In the Spotlight

MEN’S GROUP

DECEMBER 8

LADIES HOME TOUR

DECEMBER 10

ADVENTURE CLUB

DECEMBER 5, 12, 19

WOMEN’S GROUP

DECEMBER 5, 12, 19

COUNCIL MEETING

DECEMBER 17

YOUTH GROUP

DECEMBER 4, 9, 11, 18

PASTOR’S RAMBLINGS 2

STUDENT MINISTRIES CHOIR MEN’S GROUP FOOD PANTRY

3

MISSIONS LADIES NIGHT J.O.Y. GROUP

4

CALENDAR 5

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES 6

COUNCIL REPORT ANNUAL REPORTS OFFERING ENVELOPES

7

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 8

Inside this issue:

December 2012 Volume 21, Issue 12

The Lighthouse Bringing People to Christ … Becoming People Like Christ … Being Christ to People

Essexville Baptist Community Church Essexville Baptist Community Church

6:00 pm Sunday December 16 Parents, relatives, friends and even church members are invited to the Adventure Club Christmas Program Sunday, December 16, at 6:00 pm. The children will present a sim-ple program and, everyone will sing some Christmas carols, and, yes, there will be refresh-ments. Bring your Holiday spirit and celebrate the season through the eyes of a child.

Everybody’s heard the Christmas story, right? Wrong! There are lots of people out there … maybe people all around you … who don’t know the beautiful story of Jesus’ birth. And even if they know the story, they need to be reminded of it at least every Christmas.

It All Happened in the Country will remind you of the Savior and how God loves you enough to send Him. Read the story over and over this season and then tell it to somebody else. Tell ‘em how it … all happened in the country!

Presented by The Adventure Club Kids

Pastor Richard’s Ramblings

Page 2

The Lighthouse

Did you miss a Sunday and want to listen to a message? Is there a message that you would like

to hear again? All of Pastor Richard’s sermons are available on the church website at www.essexvillebaptist.com.

Messages can be put on CD for pickup as well. Contact the church office if you would like a copy.

Copies of Sermons Available

December seems to be one of the busiest times of the year. As the month progresses, it

seems the holiday season is less about joy and celebration, and more about physical and financial stress. We become so consumed with going to parties, finding just the right

gifts, and then there is all the baking and decorating. We begin to feel like we are chas-ing our own tail.

Christmas is about being pursued. But it is not us doing the chasing. Christianity is unique from all other religions because it is about God’s pursuit of us to draw us to Him-

self. In every other religion, people pursue their god, hoping that through good behavior, keeping the right rituals, good works, or other efforts they will be accepted by the god

they pursue.

The British poet Francis Thompson writes of the relentless pursuit of God in his life. In

“The Hound of Heaven,” Thompson writes that as he fled from God he couldn’t outrun “those strong feet that followed … with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace.”

That is the Christmas story! The message of Jesus’ birth is the wonderful truth of God’s

pursuit of every one of us. Paul reminds us in Galatians, But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. (Galatians 4.4-5 NLT)

When you begin to feel a little lost, or even completely buried, by the relentless pursuit of all the holiday stuff, stop running! Fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate and read through

the Christmas story again. You will be refreshed with what happened the day Jesus was

born.

Hopefully you will also discover the hope His birth brings to your life, and to all people. What was so different about that starlit night from all the others? Why was a small, hum-

ble town located in the hills of Israel, at least for a moment, the most blessed place on

earth? Why did the birth of a child to simple and common parents change the future of all humanity forever?

It is because God loves us so much that He pursues us – even to come as a baby.

May you have a very merry Christmas.

Page 3

V o l u m e 2 1 , I s s u e 1 2

Youth Group meets Every Week - 6:00 pm

Middle School and High School Students come for a great time with friends and discover

something new about God. Except for Christmas Day, Youth Group will meet every Tuesday in December at 6:00 p.m. Bring your friends!

Student Ministries

Communion Sunday Is Food Pantry Sunday

The first Sunday of each month is Communion Sunday. Bring in specific food items to help stock the food pantry. This month we are looking for the following items: Canned ham, boxed potatoes, canned vegetables, Juices and Candy Canes. Paper products are always welcome. Items can be left in the designated containers at each entrance of Church.

If you are interested in singing for Christmas, come join the Seasonal Choir. We will provide special music for Christmas. Practices are at 6:00 pm on Thursday evenings. The more voices the better the harmony.

