etidings November 220 2007

The Coming: Behind the Scenes

Surely you’ve seen it before, the Christmas pageant with all the players under 5 feet tall and with an average reading level of second grade. Ancient Middle Eastern attire is replicated with bathrobes and dishtowels and the baby Jesus is a bit orange and stamped with “Rawlings” hidden under Mary’s robes.

Joseph and his drawn on beard gather on the stage around a now born, yet somewhat plastic, baby Jesus with shepherds, cardboard winged angels and greatly bejeweled (if not a little early) magi. It is a moving scene (especially to grandparents) and the typical one that springs to many minds as we talk about the drama that is the coming of Christ in the world. It follows the basic story well and includes all the biblical characters in the narrative. As such, it is a fine way of telling the story that is central to our faith and the reason we celebrate on December 25.

Have you ever wondered though, what the other characters in the story might have thought or said? Have you ever imagined what some other people close to this story might have observed? One of the downfalls to our usual presentation of the Christmas story is that it looses its context. It is almost as if Jesus is born not only in Bethlehem, but also in a vacuum inhabited by a very limited cast of characters. That list, by the way, doesn’t include us. The only extras are a few barnyard animals and the other people in the inn that cause it to be crowded. Well, this year we are going to think about some of the other people who just might have been ‘behind the scenes’ for the Coming.

Through the stories of people like the apprentice in Joseph’s workshop, the innkeeper’s wife, a left-behind and lonely shepherd and others, we will consider again the truth of Christ’s coming for those of us who are outside the story. You might be surprised at just what they thought and saw all springing from a little holy imagination. I want to invite you to come and join us in worship during the Advent season for worship and all the upcoming events. We will Hang the Green on December 2; portray our own version of a Christmas Pageant on December 8 and 9, Celebrate Christmas with some old songs in new settings as well as carol to our homebound on December 16 and share together in an SABC tradition on December 24. I hope you will be here and that you will invite others to join with us. We have posters and postcards to help you do just that.

Come help us take a look behind the scenes at the Coming of Christ this year. You’ll be surprised what you find there.

Blessings,

Monty

We will hang the greenery, redery, whitery and other colors in the Sanctuary on December 2 beginning at 4:30 PM. This year, we are asking your entire family to pitch–in and help decorate the Sanctuary as a church family event. There will be plenty to do as we have decorations for children and adults to prepare together. We will break for snacks around 5:30 PM and then return to the Sanctuary for a service that will teach us all the importance of the symbols of Christmas. Remember, the event begins at 4:30 PM and we will evolve into the service when the decorations are placed.

The Christmas Pageant is just around the corner, December 8 and 9. We have expanded to two nights this year and added more content and detail. Some churches have as many as 16,000 people attend over many nights. We are expecting only 800 over two nights. This opportunity for our church to reach this community will only come about if you make these evenings a priority for you and your family. Please use this time to invite as many friends and family to attend and also be there when they come to our door to learn more about us.

The Congregation and Staff would like to express sincere Christian sympathy to Jack Carter in the death of his sister.

The Congregation and Staff would like to express sincere Christian sympathy to the family of Mrs. Juanita Shiflett.

The Congregation and Staff would like to express sincere Christian sympathy to Elizabeth Willis in the death of her mother-in-law, Mrs. Mildred Willis.

Advent devotionals as well as posters and postcards (to publicize our Advent services) are available on the table outside church office.

A box will be placed below the bulletin board on the first floor. Any donations will be appreciated. The baskets will be assembled on December 6 as part of the First Thursday Luncheon. Let’s make sure those who are unable to attend church activities know they have been remembered. Items needed: Small bottles of lotion, Stamps, Wrapped peppermints, Hand cream, Puzzle books, Small bottles of Tylenol, Note cards, Candy Kisses, Little notebooks, Word Search books, Kleenex, Band-Aids, Chap Stick, Pens

Please join us for a covered dish lunch. Fun and Fellowship will provide the meat and drinks, and you are asked to bring a side dish (salad, vegetables or deserts.) We will assemble gift baskets for our Second Avenue Shut-In Ministry after the luncheon.

Reservations are necessary to the church office by Wednesday, December 5 please!!

Personal hygiene items are needed such as: toothbrushes, toothpaste, and socks. Items should be gift-wrapped.

$275 per person/$75 Non-Refundable Deposit required *Discounts for families with more than one student attending.

Provide items for the Fun and Fellowship’s collection for our Homebound Members

These are just some of the things you can do to make Christmas merrier for folks in our community. If you want more information about these or other projects, just call the church office at 706-232-3663.

janitorial team to do detailed cleaning. We have budgeted this position at 20 hours a week and the new employee will start after the first of the year. If you know of anyone who may be interested in this position, please encourage them to call me to get more information. We will not be advertising for this position in the paper, but will rely on word of mouth, personal references, experience, etc. Thank you so much for supporting this budget increase that will allow us to grow our team so that our newly renovated facility will shine!

Every year we have a tremendous opportunity to change our world. That opportunity comes in the form of the Christmas Missions Offering. Through it, we can provide direct support to missionaries who are actively sharing the life-changing, world-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ in every part of the globe. Your gift can mean the gift of salvation to someone you may never meet this side of heaven. Here at SABC you can direct your Christmas Missions Gift to the mission efforts of either the CBF Global Missions Offering or the SBC Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Just mark your envelope or check accordingly. As stewards of such great blessings from God as we all know, let us give generously to share His greatest gift with all the world.