D

THE OPEN DOOR

KNOW GROW S E RV E

Birthdays
L.J. Menard Stuart Huntsman Jade Landry Jerry Watson Jonathon Dupuis Alyse Romero Judy Melancon Jacob Holloway Tyler Moore Beth Watson Dec. 1 Dec. 4 Dec. 7 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Dec. 15 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 30

Shoeboxes Packed & Shipped

z
travel to their nal destination. In January, we will receive word from Samaritans Purse about where our gifts were delivered. Until then, you can remain in prayer for the recipients and for those who are distributing the shoe boxes. Thanks again for being so generous with your time & gifts.

Mr. & Mrs. Don Avery December 6th

Anniversaries

Thanks to everyone who participated in Operation Christmas Child this year. Without you and your familys contribution this could not be a success year after year. Once again, over 300 boxes were collected and dropped off at a local drop-off station. From there, the boxes will

Mr. & Mrs. Gary Thomas December 10th Mr. & Mrs. Grady Bourgeois December 15th Mr. & Mrs. Issac Arias December 20th

Ladies Christmas Cookie Exchange

Sunday, December 9th 4 - 6 pm

Join us for our annual cookie exchange at the home of Betsi Doherty, 9324 Forest Road in Abbeville, LA. Bake and bring 3 - 4 dozen cookies and decorate them acccording to the theme of a Christmas carol. Bring an empty container and an

appetizer to share. Prizes will be offered. Bring a friend. Its sure to be a wonderful time.

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas from Pastor Sam Brooks

As we move from Thanksgiving, our hearts and minds turn toward the Christmas Season. We become more mindful of family, friends, and the joy of the holidays, especially Christmas itself. As we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the One who has brought us true freedom that knows no boundaries or limitations. Because of Him, we can live and walk in real peace whatever our outward circumstances. Because of Him, we can know forgiveness of sin, acceptance before God, and the assurance of eternal life. As the angels declared, Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) It is my prayer that, above all other things, you might know the Savior, the Prince of Peace, Who brings true freedom and peace to the soul held captive to sin and self. We pray for each other for many things from health issues, to marriages and family issues, to job needs, and all types of individual concerns and situations. Our instant message systems on our phones are constantly alive with the latest prayer request. But, perhaps the greatest prayer need is for us to KNOW the Prince of Peace. To intimately, personally, and completely know Him, who is Lord of all. We live in a world that is affected by sinour own sin as well as the sin of others. We all live in a world with turmoil, unrest, and the constant pressure of just surviving the daily trials of life. We all face the uncertainties of tomorrow and live with the heartaches of past mistakes. We all have hopes, dreams, and desires. We all have needs and wants. And, we all need a savior! The scriptures tell us that all have sinned and come short of Gods glory. (Romans 3:23) As part of our fellowship, you have probably heard many sermons; some of which you may have liked, others you may have not liked, but,

most likely, of which you remember few, if any. One message must be heard, remembered, and acted upon. A Savior is born. Jesus Christ came into this world as a helpless babe for the sole purpose of securing true liberty and peace for all mankind. He did so by dying on a cross some 33 years later. That death paid the price for all sin and His resurrection is Gods afrmation that the sacrice was accepted and the debt for sin fully paid. Jesus also ascended into heaven to the right hand of the Father. From there, He sent the Holy Spirit Who will dwell with and abide in each person who repents and believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have not personally discovered the peace, forgiveness, and new life that Jesus brings, do not let another Christmas Season pass without experiencing His love and redemption. Whatever your past, whatever your circumstances, Jesus invites all that are weary and heavy laden to come to Him and nd rest. Do not let His life, His death, His resurrection and ascension go unnoticed or unappreciated by you. Call upon Him today! Ask Him to transform your life from the inside out. Surrender to Him as the Lord and Savior that He is. Believe His promise that whoever comes to Him, He will never cast off, but will raise them up the last day. Then, having experienced His love, share it with those around you - your family and friends, neighbors and coworkers, and even strangers as God opens doors for you to speak. Encourage others to respond to the One whose death and resurrection truly brings peace to the individual heart. As your Pastor and fellow disciple, I appreciate each of you. I pray for you. My desire is that you KNOW the Lord Jesus Christ and experience His love rst hand. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Merry Christmas in all its fullness to all.

-Pastor Sam Brooks

Noel Acadien au Village

Friday, December 21st
Our big night is quickly approaching and nal arrangements are being made! If you have not already placed an order for your t-shirt for that evening, please do so soon. These shirts are not mandatory but will denitely make it a lot easier for us to be identied and for us to identify one another. They are $7.00 per shirt up to 1X. 2X and above are $10.00. Long sleeve t-shirts are $11 .00 and eece are $12.00. Checks are to be made out to The Open Door with tshirt in the memo line. Children singing on stage with Debbie will need to wear one. Wednesday, December 19th at 6:15 p.m will be our last meeting to iron out the nal details and to distribute the shirts. Friday, December 21st will be a wonderful night to come out to Acadian Village with your family to serve our community and enjoy some Christmas cheer!

