A Letter from Pastor Mark - November



Dear Friends,
I am writing this letter for the November newsletter in the third week of October.  As I am writing this letter, my mind is on the Advent and Christmas season.  Why?  One of the reasons is that I have just finished writing my sermons for all of Advent.  When I am writing Christmas sermons, it is hard not to think Christmas!
So, since I’m in the Christmas spirit, let’s talk about something we are going to do once again this year. Over the past three years we have observed Operation Christmas Transformation.  Let me explain for those who are new to that term.  At Christmas time we spend a lot of time and money doing things for ourselves, family and friends.  That’s OK but whose birthday is it anyway?  The answer would be Jesus.  While we are taking care of ourselves at Christmas time, maybe we should think about giving Jesus a birthday gift as well.
Operation Christmas Transformation is an opportunity to do just that.  We encourage people to spend a little less on gifts and holiday preparations and give that money to Operation Christmas Transformation so that ministry can be done in the name of Jesus.  Half of the   money given to Operation Christmas Transformation will be placed in the Pastor’s Benevolent Fund, and half will go to the Pastor’s Ministry Fund.  What are those funds?  Pastor’s Benevolent Fund is money we can use to help people in need in our church and in the community.  Pastor’s Ministry Fund is money that we can use to take advantage of  opportunities for ministry that are not funded through the church budget.  These two funds   represent two ways that we can touch people’s lives with the love of Jesus.
How can we give to Operation Christmas Transformation?  You can give by making a donation from what you have saved by cutting back slightly on your usual Christmas spending.  Just make sure that when you give in this way that you mark the contribution “Operation Christmas Transformation.”

The second way you can give is to give by purchasing a poinsettia picture at Christmas instead of an actual poinsettia plant.  For every $10 given to the Transformation Fund a picture poinsettia will be put up in the church in honor or in memory of any one you choose.
If you would like to purchase a live poinsettia for the worship center for Christmas, that can be done as well.  Envelopes will be available sometime in November for this purpose, and each plant will be $10, and you can purchase them in memory or in honor of someone as well.
Let’s give Jesus a birthday party!  How?  Through Operation Christmas Transformation.
In Christ’s Abundant Love,
Pastor Mark

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