Over the past few weeks I have been amazed by the generosity of our church!! Let me share with you one example:  Melissa Pipkin gave the proceeds of a Zumba class to help a family in crisis. Out of her own God-given gifts of mercy, leadership, generosity and (of course) rhythm she and the gals in her class raised 401 dollars!  And you know the most amazing thing about it?  She came away with an empty bill fold and a zeal for life that pushes me to be a better Christ-follower.  That's an economy that works!

As we settle into this season, I want to remind you of reality.  You might already know this but as your pastor, I thought I'd remind you...

Christmas is hard for people because they set their expectations too high when they reunite with extended family members.  I know very few people that have perfectly healthy memories with their family. Come to think of it, I don't know anybody who has that as their story. Family is hard work and so lower your expectations that everyone will behave over the next 21 days.  You'll be glad you did. We can't judge our extended family relationships using the scale of a Hallmark Movie where everything is resolved in two hours.  We must remember that we are all works in progress. And one more thought:  You can't spend your way into reconciliation.  I know this will come as a blow to the credit card companies but it's true. Physical, tangible presents will not change a life, but your forgiveness and unconditional love will.

I love you,

Matt

Sunday mornings at 9a

Began December 2

Room 245

Led by Theresa Carrico

Join Us!

As parents, we need to do everything we can to enhance our children's relationship with us, to influence their relationships with those outside the home, and most importantly, to advance their relationship with God.  

This 6-week study is a practical resource that will help parents to ask themselves the important questions:  Am I economizing my time with my child, or am I investing in my child by carefully developing the quality of our relationship over the long haul?  Am I striving to control the influence that friends have in my child's life?  Am I nurturing a healthy, eternal perspective that will help my child to weather the inevitable storms of life?  

Sunday mornings at 9a

Began December 2

Room 127

Led by Bill Waters

Join Us!

This study helps participants to experience Biblical truths that provide encouragement, hope, and answers to those enduring difficult times. It's focus is to enlighten members with very real, very practical answers, straight from God's word.  Sessions include: What Are Trials?  Why Trials?  What to Do with Trials.   What If I Refuse This Trial?  Why Some Trials Never End.  and Come Forth as Gold.

Sermon Series

This November and December, we will be praying one powerful, fearful, wonderful, and life-changing prayer:  God, surprise me!  When we read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation we realize that we are reading about one surprise after another.  From "Let there be light" to "The shout of Christ's Return," God has, is, and will surprise us.  Will you pray this pray with us? GOD, SURPRISE ME!

Christmas Rehearsals . Sunday

 A Night of Carols

Rehearsal for choir every Sunday at 4p.

"Night of Carols" . December 16 . 6p

A celebration of the music of Christmas.  Night of Carols will be an informal time of carols, Christmas songs, and worship.

Join us.

Family Gingerbread Houses . Tonight . 6:30p

NEXT Wrap Party . December 17-20

Christmas in the Round . December 24

Lego Robotics Mini-Camp . December 2012

The Big Give . Crisis Pregnancy Center

Growth Group Preview Night . January 9

Starting Point . January 20

Guatemala Mission Trip 2013 . May 25-31

T4 Men's Integrity Group .  Tuesday . 8p

Caregivers Support Group

Caregivers Support Group

4th Monday of Each Month

BBC Parlor

7p 

Will NOT meet December 24

Contact:  Bill Waters at waters47@aol.com.

NEXT Enrichment 

Empowering the NEXT generation through educational,  

physical, social and spiritual development opportunities.

Do you want your child to have every opportunity to grow and become all God has designed them to be? Join us for NEXT ENRICHMENT. There are many opportunities for children 2nd - 8th grade during the week:

MONDAYS

Knitting:  4p-5p  .   $10/week  per student 

Instructor:  Mary Anne Mercill

Instructor:  Gordon Carter

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

TUESDAYS

Art Studio:  4-5p Painting  .  $10/week  per student 

Instructor:  Wendy Swaby

______________________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAYS

Beginning Piano:  $12.50/class per student

Instructor:  Barbara Somerville . Each class is 30 minutes. 

____________________________________________________________________

THURSDAYS

S.T.E.M. LEGO Robotics: $10/week NEXT student . $20/week community

4-5p Middle School

5p-6p Elementary School

Instructor:  Brooke Gilliam . Limit 8 per class. 

Each class if offered to NEXT students and community students.

Preschool Ministry 

9:00a . Preschool Small Group. Classes located in the Preschool Hallway downstairs. Preschoolers are in age-divided groups for a weekly Bible story that is introduced through creative and developmentally appropriate activities. 

10:15a . First Avenue. Preschoolers stay in their rooms with a rotating team of volunteers for a time of play and a video that reinforces the Bible lesson. Snack is provided.

WENDESDAYS

6:30p 

NEW CREATION:  An eight-week video series emphasizing the Fruit of the Spirit. Children will learn about the different qualities God's Spirit can develop in us as we meet various Bible characters who exemplify these traits in their lives.  

