Even though the rush and crush of the Christmas holiday season in the secular world is officially over as we begin a new year, we in the church still find ourselves in the Season of Christmas. In fact, we celebrate the season of Christmas until Epiphany which begins on January 6.
So as we begin a new year with Christmas still close to us, I would like to give to you a bit of Christmas remembrance that is guaranteed to see you through the new year. This piece is entitled: Jesus Is Better Than Santa. As you read it and ponder its meaning, it is my hope that it will remind you, not only of the Christmas season, but of the whole meaning of your Christian faith – a faith that is a Christmas gift sustaining you every day of the year!
Jesus Is Better Than Santa
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere!
Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever-present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down the chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks…and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as the mention of his name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in his arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is, “Hi, what’s your name?”
JESUS knew your name before we did. Not only does he know your name, he knows your address too. He knows your history and future and he even knows how many hairs are on your head.
JESUS has a heart full of love.
JESUS offers health, help, and hope.
Santa says, “You better not cry.”
JESUS says, “Cast your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa’s little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions in the sky.
Santa may make you chuckle but…
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree,
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It is obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember who Christmas is all about.
JESUS is always the reason for the season!
May the Lord bless and watch over you and your loved ones; and may the Lord prosper and bless the work of your hands in 2009!
Blessings to you in January!
Wanda
Teaching the Word...
JANUARY LECTIONARY TEXTS
Here are the Lectionary texts for the month of January. Rev. Mello’s preaching texts are in Bold print. You are invited to read the texts ahead of each Sunday service as you prepare to hear God’s word.
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:1-18
Psalm 29
Genesis 1:1-5
January 18, 2009
Psalm 139:1-6 & 13-18
1 Samuel 3:1-20
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Psalm 62:5-12
Jonah 3:1-5 & 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
WORSHIP READERS NEEDED…
We are in need of our worship readers for the months of January and February. If you are interested in serving as a worship reader please sign up on the sheets in the Social Hall or speak to Rev. Mello. May you be blessed as you read God’s word in worship.
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
You are invited to attend our weekly Bible Study on Friday mornings at 9:30 AM. At these studies we take a look at the scriptures for our Sunday worship service and ponder their deeper meanings for our lives. Everyone is invited to attend.
HOLY COMMUNION
We will begin the new year with the celebration of Holy Communion during our worship service on January 4, 2009. Everyone is welcome to come and taste the goodness of the Lord!
NEW MEMBERS TO BE WELCOMED
We will welcome new members into our congregation during worship on January 11, 2009. If you desire to join our congregation, please speak to Rev. Mello.
Touching the World...
FOOD PANTRY NEEDS
It has been decided by our Church Cabinet to suspend the food pantry for the present time. In place of the food pantry, we will be giving food coupons in the amount of $25.00 each from our local Ranch Market to people in need. This way, the people will be able to purchase food they will eat and really need.
If you have been a regular contributor to our Food Panty, we would ask that you consider giving a monetary gift to our Assistance Fund to help defray the cost of the food coupons. And we thank you all for helping to feed the hungry people of Arvin through this mission. We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people coming to the church in need of food in the past few months, so your gifts are very important.
You are invited to give a gift for mission to our Assistance Fund. We have been utilizing the money from this fund to help several people with their rent and utility costs in the past few weeks; and we have used some to purchase food vouchers from the Ranch Market for people in need. Thanks so much for your continued support of this fund! Your gifts to this fund do indeed help those in our community who are in need!
Our next monthly Church Cabinet meeting will be on Saturday, February 7, 2009 beginning with breakfast at 8:30 AM and continuing with a time of information gathering and exchange with our Interim Conference Minister, Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman. All members of the Church Cabinet are urged to attend, and this meeting is also open to all church members. If you wish to attend please speak to Judy Chase or Birthe Stenderup so that they can plan on how much food to prepare for the breakfast.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION
We have set the date of our Annual Congregational Meeting for Sunday, January 25, immediately after worship. This meeting of the congregation is very important for all of us to attend. There will be a potluck lunch following the meeting.
ANNUAL REPORTS ARE DUE
Annual Reports by the heads of all church boards and committees are due in the church office NO LATER than JANUARY 16, 2009. If you can get your report written and in to the church office earlier, all the better!
THANKS!
Thank you to everyone who helped to make the creation and delivery of our Christmas Boxes go so well this holiday season. We especially thank Judy and Joann, who organized the event and did so much to buy the food and items in the boxes and get everyone else working on task. We thank the drivers and all who helped put the boxes together, and fill them with food and other items. Your presence and help has made the holiday a bit more comfortable for many people in need in our community. We couldn’t take on such a huge project without all of you! You are a blessing! Thanks!
REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR NEWS ON OUR WEBSITE: www.arvinucc.org
Check it out!
Church Family News…
As our world remains in a time of war, we ask that you continue to remember in your prayers all of our young people serving our country all over the world. Especially pray for Jason Brand, John & David Phillips, Isaac Philips, Dylan Wakeland, and Tracey Farris.
Please keep our homebound members in your thoughts and prayers. Especially remember Lucille Barkley at home.
OUR SYMPATHY
We extend our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mildred Holbert who passed away after a lingering illness on December 14. Mildred’s funeral was held on December 20 in our church sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this time of loss and grief.
SPECIAL THANKS
The whole congregation would like to thank John Krauter for his many years of service to us as our Grounds Keeper and All Around Handiman. John believes it is time for him to retire from his duties, so as of January 1, 2009, we reluctantly let him go with our blessings for some well deserved retirement time from leaky church sprinklers, and irritating graffiti, among other things. Thanks and God’s blessings to you John!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT…
How White Is Your Laundry?
A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the laundry outside.
“That laundry is not very clean”, she said. “She obviously doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs to change soap.”
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang out her laundry to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About a month later, the young woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash hanging on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her how?”
The young woman’s husband said, “No one. I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”
And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. May God always grant that you and I see others clearly.