Newsletter: December, 2021
Christmas at Audubon
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Am I the only one who feels as if November recently began and already December is upon us? Thanksgiving has come and gone, again, but not before we gathered as a church to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal together. It was one for the ages. As we look forward, Audubon is alive the month of December as we ponder and celebrate the birth of Christ, a moment wrapped in significance for the whole world. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
While you will find most of our month gatherings specified in the Calendar included within this newsletter, a few deserve special mention:
On Wednesday, December 8th, the congregation will gather for “Hanging the Green” at 6:30PM in the sanctuary. One of my strongest, early memories of Audubon was the first time that our family participated in this annual tradition. It was in that hour in 2017 that I heard members within the church describe Christmas legacies, began long ago with parents and grandparents that sat in the same pews of Audubon Baptist. It was in that hour that I heard testimonies of Sunday School teachers that were the grandmothers of current members, where I heard about how some reading this newsletter spent Christmas’s as young children in this same building. It was in that hour that I heard what many call counterculture in the church today, “We just were raised up here and we stayed.” The testimonies were powerful to me; the sharing was easy and lighthearted that evening, the moderation limited. It was a God-orchestrated moment of the church being the church, stirring one another up. Would you please consider joining us for this year’s “Hanging the Green”?
On Wednesday, December 15th, the congregation will meet for a “Christmas Hymn Sing” at 6:30PM in the FLC. Please join us as we spend the hour singing favorites as we prepare our hearts for worshipping this child born, a child whose blood one day would deliver and redeem God’s people. Consider bringing a dessert or fruit to share. Coffee and tea will be provided. It will be a great and uplifting hour.
Our Christmas Worship Service will be held Sunday, December 19th, at 10:30AM in the sanctuary. Our music team and I have been at work preparing the liturgy for this special service. This year, we will not have a formal Christmas Cantata due to limitations imposed by COVID. Instead, the team has put together six “special music” offerings that will be sung and presented to the congregation. Please prepare your heart to receive the Good News of a baby’s birth, sung passionately by those who will lead us with voice and instrumentation, and as read by church members via select Biblical texts. May the Son be glorified in all we seek to do during our Christmas Worship Service.
Lastly, our Christmas Eve Eve Worship Service will be held Thursday, December 23rd, at 7:00PM in the sanctuary. During this evening, we will share in Holy Communion as a church family, and hear a special message entitled, “God of the Impossible”. The gathering will conclude with the lighting of candles and Christmas hymns sung together as family. You are encouraged to bring guests that may be visiting during the holiday season. All are welcome.
Aren’t you thankful that we have come to know the truth of Jesus Christ? That Christmas represents so much more to us, that we understand God is with us? I certainly am. And I am grateful too that He has blessed us with one another, that we anticipate these moments as family. December is upon us! So greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ, the one born to the virgin, the one who loved us and gave Himself for us at the place we call Calvary.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
God is surely with us,
Pastor Jeff