The Pastor’s Blog
December 5th to 10th
Monday – Read Romans 3:21-26
What separates us from God?
Who has made atonement for us so that we may be one with
God?
How may we be justified?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read John 17:20-26
With whom does Jesus pray that His people will be as one?
How can this happen?
What is our part in this sense of oneness?
What might you do to live more at one with God?
Wednesday – Read John 10:7-10
What is the purpose of a door or gate?
When it comes to Jesus, He is the door or gate to what?
How does this describe the work of Jesus in our lives?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read John 14:1-6
How is Jesus the way, the truth and the life?
Why can no one come to God the Father except through Him?
What does it mean to us that the Father’s house has many
rooms?
Who do you know that does not yet have a room reserved in their
name? Take time to pray that they will find Jesus.
Friday – Read John 19:28-30
What do you see here that is significant about Jesus’ death?
What was Jesus declaring was finished?
What hope does this declaration give you?
Take time to thank Jesus for finishing the work of salvation
and for continuing to work to complete the good work He began in you.
Saturday – Read Luke 1:26-28
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Sharing the Love of Jesus at Christmas
The Gift Tree is decorated with tags that will provide a little help for families in need this holiday season! Simply claim a tag and check it out on the information sheet hanging near the tree. Gifts need to be returned by December 20. Tags will have information about gender, age and size. Suggested price range is $25. The gifts should be wrapped and identified with the tree tag when returned. If you would like to help a child, but can’t (or don’t like to) shop – we have Friends willing to brave the crowds for you. See Earlene Schlosser if you have questions.
Christmas Food Baskets: Turkeys are traditional, but also consider fully-cooked hams and canned hams as many people are without the means to cook. In addition to what the Scouts have donated we can use help with items that go with a Christmas dinner. Those items include canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, puddings, stuffing mixes, fruit and cranberry sauce. We have plenty of green beans and corn! If you would like to help us buy fresh items, please mark your donation “Food Baskets”. We could also use those nifty boxes that hold computer paper. They are just the right size and we use the lid to reinforce the bottom because we pack generously!
Annual Ladies Ornament Exchange Friday, December 2nd @ 6:30 p.m.
All ladies are welcome to join at us at MFC for this festive event! Bring a wrapped ornament and a favorite holiday goodie to share.
Saturday, December 3rd, 7 to 9 p.m. Hearts With A Mission Presents:
The Greatest Talent Show Ever It’s a night of fun, excitement and pure talent! Admission is free; donations are greatly appreciated and directly benefit Hearts With A Mission, a Christian program for homeless teens. If you have any questions contact Dave Gomez.
Wednesday Night Activities for the month of December we will meet the first Wednesday of the month and then resume our activities on January 11th.
Simple Meal will be at 6 p.m. Come & share the food, fellowship & God’s word. If you can’t make it but would like to help with the expenses please use the pew envelopes and designate “Simple Meal.” We hope to see you there. Simple Meal for 12/7/11: butternut squash soup with cider cream, chili, meat loaf sandwiches, chips, and ice cream prepared by Terry DuLong.
MFC Youth Group – Join us for fun at the RRRink! December 10th, 6:30 p.m.
Meet at MFC for a ride, cost is $6 with student ID. Sign up in Ross Chapel.
Christmas Program Sunday, December 18th at 11 a.m.
Once again we will be having our Christmas program in the morning and we have room for those who would like to share a Christmas themed musical number, sketch or reading. If you are interested in sharing in this Christmas celebration please circle “C” on the back of your friendship, found in the Sunday bulletin and write what you would like to do or contact Mark Burton.
Christmas Eve Service
Please join us in the sanctuary Saturday, December 24th at 5 p.m. for our traditional “Come As You Are Family Celebration.”
Christmas Day
We will meet for worship at 10 a.m. There will not be Sunday School or Prayer Meeting that day. The church office will be closed on Monday, December 26th.
White Elephant Gift Exchange Friday, December 30th
Join us in the fellowship hall for a fun time! Bring finger foods to share and a wrapped white elephant gift for the exchange game!
Youth New Year’s Eve Bash 2012 – 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
For students 6th – 12th grade
At Community Bible Church 500 N. 10th St. in C. P.
Cost is $10 at the door. Meet at MFC @ 7 p.m. for a ride. Sign up in Ross Chapel.
New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1st
We will meet for worship at 9:30 a.m. There will be no Sunday School or Prayer Meeting that day. The church office will be closed Monday, January 2nd.
There will not be any committee meetings for the month of December. We will resume in January.
The Ladies fellowship group and FWMF (day group) will not meet in homes in the month of December.
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The Greatest Gift
December is here. The lights displays are up, the special holiday coffee flavors are out, we have been barraged by an endless cry to buy, buy, buy, and soon Christmas trees will be going up everywhere we turn. It’s easy to view all of these things as distractions to the true meaning of Christmas, the time that has been have set aside to remember the Incarnation, God coming among us through the birth of Jesus. But instead of dismissing all of the cultural trappings of Christmas as a distraction to the true meaning, may we be encouraged by what they remind us about the birth of Jesus.
The lights that we see remind us of the glory of God that shone around the angels in the night sky as they proclaimed the good news of the birth of Jesus. They also remind us that Jesus is the “Light of the World” and He calls us to let His light shine out of our lives for all the world to see. The constant cry to buy more and more gifts reminds us of the greatest gift of all, Jesus, God with us, our Savior and Lord, who out of love gave up the glory of heaven to bring us the gift of life.
The Christmas trees remind us of the wooden cross on which Jesus came to die to pay the price for the sin of the world, so that through faith in Him we may find peace with God, forgiveness, salvation and life. And all of the special flavors of the season remind us of Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”
As you experience the lights, trees, gifts, flavors, and even the advertisements of this season, take time to give God thanks for coming among us and offering to us the greatest gift in the world, the gift of eternal life.
In Christ,
Mark
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November 28 to December 3
Monday – Read John 8:12
What does Jesus call Himself here?
Why doesn’t the world recognize Jesus as the light?
What does this mean for you?
Tuesday – Read Matthew 5:14-16
How can we be “the light of the world?”
Why should we let our light shine?
How can you better shine the light of Jesus as you live for Him?
Wednesday – Read II Corinthians 10:3-5
We live in a spiritual battlefield, what weapons has God given us to fight with?
Why are these weapons so powerful?
Why is the battle won or lost in our minds?
What can you do to be on the winning side?
Thursday – Read John 17:6-10
This is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, which includes us.
What encouragement do you find in this prayer?
How does it challenge you?
What does it mean to be in the world but not of the world?
How can we do that?
Friday – Read Hebrews 12:1-3
What sin do you need to throw off that continually entangles you?
Why does God call us to run with perseverance?
How can we know what our race is?
In whom do we find our hope and strength?
How is Jesus challenging you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Genesis 6:1-22
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