WinterFest! - Please pray for our youth and leaders

This morning 34 youth plus a bunch of adult leaders left in 4 vans for Liberty University's annual New Year's blow out. Not only does WinterFest pack in a ton of fun activities over 3 days, it also packs a powerful spiritual punch as well, as some of the very best youth speakers and bands converge together.

Please be in prayer for their safety (they'll be going ice skating among other things and they could see some "winter weather"), but more importantly for the Holy Spirit to ignite within them a passion for following Christ like never before. They're adolescents - which means they all are dealing with issues, but some more so than others.

And pray for the adults who are there as well!!

If you want to know more about WinterFest, click here.

A Month of Giving

At our Christmas Eve Gathering I said that the spirit of Christmas is giving ourselves to others. And I can't remember a December in the last 19 that I've spent with Nags Head Church when that spirit has been more evident.

That's especially telling because during those 19 years we have seen times of greater prosperity as a nation and here locally.

I wish I knew all of the examples to share with you, but here are some of the ways Nags Head Church gave this December...

• Over 200 pounds of groceries were delivered to the Beach Food Pantry. The food was given as an offering at our annual Thanksgiving Eve Gathering.
• The Advent Conspiracy motivated many in our congregation to take a serious evaluation of their Christmas mentality and make radical changes in their giving. We have a blog post where those who got into AC can continue to share their stories.
• "Unspeakable Joy", our Christmas concert on Dec. 11 took up a love offering for Ocean View Baptist Church in KDH. The Saturday night after Thanksgiving they lost their fellowship building to a fire. At the concert over $1800 was received to get their building fund started.
• The Lottie Moon Christmas offering for Foreign Missions will likely total closer to $2000 than the $1000 goal we had. Besides the almost $700 that came in from Boars Head hams (what a great idea from Brad and Rebecca!) your offerings to missions blew us by our goal.
• Once again winter coats were collected and distributed to those in need. This year over 200 coats came in, added to the almost 400 we gave away last year.
• "Ruthie's Kitchen", a weekly meal for the homeless and hungry on the beach was staffed Tuesday night by NHCers. They prepared and served a meal of spaghetti, toast, salad, mac and cheese and hot dogs. The food was purchased with the offering received on Christmas Eve.
• Several families within our flock recieved financial assistance and Food Lion gift cards. We're able to do this because of the offerings we receive on First Wednesdays.
• Many of our church families took on their own projects, giving back to the community in creative ways.

God the Father is a giver. He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus, the Son is a giver, laying down His life for our salvation. The Holy Spirit is a giver, enabling us to minister to others with supernatural abilities - spiritual gifts. When we become givers we're copying them.

Christ said it this way.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matt. 25:34-40)

Sunday Feedback December 27

Lots of smiles, "Merry Christmases" and "Happy New Years!" today. And filling in many of the seats vacated by our own out of town flock were out of town guests.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near."

Tammy Stump (click on the link to learn more) shared about the mission organization she organized to build orphanages in war-torn and troubled nations.

The news that our Kids Zone should be completed and occupied in January!

What did you see and/or hear today that drew you closer to God in worship?

Christmas Eve Feedback

Worshiping the newborn King. Remembering the Gift of Christmas. Spending time with friends and family.

Tell us about your experience at NHC's Christmas Ever gathering this year. Did you bring a friend?

Two Years Later (almost!)..."Micro Preemie" Baby Enjoys Christmas

In Christmas Day's Pilot.

Advent Conspiracy Stories

This is the place to share your stories of how you're involvement in Advent Conspiracy is changing the world!

If you are participating in the conspiracy, please let others know by leaving a comment here. Come back often to share your stories and read about what God is doing in the lives of others!

Also, visit the Advent Conspiracy Resource Page to download some excellent resources (like the one below) to help you begin this Christmas with worship!

Don't forget this NHC Christmas tradition!

The last several years many of us at NHC have baked Christmas goodies and delivered them with cards "from Nags Head Church" to those who will be working Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

That would include your...
Fire Departments
Police Departments
EMS Stations
Dare County Communications (911)
Dare County Jail personnel
Hospital Staff and Emergency Room
Britthaven staff
7-11
Cab drivers...

Update from Don and Mary DeHart

Dear Rick and Nags Head family,

Thank you for caring for us so well. My stress test went amazing well...the lady who administered said I had the heart of a 30 year old. When she shut down the machine, I was dizzy and my lungs were screaming at me.

Back to the specialist today, and our family doctor later. I did well on the stress test. He wants to go deeper with a dye/scan stress test in mid-January. My lungs do have fluid. Another pulmonary test in 3 to 6 months. Seems the chest pain is muscle/joint related. Inflammation in my chest area. Lung capacity seems to be about 71%...thus weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and weariness.

I fell 4 times since August apparently from dizziness...down the steps here and at Julie's home and in the back yard down a rain slick grassy hill. Each one was a hard landing. Back on some dizziness medication and just keeping nitro, aspirin and a puffer with me. He told me to resume moderate exercise listening to my body.

I'm encouraged and yet frustrated... just wanting a clear cut "pill" diagnosis. I'm grateful it may not be heart related at all. Glad to be free to exercise again. Dealing with low energy, itching in my chest wall, dry cough and dizziness with short breath...not so encouraging...yet my problems are small compared to so many...makes me ashamed.

I'm encouraged... we have the release window between tests to go meet our new grandson and to resume exercise...and not fret over heart concerns for now with 80% positive testing...keeping in mind the family heart history. Trusting is quest.

Thank y'all for loving us so well. May the deep Christmas joy promised be yours' in these coming days,
don and mary

Congrats to Grandpa Burnie!

...and Granny Roxanny, too!

Jacob Logan Lamont arrived today!

He and his mom are doing great.

Christmas Eve at 6pm!

We wrap up our Christmas In Our Hearts series this Thursday at 6pm! Be sure to invite a friend to hear the message of God's gift to mankind.

Sunday Feedback December 20

The Sunday before Christmas!

If you were at NHC you saw and heard plenty of ministry going on. The creative juices were flowing today all over the place as we turned our minds to missions and ways to see how Christmas movies can be catalysts for outreach and teaching.

Hopefully God used someone or something to remind you of Himself. Tell us about it!

Finding the Message In Christmas Movies

Sunday at 9 and 11.

Don't forget that if you ordered a Boars Head Ham they'll be ready for pick up.

And the Bread of Life cook book will be available for purchase in the lobby.

Christmas Eve we'll be celebrating Communion at 6PM. Invite a friend.

How was the Ladies Ornament Xchange?

Jump in and tell the rest of us about it!

Sunday Feedback December 13

Worship started with The Contagious Band - our youth band leading us in God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and We Shine!

December is a great month for reaching out to our community and the world. Coats, Lottie Moon, The Advent Conspiracy.

Today was about our Christmas tradition of carols and music.

Whether it was someone serving or a word or song, what did you come away with from Nags Head Church today?

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Using Carols to Teach Truth

The 12 Days of Christmas refer to the twelve day period that starts with Christmas day and ends on Epiphany (6th January). The song begins, “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...” The 'true love' was meant to represent God, the true love of the world. The 'me' in the carol is the Christian man or woman who receives these presents. The meanings given to the 12 Days are:

· The 'partridge in a pear tree' is Jesus who died on the cross. In ancient times a partridge was often used as mythological symbol of a divine, sacred king.

· The 'two turtle doves' are the Old and New Testaments of the Bible - another gift from God.

· The 'three French hens' are faith, hope and love as found in 1 Corinthians 13.

· The 'four calling birds' are the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible.

· The 'five golden rings' are the first five books of the Bible also called the Pentateuch, the Books of Moses or the Torah.

· The 'six geese a-laying' are the six days of creation.

· The 'seven swans a swimming' are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11)

· The 'eight maids a milking' are the eight beatitudes, Jesus' teachings on happiness from the sermon on the mount. (See Matthew 5:3-10)

· The 'nine ladies dancing' are nine character traits of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22)

· The 'ten lords a-leaping' are the Ten Commandments in the Bible. (See Exodus 20)

· The 'eleven pipers piping' are the eleven faithful disciples of Jesus.

· The 'twelve drummers drumming' were the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed.

Unspeakable Joy Feedback

An evening of worship with new and old Christmas carols. The auditorium was packed. The Hospitality team served tons of cookies and hot drinks. The First Impressions team welcomed everyone with seasons greetings. The Tech Teams, Worship Choir and MP13 Band led us in worship.

Tell us about your perspective on the evening, about your worship of the baby King.

Here We Come A Caroling

Sunday I'll be talking about the tradition of singing Christmas songs. One of the suggestions I'll be giving is to read through a carol each day as your devotion to focus on the words of the songs we know so well.

Here's a great tool to help. "Come Let Us Adore Him" shares the words, music, Scriptures and stories behind 30 of our best-loved Christmas hymns. You can find it at Amazon.com.

So, if you're a blog reader, here's one way you get a head start on Sunday!

A Look at December

It is the most wonderful time of the year to share the gift God gave us in His Son Jesus. So, there's lots of ministry and mission going on this month at NHC.

Already NHC has been to Britthaven Nursing Home for an afternoon of caroling and giving Christmas cards to the residents there.

Winter coats are being collected through next week to give away to those in need in our community. Bring your gently used and clean coats and jackets to NHC by December 17. We'll be giving them out on the evening of the 18th.

All this month we'll be recievin a special offering which will go to support foreign missions through the Southern Baptist Convention. We're part of a cooperative effort to give a total of $175 million to missions this month.

Brad and Rebecca are giving back $10 from each Boars Head ham ordered to the Lottie Moon offering for Foreign Missions. We had one at Thanksgiving and they are fantastic!

This Friday night is an opportunity for outreach and celebration with "Unspeakable Joy". If you were at church Sunday, you got a taste of the great night we're in for as our band and worship choir lead us in an evening of Christmas music. Bring a friend! And don't forget that we're going to collect an offering for the Ocean View Bapist Church Rebuilding Fund, helping a sister church in need.

Wednesday night December 16 is our 7th annual Ladies Ornament Exchange. It's always a fun night and a great opportunity to invite a non-churched friend to join you. It begins at 6:30.

Are you bothered that maybe the way Christmas has drifted away from Christ can't be turned, visit The Advent Conspiracy. You can be part of changing the world through Christmas.

Looking for ways to teach your children and grandchildren about Christmas? Visit our Jr. Waveriders site. Click on Parents and December 2009 for some great ideas you can use.

Christmas Eve we'll be celebrating communion and worship at 6PM. For 17 years we've invited the community to worship with us on Christmas Eve. It's always one of the most meaningful worship gatherings of the whole year. Nursery is provided.

Tuesday night, Dec. 29 NHC will be providing a meal for the hungry and homeless in our community. We'll need food prepared and servants to serve. If you're interested as a family or a connection group or individual in helping out, please call the office at 441-7548 or email info@nagsheadchurch.org.

Sunday Feeback December 6

The first Sunday of December was all about this whole month being a celebration and opportunity to pass on to our world the joyous news of the birth of the King of Kings.

This morning our Worship Choir joined the band for a couple of the Christmas songs we'll hear Friday night at Unspeakable Joy. Chris Tomlin's "My Soul Magnifies the Lord" blew the roof off the building!

We heard about how our Christmas traditions can be used to pass Christ on to future generations and to point others to Christ. Hundreds of names were brought to an "altar" of gift-wrapped boxes as we asked the Lord to give us opportunities to share the Gospel this Christmas with our friends and families.

You probably saw or heard something that God used to take you up a notch in your worship and relationship with Him. Share it in the comments with us.

Christmas Traditions: Say "Merry Christmas!"

My research says that the phrase "Merry Christmas" gained popularity with Charles Dickens' book "A Christmas Carol"

But we've all noticed how the politically correct culture police have tried in recent years to strip Christmas of Christ and replace Him with symbols of winter and the generic "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings".

Here's a movement that encourages our retailers to use the word "Christmas" and to play Christmas music that refers to Christ's birth.

Caroling and Cards at Britthaven Saturday

WHO: NHC/FAMILIES, SINGLES, COUPLES and/or….
WHAT: CHRISTMAS CAROLING down the halls and into resident rooms, gifting with a card and flower provided by the children’s department—thanks to Tina Hodgson, helpers and providers.
WHERE: OBX BRITTHAVEN NURSING HOME, 430 W. Health Center Dr., Nags Head.
WHEN: Saturday, December 5, 2009; 2-3 p.m.
WHY: To Acts 1:8 witness of the coming of a Savior for those who would believe, according to the Scriptures—prophecy foretold, fulfilled. (i.e. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 52:13-53:12; 61:1-2a )
HOW: Through the “good tidings of great joy” of the gospel message of the music and the words of testimony that witness of our personal belief….

Christmas In Our Hearts

A new Sunday Morning Series begins this Sunday at NHC!

Noon Prayer Every Thursday

Every Thursday at noon we have an hour of prayer in the lobby at NHC. You're welcome and encouraged to come and stay for as much as you are able and pray.

The Contagious Band

In case you haven't heard, The Contagious Band has been leading worship for the youth group for the past few months. Here are a few videos of their music!

No F1RST Wednesday this month!

Just a reminder!!

FW will be back in January!

Advent Conspiracy

Somewhere between the very first Christmas (you know, the one where Jesus was born) and 2010, we have lost the original meaning of Christmas. It's not that gifts and trees and carols are a bad thing, but wasn't Christmas meant to be more?

If we want to know what Christmas is really meant to be, we should ask the question, "How did Jesus celebrate that first Christmas?"

The answer - He gave Himself.

Relationally
Incarnation
Time
Space
Presence

So, if we truly want to celebrate Christmas as God meant it to be celebrated, we'll simply follow Jesus' lead.

Check out the video below, and then visit the Advent Conspiracy website. Consider taking the challenge with Nags Head Church this Christmas season to begin with worship. What would it look like if every partner at Nags Head Church participated in Advent Conspiracy this Christmas? Could we change the world?



And, look for more about Advent Conspiracy at NHC all this month.