Volume XXXVI, No. 51 The Banner December 20, Merry Christmas From Your Church Staff

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1 Volume XXXVI, No. 51 The Banner December 20, 2011 Merry Christmas From Your Church Staff

2 DECEMBER 25, :00am Worship Then, It Was Time To Grow Up Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Isaiah 52:7-10 No Sunday night Service JANUARY 1, :00am Worship Do you have an Inheritance? Galatians 4:4-7 No Sunday Night Service Gifts... The following people have given to the Lottie Moon Global Missions offering...grace Kiser in memory of H. C. Kiser, Jr....Don and Opal Salyers in honor of Jake and Wanda Lowe...Peggy Hughes in honor of Elizabeth Eskew Mary Holbrook in honor of Elizabeth Eskew...Friendship Sunday School Class in honor of Elizabeth Eskew...Friendship Sunday School Class in honor of Mary Holbrook...Buddy and Betty Jo Carrier in memory of Tammy Morelock...Don and Opal Salyers in memory of Ora and Opal Salyers, Robert and Vina Amburgey (Parents of Don and Opal Salyers)...Crumpler Bible Class in memory of George Humphreys (Husband of Phyllis Humphreys, Brother of Bert Parsons and Ernest Humphreys)...Roger and Mary Garrett in memory of Hobert McCall...Joanna Owens Sunday School Class in honor of Joanna Owens...Joanna Owens Sunday School Class in honor of Opal Salyers...Joanna Owens Sunday School Class in honor of Sue Ray The following people have given to the Memorial Recognition fund...eula Smith in memory of A. J. Miller...Eula Smith in memory of Joe Humphreys...Eula Smith in memory of Mr. Sorensen...Charles Gray, Jr. in honor of John and Louise Crigger, George and Brenda Strong, Buddy and Betty Jo Carrier, and many other friends of Abingdon Baptist Church...Emolyn King in honor of Sammy and Lois Campbell...Emolyn King in honor of John Crigger, Sr. The following people have given to the regular Budget Offering...Ray and Dana Duncan in memory of H. C. Kiser, Jr....Ray and Dana Duncan in memory of John and Jan Rasnick The following people have given to the Samaritan s Purse/Shoe Box project...don and Opal Salyers in memory of Mildred Jackson...Don and Opal Salyers in memory of William Sorensen...Don and Opal Salyers in memory of Charlene Mulder...Marjorie Smith in memory of Rev. Howard Smith, Jr....Bert Parsons in memory of Bill Sorensen...Buddy and Betty Jo Carrier in honor of Brian and Colleen Carrier and Family...Buddy and Betty Jo Carrier in honor of Roy and Lauren Morelock Tony and Renee Roberts have given to the Ecumenical Faith in Action Fund in memory of Tammy Morelock. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January Greeters: John & Janet Berry January Ushers: Kevin Abel, Wayne Goodman, Mary Fraysier, Gene Compton, Barbara VanHuss, and Wayne Hayter

3 F.Y.I.... Dec Mary Russell Home (276) Cell (276) Jan Jason Berry Home (276) Cell (276) SUNDAY SCHOOL Attendance for December 18: 162 Greeters Upstairs entrance Jim Hughes Charles Grogan Downstairs entrance Louise Blevins Peggy Hughes John Blankenship Extended Session Workers December 25 Amanda Sills and Denise Gobble January 1 Amanda Sills and Lauren Morelock Ushers & Greeters 11:00am Co-Chairs: Larry Payne, Buddy Carrier, Mike Overstreet December Greeters: Carolyn Fuqua Mary Fraysier Janet Lambert Bert Parsons Brenda Strong Brenda McDiffett Jim Johnson Jerry Culberson Sheila Willis Ushers: Louise Crigger Roy Morelock Diana Johnson Worship Technicians: Chuck Callahan and George Strong Van Drivers Sunday Morning & Evening December Ken Russell Sunday Morning & Evening January John Crigger, Sr. (C) If you don t feel comfortable getting out on you own, give them a call. Financial Update December 18, 2011 Budget Funds Weekly Requirement $8, Received Today $7, Year-to-date Budget $409, Year-to-date Receipts $427, Building Fund To-date $89, Global Missions Offering Goal $10, To-date $6, THURSDAY, December 22 & FRIDAY, December 23 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED ~MERRY CHRISTMAS~ SATURDAY December 24 8:00pm Christmas Eve Service SUNDAY December 25 10:30am Sanctuary Choir/Young Musicians 11:00am Worship MONDAY December 26 8:00am Counting Committee Stone Soup Food Pantry Team 1 TUESDAY December 27 10:30am Staff Meeting 5:00pm Stone Soup Food Pantry Team 2 WEDNESDAY December 28 6:00pm Worship FRIDAY December 30 Stone Soup Food Pantry Team 3 SUNDAY January 1 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Worship The Lord s Supper MONDAY January 2 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED ~Happy New Years!~ TUESDAY January 3 10:30am Staff Meeting 1:30pm Shalom Circle 7:30pm Friends of Audrey w/ Mary Garrett (Brenda Hallock Circle no meeting) WEDNESDAY January 4 5:00pm Supper 6:00pm Worship 7:00pm Sanctuary Choir rehearsal All Children s Choirs and Mission Groups resume normal schedule FRIDAY January 6

