According to legend, three trees grew near Jesus’ manger: an olive

tree, a palm tree and the fir. The olive offered its fruit to the
newborn king, and the palm tree gave its dates.

The poor fir, having nothing to give but worship, raised its boughs
in adoration, and the angels hung stars on its branches. So the fir
became the first Christmas
tree.

BULLET E-NEWSLETTER
WEST LYNCHBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
December 12, 2010
“ON MISSION TO REACH PEOPLE FOR
THE FAMILY OF GOD.”

BULLET HIGHLIGHTS....

Christmas Music “The First Noel” 12/12

Coats 4 Kids
Dove Tree
JERICHO CHRISTMAS TOY BARREL (children ages 1-16)

T. C. MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOY SHOP

 Quick Look for the Week Sunday, December 12
Deacon of the Week: Tommy Wright 384-3456
Music Selections for the Morning & Evening Services are listed below.

9:00 AM Instrumental Ensemble

9:15 AM Library Open
9:45 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES
Sunday School Memory Verse
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

11:00AM KIDS In Worship

Topic: The Gift is Announced

11:00 AM MORNING WORSHIP

Dr. Robert Putt
The Hidden Character of Christmas
Matthew 1:5; Joshua 2

4:15 PM Sanctuary Bells

5:30 PM Kingdom Kids Ringers
5:45 PM EDGE Missions (Gr. 7 -12)
6:00 PM Instrumental Ensemble

6:15 PM NO TeamKIDS in December - TeamKIDS will resume in January.

6:30pm
Christmas Music
“The First Noel” Born is the King
The Sanctuary Choir
Tuesday, December 14
11:30 AM S.W.A.T.
1:30 PM NO Amazing Grace Fellowship

Wednesday, December 15
Deadline for TC Miller Donations
5:15 PM Wednesday Night Family Supper (please sign up for dinner the Monday before)
Christmas Dinner... Ham, Cranberries, Sweet Potato Casserole, Jell-O Salad, Green
Bean Casserole, Fruit Salad, & Homemade Desserts

6:00 PM Music Makers (Age 4 - Gr. 1)

Young Musicians (Gr. 2- 6)
6:30 PM EDGE (Gr. 7-12)

6:30 PM BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER MEETING

6:45 PM Mission Friends (Ages 4 & 5)

Royal Ambassadors (Gr. 1-6)
Girls in Action (Gr. 1-6)
6:50 PM Highest Praise
7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir
8:50 PM Praise Team Rehearsal
2011
Offering Envelopes are now
available. Please pick them up
Thursday, December 16
at church.
7:00 PM College Bible Study IMPACT

Saturday, December 18
9:00 AM Warming Up Lynchburg
Miller Park Ministry

5:00 PM EDGE Christmas Party

Wednesday Night Family Suppers

December 22 & 29 (Wednesdays) - NO Dinners or Prayer Meetings

January 5 Menu: Goulash, Black Eyed Peas, Stewed Tomatoes, Desserts

January 12 Menu: Variety of Soups, Sandwiches, Dessert
January 19 Menu: Pinto Beans, Fried Potatoes, Corn Bread, Dessert
January 26 Menu: Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, Dessert

Sign up for dinners in the New Year! Fellowship with the WLBC family. Cost: $5.50pp
 Our Known Hospitalized
Lynchburg General: None
Virginia Baptist: None
MCV Richmond: Ed Baer

Please pray for and extend Christian sympathy to Brenda Martin

at the loss of her father Everett Saunders.

Worship Music Planned for Sunday, December 12, 2010

Those of you with high speed internet connections who would like to listen to the
music that has been selected for us to sing on Sunday, can do so by following the
instructions below:

Log onto www.lifeway.com/worshipproject. Once on the web page, page scroll down
until you see a large gray box. About 1/3 of the way down in the box you will see the
words Listen to the LifeWay Worship Project. Immediately to the right you will find a
table with an alphabetical listing of all of the songs. Simply click on the title you would
like to hear (making sure your speakers are on) and you should be able to hear a quality
recording of the selected song.

