Calvary Baptist Church - Cleburne, Texas

Annual Children Christmas Stockings

CBC — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:00:15 +0000

A special addition to our Christmas celebration on December 18th, is the handing out of our candy-filled Christmas stockings. This year we are asking members to please drop off individually wrapped candies to the church office. Please bring items by December 14th in order to complete the stockings in a timely manner. The smiles of these boys and girls is truly a satisfying reward. Thank you in advance for your donation.

From My Heart To Yours – December

CBC — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:00:07 +0000

Someone has said “Christmas is the time when the world falls in love, as Christmas is Amazing.” I love the Christmas story how God gave us the greatest gift. He sent His only Son to redeem mankind from their sin debt. What a marvelous gift. II Corinthians 9: 15 says, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” If you do not know Jesus, my prayer is you will receive this greatest gift into your heart and life this Christmas. The following is a beautiful poem written by a wonderful lady and an Independent Baptist pastor’s wife. May it fill your heart with the joy and warmth of the Christmas season.

THE GREATEST GIFT
by Mrs. Gladys Corle

Little baby Jesus
All nestled in the hay,
You came to bring eternal life
What a price you had to pay.

We celebrate your birth
With praise and adoration.
The church bells ring out merrily
To join the celebration.

What a gift you gave to man
For all who would receive,
To spend eternity with you
If we would just believe.

A star shone down on your little face
The night that you were born.
It breaks my heart that later
Your head was pierced with thorns.

Christmas time is more
Than lights and gifts at the mall;
It’s time to thank you Jesus
You love us one and all.

Happy Birthday Jesus,
The Greatest Gift to me;
I’ll honor and I’ll serve you
Till your blessed face I see.

Chapel Class – December Blog

CBC — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:00:36 +0000

The following submission was written by Lori Haney. She and her husband Steve are active members of our church working weekly in our Awana program. Lori also sings in our choir and works in the Musicmakers. Lori gave me a copy of this beautiul Christmas poem she wrote set to the melody of “The Old Rugged Cross.” It is my prayer that each of us stop and pause during these busy days ahead and experience his powerful presence this Christmas season.

We will Worship the King

In a town far away;
in a cave small and dark,
Was a mother there holding her child.
And the Child that she held
was the King of all Kings,
Brought Salvation to you and to me.

On a hill faraway where some shepherds did stay,
Were some angels there singing a song.
And the song that they sang was of Christ the King,
The Savior has been born tonight.

In a land far away where some wisemen did live
Was a Star shining bright in the sky.
And the wise men did say let us follow the star
To the King that’s been born tonight.

In this place here and now as we worship the King
Let us remember the reason He came.
For the dear Son of God left his home up above
To bring Salvation to you and to me.
O we’ll worship the King tonight

From that little town of Bethlehem.
O we’ll worship the King tonight,
O we’ll worship Him forevermore!

Activity

CBC — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:38 +0000

Our Calvary Teens will attend the TCU vs. San Diego St. basketball game on Saturday, March 3rd at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Ft. Worth. Cost is $5 per person and we will eat supper at Fuddruckers ($10) We will leave the church at 3 p.m.

Grace Notes – December Updates

CBC — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:33 +0000

Another year is fast coming to a close! It’s that time of the year for our annual Christmas Party. It will be in the Church Annex on December 12th at 6 pm. We are currently studying in the book of Colossians. What a blessing to read, study, and ingest the eternal, unchanging Word of God. The psalmist wrote: “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations” (119:89-90). Jesus said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35).

The Bible is more than a historical relic. It is the living, powerful Word of God (Heb. 4:12), in which we encounter the Lord and discover how to live for Him and honor Him. “I will never forget Your precepts,” the psalmist concluded, “for by them You have given me life” (119:93). What a privilege we have each day to seek God in His remarkable Word! Come and join us in the Grace Class as we enjoy fun and fellowship around God’s Word. We have moved into our new, larger classroom. The remodeling is well underway. May each of us be faithful to the Lord through this holiday season.

Homebuilders – December Updates

CBC — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:00:51 +0000

I pray that everyone in the HomeBuilders Sunday School class has the best Christmas they have ever had. One way to ensure you have a great Christmas is to keep Christ in Christmas. When we keep the focus upon Jesus and the wonderful gift that God has given to all of mankind, we can’t help but be full of gratitude and joy. 2 Corinthians 9:15 says “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” The gift of Jesus is so great it is hard to find words to express the worth and precious value of this gift.

Three ways we can keep Christ in Christmas include: first, don’t get too busy and miss Jesus. Even at the birth of Jesus most of the world missed rejoicing that the King of Kings had been born. Only those that were sincerely looking for the coming of the Son of God got to experience this awesome event. The innkeeper, however, is a picture of most people; he was too busy to make room for Jesus. This Christmas season take time to meditate on how much Jesus loves you and what He has done for you.

