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A Word From the Pastor

Prayer for Mission Trip to India

Becky Morrison and Meredith Lang are headed for India on Tuesday. I would like to ask you to be prayer warriors on their behalf. Please pray for them and the rest of the team that God would grant them safety in their travel, good health throughout the trip and their return, an outpouring of God's Spirit and many opportunities to make Christ known. The dates for this trip are December 16-31.

This Coming Sunday

This coming Sunday, our worship time will focus on Luke 2:11 which reads: For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Our sermon series is entitled The Gift and this sermon will focus on The Gift Delivered. So many people today claim Christ as Savior, but they resist Christ as Lord. The gift delivered that first Christmas morning is not only a Savior, He is Lord. A couple of weeks ago we finished up a two year study through the Book of Acts. As we studied the early church and the spread of the Gospel, we learned a great deal about those first missionaries as well about Christ Himself. In the book of Acts, Christ is referred to as Lord 92 times whereas He is referred to as Savior only 2 times. The message in Scripture is clear, CHRIST IS LORD! The question for you and I is whether or not we have submitted to His lordship.

I believe the message this Sunday will be very enlightening as well as very challenging. Please pray for me this week that Holy Spirit of God will work in my heart as I prepare this message. I love you, church family, and I look forward to our time together this Sunday.

Pastor Tim

Christmas Caroling!

In lieu of the regular missions and music time for children in grades K-6 on December 17, we will all be going Christmas caroling to some of our Saints at Home and Nursing homes.

All children should meet on the second floor of the Educational Building by 6:20. We will be riding the bus and will leave the church at 6:30 pm so we will have plenty of time to visit as many folks as possible. We will return by 7:45 pm.

PARENTS: You must complete a permission/medical release form BEFORE your child will be able to go. These are being given out in CiA. If you need a copy, please see Karen Shea. A notary will be available at the church this Wednesday so PLEASE WAIT and sign the form in front of the Notary.

The Link will not be published next week.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Candy Cane

A Candy Cane is more meaningful that just a sweet at Christmas!

It can remind us of Jesus...

Its shape is like a shepherd's staff.

Its wide red stripes remind us that

Jesus shed His blood for our sins.

Its narrow red stripes remind us that

"By His stripes we are healed."

Its white stripes stand for purity:

"By His death we are made pure."

The peppermint flavor is similar to Hyssop, which was used in biblical times for purification.

Its taste is sweet, as it is sweet to walk with Jesus.

Turn the candy cane upside down -

It becomes a "J" for

J E S U S

Your Commitment to Missions!

Have you taken the time to complete and turn in a "Missions Commitment Guide"? If not, please pick one up in the Global Missions display in the breezeway.

For those who prefer to fill one out online, please click here to go to the form.

Dessert Musical to be Presented

Sunday Evening,
December 21, 2008

at 5:30 p.m.

The Senior Adult Choir will present several Christmas musical selections and dessert in the Fellowship Hall. This year, we would like for everyone to bring a dessert to share!

You Don't Want to Miss It!

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service

Wednesday Evening,

December 24 at

6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Small Group Opportunities

Small Groups will begin on January 4, 2009

Please watch for more info!

"When World Views Collide"

Led by Pastor Tim (Wednesday nights)

Perhaps more than ever before, our culture is being influenced by non-Christian belief systems. Here's a new small-group study written by a former Muslim designed to develop a Christian's theology and doctrine for the purpose of building confidence in personal evangelism and engaging their culture with absolute biblical truth. In addition, it helps adults identify ways false teachings make an impact on our society and to take actions that promote a biblical worldview. Other faiths covered include Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist.

"Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman"

by Beth Moore

Led by Kim Rector & Manda Stegall

(Wednesday nights)

Going up against heavyweights bent on her destruction, Esther trusted God and landed a blow that saved her people. The Old Testament story of Esther is a profile in courage and contains many modern parallels for today's woman. Esther's destiny can be yours as you know more deeply the God who is in your corner. Join Beth in an in-depth and very personal examination of this great story of threat and deliverance. She peels back the layers of history and show how very contemporary and applicable the story of Esther is to our lives. If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this is the study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther's day, it's tough today. This portion of God's Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried, and pressured lives.

"Nurture Your Marriage"

Led by Cindy Tucker (Wednesday nights)

A study for women (married and engaged) to encourage and strengthen our role in the marriage relationship as God intended. Our goal is to live as a godly woman no matter what the response or the outcome, it's choosing to stay the course. The Love Dare book states: "The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling. It is selfless, sacrificial, and transformational. And when love is truly demonstrated as it was intended, your relationship is more likely to change for the better".

"The Mind of Christ" by T.W. Hunt

Led by Don Lourcey (Sunday nights)

"Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus," How do we get the mind of Christ? Hunt explains how God works within you, continually renewing and reshaping your mind to reflect His. Plenty of practical ideas apply "mind-renewal" to everyday life: work, family, relationships. If you long for Christlikeness in your thought life, this study is for you.

"Study of Jonah"

Led by Marvin Boyer (Sunday nights)

Jonah went about as deep as he could go, and that fact becomes the challenge for us to go as deep as we can go in the study of the book named for him. We already know how things turned out in the end, but surely there's more along the way in our study that will benefit us. In addition to seeing things and people that were contemporary with Jonah, we shall draw conclusions from the text which, along with current illustrations and applications, are available to help us take a strong stand in our Christian lives. Using some questions, discussions, alliterations, humor, and puzzles, we shall diligently dig for truth in this little book.

NB Mills Needs Tennis Balls!

Would you be willing to donate your used tennis balls to NB Mills School? If so, please bring your donations to the 5-year-old classroom or give them to Norma Hellard or Judy Harwell.

Thank you!

2009 Offering Envelopes

The 2009 Offering Envelopes are ready to be picked up in the first floor of the educational building near the courtyard door.

Thank You!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

We have an excellent start on our Lottie Moon offering for International Missions. To date, we have received $14,432.90--about 85% of our goal of $17,000. If you have not yet had opportunity to give, please consider a sacrificial gift to help people all over the world hear about Jesus Christ. Many who have already given may want to contribute more to this wonderful cause-that ALL may hear.

News and Announcements

Do you have news and announcements for Sunday Morning? If so, please send them to: news@frontstreet.org or call the church office by Thursday morning of that week. We will insert your announcement into our slide show presentation before the service begins. Please be sure to include any clipart or photos.

A Note About This Newsletter

For optimal viewing of this newsletter, please set your email program to view in HTML, not "plain text". If you do not see pictures in this publication, you are viewing it in plain text. The newsletter looks much better in HTML.

Attention All Children's Sunday School Teachers, 1st - 6th Grade!

Please make plans to attend a Teacher's meeting on Sunday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. We will be discussing the curriculum and the Sunday morning schedule.

Thank you,
Karen

Barnabas Project

Love in Action

Saturday, January 3, 2009

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Cross Connection Youth Ministry

NEXT 2 WEEKS:

Wednesday, December 17: Youth Group, Meet in the Youth Room, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 21: Senior Adult Dessert Musical, 5:30 p.m.

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

Sunday, December 28: No Evening Services

Wednesday, December 31: New Years' Celebration! (Details soon).

December is N.B. Mills
Collection Month!

We are collecting Kleenex and Clothing (toboggans, sweatshirts or hoodies in solid navy, red, burgundy, or white; gloves; socks; underwear) for N.B. Mills during the month of December this year. Please drop off your donations at the Global Missions Collection Site in the Educational Building.

Thank you!

Prayer Requests

Thank you all for praying each week for our prayer requests. Please take the time to review the list below, pray for the requests on it and advise the church office via e-mail at info@frontstreet.org if a request should be removed or if a request should be added.

Prayer Requests:

Pray for the safety of our men and women serving in the military and the families of those serving.

For Our Church:

Renewal and Awakening.

For God's vision and direction.

For Church Members:

Karrigan Gooden.

Visit Karrigan's Web Page

Holland Blohm.

Visit Holland's Web Page

Carolyn White, injuries from an automobile accident.

Margaret McGhee, health concerns.

Ida Beasley.

Mike Owens.

Justin Holt, as he recovers from a serious car accident.

Bobbie James, undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Visit Bobbie's Web Page

James Parker, health concerns.

Donald Martin, health concerns.

Hazel Estes, health concerns.

Carole Leischner, lung cancer.

Scott Mitcham, serious health problems.

Remember all of our Saints in Care and Saints at Home.

For Our Missionaries:

Norman & Debbie Cannada (NAMB - Charleston, WV)

Kit, Avery & Lucas Putrakul (New Tribes - Cambodia)

Rodney & Beth Love (Hearts of Love - International)

For Friends and Family of Church Members:

Corrine Todd, Cheryl Poplin's mother, serious health concerns.

Jessica Wentz, friend of Bobbie James and Kisha Clark, has stage 4 lymphoma.

Visit Jessica's Web Page
Hanna Holliday, friend of Bobbie James and Kisha Clark, has leukemia.
Visit Hanna's Web Page

Debbie Funderburk, sister of James Funderburk, serious health concerns.

Vermell Bost, Dorothy Nesbit's aunt, health concerns.

Verna Snead, Sandy Lamm's mother, health concerns.

Lisa Lathrop, Logan Buchanan's aunt , has leukemia and needs a transplant.

Nancy Lowrance's sister, Jane Wilson, serious health concerns.
Melissa Holmes' father, Phil Carlton, has cancer.

Betty Minton's sister, Nancy Mitchell (lives in York, PA), has lung cancer.

Angel Food Ministry

Orders for January 2009 will be taken until Monday, January 12, 2009 until 12:00 p.m.

For more information about this ministry or to see this month's menu, please visit the ministry website:

www.AngelFoodMinistries.com

Birthdays

December 20 Marsha Thomas, Norma Hellard, Robin Rankin

December 21 Mary Deal, Jack Reid, Lacey Fox

December 22 J.C. Martin

December 23 Kenneth Lippard

December 24 Louise Caskaddon, Chase Osland, Clarence Ray

December 25 Bessy Josey, Kinnan Johnson

December 26 Juanita Brucklacher

December 27 Michael Owens, Sandy Reigle, Danielle Funderburk

December 28 Wesley Younger, Cynthia Dyson, Amanda Brewer, Brady Shea

December 29 Judy Milstead

December 30 Jason Futch

December 31 Rhonda Keever, Robert Dyson, Bobby King, Zachary Stewart

January 1 Hal Wilson, Ann Yates, Nancy Meyer

January 2 Vivian Taylor, Dorothy Davidson

New Phone System!

Our church has a new phone system, and you can now direct dial staff members without going through a secretary. If you reach your party's voice mail, you may leave a message or press "0" to transfer to a "live" person during office hours. Please make a note of these numbers:

Tim Stutts (704) 768-1077

Kenny Lamm (704) 768-1070

Jeremy Miller (704) 768-1072

Karen Shea (704) 768-1073

Jessica Boggs (704) 768-1074

Julie Wozniak (704) 768-1075

Daniel Moore (704) 768-1088

Family Concerns and Celebrations

IN THE HOSPITAL:

Iredell Memorial Hospital:

Helen Gill (room #218)

Lou Jane Carter (room #518)

Davis Hospital:

John Simmons (room #523)

SYMPATHY:

We extend Christian love and sympathy to Eddie Walker in the death of his mother; and to

Mark Sampsel in the death of his brother-in-law; and to

David Meehan in the death of his mother.

THANK YOU!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support during the loss of my husband, Harold. Your visits and words of encouragement have meant so much to me. Your love and prayers are deeply appreciated.

Love,

Geraldine B. Little

WELCOME NEW CHURCH MEMBER!

Adam Somers

1357 Jennings Road

Statesville, NC 28625

Birthday: March 30

CALENDAR

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16

9:45 a.m. Senior Adult Choir Concert at The Gardens of
Statesville

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17

6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Children's and Youth Bible Drill

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. Celebration Choir Rehearsal

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. K-6th Grade Children Go Caroling

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. Youth Group Meet in the Youth Room

6:30 p.m. Small Group Studies; Adut Bible Study

7:45 p.m. Experiencing God Study

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19

7:00 a.m. Men's Prayer Breakfast at Friendly Family Restaurant

6:30 p.m. Celebrate Recovery

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Library Open

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

9:30 a.m. Sunday School at Mision
Bautista Hispana

10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration at Front Street Baptist Church

10:35 a.m. Worship Service at Mision
Bautista Hispana

5:30 p.m. Senior Adult Choir Dessert Musical in the

Fellowship Hall

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

No Senior Adult Choir Rehearsal

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24

Christmas Eve - Office Closed!

6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25

Christmas Day - Office Closed!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26

7:00 a.m. Men's Prayer Breakfast at Friendly Family Restaurant

6:30 p.m. Celebrate Recovery

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Library Open

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

9:30 a.m. Sunday School at Mision
Bautista Hispana

10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration at Front Street Baptist Church

10:35 a.m. Worship Service at Mision
Bautista Hispana

No Evening Services

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

No Senior Adult Choir Rehearsal

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

No Services

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1

New Years Day - Office Closed!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2

7:00 a.m. Men's Prayer Breakfast at Friendly Family Restaurant

6:30 p.m. Celebrate Recovery

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Barnabas Project

Service Schedule

December 21:

Welcoming Committee: M/M Matt Miller (SE Choir), M/M Mark Morrison

(SW Choir), M/M Junior Morton (NE Front), M/M Mike Munday (NW Front)

NURSERY SCHEDULE - Sunday Morning Worship, December 21:

BABIES: Martha Somers, Joy Bradley and Kourtney Trivett
ONE YEAR OLDS: Todd and Elizabeth Munday
TWO YEAR OLDS: Joe and Wendy Alford
THREE YEAR OLDS: Eric and Charlene Frye

NURSERY - OTHER SERVICES:

EVENING SERVICES, DECEMBER 21
(5:30 p.m.): Gary and Wendy Holland

WEDNESDAY SERVICE, DECEMBER 24 (6:30 p.m.): No Nursery Provided

SUNDAY MORNING WELCOME CENTER:
8:45 - 9:15 a.m.: Shelby Parker and Hilda Robinson
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. David and Dixie Hare

LIBRARY SCHEDULE:
Sunday: 8:30-9:00 a.m.: Roxanne Marquess 6:45-7:30 p.m.: Debbie Lang Wednesday: 6:00-7:30 p.m.: Barbara Morrison, Linda Meadors and Marcia Miller

USHERS FOR DECEMBER:

AM: Jeff Stone, Donald Webber, Jim Hawks, Todd Lamberth, Matt Miller, Ken Johnson and Scott Tuthill

PM: Brent Austin, John Rhyne, Junior Morton, Mickey Sharpe, Tim Sigmon, Keith Somers and David Stegall

DEACONS/PARKING LOT:
Saturday, December 20: Jeff Stone (704-585-6912) Hospital Visitation Saturday, Parking Lot Patrol Sunday PM

Bobby King, Sunday Night Parking Lot Assistant

Sunday, December 21: Clarence Ray (704-878-2138) Hospital Visitation Sunday, Parking Lot Patrol Sunday AM

December 28:

Welcoming Committee: M/M James Parker (SE Choir), Donna Pennell

(SW Choir), M/M John Rhyne (NE Front), M/M Todd Rhyne (NW Front)

NURSERY SCHEDULE - Sunday Morning Worship, December 28:

BABIES: Cindy Rhyne, George and Linda Lerch
ONE YEAR OLDS: Julie and Starr Sampsel
TWO YEAR OLDS: Kim Rector and Gary Holland
THREE YEAR OLDS: Bob Cook and Becky Morrison

NURSERY - OTHER SERVICES:

EVENING SERVICES, DECEMBER 28
(5:30 p.m.): No Services

WEDNESDAY SERVICE, DECEMBER 31 (6:30 p.m.): No Services

SUNDAY MORNING WELCOME CENTER:
8:45 - 9:15 a.m.: Ralph Campbell
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. One in the Spirit Sunday School Class, John and Beverly Wright

LIBRARY SCHEDULE:
Sunday: 8:30-9:00 a.m.: Brenda Funderburk 6:45-7:30 p.m.: Debbie Lang Wednesday: 6:00-7:30 p.m.: Barbara Morrison, Linda Meadors and Marcia Miller

USHERS FOR DECEMBER:

AM: Jeff Stone, Donald Webber, Jim Hawks, Todd Lamberth, Matt Miller, Ken Johnson and Scott Tuthill

PM: Brent Austin, John Rhyne, Junior Morton, Mickey Sharpe, Tim Sigmon, Keith Somers and David Stegall

DEACONS/PARKING LOT:
Saturday, December 27: Barry Lang (704-876-4919) Hospital Visitation Saturday, Parking Lot Patrol Sunday PM

Sunday, December 28: Ronnie Harmon (704-872-9533) Hospital Visitation Sunday, Parking Lot Patrol Sunday AM

A LOOK AT THE RECORD


December 7, 2008 / December 14, 2008

Worship Attendance.............	356 / 377

Sunday School.........................................	293 / 302
Enrollment.................................................	690 / 689
Members Present.....................................	289 / 296
New Members..........................................	0 / 0
Visitors......................................................	4 / 6
Total Contacts.........................................	0 / 0

Tithes and Offerings:

Total Tithes and Offerings....................	$26,897.96 / $25,992.98
Budget Offering Required......................	$15,308.04
Budget Offering Received......................	$17,725.96 / $11,473.58
Designated Offerings..............................	$8,777.00 / $13,597.40
Other Receipts Received........................	$395.00 / $922.00
Budget Needs to Date............................	$214,312.56
Budget Gifts to Date...............................	$204,447.56

Building Fund Totals..............................	$7,035.50

Lottie Moon Offering Goal....................	$17,000.00
Lottie Moon Offering Received...........	$14,432.90