Christmas Season is a Season of Opportunity

​This past Saturday our church campus was the place to be. Our entire sanctuary was converted into a toy palace, our tent was converted into a snack and drink center including an opportunity to take pictures with our three characters: reindeer, Olof (the snowman), and the gingerbread man. Our parking lot was full of greeters and the line was long but filled with joyful smiles. The best part:  At each step of the journey those who visited our campus were greeted by the love of JESUS! People entered our parking lot with a wave of welcome and smile from our parking lot crew. The loving generosity of those serving coffee, hot chocolate and sweet treats, the welcoming invitation from our characters, the warm invites from our staff talking with people about our church programs...and that was all before they even got in the building.

Once in the building one of our toy guides helped each family and child pick out the perfect toy. Each engagement seeking how the Holy Spirit would guide our interactions. Would it be a sharing of the gospel? Prayer offered? An invite to our Sunday services? Or would it simply be a warm welcome and a hug? We left each encounter to our Lord. Our goal was that our visitors would see our love and know that we serve a good God.

There were many divine appointments on Saturday. I saw a handful of those families join on Sunday, I saw many warm embraces and the giving of thanks. I saw as our hosts and hostesses helped families get their kids signed up for Awana. I watched prayer take place as some of our hosts felt led. Not only that, our posting about our love for God and our love for the people has been shared, liked and commented on hundreds if not over a thousand times.

Church, I am so proud of the way you loved and will continue to love those who God puts in your path. Thank you for your giving that made this all possible, thank you for your showing up on a Thursday to setup and on a Saturday to serve. You have blessed me and you have honored the Lord well.

Our work is not yet finished. We still have an opportunity to give further. Our homeless outreach is still collecting clothes to hand out at their weekly encounters. Spirit of the Season is still looking for generous donors to help families with Christmas gifts and a Christmas dinner, and our Support Outreach Map (Paul and Caroline Wiig) are in need of donations to get their key leaders helmets to keep them safe as they drive motorcycles everywhere, to get the kids and staff sweatshirts and to provide sports equipment for the Orphanage/School in India.

Visit the map wall in the foyer on a Sunday and pick out an envelope to support one, two or even all of these opportunities this Christmas season. For those with kids, get them involved. Give them a chore or a task that they can do and encourage them to pick one of the envelopes for themselves and teach them how to be generous and sacrificial givers this Christmas.
 
Christmas is coming and I cannot wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus with you.
 
-Pastor Paul Mollett