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Welcome to our Weekday Preschool Program!

Mission Statement:

             PATHFINDER WEEKLY NEWSLETTER                                                                                                       

November 29, 2023                                                                                

PASTOR’S MOMENT:

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity.”

What a joyous time of year as we await the celebration of the birth of Jesus. As excited as we get anticipating Christmas, just imagine how anxious people were awaiting the birth of the Messiah. The Christmas season can become hectic with the hustle and bustle of shopping, cooking, and visiting. As we approach Christmas and the busyness ensues take time to dwell on the significance of what took place in a stable in Bethlehem.

Take moments to ponder the thoughts, worries, and fears of Mary and Joseph. Consider the awe and wonder of shepherds witnessing an angelic choir and being the first to welcome the Messiah. Reflect on the dedication and faith of the Magi as they travel months and miles following a star. Take time to enjoy the season in all its significance.

In His Service,

Matt

SPOTLIGHT:

Church By-laws/2024 Committee List: Attached to today’s email, you’ll find a copy of the amended Church By-laws, as well as the 2024 FBCJ Committees List. If you’d like a hard copy of either of these documents for your inspection, please contact Karen in the church office, she’ll be glad to make you a copy of these documents.

Committee Chairs: Please remember to reserve rooms for meetings with Karen in the church office. 

Church Office hours:

• 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Mondays through Thursday
• 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Friday

FBCJ Christmas Ornaments: 

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH: 

Wednesday, November 29^th:

• 5:30 pm – Fellowship Meal (Fellowship Hall)
• 6:00 pm – Bible Study (Fellowship Hall); Choir (Choir Room); Youth (Student Center)
• 6:30 pm – Connect Run/Walk (Adult II Classroom)

Sunday, December 3^rd:

• 10:00 am – Sunday School

• 11:00 am – Combined Church Service
• 5:30 pm – Youth (Student Center)

Monday, December 4^th:

• 9:00 am – Morning Glories Circle
• 7:00 pm – Mary Martha Circle (Fellowship Hall)

Tuesday, December 5^th:

• 12:30 pm – Preschool Party (Adult II)

Wednesday, December 6^th:

• 6:00 pm – Choir (Choir Room); Youth (Student Center)
• 6:30 pm – Connect Run/Walk (Jackson County Sheriff Department parking lot); Salt & Light WMU’s Cookies with Santa (Adult I Classroom)

PRAYER CONCERNS:

The ongoing prayer concerns of the church may be found here.

MINISTRY & MISSION OPPORTUNITIES:

Adult Choir: The Adult Choir rehearses each Wednesday in the choir room across from the Children’s Suite at 6:00 pm to prepare for each Sunday’s anthem. If you enjoy singing, please join us. 

Children’s Ministries:  The Children’s Christmas Choir will be performing on December 24th during the worship hour. We will begin this Sunday practicing during Sunday School and Children’s Church. If you have any questions, please let Teresa Wood, Director Children’s Ministry & Missions know by email (children@fbcjefferson.org),  or text/call at 706-424-6957.

Connect Run/Walk Group: Connect is for anyone interested in running/walking with others to grow and improve spiritually and physically, and to follow the teachings of the Lord. Join us and bring a friend for our Christian fellowship. Water, Gatorade, & fruit will be provided after our run/walk. We will support you physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually while walking, running, or sometimes trotting. Everyone in our church and community is invited.  We will have a small devotion, prayer concerns and praises.  We are open to suggestions of different routes or changes needed. Just let us know. FBCJ Connect Run/Walk Group will meet tonight, Wednesday, November 29^th at 6:30 pm in the Jackson County Sheriff Department parking lot (555 Stan Evans Drive, Jefferson).  

Upcoming events:

December 6^th: 6:30 pm – Meet at FBCJ Adult II SS Classroom

December 13^th: 6:30 pm – Meet at Traditions Subdivision on Hwy 124 – Run & See the Christmas Lights!  We’ll meet at Clubhouse parking lot. Restrooms on the side of building available. 

December 27^th: 6:30 pm – Meet at FBCJ Adult II SS Classroom

Connect Run/Walk Group will NOT meet on December 20, 2023, or January 3, 2024.

COOKIES WITH SANTA: The Salt & Light WMU Circle will be hosting Cookies with Santa and a petting zoo on Wednesday, December 6th at 6:00 pm in the Adult I Sunday School Classroom FBCJ Student Center. See the flyer below for all the details!

Faithful Followers Bible Study: Beginning in January, Faithful Followers Bible study will complete the final portion of Genesis and then a 4-week study on Titus.  Please make plans  to join us on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 to 11:40 in Fellowship Hall.  If you are unable to attend in person this is streamed on You Tube so you can participate.  The price of the two workbooks is $20.00 total.  The order will be placed the first week in December.  This will be the only order that we will place.  The deadline for signing up is Monday, December 4th.  Please contact Mary Ann Brooks (615-643-4880, mabstitches@yahoo.com) prior to Monday, December 4^th in order to join our study.

