910 R Street / P O Box 759, Newman, CA 95360 (209) 862-2393 Fax: (209) 862-2398

The Christmas Prison CellEvery man knows the prison cell of life. It is a dark place filled with sorrow and dissatisfaction. Daily, one hears the low murmurs and groans which fill the cells and the mind with despair and discouragement. Evening’s restful sleep seems to be robbed by the continual rattle and clanking of the chains that bound the prisoners. The chains of sin consistently cut and grind into our withering flesh. Many nights are pierced with shouts and sobs from those who know the next day will not bring freedom, but death.The ever-pressing dampness of the cell continues its encroachment upon our soul. We have been here, laid to waste, as far back as we can remember. The cell is our home. The darkness it affords our comfort. Yet in the deep recesses of our heart there seems to be a quiet song. It is a tune that we are unable to fully make out. Could there be more than the cell?The sharp coldness of the metal and mortar are the ever-present reminder that we are caged in. There is no escape from the inside. The scratch marks on the walls and the bruised knuckles affirm the futility of our human capability. A few bars from the quiet song seem to stir with us that there is more. That there could be life away from darkness, freed from sin, but then our reality sinks back in. - - - - Why try? The impenetrable door of the cell can only be opened from the outside. Salvation cannot come from within.What is that sound? - - - Can it be? - - - - There is finally one who has come and he bears the key! Within the dark cells the news is spreading and the quiet song is rising. Freedom has arrived and is now coming. ~As we approach the Advent, let us remember that Christ is the light of the world that shatters the dominion of darkness. May we sing for joy at his arrival and celebrate that his cross is the key, which flings wide the prison doors. “A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of

FBCN Family News

December 2015

Pastor Kurt Gelman:

Missions Committee: Carl Hughes

Lottie wrote letters home detailing China's hunger for truth and the

didn't just serve the people of China; she identified with them. Many eventually accepted her. And some accepted her Savior.

For 39 years Lottie labored, chiefly in Tengchow and P'ingtu. People feared and rejected her, but she refused to leave. The aroma of fresh-baked cookies drew people to her house. She adopted traditional Chinese dress, and she learned China's language and customs. Lottie

for China, Lottie was 32 years old. She had turned down a marriage proposal and left her job, home and family to follow God's lead. Her path wasn't typical for an educated woman from a wealthy Southern family. God had gripped her with the Chinese peoples' need for a Savior.

Georgia and Virginia. Edmonia (Eddie) Moon, Lottie's sister, was appointed as a missionary to Tengchow, China, in 1872. The following year, Lottie was appointed and joined her sister there. When she set sail

receive a master’s degree. After the Civil War was over, she taught school in Kentucky,

Lottie Moon was born on December 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, VA. Lottie dedicated her life to Christ while attending college in December 1858, and was baptized at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville, VA. In 1861, Lottie became one of the first women in the South to

JUST WHO WAS LOTTIE MOON?

THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIVINGYou may not realize the impact Southern Baptists in the United States and Canada have through the Cooperative Program combined with the Lottie Moon Offering each December. Here are some figures from the 2014 Annual Statistical Report at found at public.org/global research.Because we gave in 2013, the following happened around the globe in 2014:

1.75 million people heard the Gospel Message of Christ

275,000 became new believers

14,000 new churches and 4,000 new groups were formed

21,000 leaders were trained to start new churches

444,263 met in on-going Bible studies

can show the love of Christ as a reflection of God's love for us, While the world may be giving gifts for the wrong reasons, we

personally.give as freely as we have received, even if it costs us God loves us, and understanding that he has given us everything, should drive us to to give to those we love, but also to give to meet the needs of others. Knowing that

frankincense and myrrh.”

Giving and receiving gifts at Christmas can be a wonderful thing. However, running crazy through the mall in late December; stressed out and worried about what to get Aunt Jane or Uncle John is not what I'm referring to (no offense to Aunt Jane or Uncle John). But to generously and freely give because God gave us his son to redeem us should not be avoided. Being the targets of God's love should not only give us a desire

and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and

When we think of giving gifts at Christmas and where it came from, many think of Matthew 2:10-11. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down

YOUTH NEWS: Christmas Gift Giving

Dessert Fellowship

Saturday, December 12th at 7pmAll are welcome to attend

Invite your family and friendsJoin us here at First Baptist, Newman as we

fellowship and celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Let’s share with one

another the ways that God has blessed us this year.

Bring your favorite dessert(s) to share and please don’t forget the ones that are Gluten Free. Please sign-up on the bulletin board so

we will have an idea of how many will be attending and the types of desserts you are

bringing. We also need people who are willing to help with set up and clean up. Hope to

see you here!

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful,Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels!O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,

Christ, the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,Sing in exultation!

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!Glory to God,

all Glory in the highest!O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,

Christ, the Lord.

Behold, the Lamb of GodJohn 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus

coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes

away the sin of the world!

Contact Us at the address above or call us at:(209) 862-2393info@fbcnewman.org

Pastor Kurt Gelmankurt@fbcnewman.org

Our Website is:www.fbcnewman.org

Newman, CA 95360910 R Street / P O Box 759First Baptist Church of Newman NON-PROFIT

OrganizationU. S.

POSTAGEPAID

Newman, CAPermit No. 79

Have a Merry Christ-Centered Christmas And a Happy New

Year

Peace Among Whom?  We all know the story. Sleepy shepherds were out in the fields when something amazing stirs them out of the quiet of night. A heavenly host of angels appear before them, declaring good news. Some of us may have recited the words while standing in front of our church with paper wings and a tinsel halo.“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Luke 2:14

The majestic God of the universe has come to earth. He willingly surrendered all his comfort and due glory to come in the form of a little, fragile, infant child. It was good news for all people (Luke 2:10). This child is the Savior Messiah, the long awaited promised one of God. It is the good news of great joy for all people.

All people can find life, hope, forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, rest and much more in the one heralded by the angels that evening. But amidst these exciting words of jubilation is a sobering truth. While the birth of Jesus Christ is good news because the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) has finally come, it’s also a reminder to us who believe in him of the stark reality…not all will believe. Not all will be saved. Not all will welcome the good news of the newborn king.  The angels’ final refrain was the promise of peace, shalom, among those with whom he is pleased (or with whom his favor rests). There is a clause to this shalom peace (more than mere inner disposition or the absence of war, that evokes a whole social order of well-being and prosperity, security and harmony). It is a product or an outcome of the favor of the Lord. While it is true that in Christ we find the joy all mankind is searching for, it is also true that not all will experience it.  Why won’t many experience the peace of the Lord? They will be void of his shalom because they do not know Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their lives. They have not experienced the gracious blessing of forgiveness found at the cross. One cannot be pleasing to the Lord or find the favor of the Lord without partaking in the salvation of the Lord.  As Christmas approaches let us remember that we today have a similar job as those angels on that dark night. We are to herald into a dark world the good news of great joy. God has come. He has come to free us and grant us eternal peace. This blessing is ours if we are in Christ. We need his perfect righteousness to cover over our sinfulness so that we might be pleasing to the Lord. Let us use this time of the year, when people are talking about gifts and a baby, to share the greatest gift and the reason that One small child came. That he is the key to the promise of verse 12. How will they know the Shalom of the Lord if we do not share him with them?