February 1, 2016
Hales Chapel Family, We had a great turnout for the Manna for Missions on Sunday and we raised $440 for the Honduras mission trip that will take place in July. Since we have a well-deserved reputation for liking to eat at HCBC, I want to remind you that we have our monthly fellowship meal this Wednesday, February 3rd, starting at 5:30 PM. The cost is within everyone’s budget: FREE. The menu will be a breakfast focus: eggs, grits, sausage, biscuits, and breakfast related desserts. Please, join us for this meal and fellowship. Our Prayer Meeting on the first Wednesday is a time when we focus on prayer rather than primarily Bible study. Please, join us for this special and focused prayer time. Let me continue the eating theme by highlighting the Valentine’s Banquet that will be Saturday, February 13th, at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Sign-up forms are in the windowsill near the piano in the sanctuary. For planning purposes Dakota needs to know who will be attending by Sunday evening on February 7th. You may place the form and payment in Dakota’s mailbox outside the Pastor’s office. Devotional Thought: Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes? The Jewish people were wanting the Messiah and were looking for the Messiah but when He came they rejected Him. They rejected Him because He was not the version of the Messiah that they wanted. Yet, he was the Messiah the Father wanted for the world. The rejected Messiah became the cornerstone. We don’t call the shots. God calls the shots. God sets the agenda. God sets the standards. Will we reject want God wants because it does not match our expectations and our agenda? The track record for that decision is not...
read moreJanuary 18, 2016
January 18, 2016 Hales Chapel Family, We all enjoyed seeing our first snow of 2016 on Sunday as the wintry mix changed to snow during Sunday School. As Keith stated in his prayer on Sunday the beauty of the snow reminds us that our sins have been washed white as snow. We should be as excited about the forgiveness of our sins that we have through Christ as the children on the front pew were about seeing the snow—actually more excited. Since I referenced the weather this is good time to mention that if we have to cancel services due to weather, we will do a phone tree call and post it on WRAL. Occasionally there may be times that for safety purposes that we will make this decision. Even if we are having services there may be times that you should not come because of your particular road and/or your personal health situation. Please, make wise decisions. We will miss you or you might miss me, but we will all understand. Since I referenced missing church let me say it was great to have our Prodigal Couple, Johnny and Lulu, back in our service on Sunday! It was great to see them back in their normal pew. We are thankful for the great improvement that Johnny has made and we are praying for more improvement in the days to come. Devotional Thought: This week I am going to share thoughts from my good friend, Dr. Chuck Lawless. Pharaoh had had two strange dreams, and word came to him that Joseph had previously interpreted dreams properly. So, he sent for Joseph in the prison and asked him to interpret his dreams. Look at Joseph’s response: “I cannot do it . . . but God will give Pharaoh the answer.” (Gen. 41:16). Joseph’s response should give us hope today: “I cannot do it . . . but God will . . ..” Think about the hope we have here: I cannot save people, but God will. I cannot answer prayer, but God will. I cannot forgive sinners, but God will. I cannot grant hope to the hopeless, but God will. I cannot stretch dollars to meet needs, but God will. I cannot build the church, but God will. I cannot ultimately defeat the devil, but God will. I cannot resurrect the dead, but God will. The truth is that we can’t do anything that God calls us to do in our own power. We can’t love Him, hear Him, or follow Him in our strength — but God will change and mold us to get us there. We can’t love the unlovable, but God will incline our hearts toward them. We can’t preach or teach the Word in power, but God will empower us. Husbands can’t love their wives as Christ demands, and wives can’t respond in turn, but God will bring them to that place. We can’t overcome sin, but God will be the warrior who fights for us. “But God will” . . . Those are good words for us today. Bullet Point Announcements: *January 20th, Quarterly Business Meeting at the conclusion of Prayer Meeting *February 20th, New Members Class *March 27 – Easter Easter Week Schedule: No Wednesday activities on March 23, 2016 Maundy Thursday Service on...
read moreJanuary 12, 2016
Hales Chapel Family, I am enjoying my study of the Beatitudes in preparing for our Sunday morning sermon series. I must admit the Holy Spirit is doing a lot of convicting of my heart while I am in my study before I ever stand up to preach the final product of the study. I pray the sermons are speaking to you as well. I have already received positive feedback as we made some small changes to the order of worship last week. I think it is good thing to change things up a little to keep us from settling into a rut—even if it is a good rut. Over the next several months we will utilize some other minor changes to the order of worship but don’t worry we will not use the changes all at once and the changes will be subtle. We don’t make these changes for the sake of making changes but to enhance the worship experience for each of us as we gather to worship the Lord. Sometimes changes force us to “pay attention” to what we are doing in worship and not to be on autopilot. While I am focusing on worship, let me encourage you to pray about joining the Adult Choir. The Adult Choir practices on Wednesday after Prayer Meeting for about an hour. The Adult Choir adds to the worship experience as they lead us in worship through the choir specials. Devotional Thought: Mt 9:37–38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” We have celebrated reaching our Lottie Moon Offering goal for international missions but there is more to missions than giving. This is a great passage to remind us of the harvest but also to remind us to pray to the Lord for the workers to be sent out. Prayer is a part of missions mobilization that I am afraid can be swallowed up with all of our other activities. The most important responsibility for missions is to pray for God to send out workers to the harvest but most us probably do this the least. Let’s continue to pray for God to send our workers from HCBC and from other churches. Then, let’s be faithful to pray for these workers. Bullet Point Announcements: *January 20th, Quarterly Business Meeting at the conclusion of Prayer Meeting *February 20th, New Members Class *March 27th, Easter *April 17th-20th, Community Revival- Dr. Jim Shaddix preaching ...
read moreJanuary 4, 2016
Hales Chapel Family, Hallelujah! Our Hallelujah Goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is $9,000. As of last Sunday we have received $9,571.78! This includes the money from the Pennies in a Barrel and the Soup/Chili Competition. I want to express my thanks for your sacrificial and generous giving for this offering. I want to say thanks to Tina and the missions committee for their leadership and creative promotion of the offering. Thanks to all who participated in the Pennies in a Barrel. We will announce the winning class soon. Thanks to all of the cooks who made the soup and chili competition go so well. Our winning cook was our cornbread cook, Regina Morgan. We all enjoyed the various soups. However, the biggest winner was the Kingdom of God as all of these funds will be used to share the Gospel around the world by our IMB missionaries! Bullet Point Announcements · January 6 – Family Meal 5:30 to 6:45 PM (menu: hotdogs, baked beans, chips and desserts) · January 6 – Prayer Meeting 7:00 PM (Youth and Adults combined with the primary emphasis being prayer) · January 6 – Adult Choir resumes · January 10 – Children’s Choir resumes 7:00 PM · March 27 – Easter · April 17-20, 2016 – Community Revival – Dr. Jim Shaddix preaching Devotional Thought: As we enter in 2016 I know many of us have made resolutions or set some goals. People throughout history have been making resolutions and setting goals. Genesis 11:4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” On the surface it would appear that there would be nothing wrong with their goals: build a city (community), tower (security) and a good name (reputation). The problem is they wanted to accomplish these things apart from God. Actually in stronger terms, they were seeking accomplish their goals in opposition to God. Whenever we seek our agenda rather than God’s agenda, we are always pursuing the wrong agenda. It is my prayer for each of us that our resolutions or goals for 2016 are centered upon God’s agenda. Happy New...
