November 19, 2015 Volume 41, Issue 23 The North Non Stuart Newsstorage.cloversites.com/northstuartbaptistchurch/... · 2015-12-04 · Page 2 The North Stuart News Here we are on the

Dear Church Family! We want to thank you for your prayers, cards, phone calls and many words of support and encouragement during Jack’s back surgery. He is improving daily and we would appreciate your prayers for continued recovery. Grace to you all, Beth and Jack Fredrickson The Grief Journey group. Will meet this afternoon, November 19, at 1 p.m. in room 204. Andy McNiel, who leads the group, is a nationally recognized grief counselor. Contact Pam Rinker at 772-834-2175 for more information.

Ladies, you are invited to a Christmas Cookie Exchange! When: Monday, December 7 Time: 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall Bring 4 dozen of your favorite cookies to exchange. Be sure to include the recipe to share!

Many thanks to those who have faithfully saved bottle caps! Due to the large number of caps and the labor involved with sorting, recycling and mailing, that collection has been stopped. Please, continue to recycle your bottles and caps at home, though! The Ministry Fair was a success and we are so excited for all who attended and learned what all is happening at NSBC and how one can become involved! Thank you to all who helped make it a wonderful event.

The North Stuart News

is published biweekly by

North Stuart Baptist Church

MAILING ADDRESS:

1950 NW Federal Highway Stuart, FL 34994

office phone—772-692-1616

fax—772-692-0239 email—[email protected]

www.northstuart.org Twitter: @NorthStuart

[email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

———————————————— Dr. Bob Searl, Pastor

Dr. Doug Jewett, Minister of Music Rev. Jacqueline Smail, Minister to Students Rev. Steve Carswell, Minister of Education

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Stuart, FL 34995 Permit No. 68

November 19, 2015

Happenings:

Meetings: Dawnings Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, currently on hold. Dawnings Grief Journey Support Group, Future meetings, TBA. Men’s Fellowship Lunch, every Friday at noon at Key West Diner Stewardship Committee, every second Thursday of the month Deacons’ Meeting, every third Tuesday of the month Quarterly Business Meeting, third Sunday in January, April, July, October

For complete listing of weekly activities please visit our website:

www.northstuart.org

Wednesday Night Supper: (menu subject to change)

Nov. 25 NO Dinner Dec. 2 Spaghetti Dec. 9 Chicken Dec. 16 Christmas dinner Dec. 23 NO Dinner Dec. 30 NO Dinner

Volunteer schedule: Week 1—Berean Class Week 2—Seekers Class Week 3—Good News Class Week 4—Median Adult Class Week 5—Hayslip Class Alternates: Paula Carroll, Kim Cataldo, Anna Snapp

...with humility and gentleness, we want to be a safe place for people to discover or rediscover faith in Christ.

Ephesians 4:2

November 19, 2015 Volume 41, Issue 23

The North Stuart News

Sunday sermons, scriptures and newsletters are on the church website so you can hear them and read them at your convenience.

Check it out at www.northstuart.org

Office hours: 9 a.m.—3 p.m. Ministers available after 3 p.m. by appointment only. On call schedule: Doug Jewett Nov. 15-21 Cell: 485-7432 Bob Searl Nov. 22-28 Cell: 214-6268 Steve Carswell Nov. 29-Dec. 5 Cell: 370-5772 Jacqueline Smail Dec. 6-12 Cell: 349-3300

Christmas musical programs at NSBC!

December 13, 6 pm Christmas Evening of Celebration

and Family Fellowship

This evening will showcase the talents of our congregation

and will be followed by our Family Fellowship time.

Bring your Christmas goodies to share!

December 18, 6 pm Messiah Sing-a-long

December 19, 6 pm Messiah

December 20, 3 pm Messiah

December 24, 5 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 31, 5 pm New Year’s Eve Lord’s Supper

Thank Offering

November 2015

This is the time of counting our blessings

and being aware of things for

which we are immensely grateful.

Prayerfully consider your contribution

to our Thank Offering this year.

Total as of November 8: $6,266

Christmas Decorating! Sunday, November 22 at 6 p.m.!

Come join the festivities as we decorate the sanctu-ary, Bruner and Crowell buildings for Christmas. Food, fun, fellowship. Wear your favorite Christmas t-shirt and/or Christmas CD and let’s decorate in style. The more the merrier!

(Advent begins Sunday, November 29!)

