DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME 22, ISSUE 12 The Rocky Hock Anchor The Mission of Rocky Hock Baptist Church is to magnify Christ and make disciples of all people. Christmas? When thinking of Christmas, no words speak louder, are more striking, or more penetrating than the words of John the Baptist as written by the Apostle John. HE WHO COMES FROM ABOVE IS ABOVE ALL... HE BEARS WITNESS TO WHAT HE HAS SEEN AND HEARD, YET NO ONE RECEIVES HIS TESTIMONY. WHOEVER RECEIVES HIS TESTIMONY SETS HIS SEAL TO THIS, GOD IS TRUE. FOR HE WHOM GOD HAS SENT UTTERS THE WORDS OF GOD, FOR HE GIVES THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE. THE FATHER LOVES THE SON AND HAS GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HAND. HE MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE. (John 3:31; 32-35, 30) Christmas is truth. The God of creation designed all creation and men for a glorious eternity. His plan is impeccable. His actions are pure. His cause fulfilled is divine and mysterious, yet readily available to the hearts of men. Christmas is the solution to the corrupt confusion of who we are, where we are, and why we are. It is a pure and perfect birth by God, for God, and in God that He makes us His children of an eternal birth and makes known to us the power and reality of the Father as God of earth and heaven! IMMANUEL! God with us. He cares; true compassion is consciousness of what it means to belong to God and to make Him known. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, living a life that satisfied the immaculate character of God and His intent. He came to be the first born of a new people to the glory of God the Father! We can know what we are not while He offers us why we are and what we can become by His glorious truth and grace! He calls to the lost of corrupt hearts and rebellion with a voice of authority. He convicts the heart with the penetrating stare of His righteousness without destroying while drawing all who believe to His seat of mercy. He converts all who are willing to die to sin and be born again of God the Father. He carries us all the days of earth and through the journey of crossing the crystal sea to the eternal home of the living redeemed! He is God of the living! Christmas is the truth that Jesus Christ came to give new life! And in that new life, we gladly fade into the bliss of His righteousness, secure in the reality of abundant life that knows no death! That is the truth of Christmas! Holidays are creations of men. But Christmas is the story of God and His great love which is for anyone and is offered to everyone, but reserved for the elect identified by the resurrection Spirit of Jesus Christ that is eternal life! That s what makes it Merry! THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIM, YOU LOVE HIM. THOUGH YOU DO NOT NOW SEE HIM, YOU BELIEVE IN HIM AND REJOICE WITH JOY THAT IS INEXPRESSIBLE AND FILLED WITH GLORY, OBTAINING THE OUTCOME OF YOUR FAITH, THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS. (I Peter 1:8-9) Merry Christmas! See you every Lord s Day in the Lord s House! Dr. Horton
THE ANCHOR PAGE 2 Baptist Women Week of Prayer for International Missions: December 2nd - 9th Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: Sunday, December 16th "In the 1800s, a missionary named Lottie Moon wrote letters from China urging American churches to fund more overseas workers. After Lottie s death on the mission field, an offering was started in her name. The offering was established to empower international missions efforts for Southern Baptists. Because you and your church give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, IMB missionaries can take the gospel to unreached peoples around the world. Every dollar you give makes a difference, because 100% of the money collected goes to the work of reaching every nation." (IMB website) Bap ist Men Our next Men s Breakfast will be on Sunday, December 16th at 7:30 AM in the Special Function Room. All men are welcome to join us for this time of fellowship! We will NOT meet in December for our Men s Bible Conference Video Series. But, please join us on the second Monday of the month in January at 7 PM in the Special Function Room as we fellowship and worship through watching another inspiring message. We are usually finished by 8 PM. Event # 1: Senior Adult Shopping Trip Tuesday, December 4th Hamrick s & Triangle East Mall, Raleigh, NC (Sign-up sheet in Connecting Corridor) Event # 2: Virginia Arts Festival The Senior Adults are considering a Spring 2019 Day Trip to the Virginia Arts Festival where there will be a display of inspirational military music, majestic massed pipes and drums, show-stopping drill team maneuvers, colorful and elegant dancers, and much more! The date of the event is Thursday, April 25th and the show is at 7:30 PM at the Norfolk Scope Arena. The cost is $38.25 per person. We must have a minimum of 15 people to get this group rate. There is a sign-up sheet in the Connecting Corridor to see if there is enough interest in this trip. If you are interested in going, please sign up as soon as possible, since the tickets sell out very quickly! Brochures are available in the Church Office. Children s Program - December 2nd @ 6 PM Senior Adult Choir - December 16th @ 6 PM Hand Bell Choir - December 9th @ 6 PM Sanctuary Choir - December 23rd @ 6 PM
