the meaning of the christmas wreath - the church in the ...€¦ · the christmas wreath is a sign...
TRANSCRIPT
55+ Happynings First Baptist Church
18 S. Walnut Ave.
Cookeville, TN 38501
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 301
Cookeville, TN 38501
The Meaning of the
Christmas Wreath Every Christmas wreath is
more than just a decoration...
it's a special reminder of Jesus,
the reason for our celebration.
The circle of a Christmas wreath
is a never-ending ring,
a reminder of eternal love
from our Lord and King.
The Christmas wreath is a sign of welcome,
inviting all to enter in… a reminder of Christ's invitation
for all to come to Him.
The middle of a Christmas wreath
is a bare and empty space,
a reminder of what life would be
without Christ's love and grace.
So each time you see a Christmas wreath
hanging from a door,
may your heart rejoice in the One
that Christmas is truly for!
The Official Newsletter for the 55+ Ministry of First Baptist Church Cookeville
A MINISTRY OF MIDDLE AND SENIOR ADULTS
December, 2016
Dear Friends,
I trust you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiv-
ing Holiday with great food and fellowship with
family and friends. Now we are in the season of
Advent. What a glorious time to remember, reflect
and prepare! Thank You God for your greatest gift
of all - Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us! As part of
your celebration of Christmas, please plan to come
to hear and experience our choirs and orchestra’s
presentation of Christmas music on Sunday, De-
cember 11th at 6:00 p.m. This will be followed by
the “Christmas Around the World” fellowship. Be
sure to invite people to come with you. Also, you
will want to participate in our annual candlelight
Christmas Eve Lord’s Supper service on December
24th at either 4:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.
I am so blessed to serve the Lord Jesus
alongside you and everyone in the First Baptist
Church, Cookeville family! Let us continue in
2017 to reach our community and world with the
love of Christ. Thank you for your many expres-
sions of love, concern and prayers for Lisa and me.
We’re both so very grateful and blessed by you all.
May you experience the love,
joy and peace of the First Noel. Merry
Christmas with love to you and your
family from the Stone family!
Grace and Peace,
Bill
Dear Friends, Christmas comes but once a year, yet it lingers in our hearts the whole year through. As we carry the love of Jesus our Savior, Messiah, Immanuel, Redeemer and Friend with us along our journey, may we contin-ue to express our love for Him through our words, songs and actions to inspire and lead others to come into the saving grace of an eternal relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord. I have been richly blessed as I have served as your President for the 55+ Ministry this past year. I thank each and every one of you for your dedicated and faithful service as officers, on committees and in service groups that encourage and inspire us to love and care for each other and all of our church family. Thank you to all who bring delicious food to our luncheons. Also, thank you for your generosity as you served the College Age group twice this semester. They come hungry for God’s word and thankful that you fill their stomachs with comfort and energy to fuel their minds to soak in that life giving word. What a blessing we can be to each other as we encourage and inspire others to serve Him. Last, but not least, a huge thank you to Bill Stone for his tireless work to keep this ministry growing and going to enjoy life, praise God and serve Him. Again I thank you for allowing me to serve, and I look forward to seeing you as we move into the Advent Season and anticipate the glorious celebration of the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas to you and your families! God bless us every one! Love, Mary Frances
NOTICE TO THOSE WHO SUBMIT ARTICLES TO
The HAPPYNINGS
Please submit your articles for January, February,
March and April to Barbara Clouse. You can email
them to her at [email protected] or
take them by the church office.
NO 55+ Luncheon in December
Please bring a finger food and join us
Sunday evening, December 11th, for the
Christmas Musical
“How Many Kings?”
and “Christmas Around the World”
Fellowship.
Please remember the following in prayer: Bethesda Betty Dyess Doris Horn David Hutcherson Cecil Jernigan Mary Smith - Dawn Brachey’s Mother Cedar Hills Assisted Living Home
Violet Cate (Mother of Merilyn Overstreet) Bill Blankenship
Heritage Pointe Winnie Clinton Donald Sloan Geraldine Conner Dot Mata NHC
Mildred Boutwell (Mother of Nancy Forrester) Irene McCall (Mother of Steve McCall)
Eloise Gothard (Mother of Randy Gothard) Sara Stewart Bailey Manor (Manchester) Fay Ramsay
Garden Plaza (Cleveland) Virginia Lee Brown Trinity Hills (Knoxville) Louise Judd The following are at home and need our prayers for their health, comfort, and recovery.
