159th December 2023 SHADY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH Volume 4 Edition 12 REV. DR. REGINALD WOULLARD, PASTOR 101 WARREN MOTT PARKWAY * HATTIESBURG, MS 39401 * 601-583-9243 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.SHADYGROVE-CHURCH.ORG
WITHOUT JESUS THERE IS NO CHRISTMAS 2 In our day, we are witnessing a type of “distortion” of Christmas: in the name of a false respect which is not Christian, which often hides the wish to marginalize faith, all reference to Christ’s birth is eliminated from the holiday. But in reality, this event is the only true Christmas! Without Jesus there is no Christmas; there is another holiday, but not Christmas. And if he is at the center, then all the trimmings, that is, the lights, sounds, various local traditions, including the characteristic foods, all contribute to creating an atmosphere of celebration, but with Jesus at the center. If we remove him, the light goes out and everything becomes feigned, illusory. Through the message of the Church, we, as the shepherds of the Gospel (cf. Lk 2:9), are led to seek out and find the true light, that of Jesus who, becoming human like us, reveals himself in a surprising way: he is born to a poor, unknown maiden, who gives birth to him in a stable, with only the help of her husband. The world does not notice anything, but in heaven the angels who know of the event exult! And it is in this way that the Son of God presents himself to us today: as God’s gift to humanity, which is immersed in darkness and in the listlessness of slumber (cf. Is 9:1). And again today we witness the fact that humanity often prefers darkness, because it knows that the light would reveal all those actions and thoughts that would make us blush or stir our conscience. Thus, we prefer to remain in the dark and not subvert our own bad habits. We can thus ask ourselves what it means to welcome God’s gift, which is Jesus. As he himself has taught us with his life, it means becoming daily a gift freely given to those we meet on our own path. This is why Christmas gifts are exchanged. The true gift to us is Jesus, and like him we seek to be gifts to others. And, since we want to be gifts to others, we exchange gifts, as a sign, as a symbol of this attitude that Jesus teaches us: he, sent by the Father, was a gift to us, and we are gifts to others. The Apostle Paul offers us a concise key to understanding, when he writes — this passage of Paul is beautiful — “the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us ... to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world” (Tit 2:11-12). The grace of God “has appeared” in Jesus, the face of God, to whom the Virgin Mary gave birth like every child of this world, but he came not “from the earth”, he came “from heaven”, from God. In this way, with the incarnation of the Son, God opened the way of new life, founded not on selfishness but on love. Jesus’ birth is our Heavenly Father’s greatest gesture of love. And lastly, a final important aspect: in Christmas we can see how human history, that movement of the powerful of this world, is visited by the history of God. And God engages those who, confined to the margins of society, are the first beneficiaries of his gift, namely — the gift — the salvation borne by Jesus. With the little ones and the scorned Jesus establishes a friendship that continues in time and that nourishes hope for a better future. To these people, represented by the shepherds of Bethlehem, “appeared a great light” (cf. Lk 2:9- 12). Dear brothers and sisters, in these days let us open our minds and hearts to welcome this grace. Jesus is God’s gift to us and, if we welcome him, we too can become so to others — be a gift of God to others — first and foremost to those who have never experienced attention and tenderness. How many people in our life have never experienced a caress, loving attention, a kind gesture. Christmas spurs us to do so. In this way Jesus comes to be born again in each of our lives and, through us, he continues to be the gift of salvation for the little ones and the excluded. Author: Pope Francis | Read the entire article at: https:// www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/without-jesus-there-is-nochristmas-7432
In-person (Dropbox, Cash, Check, Credit/Debit Cards) CASH APP ($sgbchburg) Online Giving (shadygrove-church.org/give) VENMO (@sgbchburg PAYPAL ([email protected]) 3 FUN ~ FOOD ~ FELLOWSHIP ~ EXHIBITORS
4 Sunday, December 24th we will have 7:45 AM Service ONLY. SHADY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday, December 31st we will have 7:45 AM Service. We WILL NOT have 10:45 AM Service! New Year’s Eve Service will begin at 9:00 PM. If you would like to give a testimony during the Cardboard Testimonial, please see Maxine Coleman.
HARVEST FESTIVAL 5 Remembering Events At...
6 Remembering Events At... BREAST CANCER AWARENESS/RECOGNITION BAPTISM
7 BAPTISM RECOGNITION Remembering Events At...
8 Remembering Events At... BABY DEDICATION HOMECOMING
HAVE YOU MET THESE NEW MEMBERS? DO YOU KNOW TONY EVANS? • Tony has been a member for 55 years. • He is the Adult Usher Board Ministry Leader. • Tony is the contact for our cemetery. • His favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 54:17. • Tony serves as a Minister Assistant. • He is a faithful cook at special events! • Tony is the owner and operator of Tony Snowballs on Dabbs Street. 9 Meet Melvin Miller, Andre’ Edwards, Roderick Laphand & Alex Covington! • Melvin is a 14-year retiree of Sam’s Distribution Center. He decided to join his wife, Donna, who is a seasoned member. • Andre’ works as a Quality Assurance Specialist at Howard Industries. He enjoys reading the Bible. • Roderick is a car salesman at BMW of Meridian. He and his family have been attending and growing spiritually, so he wanted to make it official by joining. • Alex is a student at North Forrest High School and plans to become a diesel mechanic. He thanks God daily for giving him strength to face each day. WELCOME MELVIN MILLER, ANDRE’ EDWARDS, RODERICK LAPHAND & ALEX COVINGTON! Pick up a Sunday school brochure in the foyer to find the class that’s right for you. Contact the church office for more information.
10 Bralen Allen Thomas Andrews Sandra Yvonne Bivins Samia Booth Michael Breland Fabian Briscoe Aimmee Chestang Tynisha Mackey India Mackey Maxine Coleman James Cook Jessika Haynes Latoya Davis Tessie Dawkins Christine M. Dixon Ronnie Duff Lydia England April R. Evans Latterrian Davis Joseph E. Ford Sr. Jeris Galloway Felisa J. Hall Austin Ray Harris Jordyn Cole Myia Hayes Remona Haynes Mario Temple Jr. Dr. Stacey Blalock Henry Louise Henry Bridgett Hinton Dea. Chester Hopkins Kyria Henry Latasha Ingram Kadreanna Johnson Shawana Johnson Dea. Richard Jordan Brianna Pruitt Micah Harris Louis McClure Tomeka McDonald Sharnice McLemore Vallorine McLeod Shatory Hamilton Chelsea Miller Latoya Miller Perez A. Moody Bryant Moore Jordin Keys Aaron Fluker Steven White Velvet Ann Pendarvis Ashley Robinson Demetrica Smith Kentara Smith Linda J. Smith Felicia Spight Barbara Strahan Diontrae Hayes Burnetta R. Sturdavant Randy Sullivan Justin Terrell Erick Terry Christina Thornton Victor VanBuren Alishia D. Walker Li'trendia West Lydia White Stacy Whitley Angela Williams Phyllis Williams Chrishaundra Williamson Christopher D. Wise Destiny R. Dahmer Cameron Woullard Reginald Woullard Jr. Chelsea Woullard DECEMBER 1ST—DECEMBER 15TH DECEMBER 1ST—DECEMBER 15TH Mario & Marion Bilbrew Bennie & Aimmee Chestang Donald & Bettina Watts Kajira & Lexis Holloway James & Hope Baldwin Jeris & Monique Galloway
11 DECEMBER 16TH—DECEMBER 31ST DECEMBER 16TH—DECEMBER 31ST Akia Aaron Tobores R. Abrams Matthew Adams Sider Atterberry Shakirra Stokes Ravonda Barnes Pauline Barney Amanda Brown John Brown Tawana Brown Jessica Bullock-Martin Latoya Bunch Katherine Burgess Felisa E. Burkett Addrean Taylor John Chandler III Devon Cherry Adria Clark Tamera S. Clark Undrell Covington Mary Ellen Craft Bridgette Creagh Ezra M. Crosby Audreanna Davenport Aundrea Davis Ed Davis Jr. Greg Davis Latarra Davis Neah N. Dismuke Carlos Drake Caswella Earl Savannah Echols E. G. Ellis Michael Evans Sonya Duncan Felts Brenda Flanders Karibbean Gamble McKenzie Gardner Izabella K. M. Griffin Jimmy Griffith Andrew Hatten Kenneisha Hayes J. R. Haynes Colston Henry Ronald Henry Alecia Hibbler Mark Hinton Glenda Hobson Micharlos James Vernon S. Jordan Marvin Johnson Auna Latrice Jones Octavia Jones Quentin Jones Jatoria Jordan Jamescia Oatis Angela Kelly Angela Keyes Evan G. King Ebone' S. King Calvin Lawrence Earnest Ray Lee Trenidy Smith Sasha Lewis Treylan Hunter Sparkle Mabry Trinice Mason Gertrude S. Maxwell Johnny E. McClure II Fayla McCoy Kaleb McDonald Patricia Ann McNair Ja'quon McSwain Sandra Jean Milton Kathryn Minor Krystal Nelson Lona Nelson Serinity Jasper John Earl Owens Mary Page Michelle Palmer Dedric Cobbert Kendrick Parkman II Ayden Erven Bennie J. Parrott Jr. Matthew Perkins Joyce Pruitt Amanda Rice Charles Roberts Roderick Robinson London Silas Shekina Sims Jessica Smith Kadeidra Smith Terry Smith Ronnie Spann Mary L. Spencer Joshua Xavier Sullivan Kayla Keys Dyson Boodie John Weathersby Jr. Charlotte W. Carter Kadarius White Jacqueline Whitsett Malachi Brice Willie Wright Trenell Young Thomas & Fannie Evans Willie & Katie Hardamon Maurice & Mary Hibbler Rev. Gregory & Angela Keyes Charles & Cassandra Marshall Joseph & Larisa Riley Page George & Mary Lisa McMillian Bennie Jr. & Carrie Parrott Kendrick & Constance Parkman
CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHRIST 12 Christmas was first celebrated to mark the end of the harvest and the winter solstice. Early Christians celebrated on December 25th. Pope Julius in 350 A.D. chose this date as the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The belief is he chose this particular date to help adopt and absorb the pagans’ festivals that occurred during the same time. He hoped that this would attract the masses to Christmas, and it ultimately did. Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is more than a Christian holiday or Christian festival. It is more than an occasion to decorate our houses. It is an opportunity to pause and give thanks for the love hope and joy Jesus brings to all of us. Jesus is our Lord, Savior, Master and Friend. Without Him what would the world do or be? Think about it, what would Christmas be without Jesus? It would be just another day off. Scripture says that Jesus was born to save the world. That is what God desired for the people of the world. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 helps us better understand why Jesus is so important to Christmas. Verse 17 says, We belong to Christ, and we have become a new person. The old life is gone, and the new life has begun. If we are saved, we understand this. Verses 18-21 declares, And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. Verse 19, For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. Verse 20, So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” Verse 21, For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. Based on these scriptures, if there were no Jesus there would be no Christmas, nothing to celebrate. Let us worship, love and honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and let us do it every day. Prayer: Father in the Name of Jesus, thank You for Your Son Jesus. Without Him we would not have life and have it more abundantly. Thank You for His birth. You sent Him to save someone like me and for that I am grateful. Thank You for teaching, loving, and guiding us through Him. We understand why we celebrate Christmas and it is because of Jesus, our Lord, our Savior and our Master. In Jesus’ name! Amen! And it is so. Humbly submitted by: Rev. Cathy Ross Woulard ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS Jazmyne Polk offered Alzheimer’s Awareness information during Purple Sunday at Shady Grove. Jazmyne has championed this cause for years, giving everyone insight into this dreadful disease. Andre’ Edwards Jr. WITNESS & HOSPITALITY OUTREACH The Witness and Hospitality Ministries fed the ladies and children at the Lofton House Women’s Shelter during the Thanksgiving holiday. They blessed 25 ladies and seven children.
HOW TO KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS 10 PURPOSEFUL WAYS TO MAKE CHRIST THE CENTER OF YOUR CHRISTMAS 13 1) Give God one very special gift just from you to him. Let this gift be something personal that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a sacrifice. David said in 2 Samuel 24 that he would not offer a sacrifice to God that cost him nothing. Maybe your gift to God will be to forgive someone you've needed to forgive for a long time. You may discover that you've given a gift back to yourself. 2) Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20. Consider reading this account with your family and discussing it together. • The Christmas Story • More Christmas Bible Verses 3) Set up a Nativity scene in your home. If you don't have a Nativity, here are ideas to help you make your own Nativity scene: Nativity Related Crafts 4) Plan a project of good will this Christmas. Do you have an elderly neighbor in need of home repairs or yard work? Find someone with a genuine need, involve your whole family, and see how happy you can make him or her this Christmas. Top Christmas Charity Projects 5) Take a group Christmas caroling in a nursing home or a children's hospital. One year the staff at the office where I worked decided to incorporate Christmas caroling at a nearby nursing home into our yearly staff Christmas party plans. We all met at the nursing home and toured the facility while singing Christmas carols, such as "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "O Holy Night". Afterwards, we headed back to our party with our hearts full of tenderness. It was the best staff Christmas party we'd ever had. 6) Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family. Jesus taught us to serve by washing the disciples feet. He also taught us that it is "more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35 (NIV) Giving an unexpected gift of service to members of your family demonstrates Christ-like love and service. You might consider giving a back rub to your spouse, running an errand for your brother, or cleaning out a closet for your mother. Make it personal and meaningful and watch the blessings multiply. 7) Set aside a time of family devotions on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Before opening the gifts, take a few minutes to gather together as a family in prayer and devotions. Read a few Bible verses and discuss as a family the true meaning of Christmas. • Christmas Bible Verses • Christmas Prayers and Poems • Christmas Devotionals • Christmas Movies 8) Attend a Christmas church service together with your family. If you are alone this Christmas or don't have family living near you, invite a friend or a neighbor to join you. 9) Send Christmas cards that convey a spiritual message. This is an easy way to share your faith at Christmastime. If you’ve already bought the reindeer cards—no problem! Just write a Bible verse and include a personal message with each card. Select Christmas Bible Verses 10) Write a Christmas letter to a missionary. This idea is dear to my heart because I spent four years on the mission field. No matter what day it was, whenever I received a letter, it felt like I was opening a priceless gift on Christmas morning. Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the holidays, so Christmas can be a very lonely time for them. Write a special letter to a missionary of your choice and thank them for giving their life in service to the Lord. Trust me—it will mean more than you can imagine. Written by: Mary Fairchild | https://www.learnreligions.com/
WITHOUT CHRIST THERE IS NO CHRISTMAS 14 Scripture: Luke 2: 11-14 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manager. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Without Christ there is no Christmas; no reason for us to sing Without Christ there is no celebration because there is no King. Without Christ there are no wisemen no gifts for us to leave, Without Christ there is no Christmas no reason to believe. Without Christ there is no Christmas and no way for us to win; Without Christ there is no Christmas and no atonement for our sin. Without Christ there is no Christmas and our lives would be a mess; Without Christ there is no Christmas, nothing more, nothing less. As Christmas gets more and more commercialized and the United States gets more and more religiously diverse many do not associate Christ with Christmas. There are many, even believers, who shorten the word Christmas by writing Xmas. Moreover, there is a group of people that say, since the name Christ (Christo) begins with an X in Greek that Xmas is actually an ok way to abbreviate Christmas. Then there are those who celebrate Christmas but they don’t believe in Jesus so Xmas works best for them. Regardless, of what people believe there is no Christmas without Christ and the name Christ should not be replaced with an X or any other symbol when writing the word. So, whenever or however you celebrate Christmas remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and there is no Christmas without Christ. Prayer: Lord, forgive us for getting so caught up in gift giving that we forget that Jesus is the greatest gift of all. As lights are strung, help us remember that Jesus is the light of the world. As evergreen trees are decorated, help us to remember that Christ gives us everlasting life. Lord, thank you for the gift of Your son, who is the sole reason for the Christmas season. Lastly Lord, help us all remember that without Christ there is no Christmas and there is no salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. https://gbfclife.com/ 1. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul recommended what instead of wine? 2. What is described as “a fire, a world of iniquity?” 3. Who “went out, not knowing whither he went?” 4. The apostle Paul wrote, “To us there is but one God…” Who did the apostle say that this one God was? 5. Who sent his greetings at the end of Peter’s first epistle? 6. Paul’s advice for the younger widows was to... 7. What does the Bible say concerning those persons who claim to be religious but are unable to control their tongues? 8. In what book are the following words, “For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.?” 9. What was to be for a sign to unbelievers? 10. What shall scoffers be saying in the last days? https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/biblestudy/bible-trivia-questions.html (Answers on p. 16)
