December Happenings

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Christmas Eve Service Saturday, December 24th @ 5:30 PM

Join us on Christmas Eve at 5:30 PM for a traditional celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Candlelight, carols and the Christmas story will form the core of this family friendly evening of worship. Nursery will be provided.

Christmas Day Service Sunday, December 25th @ 11 AM

We will have one worship service as our family gathers to adore the newborn Child on the holiest of mornings. It will take place at 11 AM, on Christmas Day, December 25th. We will offer a nursery on Christmas morning. Older children will worship with parents as we give our FirstKids volunteers a “day off" to join us for worship.

Sermon Series: Missing Christmas Sunday Mornings @ 9 AM & 11 AM

This Christmas Randy will begin a 3-week series that looks at characters who either missed out on or almost missed out on the birth of Christ. There are a lot of things that can keep us and others from being transformed by Jesus’ birth—distractions, our own selfishness, and even our disappointments. This series will help us focus our lives on the real meaning of Christmas so we don't miss out on the greatest miracle ever.

Christmas Brunch December 7th & 8th

Please turn in any unused brunch tickets to the church office. We have a waiting list of ladies that would love to join us, if there’s availability! Thank you!

First Christian Church Preschool & Mother’s Morning Out Program

Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of our preschool program! We are having a great time and continuing to grow! Our preschool program is serving children 2 - 4 years old, and offers the option of 3 or 5 days a week from 8 AM - 12 PM. Our goal is to partner with parents by providing a safe and loving environment in which each child will have the opportunity to develop academically, socially and spiritually.

On November 7, we also began a Mother’s Morning Out Program for children ages 18 months - 24 months old. MMO is held on Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 - 11:30 AM. This has been a huge success and the class is already almost full! We are very excited and now working on possibly starting a class for 12 month - 18 month olds in January.

We are also looking for those who may be interested in a position working with our teachers in these programs. If you love children and are looking for a fun way to fill your mornings or if you know some-one who may be interested in one of our programs please contact diane@1stchristianchurch.com.

Hope for Christmas Sunday, December 10th

IT’S HERE!!! We are excited to welcome families from our community into our church on December 10th in order to share with them the love and HOPE of Jesus. Please be sure that you have signed up to serve and that you know what your roll will be. We will be having an “all-hands-on-deck” training on December 3rd from 9 - 10 AM. Come join us before your Saturday shopping and chores. We’ll have snacks and coffee and we promise to keep it brief!

Mark your calendars and plan for your family to give HOPE for Christmas to our community.

Training: Saturday, December 3rd, 9 - 10 AM Event: Saturday, December 10th, 9 AM - 5 PM

Contact Cyndi Ressler (404-717-6930) or Stephanie Broach (stephanie@1stchristianchurch.com) if you have questions.

Hospice Food Sale

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all the ladies who participated in the Tanner Hospice Food Sale.

With your help we contributed 30+ food items and $405 in monetary donations!

Thanks! I love my church!

~June Strobino

Children’s Ministry Update

Christmas Musical Practices December Events Calendar

Our Christmas Musical, Special Delivery, is getting close! We will have a few more practices before the show so please see the events calendar to mark your own! If you would like more information or are interested in volunteering in anyway please contact April Thompson at april.july.09@gmail.com.

Operation Serve Saturday, December 10th

For Operation Serve in the month of December, we are inviting all families to participate in Hope for Christmas on December 10th! We have serving roles available for all ages. Contact stephanie@1stchristianchurch.com to sign your family up to serve if you haven’t yet!

Attention All Teens & Adults: Small Group Leaders Needed for Our Kids! Sunday Mornings @ 11 AM

As our children’s program continues to grow, our FirstKids’ small groups are growing as well. With this growth comes the opportunity for more adults and teenagers to invest in the lives of these children. We

know that change happens through relationships and that children can build stronger relationships with their leaders and each other when small groups are kept small. In order to provide the greatest opportunity for a meaningful experience for our K-5th graders, we’re looking for men, women and teenagers who are ready and willing to take on the role of small group leaders for groups of 6 - 8 students

during our 11 AM FirstKids program! Your commitment to a few children has the potential to impact their eternity. Do for a few what you would like to be able to do for many. Please ask any of our current leaders to share their experiences with you if you’re interested in knowing a little more: Alyssa & Eli Bell, Ashley Westbrook, Emma Sullivan, April Thompson, Ethan Hembree, Rachel Veal, or Allyson Tarpley.

Wanted: Skit/Teaching Team Leader & Members for FirstKids! Sunday Mornings @ 11 AM

What?: Serve as leaders of the K - 5th grade large group meeting, participate in skits and games, communicate the bottom line message and memory verse, share the Bible story of the week in an animated way

Who?: People who enjoy being in front of children, engaging with an audience of children, storytelling, serving as a host, being silly and making kids laugh, interacting with others through skits and games

When?: Serving on a rotation with three other teams with one month on and then three months off

Talk to any of our current teaching team leaders to get a better idea of what this role entails: Aubrey Parson, Stanley Reid, or Mike Farr!

Student Ministry Update

Sunday Mornings @ 10 AM 6th - 12th Grade

We are in s series called, “The Life of Jesus.” The central focus of the gospel is the Life of Jesus. Through the end of the year, we are going to walk through the Life of Jesus in chronological form as best we can. We will not only discuss the Life of Jesus, but how His life affects us.

Six Flags Holiday in the Park December, 4th @ 3 PM

We will be going to Six Flags Holiday in the Park, on December 4th. We'll be leaving the church at 3 PM. Some of you may remember that we planned on going this past summer, but got rained out. Please contact Jeremy Westbrook if you’re interested in going at Jeremy@1stchristianchurch.com

306 Underground Sunday Evenings @ 5:30 PM

306 Underground meets on Sundays from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. 306 Underground is for all middle and high schoolers. Dinner is provided from 5:30 - 6:00 PM. This is a great place to play games, make new friends, hang out with awesome adult leaders, and talk about Jesus! I would love to see you there!

