THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him everything was made.  Without Him nothing which has happened would have happened.  He was the Source of life.  That life was light for people.  The light shines in the darkness; the darkness can never put it out....The Word became human and lived among us for a while.  We saw His glory, the kind of glory like that of the Father's one and only son---full of gracious love and truth.

During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin who lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee.  The virgin girl was engaged to marry a man named Joseph, from the family of David.  Her name was Mary.  The angel came to her and said, "Greetings!  The Lord God is with you.  He has blessed you."  But Mary was very disturbed about what the angel said.  She wondered, "What does this mean?"  The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, because God has blessed you.  Listen!  You will become pregnant and give birth to a son.  And you will name Him Jesus.  We will be great.  People will call Him the Son of the Highest One.  The Lord God will give Him the authority of King David, his ancestor.  Jesus will rule over the people of Jacob forever.  His kingdom will never end."  Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen?  I have no sexual relations with any man."  The angel said to Mary, "the Hold Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest One will cover you.  The holy baby will be called God's Son.  Now listen to this: You know that Elizabeth, your relative, is very old, but she is already pregnant with a son.  The woman who could not have a baby has been pregnant for six months!  With God, nothing is impossible!"  Mary said, I am the servant girl of the Lord God.  Let what you said happen to me!"  Then the angel went away.  Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hill country of Judea.  She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the unborn baby kicked inside Elizabeth's body.  Then Elizabeth's said with a loud voice, "Mary, you have been blessed more than any other woman.  The baby to which you will give birth has also been blessed.  You are the mother of my Lord, and you have come to me!  How could something this good happen to me?  When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy.  You are happy, because you believed that what the Lord God said to you would actually take place."  Then Mary said, "My soul praises the Lord God; my heart is happy, because God is my Savior.  Though I am not important, God has looked upon me, His servant girl.  Listen!  From now on, all generations will be happy for me, because the Powerful One has done great things for me.  His name is holy.  God will always give His mercy to those who worship Him.  His arm is strong.  He scatters those who are proud and boastful.  He pulls men down from their thrones and He raises p the humble.  He fills hungry people with good things, but He sends rich, selfish people away with nothing.  He has always helped His people who served Him.  He always gave them His mercy.  It was just as God said to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his children forever."  Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, then Mary returned home.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ occurred: Mary, the mother of Jesus, was engaged to be married to Joseph, but before they were married, it was discovered that she was pregnant.  However, Joseph, her husband-to-be, was a fair man; he did not want to disgrace her.  So he decided to quickly call off the marriage.  He was thinking deeply upon these things when, suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, descendant of David, don't be afraid to take Mary to be your wife.  The baby inside her comes from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son.  You will name him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.  The Lord spoke about this through the prophet Isaiah.  All these things occurred to make this come true:  ""Listen!  The virgin will be pregnant and give birth to a son.  They will name Him Emmanuel (which means, God is with us). ‘"When Joseph woke up from sleeping, he did as the angel of the Lord ordered him to do; he took Mary to be his wife.  He did not have sexual relations with her, until she gave birth to the little boy.  Joseph named Him Jesus.

