The Woodmont Word E-Newsletter

The Woodmont Word

E-Newsletter

A Family of Faith on Mission

November 2017

Don't forget to turn your clocks back Saturday night.

Hess's Headlines

Dear Church,

Thanksgiving has been one of my favorite holidays since childhood. In fact, I love everything that surrounds thanksgiving: the food, the football, the weather, the atmosphere of gratitude, and the joy. As I have gotten older, I have treasured this holiday for reasons I once took for granted: the people. In my life, I have often neglected to say "thank you" to those that most deserved to hear it. So, if you are reading this, "Thank You." The people of Woodmont Baptist Church have been such a blessing in my life. You crossed many miles and mountains and ministered to me when I was a young teenage boy. Your people showed me the power of prayer and worship at a young age. When I enrolled in college at UNA, Woodmont was a place where I felt welcomed, loved, and discipled. After graduating college you allowed me to serve at your church as interim youth pastor. In this role I had the wonderful opportunity to know you and your families, to learn from you, and to hear your stories of God's faithfulness. As youth minister you helped me to see the global need for Christ and sent me on my first foreign mission trip, Brazil. You allowed me to stir that same passion for missions in young people by sending us to Guatemala, Louisville (Kentucky), Jackson (Mississippi), and most of all serving those in Florence, Alabama. I met my Janna at Woodmont, was engaged at Woodmont, and enjoyed a great season of ministry in that role. When I went to Shoals Christian School, you prayed for me, celebrated when the Lord provided Stone in our lives, and you welcomed me back in a new role as your pastor. Thank you. You are a blessing.

I was reading recently in Colossians 3 and noticed that an attitude of gratitude is prevalent in our walk with Christ. Listen to Paul's emphasis on thanksgiving in the Word:

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

An attitude and spirit of thanksgiving is a quality of a Christ-follower. It is rare in our day, which makes it that much more noticeable. Thank God for His grace, for Christ, and for each other! Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

In Christ,

Chad and Family

Thompson's Text

Pictured to the left is me, Brother Steve, dressed as Martin Luther Sunday evening at our Trunk or Treat event. Notice the hammer and papers representing the "95 Theses" Martin Luther nailed to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany 500 years ago this week. As Brother Chad highlighted in his message Sunday, this event launched what would become the Protestant Reformation with the clear teaching that we are justified by faith and Gods grace - Not our Works! Luther was rebelling against the church of his day in its false teaching that you could purchase your salvation for yourself or others by giving money to the church through a system the church created called indulgences.

I am so grateful that I am justified and made righteous by the work and sacrifice of my Lord Jesus. It is not my goodness or good deeds that I will trust in on the day of judgment, but His shed blood on my behalf. Martin Luther did all he could as a Monk to pray, study the Word of God and even torturing himself. He found real freedom in the following scriptures:

Romans 1:17 "For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The just shall live by faith."

Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

1 Peter 2:5 "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

Mathew 11:29-30 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Under His grace,

Steve

Reese's Pieces

I can't believe the holiday season has come around again. I've been listening to Christmas music since late May--that's just the life of a music minister--but even so, it was a bit of a shock this morning to look at the calendar hanging in our kitchen and see that November is upon us!

This is probably my favorite month. (I say "probably" because I'm a waffler on such things; ask me next month, and I might say December.) I love the cooler weather, memories of our first child being born this time of year, the gradually escalating excitement for the holidays to come, and of course, Thanksgiving. The food, the aromas, the togetherness, the much needed rest, and the pervasive reminder to count my blessings and be grateful all tug at my heart, filling me with nostalgia and deep-seated joy.

With our adult children so scattered and working inflexible schedules, we are no longer able to be all together for Thanksgiving, and so I have added Skype to my list of blessings. There truly is always something to be thankful for.

One of my favorite passages of scripture about thankfulness is Psalm 136. This psalm commands us to give thanks to the Lord, and goes on to offer us a really good reason to do so: "His love endures forever." And for people like me, who sometimes need to hear something over and over to get it through a thick brain, this phrase, "His love endures forever," is repeated 26 times. Twenty-six!! [Incidentally, this is a good psalm for us to remember if we're ever tempted to criticize the repetition in modern worship music.] The congregation of that day sang this--probably antiphonally, with two groups alternating musical phrases, or as a Call and Response, in which the leader would sing the first phrase and the congregation would sing the next. I love that, in a psalm about thankfulness, the songwriter drives this one point home as the end-all-be-all motivation for gratitude.

If your blessing list is a little on the short side this year, if your world has been rocked by tragedy and loss, if you have been afflicted in your body and each day is a struggle just to carry on, cling to this truth: His love for YOU endures forever. Trials and troubles are momentary, but His love is unfailing and unending. There is always something to be thankful for, and this is it. He has loved you with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3)

Our God is the Fount of every blessing, and He has certainly poured out in abundance on us all. But His greatest blessing is His love, and His greatest expression of love is His Son, Jesus. That celebration comes next month, and I'm so excited! Rejoice with us on Sunday, December 3, at 6:30 PM, when our music ministry presents a concert of Christmas music I'm calling "When Love Crossed Over." Please join us, and invite someone to come with you. In the meantime, don't miss any of our remaining mini-concerts: November 5-The Gospel Road Quartet, November 12-Jacob Bradley, November 19-Carol Johns. (If you missed Matt Coats on October 22,

Happy Thanksgiving, church family.

