This FRIDAY...12/21/07...6:00 PM
We will gather at the CTBC paking lot for an evening of fun, singing, and fellowship.
Please remember to bring your buckets to carry your tunes in. HAHA
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Today's Service
Services for today are as regularly scheduled
There are NO Changes in plans.
If you would get out and go shopping today then you are good to go to get out and attend services!
An Advent Story
AN ADVENT STORY
Advent, 2002
As many of you know, my son has autism. He is 10 years old and is severely handicapped by his disability. Our family learned to slow down at Christmas a number of years ago when he was unable to tolerate *any* of the celebration. He could not handle the changing scenarios - the twinkling lights, the changes in grocery store displays, the changes in the sanctuary at church, presents appearing under the tree, the tree ITSELF, and the moved furniture. He would fall on the floor and scream, unable to move, afraid to open his eyes, almost constantly from Thanksgiving until well after Christmas when it was all over. We carried him through that time his head covered with his coat so we could get through the grocery store, or sat with him huddled in his room, carefully ordered EXACTLY the same since summer, with no Christmas trappings.
Of course our neighbor across the street was one of those folks who bought every new outdoor Christmas display. My son slept on the sofa in the living room for two Decembers, trying to stay awake so he could make sure that all of the lights across the street (on the whole block!) were functioning correctly. If one went out, or if the lights came on or turned off outside the proper times, he would scream and cry in panic until it was fixed. (Yes, I spent an hour one cold night on top of the neighbor's garage, replacing ONE BULB in a Santa display so the boy would sleep!)
Worship on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day was over-crowded and yet hushed, not a good combination for an autistic child. Christmas celebrations at home were a nightmare. Phil would scream and cry as each package was moved and (gasp!) unwrapped. As frightened as he was when each new thing appeared, he was equally frightened when it changed or disappeared. We'd try to find him a present he'd enjoy, but he'd merely scream and cry in panic at the intrusion on his carefully ordered world, and the gifts would sit ignored until he outgrew them and we gave them to some little boy who could appreciate them.
He wanted nothing. He would look straight at toys we thought he would like, and he would not react at all. He asked for nothing. He anticipated nothing. He just screamed and cried at all of it. It is no bliss to have a child who doesn't get it - who doesn't want anything and doesn't want to have anything to do with Christmas commercialism - or it is only bliss in some romantic fantasy. In real life it is a surreal nightmare.
This year, right around Thanksgiving, we once more asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas. Our 14-year-old daughter sat down and made out her list. And our 10-year old son, for the first time in his life, answered the question. "PlayStation 2," he said. "I want PlayStation 2 Christmas." We just about fell over. His sister gave him a piece of paper. She wrote "Phil's Christmas List" at the top. He wrote, "PLAYSTATION TOW" under her heading. "At Sam's," he said. "Go to car."
So, we drove to Sam's. He has never looked at anything there, never seemed to notice that Sam's has anything he might want. But he led us right to the PlayStation 2 sets, picked out the bundle he wanted and put it in the cart. "Open at Christmas," he said. He watched gleefully as we wrapped the package, and then he solemnly placed it under the tree. So, a PlayStation 2 game set sits there, wrapped, with his name on it, and he waits to open it. "December 25," he says. "Open PlayStation 2 December 25."
Last night we'd returned from yet another Christmas rehearsal with our daughter, Phil found a Best Buy ad in the paper and turned immediately to the PlayStation games. He circled "Harry Potter" and "John Madden Football", handed the ad to Bob, and said, "I want Christmas." There were tears in my eyes. It's such a small thing, but such a truly amazing thing. It's one more bit of hope that he will be able to function in some semblance of society as an adult one day - that he might be able to live just a BIT more independently, and one day want the things he needs to survive enough to work for them. (Not a foregone conclusion with autistic folks, which makes them particularly unemployable, no matter their intelligence.) Consumerism might be "the enemy", but a kid who understands none of it is only a hero in a Chicken Soup For The Soul story.
