Cross ie MAGAZINE
Vol 3 | Issue 11 | November 2019
November 3, 2019 Join us in worship at 9:00AM (Chapel) and 11:00 AM (Sanctuary) as we remember our church members who have departed this life within the past year.
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Basket stuffing will take place on Sunday evening, November 24 following the Annual Thanksgiving Banquet which begins at 6:00. Food is now being collected and can be placed in one of the bins located around the church. 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
large can sweet potatoes cans of green beans cans of corn can of fruit can of cranberry jelly packets gravy (no jars) box stuffing boxes mac and cheese package cookies packets potatoes (no boxes) package holiday luncheon napkins (6 ½” x 6 ½”)
$15 gift card for meat (Please bring cards to the church office and deposit in the Thanksgiving box.)
C ON N EC T W ITH U S
SMOK ER I S EB A P T I ST. OR G OUR MINIST E R S
CO N T EN TS
Be c k y C a s we l l - S pei gh t Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection rspeight@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0546
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From the Pastor
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Worship
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Growing
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Serving
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Caring
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Connecting
Je re m y C o l l i v e r Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications jcolliver@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0551 Chris G e o r ge Senior Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org 770.469.5856 Bart McNiel Associate Pastor bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0540 J a me s S m i th Pastoral Care Associate jsmith@smokerisebaptist.org 404.405.5467 Danny Va n c i l Minister of Music and Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0560
10 Generosity 11
50th Anniversary
12 Family Ministry 13
Youth
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Monthly Snapshot
facebook.com/ smokerise
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twitter.com/ smokerisebaptist.org SmokeRiseBC
Smoke Rise
F RO M THE PASTOR " Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, In whom his world rejoices. Who, from our mother’s arms, Hath led us on our way With countless gifts of love And still is ours today." -Martin Rinkart
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GEN EROS ITY
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YO UTH
Our end-of-year stewardship emphasis is "2020 Vision." As we near the end of our 50th Anniversary year as a church family, we invite you to embrace a 2020 Vision rooted in the belief that new and exciting days are ahead of us. DNOW is one of the weekends that our students look forward to every year. Every element of what we do in the youth ministry is packed into one weekend: Bible study, worship, fun, eating, staying up late and serving. This year will be no different, but we will have a heavy emphasis on missions.
A B O UT S M O K E RIS E 5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Tel: 770.469.5856 Fax: 770.498.3598 Office Hours M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Smoke Rise Baptist Church is a loving and caring faith community where people come to grow spiritually, worship communally and serve faithfully. We are committed to fostering authentic relationships and engaging in meaningful ministry in our congregation, our community and around the world. We partner with others in an effort to be about God’s work. We commit to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds and all our strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We seek to proclaim the Good News of Christ in all that we say and do.
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FR O M T H E PASTO R
CH RIS G E ORGE - Senior Pastor
As we prepare for our Thanksgiving Day meals, I want to issue a warning not only as your pastor, but also as a parent. If you decide to let one of your children offer the blessing, please be aware that they may go “off script.” What sounds like a really cute idea can lead to a really embarrassing moment, because kids are unpredictable and honest in the worst way. At one Thanksgiving meal, the grandfather as patriarch of the family assigned the task of “offering grace” to his eightyear -old grandson. As the entire family joined hands and bowed their heads, this little boy eyed every dish of food that had been prepared. Finally, his mother shook his hand and he started his prayer. “Well, Lord, I don’t like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, and I’ll eat it anyway...Amen” For some, this Thanksgiving is filled with celebrations and joys. We are “counting our blessings” and coming to the table. But, for others, this may be the first Thanksgiving after the loss of a loved one, or life may be filled with trials and tribulations. But, gratitude is not predicated on our circumstances. It is an attitude more than a reaction. Giving thanks in some situations requires nothing more than common courtesy. Giving thanks in all circumstances requires nothing less than courageous conviction. In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War, a German Pastor, Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried five thousand of his parishioners in one year, an average of fifteen a day. His parish was ravaged by war, death, and economic disaster. In the heart of the darkness, with the cries of fear outside of his window, he sat down and wrote a table grace for his children. It was not always easy to say these words. It required courage and conviction in the midst of a situation filled with sorrow and suffering. But, at night, after calming the fears of his parishioners and conducting the funerals, he would join with his children and say words which are familiar to many of us today: Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, In whom his world rejoices. Who, from our mother’s arms, Hath led us on our way With countless gifts of love And still is ours today. Martin expressed thanks in spite of his situation. In the process, Martin taught his children an important lesson about gratitude. Gratitude has power. It doesn’t change our circumstance. It changes our perspective. Meister Eckhart was a German Catholic theologian, philosopher and mystic in the 13th century. His life was filled with hardship. But in the midst, he came to this conclusion: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'Thank You,' it will be enough.” God, teach us to be grateful. Amen.
