The Journey to Bethlehem
What an amazing Journey to Bethlehem for Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, you, and me. We have taken many journeys that have changed our lives. Taking the journey to Bethlehem is a life-changing experience.
In the Bible we find the following question: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? John 1:46 NKJV. The answer is YES! In Nazareth there were two righteous young people who found favor with the Lord: their names were Mary and Joseph. God called upon them to take a journey that changed their lives forever, a journey that took them to Bethlehem. They both had questions concerning their visitation from the angel. Even though they knew the answers, would their family and friends understand? Their journey however, included a believing faith and a commitment to do the Lord’s will. Mary said: “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants” Luke 1:28 LB.
The shepherds were tending to their flock just like any other night, yet their journey in life changed with the message of an angel and a heavenly host singing. They were told: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” Luke 2:11-12 NKJV. They made their journey to Bethlehem and visited the Christ Child and left as changed shepherds. This change was evident in their witness: “they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child” Luke 2:17. The little child of Bethlehem changed their hearts and lives.
Sometime later, the Wise Men from the east set out on a journey to find the newborn King of the Jews. They had seen His star and they followed the light of the star to the house of Jesus. When they found the Child, they worshiped Him and then presented their gifts to Him. It must have been a long journey for the wise men, however, this was the most life changing journey of their lives.
Now is the time for us to make our journey to Bethlehem and find the Christ Child who came to save us from our sins. When kneeling at the manger where the Christ Child was laid, our journey leads us to the cross where He died for our sins, and on the third day He arose from the dead and we serve a risen Savior!
If you have not taken this journey to Bethlehem, I invite you to take it today and ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart. Make room for Christ in your heart TODAY!
In the Name of the Savior, have a Merry Christmas!
Ronnie V. Hobgood, Pastor
The Journey to Bethlehem
A Dinner Theatre and Musical Drama
December 17and 18, 2017
7:00 PM
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6:30PM – Seating of Guests
Welcome and Blessing
7:00PM - Dinner
Salad (Ranch & Thousand Island Dressing)
Steak (all steaks will be cooked med-well) (A-1 & Heinz 57 Sauce),
Baked Potato, Bread, and Dessert
Sweet & Un-sweet Tea and Regular & Decaf Coffee
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The Journey to Bethlehem
Introduction
“O Come, O Come Emanuel” – Bailey Sutton
“Come Let Us Worship” - Choir
Scene 1 – Zechariah in the Temple
Scene 2 – Gabriel Appears to Mary
“Be It Unto Me” – Bailey Sutton and Choir
Scene 3 – Mary Visits Elizabeth
“Mary Did You Know” – Vicki Bannister and Choir
Scene 4 – Birth of John the Baptist
“Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty” - Choir
Scene 5 – Joseph and Gabriel
Scene 6 – Joseph and Mary
Scene 7 – The Innkeeper
Scene 8 – The Birth of Jesus
“He Made A Way in a Manger” Choir
Scene 9 – The Visit of the Shepherds and Wise Men
“The Angels Cried” – Emily Daniels & Jimmy Jones
“The March of the Wise Men” – Men’s Choir
“Tapestry of Carols” Choir
“Christmas Offering”
Vicki Bannister, Conner Craft, Kim Hipkiss, & Marian Kennedy
Meditation - Pastor
Christmas Carol Medley
Benediction
Amen
Welcome
Merry Christmas! Welcome to La Grange First Church. It is our prayer that as we worship tonight through music, drama, and the reading of God’s Word that the Child of Bethlehem will find a welcome in your heart and in your life. May you know the wonder of being loved unconditionally, cherished unceasingly and save everlastingly.
In reverence for this service we ask the following: Turn off or silence cell phones, no flash photographyand no applause during the presentation.Thank You!
