EMMETT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
December 2020
Discover Christ's Transforming Love
126 S. Hayes Ave. Emmett, Idaho 83617
Lance Zagaris, Pastor
Pam Hodges, Worship Director
A Word From the Pastor
John 1:1, 14-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Dearly Beloved,
As we approach Advent we celebrate the profound mystery where Jesus as God (Jn.1:1) became man (Jn. 1:14). The One Who Is Eternal, Who created all things (Jn.1:3) humbled Himself by being born of the Virgin Mary in a stable where animals lodge. He pitched His tent and lived among us. Despite His humble human origin, John declares that “we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only!” His humanity could not hold back the Glory that emanated from His Person. While becoming man, He did not stop being God. Through His incarnation He became the God-Man and His divine glory shone in and through His humanity. Jesus was full of grace and truth (Jn.1:14)! Later, John re-emphasizes this amazing reality; “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (Jn.1:17)! Jesus not only delivered grace and truth, but He embodied grace and truth! They were alive and well and fully operating in His Person and Works! They work together in harmony in His relationships, in His teachings, in His works and miracles, and in His decisions (His judgments). A footnote in my NIV Study Bible says that corresponding Hebrews - terms of grace and truth are often translated (unfailing) love and faithfulness (cp. Ps. 25: 10; 41:10).
When it comes to truth, Jesus wholeheartedly follows it. He lives it; He speaks it; He applies it to His life and relationships; and He uses it to make judgments and decisions. When it comes to grace, the above statements are equally true of Jesus. Jesus loves people. He is passionately delighted in them. He accepts them where they are. He receives and interacts with many people in Scripture that we would ignore and overlook and He does it with genuine interest and compassion. Jesus, though, does not agree with false teaching or with evil thoughts, words, or deeds. He exposes falsehood and evil and refutes them. He challenges people to grow in relation to Him and to truth and to grace. He patiently waits for their growth and encourages them in their progress of grace and truth. He teaches grace and truth and He models them for others. He corrects as needed. He disciplines when necessary. He restores those who repent. He rebukes and eventually separates those who harden their hearts to Him and to grace and truth!
An example of grace and truth incarnated in the Person of Jesus is John 8:1-11. A women is caught in adultery and brought to Jesus by religious leaders. Hoping to trap Jesus, they ask, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say” (Jn. 8:5)?
“Full of Grace and Truth” bent down and wrote on the ground with His finger. The leaders kept peppering Jesus with questions. So “Full of Grace and Truth said, “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn. 8:7)! Jesus continued to write on the ground. One by one, the men left without throwing a stone, leaving “Full of Grace And Truth” alone with the woman. The men did not condemn her. And neither did Jesus condemn her. Jesus concludes, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (Jn. 8:11)! Jesus, full of grace and truth, drew a line in the sand! He protected the woman from men not living out truth and grace in their lives or in relation to her. He forgave the woman of her sin, but challenged her to leave her life of sin and enter into a life filled with grace and truth!
Merry Christmas!
Shepherding you In Jesus’ Grace & Truth,
Lance
UPDATE REGARDING CHURCH SERVICES
Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Gem County, public worship services were cancelled for Nov. 29 or Dec. 6. Song and the message are being recorded and posted on our www.fbcemmett.org, First Baptist Church of Emmett Facebook, and YouTube-FBC Emmett website pages. You are encouraged to go to one of the online links above to view the worship and message. Please let us know if you are unable to view them online and would like a DVD (video) or CD (audio). We plan to worship in person Dec. 13. Continue to pray for the Lord’s protection and provision over our lives!!
Family Worship Team During Church Closure
Kris, the Organist, Recording while Davy Supervises
Davey Gives a "Thumbs up"!
Samaritan Purse - Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry
Our church contributed 40 shoeboxes to this ministry for 2020! The Gem County Community contributed 488! While the numbers were down in our area, Janet, from Community Bible Church (our drop-off point), said the numbers were up in Northern Idaho. Thank you to all who put boxes together, contributed items for the boxes and donated money for shipping! Considering the circumstances surrounding this year's collection, we can still consider it a success for the glory of God and pray that these boxes bring others to Him!