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Header NO PIC
WOR S H IP I N G AT S M OK E R I SE
DA NNY VA NC IL - Minister of Music and Worship
Now Thank We All Our God
Sunday, November 24
CoroVocati Vocatiisisaagroup group of of professional professional singers Coro singers based in Atlanta, called to create music based in Atlanta, called to create musicatatthe the highest level highest level of of choral choral artistry. artistry.Celebrating Celebratingits its 10th 10th anniversary season, wasfirst the anniversary season, Coro Coro VocatiVocati was the first professional in Georgia to perform professional choirchoir in Georgia to perform the the critically acclaimed acclaimed piece piece “Considering Matthew critically “Considering Matthew Shepard”, totoaasold-out Shepard”, sold-outaudience audienceininJune Juneofofthis this year. In 2018, the group performed at year. In 2018, the group performed atthe theSouthern Southern DivisionAmerican AmericanChoral ChoralDirectors DirectorsAssociation Association Division Conference in Louisville,Kentucky. Kentucky ➢ Conference in Louisville,
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IMAGES OF Reflections of His Advent Impressions of the Annunciation Scenes from His Nativity Portrait of Our Joy Presented by
The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir with Orchestra Sunday, December 8, 2019 • 7:00 PM
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GROW IN G AT S M O K E R I SE
B E C KY CASWELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection
SMOKE RISE BAPTIST WOMEN'S MINISTRY PRESENTS:
Large Group November 6, 13 and 20 The Ten Commandments Revisited - Fellowship Hall
LADIES HOLIDAY EVENT The evening's speaker will be Georgia's very own Cracker Queen, Lauretta Hannon.
NOVEMBER 19 * 6:30 PM TICKETS COST $20
Small Groups November 6th Faith and Film, Harrison Litzell, Room 223 Caring for the Caregiver, Kara Johnson, Room 220 Yoga with Tracy Stroud, Room 230 November 13th Faith and Film, Harrison Litzell, Room 223 Fellowship Group, Library Yoga with Tracy Stroud, Room 230 November 20th Faith and Film, Harrison Litzell, Room 223 Fellowship Group, Library Yoga with Tracy Stroud, Room 230 November 27th - No Wednesday Night Activities
Dementia Friends at Tucker Library Dementia is a complex illness that affects the entire family and there is much to learn about living with and battling the disease. Smoke Rise and Tucker Reid Cofer Library will be hosting a “Dementia Friends” informational session on Thursday, November 7, from 3:00-4:00 PM. Norma Green, an incoming deacon, will be speaking at this event which is open to the entire community. Light refreshments and informational material about “Dementia Friends” will be provided. This event is made possible by a “mini grant” through the Georgia Gerontology Society. For more information, contact Norma Green at normagreen@att.net.
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SERVIN G ON M I S S I ON
J E R E MY C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications
World Mission Offering
Basket stuffing will take place on Sunday evening, November 24th following the Annual Thanksgiving Banquet which begins at 6:00. Food is now being collected and can be placed in one of the bins located around the church. 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
large can sweet potatoes cans of green beans cans of corn can of fruit can of cranberry jelly packets gravy (no jars) box stuffing boxes mac and cheese package cookies packets potatoes (no boxes) package holiday luncheon napkins (6 ½” x 6 ½”)
Neighborhoods of the World
$15 gift card for meat (Please bring cards to the church office and deposit in the Thanksgiving box.)
