GBC Community Update: What does the Great Commission have to do with Christmas?

Good morning!  Thanks for those who prayed for our outreach event with the Junction Neighborhood Group on Sunday.  Our youth group hosted a kid’s drop-in at Paisley Rd. Public School. It was a great opportunity to connect with some families and let our lights shine.
 
 
Oasis@Midweek tomorrow
Our popular children's ministry event Oasis@Midweek happens tomorrow night. Kids JK to grade 6 are invited to join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games, life lesson and this time a fun craft.  O@M is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to remember how MONUMENTAL God is and celebrate his awesomeness.
 
 
Announcing our Community Carol Sing
On Friday December 23 at 7pm, please join us for our community Christmas carol sing. We’ll be singing seasonal favorites under the stars (hopefully!).  Please mark the date and think about who you can invite to come with you.  There will be an opportunity to distribute some post card invitations as well coming up. Please pray that we’d have many from the neighborhood and community join us as we lift our voices in praise.
 
 
Thought for the day: What Does the Great Commission Have to Do With Christmas?
Not surprising, I’m going to share some thoughts related to Christmas in the coming month.  To start, I wanted to tie Christmas to the Great Commission.  As a church, we follow the Great Commission Jesus gave us to go and make disciples.  But does the birth of Jesus, the wise men, angels, Mary and Joseph and the whole story relate to this? 
What do you think?
Could it be that the Great Commission is actually a vital part of the Christmas story?
Jesus’ birth was His greatest missionary act that the world has seen. He came to us. God entered our world. He left Heaven to become one of us.  John 1 says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 
The theological word for this is incarnation. That simply means God became a human. That is what happened at Jesus’ birth – on Christmas.  What does this mean? Well, that incarnation is what Christmas is all about!
The message of the season has a missional element to it! Jesus modeled what He would later command His disciples to do, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” His coming to earth was the “Go” part.
One of the best ways we can celebrate Christmas is to do as He did. Following His example, we enter the lives of those who don’t know Him. We eat their food, hang out with them, learn their ways of life, beginning to understand (and even experience) their challenges. We demonstrate His presence in relationship. God, in us, shows up in their world. We call this being incarnational. It is what Christmas is all about.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris