Dear Friends,

First, let me start by expressing appreciation to Paula Faub and the choir for an outstanding music program last Sunday evening. Though they got a late start in preparation, you would never have known it! We have been greatly blessed by the Lord in our music ministry over this year. Bob Faub, Will Milks, Bryan Crotts, and I meet on Tuesday mornings at 6:15 to review the previous week’s service and finalize plans for the following Sunday. I tell you that because our gatherings are such a delight, even at such an early hour. When I think of the Lord’s bringing Will Milks “home” to us last winter, Tina Forlines to our piano last summer, and the Faubs to us in October, I am most grateful for His kind and rich provision of leadership and skill in this aspect of the life of the church. Christians are a singing people and we have much to sing about. These folks, along with the other instrumental musicians (Wayne Moyer and Danny Donovan, particularly) and our faithful choir members help us “let the word of Christ dwell in (us) richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in (our) hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). Two of the great pieces of our Reformation heritage are the emphasis on both the God-centeredness of worship and the place of all the people of God singing -- not just performers singing to a passive audience. So, many thanks to our church musicians for their excellence and willingness to bless us with it.

With the winter weather today, it’s a good time to remind you how to find out about any weather-related changes to our church schedule. If there are lights and heat in the church building, then we will have a morning worship service on the Lord’s Day with whoever can come. However, we may make other adjustments to the day’s schedule, depending on road conditions and other factors. In order to find out, check your email. Also, you can check our website or call the church office at 288-2365 and then press 10. This should take you to a recording that will specify any adjustments to our schedule. In the case of this weekend, we will make a decision by 6 o’clock p.m. on Saturday evening.

It may be hard for you to think past the next week, but let me mention a couple of important dates to you. First, on Sunday morning, January 10, we will install Bryan Crotts as our Associate Pastor. Pastors are called by a congregation; they are not simply hired. There is a relationship between pastors and congregations that is more covenantal than transactional. It is established by God Himself as a congregation calls a man and, in our system, the presbytery confirms that call and then installs the pastor or associate pastor. In that worship service, both the pastor being installed and the congregation make vows to Almighty God. On that day, Bryan will make solemn promises to the Lord God that we will get to hear him make, but he is not making them to us. Similarly, the congregation makes a vow to God to honor and support Bryan; while he witnesses your making it, it is an obligation you make to God. We will have some refreshments after the service that day, as well.

Secondly, our next Inquirers’ Class will be on Friday evening and Saturday, January 15-16. If you have been visiting Christ Community and would like to know more about our church, what we believe, and who we are, this is an excellent opportunity. When you register, you are not committing to anything except to show up and learn more; it also helps us plan the food. While it is the first step in the process of becoming a member of Christ Community Church, that process is not on auto-pilot if you come to the class. We’re not into high-pressure sales.

Assuming that weather doesn’t create a problem, remember our Christmas caroling and chili dinner this Sunday evening. The groups depart from the Fellowship Hall at 5 o’clock. We start serving chili at 6 o’clock. Come for the singing, the food, or both. Also, remember our Christmas Eve candlelight service next Thursday afternoon at 5 o’clock. This is a service for the whole family that alternates Scripture readings and familiar Christmas carols and hymns.

Be preparing for the Lord’s Supper this Sunday morning. What a blessing Jesus gives us in this family meal for the Church. The Word that comes to us in our eyes and ears through the reading and preaching of the Bible comes through our touch and taste in the Lord’s Supper. The central activity of preparation is examining our hearts. As we do, we look for sin that we have cherished more than we have cherished Christ, and then we repent. As you prepare for Sunday, I thought you might find this observation from Jerry Bridges as helpful as I did:

We should never be afraid to examine ourselves. But when doubts do arise, the solution is not to try harder to prove to ourselves that we are believers. The solution is to flee to the cross and to the righteousness of Christ, which is our only hope. And then, having looked to Christ alone for our justification, we can look to His Spirit to enable us to deal with those areas of our lives that cause doubt.

(The Gospel for Real Life, 158)

As we remember the One who came and dwelt among us in this season, I look forward to gathering with you on Sunday as the Spirit He sent brings us to commune with Him in the Word and around His table.

Your friend,