Please remember to put Christ in Christmas. Enjoy your Christmas, but remember what it is all about. Go to a church somewhere and enjoy their Christmas program. Everyone is welcome in the house of the Lord. You do not have to dress up. God does not care. He loves you. He created everyone equal. Do not be afraid. It is God’s house. ”His Name is the Mighty God” was the sermon by Rev. John Mark Carpenter Sunday morning at Sardis Baptist Church. The third advent candle was lit by Randy Boatwright with a story and prayer. Family night was held Sunday evening with a fellowship meal hosted by Nina Boatwright. After the meal all went to the sanctuary where Rev. and Mrs. Carpenter told an interesting story of their mission work and living in Nigeria. They had a display of things that the people over there make by hand. The GA’s put together Christmas bags for people in the community who are shut-in. They will be delivered on Wednesday, December 20, as the youth and children with chaperones go out caroling. The youth and children of Sardis Baptist Church will present a Christmas program Sunday night, December 17. Finger foods will be served in the annex and Santa will come. Rev. John Mark Carpenter will be having surgery on his rotary cuff

one day this week. Remember him in your prayers. A reception honoring Josephine Orr on her 75th birthday will be held in the church annex at Sardis Saturday, December 23. Aaliya Berry celebrated her eleventh birthday November 28 with a wonderful trip to Atlanta with her mother, Kim Berry, on December 1 to see the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball game. She watched her favorite player, Lebron James, lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a win over the Atlanta Hawks. They toured Philips Arena and CNN Center. She also got to see R.B. Star, usher while at the Arena. Kim and Aaliya then traveled over to Commerce to visit Robert and Crystal Byron in their lovely new home and spent the weekend. While in Commerce they went to the Tanger outlet Saturday, then went to the Georgia Square Mall Sunday. Aaliya had a great time and received a Carhardt suede jacket, Nike Shop athletic shoes, and money for her birthday. All the Whittington sisters and brothers gathered in Tignall at the home of Daisy Parker for their Christmas brunch Saturday morning. Joining Daisy were Margie Rogers, Inez Moore, Esther Dawson, Virgil and Emily Whittington, Calvin and Betty Whittington, Clyde and Sandy Whittington, and Thomas and Elaine Baker. They missed Sadie Simmons who did not get to come. Happy belated birthday wishes to Margie Rogers of Washington who celebrated her 81st on December 4. Zachary Frankel spent Saturday night with Clyde and Sandy Whittington. Visiting Buck Echols Sunday were Joe Rogers, Sissy Smith, J.T. and Abby, and Richard and Lou Heard, Mattie and Hank. Bonnie Boatwright attended a wonderful Christmas party at Pentecost Chapel Fellowship Hall Friday night, given by Hilda Palmer. Approximately 40 other guests were there also to share in the fun and excitement. After a prayer and blessing by Glenn Hendley everyone enjoyed a big array of delicious finger foods which filled a long table. All the tables were beautifully decorated with Christmas arrangements. There was Christmas music with singing by Brenda Somerlot, Carla Thaxton Brown, Donnie and Virginia Ashmore, Wade Palmer, Glenn Hendley and others. Brenda Fuller, Gail Smith and Barbara Martin sang “Go Tell It on the Mountain” so beautifully. Gary Palmer delighted the audience with his piano playing. He was a classmate of mine in school and I was so glad to see him. Rachel Hendley also played the piano for some of the singers. Several good clean jokes were told. Santa came by with his Ho! Ho! Ho! and shook everyone’s hand and chatted. He brought gifts for the children. He shouted “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night” as he went out of sight. I was right at home there with all my friends and kinfolks of the church. The spirit of Christmas filled the room. Everyone was truly blessed and with hugs and “Merry Christmas” wishes all went on their merry way. The happy newlyweds, Donnie and Virginia Hannah Ashmore, were there at the Christmas party at Pentecost. I would like to make a correction from my news of the wedding in the paper last week. It was Wade Palmer who performed the wedding ceremony instead of Butch Roberts as I reported. Marshall Sherrer has been very sick and has been in the Regional Hospital in Athens. Our Prayers are with him for a quick and complete recovery. Teresa Price has also been in Athens Regional Hospital with heart problems, but is at home now. Remember her in your prayers. Dorothy Callaway also spent a few days back in Wills Memorial Hospital. Remember her in your prayers.

Mrs. Annie Blanche Vaughn has been in Wills Memorial Hospital in the intensive care unit since Wednesday. Remember her in your prayers also. Continuing prayers are for Annie Blanche Vaughn, Mrs. Johnny Winfrey, Marshall Sherrer, Teresa Price, Dorothy Callaway, Faye Johnson, Gary Rogers, Mike Webb, Pete Poss, Stephanie Chapman, Bobby Parton, Sara Lynn Hyatt, Louise Pless, Ellie Frey, Bill Remsen, Priscilla Maxwell, Roberta Roper, Grady Rogers, Ken Spooner, Thomas Wheatley, Thomas Bunch and Kathryn Padgett, and Katie Glowka. Troy and Shirley Chafin had all the family and some friends with them for Thanksgiving dinner. Gene Winfrey, Tom Hardy, Leeman Stewart, James, David and Mathew Wideman visited George and Ann Wideman during the week. Watson Wideman spent Sunday with them. Bonnie Boatwright went up to Lexington Saturday where she joined Martha Jones of Bogart and James and Sharon Smith at Paul’s Barbecue for a delicious meal together. They were glad to see their cousin, Roger McCannon, there. Bonnie and Martha went over to Burt’s Church Cemetery to put Christmas flowers on the graves of their parents, Bob and Lois Patton. David and Margie Randall went with the seniors of Wilkes County to Commerce last Tuesday to the Pottery and all the little shops around and enjoyed eating at Ryan’s Steak House. David and Margie Randall, James Randall, and Wayne and Marie Beebe enjoyed the Christmas service and dinner at Harvest Time Christian Center Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sweet visited Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Saturday evening. Bobby Arnold came one day and took Elizabeth to town. Charlie and Linda Arnold and Sandra Arnold came Thursday. Ann Wideman and Jean Harper have also visited. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jackson and Tangie of Aiken, S.C., visited Mrs. Betty Berry Sunday. Susan Amason came down from Flowery Branch to spend Sunday with her brother, Billy Amason. Matt Shedd visited his grandparents, Johnny and Kathryn Shedd, Sunday afternoon. Avery Hall went with Clyde and Sandy Whittington over to Crawford Saturday to visit Neil and Kim Frankel and children. Lindley and Avery Hall and Keaton Wilson visited Neil and Kim Frankel and children Sunday.