the LINK
Highlighting the ways Second-Ponce joins worship & community with everyday life.
November 20, 2019
SUNDAY
DEC. 8
Assembling care packages for NICU families during last week’s Families on Mission Day
Christmas Cantata & Christmas Hope Sunday, December 8 will be another great Sunday at Second-Ponce. It's the perfect opportunity to invite family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, teachers, your dentist, your hair dresser, your pharmacist, your sports coach (we could go on
NOTES OF
and on!) to church.
ENCOURAGEMENT
11 a.m.: The Sanctuary Choir and SPdL Orchestra will present their Christmas
We’re asking Second-Ponce members to
Cantata during the Sanctuary worship service.
write personal notes of encouragement to the students we’re hosting on December 8.
12 p.m.: We'll host a festive community reception for a time of fellowship with the
These notes will be included in care
whole congregation. We hope that by having a post-Cantata reception instead of a
packages that will be given out after the
lunch newcomers, will feel welcomed to stay with us a little longer and experience
Christmas Hope dinner on Sunday, 12/8.
the warmth of the Second-Ponce family.
Let these students know that they have a church home who welcomes them and
4 p.m.: We’ve invited college and seminary students from around the city to join us
prays for them. Notecards and drop-off
for our All Together worship service.
baskets are in the Northbridge Welcome Center.
5 p.m.: We’re serving a delicious holiday dinner to those same college and seminary students as our Christmas Hope event for this year. 404.266.8111 2715 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 contactus@spdl.org www.spdl.org
Scan to give
Find this month’s events online at spdl.org/churchcalendar.
JOIN US FOR
WORSHIP
Sundays at Second-Ponce
Sanctuary service: 11 a.m. All Together: 4 p.m. in the Second-Ponce Theater (downstairs)
THANKSGIVING SCHEDULE Regular Wednesday evening activities are paused on November 27. SPdLU, Fellowship Supper, activities for children and youth and music rehearsals will resume December 4. The church office will be closed Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 and will reopen for regular business hours December 2. We wish everyone a joyful time of gratitude and rest with family and friends!
BE STILL: The 2020 SPdL Women’s Retreat February 21–23 | Pinnacle Retreat Center | Clayton, GA | Cost: $160 (includes your two-night stay, four meals & all materials)
Emails to return, calls to make, lunches to pack, games to attend, friends to visit, family to care for, jobs to complete, traffic to endure... When does it stop? And more importantly,
Where is room for God? The Inviting and Teaching Teams invite you to escape the noise at our 2020 women's retreat. This getaway is a chance for us to share, learn, explore, rest and have fun among the beautiful lakes and forests of the Appalachian Mountains. We'll welcome retreat leader Lanta Carroll—counselor, minister, wife, mother to a toddler and artist—to help us to "be still" in the midst of our busy lives. Registration is open now. Sign up using the paper form included in the retreat brochure or online at spdl.org/womensretreat. This getaway makes a great gift for the women in your life or ladies, treat yourself to this fun and meaningful retreat. Contact Gayle Suggs at gbsuggs@hotmail.com for more Retreat leader, Lanta Carroll information.
LET HEAVEN & NATURE SING The 2019 Second-Ponce Advent Devotional Available now
Advent is nearly here (can you believe it?) and we're excited to share our 2019 devotional. We've themed the book around the carols of Advent and Christmas. The devotions begin on Sunday, December 1 and continue through Christmas day. You can pick up a hard copy of the book at the church, and an online version is available at spdl.org/advent. We'll also send each day's devotion via email. Contact Candice Young at cyoung@spdl.org to be added to the email list (if you're not on it already). Included with both digital versions are opportunities to listen to the songs highlighted in the devotional. Look for links to our Spotify playlist and YouTube clips. We can't wait to spend this season with our Second-Ponce family!
