Precious Gifts
Well, here we are again! Does it seem to you that December comes a little faster each year? It is hard to look back through the blur of the past year and realize that we have already been through the calender. 2010 is coming to a close and the holiday season is in full swing. I woke up this morning to my sons, Tyler and Jaron, running back and forth between the Christmas tree and the big window in the living room. First they would jump up on the couch and scan the yard through the window, excitedly talking about the flurries of snow that were beginning to gather in the yard. Then they would jump down and slide on their knees to a stop just at the edge of the Christmas tree. Together they would stare at the presents that we had put out after they went to bed. After a few whispered words, “those are for us,” one of the two would jump up and run back to the big window with the other right on his heels. It is always our pleasure, as parents, to see the excitement on our boys’ faces as their eyes focus on the tree. They stare for a moment, mesmerized by the shiny ornaments hanging from the branches reflecting the twinkle lights and the colorful wrapping of the gifts below. But, what gives us an even greater pleasure is when we hear Tyler teaching his little brother about Jesus and how Christmas is His birthday. It makes our hearts overflow when he bursts excitedly into our room, his face unable to contain his joy, while dragging behind him one of the decorative stockings that he has stuffed full of his own toys as a present for us. He sits there, eyes glued to our faces, and we pull out of the sock all of the gifts he has crammed into it. He is understanding in his heart that Christmas has more to do with giving than it does with receiving. But Tyler isn't just blindly grabbing toys to give to us, no, the toys that he chooses to “wrap” for us and present are the ones that are the most precious to him. Even though he knows that he will get them back you can tell by the heart with which he gives them that he has spared no expense from his 4 year old “treasury” to give his best gift to you. In our nation of Santa Clauses, Amazon wish lists, and the 450 billion dollars that Americans spend on Christmas each year it is hard to keep in the front of our hearts the reason why we give gifts. When I focus on the real meaning of Christmas I see the Father giving to His children not just any gift, but rather the gift that was the most precious to Him. Not only did our Heavenly Father give His most precious gift to us, but He knew ahead of time what we would do with it. We would reject him, torture him, and crucify him, and yet He gave His most precious gift anyway. Christmas is not about who gives the “best gifts” or the most gifts or even the gifts that are on the lists. Christmas is about giving our most precious gifts without an agenda or deciding who does and doesn't deserve them. We give our very best because Christmas is the holiday when we celebrate our Father giving to us the most precious, meaningful gift He could, His son Jesus Christ. “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Price of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 -Pastor Nathan
Remember In Prayer~Those who have lost loved ones ~Our college students taking final exams ~All of our snowbirds ~All those working on mission fields and away from families here in the U.S.- Sam & Becky Barber & children in Belize, Nathan & Brianna Martin in Cambodia, Ann Riggs at Friends Theological College in Kenya, Eden & James Grace & boys-Eden works in FUM’s African Ministries Office in Kenya, Joyce Ajlouny & family-Joyce is the Director of Friends School in Ramallah ~Morgan Martin at Coe College ~Our Prayer Partners
November HOC Meal Report On November 30th 21 people provided a generous meal for 47 guests. Our menu was beef and potato casserole or Mac and cheese with meatballs or pasta casserole, cornbread, mixed fruit cups, pumpkin bars or blueberry dump cake or walnut cookies, milk, apple juice and coffee. Thanks to Mark & Darlene, Nathan & Shandra, Don & Joyce, James & Sharon, Bob & Veronica and Diane R who provided food or funds; Betty, Fern, Johnie & Gladys who prepared; Vi, Shandra, Wayne T, and Ann who served; Neil, Vi, Betty & Shandra stayed for clean up. Many guests thanked us for the good meal and several lingered to visit and eat as much as they could hold before going back to the cold. Our next meal will be December 30. Let me know how you can help.
IAYM Youth Ministries Presents: Mid-WinterSr. High/College Retreat January 7-9, 2011 at Middle River Friends Church, Carlisle, Iowa Featuring Jason Bauer, former Iowa basketball star Friday: Registration at 5 pm Food & Games, Worship to follow Saturday: Breakfast, Worship, Small groups, Games Lunch, Ice Skating/Broomball, Dinner Worship, Small groups Sunday: Worship W/Middle River Lunch, 1:00 pm-Goodbye! Cost is $75 Questions? Contact Chip: iaymyouth@mahaska.org Or Mike Lock: michael121orange@hotmail.com
-A little boy was asked in Sunday school what he was going to give his sister for Christmas. “I don’t know,” he said. “What did you give her last year?” the teacher asked. “Chicken pox,” he replied.
