The Journey Continues

www.greystonechurch.org December 2014

Wednesday Night

Schedule

for Adults

December 3: “Nip It In The Bud”, 5:00 PM, The Deputy from Mayberry will join us for a holiday dinner and an evening of entertainment. You won’t want to miss this! See posters and videos around the church for more information. Please make your reservations for dinner by 12/1/14. December 10: Children’s Chr istmas Nativity, 6:00 PM, Fellowship Hall

The Light Shines in the Darkness

There was something magical about Christmas at my grandparents. No matter how long we visited, whether we got there right before Christmas or many days before, every morning I woke up, the Christmas tree was already plugged in and seemed to stayed lit all-day long. Seeing that tree always let me know Christmas was really close and getting closer by the second. I later learned the magic behind the always lit tree: whichever adult got up first and plugged in the lights and whoever went to bed last unplugged them.

The Christmas tree is still a significant symbol for me (just ask Jamie and she will tell you, “Sean wants a real tree. He has to have a real tree!”) but other symbols of the season have grown in their importance as I have matured. The Advent wreath with its candles is at or near the top of that list.

I didn’t grow up knowing about Advent apart from the occasional Advent calendar filled with chocolate, the kind where you get open one window for each day leading up to Christmas. It wasn’t until I started attending a church that the beauty and wonder of the Advent candles gained such meaning for me.

Each Sunday and on Christmas Eve during worship, we light a candle that is in our Advent wreath. The candles represent different themes: hope, peace, joy, love and the white candle in the middle represents the arrival of the Christ child on Christmas. It is a lovely ritual and one your families can practice at home. But as much as the wreath and the candles are filled with meaning, the light of the candles themselves holds the most meaning.

The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God's grace to others.

Our theme this Advent is “The Light Shines in the Darkness.” Whether it is the flickering Advent candles during worship, the bright lights that illumine your neighborhoods or the soft glow of lights on the tree, may this Advent and Christmas be filled with bright reminders of God’s hope for you and for all, and how God has drawn you into that radiant dream, much like a child gazing at the glow of a Christmas tree.

Sean Allen

In December

12/7/14 - All Church Breakfast, 9:30 AM, Fellowship Hall

12/10/14 - Children’s Christmas

Nativity, 6:00 PM, Fellowship Hall 12/18 & 19/14 - Living Nativity, 6:30

PM, 7:00 PM, 7:30 PM

Special Worship Opportunities

12/14/14 - Christmas Cantata - Shine

On Us, 6:00 PM, Sanctuary

12/21/14 - Service of Hope and

Remembrance, 6:00 PM, Sanctuary

12/24/14 - Christmas Eve, a family candle light service, 5:30 PM, Sanctuary

12/28/14 - Doughnuts & Coffee, 10:00 AM, Gathering Room

12/28/14 -Worship and Carol Sing, 10:30 AM - note change in worship schedule. No 8:45 AM service and no Sunday School this day.

Christmas Cantata

Shine On Us

December 14th

6:00 PM

Sanctuary

Childcare provided for Babies - Preschool

9:30 AM,

December 7

Fellowship

Hall

January Bible Study 2015

Wednesday Nights in January

This year Milton Brasher-Cunningham will be leading our January Bible Study. We will be exploring his book, Keeping the Feast, and thinking about communion, fellowship and the church. As Reverend Brasher-Cunningham knows and tells beautifully in Keeping the Feast, the Kingdom of God is like a restaurant. It isn't a solitary business. You can't have a restaurant, or a church, alone. You need to stand the heat with other people, listen to other people weep, let other people pop fresh strawberries or little pieces of communion bread into your mouth. And doing this takes practice, too. You always need cook for people you don't know, pray for people you don't like, and eat with whoever shows up. Milton Brasher-Cunningham was born in Texas, grew up in Africa as a Missionary Kid, and lived almost twenty years in the Boston area before moving to Durham, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Ginger, and their two Schnauzers. He is an ordained minister, has been a high school English teacher and a professional chef. Don’t miss this wonderful study!

Growing Greystone

Through Prayer

Praise

♦ Stella Anne Piedmonte, born 10/25/14, daughter to Anthony and Emily White Piedmonte, granddaughter to Richard and Diane White.