Teri Campbell helped us learn about "shoes that grow" and we hope to pursue this more for next year.
More OCC information and some great personal stories can be found on there website: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
Advent Conspiracy
We all want our Christmas to be a lot of things…. full of joy, memories, and happiness. Above all, we want it to be about Jesus. What we don’t want is stress or debt. Or feeling like we “missed the moment”. Advent Conspiracy is a movement designed to help us all slow down and experience a Christmas worth remembering. Doing this means doing things a little differently, a little creatively. It means turning Christmas upside down.
WORSHIP FULLY
Christmas marks the moment where God’s promise was fulfilled and love took form, tiny fingers and all. It is a moment that deserves our full attention and praise. We put Worship Fully as AC’s first tenet because we believe the level of our involvement at Christmas is based entirely on how much we are celebrating Christ’s birth. He deserves celebration; one that is creative, loud and directs every heart His way.
SPEND LESS
Consider buying one less gift this Christmas. Use the money you would have spent on that gift and give it to First Baptist Church. We will use it to support our missionaries in Beirut, Lebanon, Daniel & Sarah Chetti. Funds will help TBD. Our last Sunday to collect for Advent Conspiracy is Dec. 27.
GIVE MORE
We know what you’re thinking. “Wait, didn’t they just say I should spend less, and yet here they are telling me to give more? What gives?” The most powerful, memorable gift you can give to someone else is yourself, and nobody modeled this more than Jesus. So, what does this look like for you? Maybe it’s tickets to a ball game or the theatre. The point is simple: When it comes to spending time with those you love, it’s all about quality, not quantity.
LOVE ALL
When we show our love to a family member, neighbor, or friend by spending a little less on gifts, we free up our resources to love as Jesus loved. This is the conspiracy three churches began a few years ago and has since grown to an international movement where thousands of churches have raised millions of dollars to love others in life-changing ways!
Designate in the memo portion of your check- Advent Conspiracy
Honoring Our Veterans!
On Sunday, Nov. 7, FBC paid tribute to our veterans! While several are not pictured here we want to give a shout out and a BIG THANK YOU to all the veterans within our congregation as well as all those who serve(ed) and sacrificed for our country!
Pictured below (left to right):
Jim Foster, Wes Sutton, Bob Kaiser, Bill Butticci, John Morgan, Robin Humphries
Not Pictured:
Chuck Pearce, Dave Goff, Jerry Barber, John Hill, Rocky Smith, Dan Slabaugh, Lonnie Moats, Steve Knight, Gary Harp
Thank you to all who helped to organize the tribute
Marked For Life
“I I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 nlt).
Most American homes today have a Bible, but ironically, fewer than half of all American adults can name the four Gospels. And in a survey about Americans’ knowledge of the Bible, most participants could name all four Beatles, but they couldn’t name one of the Ten Commandments.
But it gets worse. One in 10 people thought Moses was one of Jesus’s 12 apostles. In addition, 12 percent of American adults thought that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. And 50 percent of graduating high school seniors thought Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.
Although many people own a Bible, they don’t read the Bible. The number one reason people give for not reading the Bible is they don’t prioritize it. And if they do read it, they’re reading without any comprehension.
However, we would be better off reading 10 verses from the Bible with comprehension than reading 10 chapters without grasping what we’re reading.
The Bible often uses the word meditate. This has nothing to do with the Eastern version of meditation, which is to clear the mind. The biblical meaning of meditation is “to ponder and consider.”
It’s sort of like chewing your food. When you meditate on Scripture, it helps you internalize it more deeply. Think about it. Consider it. Contemplate it. Take your time; don’t rush through it.
And if you want to take it to the next level, read your Bible multiple times throughout the day. The psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 nlt).
It isn’t enough to go through the Word of God; the Word of God needs to go through you. It isn’t how you mark your Bible; it’s how your Bible marks you. So let God’s Word impact your life.
Copyright © 2020 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
Upgraded Furnace and Air Conditioners!
