I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

News & Announcements/

MissioChurch 2

Reading Plan/Birthdays and

Anniversaries/Missions 3

Immanuel 4

New Service Schedule/DLC &

Ministry Members

5

Christmas Information

6

Children’s Ministry 7

Youth Ministry 8

December Calendar 9

Looking Ahead 10

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

Our Mission: To lead people into a growing, personal

relationship with Jesus Christ. God has gifted our congregation

to help families at their point of need, primarily through children

and youth.

There is a thrill about Christmas. The excitement is in the air. It’s not the

thrill of opening presents or the chance to go sledding or skiing in the snow. The thrill is

not from eating Grandma’s Christmas cookies or seeing colorful decorations brighten our

homes and streets. No, the thrill of Christmas is found in the HOPE for all the world that came

in the birth of a child.

When Jesus arrived, He didn’t seem much like a super hero or rescuer of humanity,

but He was. He carried with Him a promise to save us from our sins (Matt 1:21). He who

knew no sin, became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21). He who had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58),

prepared a place for us (John 14:2). Jesus, our Rescuer (Gal 1:4) and Redeemer (Isaiah 60:16),

is our Hope (1 Timothy 1:1)… and this hope does not lead to disappointment (Romans 5:5).

This Christmas you will want to hold on to many things – gifts, people, memories,

cookies, cash, and traditions. But let us even more so, hold unswervingly to the hope we

profess, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Let the thrill of hope this Christmas

lead us into a joy and peace this world can never give (John 14:27). So my friends, let not your

hearts be troubled (John 14:1). Hope has come… and I am thrilled!

From our home to yours - from our hearts to yours,

The Stouts wish you all a very merry, thrill-filled Christmas.

Thank you for yet another wonderful year of serving the Lord with you.

2016 Advent Sermon Series

November 27 - December 24

What are you doing to spiritually prepare for Christmas this year? Join us Sunday mornings as we explore

the things we can hope in for sure - this is The Thrill of Hope!

The THRILL of Christmas By Pastor Kurt Stout

P A G E 2 News & Announcements

Thank You

Anyone visiting downtown North Manchester became

aware of Ralph’s enthusiasm for the museum. Thank you

for honoring Ralph with a gift to The Center for History.

He would be pleased.

Blessings to All,

Becky Naragon

Dear First Brethren Family,

Lance and I want to thank everyone for all the prayers

and financial assistance during my illness and

transplant. Throughout it all, I felt the prayers and God’s

comfort and we are grateful for every one - prayers, cards,

meals, visitation and all. I have a wonderful church

family!!

In God’s Love,

Glenda and Lance Christiansen

As Harvest Dinner Coordinator I would like to take a

moment and give thanks to three groups - First to the Do

Anything core group that helped make this dinner a

success: Chris York, Andy & Shannon Cook and family,

Jill Simcoe and girls, Chris & Janelle Walters. Thank

you!!

Second, I would like to thank the Youth, who helped with

set-up. To me this is always the biggest job. Thank you

guys and gals.

Third, I would also like to thank several who helped in the

kitchen on Sunday morning, and all who stayed to help

with clean-up and tear down.

A big Thank You from the bottom of my heart for serving

Christ and your Church Family together.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

Rita Haecker

A big thank you to you all for the many cards, visits,

meals, prayers and everything else during my recent

illness and hospital stays. I’m blessed to have a church

family like you!

Joan Michel

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Della Davis at her passing on November 17th. Services were held at the Timbercrest Chapel on November 20th.

David and Kim Pyle welcomed daughter Hadley Noel on November 28th at 12:23 p.m. weighing 8lb 2oz and measuring 21 inches. She joins the family with siblings Finley and Stella. Proud grandparents are Mike and Cindy Pyle. Congratulations Pyle family!

Congratulations to Kendall and AJ Zimmerman on the birth of their son, Graeme Ellis, who arrived November 16th at 12:12 a.m. weighing 7lb 5oz and measuring 21inches. Graeme joins the family with big sister Julianne.

MissioChurch is the ministry of the Brethren Church that helps

facilitate the starting of new Brethren churches in the USA and

Canada. Movement-wide, there continue to be dozens of projects

being stewarded along in their process of becoming new

churches. Bill Ludwig and his team facilitate the progress of a

potential church plant through the five phases of Conversation,

Conception, Deployment, Operations, and Reproduction.

There are constantly dozens of projects in the Conversation

phase, and several projects in the Conception phase. This is

where candidates and their teams begin to establish what their

new church will look like.

One new church start continues in the Deployment phase, and

that is Transformed Life Center in Dayton, OH. That means this

ministry has effectively “moved into town” and is preparing for

the start of its community involvement. This ministry is led by

Reggie & Julie Harvey and the congregation of United

Community Brethren Church who is considered in the

Reproduction phase.

