4 Days Till Christmas!

4 Days Till Christmas!  It is amazing to think of Christmas being this close again!  For some people it can't be here and gone soon enough because Christmas has become over-hyped and the true meaning has been under-emphasized.  Buying gifts is more important than receiving Jesus as the ultimate gift.  Going to Christmas parties is more important than going to the Christmas worship service.  My list goes on and on.  The biggest thing for me is how the celebration of Jesus' birth is the gift which needs to be renewed each day.  It is the joy of the believer to know how God sent Jesus to bring us peace with him.  In believing what Jesus did for us on the cross, we have new life in Jesus all year long!  Enjoy!

1.  CHRISTMAS EVENTS

• SUNDAY - Christmas morning!  Invite a friend to our Songs of Advent series where we will sing Simeon's song: "The Song of Salvation" (Luke 2:25-35).
• MITTEN TREE - Thank you all who participated in the Mitten Tree outreach this year.  e delivered the gifts to our adopted family from LoveINC this week.  They were ecstatic!
• Advent Devotions - If you are on our weekly email list, you have received a daily 2-minute Advent email to help focus you on the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Has this been helpful for you?  Send us a note to tell us.

2. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Dec. 21, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/10:30AM.
Dec. 24, Pray for Muskegon

Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service!

Jan. 8, Adult Sunday School will resume, 9:00AM.
Jan. 11, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.
Jan. 11, Book Club, 6:30PM.  Meet at the Grand Traverse Pie Co. as we discuss "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin.

3. PRAYERS

• Jill Bennett is at Knollview for a while while she gets more physical therapy. Pray for clarity for her future living location.
• Pray for comfort and joy for family and friends of Frank Rienstra who passed last week.
• Praise God for renewed involvement by some at Celebration.  Pray for those disheartened or frustrated as well.
• Pray for those who have sad feelings due to loss of family members during the past year.  Pray for all who are reminded during the holidays of loved ones who have passed.
• Pray for Paula Blohm as she continues to search for answers to her health issues.
• Pray for flickers of hope in marriages needing your continued intervention.
• Pray for family relationships which need your healing.
• Pray for Ivy who will go to California over break to visit family.
• Pray for those experiencing financial crisis. 
• Pray for those who have lost confidence in themselves and need God's renewal in their lives.
• Pray for our Snow Birds.
• Praise God for good friends who have moved out of town and found a home church.
• Pray for Walt Jones and family at the passing of his step-dad.
• Pray for those who are lonely and feeling down without friends.
• Pray for babies growing and expectant mothers.
• Praise God for a new coat of paint on the brick columns in the Fireside Room.
• Pray for our college students.  May they follow God to where he can use them best.
• Praise God for Lynn Pluger's positive treatments of her Lymphoma.
• Pray for those who are less than energized by their present employment.
• Pray for those who are silently struggling with medical issues unknown to others.
• Praise God for a successful surgery for Charles Serene.  Pray that the rehabilitation and healing will restore a good sense of mobility for him.
• Pray for those taking trips over the holidays.  May God keep them safe.

-- 

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