GBC Community Update: Christmas proves God can do the impossible

Good morning. I don’t about you, but I was blessed by our Christmas choir Sunday. Thanks so much to Jamie for his vision and leadership to put this together.  We have much to be thankful for here and at this time of season.
 
Christmas at GBC
While everything we are doing around Christmas has been announced and is on the calendar, I thought it would be good to put it all together in one place.  May we all engage in the joy of the season!
Friday December 22- 7:00pm-  Community Christmas Carol sing in the parking lot- invites friends, family and neighbors
 
Sunday December 24-10:30am- Our Christmas themed service with our choir singing and relevant message for the season
 
Sunday December 24- 6:00pm- Family Christmas Eve Service featuring carols, readings and a topical devotion. Come early for hot apple cider and a chance to connect with your church family!
 
The church office will be closed from Dec 21st to January 3rd but you can still reach Pastor Dan for any emergencies at [email protected]
 
 No Preservice Prayer December 24 and 31
We won't be meeting early for prayer (pre-service prayer) on Christmas or New Year's Eve.  So no 9 45 prayer for the next two Sundays.
  
Giving at GBC
With the New Year approaching, If you would like a box of pre-numbered weekly offering envelopes, please let Andrea Thornton know by emailing  [email protected]
As always, you can give electronically through EFT to [email protected]
Thank you to all who have supported us financially the past year. Your giving is greatly appreciated.
 
 Men at GBC:  Study possibility
There's a small number of men hoping to create an online group for mutual encouragement and exhortation as we run the race of faith. This might lead to the odd study in the future. If this is of interest to you, please write pastor Dan and ask for more info ([email protected]).
 
 Thought for the day: God can do the impossible, Christmas proves that
I read a great quote recently: "When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility." That’s so true!  And this truth is found in all its glory in the Christmas story.  The Bible affirms this truth when we read in Ephesians 3: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” The verse ends with a hearty AMEN!.
This is the heart of the Christmas story- that God can do the impossible for you. 
The birth of Jesus was not just a difficulty; it was an impossibility. Mary was a virgin. Only God could breathe life into her womb. And just as God caused her to conceive the perfect, sinless Savior -- fully God, fully human -- he can accomplish through you those things that seem impossible in your life.  For this Christmas, Christmas 2023, perhaps we need this reminder more than ever.  A God who did the impossible is on our side, he loved us so much that the Word (God) became flesh. That’s why we celebrate Christmas because Immanuel, God, is with US.  It doesn’t matter whether we have snow or not, what the inflation rate is or who is in office, we can celebrate this and find hope!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris