Pastor David Jones Associate Pastor Richard Peck

December 2017

“We exist to love and know God more deeply, to grow more like Jesus each day, and to reach the world in the power of the Holy Spirit with the message of the Cross and the Resur-rection beginning in the Mulberry community.”

Make His Place Your Home

Church

Goal

$ 8,000.

Tags are on the bulletin board just outside the sanctuary near the piano. Please sign your name beside family # on the tag. It is suggested to not spend more than $35—$40 on each tag. Please return gifts by December 10.

John 1: 14 “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture. I find that it is full of wonder and awe and full of endless truth. Can you imagine what it would be like to look into the face of God? No man has seen God at any time, yet Christ made Him known. He told His disciples “when you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Wow! What a statement.

Imagine what it was like as Mary and Joseph looked upon His face for the first time. I wonder did they think. “ So, this is God?” “This is our savior.” “ This is the messiah, the King of the world.” Or did they really know what and who had taken place. I wonder if Jo-seph still had doubts, I wonder if their families turned them away? I wonder if they thought, “I didn't think it would be like this.” Christmas is such a time of wonder. Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall see God.” We've learned that the word “merciful” here means more than to have compassion or to feel sympathy or sorrow for someone. It literally means to “get into their skin.” To understand their life and struggles and what they are going through to be able to really help them.

When Jesus humbled himself and became a man, that's what He did. He got into our skin. He became acquainted with our grief. He was tempted as we are, yet without sin. He suffered as we suffer. He hurt as we hurt, He got into our skin. In doing so we have a wonder-ful, merciful, Savior, full of grace and truth.

As we celebrate Christmas, let it sink into our hearts that God came down. He got in-to our flesh. So now we see Him! Now we can hear His voice! Now we can touch Him.! Now we can know God and we can make Him known! Praise God for Christmas!

In closing, on behalf of myself and Tammie, we truly do wish you a Merry Christmas and pray that your life and home will be filled with the blessings and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas, Pastor David Jones

Student Ministry

2018 Steers of Yesteryear Chik-fil-a Cow-lendars for sale to support Kenya

missions $10.00each

Available in church office or from mission team members

Christmas Gifts for Inmates Every Christmas, the Wilkes Prison Ministry provides a large Christmas sack to every inmate at the Wilkes Correctional Center. There are approximately 270 inmates at the Prison. Although many inmates receive gifts from family, there are those for whom this is the only Christmas gift they will receive. Each sack contains items such as candy, toiletry items, envelopes, Christian literature, cookies and many other items. This is an event much anticipated and appreciated by the inmates. Financing of these sacks depends entirely on community donations. Please give contributions to Doug Laws, Frank Shealy or the church office. The cost of each bag is about $15. Checks should be written to Wilkes Prison Ministry.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” These words from a

popular Christmas song always ring out in my ears during December.

Whether you are a child or a “child at heart”, this season always stirs

up something inside of us that brings out more joy, more celebration,

and more anticipation of what is to come when Christmas rolls around.

This month I thought I would share with you what has become a

wonderful and joyous family tradition in our home, as well as some re-

sources that we have found to be great for our family to celebrate the

Advent season in focusing our hearts on the real reason for the joy of

Christmas. As a student pastor, one of the great joys is to see families

who make it a priority to worship together at home. The greatest influ-

ence in a child’s faith is not the student pastor, but moms and dads (and

grandmas and granddads too) who intentionally make time to worship to-

gether through family devotions and activities that focus their hearts on the

Lord (see Deuteronomy 6:4-5). If Advent (which starts Sunday, December

3) is not a regular part of your family worship at Christmas time, then let

me encourage you to start a new tradition. Below I will share some de-

scriptions of resources to help you that our family uses. We have found

that as a family, these times together have drawn us closer together as they

have drawn our hearts closer to the King at Christmas.

Christianbook.com’s Product Description: Unwrapping the Great-

est Gift is a book like no other - it's your own larger-than-life Advent Calendar,

opening up to 25 wondrous stories that tell the family tree of Jesus, from Crea-

tion to His Coming. Each day's story has its very own ornament, one for each

day of Advent - all unwrapping a bit more of a story that's far better than the

greatest fairy tale you've ever read - because this story is all true. So come

Christmas day - your kids, and your Christmas tree with all 25 ornaments, will

be telling the full love story of Jesus’ coming, right from the very beginning!

What better gift to give the whole family this Christmas than the wonder of

the full love story of Jesus? Full color, vibrant 2 page spreads; romping, shim-

mering words; for every kid from ages 4- 94.

