Dear Friends,
Greetings to you in the powerful name of Jesus the Christ!
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31
I recall as a young child always looking forward to the arrival of the Sears Christmas catalog. The day it would arrive in our home my older brother and I would page through the toy section dreaming about what might be under the Christmas tree. It was our hope book. What do you hope for this Christmas? The people of God that we meet in the Old Testament were hoping for the coming of a new time – a new kingdom – a new King. They also had their hopes about how life might be different. What are you HOPING for this Christmas?
I invite you to join us on Wednesday evenings during Advent as we explore the question – “What do you HOPE for this Christmas? The first Wednesday Advent Soup Meal & Service will be November 30th. The evening will begin with a Soup meal that will be served from 6:00- 7:00PM. During the meal time you will have the chance to make an ADVENT DECORATION that will remind you just what we HOPE for this Christmas. The meal time will be followed by a Service of Light & Darkness with Holy Communion. These services will be held in the parish hall. Let us join the prophet Isaiah as he reminds us to place our HOPE in the Lord!
I am looking for four or more people who would be willing to share what they are HOPING for this Christmas as part of the Wednesday evening service. The offering on Wednesday evening will go to the Malaria Campaign. In Africa, a child dies every 45 seconds from Malaria. Our gifts during Advent can help bring HOPE and make a healthier future possible. These gifts will provide mosquito nets, spray homes and provide necessary anti-malarial medication, support water treatment projects and help raise awareness about how to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria.
What do you HOPE for this Christmas? See you the Mid-Week Services as we explore that question.
In Christ,
Pastor Jim Gerth
