‘Great is thy faithfulness’

Lamentations 3:23

From The Pastor

Dear Gunpowder Family,

Christmas is almost here. It seems like we just packed up the tree and lights and now we are putting them up again. It can all become so routine and unless we are careful we will miss the blessing of the season.

Christmas is the time of giving. I am not so much talking about the gifts we give each other. That is part of the routine. This Christmas, ask God how you can give of yourself for the benefit of others. Maybe you can serve dinner at the mission or read to folks in the nursing home. There are a thousand ways that you can show this community the love of Jesus. Then Christmas becomes a lifestyle and not a holiday. Let’s do it together.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Jack

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From the Associate Pastor

As we enter His courts with thanksgiving in our hearts, we give God praise for the wonderful honor we have been given to serve Gunpowder Baptist Church. You exemplify the heart of our pastor, which is the heart of God, in serving with joyful hearts.

In II Chronicles 16:9, the passage states, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” With confidence, I sense God’s eyes fixed upon Gunpowder Baptist Church.

My prayer is that God would show Himself strong in my life as I serve alongside GBC.

Rob

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Poinsettas

This year we will not be ordering poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas season. I would like to suggest that if you have ordered a flower in memory of your loved one in the past, that you continue to remember them, but in a way that could have eternal value. Please give a gift to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. What better way to truly commemorate a life than with a gift to our overseas missions.

Merry Christmas.

Serving Jesus always,

Debbie Copenhaver

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Snow Emergency Plan

We do not plan to cancel any of our Worship Services but in the event of an ice storm or heavy snow, we may be forced to miss a service.

Since it is not practical for us to call you, you may call any one of our Deacons after 7:00 a.m. The decision should be made by then.

In other years, we have had ice storms leaving the driveway and parking lot hazardous. Therefore, we had to cancel all services. On some occasions after a snowstorm, we get the driveway opened only in time for the 11:00 church service. On the decision concerning Sunday School you may call Pastor Newton.

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Christmas Cards

If you wish to send a card to each church family, please place those cards in the mailboxes in the back hallway. The names are in alphabetical order so that will make it easy for you to find each name. However, if you wish to send only one card to the church family you may place it on the bulletin board in the hallway near the front.

There will be no home or out of town deliveries. So only address cards to those who are regular in attendance.

Please check your mailboxes each Sunday for your cards.

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Offering Envelopes

The envelopes for your titles and offerings will be in your mailboxes the week of December 17 th. Please make sure you pick up your box.

If there is not a box with your name and you would like to have one, please call the church office, 410p357-6512 or 410-343-1365 and we will have one ready for you and in your mailbox the following Sunday.

All giving to be credited to 2006 church year needs to be given by Sunday, December 31, 2006. Anything coming in after that will be credited for the year 2007. Also, if you purchased something for the church and you are putting it on your envelope, please insert the receipt along with the name of what was purchased.

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Keenagers

Last month a group of the Keenagers along with Pastor Jack went to Bushkill Falls in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains. It was a beautiful 3 hour ride. The leaves were at their peak and very pretty. The Falls was a beautiful place to see all of God’s nature. We walked down one side of the mountain and there are 6 different falls to see which are beautiful. But then we had to come back up! We certainly got our exercise for that day.

On November 14, we had our covered dish luncheon and were blessed with Judy Bull as she sang for us. We were delighted to have Rob and Brenda, Luke and Ethan Bourcier to join us for lunch. It gave us time to get better acquainted with them. If you have not had time to sit down and talk with these young people you are missing out on a delightful family.

On December 12 at 10:00 a.m., we will meet for our Christmas luncheon with a $1.00 gift exchange game. We have a lot of fun with this gift ex change so we hope you will join us. There just might be other surprises too. You just never know what will happen with the Keenagers. As we come to the Christmas season it gives us a time to have good food and fellowship with each other. So please join us. We also invite the Bourcier’s to join us again.

We wish everyone a very blessed Christmas.

Your Keenager in Christ,

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Children's Church Schedule

Nursery Worker Schedule

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Adult_Sunday_School_Department

Go NUTS! Welcome to the 2006-2007 Sunday School year. I would like for all of you to bring your friends to Sunday School so they can be introduced to Christ and learn about the love letter that God wrote us, in His Word, the Bible. So beginning the Sunday AFTER the Football Super Bowl Sunday and ending the Sunday PRIOR to the Opening Day of Baseball, Gunpowder Baptist Church is having a contest. The rules will be outlined in a future Sunday School News Flash, but I need you to make your list and start beating the bushel baskets to find some new friends. Since Baseball games typically have peanuts, the measurement on the bulletin board will be in peanuts, so GO NUTS! The nuttiest class, and I’m defining that as the class with the most visitors from February 11 through April 1, will receive a surprise. Good luck, and again, GO NUTS! Your S-3 Cheerleader! Ginny Thompson Sunday School Superintendent “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul.” Proverbs 2:10

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Prayer Ministry

Watchman Prayer Ministry - “Intercessors”

Dear Church Family,

I want to thank each of you who have made a commitment and can be counted on to pray for those on the prayer wall. I am going to mention areas of prayer we must be conscious of. If you are not a member of the prayer wall, please consider joining as there are several slots that need to be filled. I have mentioned in the past, apart from prayer, nothing gets accomplished and we truly have nuch to pray about.

