The Pregnancy Care Center has changed its name to LifePlan. This change has been brought about in order to better reflect the care and services that the organization offers. In celebration of this change, LifePlan and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Com-merce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, January 7th . This event offered the opportunity for attendees to tour the building, meet the LifePlan team, hear about opportunities for ministry in 2019, and ask questions re-garding LifePlan’s changes and services.

In celebration of the re-branding, LifePlan gave away a LifePlan Celebra-tion Prize Pack to one, randomly selected, qualified individual. Individuals that visited LifePlan open house had the opportunity to add their name to the drawing. The prize pack consisted of a pack and play, baby gym, three packs of diapers, dinner, and a movie. The drawing was during the open house on January 7. Get in Touch All our services are offered free of charge, without any discrimination, and often extend to the family or significant others.

Wanting to Help? It is our ongoing support from our partners, sponsors and volunteers that allow Life-Plan to continue serving those in need in our community.

LifePlan Newsletter Stay in the loop with everything going on at LifePlan! Sign up for our newsletter and stay informed about how LifePlan is effecting change in our community.

Get in touch with us. LifePlan, 527 East Main St., Niles, Michigan 49120, (269) 684-6200 Time: (Walk-ins welcome) Mon-Tue & Thurs: 9:00 am-7:00 pm, Wed: 9:00 am-3:00 pm, Fri: 9:00 am-1:00

Volume 46 No. 1 January 8, 2019 Bugle Newsletter

Jesus answered Thomas: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

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BUCHANAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH Est. December 17, 1854

112 West Third Street Buchanan, MI 49107-1229 Electronic Service Requested

Tel.: 269-695-6621 Fax: 269-695-6351 Email: office@buchananchurch.com Web Site: http://www.buchanan.church

Office Hours: Mon & Tues: 8-12 & 1- 5 Wed &Thurs: 8- 4; Fri: CLOSED

1

Deeper In the Word

Nate Babcock, Senior Minister

A Preview of Coming Attractions

As always, at the beginning of a new year I like to share a preview with you of the sermon series I have planned. The sermon plan for 2019 came together as a result of a brainstorming and planning conversation Brandon and I had during a road trip to Great Lakes Christian College back in October. So, this year’s plan is a joint effort and I very much appreciate Brandon’s creative thinking and input.

January & February: Growing as a Godly Church (sermons from 1

& 2 Timothy and Titus)

February – early April: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (sermons from the Psalms of Ascent: Psalms 120 – 134)

Late April & Early May: Seeking God through Prayer and Fasting

May – Early July: The Battle Belongs to the Lord: Knowing God through Joshua (sermons from the book of Joshua)

July – August: Learning to Live in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit (understanding the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit)

September – October: Worthy is the Lamb! Following Jesus through Revelation (sermons from the book of Revelation)

November: Christians & Technology: Biblical Wisdom for a Wired World

Family Sundays in August, September, and October: Family Dy-namics: How God’s Grace works in our Families

In addition to these major sermon series, there will also be messages in 2019 from the book of Ruth, Isaiah chapter 40, and 1 Samuel 16. Also, we will address topics such as God’s adoption of us as his children, building our lives on the solid rock of Jesus’ teaching, God’s grace in the journey of grief, world-wide missions, and the goodness of God in the midst of life’s craziness. It is our calling and privilege to proclaim the word of God, and we look forward to growing in Christ with you through study of and obedience to His revealed truth. Hebrews 4:12-13: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Weekly Activities for Growth & Service

> Sundays: 9:20 am, Just Coffee - Come get some coffee, donut or treat.

9:30 am, Sunday School; 10:30 am, Worship Service

5-6 pm, Choir Practice; 5-6 pm, Heroes (K-5 gr)

6-7:45 pm, Small Groups (Supper and classes) > Wednesdays:

5:30 pm, Special Prayer Time

5:30-6:30 pm, Glorymakers Children’s Choir (K-6th)

6-7:30 pm, Teen Illumination (7th-12th)

6:30 pm, Adult Bible Study

January / February Events & Opportunities

January is National Right to Life Month

> 1/13, Sun: See above for time: Choir, Heroes, & Small Groups Resume!

> 1/20, Sun: Lynden Azcuna from Life Plan guest speaker (formerly PCC)

> 1/24, Thurs: 6-8 pm, BOARD GAME NIGHT with Brandon!

> 1/26, Sat: 5:45 pm, AHG & BCC Chili Cookoff!

> 1/28, Mon: 6:30 pm, dinner, 7:00 pm Organizational Meeting

(For Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses, Trustees, and Ministry Staff)

> 2/7, Thurs: 1:30 pm

college students. Finish plans for the Ladies Brunch in March. Refreshments:

Cindy Benson; Devotions: Carrie Strzyzykowski, Rebecca Heiser

Our Nation, *BCC Leaders & Teachers *Those hurting from loss of loved ones *Our shut-ins & home bound *Victims of tragedy in our nation & elsewhere *President Trump & family, *US Troops *Lord to send forth laborers for the Kingdom *Africa Fire Mission Team & Trip Oct.19-28

*Our Nation, *BCC Leaders & Teachers, *Those hurting from loss of loved ones *Our shut-ins & home bound, *Victims of tragedy in our nation & elsewhere *President Trump & family, *US Troops, *Lord to send forth laborers for the Kingdom Luke James Francour - PRAISE! Born 1/6 in California, Nancy Holmes GGson

Lisa Meredith - seizures, surgery on 1/10, mother of Ruth Barbour (John)

Carl & Estaleen Riggins - health concern

Dan Stover - accident, fractured vertebra & scapula, in G.R. with daughter

Unspoken request - John Barbour request.

Ken Weed - skin graft, Memorial, South Bend

Lorraine Worden - surgery recovery, daughter of Mary Blake, Cindy Benson req.

The Family of: Dale Robert Weldy, faithful, loving & giving, Senior Saint at BCC The Family of Elijah Francour, 5 yr. old great grandson of Nancy Holmes The Family of Eric Earnst, nephew of Roland & Judy Earnst The Family of Nick (Lewis) Powers, kind, wonderful & faithful Senior Saint at BCC The Family of Tom Murdock, former member at BCC, wife Yvonne, daughters Rose & Nicole, visitation at Brown’s Funeral Home 1/9, 5-7 pm. The Family of Ed Hodges, brother-in-law of Dan Furst

ATTENDANCE Bible School: 9:30 AM Worship: 10:30 AM

12/02 12/09 12/16 12/23 12/30

—————

145 136 186 170 118

———— —

67 52 60

5244

FACTS & FIGURES for DECEMBER: Attendance & Offerings

1,814.00 1,385.00 1,605.00 1,360.00 2,310.00

—————

TITHES & OFFERINGS (Budgeted Amounts)

(General Fund: 4,507.00) (Faith Promise: 787.50) Building Fund Received

12/02 12/09 12/16 12/23 12/30

—————

1,751.00 1,581.00 1,917.00 1,464.00 1,424.00

4,497.63 3,546.48 4,760.78 4,096.27 2,946.45

12/02 12/09 12/16 12/23 12/30

—————

12/02 12/09 12/16 12/23 12/30

240.00 4.82

100.00 250.00

200.00

Benevolent Fund Michiana Christian Camp Youth Fund

Eden Children’s Village

“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

SMITH DRIVEWAY

100.00 3.95

360.00 1,205.00

50.00

Woodburn C. C. Home American Heritage Girls Happiness Train Flower Fund Memorial for: D.R. Weldy

BCC PRAYER NEEDS

Prayer Focus: Sanctity of Life

Mission of the Month: Life Plan (formerly PCC)

Please Remember in Prayer:

Judy Earnst Director of Worship Arts

Thought for the month One of the songs from our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service was entitled “Make Room For Jesus.” It begins with the Inn Keeper telling the events of the night Jesus was born and the lesson he learned. “Bethlehem was busy; strangers filled the town. All my rooms were taken; everyone had settled down.” said the Innkeeper.

Then Joseph knocked at the door and though the Innkeeper had no room he didn’t turn them away instead he provided them a place in a stable where Jesus the Savior of the world was born. Today with all our business do we take time to make room for Jesus in our lives or do we turn Him away? May our prayer be “O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for Thee!”

Coming January 20th - “Easter in January” at 5:00pm. More info will be given at choir practice January 13th.

Special thanks to the Glory Makers, Tom Entwistle, Nicole and Landon Mitchell, Julie Blaylock and Garrett Brackett for their presentation of “The Christmas Express” Also thank you to Roland Earnst for designing and building the set. Let us always remember that there is JOY in the journey when we put Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last.

Special thanks also to the BCC Choir and soloists Terry Irwin, Cindy Benson, and Phil Brackett for their presentation of “Good News from Home” on Christmas Eve.

Brandon Smith Associate Minister

2019: We are so excited for a new year to be able to reach into the lives of our children to help them to see the good news of the Kingdom of God. This year especially we want to use this as a time to learn from our past, to change our future. Specifically we want to focus in on Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Moses, seeing the second generation of Israelites realizes that there is a disconnect between them and their parents. They don’t know the laws of God as they should. To combat this problem, Moses calls the people together and encourages them to love God with everything they have: the heart, all their soul and all their strength. But not only that. He also tells them to talk about it all the time. When they wake up and go to bed, when they leave their homes and when they return. He tells them to write it down and attach it to them, so that they would remember it constantly.

What does this look like now? Is this writing it on our walls? Talk about it in the car while traveling? Maybe this means to turn off the radio/music and talk about God and His expectations. Does it affect what clothing we wear? Or maybe writing it on something you walk past, through, daily.

How do we intentionally spend time remembering God’s desires for our lives and the lives of our children? How are we intentionally expressing that to them?

Lesson:

Read: Mark 14:27-31, 66-72

Discuss: - Do we sometimes say one thing, and then do

another? - What happened to Peter after he remembered?

- Have you ever felt like that? Pray: Dear God, Thank you for forgiving us. Please, help me to do what i say i will do.

Do: Watch what you say when you’re around other people.

January Focus: Sanctity of Life

Father You created us from dust and breathed life into us. (Gen 2:7) You created us in Your own image, both male and female. (Gen 1:27)

Jesus, you have told us “do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matt 6:25-26)

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. (Psalm 127:3-4) The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. (Prov20:2) Father You said, “even to our old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Isaiah 46:4)

Father, life is a precious gift, both young and old. Many today live lives of selfishness seeking power and fame. Lord we pray that You guide us to be the city on a hill. We pray that You help us not to lose our savor that we might be the salt of the earth. Father we pray that You Help us to let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to You in heaven. (Mat 5:1:16)

Father the ways of the world are becoming more popular. We pray against these ways. As Paul said, “for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2Co 10:4-5)

Lord, we pray that all people would come to honor and respect every single human life. Lord, bring an end to abortion and euthanasia. Bring our nation to repentance. Protect the unborn, vulnerable, and weak. Provide for expecting moms, for families, and for the elderly. Minister your grace and truth to women who have had abortions. Bless the min-istry of Life Plan in Niles and Benton Harbor and of every other or-ganization dedicated to the cause of life. Father Thank You!! You are with us in trouble; You will rescue us and honor us, with long life. You will satisfy us and show us Your salvation." (Ps. 91:15-16) In Jesus’ name. Amen