New Year's Eve

Join us on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. as we say farewell to 2009 and look ahead to 2k10.

Christmas!

It's Christmas! Does it measure up to your expectations? Or perhaps it feels as if something is still missing. When the Word became flesh, that is, when Jesus came to earth as a real flesh 'n' blood baby, the world did not recognize him to be the Son of God. Will you recognize Jesus when you meet him on Christmas Day?
Join us in worship Christmas morning at 10 a.m.

Candlelight Service

Last night's candlelight service was a beautiful portrayal of the story of humankind - from our fall into sin, to our deliverance by a loving God, to a life of loving gratitude. Thanks to all who participated and prepared, and special thanks to Malinda for pulling everything together. Enjoy the slideshow (click on the pictures for full-screen).

You are invited...

to a Candlelight service/Christmas pageant at Lucknow Community Christian Reformed Church, on Place Street, this Sunday, Dec 20 at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments follow the program. Hope to see you there!

Those annoying mini lights...

I decorated my mantle with a string of mini lights this Christmas. Looked nice when I first plugged it in, but since then, the entire string only lights up periodically. It seems that one loose bulb extinguishes every subsequent light. A little shake, and it lights up again, but it has become rather annoying when I turn around just to have them go out again. Jesus said that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). When we are glowing, people will notice and praise our Father in heaven. But if our light goes out, we short out the other lights around us as well. This Sunday we'll look at what it means to be the light of the world.

A less-than-perfect Christmas

You never know, but I suspect that our Christmas table will NOT look like this. My family gatherings tend to get a little loud and a little chaotic. Makes one wonder why we do this. The pharisees put a similar question to Jesus' disciples: "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Why indeed! Why would Jesus come to earth as a helpless baby? Why would he live a life of suffering and misunderstanding? Why would he let himself accept the death penalty of the most despised criminal? Jesus replied to the pharisees that it is the sick who need a doctor. Jesus chose to extend his healing touch to less-than-perfect people. He joins us with a task in mind, but he joins us because he loves us, warts and all. Sometime this Christmas season, take a few moments to wonder about the "why" question. It will put the who, what, when and where back into perspective. This Sunday: Matthew 9:9-13.

Well kept!

On our way back from our vacation in Florida the odometer of the van we were driving rolled over to 500,000km. Impressive! That feat could only be achieved because the van was well kept. Christians too, can keep the faith in the long haul because we have been well-kept. Jude addresses his letter to "those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ" (vs 1). Kept in this way, we are now empowered to "keep ourselves in God's love" (vs 21). We can accomplish great things when we remain in God's love. Join us this Sunday, 10 a.m.