read moreDecember 22, 2015
Hales Chapel Family, Merry Christmas! Last Wednesday evening 53 of us went Christmas caroling. We had a wonderful time, and I think the visit and singing were appreciated by the ones who were on our circuit. Special thanks to Larry and Greg for driving, Lara for organizing and leading the singing, and Regina and crew for the refreshments. Last Sunday we enjoyed having Corey and Ashlee Ickes with us. Corey did a great job giving us insights into the ministry and life in Vermont, and a challenging sermon. Let’s continue to pray for them. Our Hallelujah Goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is $9,000. As of last Sunday we had received $3983.74. Let’s give generously and sacrificially to support the missionaries serving through the IMB. Don’t forget the Pennies in a Barrel completion between the Sunday School classes. Positive Points in your “barrel” will be earned by pennies, cash, and checks. Negative points in other barrels will be earned by quarters, nickels and dimes. Let’s have fun and let’s raise money for Lottie! Mark your calendar for the Fellowship Meal and Cook-Off Competition on Sunday, January 3, 2016. We will vote for our favorite soup and chili, and once again the money will go towards our Lottie Moon Goal. Enjoy good food and support missions—what a great combination! We will be having a Christmas Eve Service on December 24th at 5:00 PM. We will sing beautiful Christmas music, hear the reading of the Christmas story, a challenge from God’s Word, and observe the Lord’s Supper. We will be finished by 5:45 PM, so you will have plenty of time for family activities. After the service, our family will sit down for our annual viewing of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” At some point during the movie I will fall asleep but I will wake up before it is over. Please, remember that we will not have Wednesday activities on December 23rd or 30th. From The Simons’ Family: We would like to extend a huge and heart felt thank-you for the giving and prayers offered for our family to help in providing a new wheelchair for Thomas. We are excited to say that is set for delivery this week! Devotional Thought: I want to focus on Luke 2:8-20, which is about the shepherds hearing the news and going to the manger. 11 “Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” The message is straight forward: Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah, and the Lord. The message remains the same today. 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” The message is for all the earth. During this emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, let us give so the message continues to go around the world to all people groups. 17 “After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” The shepherds reports the message, which is the same thing we are to do. 20 “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.” When we encounter God, we should...
read moreDecember 15, 2015
Hales Chapel Family, Merry Christmas! I know Thanksgiving was last month but I believe we should be thankful for the wonderful Christmas musical production of “Ready to Shine” that we had last weekend. The cast did a marvelous job with the acting. The choir songs and solos were beautifully sung. The costumes, stage, and props were perfect for the musical. Lara did a great job with directing the music and Keith did a great job directing the acting. As I noted at the conclusion of the musical, Lara wrote the script, the song lyrics, and music as well as prepared the soundtrack. Amazing. The Gospel was clearly presented. Thanks for the ones who provided and served the food each night. Thanks to all who attended. Our Hallelujah Goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is $9,000. Let’s give generously and sacrificially to support the missionaries serving through the IMB. Don’t forget the Pennies in a Barrel completion between the Sunday School classes. Positive Points in your “barrel” will be earned by pennies, cash, and checks. Negative points in other barrels will be earned by quarters, nickels and dimes. Let’s have fun and let’s raise money for Lottie! Mark your calendar for the Fellowship Meal and Cook-Off Competition on Sunday, January 3, 2016. We will vote for our favorite soup and chili, and once again the money will go towards our Lottie Moon Goal. Enjoy good food and support missions—what a great combination! Bullet Point Announcements: December 16th at 6;30 Church-Wide Christmas Caroling December 20th, Corey Ickes preaching December 24th, Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 PM January 3rd, Fellowship Meal and Cook-Off Competition Devotional Thought: In Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. You have to be impressed with Joseph’s reactions. First, he did not want to hurt the woman he loved. Second, when he heard the message from the Lord, he believed, even though he knew what would be thought and said. 21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus’ mission: save us from our sins. Mission accomplished. 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” That’s what the incarnation is about: God with us. What kind of God sends His son to be born in a manger and to die on a cross? A God who loves us enough to send the best to pay the price that we cannot pay. A God who loves us enough to provide not only the perfect sacrifice but also the perfect example for his to follow. 24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. Again, you have to be impressed with Joseph’s faithfulness as he did what the Lord’s angel commanded him to do. Merry...
