Women’s Ministry Annual Christmas Dinner

Christmas at the Creek

Christmas Eve Service

thursday, december 9

Ladies, don’t miss this celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Enjoy an evening of fellowship and take a break from the “hustle and bustle” of the season to meditate on the reason for the season. This night will be a welcome addition to your holiday happenings. Look inside for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

sunday, december 19

It’s about that time! Our choir, ensembles, handbell choir and orchestra are all gettting geared up and ready for the annual Christmas at the Creek Christmas Program. This unforgettable evening will be a sure way to get your spirit sparked by listening to and singing praises to our King. Mark your calendars for this night of excitement!

friday, december 24

A long-standing Brushy Creek tradition is just around the corner! Bring your family out for the annual Christmas Eve service at 11:00 p.m. (Bring the kids in their pajamas so they’re ready for their long winter’s nap as soon as they get back home.) We’ll have a great time singing Christmas carols and honoring the birth of our Savior.

ThE MOnThLy nEWSLETTEr Of BruShy CrEEK BAPTIST ChurCh TAyLOrS | dECEMBEr 2010

WWW.BruShyCrEEK.Org

theCreekside Welcome Home to Brushy Creek

Pastor Carter recently gave a wonderful message on witnessing. he gave us three great witnessing tips:

1. Picture yourself as a witness, not a winner.2. Engage in conversation, rather than make a

speech.3. Move out of the convent.

As I gave more thought to these good tips, I thought about the catalyst that motivates me to be a witness in the first place. Paul spoke about this in II Corinthians 5:11-21. he says, “Since…we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.” he goes on to say, “Christ’s love compels us.” Then Paul finishes the thought by stating that, “we are…Christ’s ambassadors.”

Some might mistake the call to be a “witness” instead of a “winner”, as meaning that we should not seek to persuade others to come to Christ. nothing could be farther from the truth. The encouragement is that we do not have to be able to win others, not that we should not strive to persuade others toward faith, in the power of the holy Spirit. A witness without compelling love

would be like a man on a pier holding a life preserver, sharing with a drowning man how grateful he was that it saved him, yet not offering the life preserver to the other man. not much love there.

So, what causes the love of Christ to well up within us and compel us to share our faith? I know that, for me, it’s prayer. In fact, I believe that Satan is perfectly happy with churches, no matter what good things we may do, as long as we fail to do two things:

1. Talk to god about lost people in prayer2. Talk to lost people about god in witness

Christmas is upon us. What if we all began praying in earnest for lost family, friends, and acquaintances? And what if god put his compelling love in our hearts to share the message of Christmas with them? And what if god’s Spirit did his work, as we shared? And what if some of them were saved?

Then we would see the Christmas miracles that still take place.

do something by Dr. Ralph Carter | Pastor

A rescuer’s Heart by Jim Russell | Rescue Minister

theCreekside | december 2010

Want a tip or tWo on hoW to make this a great Christmas? Last year one of our members gave me a little book called The Twelve Ways of Christmas, written by david Jeremiah. I read a chapter a day (each were only a few pages long) and the Lord used it to help me really enjoy Christmas. you might check with one of the local Christian book stores about availability.

Make cookies or a pie for all your neighbors. Even if you have never met them, this is a great way to get acquainted and Christmas affords you the opportunity to be a little bit more sociable than you might ordinarily be. Set a date a week or so before Christmas and do it. Oh, and while you’re at it, invite them to Christmas at the Creek and Christmas Eve service.

Choose a senior adult shut-in, a single mom or a needy child and make their Christmas special. do it not just by providing them with a gift, but with a memory. Let them know you love them and that they really matter to you.

Worship Jesus. Worship him as you sing carols each Sunday. Carve out some quiet times in the month where you can get alone with god and sort out your thoughts. Spend some time reflecting upon what his birth means. Spend time reflecting upon what the circumstances surrounding his birth imply. It’s his birthday, think about him.

Merry Makers Monthly MeetingTUESday, dEcEmbEr 21 - 10:30 a.m.

Our own church member, Marie Welsh, will be our guest.

DeCember is a very speCial month. We get to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord with music. Some of the greatest songs ever written were written for Christmas.

Join us on december 12 as our Children’s Choir presents a wonderful Christmas program. On the 19th, our adult choir, orchestra, and ensembles will present Christmas at the Creek. Then, on the 24th at 11 p.m., we will come together again for our Christmas Eve service. This is a very special gathering that has become an annual tradition for many families in our church and our community. If you’ve never been before, try to make it this year! you won’t be disappointed!

Put these dates on your calendars, and bring friends and family with you to our month of celebrating our Lord’s birth.

Christmas Celebrations by Robbie Sox | Minister of Music

Men’s MinistryMen’s Monthly Prayer BreakfastThere will be no december Men’s Testimony Breakfast. We look forward to seeing you January, 2011!

theCreekside | december 2010

Senior Adults

i Was so touCheD to see our ChurCh emphasize aDoption During sunDay morning Worship. When Jocelyn and I decided to adopt, I’ll admit I was scared. The thought of bringing someone else’s child into my life caused me to ask many questions; “how will he or she feel about me? Where should we begin looking? how much will this cost? What age child should we consider? And on and on…these are great questions to ask! I am amazed at how god just put the pieces together for Jocelyn and me. It began with a meeting that Jim and Carolyn robinson invited us to. We simply went and listened to testimonies of how god brought children into the lives of these parents, and we were hooked! We are praying even now to start the adoption process again. If you are considering adopting, foster-parenting, or both, please call BCBC and we would love to put you in contact with people to help and encourage you.

