this weekend @ sfbc - December 30th

SFBC Family,

Only 2 more days until 2010. Time passes so quickly. It should remind us to do the things that matter and last, Jesus said, to seek first His Kingdom and invest our lives in things of eternal value. I hope that will describe your life and our church in 2010.

2009 was a great year, one of the best (in my opinion) for our church. Our Lord added to our church family, as we were blessed by great growth. It was a strong financial year in a tough economy and the church demonstrated an unwavering commitment to vision and mission. Our Sunday School attendance increased tremendously in the last 6 moths, averaging more than 22 more people each week than the first 6 months of 2009. I am excited to see this increase. Sunday School classes help connect you to one giving you an avenue of growth and service that you can't find in attending worship alone. I would encourage you to begin 2010 by joining a Sunday School class, I will be glad to help you find one that will be a fit for you.

Sunday is the last day to give to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. We have received just a little more than half our goal. I have asked you to give so much and you have responded in unbelievable ways. Here is what I would challenge us all to do this Sunday, everyone give something to Lottie Moon. I am not suggesting a big or sacrificial gift, just give an extra $1 or $5 this week to this offering. If everyone will participate it will go a long way to extending our love to missionaries waiting to go to the mission field. Remember 100% of this offering goes to support missionaries. My family gave to Lottie last week and we will give a little extra this week, will you join us?

Tonight, we will have a joint worship service with the students at 7pm. Several youth groups from the community will be joining us and I am encouraging you to attend, I hope to see you. Sunday and next Wednesday, we will return to our regular weekly schedule. Please start 2010 by getting involved in your church, there are many ways to serve and we need your help.

Sunday morning, I will begin a short 3 week series about getting back on track as we start the New Year. I am looking forward with great anticipation to what God is going to do in 2010. Please continue to pray for your ONE! I am hearing God is working already!

See you this weekend. Happy New Year!
Bro Norm



Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
It is not too late to give to missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. We will receive this offering through January 3rd. Please give a special Christmas blessing to support our missionaries. We are behind, way behind our goal. I know this is because you gave so much during Crazy Love. Let me encourage you to give even a small gift during the next two weeks, any gift will help and its not too late. Click here to read more about the offering http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709

Christmas Cards
Please check your card box each on Sunday. The boxes are located in the back hallway near the fellowship hall. Be sure to pick up your cards. Sunday will be the last day to pick up your cards.

Reading the New Testament together
I am encourage our church family to read through the New Testament together during 2010. The plan will be to read one chapter per day Monday - Friday, with no reading assigned for the weekend. This plan will take us through the entire New Testament in one year. It begins January 4th in the book of Mark. The readings are not in sequence but in a special plan for our church. There are reading plans you can pick up at the welcome center. Our Wednesday night devotions will come from the daily Wednesday readings.

Christmas Decoration Removal
The church is wonderfully decorated for Christmas, thanks to a great team of people who came and gave a Saturday morning to serve. We need you again, on Saturday, January 9th, 8am. We will be removing and storing the Christmas decoration. While this is not as fun as seeing them go up, it is really important that several people help. Please do help us with this project. Melinda Howell who leads our decorating team, will be having surgery after Christmas and will need extra help, so please plan on attending to help Melinda and our church.

Offering Envelopes for 2010 and year end giving
We encourage you to use our offering envelopes each week. It encourages giving, reminds us to be consistent, and provides a record of your giving. We are asking that you sign up at the welcome center to receive your box before January 4th. Even if you have always used envelopes please sign up. It helps us to prepare the boxes. 2010 Offering envelopes will be placed in your Christmas Card box.

Your year end gifts to South Fork must be received or post marked no later than December 31 to be included for 2009 taxes. Your end of year giving is a blessing to our churches ministry. The church office will be open Monday - Wednesday next week or you can mail your offering to the church.

this weekend @ sfbc - Christmas Edition

sfbc family,

Merry Christmas! I hope the next days bring you the blessing and peace of Christ as you celebrate God's greatest gift this Christmas. I pray that because of Christ Christmas is different for you. Remember to take some time to slow down, read the Christmas story, and remember that without Christmas there is no Easter.

