4 Things to Know Before Christmas

May you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!

1. Christmas Eve at 6:30PM - Remember to invite a friend to our Christmas Eve celebration on Thursday night.  It is so important to remember the real reason for all of the presents under the tree and this season of giving.

2.  Jim Ring - Jim is resting comfortably after his quadruple bypass surgery today.  He is doing well (considering he just underwent major surgery!)  Please continue to pray for a good recuperation.

3. Other Important Calendar Events:

• Adult Sunday School class will resume on January 3 at 9:00AM.
• January 4, Council/Vision Team Meeting, 6:30PM at Church.
• January 5, Book Club, 6:30PM.  We will meet at Denny's and discuss the book "Before I Go To Sleep" by S.J. Watson.
• Friday, January 15, 2016 – Family Movie Night at 7:00 pm.

4. Prayers:

• Pray for those who are missing loved ones over the holidays.
• Pray for a local church who recently released their worship leader because of moral failure.  No specifics will be forthcoming but prayers are greatly needed.  
• Pray for Pastor Matt's friend who has a conflict with in his family.  The phrase, " I'm never coming back here again" is not a good way to end a family Christmas party.
• Pray for Jason as the new pastor at McGraft Congregational Church in town. He comes from California and we hope the transition is good for him, his family, and the Church.
• Pray for the transition of Ed Cohea into the role of Director of Worship Arts at Celebration.  He officially starts on January 1!
• Pray for the people in the Balama area of Mozambique where they are experiencing flood conditions during their rainy season.
• Big thank you for Reyes and Ruth who scrambled to make coffee on Sunday!
• Pray for God's guidance in new friendships.
• "Prayers for healing."
• Pray for Becky Fredrickson who will leave this week for Florida.  May her time there be refreshing and fruitful.
• Pray for Deb, a friend of Carla Eenigenburg's.  The doctors found a mass on her husband's spine. The specialists think it's benign but its in a tight space, so they don't want to damage anything when they remove it. 

--

Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.                            
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137

Celebration Weekly - Dec. 16

My new favorite book is "All Is Grace" by Brennan Manning.  It is a raw and honest look at the Christian life with all of its paradoxes.  I haven't read too far into the book yet but this quote stopped me yesterday: "Ragamuffins have a singular prayer: 'God be merciful to me, a sinner.' Any additional flourishes to make that cry more palatable are merely Pharisaical leaven."  Remember God's radical, wonderful, and totally amazing grace to you this week!

1. IMPORTANT CALENDAR ITEMS

• SUNDAY, Fellowship Team Meeting after the worship service.
• SUNDAY, Creativity Team Meeting after the worship service.
• SUNDAY, The New Small Group meets after church.
• December 24, Christmas Eve Service, 6:30PM.  Invite a friend to celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior.
• Adult Sunday School class will resume on January 3 at 9:00AM.
• January 5, Book Club, 6:30PM.  We will meet at Denny's and discuss the book "Before I Go To Sleep" by S.J. Watson.

2. STUDENT MINISTRY

• TONIGHT, Wednesday Night Youth Ministries, 6:30-8:00PM at Calvin Church.  Little Peeps = Lesson:"The Light of the Whole World";GEMS = Christmas Party with Ice Cream Sundae’s and GAMES; Cadets = Reading of Luke 2 & Christmas Movie Night;Middle School = Christmas Party  REMINDER: We'll be off December 23 & 30.
• SUNDAY, High School Movie Night, 6:00-8:30PM. All High School or College Students should meet at Calvin Church for some food and a festive movie night!
• Middle School Retreat - January 22-24 at Grace Adventures.  Contact Brian Kingshott for a permission form or other information. This is one of the most spiritually beneficial events of our year!   So I strongly encourage you to consider having your child participate.

3. Local Christmas Nativity Presentations

• Outdoor Live Nativity at Central Assembly Church - December 16-18 from 6:00-8:00PM.  (2620 McLaughlin, Muskegon)
• Christmas Nativity Walk at Trinity Lutheran Church - December 18-19 from 6:00-9:00PM, December 20 from 3:00-4:00PM.  (3225 Roosevelt Road, Roosevelt Park)

4. Baby Basics - We moved this ministry location to the main floor (the old library). Please leave donations on the white table display in the old Worship Center. We especially need lotion, wash, diapers & wipes.

5. PRAYERS - Here are some new prayers for your list:

• Pam Serene has finished her requirements for her degree from Muskegon Community College.  She graduates in May!!!
• Carla Eenigenburg's cousin Scott came through his heart surgery well and is now recovering at home.
• Kalece Crowley, a 3 yr old student at Muskegon Christian School will have major kidney surgery on Thursday at Helen Devos Children's hospital.  Pray for God to work through the doctors & nurses that will be caring for her.  Pray for comfort & healing for Kalece and pray for peace & wisdom for her parents.
• Prayers of praise for the excitement of our Grand Opening!  It was a wonderful day!  It was great to see many guests who hadn't been to any church in a long time.  
• Pray for Ivy Dudgeon's uncle and aunt who are having surgeries this week.
• Pray for the those who enter Christmas time without loved ones this year.
• Pray for parents who have addictions.
• Pray for those with back injuries and other physical hurts.
• "Jesus is the reason for the season!"
• Pastor Matt's nephew will have surgery next week to correct an issue with his kidneys.
• Pray for those who battle depression during the winter months.  
• Pray for those seeking financial stability.
• Pray for the people who visited who do not have a home church or even faith in Jesus.

