theForecaster - Fairmount Christian Church

theForecasterWednesday, November 14,2012 - Volume 65, Number 45Christmas at FairmountRemembrance ServiceSunday, November 256pm in the SanctuaryThis uplifting service will recognize and honorour friends and family who have passed intoeternity and will include a pictorial presentation.Email photos to cbranch@fairmountchristian.org or bring them to theoffice to be scanned by Friday, November 16th. Provide the person’sname, date of birth and date of death. If you’d like to use the photothat was submitted last year, just let Chris know. •Inside…Christmas at Fairmount ............................... Page 2Digging Deeper ............................................ Page 3Christmas Card Post Office ......................... Page 3New Sign News ........................................... Page 3Mt. Mission School Christmas Gifts ............. Page 3Our Church .................................................. Page 4Wednesday Night Menu .............................. Page 4Fall Festival Recap ........................................ Insert

page two ■ Wednesday, November 14, 2012Feature: Christmas at FairmountThe Christmas Season is fast approaching and it’s time to begin planning to be a part the many events that take place at Fairmountduring the Holiday Season. With the busy schedules that can come at Christmas, always remember the true meaningof the holiday and remember the Savior whose birth we celebrate.Wednesday, November 21stThanksgiving Eve Service ~ The U & IBible School Class presents theThanksgiving Eve Service at 6:30pmwhich concludes the fall session ofWednesday Night Suppers (supper isserved from 5pm until 6:15pm). Thisyear’s speaker is Walker Gaulding,Senior Minister at RappahannockChurch of Christ.Sunday, November 25thRemembrance Service ~ This upliftingand reverent service will be held at 6pmin the Sanctuary and will provide anopportunity to remember our loved oneswho have passed into eternity. We willwrite the names of our loved ones onspecial ornaments which will then hangon special Remembrance treesthroughout the church building during theThanksgiving and Christmas seasons.Sunday December 2ndFirst Sunday of AdventThe First Advent Sunday is the “official”beginning of the celebration of Christ’sbirth at Fairmount. Advent comes from aLatin word meaning, “a coming”. TheAdvent wreath and candles are used bymany Christians to observe a period ofprayer and fasting beginning fourSundays before Christmas. Thesymbolism of the candles varies amongchurch traditions, but the purpose isalways the same - to prepare our heartsand minds for the birth of our Savior.Mt. Mission School Gifts Due andClass Pictures for Infants throughHigh School ~ Children and teens willbring their gifts and place them under theChristmas tree during their Bible Schooltime. We also have an annual traditionof taking class photos which are alwaysa special remembrance for Mom & Dad.Mt. Mission School gifts from adultclasses are also due this day.Morning Friendship Circle AnnualSeniors' Luncheon - 12:30pm, R174 ~The Morning Friendship Circle hosts theannual Seniors’ Luncheon after the11am service. For more information,contact Bonnie Norwood at 730-1473.Hanging Of The Greens - 6pm,Sanctuary ~ Join us to fill God’s housewith songs of the season. The building’sfestive decorations will be completed bythe children as they hang Chrismons onthe Sanctuary Christmas tree. It is anevening filled with song and cheer that issure to put you in the Christmas mood.Sunday, December 9thSecond Sunday of AdventSunday, December 16thThird Sunday of AdventJourney to Jesus - The Real Meaningof Christmas: 9:30am until Noon ~Children will journey through the buildingand meet shepherds, wise men, andperhaps even get to see the newbornKing! K-5th grade students areencouraged to stay for the entiremorning as they celebrate Christ’s birthand are reminded of the real meaning ofChristmas!Worship Choir Christmas Musical -6pm, Family Life Center ~ The WorshipChoir will present their ChristmasMusical, "And on Earth...Peace"featuring a duet by David Rice & SandySharp and narration by Kenny & RhondaHolley. Prior to the 50-minute musical,Branches and Jacob's Ladder children'schoirs will present their musical, “TheReal Meaning of Christmas”.Sunday, December 23rdFourth Sunday of AdventMonday, December 24thLighting of the Final Advent CandleChristmas Eve Services - 3pm & 5pm,Sanctuary ~ The Friends Bible Schoolclass sponsors Fairmount’s ChristmasEve Services each year to remember thebirth of Jesus Christ and what it meansto all of us and the world. This is a greattime to celebrate Christmas with yourFairmount Family before heading off tocelebrate in other places. ■Bible Centered ■ Committed to Growth ■ Community Focused & Globally Minded ■ Dedicated to Excellence

page three ■ Wednesday, November 14, 2012By: Chris BranchPeriodically, we will dig deeper into God’sWord together in this column. Send yourthoughts and experiences from your studytime to cbranch@fairmountchristian.org,drop a note in the office, or let’s do lunch!Veterans Day was just what I needed this year to re-ignite my patriotism after an election that leftme feeling disappointed. I have the privilege of putting together Fairmount’s Veterans Day bulletininsert and I love seeing the photos that our veterans turn in and hearing their stories, when theychoose to share them. My father fought in Korea for the US Army. My husband’s father fought inWorld War II for the US Navy. Some of the young men that we studied God’s Word with during ourJunior & Senior High Bible Study group have served in the Marines and the Army. Their sacrificesand their willingness to serve remind me of the price that has been paid, and continues to be paidtoday, so that I can shade in an oval on an election ballot. From the very beginnings of our nation,brave men and women put their love of freedom before the love of their own lives so that I canworship the one true God without fear of arrest or persecution. No matter how you voted in therecent election, I hope you remember that the United States of America is a great nation foundedon Biblical principals. Whether we choose to believe in them or not, that fact will remain. You can change what people learn abouthistory, but you can’t change history. Americans, even Christian Americans, can change their opinions about what is and what is not sin,but it doesn’t change the fact that what God calls sin - is sin. And, no matter what we choose to believe, we are all sinners. And, in God’seyes, all sin is the same - it separates us from Him. Whether one chooses to believe it or not, there is only one remedy for sin, and that isJesus Christ. Now here’s what some people find shocking and unbelievable: those of us who love Jesus, who strive every day to live asHe calls us to live, still sin… probably daily… perhaps even hourly… Just as the turn of the hearts of the American people does notnegate the sacrifices of our veterans, our sin does not negate the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. Rather, it calls us togreater vigilance and dedication. “A servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out thoseinstructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly.When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more willbe required.” Luke 12:47-48 As Christians and as Americans, we have been given much. We have been entrusted with much. God, andour country, require and deserve nothing less than our very best. •Christmas CardPost OfficeOpening Nov. 25thSave some money on postage thisyear by bringing your Christmascards for folks who regularly attendFairmount. Alphabetize and rubberband your Christmas cards together andwrite the total number of cards on top.Our teens will organize them and havethem ready for your friends to pick upfrom the tables in the front foyer. Cardpickup will begin Dec. 2 and continuethrough Dec 23. Please do not bringcards for folks who do not or cannotattend church to pick up their cards.Thank you!We’ve received many calls regarding ournew sign remarking that the slides shownmove too slowly. The frequency of thechange on electronic message boards iscontrolled by Hanover County Ordinance.For our location, the county hasdetermined that a 30 second interval isthe minimum allowed. This takes intoaccount our location and the roads around us and is meant to minimizedriver distraction. If you have any other questions or comments aboutthe sign, please feel free to call us anytime!(Hanover County Ordinance, Article 7, Section 3, #25-F, 9-D) •Christmas Gifts forMountain Mission SchoolDue Sunday Morning, December 2ndChildren & Teens will put their gifts under theChristmas Tree during their Bible School Class timeand then have their annual class picture taken.Adults classes should bring their wrapped andlabeled gifts to Trailer 3B. Because the gifts willbe packed up that evening and driven toMountain Mission School, please be sure thatyou bring your gifts on the morning of 12/2. •Bible Centered ■ Committed to Growth ■ Community Focused & Globally Minded ■ Dedicated to Excellence

page four ■ Wednesday, November 14, 2012NONPROFITAUTOU.S. POSTAGE PAIDRICHMOND, VAPERMIT #1479RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDP.O. Box 788Mechanicsville, VA 23111Phone: (804) 559-8070Fax: (804) 559-8072Email:info@fairmountchristian.orgThe mission of Fairmount Christian Church:To develop followers of Jesus who:Love God,Love People andIntroduce the worldto ChristOurChurch: November 11, 2012Attendance& Giving.The Forecaster is@www.fairmountchristian.orgbest viewed onlineSermon Series Continues...Menu for November 21stParmesan Chicken withBroccoli CasseroleServe: Christian HomemakersClean-Up: Salt & LightThis is the LAST WednesdayNight dinner for the Fall session.Mark your calendars for the nextsession which will run fromJanuary 16 ~ March 6, 2013.8:15 Traditional Worship: 113Children’s Worship: 79:30 Contemporary Worship: 451Children’s Worship: 6511:00 Traditional Worship: 195Contemporary Worship: 117Children’s Worship: 98Total: 1,046Bible School: 641Budget Requirements: $37,526.00Budget Receipts: $30,560.73Four Worship ServicesOne Great Message!Your Church Staff:Rick Raines - Senior MinisterChris Santasiere - Associate MinisterMike Langley - Associate MinisterTracy Thomas - Worship/Music MinisterMike Campbell - Youth MinisterRose Williams - Children’s Ministry DirectorBob Massey - Business AdministratorVeronica Brewster - Office ManagerJef Powell - Facilities & Grounds ManagerBarry Will - Technology DirectorLarry Haake, IV - Child Care Program DirectorBIBLE CENTERED ■ COMMITTED TO GROWTH ■ COMMUNITY FOCUSED & GLOBALLY MINDED ■ DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE