Christmas is only 9 days away as I write this article. Hard to imagine there is only one Friday, one Saturday and one Sunday until Christmas. I can’t help it…MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. I love hearing the stories of family traditions for the Christmas season. If you don’t have any why not start and make some. Here are a few you might consider.
First, giving is a major part of the Christmas season. As God has blessed and you are able, be a generous giver. For instance, the Advent Mission focuses on diapers for Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, jelly and food items for James Island Outreach, and food for the “back pack buddies” at our local schools. All three can be picked up as you do your regular Christmas shopping. I wish you could all see some of the hilarious video of our church families making shopping a family sport! I absolutely love it. Janie and I make the first gift of Christmas the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. One of the coolest things about this offering…100% goes to the missionaries work. Not one penny is used for publicity or fundraising. It is perhaps the biggest bang you can get for your buck. Please consider a gift to Lottie Moon.
Second, don’t forget to worship this Christmas season. Beside your daily opportunity to worship, you have one more Sunday of Advent and, of course, the Christmas Eve service. You have probably heard…we are having two Christmas Eve services this year. The first one is at 4:00. It will be exactly like the 6:00 service except for the baptism. You will love the beautiful worship planned for this year’s service. And, we have three very special children’s features in this year’s service. Seriously, you do not want to miss this year’s Christmas Eve service. By the way, this Sunday you will receive another invite card to give to family and friends. We are praying for God’s blessing on every invitation extended.
Third, we love Christmas cards. Starting January 1, Janie and I take our Christmas cards one a day until they run out and we pray for the family that sent the card to us. It extends the Christmas spirit, Christmas Bible verses and beauty well into the New Year. I pray for them one day and then put them out for Janie to pray for the next day. It makes the most wonderful time of the year last a little longer.
See you this Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Advent. We will light the candle of love as we remember God’s great love for us. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love to you all,
Pastor Tom
