DECEMBER 2016 The Messenger VOLUME 59 NO. 12 Pastor - Dr. Eric Spano Youth and Children - Bobby Vann Dear MPBC family and friends, You know that Christmas is right around the corner because the day after Thanksgiving (Friday) all the radio stations play ONLY Christmas music (yes, that s me yelling!). Don t get me wrong, I enjoy Christmas music, but NOT for 6 weeks!! Regardless, this is an amazing time of the year and I am excited about Sunday night and our Hanging of the Greens service. It has become for MPBC the most appropriate way for us to begin the celebration of Christmas. We have many families from a wide range of ages and backgrounds helping with almost every aspect of the service. I hope you will make plans to worship with us this Sunday morning and evening. The Christmas season also provides MPBC the opportunity to focus our attention on missions, especially International Missions. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) provides the financial means for more than 4,000 missionaries to be sent to literally every corner of the globe. We are excited to have a missionary couple join us Sunday December 11 th for our worship service. We will see firsthand how our dollars are used to proclaim the gospel around the world in creative ways. Our Mission Ministry Team has been working hard to promote the LMCO and will be teaching us much about missions over the next few weeks. Also on Sunday December 18 th, we will have the privilege (through technology) to skype with our very own missionaries in SE Asia. They have been working hard at learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture and a new home. Please continue to pray for our MPBC missionaries. We also have our traditional Christmas event of Christmas caroling (at 6pm on December 18 th ) around our community in order to bring the joy, love, and warmth of Christmas to others. We will have treats back at the church following the caroling. Make plans to attend our Christmas Eve Candlelight and Lord s Supper service at 6pm on Saturday the 24 th. We have exciting things planned for this service and as always it is casual yet reflective and worshipful. Bring your family and friends and spend a little time focusing on Christ, the King! Christmas, December 25 th, is on a Sunday this year. What a perfect day for us to worship together and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the incarnation of God Himself. Since Christmas is on a Sunday this year we will NOT have Sunday School. Our Christmas Day worship service will be at regular time 10:45am. It will be a most wonderful day! Let us celebrate the season together! Peace and joy, Pastor Eric
Dear Church Family, This month as we prepare to celebrate Christmas there is a great number of ways for us to gather together to worship our great God. Below you will find a list of events including Gen246 specific opportunities as well as multiple church-wide services. This is easily one of my favorite times of year with you all. Celebrating the birth of our Savior forces me to reflect on just what it is that God really did for me. As I do that I have to stop and wonder, how do I live out my gratitude in response to Him? Romans 12:1 gives us a great way that we can respond to God in light of what He has done, Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.. I want to encourage you this Christmas season to look back on your last year and honestly answer the question, Am I living a life that honors Him?. Our right response to Who He is and what He has done for us is to give Him all of who we are, no strings attached. As we celebrate what He has given to us, may we respond together by giving Him our full obedience. Merry Christmas to you and your family! In Christ, Bobby COMING UP December 2 Friday Night Friends Remember the bus leaves at 5:45pm! 4 Hanging of the Greens This Sunday at 6pm is our annual Hanging of the Greens service. 14 CHILL Winter Retreat Final payment and all paperwork due! 16 GEN246 Christmas Party! At the Logans from 6-9pm. Bring a baked good or snack to share, wear your tackiest Christmas sweater, and remember to bring a wrapped gift under $10 for the game! 18 Christmas Caroling at 6pm. Join us for an evening of ministering to those in our community through song! We will gather at the church afterwards to enjoy hot cocoa and cookies together. 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service at 6pm. We will hold a candlelight worship service. 25 Christmas Morning Worship Service On Christmas morning we will not have 28 Sunday School but we will gather for a worship service at 10:45. No Wednesday Evening services; enjoy the holiday with your family!! January 6-8 GEN246 CHILL Winter Retreat in Beckley WV at Winterplace. Check the website for more information and for due dates! 11 P2 New York Mission Trip July 15-21. Sign up on the bulletin board and pay your $50 non-refundable deposit by Wednesday January 11. See Bobby with any questions! Find more information online! www.mpbcroanoke.com/youth-generation246.html