The new Air Conditioners (ACs) and furnace are up and running! It was a big job but badly needed. Our own Clint Taylor, as an employee of Cold Tech Refrigeration, helped to install the new ACs and Furnace. It is good to have a trusted resource involved.
IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP, TRY COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS!
2020 Thanksgiving Dinner (COVID Style)
Thanksgiving Dinner was a little different this year. Rather than the potluck style we are used to, due to COVID-19 precautions the dinner was catered by Tom's Cabin Restaurant. For a nominal fee of $12 to cover the cost and gratuity, a delicious and fulfilling meal was served.
Kenny Keene gave his testimony and Pam Hodges and others shared stories and things for which they are thankful.
Even in the midst of these trying times, we thank the Lord for His many blessings!
We hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving Day!
Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO)
The Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO) originated in the mid-1930s, when American Baptist congregations received a Communion Fellowship Offering on the first Sunday of each month to support retired ministers, missionaries, their widowed spouses and elderly clergy within their churches. In 1977, American Baptist Churches USA launched RMMO to continue this appreciation of God’s service. Click here to view a video or click on the picture above to view the website.
FBC will be taking offerings throughout December. To make a contribution, please designate RMMO or your check or donation envelope. Envelopes are also available in the church pews.
The Rest of The Story
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was filled with sorry at the tragic death of his wife in a fire in 1861. The Civil War broke out that same year, and it seemed this was an additional punishment. Two years late, Longfellow was again saddened to hear that his own son had been seriously wounded as a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac.
Sitting down to his desk, on a Christmas Day, he heard the church bells ringing, and ringing. It was in this setting he wrote:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men!
At this Christmas time whether you are in sorrow or in joy you can know that God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. He knows your every need and longs to comfort you and be that special friend you need. Seek Him this year instead of the outward manifestations of the season. He will give life real meaning and your heart real peace, the peace that passes all understanding.
Chuckles
A teenager was sitting in church, and when the collection plate was passed around he quickly pulled a dollar bill from his pocket and dropped it in.
Just then, the person behind him tapped him on his shoulder and handed him a $20 bill. The boy smiled, placed the $20 in the plate, and passed it on, admiring the man's generosity Then the boy felt another tap from behind and heard a whisper:
"Son", the man said, "that was your $20 bill that had fallen out of your pocket."
Layered Peppermint Bark
I never liked peppermint bark until I tried this recipe. The soft ganache center contrasts perfectly with the crunchy peppermints.
By carol
Recipe Summary
Prep: 30 mins Additional: 55 mins Total:1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 32 Yield: 2 pounds
Ingredients
20 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided
30 peppermint candies, crushed, divided
10 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Directions
Step 1
Line a 9x12 inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.Step 2
Melt half of the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Spread the white chocolate into the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1/4 of the crushed peppermints evenly over white chocolate. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes.Step 3
Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate, heavy cream, and peppermint extract together in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Quickly pour the chocolate layer over the chilled white chocolate layer; spread evenly. Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.Step 4
Meanwhile, melt the remaining white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Spread quickly over the chilled bark. Sprinkle with the remaining peppermint pieces; chill until firm, about 20 minutes. Cut or break into small pieces to serve.
Per Serving:
204 calories; protein 1.6g 3% DV; carbohydrates 28.7g 9% DV; fat 9.5g 15% DV; cholesterol 7.9mg 3% DV; sodium 22.7mg 1% DV. Full Nutrition
Birthdays and Anniversaries!
Birthdays:
December 1 .......... Nate Campbell
December 2 .......... Kris Waller, Gerry Knight
December 3 .......... Kemper Gragg
December 6 .......... David Mathews, Pam Shaw
December 7 .......... John Hill, Vi Rexford
December 16 ........ Cuc Frasier
December 20 ........ Mike Sturman
December 22 ........ Kristy Allen
December 27 ........ Simon Campbell
December 28 ........ Dan Slabaugh
December 31 ........ Cassie Humphries
Anniversaries:
December 6 ........... Jim & Robin Humphries
December 22 ......... Bob & Judy Bales
December 29 ......... Rocky & Cindy Smith