joy! Meanings as defined in the dictionary of Christmas [from Old English Cristes mæsse "mass of Christ"] include: festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ: a Christian festival marking the birth of Jesus Christ December 25; Christmas period: the period around December 25, or the Christian church season extending from December 24 to January 6; and the quarter day: in England, Wales, and Ireland, one of the four quarter days, falling on December 25. At Maple, the season begins with the Hanging of the Greens and the Display of Nativities open to the church and public. What a great way to usher in this joyous season! It s time for the Season of International Missions, including the Bible study (to be held on December 10), Prayer, and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions! Again this year, Maple s goal is to light Ms. Ella Mae s Lottie Moon Tree ($35 per light in honor or memory of a loved one) by December 23. Thank you for preparing Christmas Prisoner packages, to be delivered to St. Andrews Baptist on December 8. A team will travel to Charlotte, N. C., to volunteer in Operation Christmas Child on December 13. Join us if you will! Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 MERRY CHRISTMAS & GOD BLESS! Peggy J. Jones, WMU Director December 2014 He will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:19-21 Current balance in the account $ Don t Forget Your Pledges! VOLUME 26 ISSUE 12 Page 3

4 December 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Mission Friends after children s sermon RAs, GAs, Acteens, & Challengers 7:00 pm Discipleship Courses 6:00 pm Adult Choir meets 5:00pm Dec 1-7 Week of Prayer for International Missions and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering WMU Bible Study No Wednesday Night Supper Conway Christmas Tree Lighting Youth MBC Nativity 2:00-8:00pm Dorothea Long Sewing Ministry 8:30am Nativity 11:00am 5:00pm Deacon s Meeting 8:30am Nativity 12:30 to 4:00pm Pearl Harbor Day Senior Trip to the Billy Graham Library Street Reach 6:00 International Missions Study Ernest Porter (Coed IV) Sunday School Class Christmas Party Brotherhood Breakfast 8:30am Choir Musical One of Us 6:00pm fellowship afterwards Sallie Powell Group 2:30pm Harry & Dian Edge Vow Renewal First Day of Winter Christmas Eve Service 5:30 Office Closed Business Meeting After Evening Service No Wednesday Night Activities Wednesday Supper 6:15 pm Youth Disciple Training 7:00 pm Children s Choir (G s K-6) 7:00 pm Young Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm Prayer Service and Bible Study 7:15 pm Page 4 The Maple Messenger

5 4 Tom Stoddard 6 Shelba Jordan 9 Carolyn Jordan A - B: Neil Allsbrook C - Di: David Harris, Do - Ha: Guy Majewski He - Johnson (A-K): Gene Abercrombie Johnson (L-Z) - Lee: Raymond Hairston Lef - Norris (A-E): John Johnson Norris (F-Z) - Ri: Leroy Clewis Ro - Ta: Price Todd, Jr. Te - Z: John Spearman 12 Thomas Boyd 13 Abigail Warney 15 Ginger Jacobs 16 Barbara Fullwood 17 Carl Tompkins Keegan Hucks 07 Gene Abercrombie 14 Leroy Clewis 21 Price Todd, Jr. 28 John Spearman The Deacons meet the first Sunday of each month at 8:30 am Brad Stephens David Norris Sylvia Dorman David Norris Leroy Clewis Robert Taylor Brian Roberts December 14 6:00pm 18 Chuck Hall 21 Jeff Hardwick 22 Matthew Norris 23 Steven Cooper 7 Placed by Brice Hardwick in memory of Frances P. Hardwick 14 Placed by Frances Williams in memory of Dewayne Williams 21 Placed by Frances Williams in memory of Cleo Edge 28 available 24 Elaine Anderson 27 Lauren Faulk Justin Faulk Mary Clewis 28 Tracey Hall Ernest Porter, Sr. 29 Morning Melissa Stephens & Melissa Boyd Bonnie Todd & Elizabeth Calder Mary Beth Bennett & Katelyn Hucks Evening Jane Reeves Ellis Spearman Kristi Bratcher & Helen Stephens Hailey Warney 30 Sarah Mason Helen Hall Tonya Todd Thank you to all those who volunteer in the nursery so parents may attend the worship services. Questions about the schedule? Call Helen Hall Volume 26 Issue 12 Page 5

6 4500 Highway 65 Conway, South Carolina Return Service Requested Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Conway, South Carolina Permit No. 111 Pastor Rev. Gary Reeves Music Director Jacelyn Spearman Secretary Julie Holliday If you would you like to be removed from this mailing list, call or Sunday Deacons Meeting - 1st Sunday 8:30 am RAs, GAs, Acteens, & Challengers 7:00 pm Mission Friend after children s sermon Brotherhood Breakfast - 2nd 8:30 am Church Council Meeting - TBA Business Meeting - 2nd evening The Lord s Supper - 5th, Morning Worship Discipleship Courses 6:00 pm Monday 7:00 pm WMU Bible Study / Fellowship - 1st at Tuesday Street Reach Ministry - 2nd 6:00 pm Sallie Powell Prayer Group Meeting - 3rd 2:30 pm Wednesday Supper 6:15 pm Youth Disciple Training 7:00 pm Children s Choir (G s K-6) 7:00 pm Young Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm Prayer Service and Bible Study 7:15 pm Saturday Dorothea Long Sewing Ministry 1st at 8:30am ESL Classes will resume in January You are invited to join us as we begin the Christmas season with a celebration of the birth of Christ with the Third Annual Nativities Exhibition Maple Baptist Church 4500 Hwy 65 Conway, SC Friday, December 5, :00-8:00 Saturday, December 6, :00-5:00 Sunday, December 7, :30-4:00 Over 100 nativities will be on display. From around the world From around the state From local collections A living nativity and silent auction Original works by several artisans Snacks and other goodies will be available for purchase