H. Neil Helton, Ph.D., Pastor Adam C. Page, Associate Pastor Pam R. Helton, Music Minister Cathie Tupps, Children’s Ministry Director Sonia Harper, Student Ministry Director Theresa Scanlon, Ministry Assistant Melissa Rhoden, Financial Secretary

Our Mission To bring people who are without Christ into a love relationship with Him and assist them to become His disciples.

December ’15/January ‘16 Where Heart and Mind Meet Christ in Love and Service This year marks the 19th year of An Evening in December, which will be presented Friday and Sunday, December 11th and 13th, at 7:00 p.m. at Amelia Baptist Church. The community is invited to enjoy this annual celebration of the Christmas Story, which is presented each year in a unique blend of choral music, drama and dance. The theme of this year’s presentation is Unexpected Joy. Pam Helton, Minister of Music, has assembled a community choir of more than 100 singers from this region including numerous area churches. Accompanying the choir this year are 16 instrumentalists from the Jacksonville Symphony, the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, the University of North Florida and the NE Florida region. The program includes familiar Christmas music combined with an original drama written by Peggy Strickland and presented by the Amelia Baptist Drama Team. As the drama unfolds, a grandfather challenges his grandchildren to shift their focus away from playing with their electronic devices to putting themselves in the shoes of the first witnesses of the birth of Christ. Their mission leads to ‘unexpected joy.’

A Very Merry Christmas Featuring Christmas selections From the Men’s Ensemble Wednesday, December 9, 2015 6:15 PM Come for supper, stay for the music.

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Music Notes

Word of God every Wednesday night and lives are being changed!

I am grateful for each one who made the Sounds of Thanksgiving concert such a wonderful worship experience and special night for our Tiny Tones, Children’s Choir, Allegiance and their families. The dinner, concert and reception made this a memorable evening for thankful hearts!

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE FUN! On December 20th all students and parents are invited to go Christmas caroling! Meet at ABC at 4:00. Please join us on December 23rd for the Student Ministry Annual Christmas Party! A Christmas sweater contest will be held so start planning now! Check the Student Ministry Facebook page for details coming soon!

From our Tiny Tones leadership: I love watching God work in the kids in Tiny Tones. What a wonderful experience to see them sing before the blessed souls at Savannah Grand, who have fought the good fight. I know it blessed them to know the work goes on in the heart of these precious children. If that wasn't enough, we go back to church and at snack time I hear one of the girls singing a praise song of thanks. So sweet! Then another wants to pray. Cutest thing was, after the first sang, the rest made up a song of praise. How blessed we are to be charged with the future song writers of Christian worship?! Thank you, Samantha, for leading and loving out of the rich storehouse of your heart. WOW! Amazed, Lynn Freeman (co-director)

Because of holiday busy-ness there will be no 1st Saturday events in December or January. Our Wednesday night youth worship continues to be outstanding! We are seeing lots of new faces and have had great attendance. Our Student Ministry meets every Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. for games, worship and the Word! We serve students in grades 6-12. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend all functions. Student Ministry Team Contact: Associate Pastor, Adam Page – [email protected] Student Ministry Director, Sonia Harper – [email protected]

Our Children’s Choir leaders, Gail McCamy and Brittany Helton, were loved by the children who participated in Children’s Choir this fall. They learned the books of the Bible, fruit of the spirit, and many songs of praise through playing of instruments, singing solos and sign language. Thank you, parents, for giving your children these opportunities. On Wednesday, December 2nd, the Children’s Choir will leave ABC at 6:00 to sing at Savannah Grand.

Christmas is a joyous time of year in Sunday school as children learn and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Don't be surprised to see bright smiles, glitter, ribbons and paint. Each week our teachers have special lessons and activities prepared.

Amelia Baptist Family: Please mark your calendars for Christmas caroling and distribution of gift baskets on Sunday, December 20th, at 4:00. What a beautiful gift to the community!