JOIN the CHRISTMAS CHOIR

Men’s Group Meets December 8

Come join the men’s group that meets for Bible study, prayer, and accountability. The group meets twice a month for an 8:00 am breakfast at Krzysiak House Restaurant .

Plans are being made for a Progressive Dinner for the Youth Christmas Party. The date is Sunday evening, December 9. We would like to have an appetizer, soup, salad, main dish, and desert. Each would be at a different home. A gift exchange and some holiday games will be at the final home with desert. We are asking parents or anyone else that would like to host a course to please contact Shirley Reid.

Youth Group Christmas Party

Page 4

The Lighthouse

J.O.Y. Group Holiday Lunch

Wednesday, December 12

The J.O.Y Group is headed to Frankenmuth to have a holiday lunch at the Bavarian Inn.

Bring a $5.00—$7.00 gift for a gift exchange. After lunch spend time visiting the differ-ent shops. J.O.Y. stands for Just Older Youth, if you feel this is you, you are welcome!

If you would like to join in, mark the Welcome Card at the Sunday worship service or

call the church office 892.9892. That way we can be prepared with enough transpor-

tation. The church van will leave the parking lot at 11:00 am.

RETIRED MINISTERS & MISSIONARIES Offering

During the month of December our congregation will receive the Retired Ministers

and Missionaries offering (RMMO).

The RMMO is an annual ABCUSA offering that provides (1) Thank You checks to over 3,000 retired ABC ministers and missionaries and their widowed spouses service, and

(2) emergency and other financial assistance based on need.

You are invited to make a contribution by using the enclosed envelope. The enve-lope may be placed in the offering plate on Sunday mornings, or mail it to the church office. Please help us remember those who have served us as your gift makes a difference.

remember with LOVE

give with GRATITUDE

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5

Ladies Christmas Party Monday, December 10

Holiday Home Tour...The home tour will take place December 10 at 6:00 p.m. All

who are interested in taking part is asked to meet in the church parking lot before six to gather together into two or three cars to do the tour. Please bring one plate

of goodies for the get together at Wilma's at the end of the tour. This will be the ladies Christmas party so come and join the fellowship and get some home deco-

rating ideas.

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The Lighthouse

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V o l u m e 2 1 , I s s u e 1 2

Church Council Highlights

Page 7

The regular scheduled meeting of the Church Council was on Monday, November 19,

with fifteen members present.

The Trustees requested each board to go over their budgets and reduce their overall

projected spending by 25% for 2013.

Missions: 381 shoeboxes were dropped off at EBCC. Jody VanSnepson and Sheila

Reid delivered them to Mt. Pleasant, where they were loaded on a semi truck for the

processing center.

Deacons: Communion for December was planned. Over $3000 was received so far

this year for the Sunshine Fund. Hanging of the Greens will be Sunday, November 25 to decorate the church, with a soup and sandwich supper at the end.

Trustees: The proposed budget will be completed soon. A suggestion was made to publish the financial report in the bulletin or newsletter. The copier has needed to be

replaced. A new one will be leased for $275 a month.

The next regular meeting of the Council will be on Monday, December 17, at 6:00 pm.

2013 Contribution Envelopes

The Contribution envelopes for 2013 will be available for pick up beginning Sunday,

December 9. They will be located on the table in the lounge.

Also remember that for your contributions to show up on your 2012 giving statement

it must be received by December 31. Any contributions received after December 31 will be recorded for 2013. If you think you might need to catch up on your giving and

would like to know what you have given to date, please call Jeanne in the office for a

printout.

All boards, committees, and other groups are asked to have your annual reports turned in by the December 17 Council Meeting. Any and all reports turned in early is much appreciated. It takes time to put together and make copies of the full annual report.

The Annual Business Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, 2013.

Annual Reports Due December 17

Phone: 989.892.9892

E-mail: ebccmail@yahoo.com

We’re on the Web

www.essexvillebaptist.com

1001 Main Street

Essexville, MI 48732-1340

The Lighthouse

Non Profit US Postage

Paid Essexville, MI Permit No. 19

E s s e x v i l l e B a p t i s t C o m m u n i t y C h u r c h

Change Service Requested

Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 24

Bring all of your Christmas guests to the Christmas Eve Carols and Candlelight Service.

Come early and enjoy the refreshments and fellowship.

6:00 pm Holiday Punch and Cookies 7:00 pm Candlelight Service