ELDERS William Berry Dave Domingue

Tom Loftis Steve Stout

Email Address: wrcoc@wrcoc.com

Office Number: (478) 922-3056

MINISTER

Sunday Morning Bible Study 9:00 am

Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 am

Sunday Night Worship 5:00 pm

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 pm

Ladies Tuesday Morning Class 10:00 am (September—May)

1947 Watson Blvd. Warner Robins, GA 31093

Website: www.wrcoc.com

The Reflector December 23, 2018

All I Want for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord is My Two Front Teeth

For some, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas while others are dreaming

of a white Christmas. Most hope Santa comes to town, bringing lots of toys, but

there are a few who only want their two front teeth. Others are just hoping

grandma doesn’t get run over by the reindeer again. For many, it’s a great time

of the year filled with family, laughter, and fun. For others, it’s a painful remind-

er of who is missing.

Many in the religious world use this time to remember the birth of Christ. They

host live nativity scene re-enactments and remind us not take “Christ” out of

Christmas. Scriptures do teach about the birth of a child called Wonderful Coun-

selor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-

25; Luke 2:1-7). But Christ has never been in Christmas nor is Christmas in

Christ. Nowhere does Scripture suggest we celebrate His birth. Nor is there any

hint of Christmas trees, lights, presents, or Santa. It’s true the Magi brought gifts

of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the 2-year old Jesus (Matthew 2:1-11), but

these were gifts of worship (v. 2, 11) not “Christmas” gifts.

The first hint of Christmas was called the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord on

December 25 in A.D. 336. This day was picked not because it is the birth date of

our Lord but in order to counter the Roman festival celebrating the birthday of

Emperor Aurelius. The term “Christmas” is a shorten form of “Christ’s mass”

and was first recorded in 1038.

(cont’d on page 4)

TOPICS FOR SUNDAY: Sunday Bible Class: Auditorium - Dave Domingue “The Seven Blessings of Revelation”

AM Scripture Reading: 3 John 11 AM Lesson - Dave Domingue “Who Am I Imitating?” PM Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 PM Lesson - Adam Chalmers “Vanity vs. Victory” The Elders request one of the following ver-sions be used for scripture readings: King James, New King James, English Standard Version, or New American Standard Ver-

Attendance-week of Dec 16th Sunday Bible Class: 137 Sunday AM Worship 218 Sunday PM Worship 81 Wednesday PM: 109 Finance Contribution: $ 6,918.39

Weekly Budget: $ 8,068.76

NURSERY DUTY 12-23-18

Infant AM Laverne Friday Toddler AM Stacia Johnson & Hailey PM Kiki Andico

THE WARNER ROBINS REFLECTOR Love Bear Teams Stuffed & Cut bears are due this week. Ladies Bible Class meets Tue. mornings @ 10 am downstairs in room 300. Will resume on Jan. 8th. Youth Group going to Expo-sure is to meet at the building @ 9 am on the 27th and will return early evening on the 30th. Bring money for lunches to and from and 1 meal/activity while there. Fifth Sunday Area Wide Sing will be Dec. 30th @ 3 pm. Re-freshments in the fellowship room following service. There will not be a 5 pm service. New Year’s Eve Fellowship Dec. 31st @ 6 pm in the fellow-ship room. Wedding Shower for Tyler Stout & Sarah Mackey on Sun. Jan. 6th from 2 to 4 pm in the fellowship room. This will be a money & gift card shower. Look Ahead: GSOP Short Course with Phil Sanders will being Jan. 17 - Jan. 19th.

Ross Moffett

Jon Burnett

Charlie Bynum

Alvarez Hudson, 100 year old grandmother to Carol Kessinger is in Perry in poor health after a fall.

Stephanie Weede, daughter of Jo

Lucey received a blood transfu-sion following surgery and chemo.

Sarah Allen is at The Lodge room

209.

Bob Claypool received good test

results.

Joyce Swafford, mother to Sher-ry Lazzaro is recovering from a fall.

Edith Edwards had a medical procedure and waiting on results.

Suzanne Stabila, cousin to Russ

Hohman will have an ablation to correct AFIB.

Ellice Williams had her tonsils

removed on Wed. Dec. 19th.

Kenny Holloway is to have an-other procedure on his back.

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER LIST

Please pray for all the on-going Bible studies.

Your elders meet every Sunday at

3:00 pm in this building.

If you wish to meet with them ,

please let them know.

God’s Plan of Salvation - * Hearing of the gospel: Rom. 10:14-17, Acts 10:33 * Believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God (faith): John 8:24, Rom. 10:8-17 * Repenting of my sins: Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 * Confess Christ: Rom. 10:10, Matt. 10:32-33 * Baptism for the remission of sins: Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:3-5 * Live faithfully unto the Lord daily: Matt. 10:22, Rev. 2:10

Where Bible Studies/Lessons can be seen on Cable TV & the Internet Gospel Broadcasting Network www.gbntv.org Tue. 5:30 am & Fri. 11:30 am GBN app (on smartphone) or www.gbntv.org/live-feed.aspx at 7:30 am daily & Thursday 7 pm

In Search of the Lord’s Way-Cable TV Internet: www.searchtv.org Cox: Sunday 7:30 am channel 3 & 7:00 am on 9 Watson Cable: Sunday, 7:30 am, channel 6 GBN: Sunday 8:30 am & 8:00 pm; Mon-Fri 11 am/pm Direct TV, Sunday, 7:30 am, channel 367

Getting to Know Your Bible Cox Cable—Macon, GA: Tue. 1:00 pm—Channel 18 Thur. 8:30 am—Channel 18 Sat. 6:30 am—Channel 15 Analog TV: Channel 24.2

The Elders’ Edification (cont’d from page 1)

It’s ironic that the intent to counter a pagan festival resulted in what we have

today, a secular celebration that sometimes masquerades as a “religious” hol-

iday.

But don’t lock Santa out of the house just yet, at least not before you kick out

the Easter bunny and tooth fairy. Continue to greet each other with a “ho, ho,

ho…Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year).” But know that the church’s

celebration of Christ has nothing to do with Christmas.

Therefore, there are no Christmas trees decorated with pretty lights and bows

in the lobby where the Saints assemble to worship God. Nor do we have a

“mass” to celebrate the birth of Christ. Some might trivialize these secular

images, claiming we’re too rigid. But when we come together as an assem-

bly for corporate worship (Hebrews 10:25), we don’t need reminders of

“religious” holidays. Instead, we gather together to remember only one

thing: God’s gift to us – the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son (1 Co-

rinthians 11:20, 26–27).

So, gather together with your family this Christmas and enjoy the holidays.

Please remember those who might struggle at this time of the year. And

come to worship each Lord’s day for thanksgiving, remembering what God

has done for you.

Shepherds