Christmas Mission 2008

Our Christmas Mission is here! Every year we purchase a personalized gift for over 700 kids, their teachers and the administration staff at Walter Bicket Elem School in Monroe. This is a school that as under-privileged and at high risk kids that attend there.

For the last eight years we have been going there on the last day of school and giving them a huge Christmas program as a large group and then individual parties in each class room. The best part....right now each kid is given a blank Christmas wish list card. On this card they can ask for anything they really want under $25. (The teachers help them..) Starting this Sunday the great people of our church take these tickets, buy the gift specifically for that child, bring it here and then we take two trailers filled with over 700 gifts to the school for each child to unwrap and have a great gift.

The administration shares with us each year that these are basically the only gifts many of these kids will unwrap and get. They love it and it is a great way to Team up with a local school for maximum impact.

You can pick up your personalized ticket starting this Sunday!

Speaking of Christmas.....this year our Christmas series is called Nativity and the entire month of December will have a huge canvas wall (15 feet long and 10 feet high) on the stage that will have a live painting through each service. Our painters will be painting a huge Christmas Mural on the stage while we sing and even while I am speaking.

This Sunday we will be passing out special invitations for you to give to a few people and invite them to the grand opening of this live mural exhibit that starts being painted on December 7th. We are asking each person or family to bring at least one guest on Sunday morning, December 7th, to help us kickoff this creative and unique Christmas series.

Today's Bible Reading 1 Corinthians 12

This is a great chapter that shows very clearly a value of our church. Paul says here that each person should discover their spiritual gifts and then use them in the local church. He compares the church to that of an actual body. Our body is one...but we have different parts that are used to make the body function at it's highest potential. We have arms, ears, eyes and the like. Each has a specific role to play and if it does not work....then the body is not as successful. Same is true with the church. We are like a body with many parts. Guess what? When a few parts choose not to work and function....the church is less dynamic and successful in it's purpose and mission.

I have said it another way for nine years. The local church is like a team. Each person should commit to One Purpose of the team and then understand they have a share in the responsibility to meet that One Purpose. Moreover, as individuals we have to have a personal devotion that enables us to be ready to share in that responsibility.