We will NOT be meeting on Christmas night or New Years Day.

We will begin a series on December 11th called, “Another Christmas Story.” It’s Christmas. Nativity scenes are everywhere. You know, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, and the drummer boy (who wasn’t actually there). Maybe you grew up seeing these scenes and wondered what they were all about. Or maybe you’ve heard the story a million times. Either way, there’s another story we bet you haven’t heard, characters you barely know, scenes you don’t see in the plastic nativity on your neighbor’s lawn. As we explore

two often untold parts of the Christmas story, we discover that God had something bigger in mind from the very beginning. And, just as it was true for those at the first Christmas, He may just have a bigger story in mind for us as well.

Home Communion December

Servers

12/4

Johnny Culwell

Robert Westbrook

12/11

Jason Faircloth

James Hutcheson

12/18

Jeremy Westbrook

Mike Broome

12/25

Dick Ingle

Keith Higgs

We are in need of

additional volunteers

to serve once every

two months or be on

call for weeks when

extra help is needed.

Interested in serving

or being served?

Contact: Stanley Reid

678-234-8498 or email

sreid1957@yahoo.com

If you would like

to submit an article

for January, email

Brittany Vibhakar at

Brittany@

1stchristianchurch.com

All articles must be

submitted by Dec. 10th

in order to be included.

Are You in a Life Group? Starting in January 2017

Life groups are launching in January, and it’s time to sign up now! Life groups are small groups of believers who meet weekly in homes for the purpose of building Christ centered relationships. We will share in God’s word, share in God’s service and share in each other’s lives. This is a real key to growing in Christ. Every one of us needs a small group of believers with whom we are doing life. Just call or email (donna@1stchristianchurch.com) the church office manager, Donna Miller, to sign up.

Alpha Ministry Wednesday, December 14th

Alpha Ministry will meet Wednesday, December 14th, for a Christmas lunch at the home of Nan Meeks. Sherry Tuggle will organize carpool rides from the church leaving at 10 AM, or if driving individually, arrive at Nan's by 10:30 AM. In lieu of gifts for each other, money should be given to Alpha for additional mission's contributions. The mission of the month is Sunbelt Christian Youth Ranch in Lake, Mississippi. Interested women are encouraged to attend this festive event.

Keenagers’ Christmas Luncheon Thursday, December 15th @ 11:30 AM

Over the river and through the woods — to Marjorie’s house we go! The Keenagers will celebrate Christmas together on December 15th. We will meet at a 11:30 AM at the church for a sleigh ride together.

Keenagers offers fellowship, fun and food to those 55 and over. You’re invited to join us the 3rd Thursday of each month! RSVP to Marjorie Aldridge at marjorie1127@att.net.

Children’s Christmas Musical December 11th @ 6 PM

Join us for the children’s Christmas musical, Special Delivery, on Sunday, December 11th at 6 PM. This is sure to be a wonderful show that you won’t want to miss! Immediately following we will have a cookie/cupcake reception and a time of thanks for Stephanie Broach, former Children’s Pastor. Please bring your favorite treat to share!

November Numbers

11/6 11/13 11/20 11/27

Attendance 318 291 265 270

Offering $ 20,680.85 $ 7,225.23 $ 10,484.06 $ 6,677.68

YTD Received $526,275.18 $533,450.41 $543,934.47 $550,612.15

YTD Needed $562,500.00 $575,000.00 $587,500.00 $600,000.00

December Events Date Time Event

Fri 12/2 6:00 PM Celebrate Recovery

Sat 12/3 8:45 – 12:00 PM Children's Christmas Musical Rehearsal

Sat 12/3 9:00 – 10:00 AM Hope for Christmas Training Event

Sun 12/4 5:45 – 7:30 PM Children's Christmas Musical Rehearsal

Sun 12/4 3:00 PM Youth Trip to Six Flags

Wed 12/7 11:30 – 12:30 PM Christmas Brunch

Thur 12/8 11:30 – 12:30 PM Christmas Brunch

Fri 12/9 6:00 PM Celebrate Recovery

Sat 12/10 8:45 – 12 PM Children's Christmas Musical Rehearsal

Sat 12/10 9:00 – 5:00 PM Hope for Christmas

Sun 12/11 6:00 PM Children's Christmas Musical & Cookie/Cupcake Reception

Sun 12/11 5:30 – 7:30 PM Youth Service

Mon 12/12 6:30 PM Omega (Meets at Marjorie’s House)

Tues 12/13 9 – 11 AM Food Pantry

Wed 12/14 10:00 AM Alpha Ministry (Carpool to Nan’s or meet there at 10:30 AM)

Thur 12/15 11:30 AM Keenagers’ Christmas Luncheon

Fri 12/16 6:00 PM Celebrate Recovery

Sun 12/18 5:30 – 7:30 PM Youth Christmas Party at Jeremy’s House

Fri 12/23 All Day Office Closed—Merry Christmas!

Sat 12/24 5:30 PM Christmas Eve Service (Worship Center)

Sun 12/25 11:00 AM Christmas Morning Worship Service (Worship Center)

Mon 12/26 All Day Office Closed—Merry Christmas!

Fri 12/30 All Day Office Closed—Happy New Year!

Fri 12/30 6:00 PM Celebrate Recovery

Mon 1/2/17 All Day Office Closed—Happy New Year!

306 College Street • Carrollton, GA • www.1stchristianchurch.com • 770.832.3974