Church Corner

Greenbrier First United Methodist Church

By BJ Fox

Greenbrier First United Methodist Church will hold a combined one service at 10:40 a.m. Sunday instead of our usual two services, followed by a potluck meal afterward. Because it is the start of the advent season, we will also gather for the traditional Christmas decorating, “Hanging of the Greens”. 

All adults, especially men who can climb those ladders and help put up our huge tree, are encouraged to help decorate our sanctuary. While the adults decorate, “Make it and Take it” crafts will be offered for the children. This is always a fun time and a good way to get to know more of our congregation. All are welcome. 

Our Angel Tree is already up. GFUMC traditionally has a tree with paper angels on it with a child’s name and age written on each Angel. You may select your Angel, tear it in half, put your name and phone number on one half and leave that half in the basket on the table by the tree. Take the other half with you and shop for that child. Wrap your gift, attach your Angel to your package, and turn it in by Dec. 13 at the church. These gifts are then delivered in time for Christmas to our needy little Angels. Our food pantry is also in need of “dinner fixings” for needy families for Christmas.

 Thanks to all who donated for Thanksgiving. We helped many, many families with turkeys and fixings. We welcome receipts from the Greenbrier SuperCenter grocery store, as well as their saver cards. If you can share your receipts, SuperSaver cards, a turkey or ham, food items, or Angel gifts, please bring them to our church office as soon as possible. The Christmas play to be presented at 4:30  next Sunday is shaping up to be quite an event. 

The annual fundraising potato bar served by our teens afterwards is a delight not to miss. Come and enjoy this special evening with our kids. We usually have two Sunday worship services — 8:30 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. Sunday school for all ages is 9:40 a.m. A nursery for babies is provided. If you need a ride, call (501) 581-3895 before Sunday. The church is on Highway 65 and Tyler in Greenbrier. The office telephone is (501) 679-2452. 

Bethlehem Baptist Church

By Hazel Love

I just want to praise our great God for the blessings that he is pouring out on Bethlehem. I know that I say this each week, but we had a great day this past Sunday. To begin, we had 151 in Sunday School and the sanctuary was almost full for the worship service. Bro. Larry’s sermon was from I Peter 2:3-10, “The Priesthood Of The Believer.”

Mrs. Bernice Burgess was the winner of the Bible for having the most relatives (seventeen) present. It was revealed during the Thanksgiving Dinner that Daniel and Jennifer Patterson also had seventeen present and received a Bible also. Following the service everyone gathered in the Family Life Center for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner consisting of ham, turkey, pot-luck vegetables, salads, and desserts. 

Approximately 270 stayed for the meal. The ladies group “Praise gave a concert following the meal. It was a blessing to have them singing together again, with a couple of subs filling in. The largest blessing of the day was the special offering that was received for the construction of the new office / multi-use complex to be erected across the street where the parsonage was previously. Over half of the projected funds need was raised. Thanks to all who helped make the day a success either by working, donating your offerings, or just by prayer. 

The landscape across the street is changing this week as the parsonage building is being moved out to make way for construction to begin soon on the new building. Monday night Tim and Jackie Starkey, Linda Hammontree, and Hazel Love, from the Adult Sunday School Class, (It was organized to be a class trip, but everyone seemed to come up with reasons not to go.) went to Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs to see the beautiful Christmas lights. Those of you who didn’t go missed a wonderful sight. We stopped at Brown’s Country Restaurant in Benton to eat before going on. We had a great trip. Tomorrow is Youth Sunday at Bethlehem. The youth will be in charge of all services on Sunday morning. 

The guest speaker will be Adam Whitlock. Sunday evening Bro. Jimmie will be bringing the message. I encourage all to be present to support our youth as they are anxious to serve God and their church.