Morning
#199 O Come, All Ye Faithful
#211 I Have Seen the Light
#214 Isn’t He
#209 Mary, Did You Know
#212 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
#534 Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated
#191 The Birthday of a King
 THANK YOU
Operation Christmas Child 2010

WLBC’s final shoebox count is 1509 shoeboxes

which means based on our actions, 1509 children will
receive a box and the salvation message. Six people
journeyed to Charlotte processing center and worked on
the day that the processed count would reach one million shoeboxes. AWESOME!!
On that day, processed shoeboxes were headed toward Ecuador, the African countries of
Kenya, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and two closed countries. Please
continue to pray for the logistics of this outreach and for the Spirit to work within the hearts
of those receiving shoeboxes.
The Shoebox Team would like to thank everyone who participated in the project this year.
Whether you brought in empty shoeboxes, wrapping paper, filler items, wrapped boxes,
filled shoeboxes and moved carton boxes, every action is a step toward spreading the love
and the Word of God. Praise the Lord for willing hands and open hearts and wallets. With
your help, we will be looking to increase our shoebox number in 2011.
Amy, Donna, Janet and Linda

What 2011 already!

Hard to believe that it is not Christmas and we are already looking ahead to next year!
Be on the lookout for sale items such as wrapping paper, candy canes, stuffed animals,
plastic ornaments, Christmas puzzles and craft items to include in next years’ boxes.
The donation box for OCC is always in the hallway. Our 2010 box count was very
impressive,1509, it takes a lot of items to fill that many boxes.
So watch for SALE goodies and keep those empty shoeboxes coming for Christmas OCC
2011.
Christmas Eve Worship
December 24, 2010

TWO Worship Services,,,,

One at Noon on Friday, December 24, with the “Lord’s Supper”.

A second service will be held in the late evening at 11:30pm on Friday with candlelight and
the “Lord’s Supper”. Candles will be lit and praises raised as we await the birth of the
Christ Child.

Invite a neighbor or a friend to share with you and your WLBC family.
Blessings and Merry Christmas!

December 19 - Sunday Evening - 6:30pm

Christmas Music with Highest Praise Choir &
Sanctuary Bells
A musical evening with a varied program of
meaningful choral works and festive handbell arrangements
that celebrate Emmanuel.
 The Dove Tree - Christmas 2010

The Dove Tree is located on the bulletin

board in the hallway. Our goal is to help
women from Network House. Right now
there are two women and a child residing at
Network House. However, numbers can change as
the need arises.

Please select a dove gift request written on a dove

tag. Then return wrapped gifts, with the dove tag
on top of the box, by December 20.

Thank you & Merry Christmas, the WMU/LBA

NEWS from the EDGE

Youth Opportunities.......

December 13: Youth Ministry Council Christmas Party @

Rosalyn William’s House

December 18: EDGE Christmas Party Snowmen are to bring snacks, chips, or drinks.
Snow-women are to bring desserts. All youth should bring a Dirty Santa Gift ($5.
max limit) All youth should meet a the church at 5pm, we’ll take the church van to
our destination.

December 31: New Year Church Lockdown

IMPACT (College)
Will meet every week except for Thursday, December 23.
College Student in need of Community Service or CSER? IMPACT is in need of the
following worship players: Piano, Secondary Guitar, Bass, and Conga. Different
time frames available. Contact Nathan for more information.

Nathan Haefer, Interim Youth Pastor

THE EDGE...
We are getting ready to WELCOME our new staff member Vance Mathews and his
wife Stacy. Below is a note we received from Vance.

West Lynchburg Baptist Church,

Stacy and I are excited about coming and serving the students, their
parents, and the congregation of WLBC. We will be arriving in the
middle of January and plan to “hit the ground running” as we begin
our life and ministry in Lynchburg. I am spending much time in
prayer and in the Word praying that God would prepare my heart and
the hearts of the students to be open to His will.
I am also praying that He will begin to give me a vision and a course on which to take the student
ministry. First and foremost, I want our students to love Jesus and to value Him above all else. I want
them to understand the richness of the gospel, and how beautiful it is that God would provide a way to
save sinners through His Son.
Two verses of scripture that I think best express my wishes for the student ministry of WLBC are
Colossians 1:9-10. In these verses, Paul tells the church in Colossae that he prays that the church
would do four things,
1. Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
2. To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him.
3. To bear fruit in every good work.
4. To increase in the knowledge of God.
Just as Paul prayed this prayer for those in the church at Colossae, I pray this same prayer for the
students at West Lynchburg.
Again, Stacy and I are really excited about the opportunity to serve the Lord with you, and cannot wait
to get started. It will be interesting to see how God will work among the students to fulfill His purpose
in their lives.
In Christ, Vance Matthews
vance.r.matthews@gmail.com
 Warming Up Lynchburg....
WMU will be passing out clothing, blankets and sandwiches
Saturday, December 18, 2010
9am - NOON.....
...........to the homeless community in Miller Park. Our focus is men
and women; basically any cold weather item(s) to help them keep warm!
We will be taking the clothing that has accumulated in our closet here
at WLBC. However, there is always a need for scarves, gloves, socks, mittens, hats, coats, shoes
and sandwiches/snacks to handout. If you can donate any of these clothing items or food,
please drop them off at the church marked for Miller Park Ministry. (Gently used, clean
clothing)
Our GOAL is to impact the lives of many, with God’s blessings.
Questions? Please contact Pasty Leftwich at 239.6286.

Jericho Baptist Missionary Chapel

Annual Christmas Toy Drive 2010
This year marks the 33 years that Jericho Outreach has
been serving under-served families by providing toys and clothing
to children (Ages 1-16) during our Annual Toy Drive.

We have set an aggressive goal to serving 1,000 children in the Central Virginia
area with concentration on the inner city. With the economy in a slump, it is no
surprise that we have already begun receiving calls from families requesting
assistance. We can only accomplish our goal with your help.

Deadline for gifts is December 19th.

The Jericho Toy Barrel is located in the preschool wing.
 Children’s COAT DRIVE 2010

A little before Thanksgiving we will start collecting

Children’s Coats in sizes 5 - 18. Sunday School
Classes, circle groups or individuals may contribute
coats or money to buy coats.
Last year approximately 250 to 260 coats were given to children as a result of this
coat campaign.

REMINDER....December12 an offering will be taken up in each S/S Class to

provide donations for coats.

Money can be sent to the LBA and Elizabeth Harris will purchase coats. Please have
your donations in on or before December 15.

Then on Saturday, December 18, 9am to 1pm at Chestnut Hill Baptist Church, the
coats will be given out to low income children whose names have been supplied by
area schools. If anyone would like to volunteer to help give out the coats, please
contact Elizabeth at 832.0455.

Supported by the WMU and the LBA

EXTRA HELP NEEDED IN THE NURSERY

We are in need of extra volunteers to help in the nursery on

special program days and/or nights.

Schedule:
December 12, 6:30pm
Christmas Concert “The First Noel”
December 24, Noon & 11:30pm Christmas Eve Services

Contact Melissa Woodford to Volunteer JUST CLICK HERE

mdwoodford@verizon.net .... THANK YOU
 2010 Christmas Poinsettia
If you wish to place a poinsettia (red or white) in the
Sanctuary in memory of or in honor of a loved one for the
Christmas season, please fill in the form in the Sunday
Bulletin or contact the church office no later than
December 12, The cost is $ 12 each.
You may pick up your poinsettia(s)
after Christmas Eve worship on Friday, December 24.

The Health Ministry of WLBC is considering forming a discussion group.

This group would be looking at the subject of “Eating Disorders.”

If you are interested please contact the church office or Betty Lane.

A date and time will be determined by the interest shown.

Thank You, The Health Ministry

Betty Lane, 385.5977
 WLBC SUNDAY SCHOOL SMALL GROUP MINISTRY
PRESENTS
“JESUS IS SAVIOR”
A LIVING NATIVITY
DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 25, 2010

WHERE: FRONT LAWN WEATHER

PERMITTING

WHEN: ANY AFTERNOON BEFORE SUNSET

WHEN: ANY HOUR AVAILABLE ON CALENDAR**

WHEN: AT LEAST 30 MINUTES

WHY: TELL THE STORY OF JESUS TO COMMUNITY

SET-UP BEGINNING DECEMBER 5:

Bethlehem Star: Tall lamp post at Chapel Side
Manger area: *Straw and enclosing fence provided
Christmas music: *7 hymn books provided
Scripture Reader: Leader will read Luke 2 aloud
Mary Costume: *Provided
Joseph Costume: *Provided
Baby Jesus: *Doll provided
Worshippers: Bring an extra lawn chair for guests

*Provided materials can be located in the Ed. Building Lobby

**EACH SMALL GROUP MAY SIGN UP FOR A DAY & TIME

by contacting Tom Yarber: 525-4418 or tbyar@verizon.net
 T.C. Miller Elementary School Christmas Shop

WMU is partnering with T. C. Miller to help with

their Christmas Shop.
What we are looking for is the perfect guilt free reason
to RE-GIFT! These gifts need to be in original containers
and preferably new items.
Looking for trinket boxes, candy dishes, candles,
knick-knacks, body washes, lotions, stationary sets,
jewelry, children’s toys, stuffed animals, something for dad; things that you
may not have a use for.

Their SALE begins on December 18, please have your donations to

WLBC by December 15, Wednesday.

“The church with Heart in the Heart of the city”

Donations for Local Food Pantry

Jericho Toy Barrel

Volunteer to help in the Nursery

T.C. Miller School Christmas Store

The Knight Family (Japan) website www.theknights.multiply.com

The Third Chronicle by Jessica Knight
What Man Began with Death, God Completed with Life
"World War II was the mightiest struggle humankind has ever seen. It killed more people, cost
more money, damaged more property, affected more people, and caused more far-reaching changes
in nearly every country than any other war in history. The number of people killed, wounded, or
missing between September 1939 and September 1945 can never be calculated, but it is estimated
that more than 55 million people perished." (www.u-s-history.com)

And yet the Korean War was just on it's heels.

"The Korean War cost 54,000 American lives. Chinese and Korean military losses were around a
million, with another million civilian deaths. The war was one of the few hot wars during the Cold
War period and its indecisive conclusion stood in stark contrast to the complete victory that ended
World War II." (www.u-s-history.com)
Shortly after moving our family to Japan, our team was given the chance to move our Sunday
services to a prime downtown location and so a new "family" began. Karuizawa International
Fellowship began to grow quickly. Individuals and families from Japan, America, Korea and
Germany came together. (Eventually Canadians and New Zealanders joined us.) Together we sang
“Shout to the North and the South”

I looked out over our congregation at all the faces of the nations proclaiming, "Jesus is saviour to
all, Lord of Heaven and Earth". It wasn't just Americans or just Germans or only Japanese or
Koreans but together we ALL proclaimed "Jesus is saviour to ALL". I knew that just one
generation ago if you would have put our grandfathers in the same room on Japanese soil perhaps
they would have killed one another. They could never believe that their children and grandchildren
would be embracing one another as family. Tears began to fall for all the men who died before they
could God bring His peace and healing between people who were once enemies. They could have
never imagined the scene I was living. I was in awe and truly thought, "Who can know the healing
power of our awesome King of love?"

I thought continually about the many miracles and events that happened to Israel in the Old
Testament so many of them had to seem unbelievable except to those who were experiencing them.
But it was often written almost as an explanation as to why they happened, "that all the Earth may
there is a God in Israel." God moved in those ways through those events to show Himself to those
who did not yet know Him. Here in Karuizawa we were experiencing the very same thing. We were
experiencing first hand 1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies if Him who has
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you were once not a people, but now you
are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

We became a true family, no distinctions, just brothers and sisters who rejoice together, pray
together, mourn together and love one another. It was to this family that God was sending a miracle.

After five years of praying for another child, on April 7, 2010 we were told that there was a baby
boy in need of a family and our new son was born into our hearts. Please know that in our "state" an
adoption like this had not happened for 17 years. Adoption itself is a strange and unusual concept in
Japan. The birth rate itself is so low that the population is in decline. For this door to open was
evidence of God's hand on the situation.

God had already made "a people" out of those who were once enemies and now was beginning to
physically make a family in their midst. Together we began to pray through each step of bringing
our baby home. There were appointments to the Embassy, letters to US government agencies,
health checks, preparing our home, traveling to other parts of Japan for interviews, and paperwork
that was seemingly equal to my body weight.

Our hearts swelled with love for our son whom we had not yet seen. He became part of our physical
family and he became part of our church family before he ever came home. Like any expectant
parent we began to wonder about him. Was he chubby? Does he have much hair? What makes him
smile? But because he was already living in this world other questions pained us as well. Is he all
alone? Will someone hold him today? Is he scared? Is he hungry? Picturing his small body alone in
a big crib with many other babies in a state home, all alone was often unbearable.

Waiting was excruciating. Seeing his empty crib in our room, his little clothes yet unworn, an
empty car seat haunted me every day. I realized that God is God. Our baby was God's and my
Father is bigger and more powerful and more protecting than anything my mothering instincts
could muster and it was His enveloping hands that I trusted to cradle my baby alone in the dark. "If
the Lord had not been my help, my soul would have dwelt in the abode of silence". (Ps 95:17)
During that time I wrote to a friend:
Actually, I don't know exactly how to describe life here these days. Perhaps if you have ever sought
shelter while out in the wilderness during a storm then you would know somewhat the feeling. I
really feel God's presence so close to me as if we are together huddled under a tarp. All around the
wind whips a great tumult and there are unexpected floods and destruction but I am at peace.
Eventually this storm will end and the bird's will sing again. I think it's close to the end even now.

This adoption has been a great blessing but it had been amazingly difficult. We had to get an
appointment at the Embassy in Tokyo, travel for an interview to southern Honshu, have people
come inspect our house, have our children interviewed and it still is not finished. Even after our
new son is placed with us we still have a lot of work to do. We praise God for keeping so many of
these doors open for us and praise Him that although weary we have not become overcome
with weariness.

We trusted God to guide us each step and focused only on what God gave us to do each day. God
was proving that He is, " A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy
habitation. God makes a home for the lonely;" Ps68:5-6a. People here were seeing that there was a
God among His people yet again.

On June 25, 2010 we received a call that our son would be arriving on the 4:20 pm train. All the
weeks of waiting were melting away from memory as we watched the clock. In those few hours
time had never moved slower. Finally it was time. We watched his train arrive, it seemed like a
million business men and a hundred grandmas poured through the exit until finally we saw a lady
with a baby. There in the train station God fulfilled the longing He had put in our hearts. Our praise
spilled out as uncontrollable tears and fell on the face of the son that God sent in His unusual way.
There in the train station God made a physical family just the same way He had built our new
spiritual family. He was showing, that God is among His people. In the same place where a
generation ago hate abounded now through Him a Japanese baby found a home in these American
arms and this mother's arms were full of a new life of promise. God made love abound where it was
once barren. God made possible what this world made impossible.

"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one
who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. "
Beloved, God is among His people. In Christ, Jessica
The Knights: Kevin, Jessica, Kellen, Kolton and Kenji
"On mission to reach people for the family of God.”
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE STAFF

Dr. Robert Putt, Pastor rputt@wlbc.org

Cell Phone: 841.6886 845.4600 Ext. 15

Rev. Randy Kent, Minister of Music & Senior Adults rkent@wlbc.org

Cell Phone: 665.6880 845.4600 Ext. 13

Nathan Haefer, Interim Youth Minister nhaefer@wlbc.org

Cell Phone: 541.519.4690 845.4600 Ext. 14

Pam Anderson(Financial) panderson@wlbc.org

Sue Thomas (Administrative) sthomas@wlbc.org
Phyllis Lane (Organist) lanesk@aol.com
Jeanne Kent (Pianist) kentsnforest@msn.com

Contact Us Anytime...
Website: www.wlbc.org Email: office@wlbc.org
Church Directory on Line: http://om077418.onlineolanmills.com Password: memorial