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TRANSCRIPT
The MESSENGER
Volume 5, Issue 12 December 2017
One of the things we used to do with our kids each night before
bed when they were younger was read a chapter from The Jesus Sto-
rybook Bible (by Sally Lloyd-Jones). I loved that time with them be-
cause they were still small enough to cuddle up in my lap and be-
cause they were learning that the Bible is just one big story of how
God loves his children and comes to rescue them through Jesus. But I
also have to admit that I really loved reading this children’s bible too
because the Lord spoke to me through it at times as well.
One of the chapters that I loved reading to them (and to me) the most is about the
birth of Christ, and since we are entering into the Christmas Season, I want to share with
you an excerpt from this chapter…
Everything was ready. The moment God had been waiting for was here at last!
God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning. But how
would he come? What would he be like? What would he do? Mountains would have
bowed down. Seas would have roared. Trees would have clapped their hands. But
the earth held its breath. As silent as snow falling, he came in. And when no one was
looking, in the darkness, he came…
There, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the
quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift. The baby that would change
the world was born. His baby Son.
Mary and Joseph wrapped him up to keep him warm. They made a soft bed of
straw and used the animals feeding trough as a cradle. And they gazed in wonder at
God’s Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. Mary and Jo-
seph named him Jesus, “Emmanuel” – which means “God has come to live with us.”
Because, of course, he had.
That same night, in amongst all the other stars, suddenly a bright new star ap-
peared. Of all the stars in the dark vaulted heavens, this one shone clearer. It blazed
in the night and made all the other stars look pale beside it.
God put it there when his baby Son was born – to be a spotlight. Shining on him.
Lighting up the darkness. Showing people the way to him. You see, God was like a
new daddy – he couldn’t keep the good news to himself. He’d been waiting all these
long years for this moment, and now he wanted to tell everyone!
…This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night. A Light to light
up the whole world. Chasing away the darkness. Helping people to see. And the
darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine.
This world can seem like a pretty dark and scary place sometimes, but God has
sent His Great Gift to us to bring Light into this dark world. We can face the darkness
because Jesus has come. We can allow Him to shine His light through us because He
has come. Let’s let His light shine throughout our community this Christmas Season so
that all people are drawn to the hope that Jesus came to give. Merry Christmas!
In His Name,
Jason White, Pastor
512.282.0875, x14
A Message from Pastor Jason White
Senior Adult
Ministry News
2
Children’s
Ministry News
2
Family Ministry
News
2
Student Ministry
News
3
Worship Music
News
3
Wednesday
Night Activities
4-5
December
Calendar
6
Inside this issue:
MBC Students to the
Movies
Quarterly Update &
Potluck
MBC Kids Christmas
Outing
Christmas Musical
Poinsettias
New Members
Holiday Schedule
Special Points of
Interest:
Page 2 The MESSENGER
Children’s Ministry
Family Ministry
December is here and this
month all of our MBC Kids will learn
that every good and perfect gift
comes from God. In fact, generos-
ity is at the very core of God’s
character He even gave us His
own son, Jesus! Jesus showed unwavering generosity
as He traded His life for ours. Since God gave us Jesus
and Jesus gave His life, we can be generous towards
others. Not only that, but when we are generous to-
wards others, we prove that we love God by loving the
people He loves. We pray that this Christmas, as kids
celebrate God’s amazing generosity, they’ll see how
Senior Adult Ministry “Things Pondered”
Years ago, Beth Moore wrote a
little book called, “Things Pondered”.
It is an examination of how Mary must
have slowed down enough in her
spirit to treasure and ponder the un-
folding of Jesus and His story in her
heart. In a few instances, scripture indicates that she
did just that! (Luke 2:51)
Whether your holiday season is blessed with quiet or
blessed with the craziness of kids and grandkids and
family and gifts and celebration…
Take to time to ponder:
To ponder the real meaning of Christmas
To reflect on the treasures and memories of times
past
To savor His goodness and faithfulness in this very
they can be generous with their family, friends, and
neighbors. I pray that each of you have a wonder-
ful December and know that we are in this togeth-
er. It is an honor to partner with each of you at
MBC!
