Preacher’s Ponderings
The rush of Christmas is upon us. There is shopping to do, cards to send, gifts to wrap,
decorations to hang, meals to prepare, parties to attend, and family traditions to keep. In the
midst of the hustle and bustle of it all, it is easy to lose sight of the wonder of it all. Jesus was
born at a busy time. People were rushing to their hometowns for a census. Excitement was in
the air. Family members and friends were renewing relationships. Shop keepers and Inn
keepers were doing a robust business. No one seemed to notice a lone couple as they made their way down
Bethlehem’s crowded street. No room was to be found for the weary, expectant mother. Away from the press of a
busy town, in a lowly stable this impoverished couple finds rest and solitude. Here, with no pomp, the Christ Child
is born. Angels, Shepherds, and Kings would seek to worship him, yet the sounds of barnyard animals would be
his lullaby. Most of those in Bethlehem knew nothing of this miraculous event, so close were they, and yet so far.
Allow yourself to enjoy the celebrations, and activities surrounding the Christmas Season. Yet focus on the
simplicity of the true meaning of Christmas. Rejoice in the greatness of Gods gift of Salvation, which came
wrapped in swaddling clothes. May God Bless you and yours as you celebrate our Saviors birth.
Pastor Mullins
MONTH AT A GLANCE
December 2nd – Food Distribution 11:00 – 1:00
December 3rd - Brotherhood Breakfast, 8:00 am
December 3rd - Upward Basketball first game
December 4th – Week of Prayer for International Missions
December 9th – Food Distribution 11:00 – 1:00
December 10th – Upward Basketball game and pictures
December 11th – Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
December 12th – Roadrunners 11:00 am
December 12th – Prayer for America 7:00 pm
December 14th – Ladies Crafts 10:00 am
December 14th – Deacons Meeting after Prayer Service
December 16th – Food Distribution 11:00 – 1:00
December 17th – Upward basketball games and pictures
December 18th – Christmas Cantata and Christmas Banquet.
No evening service
December 24th – Christmas Eve Service 6:00 pm
December 25th - Christmas Day
December 25th – 10:30 AM Worship Service Only
No Sunday School or Evening Service
December 30th - Food Distribution 11:00 -1:00
Join us as we
celebrate:
Christmas Eve,
Saturday December
24th. This brief (no
more than 30 minutes)
service has proven to
be a yearly favorite of
many. This quiet time
of worship will help
you to focus on the
true Reason for the
Season. Service
begins at 6:00 pm.
Christmas Day,
Sunday December
25th. There will be
no Sunday school.
We invite you to
come be a part of
our worship,
beginning at 10:30
am. There will be
special music, and
Pastor Mullins will
deliver the message.
There will be no
evening service.
Statistics for November
Designated funds
$ 19,895.50
Non-Designated funds $ 7,525.00
Total Received
$ 27,420.50
_________________
Average Sunday School………….. .… 132
Average Worship………………..... ….175
Average Sunday Night……………....... 66
Average Wednesday Night ……….…. 77
December
Ushers
Francis Kovach
James Kight
Billy Baldwin
Rusty Zahler
DEACONS
Jimmy Smyrl
Ron Hook
James Kight
Chris Roland
Ray Sawyer
755-1089
206-8004
530-9530
240-4843
794-4303
Welcome to our New Members:
Courtney Lee, Marlin Andrew Blume,
Willard Ray Kornegay and Delores
Stone
The balance remaining on our building
renovation loan is $3,800.00. Our goal is to
pay this balance off by December 31st, 2016.
Your help is needed. Prayerfully consider
donating to help meet this goal. Remember, all
donations are tax deductible
By: Aneeda Wallace-Simms, RN, RRT, BS-Ed, MPH, DBA-c and Scott Simms RRT, RCP, BHA
TWELVE WAYS TO HEALTH
The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate the birth of Jesus and reflect on what’s important.
They are also a time to appreciate the gift of health. Here are some holiday tips to support your efforts for health and safety this season.
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN:
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Wash your hands
with soap and clean running water, and rub them together for at least 20 seconds.
STAY WARM:
Cold temperatures can cause serious health problems, especially in infants and older adults. Stay dry, and dress warmly in several layers.
MANAGE STRESS:
The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health and pocketbook. Keep your commitments and spending in check. Balance work,
home, and play. Get support from family and friends. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. Make sure to get proper sleep.
TRAVEL SAFELY:
Whether you’re traveling across town or around the world, help insure your trip is safe. Always buckle your child in the car using a child
safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt appropriate for his/her height, weight, and age.
BE SMOKE-FREE:
Avoid smoking and breathing other people’s smoke. If you smoke, quit today! Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or talk to your health care
provider for help.
GET CHECK-UPS AND VACCINATIONS:
Exams and screenings can help find potential problems early. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Ask your health care
provider what vaccinations and tests you should get based on your age, lifestyle, travel plans, medical history, and family health history.
WATCH THE KIDS:
Keep a watchful eye on your kids when they’re eating and playing. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items,
choking hazards (like coins and hard candy), and other objects out of kids’ reach. Learn how to provide early treatment for children who
are choking. Develop rules about acceptable and safe behaviors, including using electronic media.
