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Pastor's Pen

Bro. Richard Piles, Pastor

Christmas is upon us, and Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts. The great-est gift ever given is spoken of in 2 Corinthi-ans 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His inde-scribable gift!”

Of course, we know that gift is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. God’s gift to you is Jesus living a perfect and sinless life and dying on the cross for our sins and being resurrected on the third day.
 

If you have received that gift, I want to challenge you at Christmas to give that gift to someone. It may be a family member or coworker or a friend. There is no doubt in my mind that God will send countless peo-ple across my path and your path this Christ-mas season who need the gift of Jesus.
 

You don’t have to memorize a certain presentation or be able to answer every one’s questions. You simply have to be will-ing to share what Christ did in your life.
 

In your giving this season, please con-sider buying a poinsettia to decorate the Sanctuary in honor or memory of someone as a portion of the price will go to our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
 

Also, beginning December 1, I hope you’ll take advantage of our Lottie Moon Post Office sponsored by our RA’s and GA’s (Royal Ambassadors and Girls in Ac-tion).
 

Finally, don’t miss our Christmas Eve Worship Service on Tuesday, December 24, at 5:30 PM at Believers’ Baptist Church.
 

Merry Christmas, and thanks be

Choir Corner with Chris

Bro. Chris Henderson, Minister of Music and Senior Adults

It’s finally Christmas time! I hope you have had a wonderful time with your family celebrating your blessings during Thanks-giving and the month of November. Now, it is time for us all as believers to celebrate the coming of Christ.
 

Without Christmas and the joy sur-rounding it, there never could have been an all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of man. Without Christmas, we would still be es-tranged from our Father, with no hope of redemption. But because of His great love, we have Christmas to celebrate, and subse-quently, Easter Sunday. I pray that through-out these Advent and Christmas seasons you will find joy in the promise of your personal redemption through faith in Christ, and that you will remember that the baby that was born to the Virgin Mary grew up to be the same man that was crucified, buried, and raised on the third day.
 

This month, we have several opportuni-ties to celebrate the coming of Christ togeth-er at Emory Baptist Church. The Celebration Choir has been hard at work preparing for our Song of Joy! Christmas music presenta-tion, which will take place on Sunday, De-cember 15th during the morning service. The following Sunday, December 22nd, our Joy-ful Noise Ukulele Choir will be presenting Silent Night, Holy Night during the special music portion of the morning service. Our Senior Adult Choir will also continue to meet throughout the month of December on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. We would love for you to be involved and to come sing with us at any of these times.

Student Ministry Spot

Ronnie Witt, Minister of Youth & Education

As I stood on the sideline of a playoff game that RISD hosted, the team that was ahead kicked off, again. Somehow the receiv-ing team let it bounce and the kicking team jumped on the ball at the 22 yard line.
 

When the head linesman came over where I was standing with the down box, I said, “If you leave the ball uncovered to the 22, you might not deserve to win the game.” He looked at me and said, “Don’t do it. These are 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old kids. They’re all doing their best.” Reflecting a second, I re-sponded, “You’re right!”
 

In my cool detachment from the game, I wanted to share a laugh with the official at the players’ expense. I did not want to hurt any-one’s feelings and I know that none of them could hear me, but I felt comfortable enough with the distance to make the comment. How-ever, I was too distant. Not only was I physi-cally distant from the players, but I was also emotionally distant from them because I laughed in the midst of their frustration. I was experientially distant because while they were out playing the sport, I was standing on the sideline. I might have been adjacent and even involved in the game, but I wasn’t as commit-ted as they were. The ref gave me some good advice that night: distance doesn’t give me any advantage. It just robs my compassion.
 

Christmas is the time of year when we are reminded that we have a God who is not distant from us. We have a God who, as Eu-gene Peterson paraphrased in The Message, “became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” Take time to marvel at Im-manuel, which means, “God with us.”
 

I’m thankful for the quick, but profound reminder from that official of our model in Christ, who came to us in our weakness to be with us.

Sonbeam Day School Update

Laura Bullock, Director

Sonbeam had its first Parents Night Out event in November. It was a fun and exciting event. We had a great group of kids who attended. We also had a lot of help from Sonbeam staff and Sonbeam committee members to make this event successful. We look forward to doing it again!

Our students will be learning about the birth of Jesus this month. Kids get so excited about Christmas. Sonbeam gets excited about teaching the REAL reason for the season!
 

In December, we will take a special field trip to the North Pole of Texas. The students will experience the Christmas light ambiance and learn how one family started this event to share the Good News of Christ.
 

Sonbeam will be closed for the Christmas Holiday from December 19th thru January 6th.

Nursery Rhymes

Dena Westmoreland, Preschool Ministry Coordinator

Well, we have hit the ground running in the Preschool Department. Let me start by apologizing. I know I will make mistakes, so please be patient with me as I get my feet under me.
 

We are finalizing plans for our Extend-ed Session Volunteers Appreciation Dinner. Our volunteers are so wonderful to give un-selfishly to care for our little ones during Worship. We will be celebrating these vol-unteers and their families on December 8, 2019 at 5 PM in the church fellowship hall.
 

The Preschool department will host a “Happy Birthday Jesus” party in our Sun-day School classes on December 15th.
 

We are still prayerfully searching for a paid child care provider for our Nursery each Sunday and Wednesday evening. If you are interested, or know of someone who would be a responsible, Christian care giv-er, please contact the church office.
 

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.’”
 

Matthew 19:14 NKJV