Lifeline Online- weekly e-news of Lebanon Christian Church for December 5, 2018

Reflections- "Therefore Jesus said again, 'Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:7, 9-10

THE PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE

​Welcome New Member- Ashley Seek was baptized into Christ this past Sunday.  We rejoice with Ashley and welcome her into her new church family at Lebanon. 

When Christ was born he was called Immanuel which means "God with us".  God with us.  God came to be one of us.  He came to live life like we lived it.  He suffered pain and struggled with temptation.  He got hungry and knew disappointment.  This means that God understands you better than anyone else.  Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses because he experienced life the same way as you and I do.  God with us.

God with us.  God is always with us.  He is close to you when you are broken-hearted.  He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.  God with us.  God is in us.  He has poured out the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

God with us so that one day we can be with him in heaven.  Immanuel, that is the wonder of Christmas.

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him, "Immanuel" which means "God with us." - Matthew 1:23

Celebrating Christ at Christmas,

Dennis

Children's Ministry on Sundays:

9:30 a.m.- Promised Land  10:30 a.m.- Jr. Church  Awana Bible Clubs- 4:00 p.m.

NT 260-Bible reading for this week is John chapters 3-7 & the Bible Reading for next week is John chapters 8-12.

Tuesdays- Handbell Choir Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday-Adult Bible Study, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday- Worship Choir Rehearsal, 6:45 p.m.

Saturday-- Elders/Deacons Ministry of Prayer/Board Meeting, 8:00 a.m.

December 13th- Ladies Missionary Circle Christmas Outing, 11:30 a.m., Nick's Seafood/Spaghetti House, Gloucester Point.  Lunch is Dutch Treat.  RSVP to Gloria Rogers 887-0495 or sign up in the foyer by Dec. 9th.  All ladies, men of the church  and friends are invited.

December 15th- All-Church Christmas Caroling-leaving the church parking lot at 10:30 a.m.  Please bring money for lunch.  Everyone is welcome to join us as we go Christmas Caroling at two local nursing homes.

December 16th-  Handbell Choir Christmas Program, 10:45 A.M.

December 16th- Carry-in Dinner in celebration of Charlie Shelton's 100th birthday! Immediately following the morning worship service.  Fried chicken will be provided.  Please bring a couple of side dishes to share and bring a cherry pie (Charlie's favorite) for dessert.

December 23rd- Worship Choir Christmas Cantata, "Christmas Presence-A Gathering of Hope, Peace and love", 10:45 a.m.

December 24th- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6:00 p.m.

Results of Annual Congregational Meeting- 100% approval for both Woody Sanders as deacon and for the 2019 General Fund budget.

THRIVE Peninsula Food Pantry Drive-please bring condiments, ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard this Sunday.   Thank you for continuing to bring food each week.

THANKSGIVING OFFERINGS for the Building Fund can still be given at any time. Please designate "Thanksgiving Offering" on your check or use one of the special offering envelopes in the pew racks.

CHRISTMAS CARD MAILBOX will be available this Sunday to give & receive Christmas cards.  Please consider donating what postage money you save to the Senior Adult Class mission project.

VA PRE-TEEN CONVENTION- March 1 & 2, 2019 at Fairmount Christian Church in Mechanicsville.  4th & 5th grade students, registration forms are available in the foyer.  Return completed form with payment to Barbara West by January 6, 2019.

PRAYER LIST

Boldness to share our faith

God's leading for our church

Heart for One-invite one individual, one couple, one family

Lacey Allen, spots on front of brain, met with neurologist, re-check in a year

Sandra Bray, Karen Barnett's sister, mobility following accident

Raelynn Crucian, 9-month cousin of Amelia Trask, recovering from open heart surgery, NICU

Jake Lambert, Linda Lambert's husband, post-op complications, Duke University Medical Center

Paul Moore, Naomi Terrell's brother, hospital, on ventilator

Linda Slaughter, Sentara Williamsburg Hospital, congestive heart failure, ICU

*A list of ongoing prayer needs is available in the foyer and is published in the church bulletin on the first Sunday of the month

LAST SUNDAY'S OFFERING

General Fund-$5,332.00

Build Up The Walls- $1,370.00

Thanksgiving Offering/Building Fund- $107.00

Thanksgiving Offering/Building Fund Total to Date- $1,376.00

CHAPEL REPAIRS

Given Last Sunday- $100.00

Total Given to Date- $16,566.00

Goal- $18,000.00

Online Giving available using EASY TITHE on the church website at www.lcc-va.org