Immanuel Baptist Church

There were 25 present to enjoy the Christmas Concert by Elizabeth Ford. God has blessed her with a wonderful talent and she uses it to glorify Him. We hope she will come back again maybe in the spring.

Our Bible Study was taken from Matthew, Chapters 1 & 2. Bob reviewed the story of Christmas – The Birth of Jesus Christ – with us. He challenged us to make Christmas a time of commitment and renewal of our life in service to God.

This is a busy time for all of us – but we need to stay involved in all that is planned for Immanuel during this Christmas season.

Martha

The following is our menu for the Wednesday evening fellowship meal on December 16th.

Baked chicken
Potato salad
Green beans
Baked apples
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend can still come at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child.

We will not have our regular Wednesday evening fellowship meal, prayer time, or Bible study on December 23rd.

We will be gathering in the sanctuary on Thursday, December 24th at 6:00 pm for our Christmas Eve service. Join with us for this time of worship and rejoicing in the coming of our Lord.

On Sunday, December 20th at 6:00 pm the Immanuel Baptist Church choir will be presenting our annual Christmas cantata. A fellowship time with finger foods will follow the service. Please make plans to join with us for this time of worship.

I want to say a collective Happy Birthday! to all our Immanuel folks. For the past year it has been my practice to send birthday cards to our members. As we continue to consider ways to cut expenses I have decided to bring this practice to an end, saving money on postage and for the cards themselves. God willing, our finances will improve and I will return to sending cards. In the meantime, know that you are prayed for and wished well on your birthday.

There are many things a church might do to keep people connected. Birthday cards served as one way for me to let you know that I care for you and want to know you better. Another way is through my impromptu and scheduled visits. We are slowly working our way through the church roll and I have already enjoyed visits with many of you, but many remain! If you have not yet received a visit from me please feel free to call the church office to schedule a time or just wait for us to contact you. We are moving through the church roll in alphabetical order.

If for any reason you would like to talk with me, my door is open to you. Feel free to drop by the church or schedule a time for me to come see you. Immanuel Baptist Church is a local manifestation of the universal body of Christ. We are to live daily in community with one another and I want to practice what I preach by walking with you each day. So Happy Birthday! And please let me know how I can serve you.

This coming Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season. Traditionally, churches will use the season of Advent to reflect on the coming of Christ. This season reminds us of our sin and our great need for a Savior. Throughout the Old Testament we find promises from God that Messiah would come and would deliver the people from their sins once and for all. Through Messiah there would be peace between man and God, the restoration of a relationship broken in Eden. Restoration would come through the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, it is not our doing. The work of Jesus demonstrates God’s love in a way that should grab our hearts and draw a response of faith. Rejoice, you people of God! For though we have fallen, God has sent the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, to show us the love of God and to make reconciliation so that we might be the sons and daughters of God!

This Advent season, keep your focus on God and his work. As we get caught up in all the frills of Christmas, we too easily forget what Christmas is really about. It is not about material things. It is not about days off from work. It is not even about family and memories. It is about God stepping down from Heaven, taking on flesh, and entering into human history so that we might be right with God. If we really want to make good memories this Christmas and show love to our families we will tell them about the goodness of the Lord and will call them to his love.

Happy Thanksgiving! Throughout Scripture we find calls for the people of God to give thanks to God for all that he is done. A few examples: Psalm 105:1: Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 136:1: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever… Isaiah 12:1: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Ephesians 5:20: …giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… The list could be much longer. God calls us to be a grateful people, giving thanks to God.

Every November we celebrate a national day of thanksgiving. Ideally, this is a day when people give thanks to God for his protection of and provision for us as a nation. In reality, few people bother to show genuine gratitude to God. The tragedy is that even within our churches people are slow to give thanks to God. Our hearts continue to be consumed with what we want and think we need and we overlook all that God has done and continues to do for us.

Let the Thanksgiving season serve as a reminder for a thankful year. Show your gratitude to God by praising him among the nations, making his deeds known among the peoples. If someone rescues you from a burning building, you will make sure others know. Jesus Christ has rescued you from eternal burning, will you let anyone know? Thank God in your prayers. Thank him before others. Thank him by living as he has called you to live.

This Saturday, December 5th, we are going to Baptist College of Florida to enjoy their Christmas Concert. We plan to leave the church at 1:15 pm. After the concert we will go out for dinner. We have a full bus (26) going to enjoy this celebration of Christmas.

Our luncheon meeting will follow on Tuesday the 8th. We will begin in the Church Worship Center as Elizabeth Ford presents a musical concert. You will not want to miss this time together as we worship God through her music. After this program we will have our Bible Study with Bob and then enjoy lunch together.

I do thank you for your donations to the food pantry last month even when we were unable to meet. You are always so willing in your ministry to others.

Remember – stay involved!

Martha

The following is our menu for the Wednesday evening fellowship meal on December 8th.

Hamburger steak w/onions
Baked apples
Black-eye peas
Macaroni & cheese
Rolls
Dessert

The meal will begin at 5:30 in the fellowship hall. Those unable to attend can still come at 6:15 for the prayer time and Bible study.

Cost for meals is $5.00 per adult or $3.00 per child.