Download December 2010 Newsletter

Old GreenbriER
Baptist News
2010
Old Greenbrier Baptist Church
PO Box 456
Alderson, WV 24910
STAFF
Pastor:
Rev. Dr. Bill Bryan
(304) 646-8631
Ministers of Music:
Dell & Nancy Wood
Diana Halstead
Carolyn Holliday
Treasurer:
Charlotte Melton
Congregational Visitor:
Peggy Bollenbach
Official Board, Chair
Shelia Harris
Street Address:
301 North Monroe St.
Church Phone:
(304) 445-7854
Non-Profit
Postage
Permit
No. 32
Listen to “Message of Hope” Monday through Friday on 95.3 FM radio
or on the web at www.hearthealthyradio.com
following the morning news at 8:00am
and again following the 95 min. Power Hour at 6:35pm.
Church website: http://oldgreenbrierbaptistchurch.typepad.com/
Volume XII No. XII
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
It’s hard to believe it is Christmastime
already. Where has this year gone? For me,
the Christmas season is full of many good
memories. I pray it is the same for you. I
want to share with you three things I
remember in this special season.
I remember many happy times of Christmas as a child. I remember the
excitement of that first snow and a day off from school; of making
cookies with my mom; of going to the woods to cut a tree with my dad;
of singing in the church Christmas program; and of finding presents
under the tree on Christmas morn. As an adult I reflect in this season on
these good memories and experience them anew through our children.
I remember our retired American Baptist ministers and missionaries at
this Christmas season. I hope you will join me this month in giving an
offering—above our regular tithes—to say “thank you” to them. My
grandfather and uncles have been American Baptist ministers. I
remember the good ministry they and their colleagues have performed
in the past. We thank God for them and for their faithfulness to His call
which has required many sacrifices.
I remember that this season celebrates the launching of God’s personal
mission to earth to save us from our sins. He came in flesh as the gentle
babe of Bethlehem. Of all the gifts I have received at Christmas, the
greatest is the gift of life in Christ Jesus. I am thankful that each person
in my immediate family has also personally received the greatest gift of
Christmas. I pray your joy is the same as mine. If not, keep praying for
the Holy Spirit to work a miracle as only He can and
keep sharing the love of Christ all the year through.
Remember—It is the season of miracles!
1
Advent Service &
Luncheon –
Alderson Pres ~ 12p
Bible Study~ 6:30p
Choir/Cantata ~
7:30p
Communion Sunday
5
6
7
House &
Grounds
Mtg. ~
7 pm
S School ~ 9:45a
Worship ~ 11a
Official Bd. ~ noon
Ruth
Thurmond
Circle ~
noon
8
Advent Service &
Luncheon – JMUMC
~ 12p
2
9
Future
Planning
Team~7:30p
3
4
Men’s Bkfst
OGBC ~8 am
10
11
Friendship
Class Party
~ 6p
Pot-luck ~ 5:30p
Bus. Mtg. ~ 6:30p
Choir/Cantata
~ 7:30p
12
13
14
S School ~ 9:45a
Worship ~ 11a
Handel’s
Messiah
Carnegie
~ 3p
16
Pack Food
Pantry ~9a
17
18
Food Pantry
~9a
Bible Study~ 6:30p
Choir/Cantata ~
7:30p
19
20
S School ~ 9:45a
Worship ~ 11a
21
W
I
N
T
E
R
Cantata ~ 3p
26
S School ~ 9:45 a
Worship ~ 11 a
15
Advent Service &
Luncheon – River
of Life ~ 12p
27
22
Advent Service &
Luncheon – OGBC
~ 12p
23
Christmas
Eve Service
~ 7p
Christmas
Program ~ 6:30p
28
29
No services
or activities
24
30
25
Christmas
Day
31
New Year’s
Eve
The December Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast has been moved to Old
Greenbrier. The January Men’s Breakfast will be held on Saturday, January 8th at
8am at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church.
