Sardis Baptist Church started the worship hour Sunday morning with the baptism of Michele Mike and her daughter, Aseriah Jenkins. Rev. Jim Newsome stood in the pool as Michele and Aseriah entered together with white robes on. What a beautiful and impressive ceremony. The Advent Candle of Peace was lighted by Charles and Nina Boatwright. The singing of beautiful hymns was led by Joyce Fry with Pam Hall as pianist. Pastor Newsome gave the children’s message at the altar, then they went to the annex for children’s church with Trey Berry. Rev. Andy Perryman, director of missions, visited at Sardis Sunday morning and after some brief and informative words on the Lottie Moon Mission Offering he sang a beautiful Christmas hymn. Pastor Newsome’s message was “The Heart of Christmas.” Prayer meeting is every Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Echols Home. Christmas play practice continues at 5 p.m. every Sunday evening. .We have lost a dear friend. Sherry Newsome was a caring person who was devoted to her church at Ebenezer Baptist, to her family, friends, and the care of elderly people for many years. We will miss her and the Aonia column where she listed many people on the prayer list to whom she was concerned about. We send our love and sympathy to her family. .Family night will be held next Sunday evening with a covered dish meal and mission meetings. Nina Boatwright will be hostess. The GA's will be putting Christmas bags together. Bring your items for filling the bags to the meal. These will be delivered on Wednesday, December 16, when the children and youth go caroling. . Ann Williamson enjoyed having guests from Maryland to spend a few days with her over the Thanksgiving holidays. They were Mike and Lisa Close, Nicole Close, Chris and Jennifer Williamson and Madisyn. All the family gathered at the home of Lyn and Nancy Williamson Thanksgiving Day for a bountiful meal and reminiscing. Joining Lyn and Nancy were Ann and her guests from Maryland, Bob and Pat Preston, Brett and Christine Alfonsin and Kyle, Maverick Moore and friend, Amanda Williamson and fiance Jonathon, Josh Williamson and his friend Brooke Beth and her three children, David and Dawn Williamson, David Jr. and Debra. .Charles and Nina Boatwright had as guests on Thanksgiving Sunday, Randy Boatwright, Mike and Tina Boatwright, Cody and Levi. . Bobby and Debra Armour had a house full of guests on Thanksgiving Day. Their guests were Chris Armour, Rebecca and Raeleigh, Amber Armour, James Bolton, Dwayne Armour, Frances Fendley, Joann Perez, Richard Burkett, Greg and Jennifer Glenn, Daniella, Dominique, Ishima, Trinity, and little Greg. .Frances Fendley, Joann Perez, and Richard Burkett enjoy going to the basketball games in which their granddaughter, Dominique Welborn, plays. .George and Mozelle Casey had all their children with them for Thanksgiving Day. Joining them for the day were Virginia Fong, Tommy Fong, Janet Fong of Augusta, and Frances Fendley. .Bonnie Boatwright visited her sister, Martha Jones, in Bogart Saturday. They, along with Wayne Williams and James and Sharon Smith of Stephens, attended the lovely wedding of Stephanie Dae Stewart to Matthew Blake Towe at Bethabara Baptist Church in Statham. Stephanie is the granddaughter of Bonnie, Martha, and James' sister, Frankie Jones. .The Rayle Lunch and Learn will meet at City Hall Wednesday, December 16, at 10 a.m. for a brief meeting and then will travel to Washington as a group for a Christmas dinner and social at Padgett's Country Kitchen. All members are urged to attend. .Prayers continue for Arnold Adams, Tommy Bowen, Troy Chafin, Jimmy Fisher, Luanne Brown, Brenda Bunch, Calli Nickels, Cathy Lannae, Brooke Bentley Pearson, Jenelle Newsome, Grady Rogers, Thelma Favor, Maude Mauldin, Eric Arnold, Frances Vinson, Nancy Moon, Travis Adams, Edythe Harper, and Jimmy Compton. .We send our love and sympathy to the families of Sherry Wallace Newsome, Grace Lillian Dunaway, Carrie Johnson, Dewey George Capps, Faye Dalton, and Henry Willis Jr. .Bonnie Boatwright enjoyed Sunday dinner at the home of Lamar and Kay Berry. Trey Berry of Athens and Brooke Berry, Kaitlyn, Bryson and Kaidyn of Washington were also there. .George Casey's yard is festively decorated for the Christmas season. Several homes on the Philomath Road near the Willisville community are alive with many lights, Nativity scenes, Jesus and Mary, a church, Santa and his reindeer, the wisemen, the Star of Bethlehem, shepherds and angels depicting "The reason for the season." I love driving by slowly and I'm going to stop one day and just enjoy for a while. There are many other homes that are also beautifully decorated, but I haven't gotten out to ride around at night yet. .Buck and Linda Echols had as their visitors Sunday, Scott Smith, Abby and J.T., Richard and Lou Heard and Hank, Cody Armour, Will and Samantha Callaway. .Donnie and Kris Berry and Betty Berry attended the memorial service at Hopkins Funeral Home Sunday afternoon. .Peggy Echols visited Sudie Kennedy for a while Sunday afternoon. .The Walker family gathered at the home of John and Becky Orr, Walker and Isabella, Sunday in Dacula for a Christmas family reunion. Going from Wilkes County were Billy and Doris Walker, Debra Sherrer, Reece and Whitney Taylor, Lindsey Sherrer and her friend Drew, Bobby and Ann Walker, Clay and Midge Walker and Chase. Also going were Clifton and Janet Lewis, Ashton and Heyden of Athens, and other family members. .We have many in our community who are sick with the old virus. We hope they are better soon.