The

Monthly Newsle er of Williamstown Chris�an Church

DECEMBER 2013 VOLUME 16,

The end of 2013 may be near to a close, but many activities

are still in the works for the month of December at Williamstown

Christian Church.

On Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7, WCC will share

a special outreach with the community entitled “Christmas at Wil-

liamstown.” This year’s event will coincide with the Grant County

Chamber, City of Williamstown and their annual Santa’s Wonder-

land Christmas festivities. Friday’s schedule will be from 6:30 to

7:30 p.m., and Saturday’s schedule will be from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.,

and 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The events will include a live nativity scene

and choir. Refreshments will be made available during this time.

The Children and Youth of WCC will present “’Tis The

Season” on Sunday, December 15, at 10:30 a.m. during our Morning

Worship service.

On Sunday evening, December 22, WCC will continue our

Christmas Caroling tradition. We will need cookie-makers to make

cookies to be passed out during this special outreach project. Any

leftover will be enjoyed upon return to the church, along with hot

chocolate.

WCC will once again have a special Candlelight Service on

Christmas Eve at 10:00 p.m. The evening will include special music,

testimonies, and lighting of candles

Please check our web-site often for changes and for the most

up-to-date information, or simply contact Lorrie in the office. Don’t

forget to invite your friends and neighbors to these events.

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From the Minister’s Desk

December for many has become the month for

giving. Most of us will spend many hours over the next

few weeks, not to mention many dollars seeking just the

right gift for those we love. But I hope in all the rush

you will take a few minutes this year to remember God’s

gift of love during the Christmas Season.

I love the way Max Lucado puts it in his book,

The House of God.

Why did he do it? A shack would have sufficed,

but He gave us a mansion. Did He have to give the birds

a song and the mountains a peak? Was He required to

put stripes on a zebra and the hump on the camel? Why

wrap creation in such splendor? Why go to such trouble

to give such gifts?

Why do you? You do the same. I’ve seen you

searching for a gift. I’ve seen you stalking the malls and

walking the isles. I am not talking about the obligatory

gifts, I’m talking about that extra special person and that

extra special gift.

Why do you do it? You do it so their heart will

stop. You do it so their jaw will drop. You do it to hear

those words of disbelief, “You did this for me?”

That’s why you do it. And that’s why God did it.

The next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow

of flowers leaves you speechless remain that way.

Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like

it? I did it just for you.”

For it all happened in a most remarkable way that

first Christmas. God became a man, heaven opened and

placed its most precious gift into the womb of a teenage

girl, as the one who created the universe came into our

world.

And why did He come? The answer is the same,

“He did it for you.” The Baby born that first Christmas

came into a world of sin to save you from yourself.

From those times when you know what you should have

done, but you chose not to.

I think Paul puts it best in II Corinthians

9:15where he writes: “Thanks be to God for His

indescribable gift”.

Well have a Merry Christmas, and when it comes

to that special gift, happy hunting.

See you on Sunday!

Gary Swick

Senior Minister

Christmas joy and excitement will not be over after

Christmas Sunday at WCC.

The Sunday after Christmas, December 29, will be a day of

surprisesurprisesurprisesurprise and excitementexcitementexcitementexcitement.

Be sure to be here on Sunday, December 29. Don’t miss it!

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Greetings in Honor of Jesus We've all heard the story so often told,

The true meaning never grows old.

Reminded yearly of our fate,

Without Jesus, we'll not get in Heaven's Gate.

In a manger He lay as a babe,

Only through Him our salvation is made.

He is our Salvation plan

Who is still offered to man.

Through difficult times we can each say,

If it weren't for Jesus, Could we celebrate this day?

Jesus is the most Glorious Reason

To celebrate this Christmas Season.

Let it be known to one and all

Jesus still gives if on His name we call.

What will you give Jesus today?

Open to Him your heart I pray!

This can be the best Christmas yet,

Drawing close to Him is no regret.

Copyright, December 2002 by TK Wilc

Say a Prayer

Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner

at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the

table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received

his plate, he started eating right away.

"Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." said his mother

"I don't have to," the boy replied.

"Of course, you do," his mother insisted." We say a prayer

before eating, at our house."

"That's our house," Johnny said. "This is Grandma's house and

she knows how to cook!"

They lie on the table

side by side

The Holy Bible

and the TV guide.

One is well worn and

cherished with pride.

No not the Bible,

but the TV guide.

As the pages are turned,

what shall they see?

Oh, What does it matter,

turn on the TV

So they open the book

in which they confide

No not the Bible

the TV guide.

The Word of God

is seldom read.

Maybe a verse before

they fall into bed.

Exhausted and sleepy

and tired as can be.

Not from reading the Bible,

from watching TV.

So then back

to the table side by side,

Lie the Holy Bible

and the TV guide.

No time for prayer,

no time for the Word.

The plan of salvation

is seldom heard.

But forgiveness of sin,

so full and free,

Is found in the Bible,

not on the TV.

Side by Side

Ammie Spears

Director of Youth

& Worship Ministries

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Hi everyone!

Christmas is upon us and there is always so much to do this me of year. There is so much hustle and bustle--

presents to wrap, shopping to finish, cookies to bake, family to visit. And yet, in this season we hear the same

message me and me again: remember the reason for the season.

Yet, I challenge you to take it a step further: Remember the sacredness of Christmas. We sing about the holy

night in Bethlehem and the glory of the Christ child, and yet, somehow the reverence of the blessed presence of

the Perfect, Holy One here in this ugly, sinful world is lost on us.

How do we recapture that blessed, holy encounter this holiday season? How can we remember the divine kiss

of heaven-in all its wondrous glory- amidst the fast-paced winter fes vi es?

Sometimes, simplicity is the key to the divine. Sometimes, simplicity is the key to the divine. Sometimes, simplicity is the key to the divine. Sometimes, simplicity is the key to the divine. In 1 Kings we see how God, in all His power and glory, chose to speak with Elijah:

The L��� said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the L���, for

the L��� is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and sha ered the rocks

before the L���, but the L��� was not in the wind.

A(er the wind there was an earthquake, but the L��� was not in the earthquake.

A(er the earthquake came a fire, but the L��� was not in the fire. And a(er the fire

came a gentle whisper.

A gentle whisper.

In the hushed tones of a whisper, God spoke. And hundreds of years later we saw God whispering again-by ap-

pearing in the helpless form of a babe born in a cave in the hills of a ny shepherd village.

And He is s ll whispering today, in your heart and in mine. But the holiness of Christmas isn’t in the trimmings,

lights, and music-but in the sacred whisperings of a Holy God.

May we listen this Christmas.

Blessings,

AmmieAmmieAmmieAmmie

Notes for Worship & Youth

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Kids’ Corner

Last month’s family challenge was to plan to

look for God in the unplanned, sometimes mundane,

experiences as you walk and talk along your family’s

way. I hope you were able to achieve this at least once

last month and that it will become habit!

This month, I would like to share with you

some ideas for Christ-centered family times during hol-

idays. We are right smack in the middle of several tra-

ditional holidays celebrated in our culture. It seems like

from mid-October through New Year’s day is one cele-

bration after another! It is so easy to get busy coming

and going (often with truly good activities) that we for-

get to connect with each other and Christ, the Good

and Perfect Teacher. Yet, if we are committed to keep-

ing the Lord at center as Deuteronomy 6:5-9 com-

mands, we must figure out how to make room for Him

even in the busy seasons of life.

On December 1st, we began Advent readings

during both the worship service and children’s church.

The purpose of Advent is to prepare our hearts and

minds for Christmas and all the spiritual significance of

the Christ child. Most families are incredibly busy right

now. We can’t do everything regardless of how good

and fun the activity is! Create a family calendar that

includes times that reflect your family’s values and tra-

ditions: decorating your house, giving to others, help-

ing the physically disadvantaged with holiday shop-

ping or decorating, visiting with family, etc.

Start a tradition of making or purchasing an or-

nament for each family member that is unique to that

person. It should represent an achievement accom-

plished that year, a passion, skill, or trait – parents and

infants should be included! Over the years the orna-

ments will tell the life story of each person and bring a

whole new dynamic to decorating your tree. Family

history can be passed down to newer generations from

the ornaments creating reflection, affirmation, and

connection with each other in the process.

New Year’s Eve/Day can be a wonderful time

to look back at the past year and look forward to the

coming year. Create a Celebration Meal – Hoppin’

John, Red Beans & Rice, or something totally new.

Make it fancy if you want and involve the family in

the preparation. Index cards folded in half make easy

place cards with names around the table, place a can-

dle in the middle of your table, use a table cloth, have

kids make placemats on construction paper or freezer

paper. Make achievement certificates similar to the

ornaments mentioned above. The certificates should

be focused on something positive that has occurred in

your child’s life during the past year – learning to ride

a bike, learned bible verses at church, good grades at

school, learned to drive a car, etc. Reflect on good

family times and plan some new things for the coming

year.

CHALLENGE: There are many special holi-

days and milestones in our family lives throughout the

year. Look for ways to keep Jesus at the center during

the special times.

*I will be teaching a spiritual parenting class

beginning in January. It is for anyone raising and nur-

turing young people – parents, grandparents, aunts,

uncles, teachers, mentors. It will follow alongside the

Sunday evening AWANA Clubs and Youth Group

schedule.

Claire Roberts

Director of Children’s Ministries

318 North Main Street

P.O. Box 7

Williamstown, KY 41097

Phone: (859) 823-2041

www.williamstownchristian.com

What We Believe � That the Bible is the inspired and totally reliable Word

of God: II Timothy 3:16-17.

� That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God: John 3:16.

� That Jesus was crucified for our sins, died, was buried and arose physically from the dead on the third day: Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-4.

� That to be saved a person must: 1. Recognize that you have sinned and cannot save yourself: Romans 3:23. 2. Believe that Jesus paid a death penalty for your

sin through His death on the cross and rose on the third day victorious over death: Romans 6:23.

3. Confess your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and your personal Savior: Luke 12:8.

4. Repent of your sins and turn back to God: Acts 2:38. 5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the

forgiveness of your sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38.

6. Live your life following all that Jesus has commanded us: Matthew 28:20.

� We believe that Jesus will return again to take His church to live in His Heavenly home for all eternity: John 14:1-4.

Just for Laughs

Copyright © 2011 The Zondervan Corpora on.

Used with permission