Happy Thursday and Happy New Year!
It’s the 4th Day of Christmas and “on the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me … “Four Calling Birds,” …three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
Four Calling birds. Of course, four calling birds could get a little noisy and I am not so sure I would be happy with my true love if indeed these “birds” were under the tree. AND of course, I had to look a little deeper. What exactly are the four calling birds point to. Well … the four calling birds are referencing the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. What a gift to remember. Four different accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus … all with one focus … the Christ. So today, don’t worry about the noise of four calling birds, but rejoice in the gifts of these four inspired stories about Jesus’ beginning. A little footnote here. According to PNC Bank, if all the gifts in the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” were purchased for your true love … the total would be $46,729.86. If you order them online, $52,024.03.
I can’t explain to you what a thrill Christmas Eve was for me this year. WE had a total of 174 people in worship. As I always say, this number is a good indication of what our attendance could be as we operate on all cylinders. A HUGE, thank you to everyone who made our Christmas Eve worship services so successful. I PRAY I am not leaving anyone, or group out.
Brandon, Kendra, Peyton and Amber Kertson, Michael Pritchard, Bernie Carroll, Chris Chambers, Jeff Wield, jazzie farol, Lee Laurence, Rebecca Dhillon, Lynn Amabile, Pat Peterson, Rosemary and Greg Vandervort, Ron Kaelberer, Ryan Kelton, Freddie Harmon, Colleen Clementson, Pamela Marsh, Susan Gurriell, Rev. John and Pt Whitacre, Karin Lindsey, Kristi Perkins, Kraig Klapproth, Tim Seipel, Larry Burkholder, Butch Young
A special thank you to Kendra Kertson, Peyton Kertson and Freddie Harmon who took over the technical side of the evening. Unfortunately, COVID struck our team again. I know all three of them were exhausted at the end of the service. It is not easy to jump in like these three rockstars did. Thank you so!
This Sunday will be the 2nd Sunday of Christmas as well as New Year’s Eve. I hope to see many of you back for worship. What better place to be on the last day of the year, peering with anticipation to 2024. Our scripture will continue with the story of the child King. If you want to get a heads start, I encourage you to read through Luke 2:22-40.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A22-40&version=NRSVUE
You will also, not want to miss the Birthday Party for Jesus that will happen after the morning worship. The Board of Trustees has worked hard at making this a fun time for all. There will even be birthday cake for the new baby boy. This party is a great opportunity to catch up on your 2023 pledges to the church, paving the way for a successful 2024.
As I approach the end of 2023, I am so grateful … Grateful for this church, the Council, the Trustees, the boards, the staff, the many ministry partner volunteers. I am grateful for the people who make this such a special place to work and to live out my Christian life. Today, more than ever … I love being your pastor!
Holding you close and lifting you high!
Pastor Greg
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