Bill & Joyce Adams Juanita Buckner Myrtle Casey Johnny Curry Nadine Denny
Tine Epps Don Haile
James Madewell Barbara Means Madie Ruth Russell Dinah Spilman
Ann Smith Sue Starnes Eva Stockstill Ree Wise If you know of anyone who is not on this list, please notify
the church office.
Prayer List
HAPPY TRAVELERS ON THE GO
Monday, January 23, 2017
Whitestone Inn in Kingston, TN for a lunch buffet.
Cost is $25.00
Sign up and pay by January 11, 2017
Bus will load at 10:00 a.m.
Leave at 10:15 a.m. - Return about 2:00 p.m.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church for Bible packing. Cost is $5.00.
Sign up by January 29th. The bus will load at
7:15 a.m. and leave at 7:30 a.m.
We will return about 4:00 p.m.
If you have not filled out a Medical Release form in the last year, please fill one out and have it notarized before your
next trip. It must be signed in front of the Notary and we have Notaries in the church office.
Connie Hawkins – Reservations & Payment, 931-261-0861, Bill Stone – 931-261-2001 – Information & Cancellations
Church Office, 931-526-7108 for Reservations and Payment
Activities Schedule Dec. 1 Happy Tones Rehearsal in house 10:00 a.m. Dec. 1 Happy Travelers to Sutton’s Grocery - Load bus at 6:00 p.m. Dec. 2 Fun Friday 9:30 a.m. Dec. 5 Breakfast at IHOP 8:30 a.m. Dec. 5 Bowling 10:00 a.m. Dec. 6 WMU Morning Bible Study Group 9:30 a.m. Dec. 8 Happy Tones to Cedar Hills Meet there at 9:45 a.m. Dec. 9 Fun Friday 9:30 a.m.
Dec. 11 Christmas Musical - “How Many Kings?” 6:00 p.m.
and “Christmas Around the World” Fellowship 7:00 p.m. Dec. 15 Happy Tones to Morningside Meet there at 9:45 a.m. Dec. 16 Fun Friday 9:30 a.m. Dec. 18 Happy Tones sing in Evening Worship Service 6:00 p.m. Dec. 21 No Meal or Wednesday Night Activities Dec. 23, 26 Church Offices closed Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Communion Service 4:00 & 6:00 p.m. Dec. 25 Merry Christmas!
Dec. 28 No Meal or Wednesday Night Activities Dec. 30 Fun Friday 9:30 a.m. Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve
Monday Morning Breakfast at IHOP on December 5th at 8:30 a.m.
Come and enjoy a good breakfast and great fellowship.
COME ON OUT and then go bowling. You can bowl or be a cheerleader.
The fellowship is great at both activities.
55+ Bowling We are always looking for new folks who would
like to bowl just for the fun of it.
We have both men and women bowling.
All are welcome to join us on
December 5th at 10:00 a.m.
at the Cookeville Bowling Alley.
Please call John Shaffer at
931-537-2599 or 261-3538
if you are interested in joining us.
HAPPY TONES
Following is the schedule for December and first rehearsal in January.
Thurs., Dec. 8 - Cedar Hills - Meet there at 9:45 a.m. - Sing at 10:00 a.m. Thurs., Dec. 15 - Morningside - Meet there at 9:45 a.m. - Sing at 10:00 a.m.
Rehearsals resume January 19, 2017 10:00 a.m.
May your Christmas be filled with special blessings! Carol
BOOK CLUB
Monday, December 12th at 1:00 p.m. in Room 177
Contact Margaret Garrett at 931-261-6242
RESCUE MISSION
The Seekers Class served the meal at the Rescue Mis-sion on October 25th. Servers included the Bertrams, Atkins, Brutons and the Mitchells. We served 52 individuals (including 4 children). Several folks came back for a second helping and one for a third. Four cakes were provided by class members. After the meal, we had some wonderful singing by the All For Him Trio and a solo by Dave Carlson. Then all of us sang two gospel songs under the direction of Allan Atkins. His helper was Maggie, a 5th grader at Prescott School, who is liv-ing at the Mission with her Mom. Pastor Christian Smith of Cumberland Presbyterian Church gave a short but powerful message about never giving up our work for Jesus even through the tough times. We are to be like the Apostle Paul and finish the race and keep the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Christmas Quotes Remember, if Christmas isn’t found in your
heart, you won’t find it under a tree. Charlotte Carpenter
A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; it makes no noise at all, but softly gives itself away; while quiet and unselfish it grows small.
Forgive, forget, What? It’s Christmas time, so whatever it was, forget about it.
Don’t worry about the fact that Christmas is almost here, I’m still counting
my blessings from last year.
I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year. Charles Dickens
And this is the testimony that God has given us
eternal life and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:11
Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of lights, with who there is
not variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17