P as t o r L i n k • A n I m p o r t a n t E l e m e n t Bennie Portwood, Pastor

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Worship Ministry Link 2

Student Ministries Link 2

Ministry Link 2

lastmonth@mcbc 3

Calendar 3

Information Link 4

Upcoming Events 4

Inside this issue:

connect@mcbc Love God, Serve Others, Tell The Story

, Together

Monthly Newsletter Published by Mt. Carmel Baptist Church

Link...A connecting element

January, 2019

Pastor’s Message Series

January 6 - 27

Sunday Mornings, 10:55 a.m. Listen to Sermons Online

www.mcbcwhitehouse.com

What an incredible

year! What an incredi-

ble Christmas Season!

Both have been filled

with so many con-

trasting events that brought such a

mixture of emotions. Everything from

great moments of love and friendship

shared to the loss of family members

and illness. And, for us personally as a

family and collectively with each of you

as our church family, God has been

there each step of the way loving,

leading and ever so faithful!

You will notice the quote in this article.

It is a favorite of both Gail and mine.

We have actually chosen it to be one

of the quotes in our funeral program

when that day comes. It is by the fa-

mous author Dr. Seuss. Though not a

great theologian, there is much wisdom

in some of his quotes and writings.

As we face life circumstances, there is

the constant assurance that God is

with us. However, there is an im-

portant element we sometimes forget

- how we come through a situation

depends on how we look at it. Per-

spective is a powerful thing and can

make all the difference.

Because I sincerely believe this, last

Sunday I began our new year together

with a sermon series on the topic of

Smith Association Annual Meeting

January 27, 2019

Bullard Southern Baptist Church, Bullard

Meal 5 p.m. • Meeting 6 p.m.

Reservation required for meal. Spring Creek Barbeque catering. Paid ticket nec-

essary for meal. $10 per person. Pay at sign up. Only one Sunday, January 13., to

register. Deadline for meal reservation January 16.

Everyone welcome. Elected church messengers need to attend to vote.

To the MCBC Church Family

from the

Ministry Worship Team & Church Support Staff

We appreciate your generous Christmas gift to us and

your love and support throughout the year.

perspective. I hope each of you will

make it a priority to be here and

share with us as we continue our

journey of service together in 2019.

Gail and I wish to thank each of you

for your many kindnesses during

this Christmas Season and through-

out the years. You are such bless-

ings! We appreciate so much your

love, support and encouragement.

We look forward with great antici-

pation to see what God has in

store for us as we serve side by

side in the years to come. God

bless you!

Loving Serving with You,

Bro. Bennie

Quotesvalley.com

c o n n e c t @ m c b c

Worship Min istr y

I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Matthew 25:36.

We don't all have the opportunity to visit those in

prison. But, we can show the love of Christ and

witness to them. How? By sending our Christian

books to them. This will include fiction and non-

fiction, as well as Bibles, Bible commentaries, devo-

tionals, etc. The Women's Ministry will be con-

ducting it’s Annual Christian Book Drive January 13

- February 3. Books may be deposited in the con-

tainer provided in front of the library on the display

table.

See www.cli-nc.org for more information about the

organization that will be distributing these books.

Questions? Ann Bennett, 894-8168.

Visitation Outreach & Lunch

Sunday, January 20, Noon, FLC

A light lunch will be provided for those who would

like to go visit folks interested in becoming a part of

our church family, shut-ins, or write cards to those

who have not been able to attend church recently.

Sign up in Main Foyer.

Questions? Scott Dowdy, 570-9247.

Jerry Page, Worship Leader Chi ldren’s Mini s tr y

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Minis tr y L ink • W o m e n ’ s M i n i s t r y P r i s o n B o o k D r i v e B e g i n s J a n u a r y 1 3

Notes of Appreciation

Thank you church for your generosity and love shown me and my family this

past year and especially these past few weeks. Our church is wonderful.

God Bless,

Bro. Jerry

Dear Friends at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church,

We were overwhelmed by your love and care at Tom’s funeral. We talked

about how much we missed you after we moved to the Dallas area. Tom

would say how much he loved the people and missed going to church there.

Thank you so much for allowing us to bring him home. We love you and pray

for your ministry there. In Christian love, Christine Page & Whole Page Family

Celebration Choir News

Rehearsals resume Sunday, February 10, 4:45 p.m. New choir members wel-

come.

Christmas Child Box Update

We would just like to say thank you

to everyone who participated in the

2018 Operation Christmas Child

volunteer opportunities, whether it

was donating monthly supplies for the boxes, joining

us for our Packing Party and packing over 140 boxes,

or donating at our fundraiser lunch, where we raised

over $2,100! Without each and every one of you, we

would not have been able to mail out over 170 boxes

to Samaritan’s Purse!