-An uncle gave his three-year-old niece a dollar bill just before Christmas. She threw it down. “I want a debit card,” she said. “What would you do with a debit card?” he asked. The little girl made a swiping motion. -from the Joyful Noiseletter
BLFC Youth NewsBL Youth will meet on Sunday, December 19th at Ray and Robin’s for a Christmas party from 5-7 p.m. A Youth Lock-In will be held at the church on Wednesday, December 29th beginning at 6 pm and ending on Thursday, December 30th at 9 am.
Children’s Church We’ll meet in the fellowship hall after the children’s message on December 5 and 12. Lessons will revolve around the Christmas story. We’ll create goodie plates for the carolers to deliver on the 12th. Kids age 4 through grade 4 are welcome to participate.
Specials & Blessings If you have a special you’d like to share during Sunday Morning Worship, contact Lucas and Kari McCracken during December to arrange dates. They are also open to suggestions of someone you might know who would share a special.
Bangor USFWThe December meeting will be held at 1:30 on the 14th at Peggy’s home. Betty will provide refreshments and Margaret the lesson. Dues and Keys to the Kingdom totaling $15 can be paid anytime before January.
Liberty USFWLadies of Liberty USFW will gather at Robin Willits’ home on Thursday, December 16 at 7 p.m. for their Christmas meeting. Ladies are reminded to bring 2 dozen cookies for the cookie plates and their Christmas gifts for our adopted families.
Wednesday Night Program The last meeting for the year will be held on Wednesday, December 15th with a meal at 6:15 and studies at 7:00. Studies will resume after the holidays on Wednesday, January 12th at 7 p.m. New study topics will be announced soon. Watch for details in the Sunday bulletin.
BL Christmas Eve Service December 24th at 6:00 p.m.
The children and youth of the church will present “The Nativity” and there will be a special time of candle lighting during the service.
Come join us as we celebrate our Savior’s birth!
White Gift Offering The annual White Gift offering to be collected at the Christmas Eve service will be shared between the Mesquakie Friends Center and Morgan Martin’s work at Coe College. Both ministries will appreciate your prayerful and financial support. Mesquakie Friends Center is located on a 31-acre area campus not far from the Mesquakie settlement. The ministry emphasis is on youth, community contacts and being a steady presence in the community. Some adults have become involved in worship and are taking leadership roles. Directors, Victor and Brenda White write: “Our teachers have a fund to raise money for new playground equipment and any additional $$ would be helpful. Our wooden playground puts frowns on many because of splinters. We know our God is the provider of our needs.” From Morgan: "This semester, we focused as an InterVarsity community on learning to "love God and love our neighbor". God has been at work teaching us how to do this within our leadership team. I've been challenging the students to take this further by extending it to the campus through Bible studies called "community groups" and wider campus activities such as a 24-hour prayer room. I look forward to how God will help us grow in loving Him and loving our neighbor next semester."
Christmas Adopt-A-FamilyOur church has adopted a family to help at Christmas: Dad (28); Mom, (24) and daughters age 6, 3½ & 2½. We have also adopted a single woman (52). Check out the poster in the church entryway, take a sticky note with a gift suggestion and write your name on the line so we know that gift is covered. Bring the wrapped gift back by December 19. Margaret will use $$ donations to buy gifts or food for their holiday meal. Thanks for helping to spread the love of Christ this Christmas.
Library Ledge: Christmas Inspiration Curl up on the sofa and warm your heart and soul this holiday season with stories found in our church library. Fiction books “Christmas Duty” and “A Time for Angels” are available along with “Christmas Stories for the Heart” by Max Lucado, Chuck Swindoll, Joni Tada, etc. Be reminded of Christ’s beginnings by reading “The Birthplace of the King” and enjoy family time by checking out “Let’s Make a Memory”. A Christmas devotional “Sharing Christmas Every Day” with Helen Steiner Rice poetry has been donated in memory of Bess Holveck. Also children’s Christmas books & DVD’s are available in the fellowship hall.
The Miracle of Christmas The wonderment in a small child’s eyes, The ageless awe in the Christmas skies, That nameless joy that fills the air, The throngs that kneel in praise and prayer… These are the things that make us know That men may come and men may go, But none will ever find a way To banish Christ from Christmas Day… For with each child there’s born again A mystery that baffles men. -Helen Steiner Rice
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