Concerns

♦ Ellen Staley, health concerns

♦ Arnold Lawson, upcoming surgery

♦ Zane Wood, upcoming knee surgery

♦ Debbie Reynolds, upcoming surgery

♦ Alice Dickens, health concerns

♦ Sylvia Lawson, health concerns

♦ Lindsay Harrelson Recktenwald, health concerns

♦ Pat Day, broken right foot

♦ Dave Tunstall, recent surgery

♦ Sue Newton, recent surgery

♦ Vercie Eller, health concerns

♦ Ken Mitchell’s brother, Sam Mitchell, hospice

♦ Carl Dawson’s mother, Lorraine Dawson, health concerns

♦ Lee Ann Spahr, health concerns

♦ Steve Holden, health concerns

♦ Hazel Perdue’s niece, Sandra Warnick, health concerns

♦ Evelyn Harper, back problems

♦ Rubye Light, Gene Light’s mother, health concerns

♦ Cindy Vestal, health concerns

♦ Todd Lesley’s sister, Karyn, health concerns

♦ Jan Ballard’s brother, Stanley Pegram, health concerns

♦ Donna and Bill Judd’s great niece, Brooklyn Milisits, health concerns

Residential communities/Health Care

Facilities

Cypress (Rosewood): John Lawrence Magnolia Glen: Nancy Godwin

Rex Nursing Care: Louise Abernathy

Springmoor (Stewart Health Center): Mary Evelyn Divers, Martha Eames, Mildred Garrett, Sallie Greene, Madeline Griffith, Iris Hilliard, Juanita Register, Vi Rigney, Grace Smith

Sympathy

♦ Susan Burnette and family on the death of her husband, Thurman Burnette, 11/22/14

♦ Mark Stewart’s family on the death of his father, Gene Stewart, 11/18/14

♦ Family of Michael Graham (Hansen family friend) on the death of his sister’s father, 11/9/14

December

Birthdays

1 Greta McMillan, Lynda Richard, Alan Oudjit

2 Stephen Hollingsworth, Cierra Sellers

3 Kim Craig, David Alston

5 Eileen Trawick, Sylvia Goulding, Laura Kanai

6 Sheila Brewer, Mark Franz

7 Travis Eason

9 Lori Brown, Lindsay Baker 10 Will Moody, Ayden Hale

11 Nicole Moorefield

13 Barbara Parker, Ellen Sineath, Greg Beard

14 Brian Top, Rory Kleinhans

15 Katie Dillinger, Steve Jones, Sallie Mueller

16 Mitch Daughtry, Rachel Clark, Georgia King, Emma Muncie

17 Jennifer Phillips, Hannah Taylor 18 Steve Rose, Chris Allen, Mark Stephenson, Heather Gardner 19 Steve Hamrick, Brittany Morton Bryant Morton

20 Larry Poirier, Randy Crews, Jack Millikan

21 Cheryl Grimes, Jenna Ostendorff, Taylor Pardue, Zachary Dreitzler

22 Wayne Smith, Baxter Odgen, Anderson Burris

23 Barry Jones, Jane Cregger, Blair Andrew, Sam Craig, Lauren Ammons

24 Joy Griffin, Nikki Bensen

25 Barbara Crabb

26 John Clark, Leigh Ammons

27 Madeline Griffith, Lisha Stewart, Andrew Mabe

28 Archie McFadyen

29 Martha Eames, Brooks Long

30 Sandra Hunt, Alyssa Riggins

31 Jean Santa Maria, Mike Newton, Becki Moore

December 90+ years Birthday

Dec. 13 ............................. Ellen Sineath

Dec. 27 ...................... Madeline Griffith

Dec. 29 ........................... Martha Eames

December 50 +years

Wedding Anniversaries

Dec. 3 .............. Mack and Grace Parnell

Growing Greystone

Through Stewardship

(through 10/31/14)

2014 General Fund ................. $1,136,102.00

YTD General Fund needed ....... $946,751.00

YTD Operating Receipts ........... $664,272.00

YTD Operating Expenses.......... $750,609.00

Growing Greystone

Through Worship

November 2

8:45 Worship …………………………...146

11:00 Worship ………………………...….215

November 9

8:45 Worship……………………………...89

11:00 Worship……………………………180

November 16

8:45 Worship ……………………………..81

11:00 Worship…………………………... 207

November 23

8:45 Worship……………………………..75

11:00 Worship……………………………230

2014 Contributions

If you wish to have tax credits for contributions for the current year, please note that they should be left at the office or mailed to the office postmarked no later than December 31. If you plan or would like to make a contribution in the form of stock, please remember, any stock contributions for 2014 must be received by Greystone or in Greystone's account by December 31st to be counted as a 2014

contribution.

Contact the church office or the financial secretary, Phil Kraemer, for the information you will need to complete the transfer of stock to Greystone.

Christmas Groceries

to Go Raleigh

Rescue Mission

Once again this year we will collect Christmas Groceries to go for the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Bags will be

available for you to take and return and include a shopping list. If you are interested in participating in this project, please take a bag. All details will be on the bag.

In an effort to keep our youngest children safe and secure and to present the best possible welcome to guests who visit our church we will begin a new preschool and nursery check-in system. Beginning December 7th, you will notice a check-in desk in the lobby just outside the baby room. Please stop by and sign your child in each Sunday and get their identification sticker (and your matching one that you will use to identify yourself upon pick-up). Thank you for helping us in our efforts to make our preschool and nursery ministry even better.

Children's Nativity

On Wednesday night, December 10th all children are invited to take part in our Children's Nativity. Children are invited to dress as a shepherd, wise man or angel. After dinner children will get dressed for our impromptu nativity pageant. All are encouraged to participate. Fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to be readers for this event. Please contact April at: children@greystonechurch.org if you are interested in reading so that she can send you your part to practice.

Save the date: June 24 - 27 PASSPORT Kids! - a camp for children in grades 3 - 5. More information coming soon.

April Alston

It's the most wonderful time of the year! After kicking off the

holiday season with our annual food drive, we will continue to discuss loving others and sharing what we have with them during the month of December. We will also be going back to Whispering Pines Retirement Center to share some of our Christmas enthusiasm with our new friends there! As always, during this holiday season, our emphasis with our preschoolers is the REAL meaning of Christmas - Jesus. Have a safe and very Merry Christmas!

Pam Phillips

Living Nativity Sign Ups

Our Annual Living Nativity is December 18th and 19th. Program times will be 6:30,

7:00 and 7:30 PM each night. Sign ups have begun and the signup board is in the hallway outside of the sanctuary. Consider participating with your family. It is a meaningful way to bond during this special time of year. For more information, contact Tina Pickles: tinapickles@nc.rr.com, or Heather

Choplin: hchoplin@earthlink.net.

'Tis the Season - The Youth group will celebrate Christmas by helping with the Buddy Break Christmas Party on Saturday, December 6. The party is from 3 - 5. Please plan to arrive at 2 to help set up. Students are needed to help with the photography, crafts, games, music, skits and cookie decorating. Please let Allan know if you can participate by emailing your RSVP to students@greystonechurch.org.

'Tis Still the Season - The Youth Christmas Party and Progressive Dinner will be on Saturday evening, December 13 from 5 - 8 PM. Food will be provided, but please bring a $5 gift for the gift exchange. Please let Allan know if you can attend by RSVP to students@greystonechurch.org.

D-Now - Our annual Disciple Now retreat will be January 23 - 25, 2015. Please let Allan know if you would like to help out in anyway (hosting students, helping with transportation, providing food, etc.)

Let's Meet Up - It is my joy and privilege to visit with students and/or families outside of church activities. Let me know if you have free time and would like to meet up outside of

church to get to know each other better.

Allan Smith

Christmas Shoeboxes Christmas Shoeboxes Christmas Shoeboxes Christmas Shoeboxes for Hopefor Hopefor Hopefor Hope

This is Greystone's 15th year providing shoeboxes filled with gifts for Hope Elementary School children and gift cards for their dedicated school staff. Sign up will continue on Sundays following worship and Wednesday nights through Dec. 10th or until all children and staff have been sponsored. Wrapped shoeboxes should be brought to church on Sunday, December 14th for the dedication service. Contact Teresa with questions and/or to

sign up at tcarraway140@gmail.com .

Christmas Cakes

Ministry

Homemade cakes for NC Correctional Center for

Women

The collection date for these cakes is Sunday, December 7. If you have not signed up yet and wish to provide a cake, the sign up sheet is by the Lost and Found table in the hallway. Cakes need to be brought to the church on Sunday, December 7 and placed on the table in the hallway. If you prefer you can deliver your cake directly to the RBA Resource Center, 4105 Pool Road in Raleigh no later than Tuesday, 12/9/14.

Guidelines:

-Homemade-whole, not sliced

-Non-refrigerated

-Cakes only-no cookies, pies, or brownies

-Non-returnable plates-no glass or cardboard boxes

-Securely wrap cakes with foil or plastic wrap

Contact Louise Dawson for more information at 919-819-2319, 919-781-2100 or lcdawson2@gmail.com.

