Ebenezer Baptist Church January 2018 Newsletter

People of God, Reaching Everyone with the Love of Christ

New Year: Clean Slate

Not to sound too Pollyanna / Eternal Optimist, but I love the new year!! Fresh off of our Christmas holiday, we have a clean slate. Fresh, clean paper on which we will write our story for the Year 2018. What will you write?

2017 brought many changes to our lives and our world. We are in uncharted territory in our time travels. The future lays wide open in front of us, and one of the greatest enablers or disablers will be how we each respond to our world in our lives ... Personally, I see great growth in technology and major setbacks in human relations. Our technology, which definitely evolves in positive ways every year, also enables us to draw further back into our shells. We forget exactly HOW we are to relate to each other: We have forgotten the meaning of grace, of sacrifice, of God's kind of love. Instead, we are willing to say anything and do almost anything while we hide behind what we perceive as the protection of social media: It seems to be a sterile and anonymous environment, but it is wrought with perils and problems. We will say and do things from behind a keyboard that we would never say or do in public, because WE KNOW IT IS WRONG. And, yet, we continue, not realizing that the rocks and arrows we cast actually do land into real lives. They make impacts and they do great damage. And we are none the wiser (or so we pretend).

I am reminded of an episode of M*A*S*H* from years ago, when a patient in the hospital believed he was Jesus Christ. His manner was one of love and care. He completely immersed himself into a persona that we would all agree was just like Christ. When they investigated his past, they realized the cause of his malady: He was assigned to a bomber and he was the one who pressed the button, who released the bombs. For him, it was a sterile exchange: He pressed the buttons, the bombs found their marks, and he really had never come face to face with the destruction caused by the bombs. When he finally realized this, he could no longer cope.

I wish for 2018 that we, the Church, would all agree on exactly what Jesus' kind of love looks like and acts like, and we would be agents of hope!! Forces of His positive love in the real world, on social media, and everywhere else life takes us. We desperately need to re-learn how to relate to each other IN PERSON and model this for a world that is neither learning how to do this OR caring about it. If we could pull this off, even for one year, we cannot imagine the difference we would make!!!

Hope you and your family have a great year!! And I pray that we ALL carry the torch of Christ to new heights in 2018!!!

David

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Wednesday Night Starts Back Up

January 10th with Supper at 5:00 pm Music Begins at 6:00 pm

3K, 4K, & 5K Choirs (downstairs Young Hall) 1st & 2nd grade Choirs (Upstairs first room on right)

3rd – 6th grade choirs ( Childrens Church) RA’s, GA’s, & Missions Friends begin at 7:00 pm

DiscerningtheVoiceofGodBibleStudybyPriscillaShirerAtthehomeofBeverlyShearonBeginningJanuary18,2018at6:30p.m.843-407-6535

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www.ebenezeryouth.com

ParentMeetingonJanuary7thAt6:00pmIntheYAB

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Friday,January5th*************************

Our food item for January is Spaghetti noodles and sauce. We could also use peanut butter & jelly. Anything you are able to contribute to the pantry is greatly appreciated.

Deacon Soup Supper Sunday, January 28th

5:30 pm Family Life Center

Don’t miss out on this time of fellowship with your Deacons. Come and get to know your

family Deacon!! This will be followed by the Quarterly Business Meeting.

Ebenezer Baptist Church 524 S Ebenezer Road Florence, SC 29501 Return Service Requested

Sunday Schedule: Worship……………………………………….…...9:15 am Children’s Church………………………….…….9:15 am Sunday School…………………………….…….10:30 am Disciple Practice…………………………….…....4:45 pm Youth D:groups……………………………….….5:30 pm Sunday Evening Worship……………………....6:00 pm

.Wednesday Evening Schedule: Supper……………………………………………...5:00 pm Menu: Jan. 10th:Ham, Brown Rice, Green Beans, Peach Cobbler Jan. 17th:Fried Chicken, Butter Beans, Maccaroni, Chocolate Cake Jan. 24th: Beef Stew, Rice, Buter Beans, Brownies Jan. 31st: Spaghetti, Corn on the Cob, Garlic Bread Children’s Mission & Music……………………..6:00 pm Youth Middle……………………………………….6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal……………………………………6:30 pm Prayer Meeting……………………………………...6:30 pm

Non-Profit org. US Postage Paid Florence, SC Permit No. 32

Financial Report – Through December 24, 2017 Year-to-date Needs…………………………..$1,285,184.66 Year-to-date Receipt…………………………$1,245,911.39

David R. Wike, Pastor Ed Self, Associate Pastor/Worship & Discipleship

Andi Hill, Minister of Children Nathan Neighbors, Youth Pastor

Harold D. Watson, Senior Adult Associate Dusty Kertis, Church Administrator

Michelle Driggers, Interim Weekday Director Marcia Watkins, Ministry Resource Coordinator Melinda Miller, Receptionist/Ministry Assistant

January Events

2.Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 3.Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 5. Prayer Breakfast in the YAB at 7:00 am 7. Family Worship Day. No Children’s Church. Lord’s Supper. Evening Worship at 6:oo pm. Youth Parent Meeting at 6:00 pm. 9. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 10. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Wednesday Night Activities Resume with supper at 5:00 pm. 12. Prayer Breakfast in the YAB at 7:00 am 16. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew. 17. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Wednesday Activiies with Supper at 5:00 pm 19. Prayer Breakfast in the YAB at 7:00 am 20. Wild Game Supper at 6:00 pm. 23. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 24. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Wednesday Night Activities with supper at 5:00 pm. 26. Prayer Breakfast in the YAB at 7:00 am 28. Deacon Soup Supper at 5:30 pm followed by the quarterly business meeting. 30. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew 31. Men’s Bible Study at 6:30 am in Pettigrew; Wednesday Night Activities with supper at 5:00 pm.