-- 

Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.                            
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137

Celebration Midweek - Dec. 9

While helping to plan the "Grand Opening" this week, I was struck with God's faithfulness us, God's people who worship as Celebration Community Church.  He has blessed us for over 18 years!  Long before we called our first pastor, before we met at Hile School, and before we moved into our present worship center.  Sunday we will celebrate the recent blessings of God but he has been a constant source of blessing all along.  Thank you God for your faithfulness!

1. IMPORTANT CALENDAR ITEMS

• SUNDAY, Grand Opening Worship Service, 10:30AM
• December 24, Christmas Eve Service, 6:30PM.  Invite a friend to celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior.
• Adult Sunday School class will resume on January 3 at 9:00AM.
• January 5, Book Club, 6:30PM.  We will meet at Denny's and discuss the book "Before I Go To Sleep" by S.J. Watson.

2. STUDENT MINISTRY

• TONIGHT, Wednesday Night Youth Ministries, 6:30-8:00PM at Calvin Church.  Little Peeps = Lesson: "He's Here!"--The Story of Jesus' Birth"; GEMS = Lesson:"Choose forgiveness!” Craft: Angel Ornament; Cadets = Hearts & Hands Project Night; Middle School = "Mary the Mother of Jesus "
• SUNDAY, High School Progressive Dinner, 6:00-8:30PM, All High School/College Students should meet at church and we will travel from house to house and enjoy some great food together. Bring a $2 wrapped gift for our annual gift exchange!
• December 20th, High School Movie Night, 6:00-8:30PM.

3. Giving Tree - There are new ornaments on the Giving Tree because we have a new family from Love INC!  This family is presently home-less but living with friends of the family.  There are no any specific big need items but the family is grateful for the willingness of Celebration to help them with a Christmas they otherwise would not have had.

4. Celebration Family Meeting - If you were not at the meeting on Sunday, pick up the informational packet on the info booth.  It is full of exciting things happening in various Ministry Teams at Celebration.  

5. Baby Basics - We moved this ministry to the main floor so team members do not need to climb many stairs to participate. Please leave donations on the white table display in the Fellowship Hall. We especially need lotion, wash, diapers & wipes.

6. PRAYERS - Here are some prayer requests for this week:

• The Grand Opening on Sunday and all the little details that need to come together.  Pray for friends and guests who are coming to celebrate with us.
• Carla Eenigenburg's Uncle Don had cataract surgery which went went well.  Her cousin Scott will have surgery this weekend on his heart.
• Pray for the family in Albert Lea, MN whose son committed suicide last week.
• Patti Lacy asked for prayers for their friends' daughter who attempted suicide for the 3rd time this year.  She jumped from a bridge and broke her pelvis and a leg.  She is depressed and hurting inside.
• Pray for the guests we had on Sunday.  May God feed their souls and lead them where they can be useful to God's Kingdom.
• Pray for co-workers and friends who we show Jesus to every day.
• Ron Crabtree asked for prayers for his mother in law who has diabetes and her going back to work again.
• Bill Essenberg prays for a new job and for his addiction recovery.
• Pray for family members who do not know Jesus.  May we be good witnesses for Jesus or may God do what is necessary to bring them to Jesus.
• Pray for Beverly, mother in law of Kim Rhodes, who is recovering from colon surgery.
• Mike Straley asks for prayers for safe travel to family in Utah this month.
• Pray for those who are finding it difficult to find joy this time of year.
• Pray for small groups at church to help people grow closer to God and to his people.

-- 

Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.                            
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137

Advent News #1

Here is your CS Lewis quote for the week: "True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”  Hopefully it is helpful during this Christmas time.

1. IMPORTANT CALENDAR ITEMS

- SUNDAY, Annual Congregational Meeting after church.

- MONDAY, Council/Vision Team Meeting, 6:30PM.

- December 13, Grand Opening, 10:30AM

- December 24, Christmas Eve Service, 6:30PM.  Invite a friend to celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior.

- January 5, Book Club, 6:30PM.  We will meet at Denny's and discuss the book 

"Before I Go To Sleep" by S.J. Watson.

2. STUDENT MINISTRY

- NO YOUTH MINISTRIES TONIGHT.  We will meet on the 9th, next Wednesday.

- SUNDAY, High School Youth Group at Calvin Church, 6:00-8:30PM. Dinner is provided.  Contact Pastor Matt for more details.

- December 13, Progressive Dinner, 6:00-8:30PM, All High School/College Students should meet at church and we will travel from house to house and enjoy some great food together. Bring a $2 wrapped gift for our annual gift exchange!
- December 20th will be movie night for High School Youth Group

3. PRAYERS - Here are some prayer requests for this week:

• Patti Lacy asked for prayers for their friends' daughter who attempted suicide for the 3rd time this year.  She jumped from a bridge and broke her pelvis and a leg.  She is depressed and hurting inside.
• Angel Kinney asked for prayers for her college finals.
• Pray for the guests we had on Sunday.  May God feed their souls and lead them where they can be useful to God's Kingdom.
• Brenda Swanson has been to 2 funerals in the past 2 weeks.  Both were tough events but both were good reunions with family.
• Pray for co-workers and friends who we show Jesus to them every day.
• Ron Crabtree asked for prayers for his mother in law who has diabetes and her going back to work again.
• We praise God for Elaine Doctor's baptism!  May God do wonderful things in her life!
• Bill Essenberg prays for a new job and for his addiction recovery.
• Pray for family members who do not know Jesus.  May we be good witnesses for Jesus or may God do what is necessary to bring them to Jesus.
• Pray for Beverly, mother in law of Kim Rhodes, who is recovering from colon surgery on Tuesday.
• Mike Straley asks for prayers for safe travel to family in Utah this month.
• Pray for those who are finding it difficult to find joy this time of year.
• Pray for small groups at church to help people grow closer to God and to his people.

-- 

Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.                            
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137