At www.theshepherdstreasure.com, you can read in more detail about how

this resource helps lead your children into a daily search for the baby in the

manger. The shepherd in the story is found each morning in a different place in your

home as he is in search for Jesus. The resource comes with daily advent cards with

suggested activities for your family to discuss the story until the shepherd finds Jesus

on Christmas Day. If you are familiar with the “Elf on the Shelf” activity set that is

sold every Christmas in stores, this resource focuses more on helping children see

why we celebrate Christmas rather than trying to get them to be good so that Santa

will visit them.

The resources above have proven to be wonderful in helping our family focus on the real meaning of Christmas.

There are always helpful Advent resources coming out, and many in existence, that can assist you if you desire to

make this month all about Jesus in your home. In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season where many focus on

the sales, the lights, the decorations, and all the other activities that seem to make this season rush by, why not make

this season more about gathering your family together and slowing down to reflect on the wonderful good news that

was so highly anticipated that first Christmas. Our family will be, and we can speak from experience that it is such a

rich experience.

IMPORTANT DATE: Wednesday, December 14 – Youth Christmas Party

Saturday, December 16 (6:00 PM) – Tanglewood Christmas Lights Hayride

December Birthdays

To My Baptist Home Church Family,

Thank You for the calls, cards and prayers following the passing of my brother, Jack Brewer.

Please continue to remember my family in your prayers.

Love,

Peggy Absher

1 Sarah Shangler 1 Henry Souther 2 Mary Burgess 2 Laura Byrd 2 Jennifer Furr 3 Kelly White 4 Dylan Taylor 5 Katie Burns 5 Frank Griffin 7 Kyle Gambill 9 Linda Handy

22 Gary Adams 22 Jared Story 23 Sylvia Burgess 23 Jason Dancy 24 Ray Blevins 25 Rodney Redding 27 Sherry Gambill 28 Tommy Burchette 28 Claudette Cothren 29 Lloyd Call 29 Eddie Caudill

13 Dana Burns 13 Penni Rash 13 Dalton Tedder 15 Helen Lockhart 15 Jeffrey Morton 16 Daniel Call 17 Lincoln Burns 18 Regena Holder 19 Gary Martin 20 Jill Rogers 20 Logan Anderson 20 Bobbie Phillips

29 Holly Peck 30 Clyde Lockhart 30 Rodney Pennington 31 Leslie Harbour

Deadline for requests for checks/reimbursements, etc—Tuesday, 5:00pm

Deadline for information to be included in Wednesday Lamplighter—Tuesday, 5:00pm

Deadline for information to be included in Sunday bulletin (including bulletin inserts)—Thursday, 5:00pm

Deadline for information to be included in monthly newsletter—25th of month

** Please feel free to contact church office if you have a “last minute” request ... we will be happy to help!

Church Prayer Focus for December: Churches in the Stone Mountain Association are partnering in prayer for one another. Our

church to pray for during December is Fairplains Baptist Church. Their Pastor & his wife is Rev. David and Mrs. Carolyn Dyer.

Please pray for this church, its pastor, people, leadership, fellowship and ministry. If you would like to send a note of encouragement:

141 Fairplains Church Street, N. Wilkesboro, NC 28659

My Christmas Prayer

Dear Lord, no matter how busy life gets or how

lonely I feel this Christmas, I want to unwrap the

gift of Your presence. Help me see You, hear

Your voice speak to my heart, and pay attention

when You lead me with Your peace and

perspective. I seek Your purpose in all of my

plans. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

2017

Barbara Ledford Lee Ellen Pearson

John Ellis Mildred Shumate Shirley Newton

Polly Hayes Walter Adams Jimmy Elledge

Operation Christmas Child

Tuesday morning, November 21st, 534 shoeboxes were picked up to be delivered to Samaritan’s Purse .. 236 were from our

church family. THANK YOU for joining together in this ministry.

Thank You to everyone who worked so faithfully to serve our friends and neighbors at

the Community Thanksgiving Meal. Thank You to more than 90 volunteers, including

afterschool kids, who carried and sorted food. Thank You those who provided, sorted &

bagged, cooked, served, hosted, counseled , etc. .. more than 75 families were provided

with meals and groceries.

To God Be All the Glory and Praise!!

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Contact Information for .. Pastor David Jones: cell phone (336) 466-6254; home address 611 Briar Creek Drive, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Pastor Richard Peck: cell phone (336) 467-7108, address 2362 Sparta Road, North Wilkesbo-ro, NC 28659. (Please contact our church office, Pastor Jones, Pastor Peck or one of our deacons whenever there is a need).

