Yes, it is that time again. Christmas lights

are up, Santa has arrived and the mad rush to

spend money is upon us. Black Friday was less

hectic this year than in past years, Small

Business Saturday was fairly successful, but

then Cyber Monday boomed. Add to that the

“Cyber Week,” and it is easy to see that a large

number of people are doing their shopping

online rather than in-line this year. But, sadly,

there is hardly any mention of the Christ, who

we celebrate.

Christmas is certainly a time of the year

in which we celebrate family, share gifts and

fellowship at many parties and meals. However,

Christmas should be looked at as celebrating the

fact that God left Heaven and came

down to man. He entered into our

troubled world to live among us. He

entered as His only begotten Son, Jesus

Christ, who was called Immanuel

(translated as “God with us”).

We celebrate the arrival of Jesus

beginning with the first Sunday of

Advent by lighting a candle each week, symbol-

ically lighting the way for that arrival. We’ll

certainly decorate the church with poinsettias

honoring and memorializing loved ones. We’ll

have our class parties and times of fellowship,

but most importantly, we’ll celebrate the fact

that Jesus came into our troubled world. He left

the peacefulness and beauty of Heaven to walk

among men. That means that He came to face

all the hurts and heartaches we face; He came

to face the same temptations we face; He came

to show us how to live a life free of sin; but

mostly He came to take away our punishment

for those sins, by giving His life in our place.

So, as we focus on the shopping and

decorating frenzy of Christmas, don’t get

distracted from the most important thing about

Christmas---THE CHRIST of Christmas. He is

truly the reason for the season. With that said,

Jane and I wish you a very, Merry

Christmas, filled with the joy that

comes from knowing Jesus Christ as

more than the newborn baby we

celebrate this month, but as the

Savior, who will someday have every

knee bow to Him and every tongue

confess that He is Jesus, the Lord.

Love you all,

Pastor Virgil

December 2017

Volume 51, Issue 12

For unto you is born this day in the city

of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

PAGE 2 THE SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST INFORMANT DECEMBER 2017- VOL .51 , ISSUE 12

Pastor Josh Spiers, from Immanuel Baptist Church , invites local churches to join with them

Fr iday, December 1 at 7 :00pm

The LeFevre Quarte t wi l l be min is ter ing in concert

at Immanuel Bapt ist church .

No Admission. A special love offering will be received for the

LeFevre Quartet.

Ladies, please bring a small

gift for a homebound person.

Sunday

December 17

10 :45am

You are invited to our Christmas Cantata

‘ The Best Gift Of All”

Ministered by the

Springfield Baptist Church Choir

THE SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST INFORMANT DECEMBER 2017- VOL .51 , ISSUE 12 PAGE 3 THE SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST INFORMANT

BUDGET MATTERS

2017 Annual Budget Goal $148,196.30

Budget Funds Rec’d Month of November …………...… $12,601.75

2017 Year To Date Budget Funds Rec’d …………….... $127,928.00

Lock-Up Schedule

12-03 James Harrell

12-10 Jeff Lord

12-17 James Little

12-04 Don Hodges

12-10 Ernestine Pence

12-11 Jerry Everage

12-19 Ethel Lord

12-19 Wayne Heath

12-19 Nell VanSickle

12-20 George Neal

12-26 Shelby Mitchell

12-30 Randi Swearingen

I f we have missed post ing

your birthday, please

contact the church of fice.

Thanks!

THE SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST INFORMANT (USPS 512-520) Published Monthly by:

Springfield Baptist Church 3615 E. Third St., Panama City, FL 32401 Periodical Postage Paid at Panama City, FL POSTMASTER: Send address changes to

3615 E. Third St., Panama City, FL 32401

Springfield Baptist Church’s

Schedule of Services

SUNDAYS

9:30am Sunday School 10:45am Morning Worship Service 4:00pm Discipleship Training 5:00pm Evening Worship Service

WEDNESDAYS

5:30pm TeamKIDS/ Youth Ministries 6:00pm Evening Worship

THURSDAYS

6:00pm Adult Bible Study

Brother Virgil Tillman, Pastor

Cameron Diamond, Music & Children-Youth Minister

Nolene Roberts, Pianist

Ernestine Pence, Nursery

Shelia Murphy, Secretary

Dwayne Lee, Custodian

PAGE 4 DECEMBER 2017 VOL . . 51, ISSUE 12

CHURCH STAFF