Women’s Ministry Annual Christmas Dinner

Christmas at the Creek

thursday, december 9

Ladies, don’t miss this celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Enjoy an evening of fellowship and take a break from the “hustle and bustle” of the season to meditate on the reason for the season. This night will be a welcome addition to your holiday happenings. Look inside for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

sunday, december 19

It’s about that time! Our choir, ensembles, handbell choir and orchestra are all gettting geared up and ready for the annual Christmas at the Creek Christmas Program. This unforgettable evening will be a sure way to get your spirit sparked by listening to and singing praises to our King. Mark your calendars for this night of excitement!

ThE MOnThLy nEWSLETTEr Of BruShy CrEEK BaPTIST ChurCh TayLOrS | nOvEMBEr 2010

WWW.BruShyCrEEK.Org

theCreekside Welcome Home to Brushy Creek

Evangelism has “morphed” many times over the years. We’ve gone from tent meetings in outdoor arbors, to revival meetings in churches, to church visitation, to life-style witnessing, to question-based witnessing, and most recently to servanthood evangelism. all these approaches have had, or have, their place. The most effective approach, however, is the one we actually use.

Most anyone who has a heart to share their faith knows what it’s like to struggle with how to get from casual conversation into the gospel. Evangelistic training methods have often offered “key questions” to aid in turning the conversation to spiritual matters. But it may be true that the best transition into the gospel is not a question that we might ask, but rather a question from the one to whom we want to witness. The best transition is when they ask us, “Why did you do that for me?”

I Peter 4:10 states, “Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others.” So what are the gifts that god has given us? Time, money, abilities, possessions, influence, and relationships.

Christmas is coming. and along with it, comes a

wonderful opportunity to turn the attention of others toward Jesus. So, how can we do that?

What if you tried the following:

· Week one: find out the names of the folks who live in your neighborhood.

· Week two: Begin to pray for them by name/prayer walk your neighborhood.

· Week three: Do some acts of kindness toward your neighbors. Things like baking them cookies. What if, while delivering the cookies, you simply asked if they had anything you could pray for them about?

· Week four: Invite some neighbors into your home.

· Week five: Invite them to Christmas service at Brushy Creek.

What if we all tried this? Well, they might just ask, “Why did you do all this for me?” Wouldn’t that be a great transition question?

Look Around by Dr. Ralph Carter | Pastor

seize the Opportunity that Christmas Provides by Jim Russell | Rescue Minister

theCreekside | november 2010

Don’t you love the Fall oF the year? The morning air is crisp and clean, the leaves are at their peak in color, and the anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas just seem to make it a time of great expecta-tion. Every fall there are moments I stop and look around me and am just incredibly glad to be alive and well. We live in a beautiful, blessed beyond measure, part of the world.

Many areas of our world are not so fortunate. Some are perennially war-torn. The sight of starving children is often inescapable. a level of suffering is endured that exceeds our wildest imaginations but has become so common place for those living in those regions that they hardly even notice.

I am confident, I am spoiled. Every waking moment my heart should be filled with gratitude, but often it isn’t. We have more than enough and we want more. Others are without and seem more than grateful if we allow them to eat the scraps from our tables.

Can I give you some advice on how to make this Thanksgiving especially meaningful? Stop cataloging your difficul-ties in life. They may be bad, but I bet you can find someone who is having a harder time of it than you. Seek those people out. Do something to ease their pain. I am betting it will ease yours as well.

Merry Makers Monthly MeetingtueSDay, november 16 - 10:30 a.m.

Thanksgiving Dinner following the program. Cost is $5.00 per person. Please call Loretta nance at 268-7929 to make your reservation by friday, november 12.

our ChilDren’S Choir iS oFF to a great Start! I am looking forward to hearing them sing on December 12. They will also be singing with the adults also on December 19. I appreciate you bringing your child and I am thankful for the ones who are leading them each week.

Our adult Christmas program, Christmas at the Creek, will feature our ensembles, handbells, and choir. We would love to pack out the worship center! Would you help us to do that by inviting your friends now for this great evening of Christmas music?

