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Weekly Update from the Senior Pastor
December 22, 2006
Dear Family and Friends,
This Sunday is Christmas Eve! I’m excited. Since the Jewish reckoning of a day is from evening to morning, on Christmas Eve we celebrate the magical night the angels heralded Messiah’s birth.
My pastoral recommendation : go into the weekend letting go of all the strain and rush of the commercial side of Christmas and become in spirit like those shepherds who said: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found…the Baby, who was lying in a manger.” Luke 2:15-16. Be like the wise men who sought Him to worship Him. Don’t be strained, be awed.
This year we’ll share one service, family friendly, in the main auditorium at 10:30-11:45 a.m.
We can’t get the High School auditorium for Christmas Eve evening (a Spanish-speaking congregation meets then), so if you are up for a Christmas-Eve evening service, visit another church and bless them with your spirit and be blessed by their offering to the community. The Fredericks family may see you there—it’s pretty rare when Sallie and I walk into a service just to sit and soak up the blessing.
Updates and Thanks:
- This Sunday, toddlers to 4-year olds who have practiced to be lambs in this service should assemble in the HS Cafeteria at 10:45 a.m . Our annual lambs will do their wonderful thing near the end of the service, just before my Christmas homily on: The God of the Big Bang and Bethlehem’s Baby.
- Next week’s appearance of U-2’s Bono for our New Year’s service is for real, but unfortunately, not live. It is a DVD interview with Bill Hybels that I hope will disturb you at points, yet move you and deeply encourage you. The man is a genuine Christian and the call he gives to the church is one we need to wrestle with. Invite a friend, it will be a great discussion-starting day. New Year’s Eve, remember: Holy Rain!
- I wish words were more adequate or I was more gifted at crafting ways to say Thank You to this congregation. In terms of accepting your part in following God’s heart to our future, the great majority of this congregation chose not to stand in front of God with closed fists, fancy excuses or fearful hearts. You stepped up with $3.1 million in pledges and a God-story began in your lives that will continue for three years. Then it got better! J…
- On December 10 and in the ten days afterward, as a “first fruits” offering toward those pledges, you have given slightly over $340,000—exactly a tithe (one tenth) of our ideal goal. Every widow’s mite or Zacchaeus’ much of faithful giving matters to God and will move us ahead. But the story doesn’t end there.
- Several folks have given stocks or are extricating investments that will be converted (no pun intended) into funds for our new facility before December 31 st that amounts to another $50,000. This allows us to move ahead as fast as we are able to with the architects and the Frederick County permitting process. To all you “ring-bearers” of Damascus Road , my deepest gratitude for your courage to give God your wallet in “walking the talk” faith.
- Still another financial thank-you. True to all those pledges, you didn’t just switch the focus of your offerings to God. Our local budget is staying strong. Thanks and the annual reminder: every gift you want a charitable contribution for in 2006 must be postmarked or put in the offering by December 31 st.
- January 21 we begin a ten-week study of the final, cataclysmic book of the Bible: the Book of Revelation. I love this book, wrote my doctoral dissertation on its theme of judgment and believe it holds out such hope in the Lamb. During this winter stretch Damascus Road is going to slow down our pace as we focus on building community and deepening friendships. We may do another round of fireside chats just to share the final footprint of the new facility and get your input. You are a great body of believers that our Lord is using to His glory.
Merry Christmas!
Brett & Erin Barry , Michael & Nancy Poist,
Glen & Debbie Lawrence, Roger & Lori Record ,
Paul & Jeannie Foss , Bob & Julie Fournier ,
Rajendra & Erika Pillai , Richard & Sallie Fredericks
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