Friendship Baptist Church

“This is the Day” was our call to worship and “Let Us Be” was the special music, provided by Nathan Wilkerson and Ty Moore. Bro. Ken’s message, “Wise Men,” was taken Matthew 2:1-2.

Our Christmas cantata, “Breath of Heaven,” took the place of our evening service. What a wonderful message!

Upcoming events:

Sew for Fun is held each Tuesday 9 a.m.

Dec. 19: “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Alabama Theater

Dec. 20: Youth Christmas party at Keith and Regeana’s at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 21: Christmas party for our staff and deacons at Cattleman’s Restaurant

Dec. 31-Jan. 2: Youth Xtreme Conference in Gatlinburg

Feb. 26-March 4: Medical mission trip to Guatemala. If you would like to bring candy for the children, please do so.

March 17-22: Trip to Lancaster, Penn. We still have a few openings. The cost of the trip is $540. A $100 deposit is due now.

Happy Birthday to Anita Glover and Ashley Dutton.

Prayer requests: Clare Carter, Leigh Adams, Rick Bullis, Mary Foshee, Betty Jones, Lois Giles, Janice Wyatt, John Bryars, Edis Wilson, Bill Bates, Roger Crowson, Polly Smitherman, Ashley Seagriff, Phillip McCall, Raymond Powell and Lesley Nesbitt.

Samaria Baptist Church

On Sunday, our church was transformed into the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Our children’s choir group did an amazing analogy transferring the original “Twelve Days” into a biblical “Twelve Days.” They sang and shared what Christmas really means. Don Fisher played “Silent Night” on the harmonica, accompanied by Jeannie Mims on the piano. Diane Fisher and Jeannie Mims sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Darrell Willis and Jeannie Mims did a wonderful job on “New Kid in Town,” and Cherlyn Stoneback and Jeannie Mims sang “O Holy Night,” blessing all who attended.

We were blessed by a wonderful performance by the Samaritans to conclude the service Sunday morning. In the evening, we celebrated “An Old-Fashioned Christmas.” We had a video presentation of old pictures representing memories of those who have gone on before. We learned the legend of the candy cane and what it truly stands for. Ashlyn Willis and Emily Jones sang a special rendition of “Christmas,” doing a wonderful job. Our children’s handbell choir presented “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger,” blessing us all.

Jeannie Mims sang “We Are the Reason” and Steve Roberson sang “Christmas in Heaven.” To conclude our heartwarming Christmas service, we hung ornaments on our Memory Tree, representing the names of those we’ve lost over the last year and beyond. This was a moving service, and all hearts were broken and healed at the same time.

As we approach Christmas next week, let us never lose sight of the true meaning of this wonderful day. Giving is the best part, since Jesus Christ left a perfect heaven to give us a way to get there. God bless you all. Jesus is coming again. Please be ready to meet him on that day.