Try A Little Kindness

Last Thursday I was attending a meeting at Spargos on University drive. I was there early, so I ended up being the first one there.  I had about 15 minuets before the others got there, and so I decided to read a paper.  Many times people leave papers there and they put the ones left behind up by the cash register.  But on that day, there were no papers in the rack.  I looked in my pocket, but didn’t have any change for the paper boxes outside.  So there I sat with nothing to do.

A minute didn’t go by when there was a tap on my shoulder.  A man leaving the restaurant handed me a folded paper as he was walking out the door.  All he said was, “Merry Christmas.”  I said, “Thank you so much, and a Merry Christmas to you too.”  What a difference that little act of kindness made to my whole day.

We all know this to be so true.  A little act of kindness can make such a difference in a person’s day.  But we have to be looking and ready to make that difference.  This act was multiplied by the man’s greeting and well wishes.  Take a moment today, right now, after reading this blog, and share a random act of kindness for someone.  It can really make a difference!  Ask Jesus to show you someone that can really use it.

God Bless your Christmas celebration!
Pastor Bill   <><

Christmas Eve Services

Come join us for the celebration of the birth of our Lord.

On Christmas Eve we have 3 services, all celebrating holy communion.

4:00 p.m. is our Children’s service, led by our UpStreet Sunday educational program. This service allows the children to sit up front for the message and is built with children in mind. We share communion together and then the service concludes with singing Silent Night, followed by a birthday party for Jesus in our Fellowship hall. After all, it IS His birthday we are celebrating!

7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. Both of these services are candlelight services with Holy Communion. They feature special music from the music ministries of King of Kings. They emphasize the festival nature of our Christmas celebration.

We also invite those who find Christmas to be a time of sadness to join us for our “Longest Night Service” on Sunday, December 22nd at 7:00 p.m. This service is a quiet time of worship–remembering that the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. For many, Christmas is not a joyous time, but rather a time of remembering loss, change in life, or longing for quiet time in the midst of the rush of the holiday. Come join us in this healing time of worship as we light our candles together in the darkness and look forward to the coming of the Prince of Peace.

A Christmas to Remember

I’ve lived through a lot of Christmas celebrations (okay, almost 50!) and I do remember some of them, especially the ones that are more recent. But there is one Christmas that really stands out in my mind. I think I was in 3rd or 4th grade and our family was living in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. I remember we had a family meeting that year and my dad shared that it was not a good year. Money was tight and my brother and I should not expect as many presents as we would usually get.
I remember it so well, because I recall thinking, “I can give something this Christmas by not wanting so much!” Christmas morning came and there were still some presents under the tree. I think I even remember one of them. But what I remember most was that we were working together as a family and that Christmas meant taking care of each other.
Christmas isn’t meaningful because of how many gifts we get. It’s the relationships we share together. The reason for that is because the first Christmas was all about relationships. Emmanuel–GOD WITH US! Christmas doesn’t come in a box or with the amount of packages under the tree. It doesn’t come with the most lights on the house or the most lighted deer in the front yard. It comes when we give to each other in special ways as we remember what God has given to us.
Make a Christmas to remember. Do something together with those you love–whether friends or family. Give of yourself… as God gave His best to you!
PB <