THe Pastor's Corner

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

What are you passionate about?  Thinking about what you are passionate about is a good thing to do as we are entering the Advent season.  I encourage you to use your passion for whatever or whoever to make a difference in the world this Advent season.

I have been reading a book by Mike Slaughter, lead pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio.  The book is titled “Christmas is Not Your Birthday.”  Granted there are probably a handful of people reading this newsletter whose birthdays actually do fall on December 25, but for most of us the title is a true statement.  The book talks about how often times materialism takes away from the true meaning of Christmas.  We can get caught up in buying more and more, trying to fit one more thing into a very busy season, and being relieved when Christmas is finally over.  Surely this is not the way to celebrate our Lord’s birthday!

We cannot change the way we do things overnight.  I know.  I tried to talk my children into spending less on Christmas gifts.  I suggested we give homemade gifts to each other.  You would have thought I asked them if I could move in with them, I received such a quick negative response.

But we can be purposeful in doing something for people other than our family and close friends this Christmas season.  We can call it our birthday gift to Jesus.  At the beginning of my letter, I suggested you use what you are passionate about to change the world.  Following are some possibilities:

• If you are passionate about children, you may want to bring children’s mittens, hats, and/or socks to hang on our Christmas tree located in the entry way of the church to be given to those in need.
  

• If you are passionate about eradicating malaria you may want to give to the Imagine No Malaria Fund.
  

• If you are passionate about education you may want to give to our third Sunday offering for Red Bird Mission (more about this mission in an article in this newsletter.)
  

• If you are passionate about giving people the training and resources needed to help them feed themselves you may want to give to Heifer International.
  

Of course the possibilities are endless.  The point is Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus’ Birthday.  If you have not already decided what to buy Jesus this year, now is the time to think about it.  After all, there are only so many shopping days before Christmas!

Wishing you a very Blessed Merry Christmas,

Pastor Karen