Annual mini Christmas ConcertToday, December 17, is our annual

Christmas concert, beginning at 10:30 AM, in the sanctuary. Sunday School teachers, please release your class by 10:20. Please plan to be in your seats at 10:30, as we will begin promptly.

You won't want to miss the tuba and saxophone solos, along with a newly com-posed piano piece, and a flute trio! Thanks be to God!

Year-end Notice to DonorsIn order for a donation to be posted in

the year 2017, it should be postmarked Saturday 12/30, or received at CBC, by Sunday,12/31/16. Donations postmarked or received after the deadline will be entered in the year 2018. If you use on-line banking, please make sure that the bank’s “processing date” is before 12/31. Our bank recommends you handwrite a check or do your on-line transaction at least one week before 12/31 in order to ensure we receive it on time.

To ensure tax-deductibility of all your 2017 donations, please do not file your tax re-turn before receiving your 2017 contribution statement. Statements will be mailed mid-late January. Again, be sure your bank’s “processing date” is before 12/31. Thank you!

New Precepts study coming…"We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in

despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…" Paul spoke frankly to the Corinthians about their spiritual state but added encouragement because of what they had and who they were in Christ Jesus. We all need this straight talk and the encouragement and reminder of what we have been given as children of God. This study will challenge and draw you to the Lord in new ways! Join us and contact Dennis Bura to get your study materials. Begins January 8, 7:00 PM, here at Cornerstone!

Cornerstone Bible Church is a ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ to the greater Atlanta area. Our mission as part of the universal body of Christ is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ at home and abroad. We do this as a local assembly by equipping members to find undis-cipled people, to fold them into God’s flock, to feed them to maturity, and to forward them into the mission.

www.cbclilburn.orgoffice@cbclilburn.org

869 Cole DriveLilburn, GA 30047

Phone (770) 806-0005Fax (770) 806-8806

December 17, 2017

Welcome!The Lord anoints us, as He did Jesus, "to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61:1). We gather here to be strengthened for this work.

Cornerstone Bible Church

December Memory Verse — Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own

understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

When I feel frazzled amid all the Christmas preparations, God, calm my heart and re-mind me of the season's true meaning.

Morning WorshipPrelude Sandra ClementsWorship Hymns Jerry ClementsInvocation Pastor Peter O'NeillGuest Pad Pastor Kent SuterScripture Memory Pastor Kent SuterMeditation Moment Sandra ClementsWorship Leader Jerry ClementsPastoral Prayer Lee TateMinistry of the Word Pastor Peter O'NeillClosing Hymn Jerry ClementsBenediction Pastor Peter O'NeillPostlude Sandra Clements

Hymns and Choruses"Angels We Have Heard on High" 278

"Angels from the Realms of Glory" 259"The First Noel" 265

"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" 271

Birthdays this Week

Dec 17 Miriam Sawyer

Dec 20 Tony AhleniusJasmine Rahaman

Dec 21 Hailey Moore

Dec 22 Kent Suter

Remember:Sunday School cancellednext Sunday & Dec 31!

Everlasting joyIn a Chicken Soup for the Soul

sampler, Karen Asire tells of a particularly difficult Christmas after her husband left and began divorce proceed-ings. As Karen and her three young children set up their tree, she fought tears and secretly tucked aside certain or-naments, such as one announcing "Our First Christmas Together."

Several days later, a neighbor stopped by with a gold decoration proclaiming JOY. "We've hung this ornament on our tree for several years," she explained, "but this year we wanted you to have it." When Asire hung it on the tree and stepped back, "all the other orna-ments seemed to fade into the background, and all [she] saw was the shimmering gold of the JOY ornament." She allowed herself to cry then, grateful for the remind-er that amid grief and heartache, God's love shines.

Pain fades in time, while God's Christmas gift — Jesus — brings joy that lasts forever.

Angels We Have Heard on HighAngels we have heard on high; sweetly singing o’er the plains And the mountains in reply, Echo back their joyous strains.