Kevin

Student Ministry

The Apostle Paul wanted to preach in Rome because he knew it would advance the gospel throughout the world. The goal is to advance the gospel. When we preach, God speaks. God uses preaching as a way to change people. God has chosen man as His instrument to spread the gospel. The Father does not need us, but has chosen to use us. We preach because God has spoken to us, and we cannot stop speaking about it (Acts 4:20). God has placed a call on the preacher's life to preach, so people will hear and believe.

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written,

"HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO

BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" (Rom. 10:14-15).

Preaching is a calling of God, an honor, and an act of obedience to God. A burden for the lost should drive the preacher to action. Paul was deeply troubled and concerned at the thought of His Jewish "brethren" being separated from Christ. Listen to the extremes Paul went to when talking about his burden for the lost:

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Rom. 9:1-3)

Paul would rather take the punishment for his earthly brothers, than for them to spend an eternity in hell. Paul is saying he would sacrifice himself and be willing to be separated from Christ in order to save others. That is how significant it was to him for people to come to know the Lord. The reason we preach is because we know God changes lives and we want to see lives changed.

Do we have that kind of burden for the lost?

Jarod

King's Kids

After 10 years of faithful and dedicated service as Kings Kids director, Jennifer Jones has resigned to take a full time job. We will miss Jennifer and are so appreciative of her and the fine job she has done through the years.

Lauren Hodges is currently serving as Interim Director.

The Kings Kids Committee will be receiving applications for the Director position through November 15. Applications and a job description may be picked up in the church or Kings Kids office or by clicking here.

Women's Ministry

For detailed information about tablescapes click here.

Pre-wrapped shoe boxes are available in the worship center lobby on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may purchase a plastic shoe box or use a shoe box of your own from home, if preferred. The following will be on hand in the lobby, for your convenience, as well; Brochures with Boy/Girl Labels, Packing tips, and rubber bands.

Deadline to return gift-filled boxes is Sunday MORNING, November 12, at which time there will be a prayer of dedication. The boxes will be taken to the collection center for Lauderdale County that afternoon. Any boxes not making the deadline, may be taken to FBC, Florence, for a very limited time.

Thank you for your participation,

Women's Ministry of Woodmont

Operation Christmas Child Packing Tips click here for list.

Family Life Ministry

Sometimes it is easy to get so caught up in the "doing" of the season that we forget to stop for a few moments and let our hearts be filled with gratitude for all our many blessings. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's all remember to be thankful.

A Psalm of thanksgiving

Shout with joy to the Lord all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before Him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are His.

We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

And His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100 (NLT)

Belinda

Jail Ministry

300 Christmas Goodie Bags will be given to the inmates in the Lauderdale Detention Center. Any class or individual who would like to help with this by providing a specific item for the bags, please contact Belinda Green : [email protected]. We are only allowed to give certain items and certain sizes so those details would be provided to anyone wanting to help. Items as well as Donations of money are welcome, as well.

Belinda

Singles' Ministry

Thanks to all the golfers and sponsors who helped to make our

12th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser for Missions

a huge success!

132 Kensington Dr. Florence

Singles Monthly Luncheon- November 19th - details not finalized

Surviving the Holidays - November 29th from 6-8 pm in room B-102

This free one night class is offered to those who are facing the holidays for the first time following a divorce or separation. To sign up, you may call the church office, 256-766-1255 or email [email protected].

Singles Christmas Party

December 9th 6:00

East Campus Gathering Room (College area)

Smoky Mountain Retreat in Gatlinburg

January 12-15

$150 per person (does not include food)

Sign up in singles area or in the breezeway

Deposit of $50 due on December 3rd

Bus will leave for the trip at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and will return on Monday evening around 6:00.

Belinda

Children's Ministry

How do you listen for the Lord to speak to you? I like it when God speaks to me through His people, like encouragement or guidance. Then sometimes there is that still small voice in my thoughts or even in dreams. It used to scare me when I would have those dreams, but I asked God about it and he showed me. Then there is listening through God's word. I admit I wasn't always the best to stop and read God's word every day, but I have learned if I'm going to grow I need His word.

I just want to thank all the ones who planned and helped with "Trunk or Treat" I have had so many tell me it was the best one yet. Their child listened to all the lessons from the Bible closely. Our youth were great at telling the pumpkin story of salvation. I watched as every child had eyes fixed on them. Thanks to the ones that set up tables and chairs and took them down, to the ones that took out garbage and vacuumed the floors. Thank you. It would not have been a success without you. I love our Woodmont family. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Denise

55 and Older Join Us For These Upcoming Events...

Game Days at East Campus - Thursday, November 2 & 30 at 12:30 p.m. Bring a finger food and join in the good food, games and fellowship.

There will be NO Monthly Luncheon in November.

Friday Night, November 17, join us as we pack the 200 Thanksgiving Baskets in Room 10 at 5 p.m. We will have a meal afterwards in the gym. The cost is $6 and there will be a sign up in the breezeway. You will pay the night of the meal. If you sign up and do no attend, please pay Frances Moore. We will have Lasagna, Salad, and Dessert prepared by our own Ray Frens.

Saturday, November 18, at 9:30 AM we will begin delivering the baskets. Plan to come and bring your grandchildren for a wonderful mission opportunity. We will have maps for easy access and we need many feet to deliver the meals.

Baskets are $25 and provides everything needed, including a Ham, for a Thanksgiving meal plus some extras food items.

Frances Moore