December 19, 2008

Dear Messiah Congregation,
I am writing to you from the lobby of the Mayo Clinic. We are here for an early morning appointment (routine visit). It meant getting up extra early and rushing to get here on time. Because of the snow we were late, but as I walked into the lobby there was a vocal ensemble singing beautiful Christmas music – and at 7:30 am! For the next few minutes I stopped and listened. All around me, people were rushing past – places to go, appointments to keep, work to be done. And yet, the message of Christmas was available to anyone who would stop and listen. I think there’s a sermon in this, don’t you?

Our oldest daughter arrives home tonight. Being together as family is one of the gifts of Christmas. This is the season of traditions and expectations. My prayer for you is that you will have a complete Christmas. As wonderful as your Christmas may be, it will never be complete without giving attention to the real reason for the season. God is breaking into the world. God wants into your life and you are given an invitation to let God in. This Sunday in worship, we will hear the announcement of Jesus’ birth, how that announcement fulfills God’s promise, and what that means for the living of these days. I hope to see you Sunday.

In this week’s email, I cover the following:
1. Christmas Eve
2. Stewardship Update
3. An invitation
4. Light of Hope

1. Christmas Eve
There is no place I would rather be on Christmas Eve than in worship – to be able to give praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Wherever you are on Christmas Eve, I hope you will find a place to worship. Again, this year Messiah will offer three different worship experiences at five different times. At 4 and 5 p.m., our children will lead us in worship. At 7 p.m. (contemporary music) and at 9 and 10:30 p.m. (traditional music), we will hear the music and message of Christmas and conclude in candlelight. Recent studies indicate that most people who do not attend church would do so if someone they know and trust would invite them. The one time during the year when they are most receptive to that invitation is Christmas Eve. Click here for our Christmas Eve postcard. You might email it to others.

2. Stewardship Update
We continue to receive commitment cards for 2009. If you are a member and have not completed one, you can do so online – click here. Overall, commitments are running close to commitments made at this point a year ago. We are grateful to all who made a commitment, even those who were unable to indicate a specific amount. Your commitments enable us to accurately project the offerings for the coming year, which allow us to develop a ministry plan that makes the best use of the resources you commit to the church. I remain confident that God will provide everything necessary to be effective in ministry in 2009. During January, our Finance Committee will develop a budget to be approved at our annual meeting on January 25.

3. An invitation
Many of you have been reading through the Bible in 2008. I would like to hear from you and what this has meant for you. Take a moment and send me an email. Beginning January 20, I will be leading a Bible study at 7:00 pm on Tuesday nights. If you would like to read through the Bible and also learn more about what you are reading, this is your invitation. If you are interested and would like to hear more about this class, reply to this email and I will send you additional information after Christmas.

4. Light of Hope
On Tuesday, I attended a presentation by the team that spent ten days in November at Light of Hope school for girls in Kenya. If you were unable to attend one of their presentations, it is also available on our website – click here. (If you do not have Internet access, call the church office and we will give you a DVD copy.) To me, the most significant part of their testimony is not the photos that you will see but the impact that the experience had on their lives. To hear that, you will need to ask one of the participants or read the January issue of our BELONGING newsletter.

Amanda and I are blessed by the Christmas cards we receive each year. We receive many from Messiah members as well as family and friends. It is a joy to see your photos, to read the stories of what's happened in your lives, or to read your personal notes. One thing that I do with our cards - something a friend inspired me to do - is to hold each card in my hands for a moment and pray for each person who sent it. I find this blesses me and helps me feel connected with the sender - friends I haven't seen for a long time, family members, neighbors, and you. Perhaps this is something you might want to do this year.

Wishing you a most blessed Christmas.
Steve Richards

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