Thank you and Goodbye...
As Katie and I prepare to leave, we want to say a big thank you to all the parents who have supported us during our time here. We want to encourage you that no event we planned or lesson we taught could impact your children the way your love and guidance does. We see the fruits of your labor in your teenagers as they grow in Godly character. While we will no longer will be engaged with your children on a weekly basis, we are still praying for them and for you as your families continue to pursue the Lord. We admire you, especially as we now face parenting our little girl. Thank you for your example to us.

With Love,
Tim & Katie Ellis

Youth Ministry Plans
by Tim Ellis
I have had many questions about how things are going to be cared for until a new student pastor is hired. So... here is the plan. We have assembled a team, headed by Ben Lutz, with six parents that have been involved with the youth ministry for several years. This team is going to be responsible for the overall vision and direction of the youth ministry, including lesson plans and events. Partnering with this team will be three interims. (BREAK) David Springer, a junior at Johnson Bible College, will be taking care of our middle school students and planning and organizing middle school services and events. Will Ellis, a senior at JBC, will be taking care of our high school students and planning and organizing high school services and events. Ben Lakin, a senior at JBC, will be covering the youth worship ministry and taking care of all of the sound and video equipment. Feel free to contact any of these interims or Ben Lutz with any questions. Ben Lutz will also be leading our group at TCTC and taking care of all of the details leading up to the trip. If you have any question about TCTC, please direct them to Ben Lutz. All money that is still due (most of you) need to turn your money in to Ben or to Barb during office hours.

Ben Lutz: blutz2@jbc.edu
Will Ellis: will.ellis@jbc.edu
David Springer: david.springer@jbc.edu
Ben Lakin: ben.lakin@jbc.edu

Looking For a Reason?
by John Handlos
Do you ever read church signs? This morning I drove by a church in a neighboring town and I read this sign - "Everyday look for reasons to rejoice." Now, I think I know what they meant when they put up this sign, but is that the best way to have worded it? The part that I stumbled with in the wording of this sign is the word "look." I do think we should rejoice everyday, God has blessed us abundantly. But do we really need to look for reasons to rejoice? Have we (BREAK) distracted ourselves that much that we can't see those reasons all around us? Have we really put up that many barriers that keep us from clearly seeing God's blessings in our lives?
Deuteronomy 12:7 reads: There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. This verse speaks volumes. If we strive to be in the presence of God, growing closer to Him and realizing that He is the one that so richly blesses us, then we have reason to rejoice. If anything, we have too much reason to rejoice. If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, how could you not rejoice? We have been blessed more than we deserve with life, love, and hope for a brighter future. I hope you are able to find reasons to rejoice with your families this holiday season. Today, if you find yourself having to look for those reasons to rejoice, take the time to clear those distractions and remove those barriers. I guarantee you, you won't have to look very far. Maybe the next church sign I see will simply read - "Everyday, rejoice!"

Everyday Blessings
by Randy Penwell
It seems appropriate that Christmas, the season of giving, should follow closely behind our season of Thanksgiving. For ungrateful people are seldom good givers. Giving generously flows from an understanding that we have received abundantly.  God's blessings are new everyday!  Giving generously, however, does not mean we should lavish upon those we love an abundance of things.  God is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), but His greatest gift is the gift of himself.  Christmas exists because (BREAK) God gave to us the gift of himself, wrapped in the swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  That "good news of great joy" that would be for all people was that God had come to live with us and ultimately die for us upon the cross for our sins.  God gave himself to us!

This Christmas let's follow the example of our God who is a generous giver, and give ourselves away to those we love.  Let's give them the gift of our time.  We can all get "too busy" with life to enjoy life with those we love.  It would be far better to slow down and make sure we are "really together" with our family and friends than to crowd in one more activity.  Let's give the gift of our presence and not be so worried about presents!  Memories are made more by our playing, laughing, and praying together than by opening another package.  Let's give the gift of our sacrificial love.  When we choose to serve those we love, putting their needs and interests ahead of our own, we are most like our Father in heaven.  When our love costs us something of ourselves it will be received as a gift of great worth.

Finally, let's make sure we give generously to those we don't know as well this Christmas.  We are never more like God than when we are giving to those in need.  In thanksgiving, we recognize the abundance of our blessings, which should cause us to see that there are many around us who do not have as much as we do.  This realization will lead Christians with a generous heart to share their abundance with others.  There are many opportunities to give during this special time of the year.  Let's take advantage of as many as we can and give so generously that someone might recognize the family resemblance between us and our Father.

Howdy from Women's Ministry
by Paula Stroup
Hi everyone I am Paula Stroup and I am the Women's Ministry Team Leader. Our Women's Ministry team is comprised of about a dozen women who are dedicated to changing the focus of Women's Ministry at Seymour Heights Christian Church. Our Mission is "Equipping Women to Passionately Pursue Jesus through discipleship, fellowship and encouragement."  We strive to offer activities each month that will (BREAK) help us accomplish this mission. Keep your eye out for information on fellowship nights, bible studies, mentoring groups and our spring retreat. Hope you can join us! You can join us on Facebook, too.

What a Blessing
by Jim Knowles
Most of you know that I recently spent a few days in Ft. Sanders, for minor surgery. Some say that "minor surgery" is a contradiction in terms, and to a degree it is . . . Anytime you go into the Hospital, you're exposed to every type of illness that's currently making the rounds! I don't want to give the impression that I enjoyed the experience, but I did have peace, and I thank you for lifting me up in prayer. I consider myself very blessed to be part of such a loving, caring congregation.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!
by Noel Arroyo
This is one, if not my favorite Christmas song of the season.  This song holds great richness in the lyrics that have captivated my heart and my soul.  The Old Testament imagery that has been portrayed through these lyrics paint a marvelous picture of the expectancy of Jesus the Messiah.  Rod of Jesse, Key of David, Emmanuel, all give emphasis that Christ was not simply a man, yet the Savior, God, the Fulfillment of all that was to come for Israel and to all who believe in Jesus!  Emmanuel, God with us, have you ever stopped to think about the meaning of His name as the song reaches its climax?  Rejoice! Rejoice! God with us!  Praise God for He has “free(d) Thine own from Satan’s tyranny from depths of Hell Thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave.”  This is a reason to give Him praise and to be glad during this holiday season.  It is about a Savior who came to set us free and to fulfill his promises.  He is faithful so Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel!