Welcome to the Mesa Family we have children’s programs availableduring our worship service•An Attended Nursery is available for infants (0-2 years) in Room 101.

•A Room for infants and nursing mothers is also provided at the back of the auditorium.

•Toddlers Bible Hour (TBH) is offered for all children 2-3 years old, begins after communion in Room 102.

•Children’s Bible Hour (CBH) for children ages 4 - 4th grade, begins after communion in Theater del Soul Upstairs.

¿Habla Español?Tenemos clases Bíblicas y

!adoramos en español!

If you would like more information about the church or becoming a Christian, visit our Welcome Center in the foyer.

1223 E. Dana Ave.Mesa, AZ 85204

Phone: 480-964-1743Fax: 480-827-1864

Email: office@mesachurch.orgWeb: www.mesachurch.org

Office Hours: Mon.-Thur. (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)*Fri. (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)*

*Terry out on Thursday *Edison out on Friday*Joel out on Tuesday *Joshua out on Friday

our lessons for todayam: “Light in Unlikely Places”pm: Anthony Bryant Speaking

We are so glad that you are here today! We have been praying that God would allow us to meet you today and worship together. You are an answer to our prayer! If you are visiting from the area, we would love to have you as part of our family!

Worship Leader: Michael Horton Song: “Joy to the World”Song: “Angels We Have Heard”

Opening Prayer: Joel Soumar

Song: “Silent Night”Song: “O Holy Night”Song: “What Child is This?”Song: “In Need”

Comm. & Cont.: Brandon Clark

Song: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Scripture Reading: Josiah McNeil (Isaiah 9:1-7)

Lesson: Terry Singleton “Light in Unlikely Places” Song: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Elder Remarks & Prayer

Song: “Magnificat”

Closing Prayer: Jon Bouley

PM Service at the building begins at 5 each Sunday evening in Room 104.

Vol. 75 No. 51 December 23, 2018

Since I Saw You LastWe remember events and connect people to those events. We tend to remember the people we have not seen in many years as being the same age they have always been. We know years have passed, but we still see them as being that same size as when we last saw them. We may think of God as the same as he was when we last saw him. Actually, God has seen and been with us through all of our life. Every thoughtt and idea we have had, he already knows about. We may not have thought about him or recognized him, but he was always there.

We tend to think of Jesus as being a baby in a manger at this time of year. It is hard to imagine him as the great warrior on a while horse from Revelation 19:11-21. It is the time of year for winter and baby and we sing songs of a silent holy night of calm and peace everywhere. We downplay the killing of babies in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16) that would take place in a few years after the wise men come. We want the manger scene and the peaceful night and not the violence of soldiers looking for the baby.

God does not remain the same any more than we do. Yes, God is the same like we are the same, but He is not the same like we are not the same. We have grown and developed because of age and the world change, but God has kept pace in dealing with the world. He has experienced the same history we have and knows much more about future events. Culture never outpaces God. He is never left behind as a God out of touch with the world he created.

We remember our children on their birthdays, but we also know they are grown. Jesus sits at the right hand of God as a risen savior having the power of life and death. (Heb. 12:2) While the world around us remembers baby Jesus, don’t forget the grown-up Jesus who lived through life the same as we do here on earth. We remember his birth, we celebrate his life and we rejoice that because of him we can be children of God. How was Jesus doing when you saw him last? --Terry

LTC NewsLTC reistration is due by the end of December. $30 per participant will include registration, accommodations, event t-shirt and Mesa t-shirt for the child. Parents who wish to purchase t-shirts may do so and indicate the fact on the registration envelope. These envelopes can be found at the Welcome Center.

Our Mission: Equip the family of God to be Jesus in the home, the community and the world.

