Bethany Baptist Church

Our morning services began with a hymn, “That Beautiful Name,” followed by a devotion by Bro. Aubry titled “God’s View of Divorce” from Malachi 2:14-16. The matter of divorce should not be taken lightly, and one must not seek a divorce unless there is a biblical reason for so doing. Following a prayer and Sunday school, the choir presented our cantata, “Go Tell It.” Bro Aubry made announcements and asked for prayer requests. Our prayer list includes our church, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Elwyn and Grace Robinson, Jeanette Jessop, Mr. J.C. Collins, Billie Neeley, Jackie, Bro. Hubert Griffin, Bro. Danny Jones, Glenda Wallace, Bro. Danny Jones, the lost, our country and government. After the prayer and offering, Bro. Aubry brought the message from Luke 1:26-35. A world with no hope and nothing for which to look forward would be a very sad place. Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” God’s dealing with man goes all the way back to Adam. Before Abraham was, I Am was. I Am is a name for God. God intended us to be a happy, joyful person. Because of his love for us, we can have joy. Lost people can have the joy of the world, but are not experiencing joy from the love of God. God is in everyone’s mind, whether a believer or not. As children we have heard Bible stories of Jesus (God). We as parents need to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When we do not listen to God, he will get in our conscience. Even Saul, who later became the great apostle Paul, knew who God was. He was taught as a child, but on the road to Damascus, God got his attention. He was convicted of his sins and was saved.

Two things happened because of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem: God made a way for us to be saved. Christmas is about salvation. God loves us and deals with our hearts. We as saved people should never put anyone or anything before God. Once we are saved, we have the love of God in our hearts. Christmas, Christ’s birth, did away with the ancient sacrifice. Christ died on the cross one time for the sins of the world. Man cannot save himself. God loves man with his infinite love. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He expects us to tell the story of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. Go tell it!

We want to thank all our visitors who were with us on Sunday and invite you and others to visit with us at Bethany Baptist Church, 9212 County Road 49, Verbena.

Mountain Springs Church

On Sunday, services started with Bro. Wayne Barnett leading the church in the following hymns: “Where the Soul Never Dies,” “Heaven’s Jubilee” and “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.”

Bro. Roger Cleckler gave a devotion from Jeremiah 29:11: All we have to do is ask God and he will give us gifts far greater than anything we have on earth.

After Sunday school, Bro. Wayne led the church in the hymn “Victory in Jesus.”

Bro. Heath Vines preached from Matthew 1:18-25: God has a plan for our life. Gabriel told Mary that she would have a son and call him Jesus; that is what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. It’s not about the gifts, but about our Savior who was born.

Sunday night’s service included our Christmas plays, “Star of Wonder” and “Christmas in Black and White.” They were both a blessing for everyone who attended and we would like to thank everyone who had a part in making these plays possible. We will be performing both plays again this Sunday, Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m., so if you missed it the first time, come join us again; you won’t regret it!