Waiting for Christ

In the midst of preparations
some needful,
some questionable,
the only time
to watch
is now.

Can I come to Christmas,
come to Christ,
waiting
for new markings
on journey's path,
sensing
light's glow
in encircling darkness,
listening
for amazing mystery
of a birth cry?

Can I, in spirit,
paradoxically
move forward
in stillness
as I wait
for promised revealing
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Emmanuel,
God-with-us?

In the midst of preparations,
the only time
to watch
is now.

[by Roberta Porter]

You'll shoot your eye out!

This Sunday begins our new worship series where we take a deeper look at some of your favorite Christmas movies. This week: A Christmas Story

Remember how worked up Ralphie was about getting his Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle? What if we had that kind of anticipation for the coming Christ in this season?

This is a great series to which you can invite your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and relatives. Be sure to check it out!

Bye for a Bit!

This blog will not be updated until November 27th due to a staff vacation! Have a great Thanksgiving!

Heart of Worship

by Matt Redman

When the music fades and all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
All about You, Jesus

Love the Lord Your God...

Here was the liturgy that was used last week in the 8:30 service. We've had lots of comments on it, so we thought we'd share it again:

ONE: I am a good Christian.

CHOIR: What do you mean?

ONE: Well, I go to church every Sunday.

CHOIR: That is not enough.

ONE: Well, I rarely take the Lord's name in vain, and I almost never lie, and even when I do, it's just a little one.

CHOIR: That is not enough.

ONE: I visit my family.

CHOIR: That is not enough.

ONE: Well, I've never stolen anything, and I've certainly never killed anyone.

CHOIR: It's still not enough.

ONE: What then? What is enough?

CHOIR: You must love God. We must love God. With our hearts. With our minds. With our bodies. With our souls. We must love our neighbors. We must love ourselves.

CONGREGATION AND ALL: Let us put our love into motion as we worship the One who's taught us how to love.

Tomorrow is the Last Soup

Thank you to everyone who has made THE SOUP - our Wednesday night programming - a success. Tomorrow night, 11/15, is the final Soup for 2006. We will resume again in February 2007 with another 10-week run.

Core Values Update

The Core Values Task Force is continuing to work and is making great progress. On Monday, November 13th we will be in the final stages of developing our Purpose Statement. By Christmas we hope to be able to finalize the Purpose Statement along with 4-7 core values that will help guide us in becoming the church God is calling us to be.

Celebration #2

Many thanks to Ed Armstrong and everyone who helped make this year's Church AUCTION a success.

This fundraiser raised $6,506 for Christ Church! Awesome!

Celebration #1

Thanks to everyone who helped with the Chicken Noodle Dinner (and Book Sale) in October!

The church make $5,700.35 from that fundraiser!

Quote

Here was the quote we used last night at our Soup program...

"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle." (Thich Nhat Hanh)