DECEMBER2014
NEWSLETTER
FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR ROSS
Merry Christmas?
When should we celebrate Christmas? Every once in a while there is a television program or a newspaper or magazine article which decries the celebration of Christmas on December 25. There are a variety of reasons given. There is only one thing that is usually agreed on. The actual birth date of Jesus is not really known.
There are those who argue that Jesus must have been born in the spring. They point out that the weather would be too cold and the hills most likely covered by snow in the winter. Also, in the spring was the Passover festival and people would flock to Jerusalem for that festival. It would have been an ideal time for a census to be taken.
There are similar reasons for believing the birth of Jesus could have been in the fall. Instead of Passover the Feast of Tabernacles would have been the main celebration. Again, there would be many people coming to the holy land to celebrate and it would be a good time for a census. The only objection I see to this fall idea is that the Feast of Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Booths. People were to live in booths outside of their homes for a week to commemorate their 40 years of wandering in the desert. If everyone was staying in a booth built for that purpose I don’t see how there would have been a shortage of rooms in the inns of Bethlehem.
So, how did we come to celebrate on the 25th of December? The first record of using that date is during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. You might remember that he was the first Roman Emperor to be a Christian. That first celebration was in the year 336 AD or CE (current era). It was a few years after that that Pope Julius I declared that December 25th would be the official date to celebrate the birth of Christ.
There are other factors to consider in celebrating on December 25th. The winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22nd. There were already pagan festivals around that event and it would give the Christians a reason to celebrate during that time and not have to be observing a pagan tradition. Christians have a long tradition of taking something “pagan” and baptizing it and making it into an important part of Christianity.
I would offer an alternative idea. December 25th is as good a date as any and it has become traditional. However, we as Christians should be celebrating the birth of Christ not only once a year but every day of the year. In some ways Jesus comes into our world and into our lives whenever we hear him speak to us and we respond to what is being said. When we see that Jesus still enters our world on a regular basis then the celebration of his coming is appropriate every day.
So, enjoy Christmas on December 25th. At the same time remember to wish each other a Merry Christmas everyday so that we will constantly be aware of “Immanuel,” - “God With Us.”
Pastor Ross
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PASTOR’S OFFICE HOURS
Pastor Ross’snormal office hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. and other times by request. Please call the church office at 723-1670 to set up a time to meet with him.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m. – Praise and Worship Service
11:00 a.m. –Coffee Fellowship
11:30 a.m. – Video Bible Series
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
Our beautiful inspirational candlelight
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
will again be held on
December 24th at 11:00 p.m.
Please plan to attend and bring
your family and friends.
This is a great way to usher in
Christmas, and to remember
the real reasons to celebrate
KEENAGERS HOLIDAY GET-TOGETHER
The Keenagers holiday get-together luncheon will be held on Thursday, December 4th at noon at FBC. Mary Johns will be catering the meal. The cost is $7.00 per person. Reservations are needed by December 1st. Contact Mary Johns at 277-8171. Please bring a food item to donate to the Salvation Army.
TOO OLD TO PROGRESS NON-PROGRESSIVE CHRISTMAS DINNER (Used to be the Middle-Agers Group
A holiday get-together and dinner will be held on Saturday, December 6th at the Creighton’s home, 1763 Maplewood Drive in Owosso. A catered meal will be served consisting of swiss steak, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, sauerkraut and sausage, broccoli salad, cole slaw, relish tray, rolls and chocolate sheet cake. Price is $10 per person. Please RSVP to Shannon Hinterman, 989-666-1633. Payment must be in by December 1st. If mailingpayment, 2548 E. Garrison Road, Durand, MI 48429. If you are so inclined to help with an appetizer or dessert item, please give the Creighton’s a call at 989-725-9666.
ABW NEWS
ABW CHRISTMAS TEA:The ABW Christmas Tea will be held on Saturday, December 13th at 2:00 p.m. in the lounge, with a special music program. Mittens and caps will be collected for donation to needy families. All women of the church are invited to attend!
MONTHLY KITCHEN CLEAN-UP: A kitchen clean-up will not be held in December. The next scheduled kitchen clean-up will be on Tuesday, January 6th at 10:00 a.m. If you have some spare time and would like to help, you will be welcomed with open arms.
PASTOR ROSS’ NEW BOOK
Pastor Ross has written a new book, “The ID Book: Unmasking the Soul and Revealing Your True Mission in Life.” Finding genuine fulfillment in life can be a daunting task. When we’re at a crossroads, or our best-laid plans have been derailed, it’s only human to feel lost, frustrated, or alone. For those searching to reconnect with themselves and deepen into the meaning of life. “The ID Book provides discovering your individual path to a more profound place in the cosmos. The book is available for purchase either through Lulu.com or Amazon. Copies are also available for purchase in the church office .
DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
All items for the JanuaryNewsletter need to be submitted to the church office byMonday, December 23rd.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
YEAR TO DATE GIVING
THRU 10/31/14 / OUR GIVING / OUR EXPENSES$ 80,028.87 / $ 70,618.78
Average weekly collection thru 10/31/14 = $1,861.14
NEEDED per week = $1,957.79
$9,410.09 incomeover expenses as of October 31, 2014
THANK YOU
Dear Church Family,
A “HUGE” thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to the cookie sale at the Band Boosters Craft Bazaar. We raised $850. We donated $500 to Project Hope, which was doubled by a matching donation, and $300 to the Owosso Public Schools Backpack Program. We could not have done that without your help.
