Merry Christmas!!!

Dear Friends,

The trees have been decorated, the stockings hung and the Christmas lights strung! We have been getting our buildings ready for the Christmas season with festive decorations everywhere! The staff have been doing a Christmas Carol devotional together as well as our tradition of Advent Buddies. We each draw the name of another staff member and secretly give them gifts, pray for them and bless them during this season. We enjoy the gifts and the mystery of trying to figure out who is giving us gifts. I am so thankful that as we are in the midst of the Christmas season that it is not a mystery of what this time of year is about. We know with confidence that this time of year is when we look back on and celebrate the arrival of our God and King into human flesh. One of the first steps of God bringing salvation to all who believe in Him.

It is easy to get caught up in the joy of Christmas, and miss Christ in it. His arrival to earth as a human marked the beginning of our salvation through Him. Without His birth there would have been no way for Him to mingle with and teach the disciples, to heal the sick, release the possessed, for Him to die, to be buried or for Him to rise again and ascend into Heaven.

This is the mark of the beginning of the most impactful and meaningful aspect of being a Christian. The veil being torn in the temple, making Jesus accessible to all of us. To have our sins and guilt washed away and to enter into an intimate relationship with Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.

Let us not get so caught up in our busy schedules and festive to-do lists that we miss spending time with Jesus. Grab your cup of hot chocolate or tea and spend some time with Jesus. Thank Him for the gift of salvation, the blessings in your life, seek wisdom for tough decisions, or just sit and be still in His presence. As you celebrate Christmas may the gratitude and joy of what God has done for us always be in the forefront of your thoughts and actions.

We're Grateful For...

As a staff (and staff children) we want to take a moment to share with you a few of the things we are thankful for.

Tim and Julie - "We are thankful for Jesus, the king of all creation, who left heaven’s glory and came to earth to save us. For shepherds who told others what they had seen and heard. For the cross and the great commission. For our children, grandchildren, and CRC family and friends."

Summer - "I am thankful for the gift of grace. John 1:16 “And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

John - "I'm thankful that the Young Life group that I work with is up to 40-50 youth." (They minister to new Christians and help them deepen their walk in the Lord).

Abigail S - "I am thankful for the opportunity to travel to Italy. It was a time of refreshment and extreme joy! Also for the healing God continues to bring after a bad motor vehicle accident in 2022."

Janet - “I am thankful for CRC’s AWESOME board of directors and their families!”

Peter - “For the graciousness I have received from our Staff and guests as I learn my new role as the Director. And for the Holy Spirit who makes such grace possible.”

Becky - "I'm so thankful for God's grace and peace. I'm thankful for the people He has put in my life who encourage me, stretch me, and point me back to Him. I'm also so thankful for my family!"

Hannah - "I'm thankful for my family, my friends, and my mom."

Ellie - "I'm thankful for my AWANA teacher, big Abigail. I'm also thankful for my sister Hannah."

Abigail R - "My teachers and how they are nice to me."

Eva - "I'm thankful for my teachers at Cubbies. And my family. And my grandmas, since I have two. Oh, and Mimi and Uncle Rad. And everyone in my family. And a Happy New Year. And candy canes."

Wyatt - "I'm thankful for God's provision and His perfect timing!"

Cayman - "I'm thankful for the opportunity to help with the youth at Fired-Up and the love for Christ that I see growing in them."

Randy - "I'm thankful for CRC inviting my family to be a part of the ministry here at CRC."

Jessica - "I'm grateful for Wyatt and Bradley, being back at CRC and being close to my family."

Bryan - "I'm thankful for my family, all my coworkers who are my extended family. I'm also thankful for a lovely place to live and work".

"Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and 

overflowing with gratitude."

Colossians 2:6-7

Thanksgiving Retreat

We had a sunny and richly blessed Thanksgiving Retreat!! All of the staff and guests had such creative ways to express what they were thankful for. We appreciated and learned so much from Peter Iliyn.

Our guests made Christmas wreaths, relaxed in the Lamppost while others ziplined or went on a hike. What a blessing to gather and spend the weekend with believers from all over. We are blessed!