MISSION SUNDAY UPDATEThe Mission Committee met Tuesday, December 18th.• Mission Funds in the bank: $69,767.54• 18 approved projects for 2018/2019: $71,550.00• 2019 outstanding pledge balance: $21,995.00• New project: $2,000 to replace the rain damaged septic tank

for the San Padro congregation in El Salvador• New project: $6,000 to help Noe Artero in El Salvador replace

his completely worn out pickup truck.• New project: $250 to help Evan Todachine with transportation

expenses to Four Corners area churches. • Ken & Jean Fox completing 50 years with churches in Thailand

January 1 to March 28. • George Achard training new Christians and evangelizing in

Myanmar February 2 to March 6.• Ryan Bitikofer invited to present his China Now program at the

next meeting January 22nd.• Edison Quevedo also invited to present his planned tutoring

and ESL program January 22nd.

EldersJack Farr Ken FoxJackie Hinkle Kevin HubbyCurtis Allen Chuck Watts

MinistersPulpit Minister: Terry Singleton

Spanish Minister: Edison QuevedoFamily Minister: Joshua DuBoise

Youth Minister: Joel Soumar

Guests Please consider yourself our honored guest. We are glad you have come our way and invite you to return any time you can. We encourage you to fill out a guest card so we have a record of your visit. There are a number of people in our congregation who would love to study the Bible with you if you so desire. Please come back to worship with us at any and every opportunity you have.

Attendance & Offering Sunday Worship: 440Wednesday: 111 Budget: $10,863Giving: $9,708YTD Average: $11,060

Our Meeting Times Bible Class .........................9:30amWorship ...........................10:30amConnect Groups ................5:00pmWorship .............................5:00pmWednesday Class ..............7:00pm

UpdatesWelcome to the Family: Linda Elliott, Lin-da recently moved to the area from Portland, OR.Welcome to the Family: Dave Verret, .New Address: Benjamin & Regina Koomson & Family,

DECEMBER23 Potluck23 Church’s 57th Anniversary24-31 Office Closed for Christmas26 Devotional for All Ages (No Classes)29 P.M. Devotional & Fellowship

JANUARY1 Happy New Year--Office Closed1 4Sixteen Kite Day5 Single Ladies Luncheon6 4Sixteen Pancake Breakfast6 4Sixteen Responsibility Group Study8 Ladies’ Class Potluck8 SIBI Classes Resume10 Q-Bees12 Open Pantry12 Self-Defense Class

Praise and Prayersnew and criticalLisa Fenwick ........................................... Pending ChemoJoshua DuBoise .............................Praise! Good results!Joyce Bitikofer(Mother of Jana & Jena) .................CancerCarmen Rodriguez .........................Radiation TreatmentsSantiago Yañez ....................................................SurgeryCinthya Manjarez ...................................Surgery recovery

on-going health problemsCharlene O’Connor, Delores Fugate, Ray Vega, Naomi Miller, Luana Guthrie, Tommy Foster (TJ’s Dad), Claire Moore, Debbie McMorries (Steve Young’s mom), Natalie (Amanda Maiorano’s niece), Gloria Hadley, Peter Ballesteros, Carl & Hong Goodman, Lynnita Knoch, Cindy Posey, Martha Carroll, Justin Henley, Lynda Campbell, Debbie Suazo, David Yañez

military prayersBeau Howell, Andrew Jones (C. Burd’s G’son), Anthony Galvan (Millers G’son), Jake Hinkle (Hinkle’s G’son), Bri-ana Aston (S. Yeats’ Niece), Chase Dowell (son of Jim & Pam Arno), Michael Ford, Diego Castañeda, Jake Teague (Grandson-in-law of Sue Johnson), George Lopez, Jared Cannon, Kyle Sharp mission prayersThailand: Ken & Jean Fox leave January 1stEl Salvador: Manos de esperanza leaves January 2ndMyanmar: George Achard leaves February 2ndCambodia: Tim & Cheryl Carlin leave January 29China: Harry Mo & John Camp plan to leave in October

Calendar

Communion PreparationRuss & Libby Barnes and family are scheduled to prepare communion for Sunday, December 30th.