Several new churches are in the Operations phase. These

churches are operating in their communities with at least some

aspects of their ministry plan active and visible. These churches

spread from Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and all the way to

California. MissioChurch Partners in these places include Dustin

& Jamie White, Ryan & Lindsay Smith and Jesse & Tiffany

Adams.

If you were at General Conference in July you heard the great

news that one of our MissioChurch Partners was recognized as a

fully functioning Brethren congregation. This is the Muskoka

Community Church in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. Jeremy

McClung, with his wife April, serves as the senior pastor. They

are currently in the process of purchasing their first building.

Our sympathies to the family of Rita Zerbe (daughter in law of Dolly Zerbe and sister in law of Linda Immel) at her passing on November 23rd.

P A G E 3

29 – Aimeesue Angle Eliza Vawter 31 – Reilly Ruppert

Anniversaries 4 – Chandis & Donna Boomershine ‘71 9 – Paul & Donna Habegger ‘67 10 – Rick & Dee Grindle ‘77 17 – Warren & Helen Garner ‘49 18 – Kelse & Regina Harris ’91 23 – Fred & Debbie Thompson ‘70 Dennis & Jodi Egner ‘89 Aaron & Amanda Wilderman ‘05 24 – Joe & Penny Deal ‘99 26 – Bob & Robin Shepherd ‘57 28 – Joe & Anne Frantz ‘74 29 – Bud & Linda Lindzy ‘90 31 – Glenn & Tona Riggs ‘76

December Birthdays 2 – Stephanie Ayres 3 – Jenny Moore 4 – Zoey Callaway Larry Carver 5 – Jackie Ihnen 6 – Scott Stan Connor McLaughlin

Ethan Cummins Chase Hand Emmaline Winger

7 – Mark McKee Cindy Bucher Anna Mast 8 – Jalynn Simcoe 9 – Timothy McIntyre Joann Hill 10 – Addie Haecker 11 – Slater Hand 12 – Andy Ayres Todd Speicher 13 – Tim Bordeaux

Estella Callaway

14 – Tona Riggs Jackson Anguilm Donna Habegger Hayley Hand 16 – Ron Ogden 17 – Sydney McLaughlin 18 – Susan Bushong 19 – Aria Vineyard 20 – Joyce Frantz 21 – Karen Eiler Ethan Davis 22 – Robin Johnson Sawyer Hand 23 – Quentin Moore 24 – Trevor Renz 25 – Jesus’ Birthday Rachel Chapman Kai Zimmerman 26 – Mark Hill Zach Vawter 27 – Sherry Searles Collin Cummins Tasha Brubaker

Library

Lines

Come visit the church library for Christmas books, DVDs, and ideas on ways to celebrate the season. Titles are available for children, youth, and adults!

Prayer Cards in Pews The ivory prayer cards in the pews are

available for any prayer requests. You

may place the card in the offering plate

or leave it in the church office.

Weekly Prayer opportunities

Prayer Room The Prayer Room is located just outside the sanctuary door to the children’s wing.

The Prayer Room is available for prayer whenever the church is open. During each

of the Sunday morning services, someone is praying in there for you, the

congregation of FBC.

We would like to encourage everyone to choose a Sunday and a service and sign

up to pray there. Sign up is on the bulletin board beside the Prayer Room.

Weekly Prayer Service A prayer service is held each Tuesday

at 6:30 p.m. in the library. It consists of

guided prayer time and spontaneous

scripture reading. Adults, teens, and

kids welcome.

First Brethren Church Learn From Me … Matt. 11:29

Reading Plan Bookmark 2016

December 2 Peter 5 1-2 6 3 1 John 7 1-2 8 3-4 9 5 Malachi 12 1-2 13 3-4 2 John 14 1 3 John 15 1 Jude 16 1 Revelation 19 1-2 20 3-5 21 6-7 22 8-10 23 11-12 26 13-14 27 15-16 28 17-18 29 19-20 30 21-22

Prison Fellowship Angel Tree

If you took a tag from the Angel Tree in the gathering area last month,

please remember to bring your wrapped gift (with the tag on top) back

on Sunday, December 4th!

These gifts will be delivered at a skating party for the families on

Saturday, December 10th. If you would like to be a part of helping with

this event please contact Shannon Cook at 982-7001.

P A G E 4

“...when Jesus was

born, God was

again taking up

residence among

His people And

this time, God

became personal.”

