December 4—Handbells Concert at RF

December 11—Celebration Choir Concert at LBC

December 18—VOE Concert at LBC

December 23 & 26—Church Office Closed

December 24—Christmas Eve Service (LBC & RF)

December 25—Christmas Service, combined at LBC, No AM Life Journey Groups,

December 28—No Wed. evening programing

Christmas at Lawndale is a great opportunity for the family of Lawndale. If you haven’t already made plans with your biological family, you most likely will soon. The staff and others have been planning for some time now for our spiritual family. We have much to celebrate . . . the coming of our King!

 

Biblical Worship on Sunday Mornings: Come, sing old and new Christmas hymns on both campuses. The advent series will take us through key passages in Luke 1-2, help us see key people in Christ’s coming, and point us to the coming of the King Himself.

 

 

Intergenerational Ministry: We look forward to opportunities for the family to fellowship, encourage each other, and introduce others to the Lawndale family and Christ.

 

 

Discipleship Culture: Go and make disciples by inviting others to your home and to our church home for special Christmas gatherings. Give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering to help our missionaries make disciples.

 

Family Equipping: I hope we have at least 100 families doing the Advent Blocks together. May this generation of parents raise up the next generation of godly parents. And may grandparents use the Christmas season as a means of pointing their families to Christ.

 

Leadership Development: Sometimes Christmas season brings out key people who God calls to step up in involvement and ministry. For others, it may be thinking about the next year (2023) that brings out new possibilities and fruit bearing ministries.

All Wednesday night meals and adult studies will take a break until January 11. At that time, we’ll start a new series, “Lord, Teach Us To Share the Faith.”

 

And as a special note for Christmas day (Sun Dec 25), we will have one service for both campuses on Lawndale Dr. from 10:30am-11:30am. I hope we have a room full of people from all ages and stages worshiping the King together, birth to Senior Adults. The King is coming again; let’s be ready!

 If no one answers immediately, please leave a message with a contact number

Kyle Earwood, Assistant Pastor, Children & Families, dkearwood@lawndalebaptist.org

Abby Miller, Preschool Director, acmiller@lawndalebaptist.org

Zachary McCraw, Assistant Pastor, Students, zemccraw@lawndalebaptist.org

Cassie Taylor, Next Generations Girls Director, cntaylor@lawndalebaptist.org

Connect with Us—For more details about the Student Ministry, connect with us in the following ways:

Don’t forget that we have hangouts happening after Fusion and Equip. If you would like to set up a student or family meal with Zach or Cassie, just let us know! Also, let us know if there are any specific ways we can pray for or minister to your families!

Luke Earwood, College Director, clearwood@lawndalebaptist.org

Thanksmas Party - December 4 at House C from 5-8pm. What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas than putting them together in one party? Bring a $5 gift for a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange. There will also be an ugly sweater/ Christmas sweater competition with a prize for the winner! Sign up here: https://newsletter.dymapps.com/read/34406 to bring something.

Christmas Party – December 18 at the McCraw's house from 6-8pm. Check out our Instagram or Join the Remind for more details. 

Dr. Curt Dean, Teaching Pastor, cdean@lawndalebaptist.org

We are a group of married and non-married adults, ages 22- 32, connecting young adults to Christ and the Christian Community. We hope you can join us! Questions? Email Curt Dean (cdean@lawndalebaptist.org).

Young Adults Christmas Party—Saturday, December 17 at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall (Lawndale Campus). Please bring a favorite Christmas snack to share. See Will Early for more details.

Weekly Bible Studies: Join us for our weekly Bible studies! We have options for both guys and ladies:

You are invited to fellowship with other LBC Single Adults! Stay connected to get updates on all of our activities by emailing singleadults@lawndalebaptist.org. 

FOCUS Bible Study on Wednesday Nights—The Singles FOCUS Bible Study will be celebrating Christmas in December! Join us for special Bible studies each Wednesday night at 6:15pm in House A.  There will be something special EVERY Wednesday in December so be sure to join us. 

