Church of Christ Northwest Where Friends Learn

to Live Like Jesus

7722 North Allen Road Peoria, IL 61614

Phone: (309) 693-2426

Our Vision…

is to glorify and

honor our Lord

and God with our

lives, by bringing

people to Christ

and membership

in His family and

by helping to

develop Christ-

like maturity in

each member,

equipping them

for service in the

church and in the

world.

December 23, 2018

Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study

@ Kennedy’s

Will resume Jan 8th

Wednesday Morning Galena Park

Adult Bible Study 10-11:30 AM

David Spillman Revelation

Wednesday Evening:

Small Group Bible Study @ 6:30 P.M.

Campbell’s: “Systematic Theology”

No meeting 12/26

Kennedy’s: No meeting 12/26

Haines’: The Book of

Revelation No meeting 12/26 or 1/2

Thursday Morning: January 10th & 17th Ladies Bible Study

Wrap-Up

“One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp

Special

Ministry Food Pantry

Next Date: January 15th 12:30-1:30 PM

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never

walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

John 8:12 (NIV)

Email: cocnw@comcast.net

Website: www.cocnw.org

Fax: (309) 693-0266

Sunday 9:30 AM

Bible Study (all ages)

Worship Services

Sunday 10:30 AM

3:00 PM @ Galena Park

HE is the light of the world.

We are to reflect HIS light,

so that others may come to HIM!

Come and be with us tomorrow night at 6 PM for our

candlelight service.

Page 2 Church of Christ Northwest

Dec 23rd—Don & Dottie Roseboom Dec 24th—Wendelle & Pat Haines

Dec 30th—Archie & Delores Simmons

Jan 2nd—Michael & Susan Flowers

GOD'S PURSUIT TO SAVE by David W. Spillman

"When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh" (Matthew 2:10-11 NLT).

Matthew is telling us about the wise men who came from the eastern lands to see Jesus. The area that these individuals came from is now Iraq, Iran, Saudi

Arabia and the Yemen. These wise men were also called Magi who studied scientifically the pattern of the stars and followed religiously what they felt the stars were telling them. What's ironic is that these astronomers, these followers of the stars met the One who created the stars... the Lord Jesus Christ! These men were not followers of the One true God, but they were occultist who practiced astrology, and yet here we find God reaching deep into their dark world with a star to bring them to their Creator! Don't miss this because it shows the purpose of the coming of Jesus, our Messiah! His coming was not so that we could have all the Christmas festivities that we enjoy this time of year. His coming was to seek and save the lost...and here is God doing that very thing by bringing these occultists to the newborn Messiah, who by the way was between 1 and 2 years old when they arrived to see Him!

The Magi had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and they knew that it told of the birth of a special king in Israel. The wise men, who were students of anything they could get their hands on, had no doubt read the Jewish scriptures prophesying the coming of Jesus while the Jews were in Babylonian captivity 600 years before Jesus was born. And when they saw Jesus, they bowed and worshipped Him! The text indicates that they knew that Jesus was divine and was sent by God. Their only response? To bow, worship, and to submit with adoration to the Christ! This was not an act of simply paying homage as to a king, but this was the natural response of worship to the Lord of heaven and earth!

As we celebrate the first coming of the Messiah to our world, what is your response? Is it one of worship? Submission? Adoration? Have you spent time searching the scriptures and connecting the dots just as the Magi had done to where just like them, you are convinced that this is truly Immanuel, God With Us? It was life changing for the Magi and is life changing for you, me, the world as well! What will you do with this One whom God sent to save you? God bless!

There will be no Bible study classes on Sunday, December 23rd or on December 30th. This applies to all ages. Classes will resume on January 6, 2019.

BE PREPARED

If we need to cancel due to weather or other emergency, we will notify

local TV stations WMBD, WHOI and WEEK. Please check before you come.

Or, you may call us at 693-2426 and listen to the recorded message.

Dec 31st—Jonathan Foster Jan 1st—Sharie Bumbalough Jan 2nd—Courtney Dralle

Jan 3rd—Bobbie Foster Jan 4th—Connie Carlson

Vol. 16, Issue 47 PRAYERS NEEDED EXTENDED PRAYER LISTING

Jerry & Deb Bane Members Health

Mark Buettner Friend of B. Meyers Pancreatic Cancer

Carrie’s 8-yr old son Friend of C. Schiele Terminal Illness

Rick Clark C. DeVore’s brother Liver/Colon Cancer

Linda Cotrell Member Lung/Breathing Issues

Delores Dancer J. Taylor’s sister Inoperable Cancer

Shirley Darnell Former Member Serious Eye Problems

Scott Eisenbarth Kyle’s brother Liver & Lung Cancer

Pat Haines Member Lupus

Mark Hall G Park Bible Study Severe Depression

Carol Humes R. Humes’ Mother Recovering

LaDonna Clark Hunter Cindy DeVore’s sister Lymph & Lung Cancer

Walt Koch Member Parkinson’s

Gene Muehring Member Cancer — recovering

Lynn Molleck Friend of N. Goble Stage 4 Cancer

Lori Prichard T&R Prichard’s daughter Conversion disorder

Judy Powell Cindy DeVore’s cousin Cancer

Rachel K. Juers’ Co-Worker Baby born w/tumor

Josh Retzer Grandson of B/C Sunkin Addiction

Becky Sharp Spillman Cousin-I-L Brain Tumor

Carol Sunkin Member Shoulder/Back

Margaret Thomas Galena Park Resident Signs of COPD

Wally Son of K. Routh’s friend Issues since birth

Brian West Father of Delayne Needs Encouragement

Delayne West 12-year old Brain Cancer

Trish Veytia Member Depression

HEARTS ON FIRE Calendar

Jan 6th: Mission Trip Sign-Up deadline! LTC Practice (1-3:15 PM) Fondulac: (3:45-6 PM) Jan 13th: LTC Practice (12-2 PM) Pantry Set-Up (2-3 PM) Jan 20th: LTC Practice (12-2:30 PM) Laser Tag (36 PM) Jan 27th: LTC Sign-Up Due LTC Practice (1-3:30 PM) South Side (4-6 PM)

Linda Cotrell broke her hip. Joyce Taylor diagnosed with breast cancer. Racheal Balteau being treated for pneumonia. Carol Sunkin infection in her gums after having a tooth pulled. Natalie Balteau recently spent time in Pekin hospital related to her Type I Diabetes. Trish Veytia has suffered a recent setback with severe depression. Linda Delgado’s (Galena Park resident) son is recovering from injuries sustained in a recent car accident. Karen Lovell suffering with a plantar plate tear in her foot. Virginia Jones (Courtney Stivers’ grandmother) is recovering from her surgery to repair her broken hip suffered in a recent fall.

Shut-Ins: Texie Ray and Eleanor Richey.

Our military. Christian men & women suffering with PTSD. Our nation for unity. Our president, judges & elected officials—wisdom to make Godly decisions. Our police as they struggle to do their job. Unsaved souls (you supply the names). Those who have left the fold and need a helping hand to find their way home. Our college students. Our enemies. Those being persecuted for being Christians. Those who persecute others — may their hearts be changed! Our young! The families of the victims of the many school shooting throughout our nation. Those dealing with earthly disasters. Victims/Families of violence and terrorism. Our Bible study groups. Our volunteers who give of their time and talents providing much needed services. Those Traveling. Those being persecuted and killed because of their Christian faith.

Praises/Thanksgivings/Updates: Anita Routh’s friend Sherry is back to work after her car accident. She had a recent visit to the hospital concerning her heart but doing okay now.

Stand still and watch the world go by — and it will.

The Lord intends us to be powerful people-mighty in optimism and hopeful of

spirit, powerful in evange-listic zeal, potent in influ-

ence, sturdy in moral fiber and purity. We can be powerhouses in prayer

and preaching.”

