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Goodbye 2005 - Welcome 2006

It Looks Like It Will Be A Great Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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T'was the night before Christmas . . .

. . . and not a creature was stirring around Colerain . . . on the Chowan River . . . in Bertie County, North Carolina. The family is gathering tomorrow though, and it is the best time of the year.

God bless you all!

"The Chosen One" - A Great Musical For The Season

The Carpenters Shop Church is presenting, FREE to the public, a simply awesome musical for the Christmas Season. A uniqe and highly professional presentation uses music, authentic costumes and live animals to accentuate the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Virgin Mary And Joseph, Make Their Way To Bethlehem

This truly enjoyable event covers all the highlights that we have come to know; the birth in the stable, the shepherds in the field, the heavenly chorus, the three wise men, the joy of the season, the togetherness when a family relives the telling of the tale....

Baby Jesus Is Born And Wrapped In Swaddling Clothes And Laid In A Manger

Shepherds In The Field Guard Their Flock (Some Strange Looking Sheep!)

A heavenly Chorus Announces The Birth To The Shepherds, And Guides Them To The Manger

When The Shepherds Find The Young Child They Sing Of Their Adulation

Young Dancers Symbolize The Joy Of The Season

Throughout The Musical, A Family Shares The Joy Of Christmas By Telling The Story Of Christ's Birth

Three Wise Men Bring Gifts To The Future Messiah

There are two more nights to see this great event. Tonight (12/19) and tomorrow (12/20) at 7:00 PM at the Carpenters Shop Church. Click here for a map to the church.

The Curtain Call Had The Entire Cast Receiving A Huge Ovation

Carpenter's Tools - By Pastor Wallace Phillips

This week’s message: The Law is the Law

I had this one passed along to me by a friend recently. Thought you’d like to read it.

So if the government determines that it is against the law for the words “under God” to be on our money, then so be it. And if that same government decides that the “Ten Commandments” are not to be used in or on a government installation, then so be it. I say, “So be it,” because I would like to be a law-abiding citizen of the U.S. I say, “so be it,” because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions. I would like to think that those people have the American public’s best interest at heart. But you know what else I’d like?

Since we can’t pray to God, can’t trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don’t believe the Government and its employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from the many facets of American life. I’d like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Easter. After all, it’s just another day. I’d like the Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it’s just another day. I’m thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved if all the government offices and services would work on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Easter. It shouldn’t cost any overtime since those would just be like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be “politically correct”.

In fact, I think our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshiping God…) because, after all, our government says that it should just be another day. If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions and begin once again to represent the majority of all the American people.

So be it!


Have an awesome week and visit us on the web at www.cscministries.com or www.wallacephillips.org

Expression Of Peace, Hope

Editorial - Decmeber 17, 2005 - R-C News-Herald

A lively, often heated debate has emerged this December over the greetings Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

One group of people believe saying “Merry Christmas” is insensitive and wrong. This group argues many people are not Christians and by saying “Merry Christmas” you are assuming someone is a Christian and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

This is an interesting editorial. I lived for a short period in the community of West Los Angeles, a heavily Jewish community. During the one holiday season I was living there, on the streets and in the stores you would hear "Happy Hanuka" as a regular greeting. They were just as friendly if you responded the same, or responded with "Merry Christmas". Both expressions were simply considered a positive form of hello or good bye in the spirit of the season. It told you something about the person if they took offense at whatever you said. I only remember a couple of frowns during that season.

In fact, if someone said "Happy Hanuka", I would normally respond the same way as a courtesy to their religion. I noticed that if I said my greeting first, "Merry Christmas", I would normally get the same greeting back from people that I knew were Jewish. No one made a big deal about either.

I think a more interesting question to ask might be, what motivation is there in the soul of someone who takes offense or publicly criticizes someone for either statement?

The Chosen One

The Carpenter's Shop Church presents "The Chosen One" on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, December 18th, 19th and 20th, 2005 at 7:00 PM.

Live animals, authentic costumes, anointed music, and the message of Christ will make this evening memorable.

Come to the Carpenter's Shop Church for "The Chosen One".

Click here for a map to the church.

Carpenter's Tools - By Pastor Wallace Phillips

This week’s message: Merry CHRISTmas!

A friend recently sent me an email (in fact, today) that reminded me of the great controversy that seems to have hit the retail world this Christmas season. Major firms that handle much of the market informed the public that “holiday trees” were available for sale. Say what? What is a holiday tree? I thought it was a Christmas tree. In fact, statements were made by major retailers that the company “did not want to offend anyone” by using the word “Christ” in the most popular holiday of the year. Well, my retail giant…you did offend someone. You offended me and multiplied millions of other believers who celebrate Christ. It is CHRISTmas you know.

Thankfully, some have retracted and allowed the word “Christmas” to be used in their retail efforts this season. That’s right…you start touching their money by boycotting their business and they’ll receive a little bit of “Christ” in this holiday.

I think it’s a crying shame that Christians set back and let people push the church around. It’s time we stand up for the name of Jesus. He is the reason for the season you know! He is the Christ of Christmas….He is the Savior of the world.

“For unto us is born this day in the City of David…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” Thanks Luke! You are an awesome disciple of the King and you recorded the greatest story ever told in the 2nd chapter of your Book.

Merry CHRISTmas friends!

Bertie Commissioners Respond to BOE

Bertie County Board of Commissioners
Addresses Action by the
Bertie County Board of Education

WINDSOR, North Carolina – December 7, 2005 - On behalf of the Bertie County Board of Commissioners, we are very troubled by the unfortunate action of a three-person majority of the Bertie County Board of Education Monday night. It appears clear that the Board of Education ignored the wishes of the parents, teachers, and most importantly disregarded the best interests of the children of Bertie County when it voted to close the three highest performing elementary schools in Bertie County. We are further shocked and dismayed by the way the Board of Education majority chose to ignore the wishes of the taxpayers and citizens of Bertie County by committing no less than $13 million and up to $30 million for school facility construction without negotiation or litigating the issues raised by the Department of Justice. The lawsuit has been reopened for over four years. The County Commissioners have never been briefed, or in any way given any information regarding this lawsuit by the Board of Education.

It is clear that the Board of Education does not understand North Carolina public school finance law, which requires participation of county commissioners in the expenditure of capital funds and school construction. The Board of Education has no authority to obligate capital expenditures without the consent of the Board of Commissioners representing the citizens and taxpayers of Bertie County.

It is further troubling to the Board of Commissioners that I was assured by the Chairman of the Board of Education that no action would be taken on Monday night so that the Board of Commissioners could be briefed on the issues at a joint meeting. Despite those assurances, and the requests by the Board of Commissioners to have a joint meeting on December 19, 2005, the majority of the Board of Education chose to disregard the opinions of the citizens, parents, teachers and the best interests of Bertie County children and voted to enter into an ill-advised consent judgment, which obligates expenditure of funds, which it does not have. It is clear that the three-person majority on the Board of Education has chosen a fiscally irresponsible course of action, which is contrary to the wishes of the public, contrary to the County’s ability to pay and, most importantly, contrary to the well-being of the school children in Bertie County.

It is of further concern that, less than one month after the Commissioners and citizens of Bertie County agreed to finance and construct a new $18.5 million middle school, that the Board of Education would commit, by consent decree, to close the three highest performing elementary schools in Bertie County and spend another $13 to $15 million for a new elementary school. Once again, the Board of Education has chosen a course of non-accountability in its stewardship of tax dollars.

We invite the public to contact your Board of Education members specifically Chairman Seaton Fairless, member Gary Cordon, Sr. and member Gloria Lee and let them know where you stand regarding their unilateral decision on Monday night. Demand that they be accountable to the taxpaying citizens and to the children of Bertie County. Ask that they call a special meeting to review their decision and give consideration to the opinions of the taxpaying citizens of Bertie County. We invite you to attend a joint meeting between the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education scheduled for Monday, December 19, 2005 at 4:00 PM at the Bertie County Council on Aging, 103 School Street, Windsor.

Rick Harrell, Chairman
Bertie County Board of Commissioners
Phone: 252-794-5300