Merry Advent

Merry Advent Everyone,

I know it’s a little different than “Merry Christmas” but if you think about it, there is no Christmas without Christ. Seriously, if the first Christ followers did not create a way to make the birth of their savior important in their own lives then the Christmas holiday would have never existed. The word “advent” is a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival”. The first Christians developed the Christmas season to help remind themselves of the continuing arrival of their savior Jesus. Wow, how different is this meaning of Christmas than what it is today?

Last Sunday was the beginning of our Advent season. This advent we, as a church family, are looking to make this Christmas season the most meaningful yet. Vineyard USA has put together a Christmas devotional that will help us recapture the essence of Christmas’ long long ago. Over the 4 weeks leading up to the birth of Jesus, we are focusing on “The Light That Leads Us Home”. This series is full of Hope, Peace, Joy, & Love. This past Sunday we focused on Hope. The birth of God into our world is full of hope for everybody. True hope leads us out of the despair, leads us into promise, and leads us into more hope.

The first Christmas changed the world. I have hope that Christmas still has that power to do just this. Eight years ago I was made aware of the worlds water problem. I was convicted that Christmas has become a season of getting what you want instead of helping people get what they need. People all around the world are suffering and dying from the lack of clean drinking water. It is estimated that this Christmas season the average American will spend $700 on Christmas. This is a grand total of $465 Billion dollars. It is estimated that it would cost $20 billion to bring everybody in the world clean drinking water. Now, I share this with you to put things into perspective, not to guilt you. Every non-profit and charity is asking you for money right now. ‘Tis the season.

We as a church family have decided try and do something about this. We have no idea if this will work but we have to at least try something. We are going to Re-Gift this year. We are going to take one gift and return it. Then we are going to Re-Gift towards Water. Would you please join us in Re-Gifting for Water? Please join us as we literally change the world this Christmas Season. Please see the link below for our water campaign.

https://my.charitywater.org/jason-verduzco/regift-4-water

Finally, this last Sunday we handed out our Christmas devotional and the first of four Advent candles. If you missed last Sunday or were still out of town from your Thanksgiving holiday, these gifts will be available for you every Sunday this month. This coming Sunday we will focus on Peace. It is my prayer that you experience the gift of Jesus that transforms you from the inside out.

Advent Blessings,

Pastor Jason