It is finally here! Today is the day that Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Whether or not we have the exact date is beside the point; what truly matters is that we have the exact spirit of the reason for the season.
Fortunately for the members of Grace Baptist Church of Christ and the over 2.1 billion Christians in the world, we have the opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ birthday in his very own house this Sunday: the Church. As Co-Pastor Michael Rogers said during last Sunday’s 10:30 a.m. family service, it only makes sense that you visit someone’s house when you’re wishing them and celebrating their birthday.
Also adding to the eventful end of the year festivities is our Watch Night service next Saturday at 8 p.m. But just to make sure that Grace members are well rested and ready for worship on Sunday, January 1, 2012, the Watch Night service will wrap up just after midnight as opposed to the annual tradition of communion, song and breakfast through 3 a.m. This means, “Go home and come back!” Co-Pastor Rogers said last week. Communion will be administered on January 1, 2012 at 5 p.m. as opposed to the wee hours of early Sunday morning. Make sure to attend all of the events that you can. In order to leave 2011 smiling and usher 2012 into the Church doors with a wholesome hug and grin.
In the meantime, enjoy your Christmas, enjoy service, enjoy friends and family, enjoy traditions and enjoy Jesus.
Whether your traditions include black-eyed peas, collard green, sweet potato pie or Fruit Cake — well, probably not fruit cake — it is time to embrace what makes your family unique to your last name.
Some Grace members saw this as another opportunity to give back. Sis. Queenie Wooten and Russell took the time to put together several fruit baskets to distribute to Grace’s sick-and-shut-in and senior members. I had the pleasure to design the fruit baskets with the creative expertise of Sis. Russell of the floral ministry. This is just one of many heartfelt gestures that Sis. Russell engages in with the floral ministry. Sis. Wooten and Russell are always thinking of Grace’s senior members, as they demonstrated so when they distributed Thanksgiving turkeys to some of the senior members on the week before Thanksgiving.
But every member has their own traditions. For myself, I always go for a cold Christmas morning run around Gerswin Park’s track. Unfortunately, there’s no snow to add to the scenery.
Whatever your traditions are, enjoy them to the fullest. Most of all make sure that you prioritize Jesus.
Until 2012!
No comments:
Post a Comment