Page 2 The North Stuart News

Here we are on the cusp of the holiday season, getting ready to eat, spend, and celebrate ourselves into a new year. Thanksgiving is next week. The first Sunday of Advent the following Sunday. The first Christmas programs begin the first weekend in Decem-ber. There is fun and feasting ahead. And yet… And yet our screens are filled with images of terror, stories of evil people murdering the innocent without mercy or conscience, destroying families, cities, futures, and reducing ancient treasures to dusty rubble. Thousands of refugees, themselves victims of terrorism, are looking for a safe harbor. Economics and fear of imbedded terrorists are threatening to close the doors of hospi-tality. In a sense the terrorists have won, haven’t they, when fear is more powerful than compassion. There’s a heaviness in the air; you can feel it like you feel the sun on a cloudless day or the press of the wind off the ocean. The problem of evil in God’s good creation has troubled Chris-tians from the beginning. If God is all powerful and if God is good, how do we explain the existence of suffering and the flourishing of evil? How can a loving God allow things like ISIS, or cancer, addiction, war, famine, and child abuse?

The Bible offers no easy answers. God created human beings free and we have misused that freedom almost from our first breath. The psalmists cry out to God in the midst of suffering and menac-ing evil: “How long, O Lord?” Even so, we can be thankful as we wrestle with the mystery of evil, for though we might be left with unanswered questions we are not left alone. The hope of Advent reminds us that the God who breathed life into the first human beings and gave us the gift of freedom comes to us promising companionship and judgment. God comes to us in the person of Jesus Christ, the one who said he would never leave us or forsake us, and who comes in judg-ment to set this crooked world straight. As you watch television and follow your news feeds and feel your heart sink when comes another report of violent cruelty, remem-ber that God is with you, but not with you only. God is close to the victims of men’s despicable acts even in the midst of their suffering. The most wily terrorist is no match for the God of scrip-ture. This God will call to account all persons for their acts of ha-tred and violence. God will tenderly wipe every tear-stained face. God will make all things new.

Dr. Bob Searl

I cannot believe it! It is time for the most wonderful time of the year!!! (I tend to get my "bah humbug" on during this time.) The Music Ministry of the church does half of the year's worth of mu-sic in the next four weeks. We have published the schedule for several weeks. It is noted elsewhere in this newsletter so I won't print it again here. Just know that we want you to be involved as a "receptor" for each of the events we present. Please make each of the church programs a priority. We have been working on these programs for the last 10 weeks to make sure we are ready for them. We think it is important the we present our music with the very best preparation possible. We hope you will be inspired and uplifted by each program. If you get this newsletter before the weekend, the Treasure Coast Classical Chorus could sure use your support at the Rutter con-cert. Performances are Saturday, November 21 at 7 pm and Sun-day November 22 at 3 pm. Tickets are available in the office. I think you will enjoy the energy that the orchestra and choir give to the performance. Even though you may not understand all the words, you will understand the experience! I'm proud of the work they have done in preparation. Sharon and I want to wish you a most blessed Thanksgiving. This is, perhaps, one of my favorite holidays! It is about being with family. The demands are simple: love each other and share the time together. I trust you will love on your family and enjoy every precious moment you have with them. We have found that pre-

cious family times disappear all too soon. Enjoy them and make special memories while you can. Happy Thanksgiving from the Jewetts.

We will have a Red Notebook Project presentation on Saturday, December 5 from 9:30 am - noon in the fellow-ship hall. Come and join us as you plan for your future in getting all of you documents together for your families.

The TCCS Classical Chorus

is presenting John Rutter's Gloria and Mag-nificat on Saturday, November 21 at 7 pm, and Sunday, November 22 at 3 pm. Tickets are available in the church office un-til noon Friday, November 20.

Another Note Dr. Doug Jewett

Page 3 Volume 41, Issue 11

Children, Family, & Program Additions

Rev. Jacqueline Smail Student Ministry

Rev. Steve Carswell

AWANA Themes! Nov. 25 NO AWANA CLUBS Dec. 2 Club Colors Dec. 9 Ice Cream! Dec. 16 Bring a Friend, Caroling & Hay Ride Dec. 23 & 30 NO AWANA CLUBS

Sign up for an exciting day of training in to help any-one mentor others in faith in Christ.

Open to all ages 10 and up, free, RSVP through the church office at 772-692-1616.

Gayle Whitlach’s trip to Guatemala

The AWANA Clubs of NSBC donated more than 275 AWANA Bucks and more than $1000 in school supplies & children’s educational toys. Way to go AWANA Clubs!!

Thank you! The Pizza & Movie raised $762! Pack Thanksgiving dinner for Meals on Wheels Thursday, November 26 Time: 8-10 a.m. meet at Knights of Columbus 7251 SW Gaines Ave., Stuart

Paintball Adults v. Youth

Meet at Invincible Paintball @ 2 p.m. Wear a long sleeve shirt

and old jeans

Rush of Fools & Kutless Concert First Baptist Church, Stuart Thursday, December 3 Cost: TBA

Salvation Army Bell Ringing Saturday, December 12

10 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Publix at Baker Road and US 1

Salvation Army Angel Tree Ministry Friday, December 11 from 1-4 p.m. Stuart Salvation Army Thrift Store

Salvation Army Angel Tree Ministry Mission Day