One Sweet Christmas Story“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day by day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth.” Psalm 19:1-4

Isn’t it amazing how objects that cannot talk are often able to speak volumes? David said that the grandeur of the heavens speaks to us about the glory of God without the use of words! Let’s “talk” about a familiar Christmas candy that needs no words to tell the incredible story of Jesus. The symbolism found in the candy cane is as sweet as its taste! Turned upside down it makes a “J” for Jesus, born on Christmas Day. It’s a shepherd’s staff when it’s turned upright. Shepherds worshipped the Messiah that night. The white stick tells the story of the virgin birth, and the sinless Son of God who became a man on earth. Just as the Holy Bible tells us, “by His stripes we are healed,” the bright red stripes remind us that His precious blood was spilled. There is a Savior who knows your name, and his story is told in each candy cane. You’ll notice a candy cane theme in our activities this month. We hope it will remind you of the real reason for the season!

Mt.CarmelConnections

DECEMBER 2016 • BENTON EDITION

Candy Cane Christmas DanceYou are invited to a Candy Cane Christmas dance with Live Music by Al Binder on Friday afternoon, December 16, at 1:30. Come join your Mt. Carmel family for a special time of Christmas music and refreshments. You might even like to do a little dance as we celebrate the joy of the season!

S E Q U O I A C L U B

It’s a Candy Cane Christmas!

Let’s kick off our Candy Cane theme for December by playing a Candy Cane Guessing Game! Stop by the front desk between the 2nd and the 23rd and guess how many candy canes are in the jar for your chance to win them all! The winner will be announced during Candy Cane Bingo on the 23rd. Join us on Friday, December 2 to make a festive Candy Cane decoration for your door! We’ll also be playing Candy Cane Darts, Candy Cane Wheel of Fortune, and Candy Cane Ring Toss this month! Don’t miss any of our Candy Cane activities; check your calendar for dates and times.

Christmas at the State Capitol

Every year, families from all four corners of our state visit the Arkansas State Capitol to take in the sights of the season on a grand scale! On Tuesday, December 13, you are invited to join us as we tour theArkansas State Capitol, where it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We’ll visit the vintage manger scene and enjoy the magnificent Rockefeller pine tree in the Capitol’s rotunda along with the elegant decorations throughout the capitol. Before returning to Mt. Carmel in the afternoon, we’ll stop for lunch at Cotham’s in the City. Don’t miss out on this exciting holiday event!

“New Year’s Eve Eve” Party

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go.”

The familiar New Year’s saying, “Ring out the old, ring in the new,” originated from a poem written by Alfred Tennyson. It speaks of an old English custom of tolling bells to “ring out” the year that is ending and “ring in” the new one. On Friday afternoon, December 30 we will celebrate the end of 2016 and get ready to welcome the New Year with fun and refreshments! This event promises to be a lot fun; so be sure to be there with bells on!

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS DEC. 1 • MICALAH JOHNSON

DEC. 4 • PATRICIA DOWELL

DEC. 5 • JIM HOWELL

DEC. 6 • GINA JACKSON

DEC. 8 • JINAH LEE

DEC. 12 • DON MILLER

DEC. 15 • DALE WILLIAMS

DEC. 15 • DON HAYS

DEC. 15 • JOYLEA GEORGE

DEC. 16 • NANCY COLLYER

DEC. 18 • BRITTANY LEFFLER

DEC. 24 • JENADA SUTTON

DEC. 24 • LORENE REYNOLDS

DEC. 24 • PETE WASSER

DEC. 27 • SHANNON LEE

DEC. 28 • DEANN DANIELS

MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS DEC. 1 • RON, RANDY, & SHEILA

DEC. 2 • PIANO & VIOLIN CONCERT

DEC. 3 • J.G. BROWNING

DEC. 5 • UPPER RIDGE

DEC. 6 • BENTON JUNIOR HIGH

DEC. 7 • MIDTOWNE KIDS

DEC. 8 • BENTON JUNIOR HIGH

DEC. 14 • MORNING GLORIES

DEC. 14 • 1ST SOUTHERN KIDS

DEC. 15 • GOLDEN LINKS

DEC. 16 • AL BINDER

DEC. 20 • GOSPEL PICKERS

DEC. 21 • MT. CARMEL CHOIR

DEC. 27 • COUNTRY RAMBLERS

DEC. 29 • ARKLAHOMA