Merry Christmas

How will you celebrate this year?

When I was a child, it was about the presents and the joy my excitement gave to my parents. When our children were young, I tried to re-create the excitement for them. When they grew, the focus on Christmas shifted to our adult daughters coming home with their families and making memories with our grandchildren who I didn’t get to see very often.

As I aged, something else began to grow. I remember special moments as a child, laying under the Christmas tree, looking up through the lights with quiet wonder. As a pastor, the special moments became seeing the church gathering on Christmas Eve and wishing the people I love,  “Merry Christmas”.

Then, rather than Christmas being on one particular day, it became an awareness each day of the Christmas season, sitting in my “time and place”, listening to Christmas praise music, and enjoying fellowship with the God who took on flesh because GOD CAME TO BE WITH US so that He could prepare a place so we could be with Him!

I hope that this Christmas season has been a time of sweet fellowship with God BUT IF IT HASN’T BEEN YET, may you find a quiet moment sometime before retiring for the night, and rather than lament that Christmas is 365 days away, draw near to your Savior and Heavenly Father and let Him read that story to you!

GRAB A MOMENT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (10 OPTIONS)!

1. The Angel Appears to Mary
Luke 1:26–38 — Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of God.
2. Mary Visits Elizabeth
Luke 1:39–45 — Mary visits Elizabeth, and John the Baptist leaps in her womb.
3. Mary’s Song of Praise (The Magnificat)
Luke 1:46–55 — Mary praises God for His faithfulness and mercy.
4. The Angel Appears to Joseph
Matthew 1:18–25 — An angel reassures Joseph and explains the divine origin of Mary’s child.
5. The Journey to Bethlehem
Luke 2:1–5 — Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem because of the census.
6. The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:6–7 — Jesus is born and laid in a manger.
7. The Shepherds and the Angels
Luke 2:8–20 — Angels announce the birth of Christ to shepherds, who go and worship Him.
8. The Visit of the Magi
Matthew 2:1–12 — Wise men from the East come to worship the newborn King and present gifts.
9. Jesus’ Purpose for His Followers
John 14:1–6 — Jesus promises to prepare a place for those who trust in Him.
10. John’s Description of Who Jesus Is
John 1:1–14 — Jesus is the eternal Word made flesh, full of grace and truth.

REMEMBER!

• THE SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, no in-person gatherings on December 28 (find pre-recorded message from Pastor Justin . . . where?)
• THE NEXT SUNDAY (January 4) . . . begins FOUR SERVICES WITH NEW TIMES (7:40, 9:00, 10:20, 11:40). Please pray that enough people choose the fourth service and that space will open up at the other three (if you can help serve, PLEASE let us know!)
• NEXT STEPS resume in January, after each service for people interested in exploring the move from watching to experiencing God!