NOVEMBER 5, 2017

Sunday ABFs & Groups

9:00 am Victory, Rm. 3104 Family, Rm. 3105/06

10:30 am Converge, Rm. 2104 Horizons, Rm. 3105/06 Life Journey, Rm. 3104 Young Professionals, Rm. 3101/02

5:00 pm Fusion & Element Teens, Fl. 1 + 2

6:00 pm The Pursuers, Rm. 3105/06

Dear Friends,

Thank you for joining us! I pray today’s service will encourage your heart.

This past Tuesday was a milestone for the global church. It marked the 500-year celebration of “Reformation Day,” the day in 1517 on which a German professor named Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to a castle door in Wittenberg.

Luther was a flawed man, like all of us, and probably wouldn’t fit well in today’s refined culture. However, we give thanks for the role he played in igniting a movement that caught fire in Europe and now reaches to the ends of the earth.

Wherever we find Scripture alone as the highest authority, grace alone as the only hope for salvation, faith alone as the only instrument by which we are joined to Jesus, Christ alone as the only sacrifice for sin, and God alone as the ultimate object of our worship—wherever we find these truths celebrated—we see fingerprints of the Reformation.

It’s also helpful to remember that Martin Luther didn’t start Christianity... Jesus did! He promised to continually build His church, and that nothing will stop it. The church is on the move in sub-Saharan Africa, the Korean peninsula, the megacities of China, the plateaus of Australia, the valleys Brazil, the mountains of India, and the southern hills of West Virginia.

As we open today’s service with Luther’s famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, I pray God’s presence will be your comfort and your hope.

For the city,

The Bible Center AppUse the free app to look up or register for an event, submit a prayer request, or

let us know you visited. Download it from your usual app store or go to BibleCenterChurch.com/app.

Weekly NewsletterIf you'd like updates on what's going on at Bible Center, go to BibleCenterChurch.com and enter your email address at the bottom of the page.

Questions &Registrations:

Call (304) 346-0431 Register on the Bible Center appSubmit a Connection Card Go to BibleCenterChurch.com/registerEmail a staffer at (username)@BibleCenterChurch.com

Bible Center in 5After today's service, a Bible Center staff member will take 5 minutes to share our church's vision and mission. If you’re new, please meet this person at the front right of the Worship Center.

Member MeetingA meeting for Bible Center members will be held after the second service next Sunday, Nov. 12, to provide information about finan-cial opportunities for the coming year.

Membership ApplicantsThe Board of Elders is pleased to present: Jack Alford & Barbara Roberts, Deanne Criste, Ruth Ann Dingess, Robert Schambach, and Thomas Stout to the church family as membership applicants.

Men’s BreakfastGuest Speaker: Sgt. Jim Mitchell, State Police Chaplain • Tuesday, Nov. 7 • 7:30 AM • Shoney’s • Dutch treat • All men are invited!

BCS Chick-Fil-A Spirit DaySupport Bible Center School this Wednesday (5-9 PM) by showing the Spirit Day flyer when you eat at Chick-Fil-A in Southridge. Flyers are available at the Info Desk and will be available on our Facebook page on Wednesday. Nerf Wars (6th-8th Grades)Friday, Nov. 10 • 7 PM • Element, join us for a high energy night of dodging Nerf darts, strategizing against your leaders, and all-you-can-eat pizza. Bring a Nerf gun if you have one. Cost is $5.

Coffee House (9th-12th Grades)Friday, Nov. 10 • 7 PM • Gathering Space •Fusion, join us for a free night of coffee, fun board games, and relaxing music.WinterFest (9th-12th Grades)Do you want to ring in the new year in a spectacular way? On Dec. 30-Jan. 1, you can be on the Liberty University campus (Lynchburg, VA) rocking out to Skillet, Hollyn, Switchfoot, Lecrae, and more! You will also have an opportunity to ride the slopes at Snowflex, grease your wheels at the skate park, and attend an artist Q&A. Register online by Sunday, Nov. 12. The cost is $150 and includes concert tickets, hotel room, and activities on the campus.

BaptismOur next baptism service is Sunday, Nov. 12.Contact any of our pastors, or fill out a Connection Card if you'd like to be baptized or have questions about what baptism means.

