(Combined service at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 21

Sunday School at 9-10 a.m. Come to Fellowship Hall for coffee and fellowship at 10 a.m.)

"The character of even a child can be known by the way he acts whether what he does is pure and right." Proverbs 21

The wonderful children of the CrossTraining program offered each Wednesday night to children from Pre- K to 11 years of age have shared with us: What does Christmas mean to you?

Levi Oliver (age 3) "That means Jesus' birthday."

Cameron Williams (age 3) "It means big presents and I get a transformer."

Emma Lambert (age 4) "Santa reminds me of presents and Rudolph with that blinking red nose."

Cooper Garner (age 4) "I know. Santa, Christmas trees, and snowmen."

Maddox Plazek (age 4) "It means Jesus loves me."

Blake Bradbeer (age 4) "It is about Jesus."

Luke Little (age 4) "It means I wanna get a Christmas tree."

Kristina Grace (age 6) "Christmas is fun, tricks, and games."

Camper Cade (age 6) "Christmas means presents to me."

Megan Warren (age 6) "To get presents."

Rylee Plazak (age 6 "Christmas is about Jesus' birthday."

Lyric Patterson (age 7) "Christmas is about Jesus, God, presents, family, friends and people."

Kristen Cherry (age 7) "Christmas means Christ is born."

Jenny Burch (age 8) "To me Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ!"

Kaylee Lambert (age 8) "Christmas is about Jesus."

Camryn Johnston (age 8) "Christmas means that Jesus is born."

Baylee Ellis (age 8) "Christmas is about Jesus and about his birth."

Augustus Cade (age 9) "Christmas is about Jesus."

Lillie Rozell (age 9) "Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and about giving to others and caring for others!!! "

Jennifer Neely (age 10) "The birth of Jesus Christ."

Laura Croasmun (age 10)"To me, Christmas means family, friends, and JESUS' BIRTHDAY."

Cub Griffin (age 10) "Christmas is about giving presents and celebrating Jesus' Birthday."

Kaitlyn Smit (age 10) "Christmas means it's Jesus' Birthday! It also means time for love!"

Kassidy Grace (age 10) "Christmas means a lot to me, but the most important thing is the birth of Jesus."

Mary Whittle (age 10) "The birth of Jesus. P.S. I love Christmas."

Taylor Mullens (age 11) "Christmas is Jesus' Birthday. It is about love and joy."

Tommy Pollard (age 11) "Christmas means to me my Birthday and Jesus' Birthday."

Thank you, CrossTraining class and the dedicated teachers and volunteers for the amazing work each of you are doing. May your Christmas be one of love, joy, family and friends, and may God's blessings shower you every day.

Last Sunday our Chancel Choir performed a special program "Sing and Shout for Joy," with solos performed by Kim Pollard, Gwen Jones, and Pam Nokes and narrations by Mary Stewart, Linda Pinson, Tom Jones, and Araminta Montgomery. I am running out of ways to describe what a talented group of musicians our church is blessed with. Thank you for your hard work and dedication in sharing your talent. Each Sunday the music touches our souls. "Let all the joys of the godly well up in praise to the Lord, for it is right to praise him. Play joyous melodies of praise - sing joyfully." Psalms 33:1-3

Next Sunday, at the combined service, the Angelus Ringers and the Praise Team musicians will perform. Be sure to come and bring a friend to share the joy.

Monday, December 22 the Youth will leave the church at 1:45 p.m. for Six Flags "Holiday in the Park." Call John Taylor and/or Terry York, if you would like to volunteer as an "adult" or join the youth.

Wednesday, December 24th the Candlelight Service and Communion will be at 7 p.m. Honor the birth of our Savior with communion, worship and prayer.

Happy Anniversary to: Pamela and James Nokes

Happy Birthday to: Tom Birdwell, Lou Langston and JamesThompson.

Thought for the Week: "The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says "Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work; I want you!" Readings from C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian.