I love being part of a church and faith community that works to create a spiritual balance in preparing for Christmas! The church keeps as its priority the goal of “keeping Christ in Christmas.” From caroling to kids Christmas programs, to sing-alongs and candlelight Christmas Eve services, we hold sacred our traditions to our families, youth and children . . . people of all ages to keep “Christ in Christmas.”
This year, we are also adding some additional opportunities and “spicing up” some others to welcome guests who are “coming home for Christmas!” Year ago, I discovered that Christmas and the events leading up to it can be one of the best “open doors” for persons who are nominally religious or who have stepped away from the faith, to return. I call it “Coming Home for Christmas.”
In fact, I use that phrase often when inviting persons to join us on the “Journey to Christmas.”
ADVENT GATHERING – THE JOURNEY
This Advent, we will be offering an Advent Gathering called “The Journey.” It is a one hour gathering for any and all. It will take place in homes or at the church throughout the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. Christmas is for gathering… and we will do what our church does best as we gather for fellowship and food! As part of our hour together, we will go back to relive the actual journey of Mary and Joseph in the actual land where the story unfolded. We will be using a video presentation called “The Journey” which was produced in the Holy Land and takes us to the actual locations to make the story come alive. We will be looking at each of the characters in the Christmas story and the setting where it happened. The other half of our time together will be food and fellowship. This is designed as a way to help you create a balance in your holiday preparation and keep “Christ in Christmas.” It is open to all and everyone… a perfect option to invite friends or family to join you to “come home for Christmas!”
- December 2 — 5 to 6 PM @ the home of Dave & Carol Kimberley
(13244 N. 79th Ave. W., Mingo) – A New Look at Mary on the Journey - December 9 — 5 to 6 PM @ the home of Bob & Marilyn Matthews
(7178 W. 100th St. N., Mingo) – Joseph on the Journey - December 16 — 6 to 7 PM (After Community Sing-along)@ the church –
The Journey From Nazareth to Bethlehem - December 23 — 5 to 6 PM @ the church – The Journey to the Manger
SUNDAY MORNING SERMON SERIES – Preaching the Movies of Christmas
For many, Christmas movies help define Christmas… it’s a holiday tradition. But, did you know that those movies each have a sermon to share with us? This Advent season, I want to invite you to join us for an Advent sermon series based on a few of the best traditional Christmas movies that share with us the joy of the season and the simple stories that really contain storylines that can share faith values. These faith stories can change and transform our lives and our communities around us as we “go be the church!”
On December 2nd, we will begin with The Miracle on 34th Street, following with the special children’s program on Sunday, December 9th. We will return to the sermon series on December 16th with the movie How Christmas Changed the Grinch. We will wrap it up on Sunday, December 23rd with a service based on the movie It’s a Wonderful Life! Use this as a time and opportunity to invite family and friends to join you at a service especially designed to welcome people “home for Christmas!” Visitors Expected!
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE – December 24th, 7 PM @ Mingo UMC
A traditional service of candlelight, carols, and the Christmas story that will come alive in a new way this year. I love kids and I love the telling of the Christmas story. This year, I will be inviting all the kids present at the service to join me for a Children’s Message that will end with them dressing up in an impromptu fashion and helping me stage the Christmas story in a simple way while the congregation lights candles and we sing “Silent Night.” Picture it? Bring your kids and grandkids! Bring your camera and video for capturing this “memory maker” event which will also be a social media favorite! Each child can select which character they wish to portray, simple costumes will be available for a quick dress. We need people to be Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. We need shepherds and wise men, sheep and even the Christmas Star! Nothing to bring but yourselves and join “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever!”
Christmas was all about welcoming. Welcoming a baby who would change the world! Welcoming into our family strangers who were sheep herders and wise persons into a story and a journey of heritage and tradition that is our story and journey! Who can you invite to the journey and into the story? Statistics show that people wait at Christmas for an invitation to come and see…especially from a person who knows them and extends that personal invitation. Pray and then invite someone to “come home for Christmas!” Jesus said, “You have not because you ask not” or to put it another way: “People are waiting to come but they need to be asked.” Make that your Christmas gift this year! “Come home for Christmas!”