12 17 2017

LOVE | PLUG IN | CHARGE UP | LIVE OUT | PASS ON December 17, 2017

Pastoral Staff

Office Contact & Hours

Sunday Schedule

Terrell Eldreth Scott Terry Don Gagnon

Monday—Friday | 8:30 A.M.—4:30 P.M. Phone: 928-772-7218 Email: fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org

Bible Study | 9:00 A.M. Worship | 10:30 A.M. Worship | 6:00 P.M.

Senior Pastor Worship Pastor Youth Pastor

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” ~ John 1:14 ~ Here’s one of those Christmas stories that has endured the test of time. The original author is unknown. As we consider the joy of Christmas this Sunday, let this story help you be creative in finding joy in places where there seems to be none.

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas — oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it: overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute, the gifts given in desperation.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties — I reached for something special just for Mike.

Our son Kevin was wrestling at the junior-varsity level at the school he attended.

Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear.

It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. We ended up walloping them. As each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado — a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.

Mike shook his head sadly. “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” That’s when the idea for his present came.

That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas. Each Christmas, I followed the tradition — one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year giving a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the envelope never lost its allure.

The story doesn’t end there. We lost Mike due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was so wrapped up in grief that I barely got the tree up. But on Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.

The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelopes.

Blessings on your week as you allow the Holy Spirit to develop the spirit of joy in your life this Christmas week.

Pastor Terrell P.S. I am excited about Christmas Eve Sunday. I hope that you have already put our two services on you Family Christmas Calendar. They may help you discover some of the joy and peace that you’re looking for!

with Worship

Sunday, December 17, 2017 10:30 a.m.

“Angels We Have Heard on High” Welcome & Prayer John 1:14

THIS CHRISTMAS

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” “Good Men Rejoice” Ministry In Music “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD” Praise Choir

Time of Commitment “Emmanuel” We Bring Our Gifts In Worship

Sunday 9:00 A.M. Sunday School — (Babies-Adults) December 17th 10:30 A.M. Praise Choir Christmas Musical 6:00 P.M. Night of Christmas Carols & Cookies Monday 9:00 A.M. Sister’s Quilting Club December 18th 4:30 P.M. Tae Kwon Do Tuesday 10:00 A.M. Men’s Bible Study December 19th 3:30 P.M. Good News Club @ Granville School Wednesday 5:00 P.M. December 20th 5:45 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. Thursday December 21th

Awana Meal Awana Clubs—Ugly Sweater Night Bible Study & Prayer Impact Youth

6:30 A.M. Men’s Fraternity 4:30 P.M. Tae Kwon Do

Join us this month as Pastor Terrell shares his Four Christmas Wishes for you — Sunday mornings at 10:30 I Wish for You Assurance (12/3) I Wish for You Jesus (12/10) I Wish for You Christmas (12/24) I Wish for You Wisdom (12/30)

First Southern Baptist Church Prescott Valley December 17th Morning Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.

Praise Choir presents the Christmas Musical: The Greatest Story Ever Told 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Christmas Carols and Christmas Cookies December 24th Morning Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Sunday Worship for everyone above Extended Session for Preschoolers: “I Wish You Christmas�

5:30 p.m.

Special Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

Ladies Bible Study Ladies, your Beth Moore Tuesday Morning Bible Study is now on hold for the holidays. This study will pick back up in January.

The Impact Youth Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange is THIS WEDNESDAY, December 20th from 6-8.

Please invite your friends and bring a slightly used gift or spend no more than $5 for a gift.

We will have pizza and drinks.

Come and celebrate with us!

New Men’s Small Group Study Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 AM Cost: $10 for the 20-Week Study THE GREAT ADVENTURE — The life to which all men are called Meets in the Fellowship Hall Last meeting Thursday, Dec 21 and will return Jan 11 There is still time to join before the Holiday break.

Youth meet Wednesdays 6:00 P.M. in the Log Cabin with Pastor Don -------CHECK US OUT!!

CCCF - College and Career Christian Fellowship If you are in your late teens or twenties & single, come join us for food, fun and Christian fellowship. We meet alternating Friday nights at Phil and Ginni Lyons' home from 6:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. Check us out and bring a friend.

For directions or information email CCCF@firstsouthernpv.org.

Hope to see you there!

Next meeting 12/29

PRAYER CHAIN LIST UPDATE If you would like to receive or continue to receive the prayer requests by email, please send an email to fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org, or mark your Connection Card to become part of the Prayer Chain Team

NOTICE All submissions for the Connections Newsletter & Ministry Guide should be submitted no later than 12:00 P.M. on Wednesdays. Thank you.

ONLINE GIVING FSBCPV is excited to announce that you can now manage your giving online! Simply follow these easy steps: 1.Visit the church website at firstsouthernpv.org 2. Click on the Give Now button at the bottom of the page, 3. Click on the Create Profile button, then 4. Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile & to schedule your offerings.

TEXT TO GIVE — 928-237-7218 And now you can also text your offerings! To get started, visit the church website at firstsouthernpv.org locate the link to our online giving page & create a profile if you haven’t already—be sure to opt in to send text offerings. You will receive a confirmation text & email with instructions on how to text offerings.

2820 N. Pleasant View Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 928-772-7218 fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org www.firstsouthernpv.org Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 928-277-4769 Cell: 619-244-6265 PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org Worship Pastor Scott Terry: 928-775-6931 PastorScott@firstsouthernpv.org Youth Pastor Don Gagnon: 928-899-9722 PastorDon@firstsouthernpv.org

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First Southern Baptist Church | Prescott Valley | 928-772-7218