About that time, Augustus Caesar sent out an order to everyone in the empire that everyone must register.  This was the first registration.  It occurred while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  Each person traveled to be registered in the town where he was born.  So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee.  He went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea.  This was known as David's town.  Joseph went there, because he was from the family of David—a direct descendant.  Joseph registered with Mary, because she was engaged to marry him.  While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby.  She gave birth to her first son and wrapped Him with cloths.  There were no rooms left in the hotel.  So she laid the baby in a box where cattle are fed.  Some shepherds were in the fields there, watching their flock of sheep that night.  An angel of the Lord God stood in front of the shepherds.  The glory of the Lord shined around them.  They were very frightened.  The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, because I am telling you some good news.  It will make all the people very happy.  Today your Savior was born in David's town.  He is Messiah, the Lord.  This is how you will know Him: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a box where cattle are fed.  Suddenly, a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel.  They were all praising God: "Give glory to God in heaven, and, on earth, let there be peace among those who please God."  The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven.  The shepherds kept saying to each other, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this event which has occurred, which the Lord God has revealed to us."  So, the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph.  The baby was lying in the feeding box.  The shepherds saw the baby.  Then they revealed what the angels had said about this child.  Everyone was amazed when they heard what the shepherds told them.  Mary was keeping all these things in her heart; she continued to think about them.  The shepherds went back, singing to God and praising Him for everything they had seen and heard.  It was just as the angel had told them.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a town in Judea, during the time of King Herod the Great.  Some wise men from the east traveled to Jerusalem.  They asked, "Where is he who was born to be king of the Jews?  We saw Hi star in the east and we came to worship Him."  When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed.  Everyone else in Jerusalem was too.  He gathered all of the most important priests and teachers of the law from the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.  They answered, "In the town of Bethlehem in Judean, because this was written by the prophet Micah: "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, you are surely not the least important among the leading towns of Judea, because a Leader will come out from you.  He will shepherd my people, Israel.' "Then, in secret, Herod called for the wise men.  From them he added up the exact time when the star appeared.  "Go, search very carefully for information about the child.  When you find Him, report to me, so that I, too, may come to worship Him."  After they had listened to the king, they left; Herod sent them to Bethlehem.  Suddenly, the star which they had seen in the east was leading them.  When they saw the star, they were very, very happy.  It finally stopped above the place where the child was.  They went into the house and saw the child with Mary, His mother.  They bowed down to worship Him.  They opened their treasures and brought Him gifts—gold, perfume, and precious spices.  But God used a dream to warn them that they should not return to Herod.  So they returned to their country by a different road.

 

The Christmas Miracle

I'm so thankful for the yearly reminder of the initial sacrifice our Lord made by coming to earth in human form. The savior that was first introduced to man all those years ago, back in the book of Genesis, had finally come to earth. I am truly in awe of how detailed, solid, and fool-proof God's design was – and it was executed beautifully. Through the lineage of saints in the Old Testament, to the prophecies that came true, to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, to the ripe time in which Jesus arrived in Israel's history, God was in control and saints who chose to bow to God's will along the way were allowed to take part. This gives us hope for a great future and confirms our role in it. For those of us who want to put Christ first and participate in God's plan, we can. God's work is still alive and active today and we have a part in the grand scheme that Jesus' birth was such a huge part of. To help celebrate and worship, we are setting aside a few Sundays in the month of December – notably Youth Sunday on December 14^th. We will focus and dedicate ourselves anew in light of God's great salvation and plan. We hope you will come and be a part of this experience – for this month and forever.

Wendy Martinie

December Communion Trays

Kathy Zeigler &  Heidi Hunt

December Communion Meditation

7	Ray Corey
14	Youth Program
21	David Zeigler
28	Ken Belsky

December Communion to Shut-ins

Sam Stephenson

December Baptism Assistance

Dennis & Liz Satterfield

December Birthdays

1	Liz Satterfield
3	Thomas Marrero
4	Yorling Rodas
6	Kathy Zeigler
7	Brenda Capraro
10	Colton Turnbo
	Jonathan Tabb
11	Rob Carter
12	Mildred Dickson
14	Dave Zeigler
16	John McKenna
17	Gracie Shadel
20	Zoe Martinie
23	Jean Gryglewski
	Brittney Mushlock
	Margaret Bell
	Chris Phillips
28	Danielle White
30	Jane McNaron
	Anniversaries
8	Mylen & Helen Coble
15	Charles & Linda Soper

Debbie Hill is back-up for anyone that cannot serve on their date and for any extra dates. If you are scheduled to be in the nursery, it is VERY IMPORTANT to be in the nursery at least 15 minutes prior to assigned time. Thank you.