Every aspect of Gunpowder's ministries should be focused on prayer. If we are having trouble with not having people to pray for church activities, is it any wonder we can not stop any of the atrocities that are in our lives? (abortion same-sex marriages, partial birth abortions) I am sure you get the idea.

Some helpful insights to prayer:

1. Place - Have a regular place where you can feel in-tune with God.
2. Practice - Develop the regular practice of prayer. It helps to have the habit.
3. Privacy - There are times for group prayer, but personal growth usually comes from being alone with God.
4. Posture - Pray in any position, but remember that kneeling to pray helps develop humility.
5. Purpose - Forget self, seek God's Will.
6. Price - Be ready to go through the process of emptying yourself of negatives so god can come with His love and power.

Nowhere does the Bible say that prayer is easy. At times, while you are still on your knees. Satan will attack, harrassing you with doubt and sending distracting thoughts into your mind. Do not worry about praying for something too large. There is nothing too big for God to accomplish. We do not always like the answers God gives. He promises in Matthew 7:11 that everything He gives is good for us.

It would be wise for all of us to ask God with a humbled Spirit what areas of our lives are offensive to Him. Failure to pray leaves peopl vulnerable on the battlefiled. Nehemiah 4. When we do what we are supposed to do, God is faithful to do His. We will pray as we should, until we see it as a necessity. Henry Blackaby "only through prayer can we know tha heart of God."

Prayerfully,

Bob Scheuerman

Prayer Coordinator

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Women's Ministry

Reporting on Mama Franco’s Italian Ristorante

Our October event was a catered event that was attended by 34 women (church members and guests) who enjoyed the fine dining experience of Mama Franco’s, which had to be moved to the church fellowship hall because of the weather. Our evening was complete with a beautifully decorated fellowship hall (thanks to Joann Abbey, Renee Abbey and Beverly Jensen), a wait-staff who cleared the tables, delivered desserts and helped with serving the meal (thanks to Tyler and Patrick Hamrick), cheesecake topped with cool whip and a raspberry, and table conversation that centered around God’s holiness in hidden places. We had an evening of fellowship in sharing about how God has made Himself known in our lives in various ways. Several women shared with the group about ways they have recently experienced God. Our evening was blessed by our being together in God’s presence.

Mark our future dates on your calendar and plan to attend! Signing up for an event is not required, so just come and enjoy – and bring your friends.

Next Ladies Events:

Gunpowder Baptist Church

Women’s Ministry Presents

Our second annual

Ladies Christmas Banquet

“Guess Who’s Comint to Dinner?”

Theme: Rose of Bethlehem

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Arrive at GBC at 5:30 p.m. (you will be driven to your dinner destination)

Speaker and Musical Performance at 8:00 p.m.

Hostess Mystery: Who’s coming for dinner?

Guest Mystery: Where am I going for dinner? Who will be my dinner companions and hostess? What will be served?

After dinner in our hostess homes, we will gather back at the church between 7:45 and 8:00p.m. for our speaker, Marilyn Aderes – author of “More”, and music from our friend, Kelly Willie.

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This is an outreach event, so please invite friends and family. Sign up sheet is in the church lobby or by calling Mary Hamrick or the church office. If you would like to be a hostess for this event, please let Mary know. Brochures are in the church lobby – take a few and invite your friends.

Gunpowder Baptist Church

Ladies Events for 2006-2007

Schedule

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Thank You!

To All My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thank you for all the kindness and love you expressed to me and my family at Brenda’s memorial service. Words cannot express how one feels at a time like this. I just want to say thanks for all that the church did and to all who attended and to Pastor Jack for his message.

Thank you so very much,

Richard Swope

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Imagine that you are Hungry due to Real Poverty

Imagine that you just want an apple to eat but there is no fresh fruit in the house.

Imagine that you just want a baby carrot but there are no fresh vegetables in the house.

Imagine that you have a can of tuna but have no mayonnaise and no can opener.

Imagine that you have an egg but no skillet to fry it on.

Imagine that you have milk, but no bowl and no cereal.

