Hi everyone,

 

                This is it! It is Christmastime! I am sure you and your kids/grandkids are pumped about all the festivities this weekend. I wish it all works perfectly, just the way you hope it would. Sadly, my wishes don’t always come true. Sometimes things can go wrong pretty quickly; the Christmas train can leave the tracks in a hurry.  Then Christmas seems more about the pressure than the pleasure.

 

We can be stressed because of the demands of prolonged family time. Or maybe we are worried about the current or coming financial strain of all that our cultural Christmas demands. Or maybe we are just overwhelmed with anxiety about trying to make everything perfect. 

 

                If that’s the case, if worry and anxiety are filling you up, I just want to encourage you to rest and breathe. Surrender everything over to Christ. He came to bring peace. He was even called the Prince of Peace. Seek Him and His peace this year. Don’t let go until you’ve received it; He wants to give it to you.

 

                Don’t worry if things don’t work out perfectly (or at least according to your plan of perfection). It sure didn’t look perfect on the first Christmas and yet Jesus was in the middle of it all. He is with you and in the middle of all of your celebrations this weekend. Don’t forget Him. Don’t ignore Him. Cling to Him more than ever.

 

                Philippians 4 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!”

 

                Don’t let the peace that Jesus came to bring go to waste. Draw on it today. Draw on it throughout this weekend. Draw on it in the coming year. Christ loves to give us peace. Accept His gift right now!

 

                There is a lot going on this weekend. We will be having three Christmas Eve services on Saturday (2pm, 4pm, & 6pm). I hope you can come and bring a friend with you.

 

                Then on Sunday we will be having our Christmas Day service. We will be having a brunch with many who would otherwise have been eating alone. I hope that some of you were able to sign up for that event. I am really looking forward to it. 

 

                I hope you can join us online or in-person.

 

                Have a great Christmas weekend. May you enjoy the presence of your loved ones and the presence of Jesus in very significant ways.

 

                I love being your pastor. Merry Christmas!

 

Pastor Tim