1 – Colin Rogers
3 – Regina Holliday
5 – Howard (Howie) Fleshman, Jr.
7 – Drew McCallister
8 – Margaret Lipps
12 – Lucie Smithson
16 – Detra McVey
Rhys Rogers
17 – Sarah Lobban
Barbara Willis
20 – Dick Simms
21 – Steve Rogers
22 – Mamie Copeland
Gina Still
24 – Brent Taylor
28 – Kelsey Still
29 – Greg Holliday
Ray Still
30 – Karla Willis
31 – Charlotte Grimmett
Ernestine Light
Neta Roush
Michael Taylor
Toys- For-Tots
Chad McCallister is collecting unwrapped toys valued at around $5
each for needy boys and girls. If you would like to make a donation,
please contact Chad at (304) 542-9202 before December 18th.
Christmas Cakes Needed
Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church will again serve
Christmas dinner to anyone in need in our community on Christmas
Day. As they did last year, the JMUMC ladies ask that our church
supply a dozen cakes in support of this ministry. There is a sign-up list
at the back of the sanctuary. Please take your cake to JMUMC on
Christmas Eve afternoon.
Notes of Encouragement
As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus this month, let us remember
our youth who are in college.
As we lift up prayers for our students as they study and work, let us also
consider sending a card, note, or care package as an act of love. Since
many of our students will be home for the Christmas holiday, you may
want to give them something to take back to college with them. Here are
the mailing addresses we have for the students listed on our church
prayer list. If you have address updates for those listed below or would
like to add a name and address to the list, please provide this
information to church office.
Amanda Bowden
Rt. 1, Box 178
Alderson, WV 24910
Kelsey Still
Box 1051
Mary Baldwin College
Staunton, VA 24401
Bethany Burdette
305 Wills Hall
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755
Holli Harris
1111 Valley View Apt.13
Morgantown, WV 26508
Cynthia Huffman
103 Sun Valley Dr.
Morgantown, WV 26508
Stephanie Willis
1617 Teal Ct.
Stillwater, OK 74074
Jaime Massey
2779 Guyan Ave.
Huntington, WV 25702
Hannah Bryan
3331 Luella #3307
LaPorte, TX 77571
Stephanie Massey
2779 Guyan Ave.
Huntington, WV 25702
77840
Joseph Bryan
529 SW Parkway #203
College Station, TX
Second, the FPT defined a clear mission for our church. The final mission
statement from our last FPT meeting is:
The mission of Old Greenbrier Baptist Church is
to sow the seed of Jesus Christ in the world so
that people become His fully devoted followers.
Pastor Bill will preach a series of Sunday morning sermons during Advent on
the theme “God’s Mission, Our Mission.”
December 5
December 12
December 19
December 26
A Seed Sowing Mission
God’s Mission Foretold
God’s Mission in Flesh
God’s Mission is Our Mission
Mark 4:26-29
Isaiah 65:17-25
John 1:1-14
2 Cor. 5:11-21
Third, the FPT has begun to seek a vision from God of our future. Team
members are praying throughout the visioning process. They are discussing
the big plans God has for our future with Him, and they are sharing their
passions for ministry.
Pastor Bill is listening to all inputs concerning the future vision God has for
our church. Even if you have not been participating actively in the FPT, please
feel free to share with him a written statement of the vision God is showing
you through prayer concerning the future of our church. Pastor Bill will be
praying and preparing a vision statement for our church over the coming
months. The future vision of our church will be the subject of his preaching
during the Lent/Easter season. Pray for our pastor, our FPT, and our church as
we look toward our future with God as we sow the seed of Jesus Christ in the
world so that people become His fully devoted followers.
Future Planning Team Report
Advent Luncheon Series 2010
Our Future Planning Team (FPT) is concluding the initial phase of its work.