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Hometown Kids

I’m not sure how December got here. Can anyone tell me? We just finished VBS didn’t we? I hope you will make your plans to be present on De-cember 10 at 6:00 p.m. as the children present their program of “A Black and White Christmas.” We will meet in the Family Life Center where we will have a hot cocoa/coffee bar and cookies for your enjoyment. The children have been working hard and practicing diligently. Many hours have gone into preparing props and decorations and we are putting the final touches on everything now. I encourage you to bring someone with you who needs to hear the true message of Christmas. As fun and entertaining as kids can be sometimes, we do have a story to tell of the love of Christ who left heaven and came to earth as a baby on that dark night long, long ago. I look forward to seeing you. Until Next time, Merry Christmas from

Tammie Jones Children’s Ministry Leader

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at Work

The following message came from missionary, Bert Yates. Bert, along with her

husband, Jack, serves with the International Mission Board in Nairobi, Kenya.

Bert, posted this on her facebook page on November 28th.

As I hear horns blowing in the distance, the President of Kenya is being inaugurated after a repeat election and many court battles. But those in the Deep Sea Slum in Nairobi are not celebrating today as they determine the damage after a fire raged through their homes last night.

Co-workers now in Deep Sea have shared the following prayer request: “Pray for the over 200 people that have lost everything in a fire in the slum near Parklands called Deep Sea. Pray for the family of the one known fatality, a three-year old child. Pray that the church would serve and be a light during his difficult time in this community.”

During this Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) season, I’m reading through Psalm 107, which begins, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story…” (vv.1,2). Today, I was astounded how three verses became alive and active as I thought of my co-workers reports. Those in the slums of Nairobi are often like the people of Old Testament days. “Some [have] wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a [place] where they could settle. They [are] hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. [Today those in Deep Sea slum are crying] out to the LORD in their trouble, [crying to Him for delivery] from their distress” (Psalm 107:4-6).

So the STORY that I must TELL today is that thanks to those who have given in the past to the LMCO and will give this year, IMB missionaries have been in Deep Sea since early this morning comforting residents and responding to the needs of those facing loss in the slum. These workers are also determining ways that Baptist Global Response (https://gobgr.org/) can assist as they “be the light” and minister in the name of our Savior, now and in coming days. Another STORY that I must TELL is that one IMB family could clearly see the flames from their home last night. I know they are thankful for those who prayed for them, even those who prayed general prayers of BLESS OUR MISSIONARIES as they and their young children are safe and did not have to flee their home last night. I also know that they would ask you to continue praying for those hurting in Deep Sea Slum and for those, including praying for strength and wisdom for IMB workers and Kenyan Baptists, who will continue being ambassadors of our Father’ healing, love and salvation in coming days.

Another Story that I must TELL: The ability to be 'on the ground' and ready to respond is why IMB missionaries are thankful for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Your gifts are making and will have an eternal impact of those who are in need in the Deep Sea Slum! #LMCO17 #ourLMCO https://www.imb.org/lottie-moon-christmas-offering ADDED NOTE: Prayers are needed as co-workers begin distributing dry food stuffs.

Nursery/Children’s Church

Workers Schedule 12/3 Dawn Michael, Tammie Jones Kara Jolly 12/10 Leslie Harbour, Alena Harbour, Wanda Bolles 12/17 Niki Haynes, Jan Elledge, Brenda Foster 12/24 Mary Wolfe, Crystal Dillard, Donna Wyatt 12/31 Melinda Colins, Kennedy Collins Tammy Miles

Baptist Home Church Staff Pastor Pastor David Jones Associate/Students/Education Pastor Richard Peck Worship Leader James Tedder, Interim Church Secretary Wanda Call Chairman of Deacons Tommy Burchette Sunday School Dir. Tommy Burchette Preschool/Afterschool Dir. Lisa Bumgarner Children’s Ministry Leader Tammie Jones

Attendance for November

Sunday School Enrollment 310 Average Sunday School Attendance 179 Average Morning Worship 239 Visitors 14

Baptist Home Baptist Church 2367 Sparta Road North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 Phone: (336) 670-2213 Email: BHB1church@aol.com Web Address: www.baptisthomechurch.org

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID North Wilkesboro, NC

PERMIT NO. 81

Deacon Security Schedule 12/3 8:30am Eric Huffman 11:00am Mike Taylor 6:00pm Phillip Smith 12/6 Rick Ward 12/10 8:30am Rodney Pennington 11:00am David Foster 6:00pm George Wells 12/13 William Reynolds 12/17 8:30am Mark Holey 11:00am Adam Furr 6:00pm Dave Wolfe 12/20 Steve Douglas 12/24 8:30am Dennis Souther 11:00am Mike Cothren 12/27 Steve Call 12/31 8:30am Jeff Batttle 11:00am Mike Church