Refrain:Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

3. Come to Bethlehem, and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

4. See within a manger laid Jesus, Lord of heav’n and earth! Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, With us sing our Savior’s birth.

Angels, from the Realms of GloryAngels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang cre-ation’s story Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

RefrainCome and worship, come and worship, Wor-ship Christ, the newborn King.

2. Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing; Yonder shines the Infant Light:

5. Tho’ an Infant now we view Him, He will share His Father’s throne, Gather all the nations to Him; Every knee shall then bow down:

The First NoelThe first Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain:Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

2. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east, beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night.

3. And by the light of that same star Three Wise Men came from country far; To seek for a King was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went.

5. Then entered in those Wise Men three, Full rev'rently upon their knee, And offered there in His presence Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

6. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavn'ly Lord, That hath made heav'n and earth of naught, And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Joyful, Joyful We Adore TheeJoyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of light; Angels lifting praise before You Sing thro'-out this holy night. In a manger lies a Baby— Child of Mary, Son of God. Voices joined in joyful chorus Praise You for Your gift of love.

2. All Your works declare Your glory; All creation joins to sing. Praise resounds as earth rejoices In the birth of Christ, the King. Shepherds kneel before the Infant. Trumpets sound and anthems raise As with joy our hearts are lifted, Joined in wonder, love, and praise.

The giverMany Christian fami-

lies struggle with what role — if any — Santa Claus should play in their Christmas celebrations. No matter what you decide, it’s fascinating to know the history of the real-life St. Nicholas.

Born about 270 A.D., Nicholas was a bishop in Myra, or modern-day Turkey. In the year 325, he was part of the Council of Nicaea, which produced the Nicene Creed.

Nicholas, known for his generosity, often gave away his money anonymously. According to tradition, he secretly provided dowries for the three daughters of a bankrupt merchant. Nicholas threw two bags of gold through open windows and placed the third in a stocking hanging by the fireplace to dry. Thus began the Christmas tradition of placing gifts in stockings.

St. Nicholas is quoted as saying, “The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”

Poinsettia InformationPoinsettias are available at no cost for

your "Memorial" and "In honor of" dedica-tions. The plants can be picked up after wor-ship Dec 24, or after Christmas Eve Service.

Please indicate on the bulletin coupon form whether you will plan to pick up a poinsettia or leave it for decoration. Last day to make your dedications is today.

Drop your coupon in the collection box.

Your name:_____________________________

In honor of:_____________________________

In memory of:_____________________________ One poinsettia per family, please.

◊ Will pick up ◊ Will leave for deco

Pickleball One-time event for CBC attendees over

18. On January 18, 6:30-8:30 PM (Doors close @ 7PM) at Mountain Park Baptist Gym (behind the church) Wear tennis shoes; paddles and balls provided. Don't know what Pickleball is? Come learn or just watch! It's all about the Fellowship!

Contact Patty Taylor with questions!phtaylor0322@gmail com

WIS and MOW resume Jan 2, 2018We rejoice to announce that Dr. Doug

will again be teaching the MOW class on Tuesday mornings at 6:30 here at CBC. Also beginning on Jan 2, the WIS evening women's class is at 7:00; the morning class is Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. The women will resume their study in Luke. You may join in January for the first time.

Church StaffSenior Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doug McIntoshAssociate Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter O'NeillYouth Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kent SuterChurch Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee TateDir. of Children's Ministries . . . . Debra SandersChurch Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay HimmelAdministrative/Financial Secretary Jill Walker

Board of EldersJeff Daniell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678-714-1716Steve Farmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-981-4284James Kirkwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678-799-0381Doug McIntosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-295-5779Win Strickland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-736-3555Jack Suter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-925-1166Lee Tate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-736-8356

DeaconsBrian Grable . . . . . . Future Space Comm. ChairThomas Hinson . . . . . . . . . . .Property OversightRob Kocher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Offering OversightFrank Madden . . . . . . . .Communion OversightRick Merillat . . . . . . . . . Benevolence OversightMike Petty . . . . . . . . . . Open/Close CoordinatorMatt Smartt . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deacon CoordinatorSteve Steele . . . . . . . . Praise Team CoordinatorBryan Taylor . . . . . . . . . . .Financial PresentationBrad Tucker . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greeters CoordinatorChad White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Website Oversight

