The Power of Presence
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” which means “God with us”.
Matthew 1:23
The greatest views we’ve ever scene are not as special if there is no one there to share it with. The hardest of times are even more difficult if we are alone. The Christmas season can be a very hard time if we are all alone with no one to celebrate it. Of course, we can send and receive cards and emails which are nice but they are no substitute for being with friends and loved ones. Whatever the time, I just want to share it with the ones I love! God’s great gift to us was to come be with us in His Son Jesus Christ! God with us.
After thousands of years of prophesy and leading his people, God the author and creator of the universe came to be with us in person here on earth. People got to know Jesus, see Him, touch Him, talk with Him, here Him share messages, experience His healing, experience His love and compassion and enjoy His presence. Those who encountered Jesus were never the same. Those who followed Jesus as their Lord and Savior were called not only to experience his life-changing presence but also to share it.
How do we experience His presence today? In prayer as we humble ourselves before Him and looking for His work in and around our lives, in worship as we sing hymns of praise to Him, being still and knowing He is God (Psalms 46:10), and meditating on His word reflecting on His love for us. When we seek Him, we will find Him; when we ask Him, He will reply; when we knock, He will answer.
During this Christmas time, as we enjoy His presence, the love and joy He brings us, be available and willing to let God bring you across others paths who need to experience Jesus in their lives. Whether a friend, neighbor, or the cashier at the store who needs more than anything to just experience God’s love. Let’s spread the good news of “God with us!”
In Christ,
Harvey
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Please pray for me to keep my eyes on the prize. I lost my brother, sister, nephew & aunt all in a 60 day period and I am very fragile right now. ~ Mary
- Tom has a sore on his big toe. Please pray that it will heal! ~ Ruthie
- Please pray for balance in getting stuff done for Last Days of Jesus nativity/dessert event and starting in January with lesson prep for GNC/JYC and staying healthy. ~ Joyce
- Thank you for your prayers for Jennifer. No panic attacks while driving to and from Florence. Please keep praying for her. ~ Joyce
- Please continue lifting up my dad. ~ Joyce
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Celebrate The Wins:
- Thank God!! My son has been living clean and sober for 10 months. My adopted son, Roger Alford, continues to progress!! Thank you!! ~ Leona
- My daughter Shannon came through heart surgery well and healing as expected. Praise God!! ~ Jane
- Thanks for all the prayers and meals from each of you. Your love shines out by your actions. ~ Bob
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To watch this Sunday's live-streaming service click on this link "Peace"
Or go to youtube.com and search for "First Christian Church The Dalles"
You will also be able to watch any service at any time.
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Can't wait for Sunday morning worship service? Get a head start here for the songs that will be featured this Sunday.
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Family Christmas Craft, Card, and Cookie Decorating Day
Tuesday, December 21st, 1-3 pm
Come one, come all, and invite your friends and neighbors to this festive afternoon of fun and fellowship for all ages! We will be making a Christmas craft or ornament and a beautiful Christmas card for each one of our church family members who are shut in or reside in an assisted living facility. We will also be decorating and enjoying Christmas sugar cookies. Childcare will be available for children birth through age 3.
“Gratitude is the first born child of grace.”
Max Lucado
This Holy Season, when we focus on giving thanks and celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, we have many opportunities to give our time and resources for the glory of God. Pray now and ask God how he wants you to sacrifice for the sake of another this Christmas.
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Baby, it’s Cold Outside!
Have you ever been freezing cold for an extended time? So cold it hurt, and you could not think of anything else besides getting warm again? Winter is knocking on our door and with it will come sub-freezing temperatures. By the grace of God, you and I don’t have to sleep outside night after night in those conditions because we have a warm home in which to rest. Some men and women are not so fortunate.
Grace House Ministries once again will be handing out warm winter clothing to homeless people in Portland on Saturday, December 11, 2021. They would really appreciate your gift of brand new warm socks, or new and gently used good quality tents, tarps, blankets, sleeping bags, coats, hats, gloves and scarves to share with these folks.
Please contact either Will Tanner (541) 300-1293 or Mary Keizur (541) 980-2263 to donate toward this mission of compassion.
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:40.
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Children's Church for kids Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
EVERY Sunday
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Children's Church for Grades 3-5
EVERY OTHER Sunday
( December 12th & 26th)
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Mark your calendars now and plan to attend our impromptu Family Build-A-Pageant on Sunday December 19th at 4:30pm. Bring the whole family and invite your grandchildren, friends and neighbors to travel with us to Bethlehem during this delightful, fun and no-fuss event as we focus on the real Reason for the Season. Participants will show up in costume at 4:30pm, rehearse the performance once on-the-spot and then present the pageant at 5pm followed by birthday cake for Jesus. |
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Ladies, your Women's Ministry Team invites you to a No-Host Brunch at Kainos Coffee (418 E 2nd St, downtown The Dalles) on Saturday December 11th at 11am. Come, enjoy some great fellowship and then you can even enjoy more time together by walking around the other local small business in our beautiful downtown and maybe even get a little Christmas shopping done. We are excited to get together before the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. We hope to see you there! |
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Missionary Update. David and Denise Moore. Firm Foundations in Christ Ministries
MINISTRY:
Praises: FFICM’s 5-week ministry in Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt in October and November, as they trained people to help new believers grow in their faith, was amazing.
FFICM’s Fall Fund Raiser gave a good opportunity for donors to know of preparations for the coming year of ministry and to look forward with excitement and anticipation for what God will do through their partnership.