Offering Goal: $50,000
Mission Trip to the GAP
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CA RIN G AT S M O KE R I SE The New Fellowship of Deacons Beginning January 1
Marta Abner
Linda Cantrell
Jimmy Cobb
Lucy DeForest
Mitzi Ethridge-Cantrell
Graham Felton
Norma Green
Colin Harris
Beverly Holmes
Ryan Jowers
Jeff Kelley
Deb Leamon
Mark Manley
Joe Moore
Gary Prophitt
Nathan Reed
The Candidates Being Presented for Ordination:
Jeri Boland
Shaine Brower
Scott Roark
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Paula Rowell
Jan Vreeland
BART McN IE L - Associate Pastor Celebrating the Ordination of Harrison Litzell Rev. Harrison Litzell was ordained at Smoke Rise Baptist Church on October 20, 2019. Dr. Chris George gave the charge to the congregation and Rev. Becky Caswell-Speight gave the charge to the ordination candidate. Harrison was presented with a special stole given to him by some of the Smoke Rise kids that he served while the Children's Ministry Intern role.
Welcome Our New Members
Getting Through the Holidays Wednesday, CopingNovember with grie20, f thr2019 ough at the6:00 holidPM ay season Room 220 Led by Adam Arnold and Jim Smith
Dennis and Joy Bouchard Joined October 6
Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and other holidays can be very difficult for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. Therefore, a special meeting is planned to assist families and friends of Smoke Rise in "Getting Through the Holidays." We will discuss how to allow yourself to grieve, how to set realistic expectations for yourself and others, and additional helpful topics. Please join us for a very special time together.
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GENEROS I T Y
End-of-Year Stewardship Emphasis Our end-of-year stewardship emphasis is "2020 Vision." Last November, our Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Truett Gannon, preached on All Saints' Sunday, challenging our church family to look to the future with new vision, as he declared his belief that the best days of Smoke Rise are still ahead of us. As we near the end of our 50th Anniversary year as a church family, we invite you to embrace a 2020 Vision rooted in the belief that new and exciting days are ahead of us. The giving that we collect between November 17 and December 31, 2019 in support of our budgeted ministry plan for the current fiscal year is essential and necessary to assure that we begin the new year with a positive balance in our general fund as we enter the last quarter of our fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2020. There is no more fitting way to complete our 50th Anniversary year than to commit to the future with renewed 2020 Vision. We commit to worship, learn, care, serve and give to God’s work in the world through Smoke Rise Baptist Church. As the season approaches when giving and thanksgiving abound, acting with 2020 Vision is a call for each of us to prioritize our commitment to give in support of our church. Whether you have much or little, we invite you to consider what you have given and what you can still give to help us fully fund our ministry plan and budget as the new year begins.
Save the Date
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MONTH OF AUGUST Amount Given $151,925.05
Amount Spent $130,467.30
Positive Balance $21,457.75
FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE
(April 1, 2019 - August 31, 2019) Amount Given Amount Spent Negative Balance $847,178.32 $925,978.11 ($78,799.79) 10 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG
Smoke Rise Legacy Society Annual Luncheon November 3rd 12:30 pm Stone Mountain Inn Resturant Stone Mountain Park
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5 0 T H A N N I V E R SA RY C ELEBR ATI ON
9 • 22 • 2019
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FAM ILY M I N I ST RY AT SM OK E R I SE
B E C KY CASWELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Family, Faith Formation and Connection
Fall Break Adventures
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YOU TH AT S M O KE R I SE
J E R E M Y C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications
Tailgate
DECEMBER 22 - 23
PROGRESSIVE DINNER & CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON WE'RE LOCKING OURSELVES IN TO BINGE CHRISTMAS MOVIES!
DNOW 2019: Serve Wholeheartedly DNOW is one of the weekends that our students look forward to every year. Every element of what we do in the youth ministry is packed into one weekend: Bible study, worship, fun, eating, staying up late and serving. This year will be no different, but we will have a heavy emphasis on missions. We are working with Josh Lindsay at Mission: Hope to learn about the work that they do with residents throughout the city of Atlanta. It is our hope that our students have a renewed sense of mission for the community in which they live. Serving isn’t just about going; serving is about being; it is something that we are as followers of Christ. Pray for us as we serve throughout our DNOW weekend.
