Pastor’s Page
Volume 11 Week 49
An Invitation to Make an
Invitation!
Ten Reasons to Give a
Christmas Gift That Anyone Would Really Love!
I know that some of you are already done with your Christmas shopping for the season. You’ve found that perfect gift for everyone on your list.
But I hope you’ll take time to look and see if there is someone on your list who needs one more gift: the gift of the Savior’s love.
We know, because people who don’t have a place to worship tell us so, that Christmas Eve is the one night of the year when your friends without a church home are most likely to be interested in an invitation to come to church. Many of us assume that because the people we know say something like, “Oh, we’re Catholic” or Methodist or Episcopalian that they do indeed have a church home.
I
read this week where on any given weekend in
And of course, there are thousands of people around us who don’t know the real reason for the season, who maybe understand that Christmas is the day of Jesus’ birth, but have never been told the whole story and why it makes a difference for them.
So, look around, see if there’s anyone you know that you could invite to join you on Christmas Eve (6 or 9:30 PM) to hear the story of Jesus. And if you need extra encouragement, read on for the top ten reasons why an invitation to Christmas Eve worship is the perfect gift!
#10 – Fat Free! There’s no guilt attached with giving this gift. A visit to the Lord’s house includes no calories, no fat, no cholesterol, so it’s 100% guilt free. In fact, hearing of the gift of the forgiveness of sins that Jesus came to bring gives the gift of faith, the removal of the guilt of all our sins! Wow! The perfect gift!
#9 – Best Bargain Ever! You’re familiar with our policy that guests are guests and are encouraged not to make an offering when the plate is passed. Remind your friends! (Maybe they’ll be so glad you invited them, they’ll stuff your stocking in return!) But the best bargain of all is the free gift of a Savior’s love, Jesus, who came to us when we had nothing to offer. You can’t match grace, freely given undeserved love, anywhere!
#8 – No Wrapping! We’ll provide all the decorations. The church always looks terrific. Trees, candlelight, twinkling lights, and best of all, the lit Christ Candle in the middle of the wreath, reminding us of the presence of Jesus Himself in Bethlehem on that night and with us, always!
#7 – Musical! It’s always hard to buy a CD for someone who might have different taste in music than you do. Rap or punk fans have a hard time in the country section. But there’s something about spending Christmas Eve in church that makes traditionalists out of all of us. Everybody wants to hear voices filled with the joy of the Savior’s birth singing “Silent Night” softly as the lights are dimmed. It’s a special moment to share with a friend. Whether in a cathedral filled with thousands, or a neighborhood church with singers like you and me doing our best, it’s the perfect musical setting for the occasion.
#6 – Right Size! Tell your friends that we plan our services to run just about an hour. They need not worry about being caught in an unusual situation with no apparent way out. And after hearing that Christmas is all about the good news of God’s love, they’ll be telling you, “That’s just what I wanted!”
#5 – All Natural! I was informed years ago that a gift given to a woman that has an electric plug attached is not a gift, it’s an appliance that implies that there’s work to do. (Remember the blender in “Father of the Bride”?) We don’t throw the switch on the electricity for the evening, but our services on Christmas Eve are made so beautiful by the candlelight. All natural. No neon. And the message you’ll hear is not embellished in any way, just the simple and familiar story, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
#4 – Friendship! It’s really the gift that makes the most difference, isn’t it? These special times are shared best with friends and family, those who are dearest to us. And our church is a wonderful place to meet others, regular people just like your friends, and to make acquaintances and friendships. Best of all, it’s a chance to meet the Friend unlike any other, Jesus, who loves us more than we can imagine!
#3 – Warranty! Christmas Eve is timeless. The service that we share never really wears out. From year to year we change things around a little bit, try a special song by the choir or something new with the decorations, but the celebration of our Savior’s birth has changed very little over the centuries. And it just never wears out. It makes me wonder if we’ll sing the familiar songs in heaven, if there’s a place for “Away in a Manger” and “Joy to the World” when we are with the Lord in the heavenly kingdom that has no end, never needs repair, and never gets exchanged. That hope is what makes an invitation to the Lord’s house a perfect gift!
#2 – No Assembly Required! Come in, relax, and let our worship leaders bless you with a journey of song and promise. Just enjoy the experience in the house of the Lord. Share a simple and lovely moment with a friend. Maybe it’s a bowling partner or an associate at work where whenever you’re together, there’s a task to do, some business that distracts. When we come before the Lord, He’s taken care of everything. Jesus was a carpenter, and the promise of His birth was fulfilled when He went to the cross for us. Nails and wood were used to crucify Him, and that cross is a sign to us that all is taken care of. Nothing required on our part. What a wonderful gift!
#1 – Already Theirs! God gave your friends the gift of the Savior. Christ died for them. The story of His love is something the Father in heaven wants them to hear, because the gift already has their name on it. Christ is their Savior too. How about an invitation?
Just In Case!
Many of you remember Teresa Mayberry who grew up at Mount Calvary. Her married name is Duncan, and with her two sons Teresa is being received into membership again this weekend. With her husband Ryan, they’ve started up a new company, “X-Treme Towing.” Ryan has already come to the aid of our family. They offer 24-hour service and very reasonable prices. Should the opportunity present itself, I hope you’ll consider using their service. An injury to her back has left Teresa unable to work in recent months, and they could use the business. Contact them 24 hours a day at 353-7600. Thanks for supporting a young family in their business venture!