TeamKid kicks off January 6, 2016. Kids in 1st-5th grade please join us each Wednesday evening for exciting Bible study, games and skits. Parents are welcome to join in as teacher assistants. Ring the bells and play the instruments: Tiny Tones with Mrs. Samantha and Mrs. Lynn continues for children ages 3-5 on Wednesday evenings. Please pray about joining our childcare team on Sunday mornings. We need adults with loving arms to hold and care for our growing number of babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

The holidays are upon us and it is a busy season for the Student Ministry at ABC! During the months of December and January we will continue our look at the book of James and what it has to say regarding our faith. Students are receiving clear and straightforward instruction and challenges from the 2

Dec. 2 Tiny Tones Christmas Party (5:30 pm) Children’s Choir sings at Savannah Grand (6 pm) Men’s Ensemble (7:15 pm) Dec. 6 Lottie Moon Sunday Discovery Class (4 pm) Ladies’ Ensemble Reh. (4 pm) Experiencing God (6:15 pm)—Last Allegiance Christmas Party (6:15 pm) Dec. 9 Men’s Ensemble Concert (6:15 pm) Annual Congregational Mtg. (6:45 pm) Dec. 11 An Evening in December (7 pm) Dec. 13 An Evening in December (7 pm) Dec. 16 Men’s Ensemble (7:30 pm) Dec. 20 Caroling with Baskets (4 pm) Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Svc. w/ Communion (8 pm) Dec. 25 We Wish You a Happy & Holy Christmas Office is Closed Dec. 26 Office is Closed

Sunday:

Jan. 1 Jan. 3 Jan. 9 Jan. 10 Jan. 13 Jan. 17 Jan. 20 Jan. 24

Sunday:

Wednesday: Wednesday Night Super (5:15 pm) --Dec. 2nd & 9th only Student Worship (6:00 pm) Bible Study & Prayer Time (6:15 pm) Staff Meeting (9:15 am)

Friday:

Men’s Bible Study (6:30 am)

Worship Attendance Sun. Schl. Attendance Budget Giving

11-1-15

11-8-15

11-15-15

11-22-15

262

248

197

226

135

130

116

113

$15,555

$11,518

$8,774

$8,178

Worship Choir Rehearsal (4:30 pm) Allegiance (6:15 p.m.) College & Career Bible Study (7 pm)

Wednesday: Wednesday Night Super (5:15 pm) Student Worship (6:00 pm) Tiny Tones (6:15 pm) TeamKid (6:15 pm) Bible Study & Prayer Time (6:15 pm)

Worship Choir Rehearsal (4:00 pm) Evening in Dec. Rehearsal (4:30 pm) Allegiance (6:15 p.m.) College & Career Bible Study (7 pm)

Thursday:

Happy New Year – Office is Closed Discovery Class (4 pm) Ladies’ Ensemble Reh. (4:30 pm) Men’s Ministry Breakfast (7 am) Communion Elder Ordination (during worship service) Stewardship Meeting (6:15 pm) Men’s Ensemble (7:30 pm) Sanctity of Life Sunday Family Potluck Lunch (after worship) Quarterly Congregational Mtg. (6:15 pm) Men’s Ensemble (7:30 pm) Family Ministry Council Mtg. (4:00 pm)

Thursday:

Staff Meeting (9:15 am)

Friday:

Men’s Bible Study (6:30 am)

The vision of the Fellowship Team is happy people enjoying fellowship together in a comfortable environment. With our adults paying the modest price for the meal and the cooks carefully managing costs, we are able to let children and youth involved in various Wednesday night activities eat free. The cooking and serving teams wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and says thanks for being part of a weekly opportunity for good fellowship around the table.

Budget Giving thru 11-22-15 $529,404 Disbursements thru 11-24-15: $613,788 The Weekly Budget Need for 2015 is $13,171

Please note that December 9th will be the last meal served prior to the holidays. The kitchen will be open again beginning on January 6th.

FROM YOUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM: As most of you know, the congregation recently approved a $50,000 overage to our 2015 Budget for roof replacement and moisture elimination in the sanctuary building. If you feel led to make a donation to help with this expense, please mark your funds to “Bldg Repairs and Maintenance #8303-1.” Thank you!

There will not be a church-wide potluck lunch in December. 3

Missions & Ministry

Ladies Bible Study will begin the book of Hebrews Tuesday, January 5th - February 1st, from 9:30-11:00. Sign up in the foyer Sunday, December 6th and 13th or email Donna Givens at [email protected] or call 432-7740. Please read through the entire book of Hebrews before the first class. We will have a potluck brunch on January 5th and you will receive workbooks at that time. Workbook cost is $16. Scholarships are available. Come join us for this study of God's word.

