Outside the Box: Merry Christmas!

Dear Fellow Ministers,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Here we are… the waiting is almost over. Thank you for the beautiful way you have helped prepare for Christmas. Spiritually, what you all have done is so helpful. We have prayed about it, sung about it, gathered around it in all sorts of ways – ranging from a Blue Christmas/Longest Night Service this past Sunday evening, to an incredible music in The Glory of Christmas musical celebration on December 14, to our children telling the story in the Children’s Nativity in worship this past Sunday, and the list could go on and on. Thank you. Now, we simply receive the greatest gift ever given in Jesus Christ.

We have seven different offerings for worship on Christmas Eve! My experience has shown me that around the holy times there is simply no way to have services at convenient times for everyone – but we sure have tried to do so:

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
ALL Candlelight Communion Services, except at 1:00 PM

*1:00 PM KIDS & FAMILY Live Nativity & Animals Afterwards

*2:30 & 4:30 PM KIDS & FAMILY Followed by Family Activities

*4:00 & 6:00 PM TRADITIONAL

*9:00 PM CONTEMPORARY

*11:30 PM 30-minute VESPERS in Courtyard, Nativity & Animals (Park in Large Lot, Use Front Sidewalk)

6 & 9 PM Services also Livestreamed
Nursery (ages 3 & under) available for all services except 9:00 & 11:30 PM

Please remember that this coming Sunday, December 28, we will have ONE SERVICE at 9:30 am in our Sanctuary! (NO 8:15 or 11:00). Adult classes will meet at 10:30, and Nursery will be available for kids under 3 from 9:15-10:45am. There will be NO Kids or Youth small groups. This is very different as we give a chance for those who have been serving long hours during Christmas to have a bit of a break. I hope to see you for this informal worship experience when we center our Sunday worship around Matthew 2:13-23 with a theme of “Hills and Valleys.”

Thank you for intentionally choosing to be a church for everyone! Our recent Sanctuary Renovation included MANY improvements that allow our Sanctuary to be more accessible to anyone who may enter. View my video update (with special song), a Comprehensive List of Completed Changes, the Placement of Accessible Chairs, and our Accessibility Resources. We thank our dedicated Building Committee who have worked so hard to be sure that God is glorified (ALWAYS the top priority) and that all of God’s Children have access.

One of the greatest gifts in my life this Christmas is being allowed to be one of the pastors of Matthews United Methodist Church. I am grateful, and I look forward to being in ministry with you in this special week!

In Christ’s Service,
David