Good afternoon! Thanks to those who distributed postcard invitations around the church on Sunday for our Christmas Carol sing event. It’s going to be a great event!
Good afternoon! Thanks to those who distributed postcard invitations around the church on Sunday for our Christmas Carol sing event. It’s going to be a great event!
Christmas Eve Service
On Christmas Eve, at 6:30pm, join us for a special candlelit service of reflection on Immanuel, God with us. Enjoy some hot apple cider, carols and readings as we mark the night of our Savior’s birth.
Opportunity for Baptism
We will be hosting our next opportunity for believer baptism by immersion on Sunday January 9. Baptism is an important step in the growth of the believer and one of two ordinances of the church, the other being communion. We do it as a public act so the believer can give testimony of what God has done for them and also so we as a church family can celebrate.
Are you interested or do you have any questions? See Pastor Chris for details or to sign up.
Community Carol Sing Update
This Sunday December 19 at 7pm, please join us for our second (annual perhaps?) community Christmas carol sing. We’ll be singing seasonal favorites under the stars (hopefully!). We’ve distributed most of our postcards but its still not too late to invite someone to come with you. Please pray this week that we’d have many from the neighborhood and community join us as we lift our voices in praise.
Thought for the day: Immanuel means God is with US
Immanuel. I mentioned the word on Sunday and its often heard at this time of year. But what does this unusual word mean for the Christmas story?
When the angel said to Joseph: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" This had implications for not just Joseph but for us as well.
I like how singer Michael Card put it: "The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what may seem bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know."
Why do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and he is "God with us," then he must want to share in those moments of great joy, and even in those times of silly laughter and fun. God does that, really? Yes, he does. He wants to share in our joy too, that’s another meaning of God with us. This Christmas, and yes, even when its another Covid-impacted Christmas, when those inevitable moments of joy and laughter break out, be sure to invite God in to share it with you because at Christmas, how can you not?
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
Good afternoon! Thanks to those who distributed postcard invitations around the church on Sunday for our Christmas Carol sing event. It’s going to be a great event!
Christmas Eve Service
On Christmas Eve, at 6:30pm, join us for a special candlelit service of reflection on Immanuel, God with us. Enjoy some hot apple cider, carols and readings as we mark the night of our Savior’s birth.
Opportunity for Baptism
We will be hosting our next opportunity for believer baptism by immersion on Sunday January 9. Baptism is an important step in the growth of the believer and one of two ordinances of the church, the other being communion. We do it as a public act so the believer can give testimony of what God has done for them and also so we as a church family can celebrate.
Are you interested or do you have any questions? See Pastor Chris for details or to sign up.
Community Carol Sing Update
This Sunday December 19 at 7pm, please join us for our second (annual perhaps?) community Christmas carol sing. We’ll be singing seasonal favorites under the stars (hopefully!). We’ve distributed most of our postcards but its still not too late to invite someone to come with you. Please pray this week that we’d have many from the neighborhood and community join us as we lift our voices in praise.
Thought for the day: Immanuel means God is with US
Immanuel. I mentioned the word on Sunday and its often heard at this time of year. But what does this unusual word mean for the Christmas story?
When the angel said to Joseph: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" This had implications for not just Joseph but for us as well.
I like how singer Michael Card put it: "The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what may seem bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know."
Why do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and he is "God with us," then he must want to share in those moments of great joy, and even in those times of silly laughter and fun. God does that, really? Yes, he does. He wants to share in our joy too, that’s another meaning of God with us. This Christmas, and yes, even when its another Covid-impacted Christmas, when those inevitable moments of joy and laughter break out, be sure to invite God in to share it with you because at Christmas, how can you not?
In His grip,
Pastor Chris