Today8:30 AM . . . . Prayer (Sr. Pastor's Office)9:30 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunday School10:30 AM . . . . . Mini Christmas Concert10:50 AM . . . . . . . . . . . Morning Worship

Financial NotesOPERATING BUDGET: As of November 30, 2017

Year 2017 2016Budget $825,704 $802,323 Expenses $762,007 $756,018Giving $713,279 $725,442Deficit -$ 48,728 -$ 39,576

Amid the avalanche of TV Christmas specials that hit our screens at this time of year, there's one little gem that always stands out. It's a

simple, unpretentious cartoon that's several decades old now, but it still usually manages to earn great ratings and has been loved by many generations.

I'm guessing it's no coincidence that, out of all the Christmas specials that claim to tell us all about "the true meaning of Christmas," this little cartoon is the one that everyone remembers and watches over and over again — the one that really gets the meaning.

I'm talking, of course, about A Charlie Brown Christmas. There are so many things to recommend this show, not least of which is its gentle skewering of the commercialism that surrounds our modern idea of Christmas. "Fake Christmas," as my colleague Anne Morse has called it at our blog, The Point.

Oddly enough, commercialism has gotten so much worse since A Charlie Brown Christmas was produced in 1965, that this charming cartoon has become more and more relevant every year. There's hardly a viewer who can't identify with Charlie Brown's feeling that, somewhere in all the hype and advertising, the real meaning of Christmas has been lost.

But there are lots of anti-consumerist messages out there every Christmas. The really great thing about A Charlie Brown Christmas is that it doesn't just critique the commer-cialism; it offers something to counter it—something real and significant.

It doesn't just say that the true meaning of Christmas is family, or giving, or kindness, or any other meanings that some of the other TV specials give us—concepts that are nice and admirable in themselves, but that totally miss the mark.

In simple, sincere, but utterly effective fashion, A Charlie Brown Christmas gives us the true "true meaning of Christmas," when the famous Peanuts character Linus recites the glorious Nativity passage from the Gospel of Luke.

It's not heavy-handed, it's not an altar call, and it's not sentimental or sappy in the least. It's just a straightforward sharing of the gospel, as a direct response to the empti-ness, frustration, and despair that are all that commercialism can provide.

It demonstrates what truly brings hope to the hopeless, not just at this time of year, but all year round. And it's a beautiful example of the power of Christ to infiltrate and transform culture.

This Christmas, I have an idea for you and your family. A Charlie Brown Christmas airs this year on ABC on December 7th and 16th [that's the 2010 schedule]. Why not pop some popcorn or make some cookies, and invite the neighbors over for a viewing? If those dates aren't convenient for you, rent the DVD—or you can purchase it at our online store at ColsonCenter.org.

What better way to begin to share Christ with those around you than to share a nos-talgic, enjoyable, no-pressure experience? And if the viewing opens the door to serious conversations about Christmas and its true meaning, that even better.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Thank You Linus | Chuck Colson | BreakPoint | December 3, 2010

Holiday ScheduleMini-Christmas Concert 12/17 at 10:30 AM

Sunday School Classes cancelled 12/24 & 12/31Christmas Eve Service Dec 24, 6:00 PM

Office closed Dec 25 - Jan 1

Pray for the paperwork to be completed in time for personnel from JAARS to able to help assemble and put it into service in January. The lack of helicopter service from November through January has come at a time of political unrest in the country. Pray for God's protection for teams who would otherwise use its service.

20. Dan and Tricia Miller have been, and are continuing to assist Ruth Lusted (87 years old) with her needs. Her sister, "Breezy" Lusted passed away. She had been the Ethiopian translator for JAARS. Ruth has been moving two apartments in two months, with Dan and Tricia both trying to give a helping hand.

