November 28, 2021

Starling Avenue Baptist Church

Occasions This Week at SABC

Sunday, November 28 11:00 a.m.—Sanctuary & Virtual Worship Tuesday, November 30 5:30 p.m.– 6:30p.m.—Drive-thru Community Meal Wednesday, December 1 10:00 a.m.—Bible Study, Room 202 Welcome Dr. Joe R. Bryant as our guest minister. Becky Nance will serve as today’s Lay Leader. Pianist is Fern Kanode. Soloist is Margaret Caldwell. Reader will be Margaret Caldwell. Advent Candle/Chrismon will be Richard Caldwell. Greeters are Nancy Snyder & Joyce Poindexter. Open & Close is Jeff & Susan Franklin.

Dr. Joe R. Bryant was called to preach in April 1963 at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Kernersville, NC. He received his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, in 1969 and his Doctor of Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, in 1980. He attended U.S. Army Chaplain School in New York in 1975 and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Hattiesburg, MS, in 1979. Dr. Bryant served as Chaplain for the U.S. Army Reserves and North Carolina National Guard. Mission work included trips to Vermont and the Philippines. Dr. Bryant’s pastoral experience includes churches in North Carolina and Virginia, including Riverdale Baptist Church in Roanoke, Rocky Mount Baptist Church, and Fieldale Baptist Church. He is married to Mary Ricker Bryant who has a B.A. in Psychology and has served as a missionary in Ethiopia and Kenya. Dr. Bryant is coming out of retirement for the third time to serve as our interim pastor beginning December 12, 2021.

Advent begins today! Advent means “coming” and together we are waiting for Christ to come on Christmas and to come again.

Through your generous giving to the Annual Mission Offering, we help fund ministries of our partners her in Martinsville and around the world. Last year’s goal was $6,000 and we exceeded that amount. This year our goal is $6,000, with the hopes that we’ll exceed it again! The AMO runs through Pentecost Sunday. Special envelopes are located at the two entrances.

Today is the last day to place your order for a Poinsettia to be placed in the sanctuary for Christmas. They may be placed in honor of or in memory of someone. The cost of the Poinsettia will be $20.00 each, and we ask that you pay this in advance. Make checks payable to SABC and place envelope in offering plate or drop in the church mailbox.

Special envelopes are available at the two entrances. We ask that you take your poinsettia home following worship service on December 19 to enjoy during Christmas.

Today is the last day to donate to the Martinsville Speedway Christmas Toy Drive! All toys collected will be distributed by Grace Network to local children for Christmas.

Collection boxes can be found at the library and church vestibule entrances. Monetary donations will be accepted from those who are unable to shop themselves. Volunteer church members will gladly shop for you. Special offering envelopes are available at the two entrances. Thank you for helping us in this Christmas mission!

Drive-thru Community Meal will be this Tuesday, November 30, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

They will be serving chicken & dressing casserole, green beans, sweet potato casserole, rolls and dessert.

A simple and safe way for us to reach out during the Christmas season is by sending Christmas Cards to inmates. Cards must be received in the church office by Friday morning, December 10.

Begin your Christmas Season by visiting the church library and checking out holiday books, movies and puzzles. New books include: No Cure for Being Human (and Other Truths I need to Hear) by Kate Bowler – her latest book, donated by Sarah Fain in memory of her mother, Dorothy E. Campbell.

New mystery author Louise Penny has several books in this series with Chief Inspector Gamache. . . many donated by Sarah Fain.

A Piece of the Moon by Chris Fabry, author of War Room. A heartwarming story about a small town in WVA in the 1980’s.

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller. After Meg’s family becomes penniless and homeless, they realize it’s not the material things in life that are important. They take refuge with an Amish family and soon celebrate life’s simplest but essential values.

Holiday Shopping: smile.amazon.com will donate to Starling Avenue Baptist Church or your favorite charitable organization if you shop with them.

Grace Network items for November: Dry pinto beans (1 lb. bag), bath soap, toilet paper & toothpaste. Items for December: Dry pinto beans (1 lb. bag), dish detergent, deodorant & laundry detergent.