Save the Date

Women’s Retreat

March 6-8, 2015

“Be Still and Know”

Dr. Lynn Brinkley, leader

More details soon.

Greystone Baptist Church 7509 Lead Mine Road Raleigh, NC 27615 (919) 847-1333 Fax: (919) 847-9893 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

Paid Raleigh, NC

Permit No. 2427

Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

THE CHURCH STAFF: Sean Allen, Senior Pastor

pastor@greystonechurch.org April Alston, Associate Minister, Preschool & Children children@greystonechurch.org Amanda Atkin, Associate Minister, Faith Formation faith.formation@greystonechurch.org Larry Ballard, Interim Associate Minister, Music music@greystonechurch.org Tom Barrett, Minister of Properties Assistant Claude Bennett, Minister of Properties properties@greystonechurch.org Phil Kraemer, Financial Secretary finance@greystonechurch.org Pamela Phillips, Weekday Preschool Director weekdaypreschool@greystonechurch.org Skip Pike , Associate Minister, Senior Adults, senior.adults@greystonechurch.org Allan Smith, Associate Minister, Students students@greystonechurch.org Annette Variano, Administrative Assistant

Mission Statement

With Christ as the Cornerstone, we will build a church of living stones, where every member is a minister and is equipped to express God’s love by word and deed to all people.” Based on 1 Peter 2:5,6

Due to holidays, the January newsletter

will go to print 12/18. Deadline for

submissions is noon, Monday, 12/15/14.

If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe at (919) 847-1333.

People in Service

December 7th

Ushers: 8:45 am: Bill Goulding, Joanne Thompson, Ron Thompson, Jill Pike; 11:00 am: Bill Baxley, Katie Craig, Paul Hansen, Michael Kanai, Hunter Ouzts, Kristen Pickles

Worship Care: 8:45 am: J im & Natalie Herrmann, Chris & Anjie King; 11:00 am: Cheryl Grimes, Missy Brookshire, Michael & Laura Kanai, Ginny Liverance

Greeters: 8:45 am: Monaei Perry; 11:00 am:

Margaret Hilton, Margaret Thomas

Deacon of the Week: Johnathan Eshleman

December 14th

Ushers: 8:45 am: Tom & Shir ley Ditt, Brad & April Walker; 11:00 am: Ken Mitchell, Kemp Sherron, Jillian Brookshire, Missy Brookshire, Dorwin Lanham

Worship Care: 8:45 am: Susan Chamblee, Katie Lindsey, Johnathan & Kim Eshleman; 11:00 am: Brian & Wendy Top, Barbara Crabb, Mary

Sherron, John & Kay Meyer Greeters: 8:45 am: Joyce Beauchaine; 11:00 am:

Sue Harmon, Mavis Strickland

Deacon of the Week: Louise Estes

December 21st

Ushers: 8:45 am: Pat Boone, Wayne Smith, Bob & Nell Panten; 11:00 am: Gabriel Mallah, Heather Choplin, Steve Holden, Meredith or Seth Moody, Greg & Lorlen Morton

Worship Care: 8:45 am: Cheryl Muncie, Mar ia Morton, Lorlen & Greg Morton; 11:00 am: Liz Nichols, Patsy Chiles, Dustin & Emily Tuttle

Greeters: 8:45 am: Bill & Sylvia Goulding; 11:00 am: Sylvia & Arnold Lawson

Deacon of the Week: Chip Franz

December 28th—10:30 only

The schedules below represent the names usually

on the 4th Sunday, 11:00 AM service team.

Ushers: 10:30 am: Kerry Crabb, Needham Ward, Tom Ogburn, Wesley Wilder, Dustin or Emily Tuttle

Worship Care: 10:30 am: Joy & Bob Millikan, Joanna Perry, Tina & David Pickles

Greeters: 10:30 am: Donnie & Jean Moorefield

Deacon of the Week: Annie Hardison-Moody

The church office will be closed

December 25th - January 4th for

Christmas.

Have a safe

and wonderful

Christmas

Holiday!

Solos for Lunch: This informal group, sponsored by the Senior Adult Team is for Sunday lunch fellowship for anyone who does not want to eat alone, or eat leftovers at home! Any adult who has no spouse or whose spouse is out of town, etc., is welcome to join us. No reservation necessary. Meet at the back of the sanctuary after the 11:00 Sunday service. You are welcome to join us for the December schedule: 12/7-TGIFridays, 12/14-Bahama Breeze, 12/21-Brio, 12/28-

Outback.