FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER: Tattered Angel
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When Dave and I wed in Telluride Colorado, his 12 year old Kyle and 18 year old Karmen, flew by themselves to meet us on the snow covered peaks. They carried with them fancy clothes for the wedding, ski clothes for their first try on the slopes and a large box containing our wedding gift. I was startled because they didn’t need to bring a gift at all. And I was moved by the gift: a very large paper pink angel carrying a small ceramic guitar. They explained that it was a tree topper for our Christmas tree. I knew then that it had stretched their meager budget and I could see in their faces the hope that it would symbolize a new family, blessed by something holy.
It would not have been my first choice for a tree topper. That angel in flight was tricky to arrange on the top of the tree an often wobbled and sometimes all you could see was the bottom of her flowing robes. But over the years, she became a part of us, a regular feature on the tree, regardless of how the other themes and ornaments changed. A few years ago the glue loosened and her guitar tumbled to the floor and broke and we had to carefully reassemble it and delicately balance it back in her arms. This year, I actually looked around for a new tree topper. As she has become rather tattered. And I think the kids don’t really care now, having built their own homes. But I couldn’t see any other tree toppers that appealed to me. Maybe after 27 years, I have fallen a little bit in love with her. Or maybe she just reminds me of the love of our family and especially of two teenagers who made room for a stepmother who was a parenting novice.
This year, many of our traditions around Christmas seem a bit tattered, like that tattered angel. But the beauty of love still shines through. God’s love is still revealed, still expanding, still inspiring us to love one another more fully.
Grace and Peace,
Carla
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After the magi visit the newborn Christ they are warned to go home by another way. And many of the characters in the story of Jesus’ birth find home in a way they had not imagined. They are on the move. Mary and Joseph are unexpectedly expecting. When the census disrupts their lives they are far from home and then a baby arrives. We too have found life unsettling and disrupted over the past nine months. Some folks are “stuck at home” unable to go to church or parties and others are longing for home but unable to travel. The season of Advent invites us to reimagine what life means as God comes to make a home with us. As we awaken to God’s birth, we too can deepen our spiritual journeys and go home by another way.
THIS SUNDAY, PART 3 - Magi, based on Matthew 2:1-12. Rev. Carla Aday preaching and featuring Sara and Alex Goering singing “The Prayer,” made well-known by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli.
ADVENT DEVOTIONS - If you missed any of the advent devotions from the first two weeks, you can find them HERE.
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LIVE NATIVITY - Sat., Dec. 19, 2:30-5:00 p.m. The miracle of Christmas comes to life via a drive- or walk-by live nativity scene on the front lawn of the church. See the holy family, shepherds and animals, enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee or hot cocoa, and pick up Christmas Eve candles for you and your family to use as you worship at home. |
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CHRISTMAS OFFERING FOCUS:
MICAH MINISTRIES
This year's Christmas Offering will go to three local partner agencies who are supporting our neighbors who are experiencing hunger and homelessness: Micah Ministries, Cross-Lines Community Outreach, and The Urban Farming Guys. Feeding and caring for our neighbors has been a focus of the Metro Mission team and volunteers for years and one key mission partner in this service is Micah Ministries at Independence Boulevard Christian Church. Our church’s history connects back to the beginning with IBCC and it is fitting for us to be in partnership today.
Rev. Sharon and Darrell Cantrell serve in leadership for the weekly Monday night meal, bringing warm nourishment and so much more. Sharon shares a reflection on this challenging year and how our financial support is needed.
After 18 years of welcoming our neighbors into the church for the Monday evening meal, Covid hit and we have had to scramble and adapt to meet the needs in the neighborhood. All summer, we set up tents, carried everything outside, and distributed in a safer environment than feeding inside. Insisting on masks for everyone has been a challenge but we have persisted. READ MORE...
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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
ANGEL AND SHEPHERD PHOTOS
We are collecting photos for our Christmas Eve family service. Take a photo of your child(ren) dressed as a shepherd or an angel and email it to April by Dec. 16. Please use landscape orientation and and as plain of a background as you can .
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YOUTH
YOUTH GROUP SAVE THE DATES!
Friday, December 18—Youth Group Christmas Party. Instead of youth group on December 13, join us for a night of ice skating and more for our 2020 youth group Christmas Party! We’ll meet at Crown Center at 4:30 p.m. to ice skate! We will tentatively get dinner and do a gift exchange outside at Crown Center afterwards; details TBD. RSVP now!
SPRING CALENDAR
We’re planning to host activities each Sunday night as possible next semester, with youth group at the church on the first and third Sundays, special socials every second Sunday, and service projects the last Sunday of every month. Download our Spring Calendar now for more information!
Lots more information about Youth Ministries happenings HERE. Sign up for email and/or texting updates.
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WARMTH PACKS FOR MICAH MINISTRY
Crossroads Sunday School class took advantage of the warm weather on Wednesday to assemble 100 warmth packs for Micah Ministries Christmas gifts. And members of the Koinonia Class assembled a whopping 90 packs. The cold is coming so we are grateful to provide a little relief to people served by Micah Ministries! Each pack contains a hoodie, warm socks and gloves, and hand warmer packets. If you'd like to support this project, m onetary donations can be made by clicking here and selecting Micah Ministries, or mailing a check to the church noting Micah Ministries.
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GRACE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP DAY |
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At the Grace at Work Partnership Day with Grace United Community Ministries on Dec. 5, volunteers worked in the garden and planted fruit trees and made and distributed sack lunches. |
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IN SYMPATHY
Your prayers are encouraged for the family of Ron Riley, D.D.S. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandi, and their family. Ron and Sandi are members of our Anniversary Sunday School Class.
MEMORIAL GIFTS HONORING LOVED ONES ones are placed into the Church’s Endowment Funds, which are used to support the church now and into the future. Gifts have recently been given in memory of:
Paul Niewald
By Helen and John Shackelford
Linda Nixon
By Carty and Peggy Johannsen
Jean Scharfenberg
By Kathy and Ron Collins
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CONSIDER A YEAR-END FINANCIAL GIFT |
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During this season of giving, we are grateful for your ongoing generosity and invite you to consider making a year-end financial gift to the church. You may mail your gift to the church, or email Finance Director Rachel Clement f or more information.
Did you see our year end video? Watch it below. You might see someone you know.
Thank you for all of the ways you support the ministries and mission of Country Club Christian Church.
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