This Advent season I am grateful for being able to appreciate what complexity and miracle is involved in such small "selfish" acts as wanting something for Christmas and expressing those wants to another person. I'm grateful that my son is able to enjoy all of the commercial cultural trappings of the holiday this year instead of running from them screaming. I'm grateful for the many ways Phil helps me stop and look again, even at my most "Christian" conclusions. And I'm especially grateful that my son helps me see Christ's humble birth, over and over again, even in the midst of nightmares and worries I could not have imagined 10 years ago, even in the midst of Advent.
Jenee
Jenee Woodard
http://www.textweek.com
mailto:jeneewd@dmci.net
Advent, 2002
As many of you know, my son has autism. He is 10 years old and is severely handicapped by his disability. Our family learned to slow down at Christmas a number of years ago when he was unable to tolerate *any* of the celebration. He could not handle the changing scenarios - the twinkling lights, the changes in grocery store displays, the changes in the sanctuary at church, presents appearing under the tree, the tree ITSELF, and the moved furniture. He would fall on the floor and scream, unable to move, afraid to open his eyes, almost constantly from Thanksgiving until well after Christmas when it was all over. We carried him through that time his head covered with his coat so we could get through the grocery store, or sat with him huddled in his room, carefully ordered EXACTLY the same since summer, with no Christmas trappings.
Of course our neighbor across the street was one of those folks who bought every new outdoor Christmas display. My son slept on the sofa in the living room for two Decembers, trying to stay awake so he could make sure that all of the lights across the street (on the whole block!) were functioning correctly. If one went out, or if the lights came on or turned off outside the proper times, he would scream and cry in panic until it was fixed. (Yes, I spent an hour one cold night on top of the neighbor's garage, replacing ONE BULB in a Santa display so the boy would sleep!)
Worship on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day was over-crowded and yet hushed, not a good combination for an autistic child. Christmas celebrations at home were a nightmare. Phil would scream and cry as each package was moved and (gasp!) unwrapped. As frightened as he was when each new thing appeared, he was equally frightened when it changed or disappeared. We'd try to find him a present he'd enjoy, but he'd merely scream and cry in panic at the intrusion on his carefully ordered world, and the gifts would sit ignored until he outgrew them and we gave them to some little boy who could appreciate them.
He wanted nothing. He would look straight at toys we thought he would like, and he would not react at all. He asked for nothing. He anticipated nothing. He just screamed and cried at all of it. It is no bliss to have a child who doesn't get it - who doesn't want anything and doesn't want to have anything to do with Christmas commercialism - or it is only bliss in some romantic fantasy. In real life it is a surreal nightmare.
This year, right around Thanksgiving, we once more asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas. Our 14-year-old daughter sat down and made out her list. And our 10-year old son, for the first time in his life, answered the question. "PlayStation 2," he said. "I want PlayStation 2 Christmas." We just about fell over. His sister gave him a piece of paper. She wrote "Phil's Christmas List" at the top. He wrote, "PLAYSTATION TOW" under her heading. "At Sam's," he said. "Go to car."
So, we drove to Sam's. He has never looked at anything there, never seemed to notice that Sam's has anything he might want. But he led us right to the PlayStation 2 sets, picked out the bundle he wanted and put it in the cart. "Open at Christmas," he said. He watched gleefully as we wrapped the package, and then he solemnly placed it under the tree. So, a PlayStation 2 game set sits there, wrapped, with his name on it, and he waits to open it. "December 25," he says. "Open PlayStation 2 December 25."
Last night we'd returned from yet another Christmas rehearsal with our daughter, Phil found a Best Buy ad in the paper and turned immediately to the PlayStation games. He circled "Harry Potter" and "John Madden Football", handed the ad to Bob, and said, "I want Christmas." There were tears in my eyes. It's such a small thing, but such a truly amazing thing. It's one more bit of hope that he will be able to function in some semblance of society as an adult one day - that he might be able to live just a BIT more independently, and one day want the things he needs to survive enough to work for them. (Not a foregone conclusion with autistic folks, which makes them particularly unemployable, no matter their intelligence.) Consumerism might be "the enemy", but a kid who understands none of it is only a hero in a Chicken Soup For The Soul story.
