The 2016 Advent season was very special for the kids and families of Higgins and our larger community.  It began with the making of Advent wreaths.  Each family made not only a wreath, but the candles as well - out of sheets of real beeswax!  The families not only took home the wreath they made, but also a daily devotion storybook, Jotham's Journey, to read together each day of Advent.  Several families told me how meaningful and exciting their Advent devotions were this year because of the book. 

But, the Advent devotions did NOT just occur within our own church family, we also took the tradition to Woodland Apartments.  The families of Woodland made the same Advent wreaths and candles.  Thirteen families or couples or individuals from our Higgins family went to Woodland and read Jotham's Journey each evening to the kids there.  Some of the older kids even began doing the readings.  One of the maintenance men from Woodland said the apartment community was a better place because of our presence.  But we know it was really the presence of Jesus in us that is changing the atmosphere (and changing us.)  Our Advent season at Woodland culminated in a party on the night before Christmas Eve.  Twenty-one people attended the party from the apartments and from the Higgins community.  It was a very special time of lighting the Christ candle and finishing the Advent readings, sharing food and stories (homemade tamales - YUM!), playing games and giving gifts.

Out LIO kids also had a very special Christmas of sharing the gift of music and art with the residents of Mountain Manor Nursing Home.  They had a great time singing and making Christmas cards with the residents and sharing Jesus' birthday cake.

Kids from both Higgins and LIO worked very hard together for a couple of months to bless us with an absolutely beautiful production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  And the Woodland families joined us in the audience for both shows.  All three of our family ministries - Higgins, LIO, and Woodland,  coming together to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord.

Jesus is on the move in our families and community, and we want to keep that momentum going.  I am suggesting two things to keep us growing:

1.  Purchase a good family devotion book and keep reading.  I would

     suggest any of the following:

     a.  Long Story Short by Marty Machowski

     b.  Old Story New by Marty Machowski

     c.  God's Battle by Sally Michael

     d.  God's Wisdom by Sally Michael

     e.  And for Easter-Amon's Adventure by Arnold Ytreeide 

         (part of the Jotham's Journey series)

2.  Stay connected to the families at Woodland

     a.  Plan to attend or help with one of the summer camps we will 

          have at the apartments

     b.  Share what God tells you to share-your lives, your love and

          your gifts for HIS glory and honor!

Exciting things!!! Listen for more to come!