ANTICIPATE & CELEBRATE Advent & Christmas at Second-Ponce
At Second-Ponce, the Christmas season overflows with opportunities to welcome the Christ child. Join us throughout December as we move from Come Thou Long Expected Jesus to Joy to the World in anticipation and celebration. We hope that in addition to our regular 11 a.m. Sanctuary and 4 p.m. All Together worship services and the other events mentioned in this newsletter, you’ll make plans to attend these great gatherings as well. Details about all church events are online at spdl.org/churchcalendar. MONDAY DECEMBER 2
Family Life Center (FLC) Holiday Open House | 7–9 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. & 5–7 p.m. | FLC
SUNDAY DECEMBER 15
Children’s Christmas Music Presentation | 11 a.m. | Sanctuary Young Adult Christmas Party | 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18
Preschool Christmas Program | 9:30 a.m. | Chapel
SATURDAY DECEMBER 21
Children’s Christmas Celebration | 4–7 p.m. | Children’s Building (Rooms 303–305) Youth Lock-In & Christmas Party | Youth Area
TUESDAY DECEMBER 24
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service | 6 p.m. | Sanctuary
SUNDAY DECEMBER 29
Churchwide Breakfast | 9:45 a.m. | Fellowship Hall
Activities for December 8 are detailed on the cover of this newsletter
ADVENT SPdLU
Wednesdays | December 4, 11 & 18 | 6 p.m. | Fellowship Hall • 12/4: The Coming of Advent with David Hull • 12/11: The Songs of the Angels with Dock Hollingsworth • 12/18: Lessons and Carols with Bill Gabbard
FAMILIES ON MISSION DAY A fun afternoon was had by all at last Sunday’s Families on Mission Day! We created care packages for families with children in the NICU and we prayed for these kids, their parents and their siblings. Head to our Facebook page to see the entire photo album of this incredible day of service.
SHOP & SUPPORT With Black Friday and Giving Tuesday in the near future, consider shopping through AmazonSmile. When you do, charities receive 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products. Go to www.smile.amazon.com. and select "Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church" as your charity of choice. You can bookmark (on desktop or mobile) the smile.amazon.com link so that you'll conveniently land on the Smile page each time you shop. We’re so thankful for the ways our Second-Ponce family supports the work of this church. Now, get to shopping!
FOLLOW US Rev. Joseph Howard shares a message guestand preacher during Alland Together last Sunday. The Parent-Child Dedication of as Aaron Amanda Payne their daughter, Emily Edith on Sunday, September 8. Also pictured is big sister Clara Catherine, Rev. Heather Webb and Dr. Dock Hollingsworth
@secondponce on Instagram & Facebook
WOMEN’S MINISTRY FRIENDSGIVING
TOMORROW, November 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Terri Bunch's House This community and the friendship we share is one of many things we're thankful for this year. Let's celebrate each other at the Women's Ministry's annual Friendsgiving dinner. In the busy holiday season, this get-together is a chance to take a much-needed night off to eat and laugh with friends. RSVP to womensministry@spdl.org.
DECEMBER WMU MEETING & LUNCH
Tuesday, December 3 | 11 a.m. | Fellowship Hall Have you ever wondered what it was like to grow up as a missionary kid? During next month's WMU meeting and lunch, our own Becky Smith will share her personal experience growing up in Paraguay while her parents were serving there as missionaries. RSVP to Mary Ann Hall at 770.396.4490.
SECOND-PONCE FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT Year-to-Date results through October 31, 2019.
Have questions about the church budget, contributions or planned gifts? Contact Jeff Miller in the church office at 404.591.4356 or jmiller@spdl.org.
UNIFIED BUDGET Pledged Contributions Non-Pledged Contributions Total Expenses Expenses Net Unified Budget
ACTUAL $1,191,013 $336,912 $1,620,587 $1,828,028 ($207,441)
BUDGET $1,077,377 $381,053 $1,545,804 $1,760,960 ($215,156)
AUXILIARIES (FLC & PRESCHOOL) Income Expenses Net Auxiliaries
$1,121,182 $1,002,919 $118,263
$1,016,350 $928,355 $88,015
Net Income
($89,178)
($127,141)