Praise/Prayer for the new website person as FFICM transitions to a new hosting platform.
Pray for wisdom as two new board members are being considered for the FFICM board.
FAMILY:
Pray for new prayer and financial partners for the Moore family as finances have been challenged due to Covid.
BIG Praise for the gift of a new baby boy who will be welcomed into the family in May of 2022!
Family prayer is asked for their son Andrew who has struggled in entering high school and in making wise decisions. He is now in an inpatient drug rehab facility in Portland and will be there for at least a month. Pray that he will learn what he needs to learn while there and that David and Denise will learn the skills they need to help him.
Their daughter Hannah is looking for a job that will fit her school schedule and Asher continues in sports, band and school leadership.
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Greetings!
Now looking toward our 44th season in 2022, much is happening behind the scenes as our Board of Directors iron out the many details that go into bringing the Gospel story to life in The Dalles, OR. As always, prayer is our main request!
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Our annual Kickoff is 2 pm Sunday, January 9th at First Christian Church (TDFCC).
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Sunday rehearsals begin January 16th, also at 2 pm at TDFCC. Join us in praying for the MANY roles of both cast & crew to be filled. If anyone with God’s gifting and passion for ministry is interested, God can use them to His glory. Encourage them to email us and we'll get them plugged in!
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Before the new year, we are working on a Free Live Drive-Thru Nativity with a Fundraiser of Desserts & Hot Beverages:
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from 5-7 PM on Friday-Saturday, December 17th-18th at Sorosis Park.
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People can help either by donating desserts, dressing up or just driving through and donating money for those delicious goodies! Again, they can email us for more information on how they can help.
As with everything in this world, funds are always needed to produce this remarkable rendition of Jesus’ story. We have faith that our Lord richly provides. Please pray for His continued favor. If people feel led, they can donate online at our website or through our GiveButter donation link or even our Facebook page.
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BUDGET
November monthly goal $32,788.08
Received to date $35,336.95
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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES
Here is an email we received from an OCC Shoebox gift recipient in an "undisclosed" access country from our 2020 shoeboxes. So exciting to hear from kids and their families.
"Respected Joyce and Jennifer in Christ
I want to thank you for the wonderful Samaritan gift packed by you . My son Asish was so excited and happy to receive the gift box. May God bless you all and fill you all with joy and happiness in life. May Christmas bring lots of joy and blessing in your family.
Kindly remember us also in your prayers. I am in the ministry, doing my ministry in the tea garden's areas. It is very hard to win the souls for the Lord's kingdom.
Hope to get your reply.
Prem Thakur
India"
Please be in prayer for the children who will receive our 2021 shoeboxes. As soon as we know where these boxes go, we will let you all know.
We started shopping already for 2022 shoebox gifts. Please watch for sales and start collecting with us for next year. Thank you all for being a part of this outreach opportunity to kids around the world. May the Lord be glorified in the hearts and minds of kids who will receive our boxes.
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NORCOR Bags
We will be packing Blessing Bags at 6pm, Wednesday, December 22nd, in the basement Fellowship Hall, to help show God's love to the inmates at NORCOR.
We are looking for donations of candy, nuts & cookies; and we would also love to have you join us as we pack them up and sign Christmas cards for each inmate.
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MISSIONARY CARE
Christmas cards will be available in the Fireside Room at First Christian Church for our Missionaries Sunday, December 5th. Please sign all the cards and let our Missionaries know they are appreciated and loved by their FCC family.
Addresses for mailing your own cards are the following:
John & Yoriko Livingston
Hope, Truman & Walker
977 Rogers Rd.
Lancaster, KY 40444
David & Denise Moore
Hannah, Andrew, Asher & baby bump
623 S.E. 8th Ave.
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Paul & Linda Williams
12535 Summer Crest Drive
Portland, OR 97223
Lee & Julie Davis
6510 N.W. Mountain View Drive
Corvallis, OR 97330
Clyde & Mary Keizur
624 East 12th St.
The Dalles, OR 97058
Sam Owen
PO Box 43078-00100
Nairobi, KENYA
Ramon & Monica Rios
Apartado Postal 4
C.P. 22850
Ensenada, BC MEXICO
C.E.F.
Julie Fritts & Lorna Van Hee
820 East 3rd St.
The Dalles, OR 97058
Andrew & Karina Smith
David & Johnathan
C/O
80458 Green Point Rd.
Clatskanie, OR 97016
Jacob & Rochelle Edmonds
Wesley & Jack
P.O. Box 47
Nampa, Idaho 83653
Ritha Matta
Jl.Jatisari 57
Rt 03 RW 06
Pepelegi Waru
Sidoarjo-Jawa Timur 61256
INDONESIA
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WHAT WE BELIEVE...The Dalles First Christian Church is an independent governed congregation with elder oversight. Our roots are found in the Restoration Movement. We follow the Lord’s plea for unity. We support all believers who accept Jesus as Lord of their lives. We don’t consider ourselves the only Christians, but “Christians only”. We look to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. We follow the New Testament in matters of faith and practice. We observe communion on a weekly basis and follow the Biblical pattern of conversion. Church members have exhibited their faith in Christ by belief, repentance, public confession of faith, baptism (immersion), and a continual faithful obedience to Biblical standards of living. We stand firm on the essential doctrines of the faith, but observe freedom in the non-essential areas of Christian life and belief.
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First Christian Church, The Dalles |
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Watch for updates on Facebook and our website |
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