 

	December Toddler Worship Hour
7	Heidi & Tayler Hunt
14	Liz Satterfield
21	Liz Satterfield & Ivanna Capps
28	Amy Barnhill & Cara Blade
	December Nursery Worship Hour
7	Toni Stephenson & Amber Bair
14	Celestino & Yorling Rodas
21	Heidi Hunt & Taylor Hunt
28	Chaz Lindsey & Amanda Hill
	December  Nursery Bible Study Hour Volunteers
7	Dera Shadel & Debbie Hill
14	Dera Shadel & Liz Satterfield
21	Dera Shadel & Debra Corey
28	Dera Shadel & Paula Lindsey
	December Nursery – Wednesday night
3	Becky Latta
10	Debbie Hill
17	Jordan Carter

 

December Front Door Greeters

7	Marjorie Burns & Debbie Hill
14	Brenda Capraro & Kathy Blade
21	Faye & Lisa Thurman
28	Liz Satterfield & Amber Bair

 

December Front Parking Lot Attendance

7	Chris Belsky & Bob Haley
14	Bruce McShurley & Brian Hunt
21	Frank Hancock & Ken Belsky
28	Jim Edlin & Jack Gryglewski

 

December Information Booth

7	Linda Haley
14	Heidi Hunt
21	Selena Hancock
28	Catherine Whitwell

 

December Cookie Response Team Schedule

12/7		Ken & Charlotte Belsky
12/14		Larry & Ruth Deatley
12/21		Dean Lindsey
12/28		Brent & Lisa Mark

Attendance October 26 & November

26	178
2	176
9	206
16	200
23	223

 

December Schedule for Weekly Key Duty (Call the church office on Monday the week you are scheduled)

12/1 -12/7	Andrew Shadel
12/8 – 12/14	Ken Belsky
12/15 – 12/21	Robert Haley
12/22 – 12/28	Jonathan Tabb
12/29 -  1/4	Ray Corey

 

December Bakery Goods & Juice

7	Mary Criger
14	Rita Atherton
21
28

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PAPER SUPPLIES OR CLEANING SUPPLIES

PLEASE CONTACT OR CALL NANCY AT THE CHURCH OFFICE IF YOU SEE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF PAPER SUPPLES OR ANY CLEANING SUPPLIES.

 

THE BENVELONCE COMMITTEE

WILL HAVE A BOX PLACED IN THE FOYER FOR NON PERISABLE FOOD ITEMS!  ANY DONATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.  THESE ITEMS WILL BE FOR ANYONE WHO IS IN NEED OF FOOD.  THANK YOU!

 

 

The church office will be closed NOVEMBER 27 & 28 AND December 24 & 25 & 26.

 

To all staff and volunteer workers.

 

Due to new liability insurance regulations, anyone who works with the minors (children) in churches must have a background check before they can be approved to be on a schedule of Children Workers.

 

This list will include all teachers, counselors, mentors or chaperones.

Anyone who will occasionally or regularly work with the children must

agree to have their background checked by Central Christian Church.

 

Central Christian Church regrets that this policy is necessary in today's environment. However, we must always seek to provide a safe and secure environment for the children and youth who participate in our programs and activities.

 

Central Christian will finance this background check through the company we now employ to perform this task.

 

The Elders and most of the teachers and childcare givers have already had their background checks done. There are a few left to complete.

Strict privacy will be adhered to concerning these checks. Only Dennis Satterfield and Ken Belsky will review the completed checks.

These checks will be limited to abusive case. The subject of the check will receive a copy of the results.

Elders of Central Christian Church

11-14-08

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Friends and Church Members,

     I want to thank each one for the cards and prayers during my recent illness.  Especially for David's visits and prayers.  I

am happy to be one of you as of 11-2-08.

Thanks again,

Marie B. Cox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This poem was written by Rebecca Curry for a 17th Century Literature Class at Lipscomb University.  It was written as if she were living at that time. 

