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November 27, 2025

November 30, 2025 by Hunter Hanson
 
Dear EBC Family,
This week many will be gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving with family, but not everyone will enjoy the same privilege. This can be one of the loneliest times of years for those who have lost loved ones. May this serve as a reminder to us that our calling as a church is to be the family of God to which every believer belongs.
The family of God consists of all real Christians from every age. You may be born into the godliest family, but no parent can put you into this family. To be a part of this family, you must be born again (John 1:12-13). 
And as believers, not all of our family members are with us. Some of God's family is in heaven. They are at rest in the place that Jesus calls "Paradise" (Luke 23:43). They are called the church victorious, because their battle is over. They have carried their cross and finished their work. J. C. Ryle says, "They have passed through the waves of this troublesome world and reached the harbour." They are experiencing perfect rest and happiness in the eternal bliss of being in God's presence (Psalm 16:11).
But the rest of God's family is still on earth. This is the church militant. We still have a race to run, a work to do, a cross to carry, and a war to fight. Since the Christian life is full of difficulty, we should be grateful that God has given us a spiritual family to belong to. 
The gospel calls us to draw near to one another because Christ drew near to us. When Christ's love captures our hearts, something shifts. As loved people, we begin to love people. We begin to move toward others. We begin to see fellow believers as our brothers and sisters, and we desire to have a relationship with them. Let us be grateful this Thanksgiving that God has given us a spiritual family to help us on our journey until we are reunited with the whole family of God in heaven. 
Sunday Worship Guide
Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision! One of the best ways to get the most out of our time together in corporate worship is to come prepared, going to bed early on Saturday night, and by reviewing the sermon text, our song list, and our responsive readings. To help you prepare for Sunday worship, I've provided each element of our worship below for your review prior to Sunday.
Announcements
  • 5th Sunday Fellowship – This Sunday, November 30, we'll be having a time of fellowship during the Sunday School hour in the fellowship hall. I hope that you will join us! Donuts, milk, coffee, chocolate milk, and orange juice will be available.
  • Bledsoe Thanksgiving – Dakota & Kia Bledsoe are opening their home to anyone who would like to join them on Thanksgiving. If you would like to join them, please contact me directly.
  • Wednesday Nights – We will not be meeting this Wednesday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will next meet on December 3 in the fellowship hall for the Lottie Moon week of prayer.
  • International Missions Meal – On Friday, December 7, at 6 PM, we will be having various international dishes for our international missions meal. Please sign up for the international dish you would like to bring. We will also be listening to guest speaker, Rick Thompson, as he shares about his experience as a missionary in Brazil.
  • Holiday Meal – Join us on Sunday, December 14, immediately after church at 11:30 AM in the fellowship hall for our Holiday Meal. Please bring a dessert or a side dish.
  • Treasurer Position – We are currently in need of a treasurer. If you have a financial background, and if you are interested, please contact me directly.
  • Theology for Breakfast – This is a men's discipleship group that meets on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month at 6:30 AM at The Coffee House South. We spend time sharing our struggles and prayer needs with one another, and then we spend the rest of our time discussing a book that we are reading together. If you are interested in joining, please let me know.
  • Trail Life/American Heritage Girls – Trail Life and AHG meet at the church each Thursday night at 6:30 PM. If you are interested in serving as mentor/volunteer, please contact Tom or Michelle Gidley. 
  • Classical Conversations – The homeschool group, Classical Conversations, meets at our church on Tuesdays from 8:00 AM–3:30 PM.
  • Bible Study Fellowship – The women's BSF group meets at our church on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. If you would like to join the current study, visit bsfinternational.org, click "Find a Group," locate the Excell Baptist Church group, and click "Request to Join."
 
Upcoming Events
  • November 30 – 5th Sunday Fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 AM)
  • December 5 – International Missions Meal
  • December 14 – Holiday Meal
In Christ,
Hunter Hanson