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Good Afternoon, Covenant Family.

Christmas is about Jesus. God in the flesh coming down into this world to redeem and restore it. God with us. One element of Christmas I love is the opportunity we have to gather with others. Sometimes Christians see "church stuff" or "Bible stuff" as spiritual and important to God and the "other stuff" as somehow being less spiritual or important. It seems to me that God becoming human refutes that. God experienced all that is involved with being human - the joys, celebrations, family, meals, rejection, and loss. God is present in all of those things just as much as he is in church stuff.

When we gather for "church stuff" the fact that we can be Jesus in the flesh with each other is important. When you gather with family and friends this season . . . God is present in those times and spaces, too. To help remind us of that, I've made a video to let you know of a few times when Covenant is inviting people to come together to enjoy God in the flesh. Stick around on the video after the reminders for a Christmas song written by Rich Mullins to remind us of the joy of family at Christmas!

Just so you have the details in writing, here is what is coming up at Covenant:

  • Sunday, December 18 at 9 & 11 am - The Light of Love - A Blue Christmas Sunday. This Sunday will include a special time to remember loved ones we are missing during the holiday season.
  • Saturday, December 24 at 4 & 5:30 pm - The Light of Christ Christmas Eve Service - A joyful and reflective celebration of the birth of Jesus.
  • Sunday, December 25 at 11 am - Christmas Morning Service (note that there is one service only) -Do you have a guitar, mandolin, ukelele or other instrument you love to play? You're invited to bring it and join Jon in leading a Christmas Carol singalong on Christmas morning! He'll have chord charts available for you to join in plaing for this time of joyful celebration.
  • Sunday, January 1 at 11 am - New Years Day Communion Service - Join us as for a special time of prayer and praise to start the new year!

Other important dates & updates:

  • Covenant Youth Ministry and Covenant Kids programs will take a break after Sunday, December 18th and will resume on Sunday, January 8th. Our office will be operating on an as needed basis for the week between Christmas and New Years. For urgent matters, please contact a deacon or Pastor Jon at home. Otherwise . . . leave a message at the office and we'll respond in the new year!
  • Important Christian Island Sponsorship News! - Due to problems with the vehicle ferry to Christian Island there will not be a social event corresponding with the gifts. Gifts need to be brought to Covenant before Saturday, December 17 at 10:30 am. Social services staff will be picking up the gifts at that time.
  • Our tellers would like to remind you that this is the final service of the year. If you would like to have a donation included in 2016 it needs to be given on or before Christmas Day.