read moreDecember 7, 2015
Hales Chapel Family, This is the weekend for the annual Christmas play! Please, be preparing to attend and to invite others to attend the Christmas musical, “Ready to Shine!” on December 12th and 13th at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. Let’s come together to enjoy the wonderful musical but more importantly to worship the Lord. Pray for Lara, Keith, the choir, and the actors and actresses. Pray that the lost will be confronted with the Gospel and that the saved will worship the Lord of the Gospel. Our Hallelujah Goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is $9,000. Let’s give generously and sacrificially to support the 4,200 missionaries serving through the IMB. Don’t forget the Pennies in a Barrel completion between the Sunday School classes. Positive Points in your “barrel” will be earned by pennies, cash, and checks. Negative points in other barrels will be earned by quarters, nickels and dimes. Let’s have fun and let’s raise money for Lottie! Mark your calendar for the Fellowship Meal and Cook-Off Competition on Sunday, January 3, 2016. We will vote for our favorite soup and chili, and once again the money will go towards our Lottie Moon Goal. Enjoy good food and support missions—what a great combination! Food Drive for Building 323: Canned goods and other non-perishable food items will be collected in the bins in the hallway in the educational building through Sunday, December 13th. Let’s generously give to assist those in need in our own community. Bullet Point Announcements: December 9th, Special Business Meeting – Annual Budget December 12th and 13th at 7:00 PM, Christmas Play: Ready to Shine! December 13th, Kaitlyn and David Townsend providing an update in the worship service December 16th at 6;30 Church-Wide Christmas Caroling December 20th, Corey Ickes preaching December 24th, Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 PM January 3rd, Fellowship Meal and Cook-Off Competition Devotional Thought: The Christmas play will have beautiful music so let’s focus on Luke 1:46-56, which is Mary’s Song.46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Mary does not focus on her goodness or greatness for being chosen. She focuses on the greatness of the Lord. She knows she is blessed but the focus is not on her but on the Lord. 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, Even the mother of Jesus needed a Savior in whom she could rejoice. She is rejoicing but again in is not in herself or for the opportunity she has but in the God. 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. She sees herself as a slave of the Lord–a humble slave. 51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. This whole section shows how the incarnation flips the expected model upside down. The might and proud don’t win the day, but the lowly, the slaves do. I wonder if today’s Church even recognizes the model endorsed by the Lord? May we seek to be servants who model the life and attitude of...
read moreDecember 1, 2015
Hales Chapel Family, We started our emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions last Sunday as we were encouraged and challenged by John and Sarah Davenport, IMB missionaries. Our Hallelujah Goal is $9,000. As of Sunday we have received $928.50, so we have made an excellent start. Let’s give generously and sacrificially to support the 4,200 missionaries serving through the IMB. Please, be preparing to attend and to invite others to attend the Christmas musical, “Ready to Shine!” on December 12th and 13th at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. The group has worked hard—and continues to have rehearsals. Let’s come together to enjoy the wonderful musical but more importantly to worship the Lord. Food Drive for Building 323: Canned goods and other non-perishable food items will be collected in the bins in the hallway in the educational building through Sunday, December 13th. Let’s generously give to assist those in need in our own community. Bullet Point Announcements: December 2nd, Family Meal 5:30-6:50 PM December 12th and 13th at 7:00 PM, Christmas Play: Ready to Shine! December 13th, Kaitlyn and David Townsend providing an update in the worship service December 20th, Corey Ickes preaching December 24th, Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 PM Devotional Thought: Luke 1:26-38, which deals with Mary finding out about her part in the birth of Jesus. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Each time I read verse 29 I start laughing. Yeah, I bet she was wondering what in the world is going on here. What is going here? I think it is safe to assume she was not used to angels talking to her when Gabriel gave her this greeting. 37″ For nothing will be impossible with God.” Virgin birth. Resurrection from dead. I guess if God can handle those two items, He can handle anything. He can certainly be with me through whatever I go through in life. 38 “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” When God directs, my response should be the same as Mary’s: “I am the Lord’s slave.” I must be willing to do whatever He desires. It is about what He wants rather than what I...