Barry Owen, Discipleship Pastor, bvowen@lawndalebaptist.org

“Sunday School is not dead.” Here at Lawndale we call Sunday School “Life Journey Groups.” What if research showed us that 90% of vibrant churches use Sunday School as the ministry for delivering Bible teaching, making disciples, and for assimilating people into their churches? David Francis, Director of Sunday School @ Lifeway Christian Resources, conducted an analysis of the 400 most vibrant churches in his book, SIMPLE CHURCH. He discovered that 87.5% of those vibrant churches conducted Sunday School on Sunday morning. Are you convinced now? We have enrolled 200 new members in Sunday School and had 81 new members join our church this year. I can tell you we are alive. We have been very intentional as we share with our new members what to do once they join. “Attend Worship, join a Life Journey Group, and find a ministry to serve in.”

 

God continues to bless our ministry with some of the finest teachers and coordinators around. I am so thankful for their work each week and the outstanding job they do of reaching, teaching, and ministering.

 

 

New Year means New Groups, New D-groups will be forming in 2023. Be looking for these new groups that are starting soon. D-groups are small groups of 3-8 people that meet weekly for accountability, prayer and fellowship. D-Groups use a simple plan of reading a chapter of the Bible a day and then meeting weekly with a group for discussion. For more info, please call the church office or e-mail Beverly Black @ bjblack@lawndalebaptist.org

 

Deacon & Wives Retreat-Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 7, 8:30am in the CLC. This is our kickoff to our new year with new deacons, pastors, new family assignments and intentional ministry. Please make every effort to attend and respond to the invitation from Beverly.

 

Dr. Jon Boling, Senior Adults Pastor, jonboling@lawndalebaptist.org

Senior Assembly – Thursday, the 1st at 11am in the Chapel – We’ll sing Advent/Christmas hymns, enjoy warm fellowship and hear a word from “Jesus in the Psalms” – a fascinating look at God’s revelation of Messiah throughout God’s hymnbook. 

 

Voices of Experience Rehearsals – Wednesday, the 7th in the Fellowship Hall, the 14th and 17th in the Worship Center. Singers, please be punctual and prepared on the 18th!

 

Prime Time Luncheon – Thursday, the 15th at noon in the CLC – Featuring the Gate City New Horizons Orchestra presenting their Christmas Concert.

The First Noel: Born is the King – presented by The Voices of Experience Senior Adult Choir and Orchestra – Sunday, December 18 at 4pm in the Worship Center. This is truly a beautiful musical offering to God for the gift of His Son Jesus. Come listen and sing along as we worship the Lord for that Holy Night – the First Noel!

 

Jimmy Jackson, Administrative & Missions Pastor, jjackson@lawndalebaptist.org

Nathan Morrison, Director of Activities & Outreach, nhmorrison@lawndalebaptist.org

Above the Rim Basketball: Do you like working with youth? Are sports a way you could reach youth with the gospel of Christ? Lawndale’s youth basketball league has several volunteer coaching positions available. Practices begin the week of Jan 15. Games begin Jan 27/28 and end Mar 3/4. There will be a coaches' training Saturday, Dec 10 from 10-11:30am in the CLC. Basketball experience is helpful, but not necessary. Please contact Nathan Morrison at nhmorrison@lawndalebaptist.org if interested in finding a way to serve this season!

Martha Stone, Weekday Director, msstone@lawndalebaptist.org

The children are full of excitement as they learn about and prepare for the birth of Jesus. The Children’s Learning Center will close for the Christmas holiday at noon on Friday, December 16. We will return to school on Tuesday, January 3.

 

We want to welcome Sarah Pirock to our teaching staff. Sarah joined us on October 15 and is working with our four-year-old children. We are very blessed to have Sarah with us.

 

Eight years ago, we started the Marion and Doris Ellis Weekday Scholarship Fund. Thank you so much for your generous gifts that have allowed children the opportunity to attend a Christian preschool. It is only through your donations that we can continue to offer financial assistance to our families in need.

The Weekday staff would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. May God bless you with much peace and joy!

Dr. Donna Navey, Women’s Director, dnavey@lawndalebaptist.org

Our Women on Mission Groups are excited to be celebrating one of our early Baptist missionaries, Lottie Moon, in December with the International Missions Emphasis and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! Please call Fran Brown, Director, at (336) 292-8508 for more information on any of our groups.

The Joyful Missions Group will gather on Tuesday, December 6, at 10am in Room 234. Come to hear about the “persecuted church” and how our missionaries are reaching out to them. If you have questions, just call Cindi Douglas at (336) 282-7637.

