MissionWay e-News
Spend Less - Give More - Love All - Worship Fully



THIS WEEK @ MISSIONWAY
A Different Kind of Worship
Join us Sunday as MissionWay Celebrates Christmas
It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for Christmas. It's a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It's a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It's the party of the year. Entering the story of advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest. Join us Sunday as we celebrate the birth of the King.
Our Focus on Giving: Missions Offering this Sunday
This Sunday we are taking up our Missions Offering as a part of the Advent Conspiracy.  This season we are spending less on ourselves and giving more to help others--globally and locally.
 
Mission Offering Goal: $6,000*
· Young Life: Helping local Nease students attend camp next summer
· Haiti: Helping to rebuild wells damaged during the hurricanes earlier this year
· Ethiopia: Supporting DestinyAcademy, EducationResourceCenter, and families working in Addis Ababa
 
*This special offering will be taken up this Sunday, December 21. You can also give online or mail your contribution directly to MissionWay.
The Christmas Store Opens this Saturday! 
The Christmas Store is almost here! We open our doors this weekend (Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21). As many of you know, this store will allow the families at The Oaks Apartments to purchase Christmas gifts for a fraction of the item's original price. 
 
Still interested in helping out? Well,
· We need volunteers for set up which will take place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Thursday and Friday. Jobs include decorating, sorting toys, and setting up tables, etc.
· We need volunteers to operate the store. These volunteers need to be at the MissionWay Office at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, unless you've personally been told differently.
· We need people to bring cookies or brownies on Saturday or Sunday for the hospitality table.
· Last but not least, we need carolers on both days. No experience required, just the desire to share the Christmas spirit through song!
 
Contact Melissa Kramer (mamakramer@gmail.com) for more information about volunteering. Also, if you still have toys or parent gifts to donate, please contact Melissa as soon as possible and she'll pick them up from you.
Eve service
MissionWay will continue the tradition of hosting a Christmas Eve service at Baptist South for all staff, patients and visitors.  Next week, as one of our local service projects through Advent Conspiracy, we are asking you to be a part of a worship service on Christmas Eve.  You can help by coming out to carol at the hospital and be a part of the worship service.  Caroling begins at 5:30 p.m. and the service begins at 6 p.m. We are also asking that you bring Christmas goodies to share with the hospital staff working at the hospital on Christmas Eve. Come and bring your family and friends to this special opportunity to serve and worship. 
There's Still Time to Give More this Christmas Season
Have you had the chance to contact your friends and family to tell them about The Christmas Store? Let's make sure to let others know how we can all help make this holiday season special by being a part of The Christmas Store. You can direct friends and family to our website for more information about the store and how they too can get involved.
 
Still trying to find that last minute gift for that difficult-to-buy-for person on your list? Make a donation to The Christmas Store in their honor. Cards are available for you to send them with information about the meaningful donation you have made on their behalf. See our table on the patio for more information.
Thank You for Your Help!
Monday we hosted a breakfast at Nease for nearly 100 faculty members. The breakfast was a great way to connect with the folks at Nease. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who helped by preparing breakfast casseroles, fruit and pancakes, setting up, serving and greeting the faculty, and cleaning up.  We were blessed to have a team of servant hearts.
Last Week @ MissionWay: December 14, 2008
Attendance: 112
Offering: $19,205.55
Service @ MissionWay: December 21, 2008
Set-Up: Dave Palmer's Team 
Host Team: Melissa/Matt Kramer, Bobbi/Richard Doggett, Don Raines, Dorothy/Steve Farlow
Food: Melissa Kramer
Offering: Devon Scheible, Catherine Childers
Nursery: Shannon/Dave Palmer, Melissa Kramer
Toddlers: Kristie Gover, Haley Palmer
Lil'K: Lisa Fountain, Margi Henson
G-Force: Walter Newsom