Tonya, the kids, and I want to thank each of you for your cards and gifts. We have read each card and thank God for you. Thank you for your prayers and support, not only at Christmas, but each day throughout the year! You make serving at South Fork such a blessing. Thank you for your gifts to our family. We love each of you, Merry Christmas from our family.

There will be a student Christmas party at church tonight, the student worship team will share some songs and you are welcome to attend. There are no other activities tonight. Sunday, we will have Sunday School and morning worship. Dewayne will be preaching on Sunday. If you can please do attend. We are following a some what abbreviated schedule during the next week. We will return to a normal schedule on Sunday January 3rd.

A special thank you to our Christmas Choir and to Randy. I hope you were able to attend "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", it was a great job choir, you all were "wonderful" and a blessing! Thanks for saving the best performance for South Fork, really enjoyed the twist to the story. By the way, did you remember to say Merry Christmas and thanks to our staff? We do have a great team at South Fork. Pam, Machelle, Randy, and DeWayne: Thanks for an awesome year!

Have a wonderful Christmas, enjoy your the time you get with your family, make memories, and remember to celebrate Christ!
See you on Sunday,
Bro Norm

Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
It is not too late to give to missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. We will receive this offering through January 3rd. Please give a special Christmas blessing to support our missionaries. We are behind, way behind our goal. I know this is because you gave so much during Crazy Love. Let me encourage you to give even a small gift during the next two weeks, any gift will help and its not too late. Click here to read more about the offering http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709

Christmas Cards
Please check your card box each on Sunday. The boxes are located in the back hallway near the fellowship hall. Be sure to pick up your cards.

Reading the New Testament together
I am encourage our church family to read through the New Testament together during 2010. The plan will be to read one chapter per day Monday - Friday, with no reading assigned for the weekend. This plan will take us through the entire New Testament in one year. It begins January 4th and in the book of Mark. The readings are not in sequence but in a special plan for our church. There are reading plans you can pick up at the welcome center, I have also attached a copy in word to this email. Our Wednesday night devotions will come from the daily Wednesday readings.

Christmas Decoration
The church is wonderfully decorated for Christmas, thanks to a great team of people who came and gave a Saturday morning to serve. We need you again, on Saturday, January 9th, 8am. We will be removing and storing the Christmas decoration. While this is not as fun as seeing them go up, it is really important that several people help. Please do help us with this project. Melinda Howell who leads our decorating team, will be having surgery after Christmas and will need extra help, so please plan on attending to help Melinda and our church.

Offering Envelopes for 2010 and year end giving
We encourage you to use our offering envelopes each week. It encourages giving, reminds us to be consistent, and provides a record of your giving. We are asking that you sign up at the welcome center to receive your box before January 4th. Even if you have always used envelopes please sign up. It helps us to prepare the boxes. 2010 Offering envelopes will be placed in your Christmas Card box.

Your year end gifts to South Fork must be received or post marked no later than December 31 to be included for 2009 taxes. Your end of year giving is a blessing to our churches ministry. The church office will be open Monday - Wednesday next week or you can mail your offering to the church.

this weekend @ sfbc - December 20th

sfbc family,

I realize there are only 7 more shopping days until Christmas, but I just couldn't resist this weeks cartoon! Fact is Christmas is here. We will celebrate big this weekend with 3 presentations of It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Christmas Musical. Friday night at Magnolia Baptist, Saturday in Hodgenville at the old First Baptist Church building, and Sunday at South Fork. All services are at 7pm. Please be sure to join us for one or all of the performances. Sunday morning during worship will be awesome as we focus on Christmas and get to celebrate baptism!