We began meeting six months ago to understand who we are, what we are
supposed to be doing, and where we are heading in our future with God. The
initial phase of our future planning process focused on three key areas. First,
we identified six core values for our church which Pastor Bill has preached
about over the past two months. Our Old Greenbrier Baptist core values are:
The Alderson Ministerial Association and our area churches will again host an
Advent Luncheon series. The series theme this year is “What do you want
for Christmas?” Below is a schedule of dates, places, speakers, and topics.
Each service will begin at noon with a soup and sandwich luncheon following.
Everyone in the Alderson community is invited to participate.
 Worship: We come before God to glorify Him and to offer ourselves
completely to Him in loving response to His grace. 1 Chronicles 16:29




Dec. 1
Dec. 8
Dec. 15
Dec. 22
Alderson Presbyterian
Johnson Memorial
River of Life
Old Greenbrier Baptist
 Preaching: We clearly and accurately communicate God’s word so that
hearers accept His gracious offer of salvation in Jesus Christ and live in
ever-increasing obedience to Him. II Timothy 3:16-4:5
 Prayer: We communicate our praises and specific needs to God and
receive his power, peace, and provision through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
 Music: We present our music to praise, honor, and glorify God and to
inspire the hearts of hearers to draw closer to Him. Psalm 66:1-2
 Fellowship: We rely on the Holy Spirit of God as our only source for
true fellowship with God and with one another. Philippians 2:1-2
 Tradition: We honor past traditions of faithfulness to God’s word and
ways by building new traditions of faithfulness upon them.
Jeremiah 6:16
???
Rev. Phil Combs on “Hope”
Rev. Bill Bryan on “Freedom”
Rev. Lanny Howe on “Christ”
Rev. Annette Carper on “Salvation”
Bible Quiz
???
Luke’s gospel tells about Joseph and Mary taking the
baby Jesus to the temple “to present him to the Lord”
(Luke 2:22 NRSV). An old man approached and said the
Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die
before he saw the Messiah. Seeing Jesus and being
moved by the Holy Spirit, this man proclaimed that the
baby was indeed the Messiah.
What was the man’s name?
A. Simeon
B. Simon
C. Phanuel
D. Zechariah
Answer: A - See Luke 2:25.
Prayer Needs as of
November 21nd
Church Family Or Their Immediate Family
Who Are Ill or In Need of Prayer
Dreama Carter
Reggie Clark
Cheryl and Carolyn Copeland
Brian Craft (cousin of Carol Brown)
Emma Crouch (g-daughter of Diana Halstead)
Carolyn Dixon (Sister of Jim Johnson)
William Ellis (relative of Jo Johnson)
Betty Fleshman
Jim Fleshman (Bill, Bob Holliday’s bro-in-law)
Eileen Ford (Bob LaRue’s mother)
Conner Harvey
John Hedrick
Betty Highlander
Janet Kennedy (Anne Parker’s sister-in-law)
Joyce Lehmann
Raymond Link
Teresa Link (Raymond Link’s sister-in-law)
Kenneth McCutcheon (son of Alice & Virgil)
Margaret Massey (Bud Massey’s mother)
Roger Melton (Ron Melton’s brother)
Sharon Mullens (Carolyn Holliday’s sister)
Myrna Osbron (John Osbron’s mother)
Anne Parker and grandson Rocco
Barbara Parker (Jo Johnson’s sister)
Cindy Parker
Danny Parker
Shaun Parker
Darla Patriacca (M-i-L to Laurie Patriacca)
Laurie Patriacca
Renee Pauley (Curtis & Beverly Pauley’s daughter)
Dick & Neta Simms
Evelyn Sonnamaker (mother of Elisa Bryan)
Virginia Surgeon
Ralph Williams (Carolyn Knapp’s bro-in-law)
ALL TROOPS In Our Armed Forces
Brian Belcher (Iraq)
Mark Dunbar (Gayle LaRue’s son, Kuwait)
Brent Taylor (Greg & Barb Taylor’s son, Grandson of
Dorothy Taylor)
Government Officials Heads of State
Students and teachers: Amanda Bowden, Holli Harris,
Jamie & Stephanie Massey, Kelsey Still, Cynthia
Huffman, Joseph & Hannah Bryan, Bethany Burdette
Note: Please notify church office 304 445-7854 to
delete or add to prayer list.