In His Joy,
Jenny Childress, Children’s Director
512-282-0875,x18
moment
To meditate on the insanity
of an all powerful God tak-
ing on human flesh, dwelling among us in His
sinless life, dying on the cross for our sins and
by His divine power giving us “everything we
need for life and godliness…(2 Peter 1:3)
This Immanuel, God with us, is with us now and
He always will be.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwell-
ing among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of
the One and Only, who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth”. (John 1:14)
In Christ,
John Berryhill
Pastor to Senior Adults & Pastoral Care
512.282.0875, x26; [email protected]
Parents and kids, grades K-12, are invited to
join us in The Loft during the Bible Fellowship
time (9:30-10:30am) Christmas Eve for our Family
Ministry Christmas Party! During this time we will
sing songs, play games, eat some goodies to-
gether, and be a little silly as a family. Kids are
encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas
and to stay after Bible Fellowship for a Christmas
movie. This will be an event your family will not
want to miss!!!
For more information please contact Jenny
or Tanner.
Volume 5, Issue 12 Page 3
Student Ministry MERRY CHRISTMAS MBC FAMILY!
Man, I love the Christmas season, but sometimes I find myself overwhelmed with the
craziness that comes with it. My prayer for everyone this holiday season is for them to re-
ceive peace and joy, not just any peace and joy, but the peace and joy that Jesus
brought over 2000 years ago. It wasn’t a circumstantial peace and joy, but an eternal one.
Join me as we celebrate the birth of our savior, who promises us so much more than the world could ever of-
fer.
This month in Student Ministry we are starting the series Unwrapping Christmas: A Journey through the Birth
of Christ. In this series, we have three guest speakers, each teaching on a specific Gospel as it relates to Jesus’
birth. I am really excited we will be diving into these with our students and see how the Lord uses it to hopefully
change their view of the holiday season. We will also be having a Christmas party as well as going to see the
new Star Wars together, so a lot of community and fellowship will be happening this month.
As we enter December and our students are getting a breather from school, we ask that you continue to
pray for our students. Pray that the Lord helps them see that we have been given the ultimate in Jesus Christ
and that they would either fall deeper in love with Him this Christmas, or they would come to know Him if they
do not already.
Because of Grace,
Tanner Shumake, Student Pastor
512-282-0875, ext. 22
Worship Music Notes In Colossians 3, Paul lets us know that singing is important
enough to put in the same list of Christ-centered living practices
as; bearing with one another (v. 13), forgiving one another (v.
13), putting on love (v. 14), being at peace as a united body of Christ (v. 15), and teaching
God’s word to one another (v. 16). It’s also an important way that we let unbelievers know
the truths we believe as Christians (Psalm 105).
As your worship leaders, we have an important role to; make sure what we are singing is
true, find music that stirs your emotions and that moves you to appreciate who God is and what He’s done,
and to continually push to learn new songs so we might see these truths in a new light, and develop a deeper
appreciation for Jesus Christ.
Because of our schedules, it’s often hard for us to talk to church members to really know how you’re feeling
about how the worship services are going so we want you to know that we’re willing with humble hearts to
receive your feedback and we’re always looking for ways we can connect with you through prayer.
Ultimately we are united in our mission to reach the lost through how vibrant our worship is on Sundays, so I
pray that you will continue to “Sing for joy to the Lord, and shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm
95:1) this month.
With love,
Jake Neal, Contemporary Worship
512-282-0875, x17
Page 4 The MESSENGER
AWANA Wednesday Night Meals
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:45pm
Puggles: 2 year olds
Cubbies: 3-5 year olds
(must be 3 by Sept. 1 and potty trained)
Sparks: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Truth & Training (T&T): 3rd-5th grade
Club is $30 per child and includes uniform, book, and
awards.
