December 20, 2013

Christmas is coming and we are so excited to share it with you!  I know we are enjoying parties and get-togethers with friends, and even snowball fights for the students…yes they got me!  All this is leading up to Christmas Day, which is getting closer with each passing day.  I hope you are looking forward to this next week as much as I am.  We have much to celebrate.  We will be sharing a Christmas message this coming Sunday from Luke 2:1-18 and John 1:14.  I hope you take a moment or ten to look over these passages and jot a few notes yourself before the day comes.

Also, on Christmas Eve we are having two services at 5:30 and 7:00 pm.  These will be one-hour services which will include caroling, scripture readings, communion and candlelight.  These are beautiful service each year and this year will be no exception.  Come celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve with your family and friends. 

Last Sunday we ended the series “Straight Talk.”  What a series, and what challenges were laid at our feet.  After having gone through a study like the book of James, it’s great to take an inventory of what was learned and how we could respond.  I believe as we do this God has a way of speaking very specifically . . . I hope you will do this with me.  If you do, I know you will experience God’s direction for your life.

Also we are launching a new series for the month of January called “To Begin With . . .”  I believe you’re going to love it and I can hardly wait to kick this off on January 5.  Be thinking of friends and family that you could invite to join us.

This has been a crazy good year in many respects, with a few challenges thrown in too, but in it all my God has proved Himself good.  Through it all I am choosing JOY as we close it out, and I know joy awaits me in the new year as well.  Wherever you are right now . . . choose joy, our Savior has come!

We love you and look forward to seeing you Sunday as we celebrate Christ, catch up with friends and find ourselves challenged by God’s Word.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

December 12, 2013

Hello!!  I hope your week is coming along well and you’re keeping Christ first in your day.  If the day has already gotten away from you, STOP!  Make a plan to connect to Christ as soon as possible.  You won’t regret it.

This last weekend our topic was “Drawing Closer to God.”  When we draw closer to God, we have to understand humility is not optional.  Humility is an interesting picture for us…one good way for us to experience humility is to come before the Lord with empty hands.  We come not holding on to anything but Christ.  Our hands should be empty of sin and what we think are our greatest accomplishments.  Humility is recognizing we are in relationship with Christ only because He has forgiven us, and that whatever great things we think we could bring…really aren’t THAT great.  It also means that we are not going to let any of our current pursuits like sports, fitness, career, relationships or anything else get between us and God.  Those things are not bad…unless they keep our hands so full we are unable to grasp the hands of Christ. 

James at this point in his letter isn’t asking what could be…he is asking what will be?  Today is the day for all of us to ask, “What will be?” 

This coming weekend we are wrapping up our series “Straight Talk” with a message called “Remember These Things.”  Check out Chapter 5 of James and jot a couple notes for yourself before Sunday comes.  Also, this week we will display before and after services a number of ministry opportunities in our community, which you can ask questions if interested. 

Sunday is a time for us to celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends, pray with one another and enjoy the challenge of God’s Word.  We are praying it will be a powerful God-honoring experience for all of us. 

Lastly, we are looking forward to the start of our 3 service format (8:30, 9:45, 11:30) kicking off January 5!  If you are not already serving, we need you to join a team and help make this a success.  We have many teams you could serve on with various levels of time commitments.  Please let us know where you will serve so we can get ready for Jan 5.  See the Sunday insert for opportunities to consider.

We love you and look forward to seeing you soon. 

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog 

P.S. Who could you ask to come to church with you in the new year?  Many people say ‘yes’ if asked by a friend.

December 4, 2013

The holidays are in full swing!  I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are looking forward to Christmas!  I know that it’s weeks away, at this point, but Christmas is a season not a day.  I want to enjoy the season celebrating the greatest gift ever given to mankind.  My family is following along with the daily devotional we gave out on Sunday and I hope you will do the same.  This devotional is a great tool to keep our focus on Jesus among the many distracting voices surrounding us.  While our society is focused on Black Friday deals being extended on electronic gadgets and the bad behavior of shoppers stampeding to get them, we can step outside the madness and enjoy the real gift of Jesus.  The One in whom lasting peace is found.  Don't miss the season…it’s in your hands. 

Thank you, Pastor Brent, for your message of “Amazing Grace” that you gave us last Sunday.  It’s a challenge to speak to adults and kids, but you did a great job!  This next weekend we are continuing our series “Straight Talk.”  We will be looking at the passage found in James 4:7-10.  Take an early look and jot a few notes down before Sunday comes. 

Our times together are few in the span of a year’s time. Only 52 Sundays out of 365 days . . . don’t miss out on all the joys of gathering as God’s church.  This coming Sunday is a time for us to celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends, pray with one another and enjoy the challenge of God’s Word.  We are praying it will be a powerful God-honoring experience. 

Lastly, we are looking forward to the start of our 3 service format (8:30, 9:45, & 11:30) kicking off January 5!  If you are not already serving we need you to join a team and help make this a success.  We have many teams you could serve on with various levels of time commitments.  See the Sunday insert for opportunities to consider. 

We love you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog