Missionaries to Africa

How wonderful it is when we respond in obedience to the Lord’s will for our lives. It is amazing to see how the Lord blesses and provides when we step out in faith and trust in Him. Maxel and Amanda have recently been called to serve as part of a short term mission’s team to Nigeria. They will depart January 10th and return on the 20th. While in Africa they’ll be working with local village youth, helping at a medical clinic, assist with small building projects and much more. As the Body of Christ we are called to work together in doing the work our Lord has called us to. Keep Maxel and Amanda in your prayers as they prepare to spend these ten days in service. Listed below are some of the needs they have for this trip. If the Lord so leads you to help please contact Mike Masonic at the Fellowship office. For local schools: pencils, pens, erasers, rulers, toothbrushes & toothpaste, dental floss, t-shirts of different sizes, scientific microscopes, and educational software. Pastors Library & Churches: Bibles (including study bibles), Bible study material, Bibles on tape or CD, Christian books, Christian videos for children and adults. Medical Center: Pain relievers, ointments, alcohol swabs, latex gloves, Glucometer and test strips, Blood pressure monitor, reading glasses, Vitamins and dietary supplements. Team cash donations for: A water well, medical facility building, school classrooms, travel expenses. May the Lord bless these two as they faithfully seek to glorify Jesus.

Christmas Services at Countryside

Christmas Eve - December 24th On Christmas Eve we will be holding two one-hour services Family Service at 6:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service at 11:00 p.m. Christmas Day - December 25th Come together to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior with a special Christmas Celebration service 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning

__________________________________________________ This Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you are invited to enjoy free wassail, on us. Visit the Encouraging Words Coffeehouse. Join us after the Family Service this Christmas Eve, for a great time of fellowship and food. RSVP now at Encouraging Words Coffeehouse.

The "W" in Christmas…

"Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. "My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." "I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. "So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. "Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. "Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love." "The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "C H R I S T W A S L O V E" For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. — John 3:16 At the Fellowship, we believe He still is. We're amazed in His presence. We're humbled by His love. May each of you have the most blessed Christmas as you reflect on His Amazing Love for us.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Fourth Sunday of Advent The Angel's Candle

Sunday, December 18th Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, so the Angel’s Candle, the candle of Love, along with the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd’s Candles have been lit. The Angel’s Candle represents God’s love and Jesus’ return to the earth. This candle symbolizes love and the truth that Jesus is coming again, soon. He has gone to prepare a place for us, and will one day return to take us to heaven with Him. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.’ 5 Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ 6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ - John 14:1-6 Scripture Meditations for the week: Use these verses each day as you meditate on the Word of God and pray... Sunday – The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Matthew 2:1-12 Monday – Elizabeth and Mary, Luke 1:39-56 Tuesday – The Birth of Jesus, Luke 1:57-80 Wednesday – Presentation In the Temple, Luke 2:21-38 Thursday – The Pre-Eminent Christ, Colossians 1:15-23 Friday – Worthy Is The Lamb, Revelation 5:1-14 Saturday – The New Heaven and New Earth,Revelation 21:1-7

African Gospel Acappella

Due to inclimate weather, African Gospel Acappella will be unable to join us this evening. With this unexpected change of plans we will be gathering together for a night of worship and communion with the Countryside Worship Band.

The stove is still pipin' hot and we are all set to serve up at 5:30 p.m. Plan to come and enjoy a special Cafe Koinonia meal. Only $4 per person, a great deal for a great meal.

What's on the Menu? Monrovian Spinach & Cabbage, Chicken & Rice, Coconut Pie, Sweet Potato Sauce, Fried Plantains, Rice Bread and a Mango Dessert

The Third Sunday of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent The Shepherd's Candle

Sunday, December 11th

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, so the Shepherd’s Candle, the pink candle of Joy, along with the Prophecy and Bethlehem Candles have been lit. The Shepherd’s Candle symbolizes the sharing of the good news of Jesus and His coming into human hearts. The shepherds went rejoicing and telling everyone they saw about what they had seen and heard. God will still live in us today. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:15-18

Scripture Meditations for the week

Use these verses each day as you meditate on the Word of God and pray...

Sunday – The Third Sunday of Advent, Luke 2:8-20

Monday – A Righteous Branch, Jeremiah 23:5-6

Tuesday – A Ruler Over Israel, Micah 5:2

Wednesday – Your King Is Coming, Zechariah 9:9-10

Thursday – The Messenger Is Sent, Malachi 3:1

Friday – The Birth of John Is Foretold, Luke 1:1-25

Saturday – The Announcement To Mary, Luke 1:26-38

The Second Sunday of Advent

The Second Sunday of Advent The Bethlehem Candle

Sunday, December 4th Today is the second Sunday of Advent, so the Bethlehem Candle, the candle of Preparation, along with the Prophecy Candle have been lit. The Bethlehem Candle symbolizes Christ’s coming as a baby. God coming to earth. Much preparation was involved: by God, by the angels, by the Magi, and by Mary and Joseph. God came, and was born in a stable. ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.’ - Micah 5:2-3 Scripture Meditations for the week Use these verses each day as you meditate on the Word ofGod and pray... Sunday – The Second Sunday of Advent, Matthew 1:18-25 Monday – A Savior and Deliverer, Isaiah 19:19-25 Tuesday – The Sovereign Lord Comes, Isaiah 40:9-11 Wednesday – Behold My Chosen One, Isaiah 42:1-4 Thursday – A Servant Brings Salvation, Isaiah 49:1-7 Friday – A Man of Sorrows, Isaiah 53:1-12 Saturday – God’s Spirit Is Upon Him, Isaiah 61:1-3

Real Worship. Real Worshippers.

"When we believe that we should be satisfied rather then God glorified in our worship, then we put God below ourselves as though He had been made for us rather than that we had been made for him." -Stephan Charnach "When we take consumerism and bring it into the experience of our church life, than we are virtually done; because the whole experience of worship can never begin with what I am about to receive, but always begins with what I am about to give. The fact that we can never offer anything save the overflow of a life that is full of God." -Alister Begg "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." -Jesus (John 4:23-24)