Christmas Time’s ‘a Comin’! by Robbie Sox | Minister of Music

Men’s MinistryMen’s Monthly Prayer BreakfastSunDay, november 14 - 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast served in the front room of the arC. We look forward to seeing you there!

theCreekside | november 2010

Senior Adults

i am loving the DiSCuSSionS we are having in the greenhouSe ClaSS- “how to uSe your bible in real liFe.” I can’t wait to teach it again. Speaking of greenhouse, did you realize this is a great place to invite a friend? The greenhouse is something, as members of BCBC, we can be proud of! The course guides look incredible, the classes are taught by people who are passionate about god’s Word, and there is something for everyone. If you do not have any of our greenhouse course guides, please ask someone to get you a few to share with your friends at work or school.

greenhouse is designed to help believers grow, and it serves as a wonderful tool to invite people outside of BCBC to discover what the Bible says about a variety of questions all of us have in everyday life. Call that friend today!

Phone A Friend by David Kay | Associate Pastor

the FirSt trip oF 2011 iS upon uS. boy, it iS a gooD one!

are you ready for this?

are you sure?

hold on.

Wait for it.

We are going... ...skiing!! (Did the picture give it away? ha ha!)

That’s right! January 14-16 we are going to start 2011 off with a ski triP!! On January 14 we will be

leaving to go to one of the best slopes on the east coast, Winterplace resort in Beckley, West virginia.

We will be skiing friday night and all day Saturday. The cost is $150. Sign-ups begin november 28

and only last until December 12. This should be a great time of fellowship over the holiday weekend so

invite a friend to come along with you!

thiS year, youth 101, our miDDle SChool greenhouSe CourSe iS Continuing to raiSe the bar. Middle school students face many difficult times and tests of faith during these 3 vital years of their life. I am convinced that what they learn during this year’s Wednesday night program can transform their lives and set the standard for their walk with Christ. We are studying Paul’s epistles and it is going to be challenging for all of us! Is your middle schooler capable of spiritual growth? The resounding answer is yES! I just need you to support our program and get them there. god’s word is “alive and powerful” and it is also “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” (hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16) What if your child began to listen and do what god’s Word has to say? The possibilities are endless!

Imagine if your son / daughter really begins to have a growing relationship with the Lord. how will this change

them, their friends, their obedience, their study habits, and their respect for authority? When true spiritual trans-formation begins to take place, all walks of life begin to change. I challenge you as parents to not allow the busyness of life to prevent your kids from being in an environment that promotes spiritual growth. Set the example! register online to take a course yourself and set the standard for your little reflections, your children. I am praying that the remainder of 2010 will be a land-mark in your child’s spiritual growth. Don’t forget that Sunday school and worship are two more vital tools for spiritual growth as well! Stay involved and watch our Savior continue to do the most powerful miracle of all, save and change lives! Please don’t forget that we have our youth recovery program on Monday nights, because the Lord is doing miracles there each week! go to www.brushycreek.org for details. I look forward to seeing you soon. Please contact me, through the church office, if you ever have any questions or concerns. god bless.

Get ready! by Benji Ladd | High School Pastor

theCreekside | november 2010

The Greenhouse: An environment Promoting spiritual Growth. by Jeremiah Oliver | Middle School Pastor

preSChool parentS, We have a new bulletin board on the preschool floor called the Preschool Post. you will find it right outside the kitchen on the first floor. The new board is popping with color and creativity thanks to Cynthia Turner. This will be where we post announcements and upcoming events for Preschool and Cubbies. We will also continue to have coupons on this board, and if you have any coupons to share, please drop them by the kitchen.

also, the month of november is a great time to remind our little ones about what we are thankful for. I would like to encourage each of you to talk to your preschoolers about the many blessings we have, and that we can thank god for these. We would also like to thank each of you for sharing your little ones with us. We enjoy seeing them every week, and they are a blessing to our preschool teachers and staff.

what happeneD to the I’m a ChrIstIan now! ClaSS? Parents, your child’s decision to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior is the most important one they will make in their life. We want you to be a vital part of your child understanding their decision and what that decision means in the way they live their life. To help you in this process, our pastoral staff would like to meet with you and your child and present you with I’m a Christian now! workbook. We want you and your child to complete this book and begin your child’s Christian journey together. If your child has indicated a desire to accept Jesus in their heart, please contact Patti alexander at the church office to make an appointment to meet with one of our pastoral staff members.

how Can i help in the ChilDren’S Department at bruShy Creek? 1. We need parents to substitute in

their child’s Sunday school class. Please sign up on paper posted outside classroom door.

2. We need parents to organize the resource room and keep supplies replenished.

3. We need parents to bring snacks for class parties on the last Sunday of each month.

4. We need parents to decorate bulletin boards in classrooms and hallways.

5. We need parents to help contact absentees and send birthday notes.

6. We need parents to come together and pray for our families.

7. We need parents to organize fellow-ship opportunities for our children.

8. We need parents to help our children reach out to the community through mission projects.

9. We need parents to be committed to our mission of rescue, grow and Serve.

10. We need you to serve in the Children’s Ministry.

awana fun nIght Calendar

November 3› chocolate night

get chocolate candy when you say a verse!

