Last Week I saw a great advertisement about Christmas. It had 5 traditional activities families did during Christmas. And then through each one there was a strike out with an alternative suggestion.
It may lose a little in my non-graphic skills, but I think you will get the point. #1. Instead of “Buy” Presents, try to “BE” Present. #2. Wrap “Gifts” became Wrap “SOMEONE IN HUGS”. #3. Send Gifts became Send “PEACE”. #4. “Shop” for food became “DONATE” food. #5. “See” the Lights became “Be” the LIGHT. That sounds like a pretty healthy approach to Christmas: be present, wrap someone in a hug, send peace, donate food and be the Light. In fact, it sounds like James Island Baptist Church during the Advent Season.
I encourage you to “be present”. When asked what I want for Christmas, my answer is usually something like this: I want all my children sitting at my table enjoying each other and a meal together. Being present is a valuable gift! Go with us Christmas Caroling on Wednesday, December 18. You will be able to wrap a lot of people in hugs as we go to The Savannah House and to some of our homebound members. No special training needed for hugging! Sending peace is easy using the Lottie Moon International Prayer guides. You can support missionaries around the world through your prayers and your financial gifts. Donating food is our specialty. This Christmas I predict that the JIBC family will give 2,000 pounds of food…again! This food goes to help the underserved and to help back pack buddies, school children who may not eat over the weekends. We are carrying out the command of Jesus and the work of God as we do these things. You can indeed be the light for someone living in darkness. This past Sunday, you received invite cards to give to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. This year we will have TWO CHRISTMAS EVE services. We will be presenting the Gospel Story of what God has done for us by sending His Son to us. We will conclude the “What A Wonderful Name It Is” Advent Celebration. The traditional Christmas Carols, Communion and Candlelight service will be beautiful as always…and we will do it twice!
This Sunday, we will be reminded of Christmas Joy. What a wide variety of emotions to be experienced during Christmas. No emotion should be greater than the joy of knowing our Father in Heaven sent His one and only Son so those who are lost could be found, those who are spiritually dead could be made alive and those who are blind can see. Join us this Sunday.
What a Beautiful Name It Is…the Name of Jesus!
Pastor Tom