Food Bank Silent Auction: Merino’s Rug Mill Jefferson, GA has once again donated a beautiful rug valued at $350 from the KASHMER Collection.  Approximately 8’ X 11’, it is stain resistant & colorfast, in black, gray, tan, and maroon colors. The proceeds of the Silent Auction go directly to the FBC Jefferson Food Bank and will close on December 1^st. The rug can be seen and bid on in the church vestibule.  ALSO – We have ANOTHER rug available for bid from Merino’s Rug Mill in the church office! It includes an ornate floral pattern with deep red, gray, and beige colorings. This rug is part of their Chester collection, is also approximately 8’ X 11’ and is stain resistant & colorfast. Please bid in increments of $25 for each of these rugs. (Rugs are pictured.)

Holiday Celebration Meal: Please make plans to stay after worship service on Sunday, December 10^th for FBCJ’s Holiday Celebration Meal! The meal will be catered, so everyone can relax and enjoy the celebration! Come and join the food, fun, and Christmas fellowship. The meal will be served at 12:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

M & M’s (Mature & Maturing Adults): The M&M Senior Adults will meet on Tuesday, December 12^th at 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall for our 2023 Christmas party! Donna Porter will lead us in Christmas Carols, and we hear Santa may even take a few moments out of his busy day to stop by for a visit! The meal is $8 per person, and lasagna, baked ziti, salad, and bread are on the menu. Please call Karen in the church office (706) 367-8332 to be added to the list no later than Thursday, December 7^th at noon.

Meals on Wheels: We need volunteers to help deliver Meals on Wheels on the following Wednesdays through February: December 20^th and 27^th, and January 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th. If you or your Sunday School Class, women’s circle, or civic organization would like to help deliver on any of these dates, please contact Barbara Gooch at 706-654-7731, or email her at bgooch02@yahoo.com. The Jackson County Senior Center depends on our help to deliver to the seniors in our community who are in need on Wednesdays, so please, if you can deliver one or more of these dates, please let Barbara know!

Turkey Can Run: Dear Church Family, on behalf of the Turkey Can Run Committee from the bottom of our hearts, a sincere thank you for your help in making the 15th Annual Turkey Can Run to benefit the FBCJ Food Bank incredibly successful. We had over 900 runners sign up, with over 800 finishing the race…and over 14,000 cans of food donated to the Food Bank! Because of your prayers, donations, and hard work we will be able to serve our fellow man through the efforts of our foodbank committee.

Thanks again for your hard work to make the 15^th Turkey Can Run a success! God Bless!! The TCR Committee

 Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal: The last Wednesday Night Meal of 2023 will be tonight, November 29^th 5:30 pm. The church gathers each Wednesday to share fellowship over a meal, address the church’s prayer concerns and study the Bible. If you are interested in participating in the meal, please note the following:

• The cost for each meal is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children (11 years old and younger). The cost for families is capped at $25.00.
• If you are not on the permanent list and plan to eat, please call Karen in the church office by each Monday by noon.
• If you are on the permanent list and can’t make it this Wednesday, please call Karen in the church office for your name to be struck for the week and the church does not incur unnecessary costs.

Winter Coat Drive: Over the next couple of months, the Mary Martha Circle is asking for new or gently used and clean coats, sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves to be distributed to those in need in our community. Look for collection receptacles around the campus or bring them to the church office.

WMU Meetings: If you are not a member of a WMU (Women’s Mission Union) group and would like to join us, please contact DeMaris Gurley at 706-540-0866.  She will direct you to the WMU group that best fits your schedule.

Youth Ministries: Youth – mark your calendars!! The Reindeer Games are coming! Don’t miss the 2023 FBCJ Student Reindeer Games!! It’s gonna be a fantastically FUN night of games, a scavenger hunt, prizes and more! Dinner will be served, as well. All the fun will happen on Friday, December 15^th, from 5:30-9:30 pm, and pick-up and drop-off will be at the FBCJ Student Center, 76 Institute Street, Jefferson. Register online at www.fbcjefferson.org/student-ministry.

Deacons of the Week:

Week of November 26, 2023: Kristy Eubanks and Charles Oliver

 Week of December 3, 2023: Phil Thurmond & Philip Thompson

Opening and Closing:  Debbie Smith

Greeters and Ushers: Bo and Gigi Stamey

NUMBERS FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

• Sunday School Attendance: 112
• Worship Attendance: 134
• Nursery Attendance: 14
• WORSHIP TOTAL: 148
• Offering: $16,021.47

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• • Previous services can be viewed here.
  • You can live stream Sunday Combined Service here: 11:00am

Prayer List

November 29, 2023

Please help us to keep our list as up to date as possible by letting the church office

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

Homebound, Assisted Living, Etc.

Family and Friends

We Share in Sorrow with

Mrs. April Lusk & Family, in the death of their husband/father, Warren Lusk

Additional Requests

CHURCH CALENDAR