Favorite traditions...

December 23rd, 2023

Christmas is a time for favorite traditions.

If you are like me, you probably have some favorite Christmas songs (Gloria in Excelsis Deo-sung loudly in my best dad voice 😊)

…favorite Christmas movies (Die Hard J/K 😊…It’s a Wonderful Life)

…favorite Christmas sweaters (anything quarter zip)

…favorite Christmas food (fonduing on Christmas Eve)

…favorite Christmas stories (skating till after the stores closed and eating Christmas Eve Dinner at Carrabba’s…instead of fonduing)

…favorite Christmas memories (anytime we are all together playing games or watching movies by the fire)

…favorite Christmas services (don’t forget we are gathering on Christmas Eve for our candlelight services at 5:00 & 7:00pm 😊)

But Christmas is more than favorite traditions. Christmas is also a time to give and receive gifts as expressions of our love.

As a kid, I remember looking through the Montgomery Ward Catalog and dreaming about toys I might get. However, as I grew older, I began to enjoy giving as much or more than receiving gifts.

Now, my favorite part of Christmas is finding out the gifts Leigh-Ann and I gave the kids when they open them 😊 IYKYK.

Whether we are building traditions, spending time with loved ones or giving gifts, Christmas is a time to express our love.

But what is love?

Is love something we can purchase and give away? Of course not. Is love a warm, fuzzy feeling? No. Is love an ongoing tradition? Not exactly.

Love is an unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless choice, that seeks the best for others, regardless of the personal benefit.

The greatest example of love is Jesus in a manger who lived to die on the cross. And this love must be received before it can be given.

This Sunday we will study the love of Jesus as described in Psalm 76 to those people who were living in exile. This same love that was expressed in the manger of Bethlehem and the cross on Golgotha is offered to us today.

There is so much more to discuss, I hope to see you at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or Facebook at 9:15 am. Additionally, we are also publishing our sermons on Spotify.

Merry Christmas,

Troy