Change a Life Through Adoption by David Kay | Associate Pastor

the first trip of 2011 is upon us. boy, it is a gooD one! Are you ready for this? Are you sure? hold on. Wait for it. We are going...

...skiing!! (did the picture give it away? ha ha!)

That’s right! January 14-16 we are going to start 2011 off with a ski triP!! On January 14 we will be

leaving to go to one of the best slopes on the east coast, Winterplace resort in Beckley, West Virginia.

We will be skiing friday night and all day Saturday. The cost is $150. Sign-ups began november 28

and only last until december 12. This should be a great time of fellowship over the holiday weekend,

so invite a friend to come along with you!

over the past fifteen years, Chillipepper has gaineD a reputation as one of the southeast’s premier ConferenCes by Combining first Class Christian entertain-ment With exCiting, effeCtive ministry. Chillipepper seeks to respectfully encourage, challenge, and equip Christians while also reaching those who’ve not yet made a commitment to Christ. This friday night through Sunday morning conference features top-notch music artists, thought-provoking speakers, and a variety of performers that have included comedians, dramatists, illusionists, and more. This conference has turned into one of the favorite weekends for our middle schoolers! This weekend is not only a blast, it is potentially life-changing for all who attend, even our chaperones!

After 15 years, many thousands of student and adult leaders agree that Chillipepper is truly the coolest way to get fired up. don’t let your middle schooler miss out on this exciting opportunity! Parents, register your teen today on our church website: www.brushycreek.org

Don’t Delay, register toDay!

Cost $110 (Includes conference, lodging, and 4 meals) *Please note that this year’s cost does include Saturday’s lunch and dinner. $50 deposit due by december 5. $60 balance due by January 16

Bands Tenth Avenue north, decemberadio, Article One

speaker dave Edwards

Comedian daren Streblos

for more details on bands and speakers, go to concoxions.com.

Get ready! by Benji Ladd | High School Pastor

theCreekside | december 2010

Chillipepper 2011 by Jeremiah Oliver | Middle School Pastor

THAnk you to all the volunteers

who have made this a great beginning to our

AWAnA program at Brushy Creek.

Thank you! by Rebecca Oaks | Director of Children’s Ministries & Eleanor Bishop | Director of Preschool

theCreekside | december 2010

AMy AShLEy, JASOn AShLEy, LISA BAITy, dAWn BALL, dEnnIS BALL, KIM BELL, rOgEr BLACKWELL, CrAIg BrOCKMAn, dAnny BuffOrd, MAry BETh ChAMLEE, AMy ChILdErS, BEVErLy ChILdErS, JOhn ChILdErS, dAVId ChIShOLM, KATIE ChIShOLM, JuSTIn CLArK, rOgEr COLE, SuSAn COLLIEr, CyndA COx, CLEMSOn COyLE, SArAh COyLE, LEE dAnIELS, KATE drAKE, MArgE EdWArdS, ChArLOTTE EMPTAgE, ChrISTInA EMPTAgE, rOBErT EMPTAgE, ChAndLEr fAIrChILd, JuLIE fAIrChILd, SuSAn fry, JOhnny gILSTrAP, ChrIS gOLdEn, KATy gOLdEn, BrAndOn hALL, SArAh hALL, dEnnIE hAMILTOn, Ann hArTSELL, STEVE hOffMAn, STEVE hOLCOMBE, KArEn hOLzWArTh, MAry JACKSOn, AuSTIn JOnES, PAT KEASLEr, AMy KIng, CrISTAn LATTy, KEITh LunSfOrd, LEIgh LunSfOrd, rAChEL MCCLArAn, CIndy MCQuEEn, JOnAThOn MOrgAn, KAThy MOrgAn, BrAndOn OVErBy, LOrI OVErBy, STEPhAnIE PhILLIPS, JuLIA rEICh, JOyCE rILEy, CAM rISEn, TAMMy rOACh, dALE ruSSELL, KIM SAundErS, LIndA SCArBrOugh, PAuLA ShOrT, hOLLy SMITh, AngELA SOx, TInA STruTTOn, JASOn TAyLOr, KEnny ThEAKEr, SuSAn ThOMASOn, STEWArT WATSOn, TIffAny WATSOn, MIChELLE WELTEr, dEBBIE WhEELEr, KELLy WhEELEr, PAuLAnn WILSOn, ABBy WIndSOr

theCreekside | december 2010

merry Christmas! I love this time of year and I hope that you and your family will take the time to really reflect on the gift of Christ coming into our world in the form of a baby, to redeem us from our sins. A few years ago, dad and I decided that we should try and do something everyday for the month of december to celebrate Christmas. It was one of the greatest Christmases ever. If you are looking for ways to really focus on Christ this year, this may be something that you and your family want to try. It definitely helps, because you are consciously thinking about how you can really cele-brate the birth of Christ. In case you are struggling for ideas, I’ll give you four of my favorite things (just call me Oprah…haha): 1 - Check out a live nativity. The one down the road from the church at Covenant Methodist is always good. 2 - read “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. 3 - Watch “The nativity”. 4 - Attend our Christmas Eve service at 11:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve!