Dates to Remember: November 15-17 DNOW November 24 Thanksgiving Dinner and Basket Stuffing December 22 - Christmas Movie Marathon January 17-19 Youth Choir Retreat June 5-8 Sing and Serve: New Orleans June 28 - July 3 Passport Missions; Deland, FL
DNOW
NOVEMBER 15-17 13 | S MOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG
Sunday Schedule 9:00 AM Worship in the Chapel 9:45 AM Sunday school in the basement 11:00 AM Worship in the Sanctuary 5:00 PM Choir in the Choir Suite 5:45 PM Dinner 6:00 PM Vespers in the basement Wednesday Schedule 5:00 PM Dinner 6:00 PM Youth in the basement
MO N TH LY S N A P SHOT
Mission Sunday
Weekly Schedule
November Dates
Sunday 9:00 AM - Worship in the Chapel 9:45 AM - Sunday school for all ages
3 All Saints' Sunday 3 Legacy Luncheon
11:00 AM - Worship in the Sanctuary
10 Church in Conference
4:00 PM - Liturgical Dance
19 Ladies Holiday Dinner
5:00 PM - Youth Choir
24 Thanksgiving Banquet and
5:45 PM - Youth Dinner
Basket Stuffing
6:00 PM - Youth Vespers
27 No Wednesday Night Activites
Wednesday 4:45 PM - Dinner in the Fellowship Hall 6:00 PM - Journeys, Children's Activities, Youth in the basement 7:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir
Fall Back November 3rd
Daylight savings ends, so make sure to set your clocks back one hour!
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Smoke Rise Baptist Church Advent and Christmas 2019 Calendar Sunday, December 1: Hope the First Sunday of Advent 9:00 AM: Worship in the Chapel 9:00 AM: Family Advent Breakfast (Children’s Ministry) 9:45 AM: Sunday School 11:00 AM: Worship in the Sanctuary 7:00: Stars and Promises – Peter Mayer Concert (Sanctuary)
Monday, December 2 6:00 PM: Deacon Christmas Banquet
W e d n es d a y D e c e m b e r 4 Regular Wednesday Schedule
Sunday, December 8: Peace the Second Sunday of Advent 9:00 AM: Worship in the Chapel 9:45 AM: Sunday School 11:00 AM: Worship in the Sanctuary featuring the Children Choristers 7:00 PM: Images of Christmas presented by the Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra (Sanctuary)
Wednesday, Decmeber 11 5:45 PM: Fellowship Meal 6:00 PM: Nativity Pageant Sing-along presented by the Music Friends Choir (Fellowship Hall)
Saturday, December 14 1:00 PM: Holiday Showcase presented by the Smoke Rise Academy of Arts (Fellowship Hall) 7:00 PM: Christmas with Coro Vocati (Sanctuary) Tickets are available for purchase at corovocati.org
Sunday, December 15: Joy the Third Sunday of Advent 9:00 AM: Churchwide Christmas Breakfast 9:45 AM: Sunday School 11:00 AM: Worship in the Sanctuary featuring the Youth Choir
Sunday, December 22: Love the Third Sunday of Advent 9:45 AM: Sunday School 11:00 AM: Worship in the Sanctuary featuring the Youth Choir
Tuesday, December 24 Christmas Eve 5:00 PM: Children and Families Candlelight Service 7:00 PM: Communion and Candlelight
Sunday, December 29 Christmastide 9:45 AM: Sunday School (Check individual class schedule.) 11:00 AM: Worship in the Sanctuary
Give More Store
Sunday, December 1st 8:30 am-1:00 pm 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Advent Worship 2019
Glimpses of Heaven December 1 •First Sunday of Advent • A Glimpse of Hope • Luke 1:1-20 December 8 • Second Sunday of Advent • A Glimpse of Peace • Luke 1:26-38 December 15 • Third Sunday of Advent • A Glimpse of Joy• Luke 1:39-45 December 22 • Fourth Sunday of Advent • A Glimpse of Fear • Luke 1:57-66
Church in Conference and Luncheon November 10 following the 11 am Worship Service Please contact the church office to RSVP at mbrock@ smokerisebaptist.org or 770.469.5856
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