“What can God do?... Send His son to save the world”

Sunday morning attendance was good even though some were absent because of sickness, some were in the hospital hoping to be home soon, others at home with the flu or whatever is going around. Our prayers are with each one hoping they will be better soon and back at church. Visitors are always welcome at our church and we hope they were blessed in many ways when they come and will come and worship with us often. The choir’s special was “Silent Night,” one of the most loved Christmas hymns. Bro. Ron’s message, “What can God do?” Isaiah 9:6-7 and others. When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son to save the world. Prophecies regarding this promise go all the way back to Genesis 3:14-15. God sent the best He had, His only Son. Verse 15 is the first mention of the Gospel in the Bible, Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." In verse 7 of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this. Mankind is at enmity with God. Yet God provides the way for fellowship with Him through His Son Jesus; other scripture prophecy calls Jesus “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” Jesus came the first time as the sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world. He will come again as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” and reign victorious. In Micah 5:2 God says that out of Bethlehem would come a ruler whose beginning was from everlasting. He always existed; all of the Christmas story is miraculous. The virgin birth, the great star in the east, the angel’s visit to Joseph to reassure Him, the protection of the Christ Child from an evil king. What an amazing thing we have in God’s word and His great love. He wants to reign and rule in our hearts today.

Sunday night at 6 p.m. a good attendance was present for our “Christmas Musical.” All ages took part in this program, the younger children, the youth and adults, the congregation sang a couple of Christmas songs, much scripture was read with the choir singing the songs that went along with it. We were blessed to have Jake Williams from Centennial with us to play the piano during this musical.

Next Sunday morning, Dec. 23, the Adult Sunday school class will go to Hospitality Care and Rehab for Sunday school and sing Christmas songs.

Dec. 23 there will be no Sunday night service at Brownwood.
Monday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Communion Service will be held at 4 p.m. at Brownwood. Everyone is invited to join us for this.

The Brownwood Youth Group will have a Christmas party Saturday, Dec. 22, at the home of Sammie and Christy Brown from 5 to 7 p.m.

Friday afternoon Margie Ward visited James Harold Smith, Rev. Clyde Carter and Dot Stewart at Athens Regional Medical Center.

Glad to report Billy Phillips is home after spending several days at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens.
Sunday afternoon Sonny, Mary, Rebekah and Zach Wood, Margie Ward and Julie Phillips attended the Violin recital of Rachel Wood at Summit Church of Madison.

Margie Ward visited Ozell Moss at Morgan Memorial Hospital Monday afternoon. Glad to report she is now at home.

Joy to the World! God’s Gift
He did not use a
silvery box
Or paper green and red,
God laid His
Christmas gift to men
Within a manger bed.
No silken cord was used to bind
The Gift sent from above.
'Twas wrapped in swaddling clothes and bound
In cords of tender love.
There was no
evergreen to which
His precious Gift was tied.
Upon a bare tree on a hill
His Gift was hung . . . and died.
‘Twas taken down from off the tree
and laid beneath the sod.
But death itself could not destroy
The precious Gift of God.
With mighty hands He lifted His
From evermore for every man
A living Gift He gave.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Keep Christ in Christmas!

Printed in the December 27, 2012 edition