Face Your Fear With God’s Power

According to one survey of Christians, the number one reason for not witnessing is the fear of rejection. I think it may be because we have stressed words and phrases to enlist people to witness. We have encouraged people to be "a soul winner" or to "bring people to Christ." These are not bad things, but, we have misunderstood them to mean that we have a role in the actual transformation of a person from darkness of sin to the light of Christ. Sharing your faith is one area in which you cannot fail. Even if your voice trembles, your hands shake, you stumble over words, you struggle to make yourself clear, you even find the timing is off, God can use your witness. God cannot use your silence.

As we approach Christmas and the New Year I want to

remind you why we celebrate. It is the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you celebrate this year remind your family why we celebrate Christmas and let's start the New Year off right. Let people know they need a relationship with Jesus.

Our mission from now on is to Reach, Teach and Minister.

May God bless you and as always it's an honor to be you pastor. Have a great Christmas and I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do at Valley Grove this New Year.

Bro. Greg

Church Events Dec. 3rd—Children’s Musical Practice

Dec. 4th—Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Begins

Dec. 4th—Deacon’s Meeting 4:00 pm

Dec. 4th—”Meet Me At The Manger” children’s musical 6:00 pm

Dec. 7th—Children’s Meal & Movie 5:35 pm

Dec. 7th—Business Meeting

Dec. 8th—Staff/Deacon Christmas party 6:00 pm

Dec. 11th—”Shine On Us” Adult Contata 10:30 am

Dec. 12th—Adult Christmas Caroling

Dec. 13th—Ladies Night Out 6:00 pm

Dec. 16th—Senior Adult Trip

Dec. 17th—Gym Reserved

Dec. 18th—Movie Night

Dec. 20th—Basketball Ministry Christmas Meal

Dec. 23rd—Office Closed

Dec. 25th—MERRY CHRISTMAS

Dec. 26th—Office Closed

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF VALLEY GROVE BAPTIST DECEMBER 2016 – VOLUME 42

Visit us on the web & make your contribution online at: www.valleygrove.com

Like us on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/groups/142416005804026/

The Clothing Ministry Page @ https://www.facebook.com/vgclothingministry?ref=bookmarks

VALLEY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 3040 Old Hwy 20, Tuscumbia, AL 35674

Phone: 256.381.1662 Fax: 256.381.1299

Our Staff Dr. Greg Beasley, Pastor

Bro. Frankie LaBoone, Senior Adult/Outreach Director Mary Underwood, Children’s Director

Bro. Ted Vafeas, Education/Young Couples Bro. Jeremy Scott, Interim Youth Director

Donna Terry, Financial Secretary/Secretary Molly Banes, Office Assistant

Non-Profit Org. U. S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 97 Tuscumbia, AL 35674

WEEKLY CHURCH CALENDAR Bible Classes ............................... Sundays 9:15 am Morning Worship ...................... Sundays 10:30 am Spiritual Growth University ........ Sundays 5:00 pm Evening Worship ......................... Sundays 6:00 pm Clothing Ministry ............ Mondays 8:30-11:30 am Boy’s Basketball Ministry ........ Tuesdays 6:00 pm Children/Youth Meal Time .. Wednesdays 5:00 pm Children/Youth Activities .... Wednesdays 5:35 pm College & Career ................. Wednesdays 6:00 pm Bible Study & Prayer ........... Wednesdays 6:15 pm Celebration Choir ................. Wednesdays 7:00 pm

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Office will be closed December 23rd & 26th for

Christmas Holidays

Presented by our Celebration Choir Sunday, December 11 @ 10:30 pm

TOGETHER AT THE SPRINGS MARRIAGE CONFERENCE

MARCH 3-4, 2017 Cost $224 per couple

$99 Non-Refundable Deposit Due by Dec. 4th See Bro. Ted Vafeas if you are interested.

If you would like to sponsor a couple to attend this conference please see Bro. Ted Vafeas.