21. Dan Miller's work as airport manager continues to go well. He was able to ac-complish some much needed removal of shrubs, trees, and debris which hindered the landing approach, with the help of a church in Wyoming who came with their young people on a mission trip. What an encour-agement they were! Tricia is busy as ever with her office responsibilities in the hanger. She enjoys serving the 50+ men who work in the hanger. Each one is here to serve God with their unique giftedness. There is much to be thankful for!

22. Dan and Tricia Miller will be traveling to Virginia to be with Dan's family, espe-cially his mother since they lost Daddy on September 18th of this year. They will be having a wonderful day with many of the six remaining brothers and sisters, in-laws, and nieces/nephews. Dan's sister, Rhoda, always starts the day off with baked oysters, Daddy's favorite. Even though he is not with them, the tradition continues. Pray for the family this year especially, as one will be physically missing. Thank the Lord they will meet again through the power of the risen Christ!

23. Praise the Lord for the fabulous service of 9 Lessons and Carols, and especially the unity of several congregations. We are all united in the love of Christ, the most im-portant doctrine. We pray that the message will continue to speak to the unbelievers who were in attendance, and that the Lord will draw them to Himself. Help us to re-member that we are celebrating the birth of God's only begotten Son, born in the flesh in order to save us from our sins, which are many. We thank Him for His indescribable gift to us! Praise the Lord God Almighty!

= Please pray for Joyce Carlson as she continues to be in rehab for strengthening and improved health. Ask God to comfort her and Dave as they walk this difficult journey.

= Please continue to support Doug and Cheryl with your prayers as their days can be challenging and unpredictable because of the multiple myeloma. Pray that they will have the Lord's peace and comfort.

CBC Missionary prayer requests —numbers indicate the day of the week.

17. Dina Petrou asks for prayers for Argyris following surgery on his Achilles tendon. Pray for healing, and for less pain. Erik will go on a mission trip to Tanzania with his fiancee to serve in an orphanage. Mark will be serving in a Christian camp. Pray for protection and safety for the boys, for Erik's fiancee, and for Dina to be able to get some rest! All the family will be home for Christmas to celebrate with their big Greek Family. They will have the Christmas party for Damaris girls, babies, and staff at their home.

18. Cliff and Judy Anderson have been continuing to work hard with Judy's new knee, and her plantar fasciitis in both feet. She has seen both her podiatrist and her orthopedist this month. Judy says that Cliff has continued to be a patient and caring caregiver since mid-March, so that when he decided to retire in June, life just got better. Thank God with her for Cliff. After almost eight months of not walking, it has been difficult to regain general body strength, as well as trusting the brace to hold her weight on her left leg. But with the help of the Lord and Cliff, progress is being made! They plan to spend Christmas with John and his family upstairs, praising God for His love in sending Jesus!

19. Dan and Tricia Miller praise the Lord that the helicopter arrived in Cameroon after an eventful ocean voyage (the ship was kidnapped by pirates!). Pray that the machine has not been damaged in any way.

Adult Sunday School Classes:Pastor's Class — Judgement, Hy-pocrisy and Tolerance, Brad Tucker, Worship CenterMary & Martha — Judy Cork, Luke,Room 13Connections — Return of the Prodigal Son, Bryan Taylor, Fellowship Hall

cbcKidzSunday School ClassesFirst Hour - 9:30-10:35

Baby Nursery & Toddler NurseryPreschool (3s & 4s)

Kindergarten -1st Grade2nd Grade

3rd/ Grade / 4th Grade Boys4th Grade Girls / 5th Grade

Preschool Church - 10:35 - 12:00Nursery (Newborn - 2)

Pre-School (3-4)

Children's Church - 11:20 - 12:00K-5th Grade — Fellowship Hall

Thoughtful TouchTo help you remember our mission-

aries on their birthdays and anniversa-ries by email, e-card or by regular mail with a card or note:

December Anniversaries Sean & Rebeckah Conklin12/1

Don & Ruth May 12/16

How Can I Help the Lilburn Co-Op?The holidays are quickly approaching. In lieu of food donations for the month of December, please donate to the Teen Angel Tree…located in the foyer just outside the sanctuary.

TeenAngelTree