December 7, 2006
Dear Emmanuel Baptist Church Family:
We want to send you Christmas greetings from the Pastoral staff. This very busy time of year is also a time of great blessings, as we focus primarily on the birth of our Savior. The special Christmas events (choir cantata, children’s program, communion service, Christmas parties, etc.) are intended to continually remind us that God chose to take human flesh, in order to provide our salvation.
This has been a year of progress at Emmanuel, in ways that are sometimes hard to measure. How exciting it has been to see our Teen group and Master’s Club grow by leaps and bounds! The musical program has blessed many hearts, and has established a warm atmosphere of expectation in every service. Of course, the Teen Missions trip to Spain was a highlight of the year.
Some of our church family have experienced the blessings of new babies born, while others have experienced the grief of loved ones lost. Some have gone through pain and sickness, some through heartache and disappointment, but God has sustained us every time. We have seen some folks come to Christ, we have stirred the baptismal waters, and we have received new members into our fellowship. It was our privilege to ordain Brother Sean Quinlan to the Gospel ministry, and to also license Brother Lewis Young to preach. Our Missions Conference was challenging, as was our Revival with Brother Richard Harper. God has certainly given us a year of abundant blessings. It has been our joy to pray for several of our church families as they are on deputation for various mission fields.
We wish to express our gratitude to the deacons, vocal and instrumental musicians, choir members, youth and children’s workers, bus workers, nursery staff, janitorial help, groundskeepers, bookkeepers, kitchen volunteers, program directors, Sunday School and children’s church workers, library staff, soul-winners and prayer warriors of Emmanuel Baptist Church. You have been a great blessing to us, and the spirit of cooperation that has prevailed at Emmanuel has made the ministry a delight.
May you have a joyous, Christ-honoring Christmas, and may you enjoy the blessings of God as you serve Him until He takes you home. We love you.
Pastor & Mrs. Surrett
Pastor & Mrs. Brubaker
Pastor & Mrs. Ogle