Volume 22, Number 24

December 8, 2013

www.eastmont.org

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Admission: One Canned Good A festival highlighting the true meaning of Christmas. *GAMES* *INFLATABLES* *PONIES* *TRAIN* *CRAFTS* *BREAKFAST WITH THE ANGELS* *PRIZES* *BETHLEHEM VILLAGE* *MUSIC* *MANGER MUSEUM* *FAMILY PHOTO SPOT*

Saturday, December 7, 9:30 AM - Noon

A Night of Christmas Worship

December 8, at 5:00 PM in the Worship Center Join us for an evening of music & song as we celebrate the Christmas season.
Presented by the Eastmont Orchestra

Church-Wide Christmas Fellowship Meal

December 8, at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Club 3:16 1st-6th Grade Christmas Musical Sunday, December 15, at 3:00 & 5:00 PM in the Worship Center Our children are so excited to share this SECRET with you!
Mens Breakfast December 29, at 8 AM in the Fellowship Hall Sign up in the connecting hallway this week.
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Marriage Conference with Paul D. Tripp February 7-8, 2013 Cost: $12.50/person or $25/couple More information on page 3

I love this quote from Carol Nelson, Christmas is a time when you get homesick, even when you are home. There are a lot of strong emotions connected to Christmas. I think about family, childhood experiences, and longtime friends. I also realize Im getting older and cant rewind the years. For those of you who have lost love ones, there can be a sense of sadness during a season that is meant for joy. Here are some ways to keep the joy in Christmas. 1. Slow down. It is easy to rush from store to store, party to party, event to event and miss the best things of the season. Thirty years ago this week, I was in Israel. Christmas was in full swing for all the tourist. People were everywhere. Shops were crowded. Hotels were full. It was so hectic it didnt feel much like the Holy Land. To top it off, I sat at a picnic table near the Dead Sea for a quiet cup of coffee. In a few moments three Israelis soldiers sat down beside me for coffee. They leaned their rifles against the table. One pointing in my direction. I thought This isnt what Christmas in Israel should be like. That night in my hotel room it occurred to me. That is exactly what that first Christmas was like. Everyone was traveling. It was crowded and crazy like today. People thought mostly about themselves. There wasnt even room in the inn for a young Jewish girl about to have a baby. Slow down. Pull back and spend some time with people you love. That will take time, but it is worth it. 2. Count your blessings: Gods blessings are so regular we take them for granted. Our familys love is so consistent we overlook them. Thankfulness is an amazing, emotional medicine. 3. Remember the reason for the season. We are warned Dont take Christ out of Christmas. Church going Christians like us would never do that. We know better. Our danger isnt removing Christ, but putting Him in the corner. Emmanuel means God with us. When four children were lined up wearing a letter, they were supposed to spell S-T-A-R in the Christmas play. Somehow they lined up in reverse order. Instead of STAR they spelled RATS. Dont allow things to get out of order during Christmas. Slow Down, Be Thankful, Focus on Christ. Ill be traveling the next ten days. Our Director of Missions, Ken May will be preaching in my absence.

FAMILY PHOTO SPOT At Christmas Festival there will be a great photo spot with an old red truckBring your hats & scarves & camera to take a family photo for your Christmas cards! INTERNATIONAL MISSION FUN Wednesday, December 11, 6:30 PM for GRADES 1-6 Join us for a fun evening as we move room to room learning all about missions in PERU!! Earn your International Missions Patch! CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL COMMITTEE Thank you to our Christmas Festival Committee for all their hard work in coordinating this huge event for our church and community! Coordinator Heather Hill Promotion Ashley Henderson Breakfast Tabitha Ragsdale Games Amy Blake Craft Lynn Blackwell Outdoor Activities Amy Payton Food Kim McDonald Bethlehem Village Colleen Walton Extra Activities Sarah Nielsen & Linda Nebhut THANK YOU to the many volunteers who will be helping these coordinators! GOT CHRISTMAS PHOTO CARD?? Bring your family Christmas Photo Card and put it on our bulletin board next to the kindergarten office.We love seeing everyones photo cards! OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY Dont forget to invite family and friends to the Christmas Festival! This is truly a great outreach opportunity! LOTTIE MOON OFFERING Kids, dont forget to be saving an offering to give to help support missionaries all around the world. This offering is named after Lottie Moon who was a missionary to China. At the International Mission Study you will be given a coin card which will help you save quarters to give to this important offering! Dont forget to pray for the missionaries when you give your offering.

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Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Prayer for International Missions - December 1-8 Challenge Goal $30,000 Victory Goal $33,000 Hallelujah Goal $36,000
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself (HCSB).

Wednesdays in December Ladies, take a mid-week break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and just breathe. Thankfulness! Testimony, devotional & fellowship. We will meet at 6:30 PM in room 110. December 4 - Ashley Meldrum December 11 - Stephanie McClelland December 18 - Beth Gillem (also will include a special
Christmas dessert fellowship)

5th Annual MBA Toy Sale Thank you for your gifts, volunteering of your time & most importantly your prayers! Over one hundred families were able to provide a Christmas to their children because of you. Thank you so very much. House to House Ministry House to House will resume January 18, 2014. Please contact Travis Jordan at 334-391-3505 or Thomas Corum at 334-868-7176 if you are interested in helping with this ministry.

What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage February 7-8, 2014 with Dr. Paul David Tripp Tickets: $12.50 per person or $25/couple Purchase tickets in the connecting hallway or online at: montgomerytrippconf.wordpress.com Christmas Post Office December 1-22 Its that time of year and the Student Ministry wants to help you spread Christmas Cheer. Bring Christmas cards addressed to Eastmont members and drop them in the BIG mailboxes located in the worship center lobby and in the connecting hallway. It would be helpful if you know the
receivers Sunday School Class Name to include on the envelope. The Student Ministry will sort and then deliver your Christmas cards to the various Sunday School classes each Sunday.

Winter Retreat January 17-19, 2014 at Childrens Harbor on Lake Martin Cost: $90/person Any students in grades 7-12 are welcome. Registration forms are available now.

The Living Christmas Tree 2013 First Baptist Church Montgomery Group Nights: Saturday, December 14 at 7 PM (2 tickets left) Sunday, December 15 at 7 PM (10 tickets left) This is for discount tickets only. Tickets are $5 each. No transportation offered. Forever young December 17, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. We will have a prepared meal. Special guest - Scotty Goldman.

Forest Park Ministry Center During the month of December, we are collecting nonperishable food items for the Forest Park Ministry Center. Especially needed are canned meats and peanut butter. Please place your items in the ministry baskets located around the church. MISSING: ONE SEWING MACHINE If you borrowed the Eastmont Craft Class sewing machine, please return it as the Craft Class needs it in order to make gifts for our Loving Care Ministry.

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December 8, 2013
Sunday, December 8 8:10 AM Worship Service 9:20 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM Christmas Worship 6:00 PM Church-Wide Fellowship Tuesday, December 10 5:30 PM Aerobics Wednesday, December 11 5:15 PM Fellowship Meal 5:45 PM Acteens 6:15 PM Adult Choir Orchestra Practice 6:30 PM Mission Groups Prayer Meeting Mens Small Groups Thursday, December 12 5:30 PM Aerobics _____________________ December 11, 2013 Hamburger Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Butter Beans, Salad, Dessert, & Drink December 18, 2013 Chicken Tenders, Green Beans, Baked Potato, Salad, Dessert, & Drink $5/Adult $2/Children (Max. $15/family) December 8, 2013 Michelle Jones Blessings 10:30 AM Sanctuary Choir Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Courtney Corum, soloist Eastmont Orchestra Mary Did You Know? December 15, 2013 8:10 AM Chris Owens 10:30 AM Beverly Fain 10:30 AM Sanctuary Choir O Holy Night

November 24, 2013 Preschool.................. 66 Children....................68 Students.................... 73 Adults......................643 Total...................... 850

December 1, 2013 Preschool.................. 62 Children....................61 Students.................... 69 Adults......................564 Total...................... 756

December 8, 2013 Danny McDonald Mike Atcheson

December 15, 2013 Julian Prince Richard Cartwright

Sunday, December 15 November 24, 2013 8:10 AM Worship Service General Budget 9:20 AM Sunday School $22,194.53 10:30 AM Worship Service 3:00 PM Club 3:16 Christmas Emergency Fund 5:00 PM Club 3:16 Christmas $1,914.00

December 1, 2013 General Budget $42,511.31 Emergency Fund $3,258.00

December 8, 2013 Richard Cartwright 514-6953

December 15, 2013 Joe Torrillo 272-5439

Tuesday, December 17 5:30 PM Aerobics Office: (334) 277-6300 Fax: (334) 277-6322 Careline: (334) 277-6384 Website: eastmont.org
Facebook: facebook.com/eastmont Twitter: @eastmontbaptist Wednesday, December 18 5:15 PM Fellowship Meal 5:45 PM Acteens 6:15 PM Adult Choir Orchestra Practice 6:30 PM Mission Groups Prayer Meeting Mens Small Groups Kindergarten: (334) 244-9324 Prayer Room: (334) 277-8876 E-mail: ebc@eastmont.org

Thursday, December 18 5:30 PM Aerobics

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Eastmont Baptist Church 4505 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36109

The Encourager

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