Excellence At Its Best

Congratulations to Lerri Cockrell
We have a celebrity in our midst here at The Open Door. Congratulations to Ms. Lerri Cockrell for her fantastic achievement of receiving the 2012 Middle School Math Teacher of the Year! The following was stated on the KATC website: David Thibodeaux STEM Magnet Academy's Lerri Cockrell was named middle school math teacher of the year at the annual Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics/Louisiana Association of Teachers of Science joint conference recently held in Shreveport LA. Ms Cockrell teaches math at STEM Magnet and had been selected math teacher of the year at her school. Principal, Jeff Debatez nominated Ms. Cockrell for the state association's prestigious award. Also recognized as a nalist in the same category, Angela Boxie, from Edgar Martin Middle School was nominated by Principal Bobby Badon. She too had been named outstanding math teacher at her school. Ms. Cockrell and Ms. Boxie were required to submit an application that demonstrated prociency in teaching math. Applications are submitted from teachers across the state and are reviewed by an expert panel.

Save the Date!

THE OPEN DOOR SPRING LADIES RETREAT
FRIDAY, MARCH 15TH - SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH TALL TIMBERS BAPTIST CONFERENCE CENTER

TAKE NOTE ! DEC 24

Fool-Proong Your Life

How to Deal Effectively with the Impossible People in Your Life By Jan Silvious

Christmas Eve Service @ 6 p.m.

No church service
Thursday Evenings

DEC 26

No church service Jan 19 Louisiana Life March-Baton Rouge

JAN 2

6:30 - 8:30 January 10th - February 21st $15.00 Facilitated by Joann Buckley

The following is from an email sent out by the HSLDA, Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Please read it, pray, and take action. Within the letter, there is a link that will take you to their website which offers more information on the treaty and its implications. We, as a church, were involved in the 40 Days of Prayer Campaign up until the election. The election has come and gone, but we should continue to lift our prayers and petitions before the Lord pertaining to our nation. Pray that He alone would guide our leaders in this decision-making process. URGENT: Senate to Vote on UN Disabilities Treaty on TuesdayCall Now! Dont let parental rights be given away to the United Nations.
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, We have just received word that the U.S. Senate will hold a straight up-or-down vote on Tuesday, December 4, on whether or not the United States should ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). If two-thirds of the senators present voteyes, the United States will ratify this UN treaty. HSLDA has never opposed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). HSLDA has never opposed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). But we oppose the CRPD for the simple principle that Americans should make the law for America. It is wrong for the United States to ratify a United Nations treaty that will give up our sovereignty to unelected, unaccountable UN bureaucrats. We have been told that the pro-CRPD side is waging one of the most aggressive, organized lobbying campaigns ever. The U.S. State Department and Obama administration officials are pressuring individual senators to support the CRPD. It is crucial that senators on our side hear from you, your friends, your family, and from anyone who opposes giving the UN power over our nation, and over our precious children and family members who have disabilities. Please call your two U.S. senators today, tomorrow, Monday, and Tuesday. You can reach them through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or you can find your senators phone numbers bytyping in your ZIP code here. Senators Lee (UT), Toomey (PA), Paul (KY), and DeMint (SC) are leading the charge to stop the CRPD, so it is not necessary to call them. We are confident that the other 32 Republican senators who opposed moving to debate on the CRPD on Monday will also vote against the treaty, but we believe that you should call them anyway to encourage them in the face of strong opposition. Please give them some or all of this message: I urge you to oppose the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This treaty surrenders U.S. sovereignty to unelected UN bureaucrats and will threaten parental care of children with disabilities. Our nation already has laws to protect disabled Americans. This treaty is unnecessary and will hurt families. If the Senate ratifies this treaty, it would be the first time ever that the U.S. has ratified a treaty that obligates us to recognize economic, social, and cultural entitlements as rights under domestic law. Then, please forward this email to your friends and family and urge them to also call. Please also post this information on social media to help get the word out to every parent and freedom-loving person in America. For more information on the dangers of this treaty please visit our CRPD page. There are three full business days left to defeat this treaty and preserve U.S. sovereignty and parental rights. Please keep calling. And please keep praying. For Liberty,

Michael P. Farris, Esq., LL.M. Founder and Chairman, HSLDA

Merry CHRISTMAS
from your family at The Open Door! Thank you for subscribing to our monthly Enews!