All Midweeks at the building will start at 7:30 PM.
All Sunday Worship Services at the building will start at 10:30 AM.

10 – Meet in House Churches
14 – Congregational Sunday Worship Service
17 – Men’s Midweek
21 – Congregational Sunday Worship Service
24 – Congregational Midweek
28 – Meet in House Churches for Sunday Worship Service
31 – Hospitality Night

Children’s Ministry 
January Memory Verse: 
Turn all your worries over to Him. He cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIRV)
Lesson on Sunday, January 7: Jesus, our Shepherd (John 10:1-15 & Psalm 23)
Lesson Aim: Help the children understand that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He cares for us and takes care of us. We can trust Him and follow His voice just as sheep do with their shepherd.
Ask your child to tell you about what they learned in Sunday School. Even if you weren’t in attendance Sunday, this is a great family devotional. 
We all want to feel God’s love and care for us!

I am passing along some great resources that were shared with me this week. The original source is Ryan Novak, who is the Children’s Ministry Coordinator in Columbia, SC.
 
For parents of elementary kids and preteens: “The Sermon on the Mount” from the BibleProject
If you follow the BibleProject, you’re probably aware they’ve just kicked off a yearlong study of Jesus’ greatest collection of teachings, the Sermon on the Mount. Every Monday, they will release a new playlist that includes verses to read, as well as videos, podcast clips, and short articles that connect to that week’s scripture. 
 
While this suggest could apply to any age, I like it for elementary kids for two reasons:
 
1) Its packaging makes it very easy to go through with younger kids because it’s not too long. By taking a piece a day, you and your child can create a daily habit of reading or reflecting on the bible together. 
 
2) Did you know that our worldview coalesces between the ages of 18 months and 13 years? Our worldview is the way we understand how the world works, and it answers such fundamental questions as, “Why are we here? What is the meaning and purpose of life? Is there a difference between right and wrong? Is there a God?” Having a biblical worldview, one that believes that the bible dictates the way to live our lives, is essential for Christians, but according to researcher George Barna, there is a time limit on creating that worldview. His research shows that by the time a teenager is 13 or 14, a person’s worldview is almost completely formed. He says it may be refined a bit through the teen years, but by one’s 20s, not only is our worldview solid, but most people become an evangelist for their view. That means the time before a person’s teen years are essential for helping them build a biblical worldview! If your child is 8-12 years old, now is the time to help them know who God is, begin turning toward Jesus, and trusting His Word. 
 
The easiest way to follow along is to download the BibleProject app, and open it up every Monday to find the updated playlist. You can also subscribe to their weekly email, and it will include links to all the resources for the week.
  
For parents of teens and preteens: “The Culture Translator” from Axis
This weekly newsletter is from the faith-based group Axis. They scour social media and the web to let parents know what is trending amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha on social media so you know what’s on their minds. 
 
For example, are you familiar with the idea of “manifesting”? It’s the idea that if you “speak” positivity into the universe, good things will happen to you. Teens who practice manifesting on social media are hoping for all kinds of things. Some of them are manifesting health and happiness in the future. Some are manifesting travel plans. Many are manifesting interest from a crush or reciprocal love from a boyfriend or girlfriend. This might sound like hopeful optimism, but the spirit of manifesting steals focus from Jesus as the source of our joy and places it on you. You become your own savior. You become the source of the good in your life. And the dark side is that if the good things don’t manifest, that’s on you, too. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid! This is an important discussion to have with your teen and an important distinction to help them make because it’s an attractive idea that many influencers are advocating, and #manifesting has been sweeping social media to the tune of 10.1 billion views on TikTok alone! 
 
What I appreciate about Axis and The Culture Translator is that I have someone else helping me know what teens are talking about and thinking about. Even though I work with them everyday, it doesn’t mean I think like them, and my concerns are not their concerns. The things I see online are not the things they see. By watching trending articles and words on social media sites, Axis helps parents know what their teens are thinking about.
 
Axis also maintains a great YouTube channel where they discuss all kinds of topics and how they relate to the Christian faith in short, easy-to-digest formats and lengths. Their video topics range from explainers about other religions; conversation kits for parents and kids (need help discussing porn or LGBTQ+ questions?); defining and unpacking current topics facing teens (ever hear of Furries?); to AI, Taylor Swift, and Roblox. These are super helpful!
 
Interested in receiving their free weekly newsletter? Sign up here!
Also, click here for the archives!

It’s that time again!
Be sure to check out the lost and found on the shelves outside the women’s restroom. Any unclaimed items will be thrown out or donated to charity at the end of January. 

🌿 Athens Church of Christ presents our 2024 marriage retreat: “Rooted in Oneness”
Embark on a transformative journey inspired by the wisdom of “Learning to Live as One” at our upcoming Marriage Retreat.
 📅 Date: February 16-18
💵 Cost: $328 – $398 depending on room chosen
⏰ Time: Check-in starts at 4pm Friday
📍 Venue: The Dillard House
768 Franklin Street
Dillard GA, 30537
Cost includes: 2 night stay, Friday night fire pit, band/dance party Saturday night, breakfast on Sunday, and two “Learning to Live as One” workbooks.
 This retreat is more than an event; it’s an opportunity to explore and deepen your connection with your spouse. Learn from the wisdom of “Learning to Live as One” and weave the principles of oneness into your marriage.
 
Register:  https://www.athenscoc.com/give/
 Click on GIVE NOW.
 Choose  your room from the drop down menu.
 
Questions? Contact Tara Buehler.
tbuehler55@gmail.com
(770) 877-0476

March Retreats at Camp Swamp
March 1-3: Daddy/Daughter Retreat
March 22-24: Mother/Son Retreat
To register for any of the retreats, click on the link:
https://www.campswamp.com/youthcamp/registration/retreats/