Discounts available if you have more than 3 children
who you would like to register.
Registration is located on our website.
Join us Wednesday evenings
5:45-6:30 in the Gym
Cost is: Adults $3, Youth $2,
Kids Age 4 –5th Grade $1
Dec. 6 Taco Soup, Gumbo, Dessert
Dec. 13 Ham, Mac & Cheese, Dessert
Dec. 20 No Meal - Christmas Break
Dec. 27 No Meal - Christmas Break
Senior Adult
Bible Study
&
Prayer Group
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm, Room E115
Wed. Senior Adults Group
Quarterly Update
Sunday, Dec. 10
Immediately
Following the
10:45 Service
We will be voting on
the 2018 Budget!
IF:TABLE - Each group meets on a night convenient
to them. For information regarding IF:Table, contact
Jenny Childress @ [email protected].
LADIES BIBLE STUDY - All ladies are welcome for Bible
Studies on Fridays at 9:30am in Room E115.
LADIES COFFEE - Ladies meet at the Texican Café at
9:00am the 4th Sat. of each month (excluding Nov. &
Dec.) for coffee, Dutch-treat breakfast and great fel-
lowship.
Ladies Ministry Events
Page 5 Volume 5, Issue 12
Wed. Men’s Group Wed. Women’s Group
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Home Community Groups
This fall we started a new
men’s group and they are
in the Bible studying 1 John,
with a time for discussion,
prayer, and encourage-
ment. Join us on Wednes-
day nights from 6:30pm-
7:45pm in Room S204 and
get to know other men and
grow in your walk with
Christ!
For more information contact Brennan Richie at
A big thank you to all who
contributed to OCC shoeboxes
this year. We had 150 people
help pack shoeboxes on our
Shoebox Party day. The total
shoeboxes sent from MBC was
1253! Please pray for the 20 people
who are going to the Dallas warehouse on Dec. 4 to help
with the inspection of shoeboxes.
To find out more information about OCC, or to volun-
teer to serve in this ministry, please contact Bobi Swope
at 816-665-7231 or Carlene Cleveland at 512-444-2170.
It’s not too
late to sign up
for one of our
Sunday even-
ing sermon-
based HCG’s
in the south
A u s t i n /
M a n c h a c a ,
Buda, or Kyle area! If interested email Jason
Another new group
we started this fall is a
new women’s group
where we are taking
a journey through
God’s Word to see
how it all fits together
to bring us the mes-
sage of life, hope,
and purpose. We will
develop relationships with each other as we
discuss His Word, and we will support and en-
courage each other in our lives as women in
Christ. Join us on Wednesday nights from
6:30pm-7:45pm in room S207.
For more information contact Laurel Lear at
O.A.S.I.S. (Older Adults Still In Service)
ALL Senior Adults are invited for our monthly gathering
on
December 8, at 11:30am, in Room E115, for some
good food,
wonderful fellowship and
dominoes!
OCC Processing Center O.A.S.I.S. Please be in prayer for the following
volunteers who are going to the OCC
Processing Center on Dec. 4-8
Tricia Blake, Darrell Caldwell, Marty Caldwell, Car-
lene Cleveland, Shannon Crane, Deborah Harper,
Malcolm Harper, Linda Holloway, Aline Host, Rhon-
da Humphries, Brenda Kilburn, J.P. Kirksey, Judy
Kirksey, Darryll Knight, Marta Knight, Krista Neal,
Robin Quantana, Jael Schwab, Bart Swope, Betty
Swope, Bobi Swope and Shirley Zirkle
Page 6 The MESSENGER
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 Men’s Bible Study
6:00-8:00am Room E115
Ladies Bible Study 9:30am-11:30pm Room E115
2
3
Coffee w/the Pastor 9:30am Welcome Ctr.
