It's the Most Wonderful Time...?

Have you entered the Christmas season yet?  I know some people who have been listening to Christmas music for a few weeks now, but my family always holds off on the music and decorations until the day after Thanksgiving... and then we go at it with a vengeance! In fact, as I write this we've just begun the transformation of our home.

Some of my friends got up early to get in on the "Black Friday" sales as they've started their gift shopping (some of it even started on Thanksgiving day!).  From what I've heard, this is not for the faint of heart - or the easily bruised.  I just saw a website called "Black Friday Death Count" which records that there have been 7 confirmed injuries (as of noon) which includes not only people being trampled, but also stabbed and shot!  What in the world?!

The Christmas season has become a time of discontent - we "need" the latest doo-hicky and gizmo or we won't be merry this year.  Is that really true?  I have to admit that I can be just as guilty as the next guy and I need to continually check myself.  What's the best way to fight this tendency?

I think it's found in one of the names assigned to Jesus at his birth: Emmanuel.  This name means "God with us".  What a wonderful reminder of what Jesus' incarnation brought to us - Jesus is always with us!

If I can really grasp that good news: that the creator of the universe loves me and is always with me, what more could I ever need?  Stuff gets out-dated (as soon as we open the box) and is destined for the storage unit or trash heap. But Emmanuel is always with us, providing what we need and giving us hope and peace in a world that is increasingly hopeless and anything but peaceful!

Join us this Sunday, Dec. 1st, as we enter the Advent season and celebrate Emmanuel.  We will celebrate the Lord's Supper - the ultimate celebration of God with us.

The Good Samaritan Fund

Our church has a special fund which enables us to assist people within our congregation and community who find themselves in need.  In the past few months we've helped people pay power bills, purchase medication, and pay the security deposit on an apartment.
On the first Sunday of each month, we will take a special offering after the service to replenish this account. Please prayerfully consider making an offering beyond your usual tithe which will help us to provide assistance to others.