As a part of our Evening in December community outreach, our church will provide treats and hot cider following the performances on December 11th and 13th. Please bring tightly wrapped cookies to the church conference room on Thursday, December 10th before 4:00 pm. Also, assistance is needed in preparing and serving on those evenings. If you are willing to help, please contact Ruth McManus at 904624-7075 or [email protected] or Judy Kahoe at 904-742-2543 or [email protected]. Thank you!

Kingdom Work Update as of November 15, 2015 In 2013, Amelia Baptist had a drive to pay off the mortgage on the education building so that the money used for the mortgage could be freed up for Kingdom Work. The drive was very successful and this freed up $38,000 a year for additional ministries.

MEN’S MINISTRY There will be no Men’s Ministry Breakfast in December. We will resume our monthly meetings in January 2016. In the meantime, our nine small groups will be completing their study of Stepping Up, A Call To Courageous Manhood. For men who have not participated in this series, it is never too late. Anyone desiring to participate need only tell a member of the Men’s Ministry Leadership Team. We would like to continue the small group meetings and will have material selected for these small groups by the end of the year. Men need other men and the small groups are where we can encourage and pray for one another as we strive to be the leaders that God would have us to be in our homes, our church and our community.

For calendar year 2015, the following funds have been disbursed: Set Free by the Sea $10,000 towards purchase of additional property Life Solutions $15,000 to assist in renovating a building for a second facility in West Jax. Drive-in-Ministries $10,000 to assist with repair/replacement of a mobile unit in Nigeria Haiti Christian Light School $10,000 for books, uniforms, salaries, building projects Christian Bible Church, $9,800 for unplanned Yonkers, NY replacement of water meter and piping Total year to date $54,800 Total since Dec. 2013 $77,604

The Women’s Ministry Team of Amelia Baptist Church invites you to join us for our annual Ladies’ Night Out on February 6, 2016. It will start at 6:00 p.m. at Amelia Baptist Church and will cost $25. My Personal Chef will cater the same delicious meal under Storie Pollard. We will have music and door prizes. Our speaker will be Suzanne Honeycutt from San Marco in Jacksonville. She is a close friend of Sandra Lambert and is a woman of many talents who loves the Lord. You are in for a special treat!

Volunteers are needed to be bell-ringers from November 20th – December 24th for the Salvation Army! We need your help to ring the bell this holiday season to help those in need in Nassau County. Please see days and times available and sign up in the church foyer or contact Bruce Hartke at 904-5571378 or Wayne Weir at 904-415-0081. Amelia Baptist is ringing at Publix on the island again this year! We need you, please come and help!

Reservations can be made on January 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. Childcare will be provided. Please make a reservation. 4

The 2015 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is upon us! In 2014, Amelia Baptist raised $25,687. In 2015, Amelia Baptist is hoping to meet a fundraising goal of $25,000. Your giving enables missionaries to be sent to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God. Info booklets & prayer cards will be available to you over the next few weeks to show how your giving empowers missionaries from all over the world, as well as our own missionaries we send and support. ABC’s official Lottie Moon Sunday takes place on December 6th but Lottie Moon offerings will be accepted from now until the end of the year. May we be willing to help where we can!

Congratulations to Marcos and Sarah Flores on the birth of their twin baby girls! Ariel Evelyn was 5 lbs., 4 oz. and Annabelle Elizabeth was 5 lbs., 6 oz. The proud grandparents are Mike and Kathy Baxter.

Send Christmas Cards, Give to Missions The Lottie Moon Post Office will be open again this year in the church foyer. Bring Christmas cards for other church members and regular attendees and place them in alphabetical slots for pick up. Instead of stamping the envelopes for post office mailing, you are encouraged to place the amount you would have spent on stamps in a provided money slot. All “stamp” money will become a part of our church’s total to be sent to the International Mission Board.

Please express our sincere gratitude and thanks to each of the teachers of our children and youth. Sounds of Thanksgiving was wonderful and such a blessing. The children did an amazing job singing. The drums were especially impressive with the older children and youth. We are blessed to have each of the teachers. Please let each of them know how much we love and thank GOD for their work with the children. I thank GOD for the teachers of our children and youth. In CHRIST, Dennis and Bunny

Periodically check the Lottie Moon Post Office to pick up cards sent to you. Please do not put cards in slots for people who don’t attend Amelia Baptist Church, as they will not be forwarded. If you are interested in knowing more about becoming a member of Amelia Baptist Church, we invite you to attend our Discovery Class, formerly known as the New Members’ Class, on Sunday, December 6th or January 3rd. This class is held in the conference room across from the pastor’s office. We will begin at 4:00 p.m. and it lasts about two hours. So come and learn more about Amelia Baptist Church, our past, our purpose, mission and covenant.

Thank you to all who provided food for the lunch after Larry’s memorial service. The Fellowship Team We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Thank you for making our jobs so enjoyable. What a blessed staff we are! We pray that His peace and joy will fill your home all year!

Please remember the following members and friends that recently lost a loved one: Dan Matricia, his mother Dennis Barrineau, his mother Linda Cooley, her father Maria Sellers, our dear friend and member, Larry

Your Grateful Staff, Neil, Pam, Adam, Sonia, Cathie, Theresa and Melissa 5

961167 Buccaneer Trail (corner of Buccaneer Trl. & Gerbing Rd.) Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 904.261.9527 email: [email protected] Website: www.ameliabaptist.org

Address Service Requested

Where Heart and Mind Meet Christ in Love and Service Birthdays & Anniversaries December: 1 Rachel Jennings 2 Jane VanDelinder 2 Marion Clard 2 Mary Kawata 6 Genny Seidel 7 Steven Foster 7 Richard Williams 8 Marcus Overcast 9 Tom Tupps 10 Nancy Berry 11 Marie Rogers 11 Jan Del Prete 12 Kathy Devlin 13 Joe and Kris Allen 13 Matthew & Melissa Rhoden 13 Sharon Pledger 15 Allen and Sharon Lennon 15 Lynn Freeman 17 Pam Helton 18 Bruce Hartke 18 Sharon Huffman 18 Lily Huffman 20 Steve Carter 21 Jeanne Scott 22 Sam Volpitta 25 Christine Browne 25 Judy Kahoe 25 Billy Robertson 27 Bob and Janice Weaver 28 Bruce and Linda Broadrick 28 Carolyn Gleason 29 Terry and Amy Thrift 29 Judy Graydon 31 Nathan Seidel 31 Bryce Shriver

January: 1 Donna Wells 1 Howard & Donna Wells 3 Willie and Lee Brunetti 4 Ann Klumpp 4 Dianna Chiles 5 Dillon Whitaker 5 Wade Browne 6 Ginny Cooper 6 Janelle Gelston 6 Drake Ware 12 Betty Bell 12 Mike & Mary Pikula 14 Teresa Wickham 14 Bob Fernandez 16 Susan Fernandez 18 Sady Campbell 24 Elizabeth Sawyer 24 Kathryn Sawyer 25 Freeland and Pat Harris 25 Dan and Sue Matricia 25 Theresa Scanlon 27 Dixie Manning 28 Jordan Ankersen 30 Jim Duewel 31 Jeanette Pippin

December’15/January’16 Celebrate your anniversary or birthday with us. Announce the birth of a baby or a grandchild. Honor a loved one who has gone to their eternal reward. Share your flowers for the occasion with your church family before you take them home to enjoy. We would love to have your name on our flower calendar. Please call the church office at 261.9527 so that we can write your name on the day you wish to provide flowers and explain the procedure.

Hearing Assistance During Worship The auditorium is equipped with a hearing assistance system. Please ask for a receiver at the sound booth.

Our Schedule is: Sunday 9:00 am 10:30 am 4:30 pm 6:15 pm

Sunday School Life Groups Worship Worship Choir Rehearsal Bible Study

Wednesday 5:15 pm Wed. Night Supper 6:00 pm Student Worship (Youth) 6:15 pm Bible Study & Prayer Time

As urgent prayer needs arise, we have an active Prayer Chain who can be contacted by calling Pam Helton (5566680) or Jann Miller (753-0005). If you would like to be a prayer partner, call Pam or Kris Allen (261-6374).

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Child care is available for all services.

Members and Friends directories are always available in the magazine rack which is on the w all outside of the office.