I’m proud of you!
I don’t remember being so nervous about a sermon. We had decided to try something different: to use a classic Christmas movie to illustrate our Advent sermons. We were going to kick off with “Elf”…and I can’t tell you how nervous I was that we would get it “right;” that we would find the right balance of whimsy, fun, and reverence. And…judging from your response, I think we did find that balance!
Of course, all of this is an effort to make it easier to practice the hospitality skills you have been honing recently. You are obviously inviting friends because our attendance continues to be the strongest it has been in years. And here’s the real Christmas miracle, more and more of you are even coming on time!!!!! Hallelujah!
Christmas Eve will be another opportunity for you to flex those hospitality muscles. We will offer five services: 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00 pm. The FIRST FOUR will be identical. They will include carols, candles and choir, but they will all be family-friendly and include more modern music as well. They will be very high-energy and we hope that every visitor will leave thinking, “I want to come back! That was fun!” Our 9:00 service will be the more traditional one with bells and communion.
I’m giving you a heads up so that you can make your family plans accordingly and so that you decide right now which one you’ll serve at and which one you will bring your friends to!
I look forward to being with you this weekend. We are going to have baptisms and an incredible testimony of life change that you won’t want to miss. And if you come early…I’ll shake your hand!
Have a hospitable Advent!
Pastor Mark