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On the fifth day of Christmas,
prepare to be refreshed!
Christmas at Refresh
When: Dec 5, 7-8 pm in the social hall.
Childcare will be provided.
Come fa-la-la-la-la with us as we kick-off the Christmas season at Refresh. It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas with Allison’s renowned cocoa bar and Jennifer’s legendary hot apple cider. Bring your Christmas spirit and wear your holiday attire (ugly sweaters welcome) as we praise and worship together, get to know our staff ladies, sing Christmas carols, share some festive refreshments and fun, and spend time in fellowship and the Word.
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A Hoof and a Star
A short story written by LBBC member, Tara Hamlin
Worn and haggard, weary, and torn. What comes to mind when you hear those words? Close your eyes for a moment and really sit with them. Those words describe how I imagine Mary felt as she walked beside me while Joseph was going from door to door to find a place to stay. Each time, he received “NO ROOM IN THE INN!” and another door closed. Her heart must have been as heavy as the fullness of her middle felt. By then, even we non-verbal creatures were aware of who she was: Mary, unwed and shunned by people, but chosen by the Lord. Just because we’re non-verbal doesn’t mean we’re stupid.
My name is Desi, by the way, and I’m the donkey that has kept Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus safe as we traveled to Bethlehem. It’s a good thing the Creator made me a fur baby and not a human one. Otherwise, I might have told those rude, judgmental people that this woman was indeed carrying the Savior of the World. Animals have a sixth sense, you know? God uses us in ways that most humans miss because they tend to be focused on what they want and not what God wants or provides.
I digress! So back to Mary. Her feet shuffled before her, and her clothing could no longer hide the fact that she was approaching the birth of her child. Despite her tired and weary body, she was shining from within. The glow seemed to radiate from her and around her like the warmth of a golden blanket that’s been lying in the sun. The tenderness that God gives women? They can glow with the light of the Lord differently than other creatures. Not better or worse, just different.
Humble and with a sweet spirit, Mary was easy to be around. Joseph’s love for her and her unborn child obvious. Although, the worry of keeping them safe was starting to take its toll on him. We all needed rest and luckily, a local family decided to let us use their barn area to bed down. God uses the most unexpected people and places to glorify Him, doesn’t He? Perfectly imperfect people, perfectly unexpected places, but always in His perfect timing.
The Star of Bethlehem had been chosen and asked to be ready to shine that night. There are no words to express what it was like to witness the birth of my King and to be one of the first earthly creatures to worship Him. I’ve never seen a star shine so brightly, and I doubt I ever will again. My knees literally couldn’t hold me up, and I bowed at the manger where His mother laid Him after wrapping Him in the swaddling clothes. I could barely move, much less breathe. There’s nothing to prepare one for the sheer force of love and gratitude that is felt in His presence. Absolutely no words to describe the awe of His grace. Perhaps that’s why the saying goes, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,” because there are no words. Breath can be a prayer, a praise, and a thanksgiving in His presence. If the stars were made to worship and everything that has breath will praise the Lord, so will I. So, remember if God designated a donkey like little ol' me to be part of His story, then He can and will use little ol’ you. There’s nothing like it, and I promise you won’t regret it.
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Meet Ms. Faye, known by some as the "Church Grandma"
by Gale Keef
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What a special treat it was to sit and talk with Ms. Faye Bridges this quarter. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know her better as much as I did.
Her grandchildren call her “Nana,” but you might know her as “Nana Faye” or “Ms. Faye.” When I first came to LBBC, my son-in-law (Jonathan) mentioned her to me, and I told him that I didn’t know who she was. He then said, “Well, she’s like the church grandma!” That could be because in addition to having 3 children (Rene’ McAbee, Robbin Corn, and Dean Bridges), she has 22 grandchildren (very heavy on boys—18!), and currently 13 great grandchildren and still counting. Ms. Faye is one busy lady and doesn’t really have much downtime, but when she does, she enjoys reading Karen Kingsbury novels, visiting with grandkids that drop in for lunch, spending time with the great-grands, and even trying to beat her great-grandson Huntley in word searches.
Her journey to becoming “Nana” started back in 1959 when Ms. Faye was a nursing student in Charlotte Memorial Hospital’s School of Nursing. She attended a small church there, and it was at church that she met her sweetheart, Bob, when his large family joined her little church. She and Bob were married just shy of 50 years when he was promoted to heaven thirteen years ago.
Ms. Faye worked 30+ years as a nurse in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and occupational health. If you know her, you know she’s a kind, soft-spoken lady who is always ready to help others, the kind of nurse you would want at your bedside. Ms. Faye said, “That’s my heart,” when she talked about ministering to her patients, and she still takes care of everyone around her today. Evidently, her grandchildren always wanted to check out their illnesses and boo-boos with her before they would consent to seeing a doctor for stitches or anything else. Nana knows best!
Faye and Bob became part of the LBBC family when they joined the church (then Rockhill Baptist) back in 1976. She worships and serves here today with so many of her family members. She has been in Patsy Malone’s small group for many years as a class member and an assistant. A little over a year ago she took over the teaching role for this group of ladies that are so precious to her. Her eyes juiced up a little as she talked about how special these ladies are because of the cherished relationships that have formed there. She studies all week to get ready for Sunday and loves teaching because she learns more than she could ever communicate to the class. She also serves on the benevolence committee, serving meals to bereaved families.
