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Magnolia Baptist Church
"Every person a place to serve and a place to belong." December 2012
Are you ready for the end? Or perhaps a new beginning? Either way, buckle up, because we are well into the final countdown until the 2012 Mayan apocalypse, set for Dec. 21. That date corresponds to the end of the 13th b’ak’tun, or 144,000-day cycle, on the Maya Long Count calendar, marking a full cycle of creation, according to the ancient Maya. This milestone has triggered both fear and excitement in some subcultures, particularly online. Some see the day as a true doomsday, when the Earth will be destroyed in a planetary collision or other major disaster. Others see it as a day marking a new dawn of peace and unity. Others disregard the whole thing as ancient nonsense (I tend to fall into this group). Regardless of where you fall in the scope of conversation, December 21, 2012 is on the way. Barring an earlier cataclysmic event, the prophetic soup of ancient and contemporary religion, scientific speculation and pop culture buzz is ready to be served. Are you ready? If not, why not? Apocalypse predictions are a fairly frequent occurrence in western civilization. Most recently, radio preacher Harold Camping gained notoriety after predicting Judgement Day on May 21, 2011 and the end of the world on Oct. 21 of that year. Camping had initially claimed the world would end in 1994, later asserting he had gotten his Biblical math wrong; the real date, he said, would be Oct. 21, 2011. Which was wrong, but I suppose that’s o.k. too, as long as Camping is doing the math! I can remember conversations with Corrie about not being ready for the end. There was still so much I wanted to see. There were experiences yet to be encountered; adventures still to explore. I shake my head at that today. What is it about this world that draws our focus? What does this world offer that we don’t want to lose?
720 S. Magnolia Anaheim, CA 92804
1st John 2:15-17 reads: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the
lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Makes you rethink your Christmas list doesn’t it? In terms of dying, I am in no way ready to die. In terms of Heaven’s glory and seeing God on His throne, I echo John’s words from Revelation, “Even so Lord Jesus, come.” Nothing compares with the glory of God. Nothing matches Heaven’s splendor. So let the calendar draw to yet another close, but let your hearts ever remain wanting to see Jesus face-to-face. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Those who made the greatest difference in this world, were simply the ones who thought the most of the next.”
Eye Glass Collection Drive
Find out how you can make a difference...
CSandlelight ervice December 24th Make it a Family Tradition.
Please PRAY for the – DEC 07: Movie Night: “The Polar Exp DEC 09: CrossRoad: “Advent” DEC 21: Bethany House (Our Bapt Event – we are leading a 20-min. “White Christmas” DEC 24: Christmas Eve at Matsusaka the ‘special’ music) DEC 25: CrossRoad/Monthly Event: DEC 27-28: JMF – Missionary Christm JANUARY 09, 2013: New Term begin
8:00pm
In the spirit of giving and Sharing God’s Love we are making meals for Byron and Correen LaCounte, while Correen continues to heal. Please go to: We are collecting READING GLASSES in various strengths for two separate mission ministries -- Nicaragua and the Indian Reservations. If you would like to participate, all you need to do is buy a pair (or several!) and drop them off at the Welcome Booth in the collection box on Sundays. Contact Denise Mitchell (714 620-6232 or denisedenurse@aol.com) with any questions.
Car kno to a for gro rea Inte in c Eng win and disciple those the Lord is tru
PRAISE GOD FOR: 1. TEC/CEC -- since our Fall term be to answer your prayers for the PR!! come to check-us-out and we alre students (NOT counting the students are teaching!!) PRAISE GOD! 2. The Tsu Baptist Church as God our students & friends to come; p would ‘truly’ HEAR when they come. 3. Chris & Elisabeth Rhoton have be Their ‘Seasonal Classes” (Kid’s Art, c soooo very much to our Fall class Sc in our monthly events, movie nights 4. PR - we have asked you to pray about our Center and Becky and I Deaf Golf Championships (AND we h I was asked to help (a bit) with the
Glad to be your pastor, Jeremy
North Am carol.p
carecalendar.org ID#: 132913 Code: 5329 and sign up to take a meal. Also, plan to stay and visit for a little while when you deliver their dinner. If you have any questions please call Karen: 714 306-9695
1. Important EVENTS: ALL above ne attending…especially in this “HOLID season 2. TOHOKU VOLUNTEER TEAM: Bec of volunteers to the Tohoku region part of December -- that God would they would be safe & healthy AND th would sense God IN the team memb from folks here in Mie Prefecture!! 3. RHOTONS: Our seminary interns returned to seminary BUT need pr shock! 4. TSU BAPTIST CHURCH: our churc start with attendance around 20…pl for Christ...especially our students, o and Internationals!!