Immanuel Christmas evokes good memories and feelings for many people; time with

family, gifts, decorative lights, good food, and others. What is Christmas really

about? It can be summed up perhaps in the word “Immanuel.” This word first

appears in the Bible in Isaiah 7:14 where the Lord gives a prophecy, Behold, a

virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. The

word shows up again in Matthew 1:23 where we are told that the virgin Mary’s

conception through the Holy Spirit is a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14, and also that

“Immanuel” means “God with us.” Christmas is about God with us.

The apostle John in his gospel gives some further explanation of it. He

begins the gospel with words drawn from the creation account in Genesis, In the

beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John

1:1). The Word that John is describing is Jesus; John is saying that Jesus is God.

Later in the chapter John speaks again of the Word in saying, And the Word

became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten

from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The Word became flesh, He became

human, and He dwelt among us. The Greek word translated “dwelt” literally means to

“tabernacle” or to “pitch one’s tent.” In the Old Testament God was present with His

people first through the tabernacle that was built in the wilderness, and then through

the more permanent temple that was built in Jerusalem. In Ezekiel God’s presence

withdrew from the temple because of the Israelites’ sin, and the temple was

subsequently destroyed in 586 B.C. For the next almost 600 years it could be said that

there was no “place” for God to dwell among His people.

But when Jesus was born, God was again taking up residence among His people.

And this time, God became personal; He became Immanuel, “God with us,” in a way

unknown in Old Testament times. He became human; He became like us in every way,

except that He was without sin. Why did He do it? So that He could die. A tabernacle

or a temple can’t die, but a human can. And not just die, but to die for our sins. But

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

(Romans 5:8). And in a remarkable verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21, we’re told, [God] made

Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God

in Him. Our sin was placed on Jesus, and His righteousness was placed on us; as

someone has put it, His medals were pinned to our chest. And He rose from the dead so

that we could live forever in His presence. That’s what Christmas is about; Immanuel,

God with us.

Ron Burns, Discipleship Coordinator

All Scripture references are NASB

New Sunday Morning Schedule [Coffee and donuts available] 8:00 – 9:00 Adult SS classes for traditional service attendees [15 min between classes/service - donuts and coffee available] 9:15 – 10:15 Traditional Worship Service Garden Nursery and LOFT Youth SS Classes Adult SS Classes for contemporary service attendees [15 min between classes/services] 10:30 -11:30 Contemporary Worship Service Garden Nursery and Children’s SS Classes Adult SS classes for traditional service attendees

Beginning January 1st, First Brethren will go to a new Sunday morning schedule that will enable us to return to a two service format and accommodate space for children, youth, and adult discipleship classes in our main facility. This decision came after determining LaCasa was no longer safe or healthy for our youth, nor the most effective space for ongoing ministry to students. At the recommendation of the facility team, the DLC decided to close down LaCasa* and seek alternate spaces for our JH and HS classes. By altering our worship services and shifting a few SS classes, our congregation will have better settings to grow in faith. The worship service shift also brings our congregation together rather than thinning us out over three hours on Sunday mornings. So, come January, the traditional service will be at 9:15; and a contemporary service will still be offered at 10:30. More details about this and class locations will be made available throughout the month of December.

Our prayer is that the congregation and others in our community will find the new schedule appealing and helpful in our journey together to grow in our personal relationship with Jesus. We know some people will need to make some adjustments to their Sunday morning routine. Since change can be challenging, our staff and DLC want to help individuals and families process these changes. We are available to you as needed.

*No decisions have been made regarding the future use of the LaCasa property.

P A G E 5

DLC Members

On Sunday, November 27th, the membership

of our congregation voted to affirm three

new members to the Diaconate Leadership

Council. We are pleased to announce that

Mark Callaway, Mark Hill, and Matt

Webb have all been affirmed and will begin

their three year term on the DLC in January

2017.

Current members of the DLC who will serve

with these newest members are: Andy Cook

(2017), Donna McKee (2017), Brett Miller

(2018), Cindy Pyle (2018), Greg Hicks

(2018), and Pastor Kurt.

Garen Bushong, Mike Pyle, and Chad

Vawter will leave the council at the end of

2016. We thank them for their years of

service in leadership to this church body.

Ministry Members

At the November 20th Annual Congregational Meeting the

following people were elected to positions in the various church

ministries for 2017:

Adult Discipleship:

Donna McKee

Chase Hand

Youth Discipleship:

Daren Ransbottom

Rena Vawter

Children’s Discipleship:

Shannon Cook

Chris Metzger

Ministry of Nurture:

Marcy Parker

Ministry of Outreach:

Linda Pyle

Teresa Martin

Ministry of Property:

Craig Walters

To be determined

Ministry of Stewardship:

Ben Vineyard

Chris Frantz

Ministry of Worship:

Sarah Harting

Brittney Brueggeman

It’s Christmas Time!

P A G E 6

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE: Nov 27th – Dec 24th: The Thrill of Hope Sermon Series Join us this Advent as we celebrate the hope that Christ brought to our world and our lives.

Dec 18th : Children’s Christmas Program During the 9:15 Service. Come see what our FBC kids have prepared for us!

Dec 24th: Christmas Eve Services 6:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. An evening of Carols, Candles, & Communion

Dec 25th: FBC Family Christmas Service One service at 10:30 a.m. (No SS classes or LOFT)

STAFF LOVE GIFT: It has been a tradition for our congregation to say "Thank You" to our pastors and staff in giving a monetary gift. We want to recognize their hard work this past year during this Christmas season. Now through December 18 you may make this special gift by putting on the check memo or envelope "Love Offering" and placing it in the offering plate or church office. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support, Your Nurture Committee.

POINSETTIAS: Buy a Poinsettia in Honor or Memory – Interested in decorating the church by purchasing a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone? Use an envelope in the foyer, or contact the office or Cottage Creations. Prices this year are $19, $29 and $43 depending on desired size. We will be ordering white poinsettias this year unless you request a different color. Orders can be placed through December 11th.

WINTER WEATHER SERVICE INFORMATION: In the event of weather related situations, changes to our services will be posted on our church website and facebook pages. We will also list changes/cancellations onWANE TV (Channel 15) or on the WBCL radio station (90.3 FM). You may visit their websites for complete details.

P A G E 7

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Kids' Christmas Program

The Greatest Gift is The Light of the World- Jesus!

Our kids' Christmas program will be during the 9:15

service on Sunday, December 18th. Join kids age 2-6th

grade to share in this special presentation. Please have all

kids in their classrooms by 9:10 that morning.

Parents: We practice for the program each Sunday

morning in December. There are also take home items to

practice at home. Remember, parents of LOFT kids who

like to sing are invited to learn our last song and join us!

LOFT

This month in LOFT we will be celebrating Jesus' birth.

Whether learning about the prophecies that told of His

coming, or worshiping Him as our Savior, it will be an exciting time in LOFT and

elementary Sunday School! We will have special snacks in class after our program.

Remember- no LOFT or classes on Christmas Day.

KFC - Kids For Christ (5th & 6th Grades)

Join us at the church from 7-9 pm on Saturday, December 3rd for

our KFC Christmas Party! Bring a snack, a friend, and a wrapped

white elephant gift. And don’t forget to wear your ugly Christmas

sweater!

P A G E 8

DECEMBER SCHEDULE

SUNDAY AM

JH and HS classes meet in La Casa from 9:15-10:15am.

WEDNESDAY PM

Combined Youth Group meets together in the Fellowship Hall from 6:15 to 7:45pm.

Friends are always welcome to join us!

YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY 6:15-9:09PM, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21 in FELLOWSHIP HALL

1) Wear an Ugly Christmas sweater.

2) Bring a White Elephant gift.

3) Bring a Christmas snack to share.

BRETHREN YOUTH ROUNDUP 1:30-7:30PM, SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

Reunion with all some of our friends from Engage Conference!

Held @ Nappanee First Brethren. And… PIZZA!

(*Parents, if you can drive to this event, please let Pastor Tim know.)

MISSION TRIP 2017 SHELL KNOB, MO

Current high school students are invited to attend this trip to Camp Barnabas.

It’s a Christian camp that pairs students with mentally-challenged campers.

Our group application needs to be turned in soon, so we need an accurate

number of our group size. This will be a life-changing experience that reminds us

“Life is a mission trip.” If you’d like to go, fill out the form below and turn it in.

CAMP BARNABAS APPLICATION This application needs to be turned in by Sunday, December 11. Name__________________________________________________ Week Preference (Identify the best dates for you, second best…)

_____ June 9-18 _____ June 16-25 _____ June 23-July 2

T-Shirt Size _________ I will be ______ year’s old on/near June 1, 2017. I agree to attend Sunday School and youth group every week unless I absolutely can’t. I will value these weekly gatherings at least as highly as I do extra-curricular activities I’m involved in. I agree to attend the 3-4 team meetings that will be held on Sundays after church services.

Signed ________________________________________________ Date __________________

Yo

uth

Min

istry

First Brethren Church Non-Profit Org.

407 N. Sycamore Street U.S. Postage PAID

North Manchester, IN 46962 North Manchester, IN 46962 PERMIT NO. 84

Address Service Requested

www.nmfbc.org

www.facebook.com/NMFirstBrethren

January 1, 2017 New Service Schedule Begins

(see page 5 for details)

January 15, 2017 First 3rd Sunday Lunch of the new year! Hosted by the Orphan Ministry to raise

funds for the Hand family adoption.

L KING AHEAD