~David Jeremiah

Kindness is a language we all

understand. Even the blind can see it and the deaf can

hear it. —Mother Teresa

Deacons

Tom Flanagan Terry Hargrove

Rick Meyers Alan Moreland

Treasurer

Douglas Staley

Elders

Rick Hipp

Dean Kennedy

Terry McWhirter Cell: 309-231-9362

Minister David W. Spillman Cell: 309-219-2860

HOF Director Ryan Martin

Cell: 281-253-6794

Ministry Assistants

Meta Kennedy (MWF)

Betty Meyers (TT)

PH: 309-693-2426

Date Dec 16

Bible Study Attendance 74

Worship Service Attendance 141

EEM — Funds Collected To Date (for the purchase of Bibles)

$ 20,678

Shults-Lewis Children’s Home

Coins in the weekly contribution + $10 of each Dining Tour Book!!!

$ 33.99

Last Wk. Year-to-Date

2018 Budget $ 5,000 $ 250,000

2018 Contribution $ 2,698 $ 216,303

Acknowledgement: Some clipart/photo images may have been taken from "Images (c) FaithClipart.com".

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

G

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P

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Dec 23—No Bible study classes Dec 24—Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (6 PM) Dec 30—No Bible study classes Jan 15—Pantry (note the date change) (12:30-1:30 PM)

Dec 24—Jan 1 — OFFICE CLOSED

SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE STUDY CLASSES ORDER OF WORSHIP

Challenge: Pray daily for our entire church family (by name).

See something that needs to be fixed — Please report it to the office. Thank you to Tom Flanagan and others for taking such good care of the building!

Worship Leader: Terry McWhirter

Song: Sing Hallelujah to the Lord (pg. 242)

Children Sing:

Scripture Reading: Ronald Akpan (Matthew 1:18-25)

Songs: It Came upon the Midnight Clear (pg. 995)

The First Noel (pg. 999)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (pg. 1001)

Silent Night! Holy Night! (pg. 1003)

Lamb of God (pg. 176)

Communion: Terry Grant

Dean Kennedy, Wendelle Haines, Gary McWhirter, Eric Punzal

Song: O Holy Night! (pg. 1028)

Offering

Songs: O Come, All Ye Faithful (pg. 997) Joy to the World

Sermon: David W. Spillman

JOY TO THE WORLD...THE LORD HAS COME

Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives (pg. 528)

HOF Announcements: Rick Hipp

Shepherd’s Time: Rick Hipp

Song: Mary, Did You Know?

Greeter: Marie McWhirter

Facilitator: Walt Koch

Nursery Attendant: Sharon Law

Communion Preparation: Muehrings

ADULTS—AUDITORIUM Kyle Idleman: Not a Fan.

Terry Hargrove / Aaron Campbell, Facilitators Resumes January 6th!!

Giving Changes Everything!

Hearts on Fire Sunday School Classrooms

Glimmers Birth—3 Upstairs—Room 7

Sparks Ages 3-Pre-K Upstairs—Room 6

Embers Kindergarten-Grade 2 Upstairs—Room 10

Flames Grades 3-5 Upstairs—Room 9

Heat Grades 6-8 Downstairs—Room 13

Blaze Grades 9-12 Downstairs—Room 16/17

“IF” each person (110 people) gave $5.90 more each week, we would have an additional $ 33,748 in 1 year; that is $28,748 more than 1 week’s budget and $51 more than our current shortfall! $5.90 per week for 52 weeks totals $306.80. Let’s see what we each can do.

There’s something very special about a candlelight worship service. It signals the end of a year and the excitement of a new one on the horizon. We have much to celebrate at Christmas. Jesus gave us a gift that no one else could or will ever give — HE gave us his life so that we might have life hereafter, with HIM in heaven. Come and join us on Monday, December 24th at 6 PM to sing songs of joy, hope, love, peace, and tribute. Oh, Come Let Us Adore HIM together !!!