read moreNovember 23, 2015
Hales Chapel Family, Happy Thanksgiving! I thought we had a wonderful service yesterday as we expressed our thanks to the Lord. The choir started the service off with a beautiful song and we concluded the service with the opportunity for the members of the congregation to voice individual praises and thanksgiving. It was evident that we all have much to be thankful for each day. We had a wonderful Ingathering Meal after the service. Thanks for preparing the food and for staying for the time of fellowship Here’s something to be thankful for: We have already collected the needed amount to purchase the new wheelchair for Thomas Simons! The Deacons had already recommended that if we collected more than the $4,500 needed for the wheelchair that we would give the family the additional amount to assist with other needs. We will be collecting this special offering through November 29th. Please, make checks payable to Hales Chapel Baptist Church with nothing in the memo line. Mark the envelope with Thomas or Wheelchair, so Dorothy will know how to process this. Here’s something to be thankful for: We had approximately 40 people who assisted with the baking and packaging of 100 pies, which will be distributed through Building 323 as part of the Thanksgiving meal. Thanks to Joelle for heading up this ministry of service. Food Drive for Building 323: Canned goods and other non-perishable food items will be collected in the bins in the hallway in the educational building through Sunday, December 13th. Let’s generously give to assist those in need in our own community. We start our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions emphasis this Sunday with John and Sarah Davenport, IMB missionaries, speaking in the service. We will be having our Manna for Missions lunch after the service and the money collected will be applied towards our Lottie Moon Offering goal. Our Hallelujah Goal is $9000. Let’s give sacrificially so our IMB missionaries can continue to share the Gospel around the world. Please, prepare food and plan to stay for the meal. Bullet Point Announcements: Community Thanksgiving Service — November 24nd at 7:00 PM at Watkins Baptist Church November 29th Manna for Missions Meal after the service. Money will go towards the Lottie Moon Offering December 12th and 13th, Christmas Play December 13th, Kaitlyn and David Townsend providing an update in the worship service December 20th, Corey Ickes preaching December 24th, Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 PM Devotional Thought: In Psalm 40 David is expressing Thanksgiving but he is also pleading for deliverance. This is a reminder that we can be thankful even when everything is not going exactly the way we would want it to be going. You can be thankful for past blessings and deliverance, which can encourage you as you face today’s difficulties. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. Sometimes I wait patiently but I know that sometimes patience is not part of my vocabulary, or it has eventually run out. Sometimes because of my lack of patience I have done something to “fix” the situation and the results have not been pretty. 2 He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on...
read moreNovember 2, 2015
Hales Chapel Family, We had a great time and a great turnout for the Fall Festival. Special thanks to Tina, members of the Home Missions Team, Dakota and the youth for all of their hard work! Unfortunately I did not do a good job of resisting the temptation of the candy during the Festival—or at home. I guess once a year will be okay to eat candy. J Bullet Point Announcements: Wednesday Night Dinner — November 4th from 5:45 PM to 6:30 PM; Menu: Grilled chicken breast, green beans and mashed potatoes Prayer Meeting this Wednesday is primarily a season of prayer DNow for the Youth this weekend — pray this will be a great time of spiritual growth while having a great time of fun Sign up for the Marriage Conference – November 14th at 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Corinth Baptist Church Sign up for the Veterans Dinner — November 14th at 4:30 PM in the HCBC Fellowship Hall Community Thanksgiving Service — November 24nd at 7:00 PM at Watkins Baptist Church Food needed for special events: We need 4 more volunteers to provide snacks/desserts for the Marriage Conference. We need 4 volunteers to provide dessert for the Community Thanksgiving Service. Please, let me know if you could assist with one or both of these events. Devotional Thought: Is 48:17–18 17 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. I am struck by the sadness of verse 18, “If only you had paid attention to My commands.” If only. God was teaching and was leading but Israel failed to follow. If only. They could have had peace and righteousness. If only. God teaches and leads us daily though His Word. If only. God teaches and leads us daily as we pray. If only. God teaches and leads us daily as we observe the godly lives of others. If only. “If only you had paid attention to My commands.” Are there commands I am not paying attention to today? Will there be commands I will not pay attention to in the future? If only. In His Steps,...
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