Secondly, take time to be in the places where God is present. When God’s people get together to worship and fellowship, God is in our midst. If you stay at home you miss the blessing of experiencing God. The devil may tell you that you can experience God in the deer stand, but the only true way you should experience Him at this time is through conviction. If the family of God is meeting together and you are not there and you are not convicted you are missing Jesus, just like the Pharisees. The Pharisees thought they knew all the right answers. They were too selfish to take time out and go 5 miles to worship the Christ. How many of us are too selfish to go 5 miles to worship our King Jesus? If you do not participate in corporate worship this year you will miss Jesus this Christmas.

Thirdly, if you do not give to others this Christmas you will miss Jesus. Those that really experienced the joy brought gifts to the Son of God. The wise men may not have been there at the birth of Jesus Christ (most believe they showed up a short time later), but they understood the value of what God has given them and wanted to thank God for His “unspeakable” gift. This Christmas season let the love of God flow from your heart to others. Instead of making the season all about you and what you can do, what you can get, what you can eat, make this Christmas all about others. Take a meal to another family or invite them over for Christmas dinner. Take some gifts to another family and sacrifice on spending for yourself. Take time this Christmas to serve others instead of seeking to spend every minute doing what you want. When you let the love of Christ flow from you to others you will be Christ-like to the rest of the world. When your family sees the joy that has come over you this season they will want what you have. You can then tell them how wonderful Jesus is! God has been good to us.

Merry Christmas from Dwight and Carrie

From Pastor’s Pen – December

CBC — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:00:59 +0000

As we enter into the most wonderful time of the year, the Christmas season, it’s important that we take time to contemplate the meaning of Matthew 1:23, “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” In this modern time we give names to children of little or no particular meaning. It wasn’t the case in biblical times. Names meant something. Scriptural names, as a general rule, contains teaching, and this is especially true in every name ascribed to the Lord Jesus. “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace,” because these names describe who Jesus truly is. His name is called Jesus but not without reason. No other name could fairly describe His great work of saving His people from their sins. The great preacher of years ago, Charles Spurgeon, said, “Let it be a matter of faith that Jesus Christ, even He who lay in Bethlehem’s manger, and was carried in a woman’s arms, and lived a suffering life and died on a malefactor’s cross, was, nevertheless, ‘God over all, blessed forever, upholding all things by the word of His power.” He was as surely God as God can be, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

While our minds can’t comprehend the idea that God Almighty, Creator of the universe, could take on a robe of flesh and dwell among us, it is of tremendous comfort that in sorrow, affliction, hardship and death, God is with us. There’s no greater thought than this.

The spirit of Christmas is a spirit of giving. As we enjoy this wonderful time of year may we be reminded that the Three Wise Men didn’t exchange gifts with each other. They brought gifts to the Christ Child. May we not leave Christ off our gift list this year. May God richly bless you for your faithful financial support of His church.

The theme for Christmas 2011 is “Christmas is Amazing.” We have planned what I believe to be one of the most blessed Christmas seasons ever as we celebrate the birth of our Lord. With a Pastor’s Love, Bro. Payne

FEBRUARY IS CAMP REGISTRATION MONTH

CBC — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:00:15 +0000

Youth Camp is right around the corner. February is early Camp registration. On Sunday, February 26 is Camp registration Day. Just pick up a camp registration form from the office, and turn it in with a $25 non-refundable deposit and you are set for camp. Camp will be July 9-14, 2012 at Southland Christian Camp in Ringgold, LA. Deposits will be $40 after February 26, so save yourself some money.

December Awana Dates

CBC — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:30:00 +0000

Wednesday. Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m. is “Bless You Night.” Winners will be awarded.

New clubbers are coming every week and we thank directors, leaders, and parents for your faithfulness to this ministry. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events!

Dec 7— “Bless You” Night
Dec 14 — “Store Night” Spend all your Awana bucks!
Dec 21— “No Club” … Have a Merry Christmas !!!
Dec. 28—“No Club” … Have a Happy New Year !!!

Monthly Outreach

CBC — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:00:31 +0000

Our “Striving Together in 2011” outreach will tomorrow – Tuesday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. with our meal at 6:00 p.m. Please make note of this date because we have moved up our regular monthly outreach due to Christmas. The meal will include vegetables, desserts, coffee and tea. There are numerous ministry opportunities available. You can canvass, visit prospects, make telephone calls, visit shut-ins and absentees, pray, write out cards, or help clean up after the meal. Let’s keep up the good work as we take advantage of this great opportunity for service to the Lord. Be faithful!