Mary Johns
Fellowship & Caring Team
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To First Baptist Church of Owosso,
On behalf of Owosso Public Schools’ staff and students, thank you kindly for the generous $300 donation to the Owosso Cares Food Backpack Program. Now in its third year, the Backpack Program has been a tremendous success due to a collaborative community spirit and financial contributions like yours. Your donation assists in sustaining a program that cannot be funded through general fund dollars.
Firs Baptist Church’s donation to the Owosso Cares Backpack Program supports the purchase of food that is distributed to 174 Owosso Public Schools’ students, from preschool to high school, twice a month during the school year. We are most appreciative of your support!
Sincerely,
Dr. Andrea Tuttle, Superintendent
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
121/01Debbie Burke12/15Angela Henderson
1012 S. Shiawassee St.2450 Krouse Rd., #223
Owosso, MI 48867Owosso, MI 48867
12/02Marie Johns12/18Denny Walker
2450 Krouse Road, #2236340 Tyrrell Road
Owosso, MI 48867Laingsburg, MI 48848
12/09Bill Kohagen12/21Brandon Jones
1412 Cook Road2450 Krouse Rd., #225
Owosso, MI 48867Owosso, MI 48867
12/11Kate Wallen12.22Alex Spach
988 S. Delaney Road502 Keyte St.
Owosso, MI 48867Owosso, MI 48867
12/13Bev Kohagen
1412 Cook Road
Owosso, MI 48867
GOD’S SERVANTS FOR DECEMBER
STEWARDSNURSERY
12/7Betty Kelsey12/7Mable Reid
12/14Lola Jean Smith12/14Lola Jean Smith
12/21Mary Johns12/21Melanie Sadilek
12/28Bob Johns12/28Deb Creighton
USHERSCOMMUNION SERVERS
Doug Dixon and12/7Fellowship & Caring Team
Doug & Shannon Sadilek
EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
Holiday Cookie Walk – Bazaar: will be held on Saturday, December 6th from 10 am to 2 pm at the First Congregational Church UCC, 327 N. Washington St., Owosso. You can select from a large variety of Christmas cookies, candies and baked goods. Shop a variety of items to purchase, some handmade gifts, attic treasures and gift baskets. Door prizes will be given throughout the day. A light lunch will be available. The event will be held in the lower level fellowship hall. Use the parking lot entrance atBall and Williams or the barrier free entrance at the northeast entrance with the elevator (corner of Williams and Washington).
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The Y Church Adult Basketball League: Get your friends together and play some basketball! Whether you are looking to stay in shape or hoop-it-up competitively, we have the league with MHSAA referees. Games will be played at the Y or First Church of God on M-52. Sponsored by the Shiawassee Family YMCA. 989-725-8136
Date: January 18 to March 8th
Cost: $250 per team
Register by January 9, 2015
Coaches meeting January 14th at 6 pm
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Flint Citadel Band of The Salvation Army Community Christmas Concert:
Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Northgate Wesleyan Church
1687 North M-52
Owosso, MI 48867
989-725-9339
Free Admission – Love Offering
PRAYER MINISTRY
NEW PRAYER NEEDS:Evelyn Sexton (joint replacement in foot), Craig Wotring (chemo and radiation at Ann Arbor VA Hospital), Millie Saylor (broken arm and vertebrae), Wendy Hodge *(multiple serious health problems), Brian Martin (fell off ladder – broken hi, leg, arm and hit head),
(Healing from Cancer: Morgan Peters, Carter Wyeth, Mary McCaffrey,Kerry Holloway, Joe Tanguay, Connie Mitts, Lloyd Marchant, Brian Mullally, Paul Allen, Teresa Pearson,Phil Parkin, Rudy Garcia, Jim Apsey, Terry Rider, Jim Hart, Mike Perry, John Frink, Crystal Hittal, Sue Bouck, John Golladay, Robert Crosthwaite, Diane Meno, Brenda Cheney, Dale Butcher, Dawn Lenkert, O.J. Hubbard, Sue Pugh
Other Medical/Personal Needs: Nancy Froelich, Charley Tick, Ann Wilkerson, Ryan Leftwich, Fred Brock, Ron Mamero, Earl Graham,
Pray for our Military Service Men and Women: Brett Wallen, Sara Smith, Jason Sawyer, Austin Stevens, Daniel Miller
Remember our Shut-Ins: Doreen Bouck, Bernice Stewart, Wilma Willitts, Joan Holtforth, Pat Hathaway, Doris Leavitt, Bob and LaDonna Key, Marie Johns (has returned home)
Our Christian Sympathy To: The families of: Hank Gleiss,Patricia Schafer, Gene Cooley, Judy Bingaman, bill Hill, Gerald Kimmel, Beryl Clark
We Share In Christian Joy: We are joyful that Marie Johns has returned to her home from Pleasant View, and we celebrate Jim Marsh’s fast recovery from his heart attack and surgery.
If you would like a name added or deleted to the prayer list, please call the church office at 723-1670.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Being positive in a negative situation is not naïve, it’s leadership.
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MARY’S DREAM
Submitted by: Marilyn Dixon
From: “Christmas Message” …… Bethany Farms
I had a dream, Joseph. I don’t understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They’d gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren’t for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They’d decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don’t think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone’s birthday if they don’t know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus – not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration. I’m glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph if it had been real.
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