Carol Potratz merican Baptist - Japan potratz@yahoo.com
rol’s primary life objective is “to ow Christ and make Him known” all age groups. Carol has a passion Japan and the Japanese people oup. She and the team she is on are aching out to their neighborhood, ernationals and University students creative ways, using the vehicle of glish. How exciting to witness to, usting her with!
egan in September, God CONTINUES we have had several MORE people eady have added at least 5 new s from the classes that the Rhoton’s
is continuing to answer prayers for please join us in praying that they . een a wonderful addition to our staff. crochet, Choir, Knitting) have added chedule & they’ve been a BIG HELP s and other programming helps!! with us about getting-the-word-out were asked to help with The World had a GREAT time doing so!!) PLUS, new Mie Prefecture Museum .
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tist senior citizen Home) Christmas . Carol-Sing, 2-3pm; Movie Night: Community Church (we’re providing
“Christmas at the Center “ mas (CEC) ns
eed discerning prayer, for us & those DAY” season!!! (AND for our new
cky Lengefeld will lead another team the last week of November & first use them in a meaningful way, that hat the people they are working with bers and be blessed by gifts brought
s, who have REALLY been a help, rayer for work & REVERSE culture
ch’s new name! We’re off to a good lease pray that we could reach Tsu our neighbours, University students
Birthdays 1 2 2 3 3 5 5 5 6 7 7 7 8 8 9 10 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 20 20 20 21 22 27 27 27 28 28 29 30 30 31 31
Bea Gathright Daniel Bratcher Celestine Leynes Gemma Leynes Olivia Sawyer Denise Mitchell Lee Thormahlen Janey Morris Tracie Baxter Cindy Kirby David Kirby Kevin LaCounte Matthew Compher Alex Edmonds Jan Sapien Bethany Pugsley Deanna Harris Patsy Teague Ysabel Eneria Tom Kiser Carissa Zug John Showalter Karen Thormahlen CJ Leynes Chris Conway Abigail Orilla Allan Francher Tony Toliver Barbara Hill Keiko Brand Daniella Sicat Bonnie Marsh Aileen Hodgson Abby Nordell Scott Gibson Pat Blinn Nellie Avila Nancy Brown Marge Kato Marissa Climer Gladys Mora Richard Chapman Owen Perez
Ladies’ Retreat: January 18-20, 2013
Cost: For More information,
juliegrahamshowalter@gmail.com
Come and help us decorate the church for the
Christmas Season Saturday, December 8th 1pm - 3pm
meet Pastor Jeremy in the Sanctuary
Church Office Closed
December 24 - January 2nd
Anniversaries 1 1 8 13 15 20 23 27 27 29 29
Phil & Lucie Carlson Tony & Amber Toliver Mike & Tara Reddy Jose & Nellie Avila Patrick & Suzy Keleher Mike & Lesley Steenbergen Denis & Dorothy Stevens Jerry & Kathy King Phil & Patsy Teague Edgardo & Rose Eneria Tim & Bang Pham
If you have been thinking about being baptized, here is your opportunity. On December 30th we will be have a baptism service. If you would like to be baptized on that day, please contact the Church office or talk with one of the pastors.
Celebration Sunday December 30th ~ 10:30am Communion Baptism Baby Dedication and more!