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First Church Choir
Marian Kennedy, Choir Director
Joshua Hobgood, Guitar
Laura Beth Daughety, Mandolin
SopranosAltos
Vicki BannisterAnna Baird
Kathryn HartBrianna Creech
Elsie HolmesChristina Creech
Cailyn KennedyConner Craft
Mitchell Ann LetchworthEmily Daniels
Christine ParrishLaura Beth Daughety
Bailey SuttonKim Hipkiss
Gale YarboroughMitzi Hobgood
Sarah Letchworth
TenorsBass
Clifton HarrisonColby Creech
David LetchworthJoshua Hobgood
Bradley TaylorJimmy Jones
Sherwood Shivar
Vernon Sorrell
Drama Team
Director...... Marian Kennedy
Narrator...... Ronnie V. Hobgood
Sound and Lights...... Asa Creech,Josh Hobgood, & Donald Parrish
Costumes...... Darlene Creech, Kathryn Hart,
Elsie Holmes, Christy Smith, Sally Welsh
Stage Managers...... Darlene Creechand Nicholas Kennedy
Back Stage Crew...... Matthew Ham, Chris Roddy, & Cooper Roddy
Mary...... Bailey Sutton
Joseph...... Ben Miller
Zechariah...... Donald Fader
Elizabeth...... Mitzi Hobgood
Neighbor...... Brianna Creech
Neighbor...... Irene Wilson
Gabriel...... William Sutton
Jethro, The Innkeeper...... Ted Harrison
Rhoda, The Innkeeper’s Daughter...... Conner Craft
Shepherds...... Bruce Bannister and Jamie Daughety
Wise Men...... Jamie Ham, William Sutton, and Terry Yarborough
Animals...... Fawn Creech, Maura Ham, & Logan Sullivan
Dinner Team
Dinner Chairperson...... DeeAnn Maready
Dinner Staff...... Vicki Bannister,Debra Byrd, Tanya Craft, Darlene Creech,
Lucretia Creech, Tiffany Creech, Tommy Crews, Sandy Crews, Emily Daniels, J. L. Daughety, Jamie Daughety, Laura Beth Daughety,Fran Gibbons, Mary Gresham, Heather Ham, Carol Hardison, Clifton Hardison, Clifton Harrison, Lucille Harrison, Sheila Harrison,Kathryn Hart, Carrol Henderson, Angie Herring, Brent Herring, Debbie Herring, Greg Herring, Jimmie D. Herring, Lindsay Herring, Carl Hinson, Cleo Hinson, Frances Hinson, Josh Hobgood, Mitzi Hobgood, Ronnie Hobgood, Elsie Holmes, Virginia Holmes, Kim Johnson, Bethany Jones, DeeAnn Maready, Jacob Maready, Avery Mills, Donald Parrish, Christine Parrish, Judy Parrott, Tracy Roddy, Joyce Roman, Ruth Scott, Sue Shivar, Vickie Singleton, Christy Smith, Shirley Sorrell, Kendra Sullivan, Jennifer Sutton, Tracy Sutton, Angela Taylor,Jessica Taylor,Linda Taylor,Kim Wade, & Gale Yarborough.
Greeters (Sunday)...... Edna Johnson, Tommy & Sandi Crews
Greeters (Monday)...... Lucille Harrison, Dusk & Dawn Stroud
Parking...... Mike Sullivan
Publicity...... Debbie Herring, Mitzi Hobgood, Virginia Holmes
Wait Staff Coordinators...... Kendra Sullivan and Angela Taylor
Servers...... Kaitlyn Allen, Bailee Alphin,MacKenzie Cannon,Conner Craft,
Graham Hill, Cassidy Hobbs,Sadie Horton,Brett Howard,Cailyn Kennedy, Mary George King, Mary Beth Lancaster,Samantha Moody, Lidia Pendergraft, Kennedy Phillips, Pam Sheffield, Raelynn Sheffield, Brynn Smith,Grayson Sullivan, Charlie Taylor
Tickets/Reservations...... Tiffany Creech
Table Decorations...... Sheila Harrison and Jennifer Sutton
Ushers...... Cliff Hardison,Sheila Harrison, Royce Holmes, Cooper Roddy,
Sue Shivar, Allen Sutton & James Sutton
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The seating arrangements were made as reservations were requested.
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Christmas Eve Worship @ 10:00AM
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802 South Caswell Street
La Grange, North Carolina 28551
Ronnie V. Hobgood, Pastor
Joshua T. Hobgood, Youth Pastor
ABCs For The Better Life
Everybody wants to get as much out of life as possible. But most people aren't realizing their dreams. Jesus offers hope. He announced, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" John 10:10 NKJV. To experience this for ourselves is, in one sense, as simple as ABC.
Admit that you are a sinner.
The Bible says, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Sin separates us from God, and ultimately that means eternal punishment in hell. To escape sin's penalty, we need Divine forgiveness. And it's ours through faith in the Lord Jesus.
Believe on Christ.
We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and we must trust Him for our salvation. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" Acts 16:31. Just as medicine is not a remedy until it is taken, so knowing the story of Jesus is not enough to save us. We must personally receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
Confess your Faith.
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9. To confess our faith is to tell others our belief in Christ. This should be a spontaneous outflow of the change in our heart.
Let Jesus give you a new life right now. Admit your sin. Believe that Jesus is your only hope of salvation. Confess the Lord Jesus. These are the ABCs for the better life. Richard W. De Haan
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If you have appreciated the GOOD NEWS you have just read, please let us know. We want to rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you grow spiritually. Please call or contact one of the Pastors.
Ronnie V. Hobgood, PastorJoshua Hobgood, Youth Pastor
252-775-1406252-902-6221
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802 South Caswell Street
La Grange, North Carolina 28551
802 South Caswell Street
La Grange, North Carolina 28551
Ronnie V. Hobgood, Pastor
Joshua T. Hobgood, Youth Pastor