PAGE 3 THE ANCHOR For children of all ages! Sunday, December 2nd at 6 PM in the Sanctuary GA s & RA s Christmas Caroling Wednesday, December 12th Leaving church at 6 PM Sharp! Wednesday, December 5th at 6 PM in the Special Function Room Events & Opportunities for Youth Sundays @ 6 PM & Wednesdays @ 7 PM - INCREASE Student Ministries (ISM) - Youth Suite Saturday, December 1st from 1-5 PM - Operation Christmas Child Warehouse Trip - Boone, NC Wednesday, December 19th @ 6 PM - Youth Christmas Party - Special Function Room
THE ANCHOR PAGE 4 Serve the Lord with gladness... ~ Psalms 100: 2 Deacon Ministry Teams 12/2/18 12/8/18 Donald Bass, Chris Turner 12/9/18 12/15/18 Wayne Bunch, Keith Rollins, Mike Evans 12/16/18 12/22/18 Keith Nixon, Scott Noble, Phil Smith 12/23/18 12/29/18 Russell Byrum, Chris Sykes 12/30/18 1/5/19 Wayne Howell, Ted Peele, Bill Smith Offering? (Chairman), Ruston Howell (Co-Chairman), Allen Peele, Keith Rollins, Chris Sykes Deacon Greeters Senior Adult Building:? Sanctuary Main: Adam Bunch Connecting Corridor: Phil Smith Multi-Purpose Main: Lee Bass Ushers Lee Jordan, Carolyn Noble, Jerry Peele, Ellis Tynch, Paul Ward, Aundra Harrell Counting Committee Richard & Lisa Bullock, Phil & Rene` Smith, Aubrey Tynch, Ellis Tynch Prayer Shawl Ministry The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM, upstairs in the Administrative Building. As we knit scarves and shawls, we pray over them. They are then taken before the church and prayed over by the Pastor and congregation before they are given to a recipient. If you d like to share your skills, join us! Items needed in December: Anything to prepare a traditional holiday meal!
PAGE 5 Nursery & Pre-School Workers THE ANCHOR During Sunday School Penny Byrum Linda Layton Lisa Smith Ashley Byrum Kristia Noble Sunday AM Worship (Nursery) Maryann Bunch Kim Forehand Kimberly McPherson Denise Nixon Lindsay Smith Alanna Bass Brittany Smith Lauren Smith Amy Turner Sunday AM Worship (2 year olds) Louvenia Stewart Audrey Bassett Donna Harrell Sunday PM Worship Amber Young Karen Miller Rene` Smith Wednesday PM Worship 1st Wednesday Leslie Peele Elizabeth Riddick Chris & Susan Sykes 2nd Wednesday Rhonda Bass Laura Turner Kim Forehand Sherlynne Smith Mary Jo Bass Susan Sykes Bonnie Bond Holly Evans Kimberly Riddick Kaiden Riddick Arlene Bass Beth Evans Kristia Noble Laura Bass Carolyn Bassett Cher Bassett Dawn Bunch Claire Evans Karen Miller Kristia Noble Mia Noble Hope Gosser Susan Sykes Karen (Roger) Smith Asheton Smith Brittany Smith Laura Turner Amy Turner Karen Miller Amanda Howell Donna Harrell Audrey Eley Ashley Byrum 3rd Wednesday Ashley Byrum Carolyn Bassett Kimberly Riddick Asheton Smith 4th Wednesday Alanna Bass Molli Riddick _ Amber Young Allen & Sarah Nixon 5th Wednesday Elizabeth Riddick Sallie Chappell Sue Hoggard * indicates teachers of the week Catina Byrum Faith Byrum Amber Young Chelsea White Children s Church Carolyn Bassett Cher Bassett Bob & Sherlynne Smith Allen & Sarah Nixon *Ashley Byrum Amanda Howell Laura Turner Gloria Horton Jay & Felicia Parrish *Mike & Heather Denny *Trey & Alanna Bass Wayne & Donna Harrell LeAnn Nixon Sharon Nixon Chris & Susan Sykes *Mike & Heather Denny No Children s Church for on
Rocky Hock Baptist Church 113 Rocky Hock Church Road Edenton, North Carolina 27932 Address Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID EDENTON, NC PERMIT NO. 127 Check us out on the web at www.rhbce.org Weekly Church Activities: Sundays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays: 9:45 AM - Bible Study for all ages 10:55 AM - Worship 5:45 PM - GROW - Kids In Discipleship (K.I.D. Groups) 6:00 PM - Adult Bible Study; INCREASE (Youth Bible Study) 10:00 AM - Young at Heart Adult Bible Study 7:00 PM - Senior Adult Choir Dr. James Horton, Senior Pastor jhorton@rhbce.org 7:00 PM - Adult Bible Study; INCREASE (Youth); GROW (Children -, GA s, RA s) 8:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Mike Denny, Associate Pastor: Youth & Children mdenny@rhbce.org 221-4948 (Home) 336-266-9493 (Cell) Tyler Cone, Associate Pastor: Worship & Education 252-903-2565 (Cell) tcone@rhbce.org Mr. Adam Bunch, Chairman of Deacons adamwbunch@hotmail.com Mrs. Linda B. Bunch, Administrative Assistant lbunch@rhbce.org 335-8870 (Cell) 221-4133 (Office)