This Advent season I am grateful for being able to appreciate what complexity and miracle is involved in such small "selfish" acts as wanting something for Christmas and expressing those wants to another person. I'm grateful that my son is able to enjoy all of the commercial cultural trappings of the holiday this year instead of running from them screaming. I'm grateful for the many ways Phil helps me stop and look again, even at my most "Christian" conclusions. And I'm especially grateful that my son helps me see Christ's humble birth, over and over again, even in the midst of nightmares and worries I could not have imagined 10 years ago, even in the midst of Advent.
Jenee
Jenee Woodard
http://www.textweek.com
mailto:jeneewd@dmci.net
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Discipleship Training 2008 Announced....
Discipleship Training 2008
Starting in January 2008 the following classes will be offered by the CTBC Discipleship Ministry:
Women in Training (WiT): this group will consist of 10-12 ladies who will come together each week for Bible Study, prayer, and fellowship. Each week the group will meet on a specific day for a specific amount of time.
Men in Training (MiT): This group will consist of 10-12 men who will come together each week for Bible Study, prayer, and fellowship. Each week the group will meet on a specific day for a specific amount of time.
3:16 by Max Lucado: “In this interactive study experience, based on his book 3:16, Max Lucado unpacks the incredible message of John 3:16, illuminating one of the most beloved Scriptures in the entire Bible. This study is for those who know these words, and for those hearing then for them for the first time. We all need its promise.” This study will be offered on Sunday evenings at 5:30, Thursday mornings at 11:00, and a TBA time and day during the week.
Financial Peace University: “The program is a biblically based accountability curriculum that teaches you to manage God’s money and resources in a godly way. It empowers you to make the right financial decisions to achieve your financial goals, teaching you to eliminate debt, build wealth and give like never before. On average, families reduce their debt by $5,300 and save $2,700 in just 91 days.” This 13 week class, based on Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace, is scheduled to meet on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. It will be facilitated by Dan Hartless and Newman Sisk. The cost for this class is $90/per family, which covers the cost for materials which includes workbook, all 13 lessons on CD, enhanced envelope system, Dave Ramsey’s book Financial Peace, new budgeting forms, bonus CD-ROM’s, tip cards, debit card holders, and more! There are scholarships available, so don’t let money be an object.
Starting in January 2008 the following classes will be offered by the CTBC Discipleship Ministry:
Women in Training (WiT): this group will consist of 10-12 ladies who will come together each week for Bible Study, prayer, and fellowship. Each week the group will meet on a specific day for a specific amount of time.
Men in Training (MiT): This group will consist of 10-12 men who will come together each week for Bible Study, prayer, and fellowship. Each week the group will meet on a specific day for a specific amount of time.
3:16 by Max Lucado: “In this interactive study experience, based on his book 3:16, Max Lucado unpacks the incredible message of John 3:16, illuminating one of the most beloved Scriptures in the entire Bible. This study is for those who know these words, and for those hearing then for them for the first time. We all need its promise.” This study will be offered on Sunday evenings at 5:30, Thursday mornings at 11:00, and a TBA time and day during the week.
Financial Peace University: “The program is a biblically based accountability curriculum that teaches you to manage God’s money and resources in a godly way. It empowers you to make the right financial decisions to achieve your financial goals, teaching you to eliminate debt, build wealth and give like never before. On average, families reduce their debt by $5,300 and save $2,700 in just 91 days.” This 13 week class, based on Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace, is scheduled to meet on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. It will be facilitated by Dan Hartless and Newman Sisk. The cost for this class is $90/per family, which covers the cost for materials which includes workbook, all 13 lessons on CD, enhanced envelope system, Dave Ramsey’s book Financial Peace, new budgeting forms, bonus CD-ROM’s, tip cards, debit card holders, and more! There are scholarships available, so don’t let money be an object.
Just For Youth: Each week there will be Youth Alive! Youth Choir. You will be practicing for your Spring/Summer Musical. YA!YC meets Sunday nites @ 5:30 pm.
Just for Kids: Each week you will be participating in Childrens' Choir and Bible Skillz (you will learn all about the Bible and how to find verses and books of the Bible, etc.) Choir and Skilz meets each Sunday night at 5:30 pm.
There are classes for everyone, so don't miss out on
these great oppurtunities!
For more info just drop us an email.
Christmas Mission Offering
Baptist missionaries are serving throughout the world spreading the gospel message. Baptist missionaries do not have to raise their own support, but are supported through the generous giving of Baptist throughout the world. Each Christmas Baptist congregations collect a Christmas Offering to help support Baptist missionaries. The CTBC Christmas Offering is equally divided between the CBF Global Missions Offering and the SBLottie Moon Christmas Offering (SBC). Below is an update of the CTBC Christmas Mission Offering.
Christmas Mission Offering
Our Goal: $5,000.00
Collected to Date: $3,396.00
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Time To Pray
Our hearts are broken for those persons whose lives have been affected by the shootings in Colorado Sunday. We join with those across the world who are praying this day for the friends and families who lost loved ones including the shooter, Youth With A Mission, and New Life Church. It is our prayer that out of the tragedy God will be glorified and Christ lifted up.
Monday, December 10, 2007
12/9/07 What A Day!!!
The second Sunday of Advent was quite a wonderful experience at CTBC. Our Children's Choir presented their Christmas musical A King is Coming in the morning and the CTBC Youth Alive! Youth Choir presented Christmas Crosstalk in the evening. Both programs were outstanding.
The town of Gossipville was all excited when they heard the news that their town was going to be visited by a king. Everyone was guessing who the king was going to be. Was it going to be Elvis, the king of rock and roll?
Was it going to be a lion, the king of the jungle? Was it going to be some other royalty? Actually, the town of Gossipville and everyone at CTBC learned that the Jesus Christ is King. And it is that King that we should prepare our hearts to receive.
Christmas Crosstalk was a superb program put on by our Youth Alive! Youth Choir. Christmas Crosstalk was filled with humor, great singing, and a message that Jesus is the Messiah. It was a command performance with reminded us that Christmas is not just another holiday on the calendar.
Both of these programs were more than just "performances" they were worship services. Each had a message that the entire world needs to hear. Christmas is about Christ the King. The babe in the manger was not just another child, not just another prophet. The babe in the manger is our Messiah.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Christmas Links
Here are some cute, fun Christmas links that hopefully will brighten your day.
http://ecard.ashland.edu/index.php?ecardYear=2004adm
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze201j5/countdown.htm
http://www.elfyourself.com/
And here are a couple of Advent devotional links:
http://mykurios.blogspot.com/
http://www.followingthestar.org/
http://ecard.ashland.edu/index.php?ecardYear=2004adm
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze201j5/countdown.htm
http://www.elfyourself.com/
And here are a couple of Advent devotional links:
http://mykurios.blogspot.com/
http://www.followingthestar.org/
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
It's Tuesday, But Sunday Is A Comin'
On Sunday, December 9 there are TWO, count them, TWO exciting Christmas programs. Our Children's Choir will be presenting their Christmas Musical, A King Is Coming To Town, at 11:00 AM. As you can tell the children are hard a work and the musical will be outstanding! See you Sunday at 11:00...
Then you most definitely will not want to miss the Youth alive! Youth Choir musical, Christmas Crosstalk, at 7:00 PM. We all love a talk show, so what if the Christmas story was told on a 21st century talk show? Come Sunday night and find out.
Then you most definitely will not want to miss the Youth alive! Youth Choir musical, Christmas Crosstalk, at 7:00 PM. We all love a talk show, so what if the Christmas story was told on a 21st century talk show? Come Sunday night and find out.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Advent Begins
In the Christian year the two holiest seasons are Advent and Lent. Yesterday marked the beginning of the Advent. It is a time of preparation and anticipation. We prepare our hearts for the Messiah who was born on Christmas Day and we wait in anticipation of the return of that Messiah.
This year at CTBC we had a special treat as for the first time we have a Chismon Tree. As you can see this is a tree serves as a beautiful reminder of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Each ornament was crafted by the children of CTBC. And each ornament is a symbol of Jesus Christ, our Messiah.
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