Student Ministry 

SUNDAYS:

9a:   AM Life Groups  .  7^th-12^th Grade

On Sunday mornings we offer Life Groups for our students.  Life Groups are small groups where we spend time sharing what is going on in our lives and then dig into a time of Bible study.  Using interactive and discussion-based lessons, this time is incredibly valuable as our students learn to live out God's word.

MS: 3rd Sunday

HS: 4th Sunday

Will Resume in 2013

Our Encounters will be times for our high school and middle school students to gather together for the purpose of hanging out and building community.  Encounters will be held at various homes or at locations around town.  Middle school Encounters will be held on the 3rd Sunday of the Month and high school Encounters will be on the 4th Sunday of the month.  Check our website for locations and times.

MONDAYS:

Student Leadership Team

7-8p

The student leadership team is a group of our students here at BBC who serve in the student ministry in various ways.  We meet on Monday nights for a time of planning and a time of discipleship.  Each member of the SLT is assigned a specific role in the student ministry.  Students must apply to be a part of the student leadership team.   Will meet December 10 for last 2012 meeting.  Then will resume January 2013.

WEDNESDAYS:

6:30-8p

6^th-12^th Grade

The Experience is a high-energy large group program where we combine worship, teaching, and media.  This is an awesome opportunity for our students to experience God and experience what it means to worship and follow God.  After a time of worship and teaching, we spend time in small groups where we identify how to apply the truths from the large group time. 

Student Ministry Events . Fall 2012

December

December 5:   Family Night:  Gingerbread House Making

December 12:  Student Caroling

December 9:  High School Christmas Party

                           Meet at BBC at 5p to go to the Piliponis' house

Sermon Resources & Bundles

NHC Worship Service

Upcoming Dates

    

 

Keep up with all the latest events here at BBC. Go to www.bluegrassbaptistchurch.com and click on member log-in. After you log in, click on the calendar tab. You can then click on any event to see all the event details. Check it out and Get Connected at BBC today!

 

50th Anniversary Celebration . December 30

You are invited to join us for an

Anniversary Tea 

in honor of

Wayne & Lynda Jones'

50th Wedding Anniversary

on 

Sunday, December 30

from 2-4p

at

Bluegrass Baptist Church

Interest Groups

Looking for a place to connect with others who share similar interests?  Then check out one of BBC's Interest Groups:

 Reel Men Fishing Group:  May - September.  Thursday from 6p-9:30p at Station Camp Creek Boat Ramp.  Annual Spring Fishing Retreat.  Contact:  Larry McClure at lmcclure@bellsouth.net.

Women's Sewing Group:  Thursday at 10a in the Parlor.  Bring your hand sewing projects and join us for fellowship.

TJC Motorcycle Ministry:  April - October.  Worship 3^rd Sunday of each month at 9a in the Pavilion.  Contact:  Mike Henry at henrycottage@comcast.net.

Men's Basketball:  Saturdays at 7a.  Contact: Wendy Swaby at wendyswaby@bluegrasschurch.net.

Support Groups

We feel fortunate to host a number of community support groups here at BBC. One of our values at BBC is for Emotional Health. We strongly support and encourage everyone to pursue this in their own lives. Whether that is in a Growth Group, Support Group or a Community Group, we at BBC feel that EMOTIONAL HEALTH is the key .

Click on any of the group names to be taken to their website for more information and details about the groups.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets Sundays at 7p and Wednesdays at 8p in Room 114 

LifeBridge meets the 3rd Monday of the month in the Parlor. 

Narcotics Anonymous meets Tuesdays at 7p in Room 114.

Benefits of Online Giving

1. You're taking a step of faith.  When you sign up to give online, you're making the spiritual decision to give faithfully.  God blesses this kind of faith!
2. You'll simplify your life.  You'll always know you gave this month.
3. You'll be helping the church.  Not only does every person who gives online help lower our administrative costs, online giving makes our record keeping much easier.
4. It's so easy to sign up.  If anyone is interested in contributing to BBC through electronic transfer, please contact Shirley at 824.0001, or click here to be taken to the electronic transfer form.  You may print this form, fill it out and turn this back into Shirley in the church office. These may also be mailed to:

Attention Shirley Brigance, Financial Administrator

Bluegrass Baptist Church

235 Indian Lake Road

Hendersonville, TN  37075

You may also return them to the Got Questions table on Sunday morning. 

Reel Men of God 

First of all, thank you for your support of Reel Men of God, and especially for your prayers!  We had a very successful season in 2012, and have made plans to expand our events.  We would like your assistance to work together on two projects.

REEL TIPS FOR MEN:  We are planning a mid-winter men's conference on a Saturday morning (date TBD) as an outreach and discipleship event.  Speakers will discuss some aspect of fishing, then relate that to a Biblical principle and discuss how that relates to everyday life.  So far we have commitments from the following:

• Don Jarvis - co-owner AllPro Rods and former youth minister
• Tony Varallo - owner Go2Baits
• Dan Jacobus - Reel Men of God member and creator of XNU Hope
• Russ Weymouth - Reel Men of God member and Biblical counseling minister at College Heights Baptist Church
• Larry McClure - president of Reel Men of God and owner of BassGNO

For the most current information and newsletter information, check out their website at  www.reelmenofgod.com.