Imagine that you have peanut butter and jelly but no bread or crackers.

Imagine that you have pancake batter but no syrup and no flipper.

Imagine that you have potatoes but no masher.

Imagine that you have a cake mix but no wooden spoon, no spatula and no baking pan.

Imagine that you have a jar of spaghetti sauce but no pasta and no pot to boil it.

Imagine that you have to pack a lunch but have no wax paper, foil, baggies or paper bags.

Imagine that you want to gather your trash but have no trash bags or trash can.

Imagine that you have soap and shampoo but no towels and no toilet paper or diapers.

Imagine that you have a mattress but no sheets or blankets or pillows.

Imagine that you want to wash dishes or clothes but have no dish or laundry detergent.

Imagine that you want to eat your food, but you have no dishes, utensils or napkins.

Imagine that you have a roof over your head but no sofa, lamp, table or chairs.

Imagine going from homelessness to your own apartment and trying to pay your bills and completely set up housekeeping.

GOD IS G IVING ME A CLOSER LOOK AT POVERTY.

For three years, I have been working exclusively in the homeless shelters in Baltimore County. The hardest setting has been the emergency shelter in Rosedale. One comes in with their bag of belongings, receives three meals a day, all hygiene and laundry care and sleeps on a mat on the floor. It is less than ideal but it is free. This month my territory has been stretched to following people into their first apartments after homeless shelter life. They go into their new setting with a few personal belongings and some donated items. New bed frames and mattresses are provided. I am seeing sparse furnishings like never before in my 34-year career as a public health nurse, i.e., only a 5 qt. pot and a skillet for the total kitchenware. But God is Good. He has put me in a home church that cares.

Within 24 hours of telling a few people at Gunpowder Baptist about my shocking new territory, I was given a set of pots and pans, a set of baking pans, a set of cooking utensils, a box of food, a set of dishes, a ten dollar bill for perishables, a kitchen table, a plan by a Sunday School Class to have a kitchen shower, and an offer to be met at any time with the church key to obtain items from our food pantry as needed. Yes, Jesus is the Giver of victory.

I cannot do justice in expressing to you the joy in watching someone smell a new kitchen towel or hug a set of dishes. It is unreal. It is not my reality. I do not know poverty first hand. I am only learning about it second hand, and it is very scary.

I want to t hank you all for the Bibles and literature that you have faithfully given to me over the past two years for the shelters. I have given out at least 30 Bibles. Clients have to bring up the name of Jesus first, though, before I can offer material. That is the rule I have been gi ven to follow as a government official. I have stretched that rule to include “cursing” as bringing up Jesus first. In particular, the little booklet of the “Book of John” has been a very effective tool. Thank you for our unity. It really works when we operate as one body with Christ as the Head of the Church.

Sincerely,

Beverly Jensen

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Dear Gunpowder Baptist Members,

On Sunday, October 22, 2006, the Helping Up Mission celebrated their graduation ceremony . It was an experience to behold watching the men who have a new life in Christ praising him for the miracle of their salvation.

It brought to mind the verses that we studied in Sunday School that very morning: Galatians 6:2-3, 7-8: “Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. J If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody. Don’t be mislead. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap the blessing at the appropriate time.”

As a Christian body, it is our responsibility to help fellow believers. We can do this by contributing to the Hope Tote Campaign for those in need at The Helping Up Mission.

Below are suggested items for the Hope Totes. If you are able to contribute, please take a Hope Tote bag home and return the filled bag to Gunpowder Church for delivery to the mission.

If you would like to go to deliver the bags or have any questions, please contact Missy Walker.

What to put in a Hope Tote:

You can give homeless men hope to hold on to by filling Hope Totes with new, unopened products, including:

Toothbrush and toothpaste, Soap, Shaving Cream, Shampoo and Conditioner, Deodorant, Undershirts- size L and above, Underwear- size 38 and above, Tissues, Hand or body lotion, Foot powder or foot cream, Towels, washcloths, Socks, Brush and comb, Soap dishes, Toothbrush holders, Toilet paper

No cash, please!

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December Birthdays & Anniversaries

Anniversaries 29 Andrew & Mary Hamrick

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New Members

Thomas R. Gallup joined our church family by baptism on November 12 th. He is employed by Bruce H. Gallup, Inc. and says he has lots of hobbies. Tom is married to Diane. Please introduce yourself to Tom and make him fell welcome to our church family.

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Belfry Archive

February, 2005

March, 2005

April, 2005

May, 2005

June, 2005

July & August, 2005

September, 2005

October, 2005

November, 2005

December, 2005

January, 2006

February, 2006

March, 2006

April, 2006

May, 2006

July / August, 2006

September, 2006

October, 2006

November, 2006