This year we will be starting our collections in Janu-

ary again by collecting the #OCCitemofthemonth -

toboggans, knitted caps, scarves and gloves – for the

boys and girls that receive our boxes that we

fill. Collection tote for these is in the Main Foy-

er. Just drop off your donations in the month of

January and then throughout the rest of the year we

will change our collection item and by October we

will be able to fill boxes to the top!

Also this year we will be adding some additional

items that you could donate to make some special

gifts for the children who receive our box-

es. Throughout the first couple months of the year,

we will be collecting empty medicine bottles of any

size, with the paper taken off of the outside of the

bottles. More details to come about how we will be

using these later in the year to make the special gifts.

Our goal this year is to fill 200 boxes! Tell your

family and friends. The more donations we have, the

more boxes we can fill! 2019 will be a great year for

Mt. Carmel and Operation Christmas Child. Ques-

tions? Amber Dowdy, 570-2464 or Scott Dowdy, 570-9247.

Think About It

JOY comes when you put

Jesus first.

Others second.

You last.

Children’s Church During Worship Service

Children’s Church is a Sunday morning ministry that provides Bible-based activi-

ties of children first - sixth grade during the morning worship service. Children

will go directly from Sunday School to Children’s Church, Room 103, Preschool

Wing. Questions? Belinda Dominey, 805-3369.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

YOU Can Be a MCBC Volunteer!

Pastor Bennie Portwood reads the Christmas story

at children’s party December 16.

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lastmonth@mcbc

Bless the Lord, O my soul

And forget not all His benefits.

Psalm 103:1-2 c o n n e c t @ m c b c

January Deacon

New Members

By Statement - 2

Attendance:

Sunday School Average Attendance: 100

Worship Service Attendance: 120

Finance:

Budget Needs $ 373,056.00

Budget Receipts $ 349,685.18

Building Fund Balance $ 23,603.56

Bus Fund Balance $ 1,300.00

Bus Fund Loan Balance $ 9,358.08

Lottie Moon Offering $ 4,697.90

January 2019

Perspective is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. Author Unknown

Pastor’s Day Off : Friday

Business Meeting

Wednesday, January 16

Church Office Hours

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Thursday

Kenneth Stanley • 521-2970

Welcome to the Family

Sundays 9:45 a.m., 6 p.m.

Wednesdays 6 p.m.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Dave Mercer

Office & Campus Re-open

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1:30 p.m. Mah Jongg, FLC

4 5 Anne Maxwell, Chad Stainback

6 Greg & Sandra Stanley

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:55 a.m. Worship/Child. Church

12 p.m. Teachers Training & Meal, FLC 6 p.m. Worship & Bible Study

7 8

10 a.m. Sewing & Crafts, FLC

6p.m. 42 League

9 Ariana Cunningham, Matt Fleming, Jim Lenderman

6 p.m. Adult Bible Study, FLC

Girls in Action, FLC

10 Isabel Martinez, Barbara Pierce

1:30 p.m. Mah Jongg, FLC

11 Abby Hall, Jeff Sanders, Bryan & Cassi Clarke

12 Jackson Coon

6 p.m. Deacons Meeting & Meal, FLC

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9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:55 a.m. Worship/ Child. Church

6 p.m. Worship & Bible Study

14 Billy Vaughn, Sammy & Sharon Clark

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10 a.m. Sewing & Crafts, FLC

6p.m. 42 League

16 Linda Jones, Thomas Lynn, Mary York

6 p.m. Business Meeting, FLC

Adult Bible Study, FLC

Girls in Action, FLC

17 Lacy Fletcher

Noon TNT Senior Adult Lunch 1:30 p.m. MahJongg, FLC

18 Bill Baldree, Ruby Lamb

19 Betty Stanley

10-4 Swinney Family, FLC

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9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:55 a.m. Worship/ Child. Church

Noon Visitation Outreach Lunch

6p.m. Lord’s Supper

21 Jessica White

Carpet Cleaning

Campus Closed

22 Tanner Clarke

Carpet Cleaning

Campus Closed

23 Walt Harper

6 p.m. Adult Bible Study, FLC

Girls in Action, FLC

24 Charlie Bell, Morris & Sarah Turner

1:30 p.m. Mah Jongg, FLC

25 Caleb Coon, Clayton Coon, Nancy Sloan, Diane Stanton

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27 Cory Rivers

9:45a.m. Sunday School

10:55a.m. Worship/ Child. Church

No Evening Activities at MCBC

Annual Meeting, Bullard Southern

28 Russ Obar, Mary Stainback

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10 a.m. Sewing & Crafts, FLC 6 p.m. 42 League

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6 p.m. Adult Bible Study, FLC

Girls in Action, FLC

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1:30 p.m. Mah Jongg, FLC

Pray for our prayer partner church,

Hope Community Fellowship,

Bridgeport, Vermont

The Dickerson Family

Wesley, Maddie Risner & Allie

Church Campus Closed for Carpet Cleaning

Monday & Tuesday, January 21 & 22

No Sewing & Crafts or 42 League Ministry. Office will

re-open Tuesday, January 22, but other areas will be

closed so carpets can dry properly.

2018 Church Contribution Records

Available Sunday, January 27

Questions?

Contact Mary Baldree at the church office

Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., 839-2606.

Deacon Quarterly Meeting & Meal

Saturday, January 12 • 6 p.m., FLC

Questions? Scott Dowdy, 570-9247

In format ion L ink 4 c o n n e c t @ m c b c

connect@mcbc

Monthly Newsletter Published by Mt. Carmel Baptist Church

Bennie Portwood, Pastor

Jerry Page, Worship Ministry

10519 FM 344 East • Whitehouse, Texas 75791-4909 • Phone: 903-839-2606

Fax: 903-839-1435 • E-mail: mcbcwhitehouse@gmail.com

Website: www.mcbcwhitehouse.com

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

RETURNED SERVICE REQUESTED

eachweek@mcbc • Winter Schedule

Sunday

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:55 a.m. Worship Celebration

4:45 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

6 p.m. Worship & Bible Study

Wednesdays

6 p.m. Adult Bible Study

Note of Appreciation

Happy New Year to our MCBC Family. We wanted

to take a moment to thank each of you that gave us

Christmas cards during the exchange. One night,

Mom went through each and every card with us over

a video chat! It was such a special Christmas moment.

Thank you for helping us feel so loved being away

from home this year. We love you all!!

The Williams Family in Italy

Schedule Change: Lord’s Supper Observance

Due to the Smith Baptist Association Meeting on

January 27, Lord’s Supper Observance has been

moved to 6 p.m. Sunday, January 20.

TNT Senior Adult Lunch January 17

Noon, FLC. Questions? Elaine Swinney, 839-2038.

Sewing & Crafts

Meets Tuesdays 10 a.m., - Noon, FLC. Sew simple

children’s dresses and shorts to go to orphanages

worldwide. Bring your craft projects.

Questions? Jan Bragg, 920-1873.

Visit Our Church Library

Wonderful selection of current Christian books and

movies for all ages. Open weekdays during office

hours, Sundays during morning and evening activities.

New Home Address, Phone, E-Mail?

Please let us know by writing them on the back of

your white registration card on Sunday morning or

calling the office, 839-2606. Please let us know if

your birthday or anniversary is not on the calendar

so we can update the database.

Prayer Requests

As requests come in they are added to the Prayer

List, which is read aloud Sunday & Wednesday eve-

nings, and sent out on HisMail, if they are not marked

confidential. Names read during Sunday morning

worship service are limited to those hospitalized,

having procedures, victims of catastrophic event, or

passed away during the current week.

Get Church News On His Mail Internet

Ministry & Website

Two great ways to stay connected! The web site &

His Mail! You may get monthly newsletter via His

Mail Internet Ministry, along with church news about

those who are sick, deaths, special needs and upcom-

ing church events. Sign up your e-mail address in the

Main Foyer. Web Site: www.mcbcwhitehouse.com

Questions? Gail Portwood, 363-7457.

Please let us know if your birthday or anniversary

is not on the calendar so we can update the database.

Church Calendar Procedure

All groups or individuals wishing to reserve any por-

tion of the church facility need to fill out a form to

give us necessary information about the event. All

non-church events must be approved by the Pastor

and some fees may apply.

Policy for Borrowed Church Items

All items borrowed from the church campus must be

checked out through the church office before they

are removed from the premises. Please go to the

office so you can sign a form. Returned items are to

be checked back in through the office also.

FLC = Family Life Center

New Session Begins Tuesday, February 5

7 p.m., FLC

Centershot Ministries is an interdenominational outreach ministry that uses the life

-skill of archery as a tool to assist the local church to reach its community with the

Gospel of Jesus Christ

9-week class. Cost $25 per student, Includes a Centershot t-shirt. Offered to

students Grades 4-12 and adults. First session 2 hours because this will include the

basic shooting instructions. Other classes will last about 1½ hours.

Questions? Kenneth Hearon, 780-3021.

SOUPer Bowl Sunday, February 3

Canned Soup for Whitehouse Food Pantry

Goal: 200

On Super Bowl Sunday, we will be collecting cans of soup to be donated to the

food pantry in Whitehouse. Please help us score a touchdown by reaching the

goal of 200 cans to help feed those in need in our community. All varieties wel-

come, but please be sure the expiration date on the soup can has not expired.