Ask Seek Knock Matthew 7:7 Peace with GOD Joy in Living Purpose for each Day Boundless Love Celebrate Your Own Nativity! You, too, can be BORN AGAIN! By the Spirit of GOD! John 3:3 A S K ROOM Ministry Make appointment with Ms. Shirley Call & Leave Message At Church Office: 427-5494 At Shirley's home: 427-4954 Healing: Physical-Emotional-Answers in making decisions Recreational / Respite Ministry Program for Special Needs Children & their Families December 2 6:30 9:00pm Cave Spring Baptist Church F.L.C. Carpool leaves MPBC at 5:45pm Free Medically Staffed VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (Medical or Non-Medical) Visit www.fnfroanoke.org 1. A Time of SHARING - John 3:1-21 2. A Time of MEMORIES - Luke 1:68-79 3. A Time for GREETING - Luke 1:39-55 4. A Time for CHARITY - Matthew 25:31-40 5. A Time for VISITING - Romans 15:1-7 6. A Time of HOPE - John 14:1-6 7. A Time of FAITH - Isaiah 55:1-7 8. A Time for CANDLES - John 11-14 9. A Time of PROMISE - Galatians 3:23-4:7 10. A Time for MUSIC - Psalm 150 11. A Time for REACHING OUT - John 15:1-11 12. A Time of HURRY - Luke 10:38-42 13. A Time for PRAISING IN SONG - Colossians 3:12-17 14. A Time for FAMILY - Luke 1:5-80 15. A Time for TRIMINGS - Psalm 118:19-29 16. A Time for BAKING - John 6:32-40 17. A Time for LOVE - 1 Thess. 3:11-13 18. A Time for GETTING ALONE WITH GOD - 2 Corin. 1:3-7 19. A Time for REMEMBERANCE - Isaiah 25:6-9 20. A Time of PEACE - Matthew 11:25-6-9 21. A Christ filled Holiday - Hebrews 4: 9-16 22. A Time for THANKSGIVING - 2 Corin. 9:6-15 23. A Time of BLESSINGS - Ephesians 3:14-21 24. A Time of GIFT GIVING - Ephesians 2:4-10 25. A Time to KNOW GOD WITH US - Luke 2:1-20 26. A Time to LOOK AHEAD - Philippians 3:13-15 27. A Time to MINISTER - Acts 6:4 28. A Time to PRAY ERNESTLY - Luke 6:12 29. A Time to SEIZE THE DAY - Ephesians 5:15-17 30. A Time to BE THANKFUL - 1 Thess. 5:17-19 & Psalm 34:1 31. A Time of REFLECTION - Proverbs 27:18-19 NOTICE: The Church office will be closed on Monday December 26 and Monday January 2. December 7 1787 - Delaware became the first state to adopt the new constitution of the United States 1941 - Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii December 31 1879 - Thomas Edison s first public demonstration of the electric light bulb. (Electric light bulbs allow people to have the ability to lose sleep by staying up too late which leads to health issues, but they do make Christmas tree lighting prettier and safer.) WE DO I M SORRY: Matthew 6:12; James 5:16 WE DO KINDNESS: Ephesians 4:32 WE DO 2ND CHANCES: Mathew 18:21-22 WE DO I LOVE YOU 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 WE DO FAMILY Acts 10:2 WE DO HUGS Psalm 86:15; Romans 8:38-39 WE FOLLOW JESUS John 3:16; Acts 15:11 WE LOVE GOD, OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Cecil Arnold Dec 01 Judy Tear Dec 01 Ethan Trout Dec 04 Ethan Exline Dec 05 Brianna Robertson Dec 05 Andrew Herndon Dec 07 Kassie Sink Dec 08 Kaylynn Wilson Dec 15 Ona Early Dec 16 Taylor Herndon Dec 20 Jason McCulloch Dec 20 Helen Granger Dec 21 Lisa Belcher Dec 24 Gary Dogan Dec 27 Reva Hollandsworth Dec 28 Teresa Ann Brown Dec 29 Pauline Hurd Dec 29 Sundays: December 4 - December 18 Bring your Christmas cards to our Lottie Moon Post Office and let us deliver them for you! All we ask is a 25 donation for each card. Please remember our homebound and nursing home members, too. Collections will be on Sundays and Wednesdays, or you can drop them off at the church office during open hours. For any questions please see Pat Sink, Dee Burks or Patty Cronk. Church Lock-up Schedule 12/04 Bobby B. 12/11 Monte M. 12/18 David D. 12/25 Todd R. Sundays at 5:30pm Come join our Praise Team!! Wed. Dec 21 at 7pm No evening services on the following Wednesday: December 28 Come join us for an evening of ministering to those in our community through song! Sunday December 18 at 6pm DECEMBER 2016 *Infants* 12/04 Libby D. & Barbara H. & Kristina A. 12/11 Kathie C. & Robin M. & Diana W. 12/18 Gina S. & Jessica H. & Kathleen S. 12/25 Jennifer & Richard D. & Christie R. *Toddler* 12/04 Melinda & Aaron D. 12/11 Bonnie B. & Reva & Randall H. 12/18 Kayla & Ian T. 12/25 Jill M. & Gretchen M. *Preschool* 12/04 Dee B. & Sierra L. & Sienna H. 12/11 Jennifer R. & Emma R. 12/18 Jay & Shannon M. 12/25 Brian & Melanie D. *Children s Worship* 12/04 The Missions Team 12/11 Sonya L. & Julie E. 12/18 THIRD SUNDAY 12/25 Vicki D. & Andrew B. Wednesday Evenings Wednesdays *Infant Care* 12/07 Bonnie & Bobby B. 12/14 Kathie C. & Diana W. Monte 12/21 Names to be announced 12/28 NO SERVICE Come and partake of the joy of celebration of the birth of our Lord. Saturday December 24 at 6pm DECEMBER 2016 Ushers Our Ministers of Hospitality Monte M. Patrick H. John B. Dean R. Children bring your coins/cash and light a Christmas lightbulb on our Lottie Moon Wreath! This is a fun fundraiser for children that will get them involved in learning about Lottie Moon and missions. Our goal is to get all the bulbs lit. For questions please see Pat Sink.
Growing Up Reaching Out 3000 Pitzer Road Roanoke, VA 24014 www.mpbcroanoke.com MPBC office email: mpbcoffice@mpbc.roacoxmail.com