Dear Family,
I just flipped on my AC because it’s a little warm today on this first day of December. My weather app says it’s 75 degrees. NEVERTHELESS…Christmas is marching towards us with a steady, little-drummer-boy beat. It’s less than a month away.
Last night we decorated a little Christmas tree in our living room and then had some brownies. Here’s Rachael about to put the star on top.
Of course, the star will lean off to the side because it’s impossible to get tree-top ornaments to stick straight up. Only in Hallmark Christmas movies are they perfectly vertical. You know, an engineer could make a lot of money if he or she made…wait, I digress.
Here’s Valley’s three-part Christmas vision:
1. Worship our King with happiness and joy on the beautiful campus God gave us.
2. Celebrate our King’s birth with our church family members by greeting each other, laughing and having a super time.
3. Extend a big welcome to our friends, co-workers, neighbors, personal trainers, classmates, teammates, doctors and baristas so they can get to know our King.
They’re coming to our house!
OK, for number three, our church family has to come together. We’re designing our Christmas service at 10:45 AM on Dec. 19 (called “Morningtide”) and our Christmas Eve service at 4:00 PM on Dec. 24 (called “Starry Night”) with visitors in mind.
They’re coming to our house at 10885 N. Stelling Road. So let’s all get into motion and help with the hospitality so they can see the King in all his glory. There are lots of ways to get involved. Please click on this link and discover how you can help us “host” our guests. You might want to flip pancakes, bake cookies, greet (wearing a scarf/hat combo that we furnish), decorate, do tech, help with crafts/refreshments or clean up! Your time and effort will be a tangible gift to the King Jesus (“they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh…” (Matt. 2:11). Again, here’s the link.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGzlcTLi8Yv-mfOfwzcLVufQrRsK5hb6wDobODIccbdtuzjA/viewform
By the way, here’s a picture of the banner that just went up on N. Stelling. I stood out there for a while today watching the cars go by, enjoying the thought that thousands of people will drive by over the next few weeks. May the Lord move in their hearts to come. Who will you personally invite?
Oh, and please don’t forget to bring a toy or two for our Toy Drive in partnership with City Team. You’ll see Peter Grilli and Mike Nelson at the tent on the patio. Dennis and Kelly Vaughn are helping too. Here’s what we’re looking for: Legos, Arts and Crafts Kits, Developmental Toys, Basketball with Pump, Construction Set Toy, Dinosaur Toys, Science and Experiments Kit, Walkie Talkies Jr with batteries, Wireless Ear Buds/Headphones or Doll/Stuffed Toy. No need to wrap them. Look for this banner on the patio. For more info: https://valleychurch.org/v/events/toy-drive/
This Sunday we’ll explore Chapter 14 in The Story. We’ll talk about Rehoboam and Jeroboam. I’ve never studied them in depth and their stories have gripped me. I’ve been chattering about these two to whomever will listen. So much to learn.
(On a personal note, I got help on this message from a retired Religious Studies Professor from Lafayette University named Robert L. Cohn. Dr. Cohn wrote an article about how the Jeroboam story is very carefully crafted by an author with a fine sense of artistry. The article is called “Literary Technique in the Jeroboam Narrative.” I had seen a reference to it in one of my seminary textbooks and was intrigued. So I googled “Robert L. Cohn” and found his email address. Dr. Cohn was surprised to get my email and kindly sent it to me. Then we had a wonderful email exchange. Reading his article was like walking through an art gallery with a headset and the friendly voice of a guide who points out features and details that you just don’t see. (Thank you, Dr. Cohn!) I was also reminded that God is an artist who inspired the Biblical writers to write even sorrowful accounts with enormous skill and style. By the way, Glen and I are tag-teaming. After I share, Glen will add some thoughts to bring it all home.
Oh, let me share this nugget. Judy Glover and Teresa Sterling gave each of us in the Sunday night Story gathering a special Advent gift: a collection of colorful cards, each with Scripture about the King. I love it! It will be my companion leading up to Christmas. Here’s a shot.
OK, that’s it for now. I’m going to munch on an apple and get back to work.
For Jesus our Lord,
Darren