It is almost hard to believe that it will be Christmas in 9 days.  I actually wish there was a little more time, not to shop, but to just be excited about the anticipation.  I mean watching the lights go up, lighting another candle every Sunday, listening to the music and looking at all the beautifully wrapped gifts.  Isn’t it interesting that most Christians don’t see the excitement in Advent and yet the prophet Micah prophesied the birth of the Savior to be born in Bethlehem 700 years before the actual birth of Christ.  Now that is a long Advent!

This past week the parish was really active.  Our children’s ministry team held a kids Christmas party on Saturday at Dorsey and that was a great success.  Sunday we celebrated worship together, sent a mission team to Our Daily Bread, went caroling at Frank’s Produce, and had a cookie exchange at Wesley Chapel.

This week we had our Tuesday Night Small Group Study and are preparing to finish our Angel Tree Shopping.  Solomon’s Masonic Lodge has given us $450 to purchase gifts for our Christmas Mission with Deep Run Elementary.  Stacy Dix has volunteered to do the remaining shopping for just a few angels not picked up by the church members.  Tonight I will be meeting with Howard County AGAST and delivering winter clothing for survivors thanks to our women’s ministry team.
This Sunday we will celebrate the last Sunday in Advent during morning worship by focusing on the shepherds and looking at how God is interrupting our lives this Christmas and every day.  How have you responded to God’s interruptions in your life?  Our response is what non-believers see as evidence that God is a loving God or not.

Join us for worship!
Rick