Waiting for the Weekend

Dear Friends, 

I am writing to you today from Tyler State Park where my wife, Stephanie, and I have been camping this week. Her birthday was this past Tuesday and one of her gifts was this time away. I am grateful that after 20 years of marriage she still considers time with just me a gift! There is certainly no one else I would rather spend time with than her.

Tonight we will head back to Mansfield. We are having dinner with some close friends this evening and tomorrow we are looking forward to attending the matinee showing of Mainstage Classic Theatre’s presentation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Three performances of this play will be shared in our sanctuary this weekend, Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online here. 

This Sunday I will be sharing the second message of our Advent series, A Thrill of Hope. Pastor Julian kicked this off last Sunday focusing on these words from Isaiah 40, verse 31:

…But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

I was particularly struck by one thought Julian shared. He said, 

“We don’t want to wait because we don’t believe that waiting works, but waiting on the Lord is what prepares the way for the Lord.” 

I have been pondering on this statement all week and on Sunday I am looking forward to sharing some of those reflections with you as we continue our journey through the season of Advent. 

As we prepare to gather this weekend, here are a few other important things I want you to know. 

• Angel Tree – All of the Angel Tree gifts are due THIS SUNDAY! A huge thank you to those who helped adopt all 900 of our Angels this year. If you would like to help with sorting day or pick up day, visit our website here and sign up! 

• Spark Family Adventure – This Sunday our Children’s Ministry is hosting a Birthday Party for Jesus for children who are kindergarten age and younger and their families! You can register here. 

• Remembrance Service and Remembrance Tree – Just a reminder, we are hosting a Remembrance Service for all of those who have ever experienced the loss of a loved. The service will be Saturday, December 11th, at 5pm. We also have a special tree set up outside near our Chapel Building where you are welcome to come by and write the name of a loved one you have lost and would like to remember. 

• A Thrill of Hope T-shirts and Ornaments – I would like to invite you to stop by our Connecting Point this Sunday to purchase A Thrill of Hope shirt and ornament in honor of our newest Advent series as well as to serve as a reminder of this powerful season we are in. 

I will see you this weekend! 

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor David