Can you believe that it is already December again? It’s amazing how fast a year can go, especially these last two months as we anticipate the coming of a brand new year and the chance to celebrate together the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning. My wife, Amber, and I have the tree all set up, Christmas lights are hung and shimmering brightly, stockings will be soon be up and filled with gifts for each other, and Christmas music is playing non-stop 24/7.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “O Holy Night”. In the lyrics written almost 170 years ago we sing, “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices/For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”. My prayer for you all would be for that “thrill” we feel as we get closer and closer to Christmas Day to not the thrill of the presents, the holiday shopping, or a clean slate January 1. Instead, that thrill we feel would be the excitement and joy of celebrating Christ’s birth – the miracle of Deity coming in flesh to model righteousness, grace, and love.

And so wherever you may be this Christmas season whether that is with family, friends, or with us here at California EC Church, I extend to you from my family a very Merry Christmas and wonderfully Happy New Year! May God continue to bless each of us along our journeys. May we sing: “Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus / Let all within us praise His holy name!” 

Events in December:

Advent Sunday Worship Series – Advent is a season of anticipation as we spend a lot of time with prophecy from Christ and John the Baptist, so when it comes to building up to Christmas remember – – – pace yourself. Don’t forget, Advent is a season of past and future colliding with the present … A time of already here (as in Christ did come and is here) and not yet (Christ will come again). If you focus on Christmas too early or you wait till the last minute, you miss the point of the season. Our series this advent season is entitled: Hope On the Horizon, and we pray will build that anticipation as well as emphasize themes of watchfulness, looking backwards and forwards in time (at the same time), joyful repentance, trust, and hope. Be sure to join us on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. now through Jan 1st to be a part of this Advent series.

Bible Study – Every Thursday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. we gather together to open God’s word for a time of study. Beginning December 1st and continuing for the next few months we’ll be looking at the book of Proverbs. In an ever changing world our needs are still the same – our need for work and discipline, perspective in the good and bad times, and those time-old practices of patience, wisdom, and kindness. The sayings collected in the book of Proverbs gave practical hurdles to those matters thousands of years ago, and their wisdom is still refreshing today.

Christmas Service Opportunities – 

1. Christmas Cookies: A member from our church is heading up a project with a longtime friend and Delaware Pastor to be collecting Christmas cookies along with Gospel tracts to a Philadelphia prison on December 8th. Those willing to donate homemade cookies (no nuts), please make them approximately 3 inches in size and pack 5 cookies per zip-lock bag. Please have the cookies dropped off at the church on Sunday December 4th or by Wednesday December 7th at the absolute latest. 

2. Coats, Hats, and Glove Drive: We will be collecting GENTLY used coats and NEW hats and gloves for men, women, and children until December 11. These items will be delivered to Opportunity House, Mary’s Shelter, and Berks Women in Crisis. If you have any questions feel free to contact the church about how you can serve.
*UPDATE – We will be extending this project an EXTRA WEEK! That makes the new deadline December 18th! Let’s make those extra days count!
Here’s our first batch: 47 coats, 15 hats, and 23 pairs of gloves/mittens ——————————–>

THANK YOU in advance for being the hands and feet of Jesus to our local community
and to organizations in need this Christmas season!

Christmas Eve Candle Light Service – Join us for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service beginning at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.  Bring the whole family and invite a friend to this very special service. You won’t want to miss! 

Christmas Day Worship Service – Come Christmas morning for a shortened, relaxed, and family-friendly service! What could be a better way to spend Christmas than in the setting of believers gathered together singing carols of the new born King?

Upcoming Events:

World Communion – Be sure to be with us on New Years’ Day to celebrate and remember Christ’s victory over death and our salvation as we gather together with churches around the world for World Communion on January 1st, 2017!

Annual Congregational Meeting – Following our Worship Service on January 15th, we will hold our annual congregation meeting. It is a time to look back and see all that God has done over the past year as well as provide a road-map of the year to come. This meeting includes reports from the Pastor, Lay Delegate, Treasurer, and other church leaders. Following the meeting will be a brunch for all who attend so please stay and be a part of the conversation and future of California Church!

Soup/Salad Fundraiser & Yard Sale- Be sure to check back for more details coming VERY soon!