CHBC Ramblings
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Living Nativity
Our 21st annual Living Nativity Drive Through was a success! For just the third time in its long run, we had to cancel a night—Saturday’s presentation—due to the weather, but both Friday and Sunday saw excellent attendance. On Sunday night, Cindy and I were both at the exit, and I wish everyone had that opportunity. Several people had tears in their eyes, some tried to give us a donation (we refused!), many told us that it was a special part of their Christmas tradition, and almost everyone expressed gratitude for both the presentation and its excellence. One person in particular shared that he was glad that we told the whole story and didn’t end with the nativity. I must confess that I am moved at the last scene: the sign that says, “He is not here…” and then, in order, an empty manger, an empty cross, and an empty grave. Not only do we need to tell the world that He is born but that He is risen!
Last Week—Mary’s Song: Let It Be
This past Sunday was the third Sunday of Advent, and the Parents’ Candle was lit by the Ed Jenkins family. One of the highlights of the service was the painting of Mary by artist Kerry Jackson during the last part of the message, Christmas According to Mary: Let It Be. Kerry is an artist and church planter who is starting a church for the art community in Atlanta. If you would like to see more of his work or even a purchase a print of what he painted for us on Sunday, look at his website, www.drawingtotherock.com.
This Coming Sunday
Can you believe it? This week will be the fourth Sunday of Advent—the final Sunday before Christmas! In our messages this year, we have been looking at Christmas from a variety of perspectives—this week it will be Christmas According to the Shepherds. The shepherds can be models for us in how to truly celebrate Christmas. (If you missed any of the messages in this series, you can listen on our website, www.clairmonthills.org.)
Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
Have you made a special gift to International Missions this month? If not, I hope you will do so this week as we give this special offering to help support our over 5000 international missionaries. We are about half way to our goal of $15,000.
Open House
Our annual Open House is this Sunday from 4:00-6:00 p.m., and we are at a new location this year, 2236 Chrysler Court. We hope that you can come! To make it easier for some of our people, our minibus will make trips back and forth from the church building about every 30 minutes. You can be dropped off right at the end of our walkway, and it will also help with the traffic flow in our neighborhood, so it will be good from two points of view if you want to take advantage of this. Come enjoy a lot of homemade treats, thanks to Cindy and everyone else in our family—except me!
Christmas Eve...
is always a special time for worship, so I hope that you will plan to attend our Christmas Eve Candlelighting and Communion Service on Thursday, December 24 (no service on Wednesday, December 23). The actual service starts at 6:30 p.m., but a half hour of pre-service music starts at 6:00 p.m. for those who want to arrive early.
Merry Christmas!
Fred O. Pitts, Pastor
Clairmont Hills Baptist Church
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Ramblings--20091208
CHBC Ramblings
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Living Nativity
Our 21st annual Living Nativity Drive Through is this weekend! If you haven’t signed up, let me tell you—we can use your help. We have two shifts of characters who rotate throughout the evening, so we need lot of volunteers, and we will provide your costume and the simple directions for your scene. It’s a lot of fun! We will serve you supper and you will have good fellowship with others. Come along and bring someone with you. Hours for The Living Nativity are 7-9 on Friday and Saturday and from 6-9 on Sunday for those who will be inviting others to view it; call the church office to find out what time to report to participate.
Mary’s Song: Let It Be
This coming Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent, and we will be lighting the Parents’ Candle. For my message, I will be repeating my favorite of all my Christmas sermons, Christmas According to Mary: Let It Be. I preached it here during Advent of 2005. Come see why I like it. Also, there will be an added worship attraction this week. Kerry Jackson, an artist and church planter who is starting a church for artists in Atlanta, will create a piece of art during the last minutes of the message that will enhance what God is saying to us this week. Please don’t miss it.
This Past Sunday
Wow! The second Sunday of Advent was a great day of worship in every way. That’s what so many people have told me. It started with the Clay Hunnicutt family lighting the Angels’ Candle for us. Our youth and our adult handbells both blessed us with great music for worship and meditation. The flute accompaniment added so much to our singing of Christmas hymns. The message continued our look at Christmas from a variety of perspectives—this time it was Christmas According to the Angels. (If you missed it, you can listen on our website, www.clairmonthills.org.)
In the evening, over 100 came back to hear His Kids (our children’s choir) present Dr. Newheart’s Christmas Cure. (Over 50 had been present the night before for the opening performance.) Those who were in attendance were amazed as over 20 children worked together to give us an excellent performance. Best of all was the powerful message of how Christmas “things” simply cannot satisfy and what we really need is a “new heart” for Christmas. Thank you, children (and workers!), for leading us in a special time of worship!
Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
Another part of the special worship this past Sunday was our “March for Missions,” when many brought their special offering to help us support over 5000 international missionaries, including Andrew and Christine Moffatt, who are close to our own hearts. If you didn’t bring your special Christmas offering this past Sunday, you can give through the end of the year.
Next Wednesday night, December 16 (not tomorrow but next week), we will have our annual Christmas Feast for our Wednesday night meal. We have established a tradition the past few years of having special programs that night after the meal. This year’s special feature will be Dr. Allen Hill, a former missionary to the Philippines, who will share with us about all the work being done around the world. Allen is a personal friend and is an engaging speaker. You will be blessed if you come eat with us and then stay to listen to his presentation.
A Personal Note
My daughter Lydia is serving as our volunteer Intern this year, and many have commented so positively on her work as seen in her leadership of His Kids and the Youth Handbells just this past Sunday. Lydia leaves early tomorrow morning for a month-long mission trip out of the country, teaching English in a ministry that is much like that of Carol Woodford. I want to thank many individuals and the Ministry and Missions Team for giving toward the trip. Please pray for Lydia and the team for safety, wisdom, and success. We will miss her while she is gone over Christmas, but we are glad for God’s leadership in her life.
The angels said, “Glory to God!” Let’s glorify Him by worshiping Him together this coming Sunday and by inviting others to do so, too. Have you invited anyone to worship with you this Sunday?
God bless us, every one!
Fred O. Pitts, Pastor
Clairmont Hills Baptist Church
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Living Nativity
Our 21st annual Living Nativity Drive Through is this weekend! If you haven’t signed up, let me tell you—we can use your help. We have two shifts of characters who rotate throughout the evening, so we need lot of volunteers, and we will provide your costume and the simple directions for your scene. It’s a lot of fun! We will serve you supper and you will have good fellowship with others. Come along and bring someone with you. Hours for The Living Nativity are 7-9 on Friday and Saturday and from 6-9 on Sunday for those who will be inviting others to view it; call the church office to find out what time to report to participate.
Mary’s Song: Let It Be
This coming Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent, and we will be lighting the Parents’ Candle. For my message, I will be repeating my favorite of all my Christmas sermons, Christmas According to Mary: Let It Be. I preached it here during Advent of 2005. Come see why I like it. Also, there will be an added worship attraction this week. Kerry Jackson, an artist and church planter who is starting a church for artists in Atlanta, will create a piece of art during the last minutes of the message that will enhance what God is saying to us this week. Please don’t miss it.
This Past Sunday
Wow! The second Sunday of Advent was a great day of worship in every way. That’s what so many people have told me. It started with the Clay Hunnicutt family lighting the Angels’ Candle for us. Our youth and our adult handbells both blessed us with great music for worship and meditation. The flute accompaniment added so much to our singing of Christmas hymns. The message continued our look at Christmas from a variety of perspectives—this time it was Christmas According to the Angels. (If you missed it, you can listen on our website, www.clairmonthills.org.)
In the evening, over 100 came back to hear His Kids (our children’s choir) present Dr. Newheart’s Christmas Cure. (Over 50 had been present the night before for the opening performance.) Those who were in attendance were amazed as over 20 children worked together to give us an excellent performance. Best of all was the powerful message of how Christmas “things” simply cannot satisfy and what we really need is a “new heart” for Christmas. Thank you, children (and workers!), for leading us in a special time of worship!
Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
Another part of the special worship this past Sunday was our “March for Missions,” when many brought their special offering to help us support over 5000 international missionaries, including Andrew and Christine Moffatt, who are close to our own hearts. If you didn’t bring your special Christmas offering this past Sunday, you can give through the end of the year.
Next Wednesday night, December 16 (not tomorrow but next week), we will have our annual Christmas Feast for our Wednesday night meal. We have established a tradition the past few years of having special programs that night after the meal. This year’s special feature will be Dr. Allen Hill, a former missionary to the Philippines, who will share with us about all the work being done around the world. Allen is a personal friend and is an engaging speaker. You will be blessed if you come eat with us and then stay to listen to his presentation.
A Personal Note
My daughter Lydia is serving as our volunteer Intern this year, and many have commented so positively on her work as seen in her leadership of His Kids and the Youth Handbells just this past Sunday. Lydia leaves early tomorrow morning for a month-long mission trip out of the country, teaching English in a ministry that is much like that of Carol Woodford. I want to thank many individuals and the Ministry and Missions Team for giving toward the trip. Please pray for Lydia and the team for safety, wisdom, and success. We will miss her while she is gone over Christmas, but we are glad for God’s leadership in her life.
The angels said, “Glory to God!” Let’s glorify Him by worshiping Him together this coming Sunday and by inviting others to do so, too. Have you invited anyone to worship with you this Sunday?
God bless us, every one!
Fred O. Pitts, Pastor
Clairmont Hills Baptist Church
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