Birthdays: Lee Webb (28), David Bell (29), Stephen Henderson (12/1), Wanda Martin Hankins (12/1), Judy Hubbard (12/2), Stephen Snyder (12/2) & Jacob Adkins (12/4).

Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating!

Here are current ways to continue to give to the ministry and mission of SABC: -In the offering plates at the Check-In Tables at in-person worship -Through USPS to 932 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112. Your offering envelopes are already self-addressed. All you need is a stamp and tape to reinforce.

-Drop off your envelopes in the locked mailbox outside of the Church Office.

-Set up an automatic or one-time bank draft through your bank. Simply go to your bank’s bill pay webpage. Set up Starling Avenue Baptist Church as the “payee” and have your payments automatically delivered electronically. This is simple and doesn’t cost you or the church any fees.

-Online giving available at www.starlingavenue.org. You can choose “Cover Fees” to slightly increase your gift to pay processing fees.

Daily Readings Monday: Psalm 90; Numbers 17:1-11; 2 Peter 3:1-18 Tuesday: Psalm 90; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; Revelation 22:12-16 Wednesday: Psalm 90; Isaiah 1:24-31; Luke 11:29-32 Thursday: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:5-12; Philippians 1:12-18a Friday: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:13-18; Philippians 1:18b-26 Saturday: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 4:1-6; Luke 9:1-6

Stewardship Report November 21, 2021 Budget Needs YTD: $274,049.48 Budget Offerings YTD: $167,087.94 Budget Needs Each Sunday: $5,830.84 Budget Offerings for 11.21.2021: $4,580.00

Instructions for writing cards to inmates: WHY WE SEND CARDS: Inmates are not necessarily bad people. They have however made bad choices. Scripture reminds us that we have all sinned and they are no different. Many are spiritually dead. John 10:10 reminds us the work of the enemy is to steal, kill, and destroy.

The results of their choices is incarceration. Many are searching for answers, to know someone cares, or looking for hope. You can communicate hope. That you, and more importantly, God cares about them and their current situation through the words you write in that card.

SOME PRACTICAL TIPS: • Write a note that is heart felt. Write a message of Hope, encouragement or challenge to them.

• Share a bible verse that is especially meaningful to you • Cards must be delivered to the church by Friday morning, Dec. 10th SOME SECURITY DON’TS: • NO mechanical cards (musical, pop outs, etc.) NO glitter, NO stickers on card or added stickers, just a simple Christmas card is enough • DO NOT add anything to the card except what you write, NO tracks, stamps, business cards, church advertisements or bulletins • KEEP THE EVENLOPE – Inmates will not be allowed to receive cards in envelopes • Sign using your first name only, initials or “A Friend” “Someone Who Cares”, etc.

CARDS NOT MEETING THE ABOVE CRITERIA CANNOT BE GIVEN TO THE INMATE AND WILL BE DISCARDED Please call the church office if you are unable to get your cards to the church and we will How Connect to Sunday Worship & Other Gatherings make arrangements to to pick them up.

STARLING AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL MISSION OFFERING st 1 Sunday of Advent, Nov. 28th - 7th Sunday after Pentecost (Easter), Jun. 5th

GOAL $6,000 4%

20% 24%

24% 10%

10% 8%

Although we have moved back to in-person worship, our services will continue to be live streamed.

To connect to Worship from your landline (audio): Call 1-844-621-3956 (toll free), Access Code: 132-630-0075## To connect to Worship from your computer, tablet, or smartphone (video): Go to the SABC Facebook page (bit.ly/FacebookSABC), our YouTube channel (bit.ly/YouTubeSABC) or our new video conferencing service Webex (bit.ly/StarlingAvenue), Access Code: 132 630 0075 Closed Captioning is available on YouTube.

Current Church Office Hours Monday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Wednesday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Lunch 12-1 pm) Friday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

(276) 638-8861 -- www.starlingavenue.org Pastor: Music: Church Secretary: Barbara Rakes (church@starlingavenue.org) Interpreter for the Deaf: Joan Joyce