Did you have a great Thanksgiving? Ready or not here we go—go into the Christmas Holiday season that is at EBC! In recent days, I have been sharing some exciting news about our future here together at EBC. And as we continue to get closer to Christmas it’s getting even more exciting!
What’s been happening at EBC?
God richly blessed our Stewardship Sundays! Together as a church family we renewed our commitments so our faith, family, and future will be exciting and bright!
Our fall festival was a blast! We enjoyed lots of good food, fun, and sweet fellowship! Thanks for all who helped!
Our Friend/Thanksgiving Sunday was a blessing! We had some guests join us and we ended the day with our praise and pie fellowship! It was a good time and delicious! Let’s keep inviting and bringing our friends and family to Jesus and our church!
We delivered 5 generously filled Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. Thank you to all who helped to fill those baskets! God helped us express the love of Christ!
EBC Building Update
Our future is all about where we are going together and what we will become as we follow Jesus in the days ahead! As we consider the future, and take steps towards our grand vision, we have been answering a very important question: what would God be pleased with us becoming in the next 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, as we pursue Him and His mission of helping more people become growing devoted disciples of Jesus? What will be happening in the next year and next few months? What is happening next?
As I lead us to meet both current and future ministry needs here at EBC, we are taking specific steps to help us get there. As I shared in a previous letter, one step was to hire an additional full time staff pastor. Since being hired on November 7th, Jed Carnes, our Family Pastor, is doing very well! Each day he is gaining a greater understanding of how things are functioning in our teen and children’s ministries and making improvements. Jed is also assisting me with important administrative and ministry responsibilities.
I also shared that we would be building an education building to meet the needs of our ever-growing children’s ministry and adult ministry as well. Right now, we have no additional, unused classrooms for our children or adult small group ministries (Sunday School or Wednesday). A new building will help meet the current needs of our kids and adult ministries and will enable us to be ready for an exciting future of growth!
In recent days, I have assembled an EBC building team. Along with me and the deacons, I asked Manny Giddens, Bobby Ray Crawford, and Ricky Moran to serve with me, and will of course rely on the EBC staff as well. In addition, we have hired two experts to be on the building team: architect, Jason Canning, and Roger Chastain, who is our project manager. Together with God guiding us we are creating our master site plan (a drawing showing how we can use the land God has given us the best way possible) and establishing building phases. Over the next several weeks and months we will also be counting the cost, and creating a tentative building budget.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this very important “no miss” service!! On February 12th, we will have our annual Vision Night Service! On Vision Night 2017 I will be sharing very important details about our future and our building project. You will see a picture of the building we will construct, and the cost. You will also be able to join me in giving pledges above our tithes and offerings to fund our building project!
Our Holiday Schedule & Parties
The Auditorium Bible Class Christmas party will be on Saturday, December 10th, from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. at the Ramondetta home. Please bring a finger food to share. Drinks and desserts will be provided.
The Resistance Teen Trip to St Augustine will be on Friday, December 10th. They will be leaving the church at 4:30 p.m. for a fun time of food and fun!
Our Kids Christmas program will be on Sunday, December 11th at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to come and invite and bring your family and friends with you. This is a great opportunity for others to hear the Gospel message!
On Wednesday, December 14th from 6:45-8:15 p.m. the AWANA children’s ministry will be having their Christmas Celebration. They will also have the AWANA store open that night. The celebration times will be with the individual leader/directors during their large group time. There will be no game time this night due to the AWANA store. Toy Donations valued at $5-$10 are being collected and need to be dropped off no later than Sunday December 11th.
The Young At Heart Bible Class Christmas party will be on Friday, December 16th at the Moran’s house at 6:30 p.m. Please bring finger foods to share!
We will have our cocoa and cookie fellowship on December 18th following the 6:00 p.m. service. Please bring a plate of cookies to share. Drinks will be provided.
We will not have Wednesday night ministry on December 21st and the 28th. Please enjoy this time with your family.
Our Christmas Service will be on Sunday, December 25th at 10:30 a.m. We will have a unified service at 10:30 a.m. with no Sunday school, children’s church for grades 1st-6th, and no Sunday evening service. Let’s be sure to invite and bring our friends and family. There will be special Christmas music and a Gospel Christmas message!
The Young Adult Bible Class Holiday Party will be on December 30th at 5:00 p.m. at the Nowlen home. If you are currently in this class or are an adult 40 years of age or younger plan to join us for this fun time!
Our New Year’s Service will be on Sunday, January 1st at 10:30 a.m. We will have a unified service at 10:30 a.m. with no Sunday school, children’s church for grades 1st-6th, and no Sunday evening service. Come and worship our great God and celebrate the New Year!
Christmas Offering
Christmas time is a great opportunity to express gratitude for who Jesus is and what He has done for us through His birth, life, death, and resurrection through our giving! One way to show that gratitude is by giving a Christmas offering! Last year we were able to upgrade our sound and media computer, to include a new monitor, and an up to date system and software! Thank you to all who gave!
This year join me in giving a Christmas offering to help make needed improvements in our teen ministry building. We will be replacing doors, and some of the carpet that has been damaged by weather over the years and will be purchasing some furniture and games for the teens. You can also give towards helping our local nursing home, Wells, receive needed supplies like no skid hospital sox. Or you can give a Christmas offering for our music ministry which will help purchase new wireless microphones. This will enhance the overall worship experience! Just give your offering using the enclosed Christmas envelope or write “Christmas offering” on your giving envelope or check. You can also give your offering on our website, ebclife.org. Just click on the online giving tab.
There are great opportunities for us as we celebrate the Christmas season here at EBC! When we decide to pray for our church family and events, be present at the services, and be faithful to do our part God will richly bless!
Praying you have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,
Pastor Mike
PS: Have you been blessed recently at EBC? Leave your comments!
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