Retired Ministers & Missionaries Offering
Friends of Our Church
Family Who Are Ill
Dale Berry (Friend of Rick Parker)
Rosita & Norman Blevins
Steve Boone
Lamon Brown (former MissionaryThailand)
Dennis Carter
Alice Cole
Boone Cochran
Boots Cochran
Joe Collins (Friend of Bob Holliday)
Mary Davis (Sister of Dickie Honaker)
Dan & Becky Drumhiller (niece of A. Parker)
Wllie Grace Furgeson
Courtney Glover
Valerie Helms (Friend of Knapp’s)
Anita Hill
Melba Hill (Friend of Bill Bollenbach)
Jean Himes (Friend of Diana Taylor)
Ora Honaker
Sharon Hypes
Frank & Ann Jones
Glenn & Shirley Jones
John & Pearl McCurdy
John & Betty Miles (Bill & Bob Holliday’s uncle and
aunt)
Roylence Link (Raymond Link’s brother)
Milford Manley
Tom McClung
Constance McClure - baby Gracie
John McDaniel (friend of Bob Holliday)
Rhonda, Jimmy, Camary McCrowsky (friends of Dora
Hylton)
Abby Miles (Friend of Thomas Willis)
Brenda Morgan
Johnny Parker (nephew of Anne Parker)
Susan Scott (Friend of Sylvia Keaton)
Juli Simmons Shafer
Taylor Shriver (Friend of Massey family)
Delvia Simms
Tom Sizemore
Marguerite St Clair
Johnna Taylor (Friend of Rick & Cindy Parker)
Emily & Allen Thomas
Jaime Turner (Friend of Cynthia Huffman)
Linda Walkup
Rev. Billy Wickline
Rev. Bill Withers
Ethel Wilson (friend of Rick & Cindy Parker)
Kendra Weikle (friend of Brennan Wood)
Church Family Shut-in
Ruth Altare
Mary Lou Bowden
Frances Canterbury
Mamie Copeland
Launa Croy
Julia A. Fletcher
Juanita Reed
Faye Kirby
Ernestine Light
Junior Merritt
Louise Utterback
RMMO Connects Generations
(RMMO)
Does Your Gift Make a Difference?
Since the Great Depression era of the 1930s American Baptist congregations
have contributed to special offerings to provide financial support to retired
ministers and missionaries and their widowed spouses. The Retired Ministers
and Missionaries Offering (RMMO) was established in 1977 to continue this
tradition.
Receipts for the 2009 offering totaled $1,286,338. Of that amount, 57% was
distributed in the form of “Thank You” checks to 3,341 retired American
Baptist ministers and missionaries and their widowed spouses. The average
check was $288.51.
Thirty-eight percent of the offering was available to people in need of
emergency and other financial assistance. Over the years, recipients have used
this money to repair a storm-damaged roof, purchase a new boiler in the
middle of winter, make a home wheelchair-accessible, buy or replace hearing
aids, and pay for medical, dental, and prescription expenses.
We will collect an offering for RMMO during the month of December. Our
goal is $1,000. Here are some testimonies from retirees in West Virginia about
how your offerings have helped them.
“My husband met his medical deductible in August, and we are going from month to month
trying to meet bills. Every little extra is a tremendous help. Thank you for this check!”
– Rev. & Mrs. William and Lola Carr, Ridgeley, WV
“Even though I turned 90, I have been trying to live an active life. This has been more
difficult this past year as I’ve begun experiencing some aches and pains and some slowing
down. This addition to my pension will be helpful to me.”
– Rev. Harry W. Palmer, Charleston, WV
YES, your gift DOES make a difference!