4 Prayer Concerns Hospital: Johnston Memorial Hospital Joe Rash David Hoyle Recuperating: Keaton Mullins Treatments Continuing/Pending: Barbara Barker, Alma Blankenship, Nancy Boubaker, Donna Bowen, Mack Bowman, Carol Bradley, Jessica Campbell, Ellie Carrier, Joe Childers, Carol Clifton, Roger Clifton, Martha Creggor, Debbie Crigger, Stacey Crouse, Nadine Culberson, Bo Endean, Judy Ferrell, John Foil, Carole & Ron Fuller, Janelle Hayes, Sonny Heath, Patsy Henry, Po Hogston, Becky Holbrook, Clara Sue Holt, Jim Jones, Ruth Keith, Jack Keller, Esther Kelly, Michelle Kessler, Jeff Kimerer, Terry Lynn Kirk, James Kiser, Sandy Kiser, Karen Landen, Linda Logan, Jake Lowe, Mark Martin, Burt Maxwell, Caylen Rachelle Moore, Jean Moore, Frank Mounts, Doug Mullins, Donny Necessary, R.W. Osborne, Rebecca Pippin, Shirley Pollard, Thelma Roberts, David Robinson, Debby Roe, Jacob Roe, Peyton Rogers, Johnnie Russell, Don Salyers, Betty Shaver, Kermit Stanley, Reba Starnes, Cindy Sullivan, Tom Talley, Steve Turner, Treva Wilder, Diana Willard, Anna Williams, Glen Wilson, Judy Wilson, Lauren Wimmer, Louella Woodward, Michael Worrell Homebound of the Week Katherine Glover 372 Oakland St. SW Abingdon, VA Long Term: Curtis Burkett, Corine Collins, Clayton Dickens, Frances Dover, Trula Edwards, Jim &Ann Howard, Ernest Humphreys, Mary Hunicutt, Paul Jones, David Kampenga, Kim Kilby, David King, Mack Kiser, Peggy Lord, Edna McMillen, Dorothy Perkins, Ronda Phillips, Irby Snead, Margaret Sorensen, Anna Lee Stacker, Lewis & Sally Stevens, Fred Sutherland, Sr., Jennifer Watson, Jane Whitaker, Joyce Wright Independent Living/Retirement/Assisted Care & Rehab Facilities: Lola Hutton, Vivian Anderson, Jack Bailey, Esther Grossman, Genevive McCall, Marion Jenkie Tomlinson, Helen Holliday, Howard Smith, Lydia Collins, Dancey Flanagan, Margaret Frayser, Helen Harris, Virginia Moore, Ruth Noe Homebound: Katherine Glover, Luther Johnson, Mae Ledford, Lois Maiden, Jeanette Millsap, Rosa Lee Phelps, Jim Repass, Rosella Reynolds, Virginia Saunders, Sloan Southerlin, Ruby Stout, Coma Tiller, Jake Turner, Elbert Umberger Sympathy: Our Christian love and sympathy is extended to......nadine Kennedy and family and friends of Kenneth L. Kennedy who passed away December 18, Bert Mullins and family in the death of his sister, Anna Lee Stacker, who passed away December 15, Happy Birthday... Monday, December 26 Tammy Osborne Tuesday, December 27 Mark Melvin Thursday, December 29 James Gregory Lee Boswell Friday, December 30 Marsha Terry Emmanuelle Sweeny Saturday, December 31 Teresa Stephon Steve Arney Susan Buchanan Jennifer Berry Adryana Counts Sunday, January 1 David Millsap Tuesday, January 3 Sheila Willis Michael Cullop Kyra Duncan Wednesday, January 4 Gene Compton Saturday, January 7 Debra McCown Dakota Ray