The Motivated by Grace Group will meet on Tuesday, December 13, at 12:30pm. They will have a covered dish lunch at the home of Jan Bissette.  Please call Linda Garner at (717) 203-5335 to make your reservation.

Healing Hearts of Lawndale will hold their Christmas luncheon on Saturday, December 10, at 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. All widows are invited to come enjoy a catered lunch of lasagna, salad and dessert followed by fun and fellowship playing Secret Santa (please bring a new $5 gift to exchange) and caroling together. Cost of the meal is $9 each, and payment must be made when your reservation is made. Reservation deadline is December 4. Please RSVP to the office at 336-288-3824, or see a Healing Hearts team member.

MOMS Class—January 16, this six-week class meets on Mondays from 9am-10:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Register online. $15 fee or $30 if childcare is needed.

Weekly Women in the Word (WWW) - A study of Isaiah, January 11, 9am-10am in the Chapel. This class is for women of all ages and is taught by Dr. Donna Navey.

Mary and Martha Meal - Jan. 21, 10:00am – 12:00 pm, CLC: Ladies, come and see a variety of ways to decorate your special events in 2023 as we enjoy brunch and a guest speaker. Registration will open Dec. 4 and run through Jan. 6. The cost is $7 per person, so bring a family member or friend for this wonderful time of fellowship.

Noah Darnell, Music & Worship Director, nvdarnell@lawndalebaptist.org

 It is our prayer that this season of Advent will turn our hearts to worship the God of all peace, and His Son whom He sent for us. As we sing together, may we rest upon His firm foundation, holding fast to the promise that the King is coming.

Dr. Kevin Weisman, Campus Pastor, kcweisman@lawndalebaptist.org

Christmas Music Night—Join us on December 4 at 4pm for a night of music featuring our handbells, campus choir, and more! We will also be serving a modified version of a "Love Feast" during the service! Join us for this special and unique evening of worship.

Campus Men's Dinner—Join us on December 8 as men young and old (kids to seniors) go out to eat together at the Harbor Inn in Burlington. RSVP with Pastor Kevin or sign up on a Sunday morning by December 4. We will have a minibus departing from the Reedy Fork Campus at 5pm!

Food Donations—Are you interested in helping provide food for students in need of some assistance at McNair Elementary School? You can sponsor a family on a weekly basis to receive a backpack of food to help get them through the weekends. There are also 15 families at McNair that could use assistance with food and Christmas gifts over the school's Christmas holiday. Contact Pastor Kevin or Pastor Jimmy to get involved.

Wednesday Night Family Meals will take a pause until January 11. Look in next month’s newsletter for menus and details on how to sign up!

A new Flower Calendar has been posted in the CLC elevator lobby for 2023. Sign up for your date to provide flowers for the main lobby in honor or memory of a loved one or special occasion. Arrangements are $100. You are free to take your flowers after the Sunday evening service or early in the following week. Someone from the church office will contact you in advance for your flower dedication wording and any preference you might have for the actual flowers.

Week of Prayer for International Missions (December 4-11) - International Missionaries bring light to the darkest part of the world through the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. 100% of your gift supports missionaries and their work around the world. The International Mission Board has had only one goal since its founding in 1845 – to take the gospel of Jesus to the lost people of the world. Lottie moon was one of the pioneer Christians to go on the foreign mission field and, in 1913, this Christmas Offering that was begun by her to support missionaries was renamed for her.

Called Business Meeting—December 11, during the AM service for the purpose of voting on the Deacons’ slate.

“Thank you” from Piedmont International Fellowship—PIF hosted its annual Internationals/ American Friends Thanksgiving Banquet November 5 at Lawndale Baptist Church. Approximately 110 attended with the following nations represented: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sudan, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and of course USA! Some students wore their traditional national dress and what an array of color! We enjoyed a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey and all the fixins, even Nigerian rice by the Keku family, and desserts provided by Americans. Entertainment this year was a montage of Lawndale musicians: Scott on the trumpet, Liz & Nathan on flute/guitar, Apsara with her song “Wayfaring Stranger”, Jaya on piano, Nathan on banjo, Noah on acoustic guitar! So many talented people sharing their God-given gifts. Thank you American volunteers for befriending these dear students who enrich our lives. Please pray they all come to know just how much Jesus loves them!