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Weekly Update from the Senior Pastor
 December 14 , 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
I speak affectionately of the creative chaos of our annual Christmas Children’s Pageant, and soothe the path toward it by reminding everyone that, no matter what happens, if we have our yearly treat of the “little lambs” everyone will leave filled with joy. In the end, it is always more.
This year it was a whole lot more. It was excellent.
Humor, when it is good and well timed, is wonderful; when it is not, it is terrible. This show was wonderful. The adult actors were very funny (their assigned task); the teen talent gave beautiful gifts vocally and in dance, and the kids rose to new levels—not as the church of the future, but as the church of NOW, sharing the Gospel with grace and wit. Our two Brittanys’ (Foss and Wolfe) and Brooks Barry nailed line after line, carrying the play along with memorable lines: “Is anyone else here getting a headache?” “Nope!” Along with them came a host of other strong roles and singers, the family snowed in—waiting for a Christmas baby; Mary and Joseph, inn-keepers and angels, the shepherds “who don’t do anything,” the Kings’ advisors (a tough role given those two Kings) and of course, the lambs. Oh those lambs!
Three leaders led a host of adult teams surrounding the production: Suellen Velthuis, the writer who co-directed with her daughter, Erika Pillai; and CM’s great motivator, Jeannie Foss . They released and led a whole bevy of talent and energy. Best of all, the Story was told: the love that brought a Savior. The reward came in two packed shows (you gotta love all those grandparents!) Next year’s Pageant has a high bar set for it.
Also: Narnia’s out! The sacrifice is made, the stone table is broken, the lost redeemed—and Aslan is on the move. Disney definitely went for a young audience and so avoided the drama and realism of “The Lord of the Rings,” but it’s a faithful rendition of the story; and reminds us that the “breath of Christ’ brings life to the world. So check it out.
This Sunday , in part 2 of our series on “What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?” we’ll focus on how biblical Christianity was the driving force in modern science, especially medicine, modern music, classical art (definitely not modern art: an expressly anti-Christian statement)—and ultimately how Jesus radically changed human history—one life at a time.
Our December giving at this mid-point has been very strong. After two weekends, we have $65,000 in unrestricted giving (pays the rent, utilities, salaries and most ministry expenses) and, thanks to several very large donations, there is an additional $60,000 for international missions and $50,000 for our future facility. Please play your part with a faithful tithe and special, significant gift to Jesus leading your Christmas giving. If we all do, we’ll soar past our goal of $200,000 of unrestricted gifts and move into our ministries and missions for 2006 aggressively.
A few year-end financial facts in review:
- As we stand on the edge of a $1 million land purchase, with most of the preliminary studies done, we have $1.25 million currently on hand for our land—enough for the land purchase and the county permits and architectural drawings stage.
- Currently our budget is strained for one reason: since last March we have absorbed a jump in rent costs from $12,000 to $27,000 a month. Our giving is up this year, but that increase is still our local-ministry hurdle.
- You have until December 31 to give any gifts for this calendar year and receive the tax break, with two Sunday services left. If mailed, your envelope must be postmarked on or before the 31 st in order to be included in your 2005 charitable giving statement.
- The biggest financial story at Damascus Road in 2005 was the explosion in mission-giving and involvement at the local, national and international levels. We are now a congregation that is seeing the reality of all parts of Acts 1:8.
This Sunday we continue the challenge of making our journey to Bethlehem this Christmas Season.
Love ya,
Richard
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