LADIES NIGHT OUT Tuesday, December 13 @ 6:00 pm

At Stanfields Steak House

MOVIE NIGHT “Saving Christmas” starring Kirk Cameron

Sunday, December 18 @ 4:30 pm Followed by Spiritual Growth University

SENIOR ADULT TRIP Tuesday, November 29 - Leave the Church at 8:00 am

Shopping Excursion Southwestern Salvage Park City Mall Bridge Street Mall

BASKETBALL MINISTRY CHRISTMAS DINNER

Tuesday, December 20 @ @ 6:00 pm

Presented by our Children’s Choir Sunday, December 4 @ 6:00 pm

GOD BLESSES OBEDIENCE We were traveling in South Carolina last week. I saw very

similar situations there as in Alabama. I was in an outdoor heated pool, in November, and started a conversation with a gentleman who was from Maryland. His son was a doctor for professional football players. In the conversation he named a famous football player who retired having amassed $139 million. In 3 years he was broke having spent his fortune on women, booze, drugs, autos, cars, homes, failed investments and fake friends. This man was raised by a single mother who was tough and taught him values. She also taught him and his siblings about Christ.

In Alabama, South Carolina and all over the world there are believers who know what is important in life. God blesses obedience. Romans 12:1-2.

Ps: by the way, Bro. Greg and our precious teachers teach a lifestyle based on these Scriptures.

Bro. Ted

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:30-33

Anniversaries e 2nd - Gerald & Joyce King

e 4th - Billy & CC Nelson

e 8th - Jimmy & Marilyn Tedder

e 14th - Tommy & Sandra McBride

e 14th - Wayne & Rita Underwood

e 20th - Steve & JoAnn Nix

e 22nd - Steve & Shelia McCrary

e 27th - Edgar & Charlotte Burgess

AREAS OF SERVICE

"Grace Greater than Our Sin' was written by Julia Harriette Johnson (1849-1919) who was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister from Illinois. Johnson utilized Paul's writing of Romans 5:1-2: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Paul continues in 14-16 when he writes that grace is a free gift given to us by Jesus Christ.

Grace is given to us freely even though we do not deserve it. We should in turn offer grace to the people around us. Praying that you use this gift, Merry Christmas, Mary.

v Dec. 30 - Children Musical Rehearsal /Prophets Told About Jesus's Birth

v Dec. 4 - Children's Musical - 6:00 / Jesus' Birth/ A Serving Project

v Dec. 7 - Children's Supper/Movie v Dec. 11 - The Origins of Hanukkah v Dec. 14 - Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph v Dec. 18 - Emmanuel: The Story of Christmas/Reward Trip v Dec. 21 - Jesus was Born v Dec. 28 - Paul's Conversion

Children's Christmas Please deliver Christmas Gifts by December 18. Hello everyone, first off let me thank you for the love and support you have given the youth and myself. We still want to encourage each of you to join our “Prayer Partners” group. It is a great way for the youth and others in the church to get to know each other and also have someone that they know is definitely praying for them. The youth are starting to get excited about our trip to Gatlinburg coming up in January. Please be in prayer for our youth. Parents, if you have any questions about the trip, please ask me. Continue to be in prayer for our youth.

Much Love and Thanks, Bro. Jeremy

A new school Principal was checking over his school on the first day. Passing the stockroom, he was startled to see the door wide open and teachers bustling in and out, carrying off books and supplies in preparation for the arrival of students the next day. The school where he had been a Principal the previous year had used a check-out system only slightly less elaborate than that at Fort Knox.

Cautiously, he asked the school's long time Custodian, "Do you think it's wise to keep the stockroom unlocked and to let the teachers take things without requisitions?"

The Custodian looked at him gravely and said, "We trust them with the children, don't we?"

Trust. A simple and short word, but one that implies so much. If I trust someone in one area, but not in another, have I really trusted them? Can trust be area specific? I know confidence can be, but trust implies the whole package.

How do you trust God? Totally...., Partially...... Not at all......

