Thanksgiving

To the Saints…

A weekly update from your pastor

For the week of November 25-December 1, 2012

“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:28-29)

            Happy Thanksgiving, Church! I pray you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. While families, national holidays, and Black Fridays can certainly be, ahem, trying, I do hope you found many reasons to give thanks. In all seriousness, even amidst the heart-breaking realities of life in this broken world, I pray you were able to give thanks for the greatest gift of all—“God made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:5). Thanks be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! Amen!

To express my thankfulness for all of you, please allow me to echo the words of the Apostle Paul:

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:3-6)

We are so thankful to be here and to serve with you!

The Else Family enjoyed a blessed time in Iowa. We are, of course, very thankful to be back home. I am particularly excited that Advent is right around the corner. It is going to be a great Christmas season. (Please note the December calendar of events on the back of this update.)

On another note, today I am thanking God for life. Yeah, I am 40 years old today. The most important truth I’ve learned in these 40 years? God is faithful. It hasn’t always been pretty, but He has always been faithful to me. It is good to be alive. It is great to be alive together with Christ.

By the way, if you notice me walking with a slight hitch in my step, it is not because I’m melodramatically making a statement about growing older. I broke two toes on Wednesday walking down the stairs of my parent’s home, and decided that an intense game of racquetball with my Dad, nephew, and Ian would help “loosen them up.” Bad idea. So, I am truly limping into 40. Thought I’d at least get that out there, in case you were wondering…

Finally, we kick the Advent season off this Friday night—we will be here at 6:00 p.m. for Christmas decoration and set-up and could really use your help! Hope to see you then!

Christmas Season 2012 Calendar of Events

December 1—Kids Craft Day

            The Mission Center is transformed into a workshop for kids to make presents for loved ones. The Women of Faith at FCC have been leading this popular ministry for many years, and continue to bless the kids of West Chicago! Drop off your kids (and your neighbors’ kids) and take your honey out for a cup of Starbucks peppermint mocha coffee! 10:00a.m.-3:00 p.m. in the Mission Center. See Kay Hurley for more information.

December 2—1^st Sunday in Advent

            Pastor Travis begins a new teaching series, Rumors of Another World, focusing on the longings we have for justice, spirituality, relationships, and beauty. The text for this first Sunday in Advent is Jeremiah 33:14-16 and the sermon is titled, “Longing for Justice.” We will also be celebrating the Sacrament of Communion. 9:30 a.m. in the Worship Center.

December 9—Kids Christmas Worship/2^nd Sunday in Advent

            Our kids (PK-6^th) will lead us in worship on Sunday, December 9 at the 9:30 a.m. service. Please see Emily Rowe with questions. The choir will also be singing and assisting in worship. Pastor Travis will continue his series, Rumors of Another World, by focusing on Micah 5:2-5a and our longing for true spirituality. 9:30 a.m. in the Worship Center.

December 14—(After) School House Rock! Christmas Party

            Our last gathering of ASHR in 2012 will be a Christmas blow-out! Invite your friends and join us for a great celebration! Kids K-6^th grade. Adults, come lend a hand or just check it out! 3:15-4:15 p.m. in the Mission Center. See Jenn Roberts for more information.

December 15-16—FCC Christmas Coffeehouse Presents…It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play

            Invite your neighbors and join us for a heart-warming production of the classic Christmastime story It’s a Wonderful Life. Jazz, coffee, and an FCC-led cast will be sure to get you in the Christmas spirit. 7:00 p.m. nightly in the Mission Center. Please see Shannon Thompson for more information on how to get involved!

December 16—3^rd Sunday in Advent

            Pastor Travis continues the teaching series, Rumors of Another World, in Zephaniah 3:14-20, “Longing for Authentic Relationships.” Particularly during the holidays, we feel the pathos of relationships—joy for some, great sorrow for many. Why do we place such value in togetherness? Why do broken relationships hurt so much? Come and listen to what God is speaking to the world. 9:30 a.m. in the Worship Center.

December 23—4^th Sunday in Advent

            Art, music, literature, nature, the cosmos, relationships…we see, hear, taste, and touch glimmerings of beauty all around us. But why is it so elusive? Why does even a large dose of beauty leave us hungering for more? Our last Sunday in Advent will explore the longings we have for genuine beauty. Pastor Travis will be preaching from Revelation 21:9-27. 9:30 a.m. in the Worship Center.

December 24—Christmas Eve Worship

            We will celebrate the Incarnation of God at this authentic, folksy Christmas Eve service, 7:00 p.m. in the Worship Center. We will worship, we will celebrate, we will hear the Good News proclaimed in Luke 2:1-20…”For unto you in born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 7:00 p.m. in the Worship Center.

December 25—Merry Christmas!

*Sunday school will not meet on the Sundays of December 23 & 30.

**The church office will be closed on December 25.