PREVENT INJURIES:
Injuries can happen anywhere, and some often occur around the holidays. Use step stools instead of climbing on furniture when hanging
decorations. Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboarding to help prevent head injuries.
HANDLE AND PREPARE FOOD SAFELY:
As you prepare holiday meals, wash your hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and
eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature. Refrigerate
promptly. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.
EAT HEALTHY, AND BE ACTIVE:
With Balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays the healthy way. Choose fresh fruit as a festive and sweet substitute for candy.
Limit fats, salt, and sugary foods. Be active for at least 2 ½ hours a week. Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
A long held, and fondly
remembered tradition of
our church is the yearly
Christmas fruit bags
distributed by our
deacons. This year will
be no exception. Fruit
bags will be distributed
following the morning
service on December
11th.
December
Joye
Birthdays and Scheduled Events
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
Saturday
2
3
James
Paton
Food
Distribution
11:00 – 1:00
Nancy
Jackson
Chance
Keyes
Fred
Turner
Upward Basketball
First game 8:00 am
Brotherhood
Breakfast 8:00
4
6
5
7
8
9
10
Robert
McKnight
Aaron
Thomas
Tyler
Connell
Week of Prayer for
International Missions
December 4th – 11th.
11
Upward basketball
Practice 6 – 8 pm
Upward basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
12
13
Childrens/Youth
activities
Prayer Service 6:30
Choir Practice
7:30
14
Upward Basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
Food
Distribution
11:00-1:00
15
16
17
Ladies Crafts 10 am
Roadrunners
11:00 a.m.
Lottie Moon
Christmas Offering
Childrens/Youth
activities
Prayer Service 6:30
Choir Practice
7:30
7:00 pm
Fruit bag
distribution
18
Upward basketball
practice 6- 8 pm
19
Christine
Broughton
Jan
Otterbacher
Deacons Meeting PM
Upward basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
20
21
22
Scott
Simms
Phil
Parker
23
Peggy
Turner
Upward basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
25
26
Childrens/Youth
activities
Wed Prayer Service
6:30
Choir Practice
7:30
27
28
Derwood
Roland
Upward basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
Church Office Closed
Upward basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
Linda
Carpenter
Jimmy
Gunter
Childrens/Youth
activities
Prayer Service
6:30
Choir Practice
7:30
24
Elaine
Macon
Kenny
Hardee
Russ
Zahler
Scott
Christmas Cantata
Christmas Banquet
No evening service
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
10:30 Worship
only
Upward basketball
practice 6 – 8 pm
Food
Distribution
11:00-1:00
Church Office
closed
Church Office
Closed
29
30
Christmas Eve
Service 6:00 pm
31
Plans have been set for a RoadRunner trip to Town
Theater on December 8th to see the play “A
Christmas Story.” We will meet at the church at
5:45 pm.
Join with us on December 12th at 11:00 am for a
time of fellowship and food. Our guest this month
will be The Starnes Sisters.
Join us for a Christmas Celebration!
We will be going to see “The Singing Christmas Tree” at
Shandon Baptist Church on December 10th at 5:30 pm. We will
meet at Congaree Baptist Church at 4:00 pm.
VISION
December 2016
Volume 33 Number 12
(A Monthly Publication)
NON-PROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #120
COLA, SC
Congaree Baptist Church
101 Pine Ridge Drive
West Columbia, SC 29172
803.755.9556
“Reaching the World, One Soul at a Time.”
“Return Service Requested”
___________________________________________________
VERSE OF THE MONTH
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son
is given, and the government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
Christmas Party and Revealing of Secret Sisters on December 4 th at
4:30 pm in the fellowship room. All ladies are invited, whether you are
a part of this program now or would like to be in the future. Please
bring a sweet or salty snack to share and a gift for your sister.
Thank you to all who participated in Samaritan’s Purse Shoeboxes. We
had 207 boxes that were delivered to Westside Baptist Church. What a
Blessing.
Christmas Cards for Church Family and Friends: Save money on
postage, and support Baptist Missionaries! Beginning December 4th,
“Mail Slots” will be located in the back hallway. Bring your cards, and
place them in the slots. Donations of .25 per card are requested (a
donation slot is provided). All proceeds will go to the Lottie Moon
Christmas Offering for International Missions.
This year’s week of Prayer for International Missions will be December
4th – 11th, 2016. We will receive the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
for International Missions on Sunday, December 11th. Prayerfully
consider donating to this worthy cause. 100% of all donations go
directly to Missionary support.
For your convenience, on-line contributions may
be made at congareebaptistchurch.org
The Choir will
present this years
Cantata on
Sunday,
December 18th at
10:30 am.
Entitled “The
Love of God at
Christmas”, this
musical
arrangement is
sure to be a
blessing. Come
join us in
celebrating the
birth of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
This years Christmas
Banquet will be on
Sunday December 18th
following the morning
worship.
Menu:
Pot Roast/Fried Pork
chops
Scalloped Potatoes
Baby Lima Beans
Shoe-Peg-Corn
Cole Slaw
Macaroni and Cheese
Rolls and Tea
Dessert:
Blackberry Cobbler
Strawberry Short Cake
Tickets are available for
$12.00 (Adults) $6.00
(Children 12 & under)
Please see Tommy
Pye or Sandy
Dunlap to get your
ticket.