November 17› bring a turkey night

Bring a turkey for those in need. Our goal is 60 turkeys!

› awana store Spend those hard earned awana bucks!

› Last night of awana 2010

JaNuary 5› awana resumes

in 2011

Your Preschooler by Eleanor Bishop | Director of Preschool

Attn: Parents by Rebecca Oaks | Director of Children’s Ministries

theCreekside | november 2010

sign up today and be a Part (Parents actively reaching together) of making an eternal difference in the life of the kids at bcbc! Please contact rebecca Oaks at oaksfamily5@charter.net or 968-9826.

Women’s MinistryAnnual Christmas Dinner

December 9 at 6:00 p.m.

Speaker is Barbara Arthur of Perfecting Hearts Ministries: Inspiring Women to Holiness

For more information on the speaker, visit www.barbaraarthur.com.

If you would like to sponsor a table, please contact Debbie Childress at 864-991-9386 or childressdebbie@ymail.com.

theCreekside | november 2010

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7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

EveryWeeksundAYs

8:00 a.m. Sunday School

*9:15 a.m. Sunday School/ Traditional Worship

*10:45 a.m. Sunday School/ Contemporary Worship

*6:00 p.m. evening Service

MOndAYs

*6:00 p.m. Celebrate recovery

*6:00 p.m. Life Hurts God Heals

*7:30 p.m. Creekside orchestra Practice

WednesdAYs

5:00 p.m. Café at the Creek

*6:45 p.m. The Greenhouse

*8:10 p.m. Creekside Choir Practice

EveryMonthseniOr AduLTs

merry makers meeting

tuesday, november 16Program at 10:30 a.m. Lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Men’s MinisTrY

men’s testimOny breakfast

sunday, november 14 at 8:00 a.m.In the front room of the arC

2010 November

*Childcare available

deaCoNS’ meeTiNG7 p.m.

merry makerS10:30 a.m.

meN’S Prayer breakFaST 8 a.m.

women’s fall retreat 11/12 - 11/13

college retreat 11/12 - 11/14

thanksgiving holidays office closed 11/26 - 11/27

college retreat 11/12 - 11/14

Pastorralph Carter864.238.0166 ralphc@brushycreek.org

Associate Pastordavid kay864.234.9655 davidk@brushycreek.org

Rescue MinisterJim russell864.270.8441jimr@brushycreek.org

Music Ministerrobbie sox864.292.8322 robbies@brushycreek.org

College Minister and Director of MissionsAngela Carter864.325.3778 angelac@brushycreek.org

High School PastorBenji Ladd864.414.1195 benjil@brushycreek.org

Middle School PastorJeremiah Oliver864.915.3302 jeremiaho@brushycreek.org

Director of Adult Sunday SchoolBen Langner864.297.6066 cblangner@bellsouth.net

Director of Children’s Ministriesrebecca Oaks864.968.9826 oaksfamily5@charter.net

Director of Preschooleleanor Bishop864.915.9669 eleanor0930@yahoo.com

Director of The Greenhousekristen Belflower864.268.8696 kristen@thebelflowers.com

Director of Weekday PreschoolTina stephens864.268.3945 brushycreekweekday@yahoo.com

Facilities ManagerMarshall Croy864.322.5500 marshallc@brushycreek.org

EMERGEnCy nuMBER864.918.0616

Staff Directory

4999 Old spartanburg roadTaylors, south Carolina 29687

864.244.5075www.brushycreek.org

RETuRn SERviCE REquESTED

non Profit Organ

u.S. PostagePaID

Taylors, S.C.Permit nO.14

1st 8th 15th 22nd average

Sunday School 767 1003 919 920 902

Worship Services 1029 1287 1219 1138 1168

Attendance in September 2010

LOOkinG AHeAd... APPLiCAnTs FOr CHurCH MeMBersHiP

COnGrATs!novemBerNovember 7 - 14christmas shoebox collection

November 12 - 13women’s ministry fall retreat

November 12 - 14college retreat

November 19 - 21high school fall retreat

decemBerDecember 9women’s ministry christmas dinner

December 12children’s choir Program

December 19christmas at the creek

December 24christmas eve service

By statementBecky McClure

By BaPtismJoseph David MimmsKristy Laws

To Jeff and dani smith on the bir th of their son, colton Jeffery born October 1, 2010.