What an exceptional experience I had this weekend through our Worship ministry!  The entire performances (2 of them) of the music and message were just what I believe are most useful to the Lord during this season of the year.  Our entire sanctuary became a special place for families and children of all ages to see clearly the story of God's love.

Travis Overstreet, Jason Spradley and many others of our staff and church family worked tirelessly over the past weeks to prepare and then to present the story of a young girl's introduction to the Jesus' birth.  As her grandmother read the story to her, she imagines what we get to see as the glory of the story and then we are invited to express our love and gifts to Him as she  responds.

There are fewer and fewer places in our society where the story is clearly shared.  Our job as a church is the telling of the story.  It is wonderful to feel that our musical presentations are continuing our mission so clearly in so many ways.

I had so many emotions going through my heart and mind, including a new appreciation for the talents of Eric Larson and Brian Pearce as actors, excitement in so many of our people involved of all ages and ways (the only paid performers were the aerialists) and true amazement at the strength and grace of two on a kind of ballet dance in the sky.

I laughed as I considered whether a family somewhere last night would hear a crash as their child tried to duplicate the performance on their drapery at home!  I also considered how weak I am in relation to their ability to remain suspended for such a time (I would end up tangled up and calling for help, at best!).  Clearly, this was a night when the gifts God is sharing with us were beautifully blended together.

It was a glory-filled event.  Thank you to all who contributed much so that the rest of us could celebrate His birth and look forward to Christmas Eve and Day together. 

See you on Christmas Eve as we share the Christmas Story, Lord's Supper, carols and hugs of "Merry Christmas" with one another! 

Expectantly,

Kevin