Please join your church in praying for the following requests for the life and mission of the church:
- Please pray for the group of Apostles folks reaching out on Saturday to people buying Christmas trees in the lot close to Chuy's restaurant at North Hills, that the Lord would show his love through them.
- Pray for those in our church family who have recently lost loved ones, that the Lord would comfort them and fill them with his peace.
- Pray for the church in Raleigh, that the work of every congregation proclaiming the gospel would lead to new believers and the transformation of our city.
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Pride for Parents-Advent/Christmas Mission-DUE THIS SUNDAY
DONATE: Please bring a new, unwrapped toy or article of clothing for the Pride for Parents Christmas Store. Pride for Parents is a ministry that provides new toys and clothes for local low-income parents to purchase at a greatly reduced cost. We will collect toys through THIS SUNDAY, December 14.
The Pride for Parents Store prefers to have small number of higher priced items, rather than many lower priced items. Feel free to purchase a gift with another family or with your Community Group. Educational, creative, and non-violent gifts are great items to consider. If you'd like to buy a bike, please get one that is size 16" to 20". You can also simply donate money by writing checks to "The Encouraging Place" with "Pride For Parents" on the memo line (please do not make checks out to Church of the Apostles). Please leave price tags on gifts to help facilitate store staff in pricing items.
VOLUNTEER: We also need volunteers to help run the store on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through December 20. The Encouraging Place, one of our ministry partners, is helping bring back the Pride for Parents Christmas Store. The volunteer coordinator is Spencer Daniel and she can be reached at pride4parents@gmail.com or leave a message at 919-438-0727.
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Sara Groves Christmas Concert at Apostles
All tickets are now available to other local churches.
Buy your tickets NOW while they are still available!
On Sunday, December 14 at 7pm, Apostles will host 7-time Dove Award nominated Christian musical artist Sara Goves. The concert will take place in the Sanctuary here at Church of the Apostles. We have a set amount of tickets for Church of the Apostles families and guests, but this concert is also open to the general public, so buy your tickets now! Around Thanksgiving we will make all remaining tickets available to the public.
TICKETS:If you would like to learn more about Sara Groves or listen to some of her songs, please click on the links below:
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"How Will You Serve?" for Advent and Christmas Eve
Advent and Christmas are coming soon! This is one of the busiest times of year for the church and we are looking for some extra volunteers to help both our regular and seasonal programs run well. Please take a look at the options below and choose a way that you and/or your family can serve this season.
Simply click HERE to sign up!
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UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATION
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End of Year Financial Information and Updates
Financial Update (July 1 2014-November 30, 2014)
Budgeted contributions $617,000 Actual contributions $600,617
Budgeted expenses $711,746 Actual expenses $682,371
We continue to keep expenses down, but please lift up our finances in prayer as a large part of our budget is received in the month of December.
Freedom for Mission, our debt-reduction fund, has received $13,287 during November and $370,732 since its inception in April 2010.
With regards to 2014 Giving Records:
Please note that gifts of securities and mutual funds must be transferred to, and received in, the Church's brokerage account by noon on Dec. 31, 2014.
Due to the limited office hours and staffing during the week of December 29th, we are requesting that you make every effort to bring any year end gifts for the offering during the services on December 28th or simply mail them. Payments mailed and postmarked by December 31, 2014 will be reflected on your 2014 Giving Record. If your bank issues your payment, please allow time for our receipt by mail.
For any questions about your giving, please contact Laynette Rustin, accounting@apostles-raleigh.org.
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We will be decorating the Sanctuary with poinsettias for the Advent & Christmas Season. If you would like to give one in honor or in memory of someone, please make a check out for $10 to Church of the Apostles with "Poinsettias" in the memo line. Then email Julie (julie@apostles-raleigh.org) with (1) "in honor of" or "in memory of", (2) the person's name, and (3) who is giving the gift. The list of dedications will be in the Christmas Eve bulletin.