Nursery HelpersAndrea Fox and Miriam Flores will serve today.Linda Allen and Aidee Ortiz will serve next Sunday, December 30th.

Bible Hour LeadersTBH LEADERS: Today: Brandon & Allison Clark and all parents please join them for class.Next week: Family Worship--No TBHCBH LEADERS: Today: Steve Hubbard assisted by Keith Wilson, Eli Lopez and Cory O’BannonNext week: Family Worship-No CBH

December Greeters & Welcome CenterWELCOME CENTER (9:15 - 10:15): Nina Heimke & Connie BurdWELCOME CENTER (10:15 - 1045): Christina Grist and Barb KerleyGREETERS (9:15 - 9:40): Pete & Mary PetersenGREETERS (10:15 - 10:40): Lynda Campbell and Vickie Nunn

Communion to Shut-In MemberToday: Steve Gushee Next Sunday: Vince McNeil

Next Sunday EveningAll Mesa families are encouraged to come to the building next Sunday evening, December 30th, for a devotional followed by some food and fellowship. Bring a finger food to share and enjoy some end-of-the-year fun together!

Wind Down PartyAll single ladies (of all ages) are invited to a casual, no stress brunch on Saturday, January 5th, at 10:30 a.m. This will be at the Henhouse Café at Riverview (805 N Dobson, Mesa). This will just be a time to unwind after the holi-days and enjoy some fellowship! See Cynthia Sanders with questions.

PotluckThere will be a potluck in the Fellowship Hall immediately following today’s morning worship service. The Spanish are hosting this and in-vite everyone to bring a dish and come cel-ebrate the holidays together!

Office ClosedThe office will be closed December 24th through January 1st for the holidays. The of-fice staff wishes everyone a very Merry Christ-mas and anticipate a great 2019 with the Mesa Family!

Thank YouI want to thank you for your support and for all your prayers. I want to tell you that I am recovering from my accident; it was a very dif-ficult time for me and my family in El Salvador, but thank God we are all recovering. Thanks to God’s mercy, now I can stand up and take some steps. I am very happy because God is giving me the opportunity to walk again. In my country, the doctors said that I could not walk anymore, and I could not have children, but God gave me the opportunity to travel to the United States and be able to have surgery. I ask you to continue praying for me so that God will finish his healing work in me. I also want to ask God for strength for me, because it is difficult for me to be so far from my grandpar-ents, and I miss them so much. I say goodbye to all of you--my great spiritual family in Arizo-na, wishing that God multiplies the blessings in your life. Happy Holidays! God bless you! Love, Eva & Jeremy Mitchell

Thank YouThanks to all the elders for a wonderful open house last Sunday afternoon. A special thanks to Jackie & Frances for opening their home for this event. Below are a few pictures from this event.

Adopt-a-Family DeliveryHere are a few pictures from our delivery this past Wednesday night. Thanks to all of those who helped with these deliveries and to finish up a big project for the Mesa Family!

4SixteenA Ministry for College Students,Single Adults and Young Marrieds in their 20’s and early 30’s

01/01 Kite Day01/04 Game Night01/06 Pancake Breakfast in Classroom prior to class01/06 Group Study @ 5 p.m.

Half-hour Meet ups After Wednesday Night Classes!

Congratulations--57 Years!Danny & Jana Church are celebrating 57 years of marriage today--be sure to congratulate them and wish them many more years of serving God together!

Mark Your CalendarFamily Fusion 2 is being planned for Saturday, January 26th. This is an event for all Mesa Fam-ily members and was enjoyed by all those who attended last year.

A New Fenwick!Congratulations to the Fenwick Family on the finalization of their adoption of Matthias this past week! This has been a 4-year process so needless to say there were lots of smiles on that day!

Daniel, Lisa, Bradan, Nevaeh and Adam are thrilled to now share their last name with Matthias!

Thank YouThanks to all who helped with our children’s party on Saturday the 15th of December. Below are a few pictures from this activity. It has been a very eventful week for the Mesa Family!