THE ENVELOPE The message of Christmas is wrapped up in couple of verses of scripture con-tained in Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Also, John 3:16-17 “For God so loved world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not per-ish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to con-demn the world, but to save the world through him.” Wow—what a gracious gift we have received! I love the Christmas season with all that is repre-sents to us. I came across one of “those” Christmas stories that can be found in many collections. Though the author is unknown, it makes us mindful of our purpose during this Christmas season:

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no iden-tification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it: over-spending, the frantic running around at the last minute, the gifts given in desperation. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties…. I reached for something special just for Mike. Our son Kevin was wrestling at the junior level at the school he at-tended; shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.

These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoe-strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wres-tling without headgear. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. We ended up walloping them. As each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike shook his head sadly. "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of poten-tial, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling head-gear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the bright-est thing about Christmas. Each Christmas, I followed the tradi-tion—one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year giving a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. We lost Mike due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was so wrapped up in grief that I barely got the tree up. But on Christmas Eve I placed an envelope on the tree, and in the morning it was joined by three more. Each of our children had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and some-day will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelopes. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

What a heart felt impact Mike’s wife made upon their family. Well, dear friends, Christ Spirit is with us. Let’s put His Spirit back in Christmas. Let’s be Jesus with skin on to a world that desperately needs a witness of the Love of God.

Blessings, Jeff Wiedenmeyer

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PASTORAL STAFF

Mary Ann Adams Children’s Pastor

Jeff Wiedenmeyer Lead Pastor

Kenneth Curtis Youth Pastor

Deacon Meeting Thurs. Dec. 13, 2012 7 pm at the church

Communion Sun. Dec. 2, 2012

There will no evening

services Sun. Dec. 23 & 30, 2012 and no evening activities

Wed. Dec. 26, 2012

WHAT IS ONE DAY TO FEED THE WORLD?

Friends from churches, organizations and busi-nesses give one day of their annual wages to help Convoy of Hope feed hungry people, meet immediate needs during times of disaster and give people hope.

Ladies Morning Break , Tuesdays at 9 am & Ladies Evening Break , Wednesdays at 6:30 pm Me, Myself, & Lies : A thought closet makeover by Jennifer Rothschild Not too late to join. Books are available for $15. Contact Tamra Wiedenmeyer for more info.

S.S. Morning Service Toddlers Evening Service

2 Loree H. Bethany Hillesland Jordan S. Carol H.

Anna Woodward

9 Vivian W. Julie Olson Lynn K. Erica H.

Kelly Spanier

16 Bonnie D. Bethany Hillesland Kandy E. Vivian W.

23 No S.S. Jean Jasmann Pam H. No Service

Selah Jasmann

30 Pattie C. Biff Flowers Judy V.

Claudine Flowers

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JBQ Practice Sunday Nights @ 6:00 p.m.

JBQ Meet First Assembly Jamestown Sat. January 19 @ 10:00 a.m.

In need of officials and volunteers! Please contact pastor Mary Ann if you are willing to help!

A big thanks to all the hard working par-ents who dedicate their time and energy to helping kids learn the word of God!

Saturday December 8th —Lights and Sound Rehearsal 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Saturday December 15th—Dress Rehearsal 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (lunch will be served after the practice for all kids and parents)

Sunday December 16th—”Chris-myth Busters” 6:00 p.m. (All Children and volunteers need to be at the church by 5:00 p.m.

The practices listed above are mandatory for all kids and volunteers who are helping with this years Christmas program. If a volunteer or a child cannot be there please let pastor Mary Ann know ASAP.

We're challenging kids and adults to give a special gift this Christmas in the form of a special BGMC offering for missions. Your BGMC gift goes to help our missionaries with whatever they need to reach people with the gospel and to help those in need with food, water, clothing, shelter, and God's love.

We will be distributing these Christmas Buddy Boxes to everyone. We ask that you collect a Christmas gift for Jesus and bring your box to the Christmas program Decem-ber 16th@ 6:00 p.m. where we will collecting the BGMC offering for December.

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Breach Youth Church

Pursuing the moments,

Kenneth Curtis

When: New Years Eve-Dec. 31,7pm-7am Jan 1, 2013

What: Lock-in with food, games, tournaments,

prizes, and movies.

Where: Slater Center

Cost: $10.00 per student

Students need to get a ride from parents or the church people mover! No exceptions!

Time for a lock-in!. The students have begged, begged and begged some more. So, I figured, if we are doing this we are going all out! We are going to be there from one year into the next! It is going to be a fun night of games, food and movies. Students can come together, hang out and ring in the new year together! We are not allowing students to drive themselves because they will be tired in the morning and I want all our stu-dents to be safe going home in the morning. Parents may bring their student(s) or they can get a ride from the people mover.

