HERE’S WHAT’S NEW
Emory Baptist Church eNewsletter
Pastor's Pen
Bro. Richard Piles, Pastor
Happy New Year to you and your family!
In 2021, our verse for the year was Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” In 2022, our verse was Matthew 21:13. Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” In 2023, our verse was Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?’” In 2024, our verse was Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
In 2025, our verse for the year will be James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Like Nike says too, “Just do it!”
As has been my custom each January, let me encourage you to consider some new commitments for the new year: first, consider reading through the Bible in a year. Our member directory and handbook will have a plan that I recommend.
Second, consider committing to pray for 1 hour per week in our Intercessory Prayer Room in Memorial Hall.
Third, consider giving to our World Mission Fund. That commitment is $1,300 for the year or just $25 per week to send the gospel around the world.
Again, Happy New Year, and I pray that 2025 is a memorable one at EBC. Thank you for 10 years!!! God bless you and EBC!
Choir Corner with Chris
Bro. Chris Henderson, Minister of Music and Senior Adults
Happy New Year, Emory Baptist Church! 2024 was a great year and went by so quickly, but there are a few moments I want to share with you in retrospect of the year.
In 2024, for the first time since 2019, our choir had over 25 participants at Easter, and I had to re-add the third row of chairs. Attendance was the best and most consistent since the COVID-19 Pandemic, and I couldn’t be more thankful.
KidzPraize saw a bump in numbers toward the final half of the year, ending with an average of 14 students on Wednesday evenings.
The Senior Adult Choir began meeting again in September of 2024 and met almost every Thursday morning. Attendance was small at first, but we went caroling at Emory Health and Rehab with 10 people in December.
We added several volunteers to our A/V Team, who faithfully serve in the background every Sunday morning and evening to make sure everything goes smoothly.
I want to thank you, Choir, KidzPraize volunteers and kids, Senior Adult Choir, and A/V Team for all your hard work and your faithfulness to these ministries. Unlike a lot of other ministries, the ones I oversee live and die by the participation and involvement of others. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord, EBC, and to me. You’ve blessed me immensely.
Student Ministry Spot
Ronnie Witt, Minister of Youth & Education
Happy new year to everyone, and especially to parents for whom seeing “2025” has become a stark reality. When I read all those years in school that my kids were “class of 2023” and “2025,” it seemed so far off. But, here we are. Caleb is in his second year of college and Colby is planning to go to the firefighting academy after graduation. A lot of work has gone into every year leading up to Colby getting to this point. Still, 2025 is not simply an end, but a beginning. So, I am excited to see what 2025 will bring for him, for our church, and for what God will accomplish beyond 2025, as well. Let’s be faithful to follow Him in 2025 wherever He leads.
The youth Winter Retreat is January 18th-20th. It’s a different schedule since students do not have school on Monday, January 20th. There will be a Winter Retreat kickoff event at Emory Baptist on Saturday night to meet the leaders and spend some time together getting the theme: Kairos. Kairos is a Greek word that means a “defining moment.” Students will attend Sunday School and worship at Emory Baptist, but will leave for Camp Akiva on Sunday after the morning service. We will return back to Emory Baptist on Monday evening. Come be a part of this special Winter Retreat weekend and start 2025 off right! The cost is $75 for the whole weekend, which includes all meals, blacklight dodgeball, group recreation, foosball, carpetball, and ping-pong, and lots more.
To sign up, go to:
Retreat.EmoryBaptist.org/SignUp
Also, fill out the Akiva participant agreement and turn it into the office or give it to me at church. You can download the form from the signup page or from the church website at retreat.emorybaptist.org.
Cecily Kirby, Director of Preschool Ministries
Sonbeam Day School
We had an awesome turn out to our Christmas Program and Live Nativity. We had 369 people in attendance, and boy did the little Sonbeamers show out for their families. Hahaha! Thank you to all of the church members who attended that do not have family in Sonbeam, but showed their support to our ministry!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Bible Story of the Month:
Hannah and Samuel
Memory Verse of the Month:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Please continue to pray for our ministry, staff, students, and their families.
Nursery Rhymes
Happy New Year!
A New Year with the Lord
A new year is about to unfold
With new opportunities to explore
Doors will open for new experiences,
New adventures with the Lord
Remember not the former things,
The things of the past year,
The Lord will do new things in us,
Much more than we are aware
For He will make a way for us
As we put our trust in Him
And He will guide our every step
By His presence we have within
What God has placed within our hearts,
We find we’ll be able to do
If we look for the opportunities,
We’ll see the door to go through
We mustn’t le anything hold us back
But rise up and take our place
And be all that God wants us to be
With a fresh touch of His grace
Written by: M.S. Lowndes