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Christmas Eve Service Information
 Our Christmas Eve Services will be held on December 24 at 3pm, 5pm and 11pm. Our family services will be at 3pm and 5pm and our 11pm service is our traditional candlelight service. Last year our bigger service was the 5pm service. Please consider coming to the 3pm service this year to help make more room for visitors at the 5pm service. There will be a drama for the Christmas Eve message this year at all 3 services. Since it will not be a normal sermon, 3 year olds will be able to join their families in the service. Childcare will still be provided for children birth through 2 years old (Babybeams, Littlebeams, and Middlebeams). There will be no Sonbeams nursery.
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A Celebration of Curt's Service to the Student Ministry
As Curt Solomon has moved from serving as the Director of Student Ministries for over 10 years, to his new(ish) role as Assistant Pastor, we want to celebrate his time serving the students at Apostles. Former students, current students, families of former/current students, and former/current Student Ministry volunteers, please stop by for an open house on Monday, December 22, from 4-7pm at Bonnie McAdams' house (700 Marlowe Road). If you have contact with former students, please let them know these plans!
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Sunday School to Return in January 
Adult Sunday School is finished for this semester and will resume on January 18th with a new round of classes. We have some great classes in the works to help us all grow in knowing and following Jesus.
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Silver Saints - January 11 
Save the Date-"Silver Saints"- 0ver 50 fellowship will meet on Sunday, January 11, from 5:30 to 7:30. Check back for details. Please RSVP to Betty Edwards at ejeraleigh@aol.com.
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Women's Community Groups/Bible Studies
We have quite a few Women's Bible Studies that are being offered at Church of the Apostles. For more details about the studies listed below, please visit our website at:
http://apostles-raleigh.org/womens-community-groups/
2015 Women's Retreat Ladies, save the date for the 2015 Women's Retreat in Wilmington, NC (February 6-8). We will hear from the engaging, encouraging, and entertaining Kim Hall (www.givenbreath.com) and worship with our very own Christa Wells (www.christawellsmusic.com).
You can now REGISTER online.
Ladies Meet and Treat
Connect with other women at Apostles by being matched up for coffee or a meal.Contact Janet Whited (919-348-6087 or janetwhited@nc.rr.com).
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Men's Community Groups
If you are interested in joining a group, please visit our website to find detailed information about the studies:
http://apostles-raleigh.org/mens-community-groups/.
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! -Psalm 133:1
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This Sunday:
- NO Deal at 11:00. Join us for Lessons and Carols!
- This Sunday is the craft fair in the Fellowship Hall- any students who are here during the 10:00 Hour are to join us downstairs.
Christmas Tree Lot This Saturday - 2-4pm we will be serving at Shepherd's Way Tree Lot! Please contact Kara if you would like to join or for more info. Hillary Dotson - Sunday the 21st, Hillary Dotson will be sharing about her time in Rwanda at the 10:00 Hour, in the youth room. All families are invited! The DEAL will return on January 4th! We will also be having an "informal" 10:00 hour where we will catch up and have some snacks.
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Kids Time - This week KidsTime will be later in the service. We will be reading 2 Christmas storybooks and talking about how we can celebrate Jesus' birth in our hearts and lives.
Art Show - Please join us at 10:00 in the Fellowship Hall for the Children and Youth Art Show!
Children's Ministry Newsletter - This once/month newsletter has all the lessons for the month, upcoming dates to note, important announcements, and encouragement for discipleship in your home. Don't receive it? Email robin@apostles-raleigh.org to be added to the list.
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MISSIONS PARTNERS
UPDATES
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 Please click on the following various links for updates about some ministries and missionaries at Apostles.
Hillary Dotson (Sonrise School in Rwanda)
Terri Shell - November Update (InterVarsity)
Brian & Lauren Mann | National Update - Merry Christmas (Greek InterVarsity)
Cam Malpass | November Update (Campus Crusade for Christ)
Farwell's November Update (Athletes in Action)
OpenDoors USA 2014 Update Newsletter (Persecuted Church Around the World)
Praying for the Persecuted Church (Morocco)
Multiple Updates (Bethlehem Bible College)
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