November was an exciting month for Breach Youth ministries. We got together on Fri. Nov. 16 and had fun with the “Bigger or Better Bowling Bash.” The scaven-ger hunt turned out computer monitors, a vacuum, a bi-cycle and even some water skis. The students were even more excited about the debut of the very first Breach Worship Band! The students had been talking about and wanting to pursue a worship band for about a year. Well this month they took the stage for the first time and did a fantastic job! God also moved through our students as they went door to door during the “Treat-no-Tricking” event praying for the people of Jamestown.

The students will be hitting another landmark as they will be taking the stage on Sun. Dec. 9 at 6 pm for our first Christmas program. Students have been preparing for this since the beginning of October and we are get-ting excited as the performance date gets closer. So bring your family and friends and come learn what “The Christmas Heart” is all about! There will be treats in fellowship hall following the program.

Breach Youth Group presents: "The Christmas Heart"

Written by Pastor Kenneth

Sunday

Dec. 9th

@ 6pm

Treats to follow program in the fellowship hall!

PAGE 5

DECEMBER 2012 Phone: 701-252-4092

E-mail: assembly@daktel.com

www.ourheartispeople.com

First Assembly of God 1720 8th Ave SW Jamestown, ND 58401

Information

for the newsletter

needs to be into the office by the 15th of

the month. Thank you!

~ Sunday ~ 8:30 am

Connection time in the fellowship halll 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Morning Worship & Children’s & Toddler’s Church

6:00 p.m. Evening Worship Service

~ Monday ~ 7:00 p.m.

Small Groups meeting at various locations For more info contact: 252-4092

~ Tuesday ~ 9:00 a.m.

Ladies Morning Break 7 :00 p.m.

Small Groups meeting at various locations For more info contact 252-4092

~Wednesday~ 7 am Deacon Prayer at the church

6:30 p.m. Ladies Evening Break

Men’s 318 Club Kidz Club & Nursery

Youth Church at Slater Center Small Groups meeting at various locations

For more info contact 252-4092

~Thursday~ 7:00 p.m.

Small Groups meeting at various locations For more information contact 252-4092

~ Saturday ~ 7:00 p.m.

Prayer Time

Wee

kly

Sch

edu

le

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

7 pm Prayer time @ church

2 am Baptismal service Communion pm Pastor Jeff

3 Youth X-mas drama practice 4:30-7:30 pm

4 9 am Morning Break Bible Study

5 7 am Deacon

Prayer 6:30 pm Evening Break Bible Study 6:30 pm Men’s Bible Study 6:30 pm Kidz Club 6:30 pm Youth Church

6 Youth X-mas Drama dress re- hearsal 6-8 pm

7

8 1-3 pm Christmas program dress rehearsal 7 pm Prayer time @ church

9 am Pastor Jeff pm Youth Christmas drama Treats following in fellowship hall

10

11 9 am Morning Break Bible Study

12 7 am Deacon

Prayer 6:30 pm Kidz Club 6:30 pm Evening Break Bible Study 6:30 Men’s Bible Study 6:30 pm

13 7 pm Deacon Mtg

14

15 10:00-noon Christmas program dress rehearsal 7 pm Prayer time @ church

16 am Pastor Jeff pm BGMC Children’s Christ-mas Program-lunch following program in fellowship hall

17 18 9 am Morning Break Bible Study

19 7 am Deacon

Prayer 6;30 pm Evening Break 6:30 pm Kids Christmas party at Teen City 6:30 pm Men’s Bible Study 6:30 pm Youth Church

20 21

22 7 pm Prayer time @ church

23 am Pastor Jeff One Day To Feed the World Christ-mas Offering No evening service 30 am Pastor Jeff No evening service

24 4:30 pm Christmas Eve service 31 Youth Lock-in at Slater

25 Christmas Day-Church office closed

26 Church office

Closed!

No evening activities at the church

27

28 29

Merry

Christmas!

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Jamestown, N.D.

58401 Permit No. 66

SUNDAY

Sunday School (for all ages)

9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Children’s & Toddler’s Church (ages 3-10)

10:30 a.m.

Evening Service 6:00 p.m.

First Assembly of God 1720 8th Ave SW Jamestown, ND 58401

Phone: 252-4092 E-mail: assembly@daktel.com www.ourheartispeople.com www.facebook.com/jamestownfirst

Return Service Requested “...stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together …

Hebrews 10:24-25

OUR FELLOWSHIP SCHEDULE

Opportunities for worship, learning, fellowship and service.

Jan 2013 Tue 1 New Year’ Day-Church office closed Wed 2 No evening activities at the church Sun 6 communion Week of prayer thru the 12th Thu 17 Deacon meeting Sat 19 JBQ meet at Jamestown

Dec 2012 Sun 2 Communion Baptismal service Sun 9 Youth Christmas drama Sun 16 BGMC Children’s Christmas Program Wed 19 Kids Christmas party at Teen City Sun 23 One Day To Feed the World Christmas offering

No evening service Mon 24 Christmas Eve Service Tues 25 Christmas Day Church office closed Wed 26 Church office closed No evening activities at the church Sun 30 No evening service Mon 31 Youth Lock-in at Slater