Think about it Frankie

Marvelous Grace

Message from the Youth

Trust

NURSERY CARE Sunday, December 4 am - Tina Tverberg, Rhonda Keenum, Freddie & Carol Morris, Katie Looney pm - Norma Hallmark Wednesday, December 7 - Lura Aday, Susan Young Sunday, December 11 am - Connie Posey, Carol Underwood, Dana Massey, Amanda Gomez, Doug McDonald pm - Joy South Wednesday, December 14 - Wanda Ber ry, Linda Counts Sunday, December 18 am - Sue Jeffreys, Patricia Gomez, April Simon, Breanna Newell, Penny Townsend, Wanda Downey pm –Lura Agee, Phyllis Myhan Tuesday, December 21 - Mary Jane McDonald, Shelia Creasy Sunday, December 25 am - Joyce Dennis, Charlotte Jeffreys, Meagan Rumble, Rodney & Cassie Sparks pm - Amber Shell, Tonya Reid Wednesday, December 28 - Brenda Nixon, Carol Aday

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER TEAM 4 - Doug Myhan, Darryl Tverberg 11 - Bo Keenum, Rhonda Keenum

18 - Wayne Jeffreys, T. C. Hallmark 25 - Judy Vafeas, Patricia Gomez

SECURITY TEAM 4 - Don Bradford 11 - Justin Gasque 18 - Zach Tverberg 25 - Larry Allen

VAN DRIVER SCHEDULE Sunday, December 4 Van 1 – Reba Newell, Greg Newell Wednesday, December 7 Van 1 – Reba Newell, Betty Bradford Van 2 - Barry Minor, Don Bradford Sunday, December 11 Van 1 – Reba Newell, Lura Agee Wednesday, December 14 Van 1 – Reba Newell, Shelia Creasy Van 2 - Larry Creasy, Justin Gasque Sunday, December 18 Van 1 – Reba Newell, John or Sharon Permenter Wednesday, December 21 Van 1 – Reba Newell, Maxine Shelhamer Van 2 - T. C. Hallmark, Susan Young Sunday, December 25 Vans will not run Wednesday, December 28 Van 1 – Reba Newell, Justin Gasque

Birthdays e 1st - Victor Simon

e 2nd - Roger Morgan

e 3rd - Cade Tverberg

e 4th - Greg Newell

e 5th - Geri Duffey

e 6th - Taylor James

e 7th - Cleo Uhlman

e 7th - Brandon Underwood

e 8th - Nancy Counts

e 8th - Rickey Kirby

e 9th - Ray Counts

e 11th - Jerry McGee

e 13th - Norman Elsner

e 15th - Byron Aycock

e 15th - Angie Dewberry

e 15th - Carol Kuykendall

e 16th - Norma Hallmark

e 17th - Jessica Newell

e 21st - Ashley Eddy

e 21st - Zane Hodge

e 21st - Gary White

e 22nd - Steven Stayton

e 23rd - Betty Jeffreys

e 25th - Mary Isbell

e 25th - Christine Montgomery

e 25th - Brittany Myrick

e 26th - Don Bradford

e 26th - Deloris Hand

e 28th - Sharon Campbell

e 29th - Karleigh Aday

e 29th - Paisley Carpenter

e 29th - Jo Ann Hare

e 29th - Fredia Kirby

e 30th - Joyce Dennis

e 30th - Anthony Gregory

e 30th - Steve Sandlin

e 30th - Nora Sparks

e 30th - Ashley Wallace

COMING SOON!!!! A private room in the nursery where

Mothers’ may go and nurse their babies.

GOD IS FAITHFUL AND AWESOME!!!! The loan for the building has been paid off. We would like to encourage you to continue “Tithe the Tithe” so that the other loan can be paid off

just as quickly.

We are growing! God is blessing us be-yond imagination! Growth brings a need

with seating. Your help is greatly appreciated. Due to the seating capacity in our sanctuary our

visitors are having a hard time finding a seat. We would like to ask all members to please move to

the center of the pew so that our visitors may find a seat a little easier. We greatly appreciate your

cooperation in this matter.

GOAL: $5,000

Start 12/4 Ends 12/25