Family Volleyball - 3:00pm Gym (ages 10+)
4 KDO
9:00am-2:00pm Strickland School Basketball 6:00-7:00pm Gym
5
Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym
6- KDO 9:00am-2:00pm -
Family Meal 5:45-6:30pm Gym - Men’s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S204 - Women’s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S207 - Sr. Adult Study 6:30-7:30pm Room E115 - AWANA 6:30-7:45pm
7 Men’s Lunch
Golden Corral 10:45am Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym
8 Men’s Bible Study
6:00-8:00am Room E115
Sr. Adult Pot-luck Lunch 11:30am Room E115
Kids Ministry Party 6:30-8:00pm Room E115
9 Gym /The Loft in
Use 9:00am-8:45pm
10 Quarterly Update
& Potluck 12:00pm Worship Center & Gym
Family Volleyball - 3:00pm Gym (ages 10+)
11 KDO
9:00am-2:00pm Strickland School Basketball 6:00-7:00pm Gym
12
Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym
13- KDO 9:00am-
2:00pm - Family Meal 5:45-6:30pm Gym - Men’s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S204 - Women’s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S207 - Sr. Adult Study 6:30-7:30pm Room E115 - AWANA 6:30-7:45pm
14 Men’s Lunch
Golden Corral 10:45am Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym
15Men’s Bible Study
6:00-8:00am Room E115
Ladies Bible Study 9:30am-11:30pm Room E115
16 Student Ministry
Christmas Party 5:30-7:30pm Shumake Home
17MBC Christmas
Musical 6:00pm Worship Center
Family Volleyball - 3:00pm Gym (ages 10+)
18 KDO
9:00am-2:00pm Strickland School Basketball 6:00-7:00pm Gym
19
Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym
20
No Scheduled Activities
21 Men’s Lunch
Golden Corral 10:45am Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym
22Men’s Bible Study
6:00-8:00am Room E115
23 E115 in Use
11:00am-5:00pm
24Family Ministry
Christmas Party The Loft 9:30-10:30am
Christmas Eve Service 6:00pm Worship Center
25
Merry Christmas! 26
No Scheduled Activities
Church Office Closed
27
No Scheduled Activities
Church Office Closed
28
No Scheduled Activities
Church Office Closed
29
No Scheduled Activities
Church Office Closed
30
31NO 8:30am
Worship Service - NO Bible Fellowships
10:45am Service - Robert Krumrey
Mercy House Report Robert Krumrey - 6:00pm Worship Center
December 2017
Volume 5, Issue 12 Page 7
MBC Kids Christmas Outing MBC Christmas Musical
MBC Kids invites
you for a night of
Christmas cheer to
the Sights and
Sounds of Christmas
in San Marcos on
Sat., Dec. 9th. We
will leave MBC at
4:00pm and cara-
van to San Marcos.
Kids 12 and under
get free admission
and all others pay
$5. Bring cash for food and some attractions and enjoy fun
for all ages. For more information, visit: http://sights-n-
sounds.org.
Dec 24 - Regular Sunday Morning Schedule
Christmas Eve Service
Dec. 20 - Jan. 3 - No Wed. Activities
Dec. 25 - Jan. 1 - Church Offices Closed
Welcome New Members Holiday Schedule
Honor your loved ones with a Poinsettia to decorate our church for the Christmas season.
Place your order today or as soon as possible, but no later than December 15. $6 per plant.
$_____ enclosed for _____ (#) Poinsettia(s) _____ in Honor of _____ in Memory of
NAME:____________________________________________ Relationship:_______________________________________
By (your name):__________________________________________________
Poinsettias
Pepper & Debbie Shirley Lori & Michael Baran
1215 W. FM 1626
P.O. Box 400
Manchaca, TX 78652
November 28, 2017
Phone: 512-282-0875
Fax: 512-292-0043 E-mail: [email protected]
“’Bethlehem, in the land of Judah...out of
you will come a ruler who will be the
shepherd of my people Israel.’”
- Matthew 2:6
Christmas at MBC
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID Permit #2
Manchaca, TX
Return Service Requested