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MENTAL WELLNESS TIPS FOR HAVING A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON 16 1. Don’t Create Unrealistic Expectations for the Holiday Season As the holidays get closer, we start having all these fantastic ideas, sometimes creating completely unrealistic expectations of ourselves, our budget and our time. Take the time to check in on your holiday goals and see what’s realistic for your time and budget, and then plan from there. You will end up closer to your vision if you start from a place of what’s possible. 2. Don’t Compare It is so true that comparison is the thief of joy. As tempting as it is, don’t compare or set standards for your holidays based on what someone else is doing. Do what the right fit for you and your family is, and you will have a much more relaxed holiday for it. 3. Set a Realistic Budget and Stick to It One of the most significant sources of stress during and after the holidays is overspending. Set a budget for yourself and your holiday spending well before the holidays arrive. Include travel and hosting costs along with your gift spending. Consider starting a dedicated savings account just for holiday spending. Start an account in the Spring, and you will have a nice chunk of money by the time the holidays roll around. 4. Stick to a Routine Sticking to a routine is one of the best ways to protect ourselves against stress and being overwhelmed during the holidays. Creating a plan that lets you know what is coming up each day is the best way to defeat any chaos that may arise during your day. 5. Check-In with Yourself Throughout the holiday season, take a few moments each day to check in with yourself. Are you stressed? Are you overwhelmed? If the answer is yes, ask yourself why. What can be adjusted or removed from your schedule or a to-do list that can relieve this? Can any tasks be delegated? Adjust your routine and habits accordingly until you find your sweet spot. Taking note of how you feel regularly can save you from a mega meltdown. Conclusion The holidays can be stressful for many reasons, including financial stress, unrealistic expectations, and packed calendars. Implementing these tips on preparing your mindset will assist in enjoying the holiday season. Spend time doing what pleasures you. Remember that Jesus is the REASON for this season and embrace His sacrifice and the many things that you are grateful for!!! Reference: https:// apersonalorganizer.com Respectfully submitted by: Dr. Stacey Blalock Henry 1. The Spirit, Ephesians 5:18 2. The tongue, James 3:6 3. Abraham, Hebrews 11:8 4. God, the Father, 1 Corinthians 8:6 5. Marcus, 1 Peter 5:13 6. Remarry and have children, 1 Timothy 5:11-15 7. Their religion is vain, James 1:26 8. 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:11-12 9. Tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:22 10. “Where’s the promise of his coming,” 2 Peter 3:3-4
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SUNDAY Sunday School at 9:30 am Worship Service at 7:45 am and 10:45 am MONDAY Dance 6 pm Weekly TUESDAY Senior Citizen Luncheon 1st Week at 10 am Wise Encouragers 3rd Week at 6 pm WEDNESDAY Sisterhood at 6 pm Weekly Brotherhood & Adult Men’s Bible Study 2nd & 4th Week at 6 pm Adult and Youth Bible Study at 7 pm (Adult-Life Center; Youth-Sanctuary) SATURDAY Corporate Prayer at 8 am Join by dialing 720-740-9642 access code 4402008 Boyz2Men Ministry 2nd & 4th Week at 11 am Girl Scouts 2nd Week at 11 am Iron Sharpeners 2nd Week at 10 am Women In The Making 3rd Week at 11 am WOW 3rd Week at 10 am Witness 4th Week at 9 am (announced) Youth Ushers at 1 pm (quarterly) The Annual Church Business Meeting is December 6th immediately following Bible Study. All members are asked to attend. The Youth Choir will resume rehearsal Saturday, January 20th at 12 pm. All youths are welcome! For more information, see Jeremy Jernigan. WEEKLY SCHEDULE Magnolia Gholar Diann White Betty Harris Terrell Carson Thomas Evans Monique Crosby Terry Harris Jackie Evans Leona Woullard Albert Barnett Josie Davis Darlene Dantzler Celia Grant Angela Thames Harold Dahmer Sr. Vernon Dahmer Jr. Lue Dahmer Mary Dean Lee Kathy Wallace Joe Lee Jessica Hibbler The SGBC Newsletter is a publication of the Shady Grove Baptist Church. It is published once a month on the 1st of each month. Contact us at [email protected]. Maxine Coleman, Editor ANNOUNCEMENT SICK HOME BOUND NURSING HOME BEREAVED Please remember our members who are in bereavement. Pray for: Keana Preston Williams and her family; her brother, Byron passed. Chelsa Richardson, Robert and Terrell Carson and their family; their uncle, Otis Bullock passed. Rev. Shawna Mott and her family; her aunt, Margarett Allen Bingham passed. DJ Davis and his family; his aunt, Lovie Brown passed. Johnny McClure II and Brittany McClure Aguirre and their family; their father, Johnny McClure Sr. passed. 18