Christmas Aftermath

Well, another one in the books.  My last one in full time ministry. I am retiring in 6 months.  We had good attendance and received many complements on all of the services.  Well done to our staff and volunteers who worked so hard to put it all together.  Thank you for your support and prayers.  My focus during Christmas and Easter is always on the Chreaster people, you know, those people who only show up for Christmas and Easter services.  We had a lot of them and we had quite a few of the community folks who don't normally worship with us.  That was and is a praise the Lord.  As a pastor I always hope and pray that we can plant some seeds of faith into the Chreaster people and that is why our services are more about the Word of God and less about entertainment.  Although I must say we had some very entertaining worship too.  The music was wonderful and we are blessed to have some very good talented music ministers among us.  In case you missed it we also have a progressive nativity. This is a life sized set of figures dressed up as angels, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and wise men.  Each Sunday in Advent you will find that the figures have moved on their journey to Bethlehem until they end up at the manger on Christmas Eve.  It really adds to the excitement of the season.  

I hope you had a good Christmas and I hope that Jesus was the reason for the season in your celerations.  You see, Christmas is not about gifts, candy, decorations, or parties.  It is about salvation from the penalty of sin which is eternal death and it is only made possible through faith in Jesus Christ.  That is why Christ was born so that we could and would believe in Him as the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and the was raised trom the dead to live forevermore thereby breaking the chains of death for you and me.  Christmas begins it and Easter ends it.  So find a house of worship that  teaches the Bible and lifts high the name of Jesus.  For what it is worth, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.  God loves you and so do I.

Pastor Bruce

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