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Toby Mercer loves having Ms. Faye on the kitchen team and said, “Ms. Faye is a joy to be around. She works like she is a young woman and washes dishes like no one else. I love cooking with her!” Ms. Faye will spend as long as necessary standing at the sink washing those giant pots and trays—pretty much everyone’s least favorite thing to do. She and her sidekick, Judy Payne, were crackerjacks at VBS this year, slicing up 20+ watermelons. There’s no task she doesn’t tackle with a smile and a sweet spirit. She sang in the choir for many years but now enjoys worship from the congregation as she gets to watch so many of her progeny helping lead.
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One of the most impressive things about Faye is that for the last 32 years, she’s had “Sunday dinner” for the WHOLE Bridges clan at her house. If they all show up, it’s 46 people, but it averages 30-35 every week. Is it a potluck? No! It’s all Ms. Faye all the way. She won’t let the family help because this dinner is her gift to them. She gets organized early in the week and starts cooking the desserts on Friday. She typically cooks one meat and up to 4 sides (for 35+ people), and she says they will eat whatever she cooks. Accomplishing this doesn’t seem like much of a big deal to Ms. Faye. She explained, “I didn’t start off with this many people. I worked up to it slowly and just added a bean to the pot as the crowd grew.” Ms. Faye says she’s lost a lot of silverware over the years to the trash can, but she solved that problem largely by switching from paper plates to real plates. It means more dishes to clean, but now the silver doesn’t go in the trash with the plate. One Sunday a month she designates for the monthly birthday celebration; this crowd is too big to celebrate individually! She bragged, “My boys hug, no matter how big they are. I always told them, ‘If you don’t hug the cook, your end of the table is gone!’ I think that’s why they hug me now. It’s a habit, and I hope they’ll carry that on to their wives.” Needless to say, she gets lots of hugs. Her family eats and hangs out for the afternoon, which is just what Ms. Faye loves. It’s clear she’s the heart of the family. Maybe that’s why around 2011, her family gutted and remodeled her circa 1902 house. Her son-in-law, David, designed the renovation, and all the work was done by family members. Her new dining room has an 11 ½ ft table, and it’s still not large enough.
Ms. Faye’s responses to some of my interview questions were priceless:
Q: What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Ms. Faye: “Learn how to cook. I did not know how to cook when I got married. My husband about starved to death at first, but he didn’t say anything!”
She lamented that on-the-job training was a hard way to learn. She added, “I learned how to sew also and made lots of baby dresses for daughters and granddaughters. And, I repaired more blue jeans in my day. If I had a dollar for every knee I repaired, I’d be wealthy!”
Q: What advice do you have for young moms today?
Ms. Faye: “Don’t listen to everything you’re told. Sometimes you have to go with your gut, your instincts.”
Q: What is something you did to make the relationships with all your grandchildren special?
Ms. Faye: “We made cookies. Everybody cooked around the mixer (the little ones got the “ladder”/step stool), and we ate the batter, and we haven’t lost a single one of them! We licked spoons. Everybody had to have their own spoon. Chocolate chips cookies are still a big hit.”
She went on to tell how she sent chocolate chip cookies to the TX grandkids via a local grandson. She even sent the driver with his own stash to keep him out of the delivery stash. It was a relief to hear that the coveted cookies made it all the way to TX!
Q: What is something you remember doing for Christmas with your kids?
Ms. Faye: “We didn’t give so many presents that the kids couldn’t appreciate what they got. And if they tossed something aside like it didn’t matter to them, I put that away and brought it out again later in the year when they would appreciate it.”
Q: You’ve been a widow for thirteen years. Do you have any advice for others in that situation?
Ms. Faye: I can’t think of any better advice than Prov. 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
It was such a pleasure to spend time talking to Ms. Faye, getting to hear some of her wisdom and wit, and seeing how a senior saint can be used of God to touch the lives of so many. I asked her if she’d share a recipe with us, and she was happy to oblige. However, it is not the famous Ms. Faye’s Apple Cake. That is a protected family recipe that hasn’t even been passed to her children yet. You won’t get that one out of her! She has, however, graciously given us a family recipe for this issue that was passed to her from her mother (originally from her mom’s friend, Lola, back in the 50’s). It’s a treasured family favorite that she has preserved in her mother’s handwriting—a real family heirloom. Of course, when Ms. Faye makes it for her family, she must quadruple it.
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Ms. Faye's Chicken/Rice Casserole
2 cups cooked chicken
2 cups cooked rice
¾ cups mayonnaise
1 tbsp chopped onion (or 1 tsp onion powder)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cp chicken broth (10.15 oz can)
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased 9x13 dish. Crush 1 cp corn flakes and sprinkle on top. Melt ¼ stick margarine and sprinkle over corn flakes.
Bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes.
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Sugar and Spice
Ladies’ Bunco Night
When: Friday, Jan 13, 6:30pm
What to bring: your favorite snack to share
Where: social hall
Bring your favorite snack or drink—sugar, spice, and everything nice…but we won’t mind something salty/savory either! It might get a little rowdy, but we will most definitely enjoy some laughs, make new friends, and find out who has mad counting and snatching skills.
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Have you saved the date yet?
2023 Fresh Grounded Faith Conference
Speaker: Jennifer Rothschild
Special guests:
- Tammy Trent (survivor and recording artist)
- Karen Abercrombie ("Miss Clara" from War Room movie)
- Shaun Groves (worship leader)
Dates: April 21-22, 2023
Ticket sales begin: Jan 8 (on church center app)
Ticket price: $45 We are a co-host church for this event, so we are receiving a deeply discounted rate from the standard $69 ticket.
Location: Kingdom Life Church, Simpsonville, SC
Transportation: Bus transportation and carpools will be provided.
What an incredible opportunity for us to attend a Fresh Grounded Faith Conference! If you aren’t familiar with Jennifer, read her story below, and plan to attend. You’ll be blessed.
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Who is Jennifer Rosthschild?
(from Jennifer's online bio)
“It is well with my soul.”
For Jennifer Rothschild, these words are much more than the lyrics from a familiar hymn; they describe how she lives her life…in the dark. At the age of fifteen, Jennifer was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative eye disease that would eventually steal her sight. It was more than a turning point for the Miami, Florida, native. Her dreams of becoming an artist and cartoonist faded. Words and music have replaced her canvas and palette for more than 30 years.
As an author and speaker, Jennifer is known for her substance, signature wit, and down-to-earth style. A unique mix of profound and playful, she weaves biblical truth with relatable stories, making God’s Word accessible to those just starting out in Scripture and endearing to those who have walked with Christ for years.
She is the author of 19 books and Bible studies with combined sales over one million units, including the latest video-based Bible study, Amos: An Invitation to the Good Life and the best-selling book, Lessons I Learned in the Dark.
Jennifer is also the founder and host of Fresh Grounded Faith events and the womensministry.net Leadership Library, which equips women in ministry to lead well. She lives in Springfield, Missouri, with her husband of over 35 years, Dr. Philip Rothschild. Jennifer is a boy mom, C.S. Lewis junkie, an obsessive audio book listener, a dark chocolate lover, a strong coffee drinker, and an avid encourager.
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January Bible Studies
7 Feasts: Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament
A challenging course by Erin Davis
- Sign up now: church center app
- Location: A-10
- Cost: $15
- When: 2 choices
- Mondays, 6:30pm, starts Jan 9th OR
- Thursdays, 11am, starts Jan 12th
Perhaps your Bible easily falls open to the Gospels, the Psalms, or your favorite New Testament letter. But what about those Old Testament prophets? What about Leviticus? It’s time to discover God’s character as revealed throughout the entirety of His Word.
From the back cover:
“What are we missing when we skip parts of the Bible? Let 7 Feasts guide you through one of the Old Testament’s most vibrant—yet often-avoided—passages: Leviticus 23. Dive into the sacred celebrations of Israel and discover how these ancient traditions reveal the beauty of Jesus Christ. This 8-week study traces the Gospel throughout each feast and includes daily Scripture readings, interactive questions, and space for journaling.
If you’ve only considered the book of Leviticus to be about old traditions in a distant culture, then let 7 Feasts enlighten you and enrich your faith. As you examine each feast, you’ll discover God’s plan for redemption expressed throughout His Word.“
Discerning the Voice of God
by Priscilla Shirer
- Sign up now: church center app
- Location: A-10
- Cost: $19
- When: Tue nights, 6:30pm, starting Jan 10
“Through 7 sessions, discover the root to clear and daily communication with God—humble obedience. Learn how surrender unlocks His many blessings intended for us, centers us in His will, and helps us discern His voice in everyday life.”
Future Studies Coming Soon
Dates tentative
- Abigail: Living with the Difficult People in Your Life by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth (May 13)
- Psalm 23 by Jennifer Rothschild (May 15)
- How to Study the Bible – (repeat course taught by Hayley Atkins) information TBA
- God’s Unbreakable Promises: 5 Reasons God Never Fails by Jennie Allen
- Habakkuk – (repeat course) information TBA
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In a "chestnutshell," here's what you need to know.
Christmas at Refresh
Dec 5, 7pm, social hall
Sugar and Spice Ladies’ Bunco Night
Friday, Jan 13, 6:30pm, social hall
Tentative 2023 Refresh Dates
Mar 18 (Refresh at the Table brunch), June 6, Sep 12, Nov 14
2023 Fresh Grounded Faith women’s conference
April 21-22
2023 Fall Ladies’ Retreat
Oct 5-7 at Ridgecrest – Put this date on your calendar. More info TBA.
Pins and Needles Piecers, hall outside of social hall
Dec 13, Jan 10, Feb 14—5:30pm
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Now dive into God's Word together
Our November scripture writing/journaling topic was thanksgiving, and December's is blessing and encouraging. Email Lynn or check our FB page for more information on participating.
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