I hope that you and your family have the best Christmas ever!

Really Celebrate by Angela Carter | College Minister & Director of Missions

When April 8-9, 2011 Where The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, NC Theme “The Joy of Serving

our Christ: When Church Ladies Become God’s Girls” Speaker Martha Gillen with Worship Leader Dana Stout

coST 4 per room-$150.00 and 2 per room-$165.00Opportunity is available to make 5 installment payments (Oct 2010-Feb 2011),

$30.00 for 4 per room, or $35.00 for 2 per room. Space is limited. For more information please contact: Libby Massey at 864-292-1363 or massey1970@charter.net

Shelly Maynard at 864-483-3241 or romeandshelly@charter.net Susan Bailey at 864-801-0393 or bailey598@bellsouth.net

www.BrushyCreek.org

SAVE THE DATES!

Save the Dates April 8 and 9, 2011 for our Living

Fragrance Women’s Ministry Spring Retreat

at The Cove, “The Joy of Serving Our Christ: When Church Ladies Become God’s Girls”.

Opportunity to pay in installments.

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

EveryWeeksundAys

8:00 a.m. Sunday School

*9:15 a.m. Sunday School/ Traditional Worship

*10:45 a.m. Sunday School/ Contemporary Worship

MondAys

*6:00 p.m. Celebrate Recovery

*6:00 p.m. Life Hurts God Heals

*7:30 p.m. Creekside Orchestra Practice

WednesdAys

5:00 p.m. Café at the Creek

*6:45 p.m. The Greenhouse

*8:10 p.m. Creekside Choir Practice

EveryMonthsenior AduLTs

merry makers meeting

tuesday, december 21Program at 10:30 a.m. Lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Men’s MinisTry

men’s testimony breakfast

no meeting this month.

2010 December

*Childcare Available

deACOnS’ meeTinG7 p.m.

CHiLdRen’S CHRiSTmAS muSiCAL6:00 p.m.

CHRiSTmAS AT THe CReek(AduLT CHRiSTmAS muSiCAL)6:00 p.m.

meRRy mAkeRS10:30 a.m.

CHRiSTmAS eve SeRviCe11:00 p.m.

LORd’SSuPPeR a.m. services

WOmen’S miniSTRy CHRiSTmAS dinneR 6:30 p.m.

Christmas eve : office closed

Christmas holiday : office closed

new year’s holiday : office closed

Pastorralph Carter864.238.0166 ralphc@brushycreek.org

Associate Pastordavid kay864.234.9655 davidk@brushycreek.org

Rescue MinisterJim russell864.270.8441jimr@brushycreek.org

Music Ministerrobbie sox864.292.8322 robbies@brushycreek.org

College Minister and Director of MissionsAngela Carter864.325.3778 angelac@brushycreek.org

High School PastorBenji Ladd864.414.1195 benjil@brushycreek.org

Middle School PastorJeremiah oliver864.915.3302 jeremiaho@brushycreek.org

Director of Adult Sunday SchoolBen Langner864.297.6066 cblangner@bellsouth.net

Director of Children’s Ministriesrebecca oaks864.968.9826 oaksfamily5@charter.net

Director of Preschooleleanor Bishop864.915.9669 eleanor0930@yahoo.com

Director of The Greenhousekristen Belflower864.268.8696 kristen@thebelflowers.com

Director of Weekday PreschoolTina stephens864.268.3945 brushycreekweekday@yahoo.com

Facilities ManagerMarshall Croy864.322.5500 marshallc@brushycreek.org

EMERGEnCy nuMBER864.918.0616

Staff Directory

4999 old spartanburg roadTaylors, south Carolina 29687

864.244.5075BrushyCreek.org

RETuRn SERViCE REquESTED

non Profit Organ

u.S. Postage

PAId

Taylors, S.C.

Permit nO.14

3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st avEragE

Sunday School 909 928 899 881 910 905

Worship Services 1178 1223 1130 1195 1116 1168

Attendance in October 2010

LookinG AHeAd... APPLiCAnTs For CHurCH MeMBersHiP

ConGrATs!deCemBer

December 9women’s ministry Christmas dinner

December 12Children’s Choir program

December 19Christmas at the Creek

December 24Christmas eve service

january

January 14-16high school ski trip

January 21-23middle school Chillipepper

January 28-30marriage retreat

april 8-9ladies spring retreat

By letterbobby burtonChris fergusonmegan ferguson

By statementlaura rawlings

By BaptismWilson huebletyler fergusonChloe rawlingskristy laws

to john and kara (Fisher) mClellan on the bir th of their son, john lee, jr. born october 20, 2010.

to jeFF and sunshine kirkland on the bir th of their son, toBy raynGer, born october 25, 2010.