In the evening, we will have worship services at 5, 7, 9 and 11 pm. Each is a unique and beautiful service of music and message.

So this Sunday, we will celebrate the joy of Christmas in five worship services! The 10 am service will be mainly a service of scripture lessons and carols. We know you have been anxious to sing more of those familiar ones! Then on Sunday night, we join the heavenly host in a great celebration of the birth of Christ at 5, 7, 9 and 11 pm. Each Christmas Eve, as we pass the light of Christ, I am reminded that God in Christ came to earth to be the light of our lives, the lives of those who have gone before us, and those who will come after us. It is also a time when I invite the Christ to be born anew in me, that the light of the child of faith in me will be reignited so that I can follow Christ more fully into the coming year.

The Advent/Christmas story is not just Jesus' story. We are in the story, if we dare to see it. I struggle

	Dr. Will Cotton

alongside the innkeeper to make room for the love of Christ to be made flesh in and around me, with my life and my world being so busy and overcrowded. I journey with the shepherds and experience that grace that God has entrusted his good news to someone as unworthy as me. I follow the star of Christ (being just as kooky and quirky as the magi) not knowing where God's direction will take me, but knowing that Christ will have been there before I arrive. That's why the Christmas/Advent season is a time to experience the coming of Christ afresh to you and me. Don't lock the baby Jesus in a romantic nostalgic historical story! This is your story, too.

The offering we take on Christmas Eve funds the many ministries of our church that have a reach that even goes beyond what I know as pastor. It is inside the church and outside the walls. The reach is local, regional and global. I invite you to join Tina and me in making a special offering beyond your regular giving so that we can finish our year positioned to make our best impact not only for this year, but also the next. I am excited about what God is doing in and through the people of First Church. John writes in his gospel, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory." God's love became flesh in Jesus, but that was just the first step. The goal was for God's love to become flesh in ordinary people like you and me. As you make this special gift, don't just offer the gift, offer yourself and watch in amazement at what God will do. This is the great miracle of Christmas... God in Christ became like us, so we could become like Christ.

See you Christmas Eve, you and that loved one you bring with you to share the joy of the Christ who makes us new.

Sincerely in Christ,

Dr. Will Cotton

Senior Pastor

• Invitation to the New Testament explores the writings of the New Testament with Jesus as the starting point and looks at how the early church took shape. Wednesdays at 9:30 am beginning January 10. Click here to register.
• Invitation to John looks at Jesus differently from the other Gospels. Hear him speak, see his signs, and to consider anew what it means to be his followers. Monday evenings at 6:30 pm beginning January 8. Click here to register.
• Invitation to Psalms studies these ancient texts and invites us to engage them at the deepest level. Tuesday evenings at 6:30 starting January 9. Click here to register.