5 From Your Pastor... Dear Abingdon Baptist Family, As the celebration of the nativity draws near, many of us share memories of nativity scenes with children clad in bathrobes, fake beards, and gold-painted Burger King crowns. It s a great way to teach children the basics, but do we even grasp the significance of the nativity. Every single element of the nativity story carries with it meaning far larger than a sweet scene we can cast in everything from ceramics to youngsters. Take for instance the stable. The truth is that many animals were stabled not in wooden sheds but in caves found around the periphery of Bethlehem. Further, this stable would have been far from the sanitized version we find for sale at Target. No, this stable would have been a soiled and smelly one regardless of how well it was maintained. Working with animals was a dirty business. How about Mary and Joseph? Mary was likely a teenager; perhaps no more than 14 or 15 years old. Few of us can even begin to picture our own 14 or 15 year old children as parents. Joseph, on the other hand could have been in his late twenties or early thirties. Jewish men often did not marry until they had accumulated enough wealth to pay a dowry and provide for a wife. It is likely that Mary and Joseph had been betrothed for perhaps years. Betrothed is a bit more than engaged. To be betrothed in first century Palestine was more like being married but without any fraternization. Men and Women simply didn t come into contact with each other unless and until they were properly wed. We also hear talk of the shepherds in the outlying area; keeping their sheep. In reality the sheep did not belong to them but they were hired out for a season to drive the sheep from pasture to pasture until they were fat enough for the purpose of the owner. Shepherds had a steady job, that was 24-7, outdoors, literally living with sheep. These guys didn t go into town much because people didn t care for their hygiene or lack thereof; after all, their sheep were their responsibility all the time. They were truly low in the social pecking-order. So, for angels to call them from the fields to witness the birth of the Son of God would be the signal that the reign of this King would focus upon not just the elite, but the lowly. We are also familiar with The Wise Men, probably astrologers, who came from an area in the East that we call Iran today. They had been summoned by an astronomical phenomenon to come and visit this new King. While it is unlikely that the Magi arrived on the same night Jesus was born, they certainly got there within a few weeks. The appearance of these seekers points out two important dynamics in the birth of Jesus. First, these folks were wealthy. We know that by the quality of gifts they presented: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. This was a cue that not only was Jesus here for the poor, but He was here for those with wealth and education. Next, these travelers were clearly not Jews. Nearly everyone who expected a Messiah expected the Messiah to be just for Jews. While The Wise Men are not identified with any religious community, their appearance also signaled that this Messiah wasn t just for Jews, but for those of every race, creed, color, culture and kin. We could go on and on uncovering the meaning of what I remember as a little plastic decoration with glitter on the stable roof; but, you get the idea. Everything about the event of Jesus birth held the essential meaning that the King of heaven had come to earth for the benefit of every human being. Do you get what that says about us? If Jesus came for everyone and we live for Jesus, then our duty is to minister without regard to wealth, status, nationality, skin color, or even religion. It s always about people, and every single one of them needs to know Jesus! As you worship Christ this Christmas, do so in the way that brings Him the most honor: by touching the lives of those that He came to seek and to save. I can t wait to see you Sunday. Your pastor, Steven

6 During the month of December, the Pre-School Department is challenged to bring food items for the Stone Soup Food Pantry. So, please help by bringing at least one food item each time you come to church. Collection baskets are at each entrance. Ministers Entire Congregation Pastor ext. 23 Dr. Steven Pollard Minister of Music and Worship ext. 24 Rev. Parke Deans Church Organist Church Pianist Mr. Edward Eller Mrs. Rose Payne Church Secretary ext. 32 Mrs. Susan Buchanan Receptionist ext. 21 Ms. Judy Osborne A church with a world mission and a world program in association with the Lebanon Baptist Association, Baptist General Association of Virginia, Southern Baptist Convention, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and Baptist World Alliance. Church office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm Phone: 276/ PRAYER LINE: extension 42, FAX: 276/ WEB Site: