Dear Church Family,

This past Friday evening my clan (the Josephs, Riddicks and Johnsons) got together for what has become a family tradition – decorating Gingerbread houses.  Each of the grandchildren; Noah, Greyson, Nixon, Silas and now Sawyer (this was her inaugural experience), get their own house and then decorate in their own unique way.  The Mothers: Kari and Kristin, led by the “overall director” Mimi, that is Terri, plan this carefully.  They bring out various kinds of candies and other “building materials.”  They put all the materials in muffin sheets and distribute them around the table.  Of course there is a science to decorating gingerbread houses, at least among my grandchildren.  First you place a decorative candy on your house then you eat two!  And so it goes.  By the time you finish you have some beautifully (I use that term loosely) decorated gingerbread houses along with some full tummies which makes for some really satisfied kids.  This is probably one of the few times you have all the grandkids together working so carefully and intently on the same thing.  It’s a wonderful sight to behold.

Just as my grandkids strive to make their gingerbread house the best ever, we to strive to make Christmas the best ever.  We also decorate and bake, shop and attend parties usually only to wear ourselves out – just like the year before.  It seems like the ONE thing that usually gets left out in all our preparations and activities is the essential purpose of Christmas.  We forget that the real Christmas joy begins in our hearts, and that also requires diligent preparation and meaningful activities of quiet moments of meditation and corporate worship.  I hope you are taking time to do just that this Christmas.

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Third Sunday in Advent:  This Sunday we’ll gather together for a combined service in the sanctuary at 11am.  This is our traditional music special where this year we will be blessed to hear our sanctuary choir, bell choir and children present the sacred music of Christmas.  This will undoubtedly help us focus on preparing our hearts for Christmas.  NOTE:  Since we are expecting more people in our sanctuary than we have been getting recently it is imperative that everyone who attends wears a mask, in keeping with the safety protocols that have been well established this year.  We have disposable masks available should you forget yours.  So I hope to see everyone there this Sunday!

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Sunday, December 20:  4th Sunday in Advent

Regular Sunday morning schedule

 

  • Thursday, December 24th:  Christmas Eve
    • 5pm – Contemporary Worship Service in the FMC
    • 6:30pm – Traditional Worship Service in the sanctuary
    • Both services will include carols, readings, communion, Christmas message and “Silent Night” candlelighting.
  • Sunday, December 27: Combined service in the sanctuary at

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Church Family News

Prayer Ministry. Here are the opportunities to gather for prayer:

  • Sunday mornings at 9am in the Philathea room with Pastor Frank. We will be praying for our morning worship services as well as for our church.  If you cannot join us, you can call in using the number and code below.
  • Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm via phone. The phone number is:

712-432-8399 and the access code is:  279785#

 

 

 

Remember in prayer:

  1. Carrol Ray Schools dealing with pain management.
  2. Paige Carter diagnosed with Covid-19.
  3. Lisa Shields and pain management.
  4. All those in our congregation known and unknown who need prayers for a variety of issues.
  5. All our frontline workers, in and out of our church, who work hard each day serving and protecting us during this pandemic.

I love you all,

Pastor Frank