Prepare Our Hearts

Prepare our hearts to receive You, Lord
In our communion bread,
To celebrate Your loving ways
Throughout the days ahead.
Cleanse us, Lord, from all our sins,
From all wrong-doing, too,
As we drink from the cup that represents
The new life found in You.
Amen.

Linda E. Knight

During the month of February,
everyone is encouraged to bring a sack lunch — or grab your lunch wherever and join together in
fellowship hall following morning worship. The second service will begin at 1:30 pm upstairs in the sanctuary.
There will then be no 6:00 pm Worship. We prayerfully hope that this change will help us be good stewards of heating expenditures.

ON MISSION CELEBRATION

MAY 5 & 6, 2012

Emmanuel will be participating with other Bay Area Baptist Churches in an event that happens every 5 years. Watch for more information in future newsletters.

The month of January 2012 has been designated as a time for Southern Baptist to seek the face of God through prayer. The North American Mission Board is asking each of us to answer the call by praying for spiritual awakening for your family and friends, your church, your nation and your world. On January 22, Emmanuel will be emphasizing our call to prayer and be passing out additional cards. In the meantime fill out the above spaces and place the sheet in an area of your home that you view often. That will help you to remember to pray.

I find joy in knowing that You, Lord,
Are the Shepherd of my heart.
Whenever I wander,
You don’t just wait for me —
You search for me
And meet me where I am.
You pick me up in Your arms of comfort
And hold me close.
What joy I feel in knowing
You rejoice over me;
What peace I know in realizing
You walk with me…
All the days of my life.

Tammy Tilley

The sheep hear his voice and He calls His own sheep by name,
and leads them out. John 10:3

According to the 2011 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, most Christian denominations saw little growth in membership over the last year.  Overall church membership saw a 1% decline in the last year with about 145 million people (out of the 345 million total population in the U.S. and Canada) declaring a church membership.  The Southern Baptist Convention ranks second behind the Catholic Church in overall membership in the U.S. with 16.1 million declared Southern Baptists in the country.  However, even the SBC saw a slight .42% drop in membership over he last year. (USA today)

Tithing Truth

Thought most profess to tithe the standard 10% of their income to their church, the actual average percentage of income given to churches over the last two years was only 2.43%.  This number has declined over the last 40 years with the highest amount being only 3.11% in 1968.  (Christianity Today)

Many Christians today lack an understanding of WHY Jesus had to come, therefore leaving them without answers when new beliefs or ideas arise. Others just are confused because so many religions have different ways to get to heaven. This computer-animated video takes you through the rise of the Israelites and their fall into captivity. It shows how the tabernacle was used to cover their sins, and how Jesus came to permanently PAY for their sins. In only 40 minutes the video shows concepts that aren’t easily understood through preaching alone and concludes with the Bible’s plan of salvation by grace of God through our faith.