Our Vision: Building Christian lives on a firm foundation.

Our Missions: Grow in Jesus Christ ~ Encourage the Discouraged

Magnify the Lord ~ Seek the Lost

The monthly Men’s Ministry Breakfast will not meet in the month of January.

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 1

JANUARY 2020

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Inside This Issue

A Note from Ryan 2

Church Calendar 3

Birthdays/Anniversaries 3

S.A.M. Group 4

Women’s Ministry 5

From the Elders 6

Missions News 7

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION We wish everybody a Happy New Year. Your life can become more meaningful if you attend Sunday School and church every Sunday. All of the teachers spend time and effort each week preparing their lessons. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the Bible, you will be able to share your joys with friends and receive support for your difficult times from people in your Sunday School class who really care. See you in Sunday School,

Connie and Jo Ella Maugans

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED The church office will be closed on New Year’s Day. Regular office hours will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

GIVING ENVELOPESPlease remember to use your giving envelopes if you would like to have the treasurer keep track of your givings for the 2020 year. If you are in need of giving envelopes or have any questions, please contact the church office.

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 1 Page 2

A Note From Ryan

We live in a world that is so hostile to our Lord God and His Word that they will pull anything out of the dirt and try to say that it disproves the validity of the Bible. I have come across an article that reports an archaeological discovery of some camel bones in the Aravah Valley of Israel. Camel bones in a desert doesn’t seem very notable until you read a little further to the statement that says the discovery calls the Bible’s historicity into question. The claim is that these bones are the oldest example of a domesticated camel used to carry heavy loads, and this is a problem for the Bible because of the many accounts in Genesis of camels being used. The claim continues by saying that the bones are not old enough to fit within the Genesis timeline.

My first reaction is to wonder why these archeologists think there are no more bones to find that may be older still. I shouldn’t be surprised as we are so often reminded that Christians are treated differently than almost any other world view. We are told to be tolerant of other views, while Christianity is being persecuted in most major media.

It’s not much better in our schools as our students face the harsh realities of the secular world. I remember visiting WHS during lunch and there was a lot of “colorful” language being used during an extremely minor disagreement. As naïve as I apparently am, I was shocked at the anger that was so close to the surface of one particular student. This is the environment our young people find themselves in.

In Luke 12:51 Jesus asks, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” When people do not agree with the choice we’ve made to follow Christ, it is pretty common that we will be criticized by them. With that in mind it is imperative that we equip ourselves, as well as our youth, so that they are prepared to defend their beliefs. We don’t have to wait until our youth reach Jr./Sr. High. We as the family of Christ can seek out opportunities with our younger students to explain why we take communion, or why we baptize people when they decide to follow Jesus. The more often they hear these truths, the more likely they are to retain them. By helping our young people in this way we are doing what we are told to do in 1 Peter 3:15b (NLT), “And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”

-Ryan

4 Shai Smith 15 Judy Scott 5 Wayne Watson 20 Ed Martin 6 Wayne Janner 23 Donna Walden Penny McKibben 24 Noble Mills 12 Marcus Pruitt 29 Bev Rodgers Matt Scott Sr 30 Rita Hoagland14 Harold Linton Madison Mansfield Larry & Cherie Helmberger Ed & Saralyn Martin 31 Rex Redding

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat1OFFICE CLOSED

2No Ladies Aid

3 4No Men’s Ministry Breakfast

5AKA 5pmTF3 6:30pm

6 7 8Bus Ministry 11:30am

CIA 6:30pm

9 10 11

12AKA 5pmTF3 6:30pm

13Board Meeting 6:30pm

14 15CIA 6:30pm

16 17 18

19AKA 5pmTF3 6:30pm

20 21 22CIA 6:30pm

23 24 25

26AKA 5pmTF3 6:30pm

27 28S.A.M. Table Games Night 6pm

29CIA 6:30pm

30 31

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 1 Page 4

S.A.M. Group Senior Adult Ministry

… January 2020 …

We are announcing our activities to place on your calendars for everyone, including your guests, 50 years of age and older. THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL COLOR IS BLUE BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER WE USUALLY EXPECT DURING JANUARY! Be sure to bundle up and keep warm until Spring time!

BUS MINISTRY On Wednesday, January 8, at 11:30am we will meet at a designated restaurant and eat lunch. Any questions-call Rosie at her new phone number 271-6988.

TABLE GAMES NIGHT On Tuesday, January 28, at 6:00pm, we will meet at the WARM Fellowship Building for a time of eating a variety of HOT foods to chase away the “Winter Blahs.” Be sure to bring along your favorite snacks and games to share with everyone who needs encouragement and a measure of good cheer! See you then & there!

Wayne & Donna Janner / Wayne & Shirley Watson Joann Monroe / Rosie Mills

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 1Page 5

Women’s Ministry News

NEW BIBLE STUDY TO BEGIN There will be a new Bible Study to begin soon. Watch the bulletin and our Facebook page for more information!

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 1 Page 6

FROM THE EDLERS

We, as Elders, believe that God has blessed us with a new beginning as a church. We need to take advantage of this opportunity and move forward with a focused plan.

After the holidays, the Elders want to meet with specific age groups to ask questions and have discussion about the future and to determine where they see our focus lying.

The groups will be: Those ages 60 and over, ages 40-59, and those under 40 years of age.

If you wish to be involved in these discussions, beginning the first Sunday in January, sign-up sheets will be available in the foyer. There will be sign-up sheets for each age group and they will remain posted for three weeks. Questions will be provided for you to pray over and examine yourself for answers. We will limit the number of questions from us as they are purposed to initiate discussion.

As a congregation, we must remember the past and what we have learned from it, but this will be a time to plan for the future.

We look forward to getting as many people involved as possible so we can discern the steps we need to take for the future of MSCC.

If you have any questions, please ask Ryan or an Elder.

Since first making this announcement, the Elders have scheduled dates to meet with each age group. The meetings will be on Sunday, after church, and food will be provided. The meeting dates and age groups are going to be as follows:

February 16, 2020 Under 40 and Elders will meet with TF3 at night February 23, 2020 Ages 41-59 March 1, 2020 Ages 60+

We have also determined the questions we want to ask and they will be made available to anyone interested.

The Pastoral Team believes this is an important step forward for the future health and growth of Main Street Christian Church and encourage everyone to get involved.

The Elders

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 1 Page 7

Year end thank you cards from some of our missionaries:

“Thank you for changing lives with us! Your support is deeply appreciated! Thank you- Jonathan Greene, The Ark

“Friends at Main Street, I am so grateful for you all and your faithful support for all these years! Thank you! Always, Abigail Alter, New International

“Thank you for sharing immediate help and eternal hope with many precious souls around the world. We are honored to partner with you! Merry Christmas, from your friends at IDES”

Congratulations to Alex Burk and Logan Hart for being recognized in May through Alexander Christian Foundation as Outstanding Christian Students. Both were nominated by MSCC Pastoral staff as exemplifying excellence in leadership and Christian example. Only HS Juniors can be nominated and awarded the recognition!

Year End One time Mission Gifts were made to the following missions below: The Ark $150 New International Abby Alter $500 Alexander Christian Foundation $350

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (NIV)

In God’s Service, Carol Talbert Missions Team Leader

Missions Updates

Attendance/Tithing Nov.-Dec. 2019

M a i n S t r e e t C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h

WORSHIP S.S TITHING

Date Last Year’s Average: 110

Last Year’s Average: 78

Weekly Budget Needs:

$4,140.58

November 24, 2019 76 54 $3,311.15

December 1, 2019 100 76 $4,907.00

December 8, 2019 99 73 $2,704.00

December 15, 2019 88 64 $2,147.35

December 22, 2019 117 73 $4,197.70

December 29, 2019 n/a n/a n/a

220 West Main Street PO Box 155 Russiaville, IN 46979

Office: 765-883-5265 Email: mscc9@sbcglobal.net www.mainstreetchristianchurch.com

Grow in Jesus Christ ~ Encourage the Discouraged Magnify the Lord ~ Seek the Lost

Sunday School ~ 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship ~ 10:30am Pastor: Ryan Mills

Church Secretary: Carrie Mills Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday ~ 8:30am - 12:00pm & 1:00pm - 3:30pm

PASTORAL TEAM Home Cell Ryan Mills 210-7719 Alan Anderson 438-4824 Connie Maugans 453-4861 459-3941 (work) 437-1353 (cell)