Please remember these things for this weekend; check your Christmas Card box after church on Sunday, sign up (at the welcome center) for 2010 offering envelopes, and give to the Lottie Moon offering that supports International Missionaries, our goal is $3,000.

Awesome crowd at South Fork for the LaRue County Band Christmas Concert, at least 800 people. Parking was a challenge and the sanctuary was a little warm but it was a great night and a wonderful concert, thanks for sharing our building.

I read this article this morning by Stephen Altrogge, it is worth a look . . .
Wanted: Perfect church. A small, tight-knit community of believers. Close friendships a must.
Sometimes we talk about the early New Testament church as if it were a small, quaint country church with about one hundred intimate relationships, and killer pot providence (not luck) dinners. And that’s exactly what it was. For about a month.

Then Pentecost happened (Acts 2) and everything went crazy. The Spirit fell. People talked in foreign languages. Tongues of fire danced over people’s heads. And 3,000 people were added to the church in one day. In one day the church went from intimate small group to giant mega church.

Suddenly things weren’t so intimate. Everybody couldn’t be friends with everybody. The leaders were less accessible. The worship service didn’t have the close, sing around the campfire, feel. Everyone was required to sacrifice and serve in new ways.

But that’s what happens when the gospel is being preached. Sinners are saved. The church grows. New friendships are formed, new small groups are formed, new services are added to accommodate all the people that God is saving. If the gospel is preached, people will be added to the church. For people to be added to the church, sacrifice is required.

It takes sacrifice to welcome people with messy lives into the church. It takes sacrifice to reach out to people you don’t know. It takes sacrifice to figure out who is going to be in what small group. It takes sacrifice to see a church grow from small to big. But it’s glorious sacrifice. Sinners are being saved. God’s kingdom is going forth. People are being pulled from darkness into the kingdom of God. Lives are being rearranged and transformed.

To be a part of this sacrifice is to be a part of something beautiful.

If the gospel is going to spread, and the church is going to grow, sacrifice and serving must happen. Sacrifice and serving are hard, but the result is beautiful.

See you this weekend
Bro Norm

PS - This weekend will be sent on Wednesday, December 23rd and Wednesday, December 30th for the next two weeks.





It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Christmas Musical
Presented by the joint choirs of Magnolia and South Fork. Three performances to choose from. December 18th at Magnolia Baptist, December 19th at Hodgenville Community Center (old First Baptist Building), December 20th at South Fork. Performance times 7pm nightly.

Christmas Cards
You may bring Christmas Cards for our church family and drop them in the baskets located near each main entrance. Please check your card box each Sunday. The boxes are located in the back hallway near the fellowship hall

Offering Envelopes for 2010
We encourage you to use our offering envelopes each week. It encourages giving, reminds us to be consistent, and provides a record of your giving. We are asking that you sign up at the welcome center to receive your box before January 4th. Even if you have always used envelopes please sign up. It helps us to prepare the boxes. 2010 Offering envelopes will be placed in your Christmas Card box.





Lottie Moon offering for International Missions
I know we have asked a lot but remember 100% of gifts to Lottie Moon go to the International Mission Board to support missionaries. Our church goal is $3,000. Offering envelopes are available in each pew. Here is the web site http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709

Wild Game Feed at Parkway Baptist in Bardstown
January 16th at 5pm. Guest speaker will be David Hale of "Knight and Hale Game Calls." If you would like to attend this event please sign up at the welcome center. While the event is free we must reserve our tickets in advance. Please sign up by December 27th.

this weekend @ sfbc - December 13th

SFBC Family,

I hope you are praying for your ONE! Our challenge to you is to let God bring one person to your heart, the person who would just blow you away to see following Jesus then begin praying for that person every day for the next year. To intentional invest your life in them seeking to share Christ with them during 2010. This reminds us of the importance of prayer and that God works through the prayers of His people. It outs a priority on praying and reminds us that Connecting People to Jesus is one person reaching one person. There are prayer walls up in the sanctuary, these walls have the names of people we are praying for written on them. Remember, if your person comes to Christ, your challenge is to continue to pray everyday for them during the next year, to help them in their following Christ, and encourage them, Connecting them to Jesus is more than sharing about your relationship, it is showing how to love and live for Christ everyday. The Bible calls this discipleship.

I am asking that we as a church read the New Testament together in 2010. We have prepared a reading guide that calls for you to read one chapter per day (Monday - Friday) beginning January 4th. There are no weekend readings. This is something I really wants us to do together. A reading guide will be in your Christmas Card mail box and more copies available at the welcome center. Please be sure to pick up a reading guide and begin reading with us on January 4th.

Let me explain our Christmas card boxes at church. You may bring Christmas Cards for our church family and place them in the baskets located at each main entrance to the sanctuary. Everyone should have a box located in the back hallway near the fellowship hall. The boxes are in alphabetical order. We could have missed someone, so if you can't find your box please let us know. We also have a Christmas Card list prepared to help you with Christmas cards, you can pick it up at the welcome center on Sunday. Please check your box each Sunday.

Thank you for a great weekend last week. Saturday was busy, but lots of people showed up to help decorate the church. Thank you for your help! Attendance on Sunday at both worship and dinner was wonderful. May have been the largest Christmas dinner ever. Thank you to Katrina Thomas for taking Santa pictures and to Santa for his help! You all keep amazing me!

This Sunday Bob and Bonnie will be with us. For those who may not know, we partner with Bob and Bonnie in Ghana Africa, to help them plant seeds of the gospel. They work with children teaching them the Bible and plant churches among a people who are unreached, only 2% of the people have heard the gospel, http://www.peoplegroups.org/Detail.aspx?PID=13299. God has great used Bob and Bonnie in Africa and has used their ministry to great effect our church. On Sunday, we get to experience a little of the mission God has called us to.

Sunday night at 6pm, we will celebrate Christmas with our children's musical. Please come see and hear our kids sing about the good news of Jesus!

See you this weekend!
Bro Norm

Bob & Bonnie Parker
Join us on Sunday morning as we host Bob and Bonnie and hear how God is working in Ghana!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Christmas Musical
Presented by the joint choirs of Magnolia and South Fork. Three performances to choose from. December 18th at Magnolia Baptist, December 19th at Hodgenville Community Center (old First Baptist Building), December 20th at South Fork. Performance times 7pm nightly.

Larue County Bands Christmas Concert
The Middle school and High School bands will be sharing their Christmas Concert on December 15, 7pm at South Fork! We are excited to host this event for our community and church! Please join us for this special Christmas concert.

Christmas Cards
You may bring Christmas Cards for our church family and drop them in the baskets located near each main entrance. Please check your card box each Sunday. The boxes are located in the back hallway near the fellowship hall

Offering Envelopes for 2010
We encourage you to use our offering envelopes each week. It encourages giving, reminds us to be consistent, and provides a record of your giving. We are asking that you sign up at the welcome center to receive your box before January 4th. Even if you have always used envelopes please sign up. It helps us to prepare the boxes. 2010 Offering envelopes will be placed in your Christmas Card box.

Lottie Moon offering for International Missions
I know we have asked a lot but remember 100% of gifts to Lottie Moon go to the International Mission Board to support missionaries. Our church goal is $3,000. You will receive a prayer guide in your bulletin this Sunday. Offering envelopes are available in each pew. Here is the web site http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709

Wild Game Feed at Parkway Baptist in Bardstown
January 16th at 5pm. Guest speaker will be David Hale of "Knight and Hale Game Calls." If you would like to attend this event please sign up at the welcome center. While the event is free we must reserve our tickets in advance. Please sign up by December 27th.

this weekend @ sfbc - December 6th

sfbc family,

I am still very speechless about the way our church has given to others this fall. So many good things are going on, we need to be sure that we do not miss how God is blessing our church family. In this tough economy, we have seen God do amazing things in and through you. God is simply amazes me more and more. There is and should be a good spirit and feeling at church, I am glad for the positive upswing, and pray that this is just the beginning and that God is preparing us for a huge 2010.

Last night, Cole Hughes (great job Cole) shared a message during student worship. Not only did he do an excellent job, you could sense that God is growing our students spiritually. I really believe this group has the ability to impact the entire county for Christ. They are special. We are also hearing this from other churches about their youth, God is working, keep praying for a mighty move of God in their lives

There is much to do this weekend. We need you all to help us decorate the church for Christmas. This is one of those times when somebody else is usually who gets the nod to do the work, but we need everybody to step up. There are trees to put up, decorations to hang, tables to set up, as we prepare for our Christmas season. We need men, women, youth, there is something each of us can do.

Sunday night is our Christmas Dinner. I always look forward to this night of fellowship. Here is the way it works, we will meet in the sanctuary at 6pm for prayer and dismiss for the meal. The church provides meat, chicken and ham. We ask everyone to bring a side dish (or 2 or 3), a dessert, or a cooler of drinks. After dinner, Santa makes an appearance for the children. Katrina Thomas will be doing pictures with Santa for our children. Please attend, bring your family and friends, we are preparing for our biggest dinner ever.

Sunday morning, I will be sharing about ONE, a vision we have to Connect People to Jesus and how that will look in your life for 2010. I am asking that everyone attend. I know that I think every service is a big deal at South Fork but I promise this is ONE Sunday you don't want to miss!

Hope to see you this weekend.
Bro Norm






Men's prayer fellowship meets tonight 7pm at the home of Randy and Suzanne Hines. This is a time of praying for our church and community and an opportunity to fellowship together. Hope you can attend!


It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Christmas Musical
Presented by the joint choirs of Magnolia and South Fork. Three performances to choose from. December 18th at Magnolia Baptist, December 19th at Hodgenville Community Center (old First Baptist Building), December 20th at South Fork. Performance times 7pm nightly.

Larue County Bands Christmas Concert
The Middle school and High School bands will be sharing their Christmas Concert on December 15, 7pm at South Fork! We are excited to host this event for our community and church! Please join us for this special Christmas concert.

Lottie Moon offering for International Missions
I know we have asked a lot but remember 100% of gifts to Lottie Moon go to the International Mission Board to support missionaries. Our church goal is $3,000. You will receive a prayer guide in your bulletin this Sunday. Offering envelopes are available in each pew. Here is the web site http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709




Sunday, December 6th at 11am. ONE Service you don't want to miss!


Ministry Opportunity for LaRue County Jail
This is a good idea. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 - 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Here is the note from Sandy . . .

To South Fork Church Family:

Thank you so much for your food that you prepared for the annual Thanksgiving luncheon. This was the first year that we included the Larue County Jail in our deliveries. I have received numerous thank you's from the inmates. I am well aware that the jail does employ a cook but your food was prepared with love and that is what this ministry is all about. One of the inmates said that we not only filled their bellies but filled their spirit. We helped them to know that they are not forgotten. Our goal was to touch one life and we touched and blessed many.

So, with that I have a request, I would like to see how many people will help me prepare homemade goodie trays to be taken to the jail on Christmas Eve. I know that all of you are busy through Christmas so the delivery part has been taken care of. I need homemade goodies. Cookie, candies, brownies, etc. I want to take to the inmates what I would prepare for my family, that is why I am asking for homemade only.

There are 150 inmates, I know that is a lot to prepare for as we will be preparing around 20 trays. I was hoping for an assortment for each tray. If you cannot prepare something for 150 maybe you could get with another family or two and make enough together to make up 150 or more.

Before we commit to this endeavor, I wanted to see how many people would be willing to prepare goodies. Please contact me by email or phone. My evening number is 358-5089. Thank you for your willingness to share God's love with others.

Blessings,
Sandy