 

 

                          The Baptism

 

The most important decision to ever be made,

Lies within the heart and water's bade;

To know the many guidelines of life, that book

Will tell the needed instructions often took;

Though the evil persists to tear one's heart,

Good prevails as the slicing of a dart,

        Good can save all lives if tried,

                Its power reigns on high.

 

Peering at the glassy water's face,

It shines with stillness leaving some to chase;

What mercy lies beneath the cleansing flow

All God's people now and forever should go.

It lends itself to one much greater cause

The symbolism of Christ leads some to pause,

        Its purpose known throughout the times,

                It will live forever.

 

The way has now been made clear to me,

The light as sun allows me to see;

Leaving selfish desires behind, I step

Onto a platform where all good is kept

My breath is taken at the beauty; this sight

Belongs of God and holds truth at light;

        Of mercy, love, forgiveness, and more

                It means eternity.

 

The water of warmth begins to engulf my being,

With each step down I feel my old self fleeing;

The vows of commitment I make to my truest calling

Recited before preparation seeks to falling.

I'm immersed into love no words can ever express,

I arise anew, filled with God's love no less;

        Through one single act my decision made,

                Forever my life is changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	Central Christian Church
2009 Budget
CCC Finance Committee Recommendations to the CCC Board of Directors.
CCC Ministries					CCC board
					approved
	Budgets	2006	2007	2008	2009
EDUCATION		$5,500	$9,000	$5,500	$4,500
EVANGELISM		$2,500	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000
FINANCE		$500	$500	$500	$500
GENERAL		$9,450	$9,150	$8,400	$5,450
MEMBERSHIP		$1,200	$4,500	$3,450	$1,900
MISSIONS		$21,450	$21,540	$21,340	$6,000
PAYROLL		$136,800	$132,900	$135,980	$132,980
PROPERTY		$118,000	$147,950	$148,550	$152,625
WORSHIP		$3,000	$6,925	$3,350	$2,575
BUDGET BY YEAR		$298,400	334,965	$328,570	$307,530
CCC congregation approved on
CCC Board recommended approval on				11/3/20088
CCC Finance Committee recommended approval on					10/14/2008

 

 

 

Communion  Servers for December
7-Dec		21-Dec
Mylen Coble		Mylen Coble
Billy-Joe Smith		Billy-Joe Smith
Ryan Curry		Frank Hancock
Bruce McShurley		Sam Stephenson
Nathan Staggs		Nathan Staggs
Dennis Satterfield		Larry Mullins
Jamie Turnbo		Jaime Turnbo
Colton Turnbo		Colton Turnbo
Frank Hancock		Bruce McShurley
Dean Lindsey		Dean Lindsey
Ray Corey		Dennis Satterfield
Bob Watson		Dave Capraro
14-Dec		28-Dec
Steve Atherton		Ken Belsky
Jim Curry		Jim Curry
Jim Trenery		Ryan Curry
Jim Edlin		Jason Kyle
Andrew Shadel		Jack Gryglewski
Larry Deatley		Bob Watson
John McKenna		Billy-Joe Smith
Al McKenna		Jim Edlin
Jason Kyle		Jim Trenery
Jack Gryglewski		Charles Soper
Dave Capraro		Ray Corey
Ken Belsky		Robert Haley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible

This is amazing and brought tears of laughter to my eyes. 

I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand what we are teaching???

Through the eyes of a child:

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

   In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was

nothing but God, darkness, and some gas.  The Bible says,

'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. 

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. 

Then God made the world.  He split the Adam and made Eve.  Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been

invented yet.  Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad

apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.  Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long  as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham.  Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would  have to take a rain check. 
   After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast.  Jacob had a son  named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

  Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston.  Moses led the Israel Lights out of  Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people.  These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti.  Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments.  These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies.  Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David.  He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot.  He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines.  My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me. After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets.  One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then  barfed up on the shore.  There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.    After the Old Testament came the New Testament.  Jesus is the star of The New.  He was born in  Bethlehem  in a barn.  (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')  During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the harisees and the Democrats. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus.  Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man.  He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum.  His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.