Thanksgiving ServicesSunday, Nov. 19 • 9 AM & 10:30 AM • We will celebrate Thanksgiving as a church family during our morning worship services. There will be a number of special features in the services, including the opportunity to have singer/songwriter Jenny Simmons here with us to lead worship alongside our Worship Team. We'll also have several special testimonies of thanksgiving and praise.GriefShare: Surviving the HolidaysTuesday, Nov. 21 • 7 PM • Rm. 3101/02 • Wondering how you'll survive Thanksgiving and Christmas after losing a loved one? Learn practical tips to help as you head into the holiday season. Led by Pastor Chad Cowan.

Save-the-Date: 10th AnnualManUP! Thanksgiving Eve LuncheonWednesday, Nov. 22 • 11:45 AM-1 PM • Details to follow.

OWLS Trip to the GreenbrierThursday, November 30 • 7 AM-5:30 PM •Ready to enjoy the holiday season with friends? Take a road trip to see the holiday decorations at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs. Please arrive at the Bible Center School lot by 7 AM (near Wells Furniture). The cost is $10/person, and lunch will be on your own. To sign up, contact Judy Mercer (jmercer) or register online. Space is limited.

Dodgeball Tournament (3rd-5th Grades)Saturdays in January • 2-3:30 PM • Gather your friends, name your team, and sign up for our Dodgeball Tournament! Each team needs 6 players: all boys, all girls or mixed. Points will be awarded at the end of each game, and winners will be rewarded on the last week. The deadline to sign up your team is Sunday, Dec. 10. Contact Pastor Richard (rthompson) for questions.

Notes of Sympathy• To Melody Light, whose grandmother,

Eloise Maynard, passed away. Mrs. May-nard was also mother-in-law to Toney Light and great-grandmother to Aaron Light.

Welcome toBIBLE CENTER!

@biblecenter@pastormattbcc

Matt Friend, Senior Pastor

NEXT SUNDAY:

Accepting Broken PeopleJoshua 2

TODAY'S MESSAGE:

Not AloneJoshua 1

You're Invited!X

Our Small Groups are opening up their homes all throughout the city to invite you to join them for Thanksgiving dinner. Expect open doors, smiles, a family environment, and thankful hearts. We hope you can participate and get to know even more people in your church family. Sign-up info will be coming soon. Simply contact the group leader at that time so they can plan for those attending.

GroupsThanksgiving

N O V E M B E R 1 3 - 1 9

Emotionally Healthy Spiritualityby Peter Scazzero

Not AloneJoshua 1

First in a 4-part series titled: Not Alone: Courage for the Journey

Pastor Matt Friend – November 5, 2017

This Week’s Book Recommendation

What's God's challenge to us?

Be strong and courageous!

Why is this possible?

Because God is with us wherever we go!

How can we keep this in mind during the week?

By carving out some time to remember…

1. Our pain (vv. 1-2a)

2. Our purpose (vv. 2b-4, 12-15)

3. Other people (vv. 6, 16-18)

4. God's promises (vv. 5-9)

5. Our physical needs (vv. 10-11)

So, what's today's main encouragement?

Carve out some time to remember God’s

presence this week.

7 Tu Men's Breakfast at Shoney's (7:30 am)

10 F BCS Veterans Day Reception (10 am) & Program (10:30 am) BCS students dismissed after program (12 pm) Nerf Wars – 6th-8th graders (7 pm) Coffee House – 9th-12th graders (7 pm)

12 Su Baptism Adoption / Foster Care Sunday

18 Sa Union Mission Thanksgiving Food Distribution (9 am)

19 Su Thanksgiving Service (9 & 10:30 am) Guest : Jenny Simmons

20 M BCS closed until 11/27

21 Tu GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays (7 pm)

22 W No AWANA until 1/3/18

23 Th HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Preschool closed until 11/27

26 Su Hymn Sing (8 am)

28 Tu Deck the Halls (6 pm)

30 Th OWLS trip to the Greenbrier (7 am)

To help those who are in need, Bible Center will be collecting non-perishable food for the annual Union Mission Gospel Service & Thanksgiving Food Distribution. Donated items can be left at the Mission Wall at the church or at the front hallway of Bible Center School now through Sunday, November 12.

Volunteers are needed to help with food distribution. There are many different positions available, and you have the option of serving inside or outside. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the church no later than 8 AM. If you are interested in helping at the Thanksgiving food distribution, register on the BCC app or go to BibleCenterChurch.com/register.