December 16, 2009
Santa and Children
Yesterday, I had a visit from Santa. The Santa Claus who came to visit the children of our Child Enrichment Center came by the office and gave us a candy cane. It was lunch time when Santa finished his visits in each classroom. I had gone down to join Gina for lunch when he came by her office. He said, “This is the best program I visit.” For several moments he bragged on our Child Enrichment Center. He said that of all the Day Cares and Preschools he visits our Child Enrichment Center is the best.
What a complement to the staff of our Child Enrichment Center. They seek to be at their best for the children, knowing that each child is a precious gift from God.
I was shown a picture that was taken of Santa in one of the classrooms. Santa was kneeling alongside a couple of the children, looking at the Manger. I don’t know this Santa’s name. He is the one the Child Enrichment Center uses each year. But he is very quick to tell the children that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In all of the activities of Christmas it is easy to loose sight of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The original St. Nicolas did not give gifts to draw attention to himself. He gave to those in need as an act of worship and commitment to Christ. He loved because Christ had captured his heart.
I’ve witnessed that kind of giving in our Church Family. In spite of the struggling economy you gave over 300 “Shoeboxes” that are being delivered to children. Then you adopted all the angels from the Casa Angel Tree. You gave $2,183.50 to the White Christmas Offering, which supports our United Methodist Children’s Homes. And because of your giving we are helping several church families who are having struggles financially.
You’ve also demonstrated your worship of Christ through your financial commitment to the ministries of the church. According to the scriptures, that should be our first act of giving. 239 adults/families and 23 children have committed $1,116,429.64 toward our 2010 Ministry Budget. They have committed 62 % of the 2010 Ministry Budget. Of those who have made commitments, 40 have made a first time commitment to this church. If you have not made your Financial Commitment to the 2010 Ministry Budget, Commitment Cards are available in the Welcome Areas or you can contact our Financial Secretary, Cece McNeil.
We also worship Christ by giving of our time. Peter wrote, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10; NRSV) Writing on that passage, Oz Hillman said, “There is a Kingdom principle I find few really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.”
In this week’s TGIF devotional (December 16, 2009) Oz’s went on to say; “Whenever God calls me to serve another person with my time and resources, I notice how God measures resources back to me from unrelated sources. Sometimes it comes through an unexpected donation to our ministry or a speaking engagement or a new opportunity. It is uncanny how this happens consistently when I serve others.”
We have an opportunity to serve this Sunday night. Join us for Caroling to our Homebound persons. Meet at the church at 5:00 PM. Bill has two caroling routes lined up. We want to fill a Bus or two on each route. Then we will return to the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and fellowship.
Family Night at the Movies is this Thursday, December 17. It begins at 6:30 PM in our Family Ministry Building (Gym). There is no cost, so invite your friends and neighbors.
Next week we celebrate Christmas. We will again have three different Christmas Eve Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion in the Sanctuary.
7:00 PM – Contemporary Worship, Communion and Candlelight in the Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Santa and Children
Yesterday, I had a visit from Santa. The Santa Claus who came to visit the children of our Child Enrichment Center came by the office and gave us a candy cane. It was lunch time when Santa finished his visits in each classroom. I had gone down to join Gina for lunch when he came by her office. He said, “This is the best program I visit.” For several moments he bragged on our Child Enrichment Center. He said that of all the Day Cares and Preschools he visits our Child Enrichment Center is the best.
What a complement to the staff of our Child Enrichment Center. They seek to be at their best for the children, knowing that each child is a precious gift from God.
I was shown a picture that was taken of Santa in one of the classrooms. Santa was kneeling alongside a couple of the children, looking at the Manger. I don’t know this Santa’s name. He is the one the Child Enrichment Center uses each year. But he is very quick to tell the children that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In all of the activities of Christmas it is easy to loose sight of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The original St. Nicolas did not give gifts to draw attention to himself. He gave to those in need as an act of worship and commitment to Christ. He loved because Christ had captured his heart.
I’ve witnessed that kind of giving in our Church Family. In spite of the struggling economy you gave over 300 “Shoeboxes” that are being delivered to children. Then you adopted all the angels from the Casa Angel Tree. You gave $2,183.50 to the White Christmas Offering, which supports our United Methodist Children’s Homes. And because of your giving we are helping several church families who are having struggles financially.
You’ve also demonstrated your worship of Christ through your financial commitment to the ministries of the church. According to the scriptures, that should be our first act of giving. 239 adults/families and 23 children have committed $1,116,429.64 toward our 2010 Ministry Budget. They have committed 62 % of the 2010 Ministry Budget. Of those who have made commitments, 40 have made a first time commitment to this church. If you have not made your Financial Commitment to the 2010 Ministry Budget, Commitment Cards are available in the Welcome Areas or you can contact our Financial Secretary, Cece McNeil.
We also worship Christ by giving of our time. Peter wrote, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10; NRSV) Writing on that passage, Oz Hillman said, “There is a Kingdom principle I find few really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.”
In this week’s TGIF devotional (December 16, 2009) Oz’s went on to say; “Whenever God calls me to serve another person with my time and resources, I notice how God measures resources back to me from unrelated sources. Sometimes it comes through an unexpected donation to our ministry or a speaking engagement or a new opportunity. It is uncanny how this happens consistently when I serve others.”
We have an opportunity to serve this Sunday night. Join us for Caroling to our Homebound persons. Meet at the church at 5:00 PM. Bill has two caroling routes lined up. We want to fill a Bus or two on each route. Then we will return to the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and fellowship.
Family Night at the Movies is this Thursday, December 17. It begins at 6:30 PM in our Family Ministry Building (Gym). There is no cost, so invite your friends and neighbors.
Next week we celebrate Christmas. We will again have three different Christmas Eve Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion in the Sanctuary.
7:00 PM – Contemporary Worship, Communion and Candlelight in the Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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