Matthews
     Church of God
                 Monthly
                       Messenger
December 2018 - In This Issue:
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS 
 
It's Christmas time and  many people forget what Christmas is all about. It's true that Christmas has become so commercialized and secularized until the real meaning is often lost. 

It's hard to have a  Christmas spirit when things are so chaotic with all the pushing and shoving. Whether it's Christmas or any other time of the year, those of us who are Christians must go beyond the Christmas spirit; we must have a Christian spirit at all times!

The spirit of Christmas  should not be that of an Ebenezer  Scrooge; it's not a spirit of greed but one of humility. 

We've all heard the expression, "Familiarity breeds contempt", c ould it be that we have heard the Christmas story so many times until we can almost quote verbatim?
C.S. Lewis said, "We don't need to be told new ideas so much as we need to be reminded of old truths."

W e need to look at the Christmas story fresh and anew. Because we have heard the story so much, we tend to think that it really no longer has anything to offer us. We think we see the whole picture clearly, but many times we don't.

The little girl came home from Sunday school excitedly waving a paper. "Mommy, my teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she has ever seen!"

The mother took the picture from her little girl's hands; she studied it for a moment and she too concluded that this was indeed the most peculiar picture of Christmas she had ever seen.

Her mother said, "This is wonderfully drawn, but why do you have all of the people riding in the back of an airplane?"

"It's the flight to Egypt," the little girl said, with a hint of disappointment because the picture's meaning was not immediately obvious.

The mother said, "Who is the mean-looking man at the front?"

"That's Pontius the Pilot," the girl said now visually impatient.

And here you have Mary and Joseph and the baby but who is the fat man sitting behind Mary?

The little girl sighed, "Can't you tell? That's Round John Virgin!"

Sometimes we are like that little girl; we think we have the Christmas story all figured out.
We think we know all that there is to know about the Christmas story, but perhaps we don't see it as clearly as we think.
 
Maybe that's why Christmas has become ho-ho and ho-hum instead of hallelujah for so many people; maybe that's why they've lost the spirit of Christmas.

In the midst of silver bells, tinsel and colored lights we are reminded that Christmas is the gift of God's Son. He gave to us the gift of the Savior and for that reason we have joy!

Yet we live in the midst of a world that is longing for that joy. We sing, "Joy to the World the Lord is come"; w hile the world is singing the blues and experiencing depression.

For some, Christmas is not a time of joy and cheer but a time of depression, loneliness, and anxiety.

The true spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ; without Him there is no joy to the world, no peace and no goodwill to man.

Let's make up our minds this year to remember what Christmas is all about.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

Our Christmas decorating crew did an outstanding job this year as usual. They decorated a total of 10 Christmas trees as well has hanging wreaths and putting up other decorations.

We had the biggest turnout for decorating ever! 
Thank you Christmas Decorating Crew for all your hard work! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 






JOY, JOY, JOY!

It's going to be joy, joy, joy with our Christmas musicals coming up.
 
 
First off, the MCOG Sanctuary Choir will be performing at the Billy G raham Library on Saturday December 8 at 6 p.m. 
 
This will be  our choir's 4th year of being invited back to perform.
 


Come join us Sunday, December 9 at 6:30 pm, as we celebrate the Christmas season. The MCOG Sanctuary Choir will present the Christmas Cantata, "All Is Well" under the direction of Beth Baker, Worship and Music Ministry Director.

Blending traditional carols with contemporary Christmas selections, this cantata has something for everyone. Invite your family and friends and lets celebrate the Christmas season together!


Our Kidz' Church will be performing on Sunday morning  December 16 at 11 a.m.; "It All Happened In The Country",   under the direction of Abby Salsedo.
 
Our kids do an outstanding job and they always surprise us with their acting ability.
 
"It All Happened In The Country", features Daniel and Chelsea, two city slickers, who get stranded in the country and find out there is more to Christmas than the hustle and bustle of presents and decorations.  
With the help of Cora May, cousin Luther, Uncle Yule and Granny, they learn the story of Christ's birth and how "It All Happened in the Country" . . . the countryside of Bethlehem.  
 
You will not want to miss this special Christmas performance.
 
CHRISTMAS PARTIES!

It's that time of year when we love all the festivities, especially the parties. 

The Ladies Christmas party will be held on Saturday, December 1 beginning at 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Food will be catered by "Mickey's" from Pageland, S.C.




The Teen's Christmas Party will be held on Wednesday evening, December 5th at the Pizza Peel in downtown Matthews.
All the teens are to meet at the church at 5:45 p.m. This will be an "Ugly Sweater" party and a "White Elephant" gift exchange of $ 5.





The Children's Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 15,  following dress rehearsal. 
 
The party will be held in the fellowship hall.
 



The church's annual Christmas Party w ill be held on Sunday, December 16, following the children's program at 12:30 p.m. We always look forward to a great time of food, fun and fellowship.

 
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Matthews Church of God
517 E John St.
Matthews, NC  28105
704-847-5625




"A Church with open arms, a smiling face and a loving heart for all people."  
COME WORSHIP WITH US!