Buck Grove Community Church

News From The Pews

Volume 13, Issue 5 December 1, 2011

Dates to remember:
Dec. 3Adult Christmas Party Dec. 4Communion Dec. 5Ladies Meeting Dec. 10Christmas Tea Dec. 11Childrens Church Party Dec. 14Board Meeting Dec. 17One Stop Community Christmas Dec. 18Awana 6-6:30 Dec. 18Childrens Christmas Play Dec. 21Christmas Caroling Dec. 24Christmas Eve Service Dec. 2510:00 Christmas Cantata Dec. 31Game Night

Choir Presents, Mary, Did You Know?

It began in a simple statement of an angel to a young Jewish maiden. "You are highly favored. You will have a Son. You are to call Him Jesus." At 10:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, the choir will present Mary, Did You Know? This cantata will transport us to the hills of Bethlehem where the sky explodes with light, movement and sound. The shepherds give praise to the Almighty. "Glory to God in the highest!" they shout. We are invited to come and meet the Messiah. Come to the manger and see Him... God in the flesh. The angels proclaim His birth. The shepherds and wise men worship Him. Come and believe that He is the hope of the world. For those of us who follow the Savior, our greatest joy and our highest calling is to come to know Him better, to trust Him more, to be more like Him. Today we know the story that took Him to a cross... the story that left an empty tomb. He is our King and our Lord, and we worship Him. Discover the joy of Christmas... the joy that Jesus brings!

Inside this issue:

Childrens Christmas Play Christmas Caroling Christmas Tea Childrens Church Party Adult Christmas Party New Years Eve Game Night One Stop Community Christmas Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4

Time Change for Christmas Service

Christmas is on a Sunday this year, so we are blessed to be able to worship our Savior on His birthday! What a great way to spend Christmas morning! To enable families to spend the early morning hours at home; as well as, allow everyone to make it to family gatherings, we will not have Sunday School classes. We will also begin the morning worship service at 10:00 a.m. Please also note that we will not be having Awana or evening service on Christmas. The following Sunday will be New Years Day; therefore we will not have Awana that evening either.

December Changes: Dec. 18-Awana 6:006:30 Dec. 25-No Sunday School, Awana, or Evening Service. Morning Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. Jan. 1-No Awana

PAGE 2

NE WS F R O M T HE P E WS

V O LU M E 1 3 , I S S U E 5

Youth Present Angels Aware

On Sunday, December 18th at 7:00 p.m., the youth of the church will be presenting Angels Aware. This program will include the 3 year olds and older youth of the church. Come out to see this cute and upbeat, yet spiritual program that the children have worked so hard to learn. Awana is planned for 6:00-6:30, however shares/award patches/etc. will not be handed out that evening. The program will then follow at 7:00 in the sanctuary. A linger longer of cookies & punch will follow in the church basement. Ladies are asked to bring cookies to share. Please invite family and friends to join us! Be sure to thank Richard & Tiffany Richter and Amanda Ferguson for their commitment to our youth. They have done a great job!

Come out to see the Childrens Christmas Play on Dec. 18th!

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Christmas caroling gives us a perfect opportunity to spread the good news of our Saviors birth. Take time to see the smiling faces as we caravan to various homes and nursing homes to share our Christmas joy. Please meet at the church, and plan to leave at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st. Following the caroling, we will have a time of food and fellowship in the church basement. Please bring finger foods to share. Drinks will be provided. If you know of anyone who would like carolers, please see Janice Barger, Amanda Ferguson or Pastor Dan in advance, so that a route can be made prior to that evening.

Ladies Christmas Tea

Are you looking for a place to relax from the rush of Christmas? Do you want to enjoy friendly fellowship and good food? Well, look no further! A ladies Christmas tea is planned for just those reasons. All ladies are welcome to come to a Christmas tea scheduled for Saturday, December 10th at noon. Jane & friends will serve lunch for everyone to enjoy. No need to bring food. Just invite friends and relatives to come. Please see Jane Richter if you have any questions.

V O LU M E 1 3 , I S S U E 5

NE WS F R O M T HE P E WS

PAGE 3

Childrens Church Party is Dec. 11th

Throughout the year the children have their own church/lesson time in the basement during Pastor Dans message. This is a time for them to learn about Jesus, sing songs, and have fun. We will be having even more fun on Sunday, December 11th with our childrens church Christmas party. We will be having pizza and cookies to eat and playing games for prizes. Everyone will receive a prize. These prizes will be their gift for the day, so there is no need for parents to purchase gifts for a gift exchange. The 5th graders who graduated out of childrens church are encouraged to attend as well. Please see Roxanne, Angie, Heidi, or Sarah O. if you have any questions

Adult Christmas Party Set

The adult Christmas party is always a great time for those attending, so be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, December 3rd at 6:00 pm. Come out and enjoy a great night of fellowship and fun. This party is sponsored by the adult class, but all adults (single, married, or dating), in the church are invited to attend. Bring a friend if you would like! The more, the merrier! Those attending are asked to bring a $5 gift for the gift exchange. Dont get too attached to the gift that you unwrap because you may not be going home with it! Also, everyone is asked to bring finger foods and a 2liter of soda to share.

Ring in New Year with Game Night

Everyone is welcome to ring in 2012 with a game night on New Years Eve! We will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December, 31st & continue into 2012! Please bring snack food, soda, and games to share as we celebrate the new year!

One Stop Community Christmas

Area churches and community organizations are teaming up this year to provide a One Stop Community Christmas for those less fortunate in our area. What an excellent way to provide both food & toys to those in need. If you would like to donate toys for this event, please place them in the box near the church nursery. This event will be on Dec. 17th at the Mattoon Salvation Army. Volunteers are needed. Please see Karen Lee if you would like to help or if you have any questions.

BU C K G R OV E COMMUNITY CHURCH
2427 North County Road 650 East Mattoon, IL 61938 Phone: 217-258-6355 buckgrovenewsletter@yahoo.com Pastor Dan Grondin Home Phone: 217-258-6354 Cell Phone: 217-317-9228

Sunday School Sunday Morning Worship Sunday Evening Worship AwanaSunday Evening

9:30 10:30 7:00 6:00

Wednesday Evening Service 7:00

Glory to God

Birthdays & Anniversaries

The following people have December birthdays: Dec. 5John Davis Dec. 6Jamie Eaton Dec. 9Jenny Leitch Dec. 9Rosalie Shadow Dec. 11John Hurst Dec. 13Fred Richter Dec. 13Robert Spencer Dec. 14Melissa Hurst Dec. 15Mallory Moritz Dec. 16Gene Fear Dec. 17Jacob Matthews Dec. 17Rachel Burcham Dec. 18Ramey Strong Dec. 23Sheila Spencer Dec. 24Phillip Spencer Dec. 25Jesus Dec. 26William Janes Dec. 26Roger Moritz Dec. 26Sandy Osborne Dec. 30William Richter The following couples are celebrating anniversaries in December: Dec. 1Robert & Sheila Spencer Dec. 18David & Karen Lee Dec. 23Delbert & Jeanie Dowell Dec. 28David & Nancy Janes Dec. 30Fred & Jane Richter