January 1, 2025 “Serving Sharing Sending”
From the Pastor
A cartoon from a few years ago showed a woman saying to her husband, “Good Grief, Henry, Here’s Christmas at our throats again!” There always seems to be a few voices like hers at this time of the year. They merely tolerate the seasonal preparations. If the truth be known, some of us may feel less than excited about the season. There is the expense, the crowds, the busy schedules, and the overindulgence.
During the Advent Season, Christians need to remember that God did not send Jesus to be “at our throats”, but to be “in our hearts!” Jesus is God’s gift to our world and to our hearts. When Jesus resides within, there is something to get excited about especially at this time of the year. Advent is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to God for the gift of His Son.
Let us celebrate Advent in our hearts. Let us also celebrate Advent in our homes, in our church, and in our community. Let us say to one another, “Good news, everyone. Here’s Advent!” “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Tim
MELANIE’S MUSIC NOTES
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR MY CHRISTMAS HONORARIUM. Thank you for the cards and gifts I have received, too. I am grateful for you, and grateful for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who sustains us with His grace and peace.
MANY THANKS TO THE CHOIR MEMBERS from ADBC and GGCF who joined together to present the Christmas musical. I appreciate the time and effort you put into making this a special musical offering of worship. Thank you to Debra Murray and Steve Borisuk for running our sound during rehearsals and to Steve for running it today on December 15. Thank you to Pastor Adam Simpson and Allan Petit Frere of GGCF for running the live stream. A special thank you goes to Krystee Curry for taking the time to sing with us again, and for doing such a beautiful job with the solo. It is always wonderful to share these moments with you! A special thank you goes to Cy Young also, for joining us as our narrator. We appreciate your time and how well you brought the words to life! Thank you everyone – it was a joy to work with you all!
THANK YOU ADBC CHOIR MEMBERS for the Christmas card and gift you gave me. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are appreciated
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO WENT CAROLING WITH ME!! We had enough carolers for one group and were able to get to six homes. Thank you to Doug Smith and Debra Murray for driving and thank you to Jeanne Howell and Margaret Gaines for preparing the fruit bags we took to each home.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!
Melanie
CHILDREN’S NEWS
Check back in February.
Jeanne
Please join us Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 7:00 P.M, for our International Mission Study. Our study will be on Central Asia. We will learn about the people in this vast area and how missionaries are trying to reach them with God’s love.
The following amounts have been given to missions since the beginning of the church year: $1525 for N. C. Missions, $1010 for Global Hunger, $805 for the Kennedy Home, and $1215 for Baptist Children’s Homes. Lottie Moon offering total was $1710.25 . Thank you for your generous contributions.
Bill and Dawn Bielby’s son, Joe (who is a member of our church), and his wife, Lindsey, have just become parents of twin boys. They also have three other children. We haven’t been able to give them a wedding shower or baby shower because they live in another state. Therefore, we will be collecting a love offering for the twins on Sunday, January 5, and Sunday, January 12. Please use one of your extra offering envelopes or a plain envelope and write “Bielby love offering” on the outside. Thank you.
Bobbie
Thank you so much for your generous donations to our missions.
2 Riley Klingenmaier
5 Jessica Bielby
12 Mary Jane Campbell
14 Steve Borisuk
21 Betty Wimberly
25 Henry Klingenmaier
27 Alyson Rice
28 Helen Cox
Jenny and Matt Brown January 7, 2007
PRAYER CONCERNS
OUR CHURCH FAMILY: Holland Gibson, Gail & Calvin Clayton, Martha & Nick Kaidouh, Steve & Beverly Mabe, Spike Burton, Bill Bielby, Betty Wimberly, Donna Chappell, Curtis Clark, Bill & Becky Hedspeth, Roslyn Keith, Ann King-Hendrix, Dianne Patti, Helen Cox, Mary Jane Campbell, Louis Keith, Freeman Wilder, Lois Jones, Vicky Cross, Margaret Gaines, Judy & Dan Israel, Nagra Aftab, Mollie Craver, Nathan Israel, Barbara Fraser
OUR CHURCH FAMILY LOVE AND SYMPATHY: John Cox & family, Ann King-Hendrix & family, Holland Gibson & family, Vena Hendricks & family, Judy Israel & family, Steve & Beverly Mabe, Donna Chappell & family, Melanie Allen & family, Bev Hill & family, Jeanne Howell & family
OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES: Dickie Moore (Margaret Gaines), Susie Gaines (Robert Gaines), Mary Williams (Rayvon Cooke), Karen Keith (Roslyn Keith), Joe & Lindsey Bielby (Bill & Dawn Bielby), Ricky Hedgepeth (Vena Hendricks), Jessie & Ruth Gardner (Helen Cox), Keith Hobgood (Margaret Gaines), Robert Stanifer (Tim Howell), Ken Barney (Vena Hendricks), Charles Sloan’s family (Dan Israel), Kent & Bev Saunders (Pam Skillman), Stephanie Devers (Helen Cox), Shirley Davis (Donna Chappell), Jeff Gibby (Tim Howell), Matthew Clayton (Gail & Calvin Clayton), Anna Carter (Tim Howell), Judy Smith (Freeman Wilder), James & Jean Adkins’ family (Jeanne Howell), Lisa DeWitt (Chris DeWitt), Ronald King (Ann King-Hendrix), Kay Hinshaw (Margaret Gaines), Penny Cox (Margaret Gaines), Cindy Wilder & family (Freeman Wilder), Tammy Roberson (Doug Smith), David & Mary Jane Caudle (Lois Jones), Joni Israel (Dan & Judy Israel), Gary Schaffer (Boyd Miller), Bethany Walker & family (Helen Cox), Patty Ricks (Judy Israel), Matt Watkins (Megan Watkins Kirschmeier)
OUR SHUT-INS AND NURSING HOME RESIDENTS:
Spike Burton, Glenaire Rehab, Room 5410, 5000 Glenhope Court
Cary, NC 27511
Judy Israel, Brighton Gardens, 3101 Duraleigh Road, Room 164,
Raleigh, NC 27612, Phone Number: 919-571-1123
Nelli Pearce, Gabriel Manor Assisted Living, 84 Johnson Road,
Clayton, NC 27520