The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas has simply flown by! Wow - we had a busy month. So many blessings, new people, lots of children...... Charity Bible has been an active place - we started out with Hometown Holidays - we made an awesome float that lifted Jesus high! The greatest gift, no greater gift - we told the town. We gave out ~500 boxes with tracts, candy canes and random gift certificates inside of them. The reactions were so varied among the receipients on the parade route. Most were truly surprised when we said "A gift for you" - all the white boxes, wrapped in ribbons, and carried in bright red bags, yes we made a "scene"....Post-parade the church was "open for business" - with a clothes closet, christmas cookies to frost yourself, hot dogs on the grill, and a wrapping area for gifts, and boy did we serve up alot of hot chocolate. It was truly a wonderful day.
On the second weekend, we took our p3 to the streets.....Christmas caroling thru the town with a special destination of the "Village Squire" apartments. There we sang inside individual units - where folks came out and listened, some sang with us, some cried - our hearts and their's were truly touched by the special moments. We also handed out homemade cookies and cards to all. Sharing the love of Jesus in a different way. We look forward to going back in January to visit with some of the people we met. Our desire is to show them that Charity is year round - not just at Christmas time.
Christmas approached quickly after that - we had a special kids' service on the Sunday evening before Christmas - "What does God want for Christmas?" was the title (hint: the answer is You!).....it was a fun time for all as Pastor Curtis got into the rhyming.
Over the past month, many young people have crossed the threshold of our church - after school time has become the time and place to be at Charity. Bible reading on Mondays for kids is the favorite event.
Oh and we had AWANA training this month also. We are so looking forward to this new program for children. We hope to start up after the first of the year. We are expecting a good turnout and praying about a large place to handle more children comfortably. God knows what we need and we trust Him to provide.
It's not about religion, but about the relationship. Ours with others and all with Jesus.
Loving God and Loving People - our mission.
Hearts are changing; Lives are changing......and people are hearing about Jesus, our Savior. We praise God for that and are ever so grateful!
The New Year is at our doorstep - we are seeking Him, excited, and reaching out....God is Good , All the Time, All the Time, God is Good!
Amen!
"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
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