FOR DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER:

Well, it’s already started. It’s the season of annual personal turmoil. The pull between joy and dread, the wrench between accounts and wishes, the pull of celebrations and fatigue, the recalling of past debts and errors, and the search for a meaningful Christmas, are all upon us. These stressors are felt at the church as well, as the December calendar is full.

This year, however, FCC will have an historic season of advent as we bring in a new church vision, mission, and structure, set and ready to begin January 2010. The first Sunday of December will be our annual meeting, where we will be electing our new church officers and leaders, as well as adopting a new and updated constitution. It will be a day of celebration, ending with an Open House at the parsonage immediately following the service. It would be great to have our entire church family in attendance for the big day.

We will host an island wide Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) convocation and dinner on the weekend of December 11-12. A team of laymen and ministers are coming in preparation for next year’s “Miracle Week, 2010” next year at our church. On the morning of December 12, Miss Sabrina will host “Breakfast with Santa” for neighborhood children, and we anticipate a big number of kids for the fun, excitement, and joy…as well as a reminder of the reason for the season.

Of course, our worship will be full of familiar songs and sights of the holidays. We hope over this month to provide you with meaningful worship, times for reflection, service, and giving. We, as a church family, understand the sometimes difficulty of the holidays and we pray that you will allow us to minister to you, reach out to you, and celebrate with you, in order that we may all be focused on God’s love, and the wonderful gift of a Savior. O how we need one!

If you need a Savior today, Jesus is waiting for your call. He stands ready to love you as you are, accept your life in total, and walk with you through any door and remind you that you can overcome any challenge. Far greater is God in you than anything you face on the outside. Come and find out all about it on Sunday. I hope we see you at the church this holiday season.

Merry Christmas, Pastor Jimmy

Church Activities

December 6—Annual Meeting immediately following the service. Open House

at the Parsonage to follow, all are invited!

December 11-Regional Dignitaries will visit and dine with some members of our church family.

December 12—”Breakfast with Santa.” Tickets are currently being sold for

$5.00. Please see Lorna or Sabrina for order forms and/or tickets.

December 24—Christmas Eve service at 7:00 p.m. Please come join in the

festivities as we prepare for Jesus’ birth.

December 25—”HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!!”

Family News

Welcome two more members – Jade Glover and Kassandra Odessa who joined the church on November 1, 2009.

The dinners we had for Thanksgiving were nice. Food was excellent and bountiful. Many thanks to Alan, Tamra and the ‘kitchen crew.’ It was also to see Jody Walsh and her mom Caroly.

F..C.C. at Large

Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, and King of Kings are just a few of the many titles and names given to Jesus in scripture. But for me, one of my favorites of all is the name Jesus was given in Isaiah 7:14 '...for the Virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel.'

Immanuel literally means 'God with us'.Just think for a moment about the reality of this most profound of truths. God becoming like us, to be with us. This event was of course made even more profound by the ultimate objective of the incarnation which was nothing less than the salvation of mankind. At least for those wise enough to accept God's gift of grace.

How absolutely wondrous that night must had been. The gates of Heaven had thrown wide open, a multitude of angels pouring out from them to herald the birth of the Christ. Imagine even their amazement as they gazed down at the Creator whom they had served for countless millennium lying there in the form of a tiny, human infant.

Then imagine the unmitigated joy of the Virgin mother as Mary for the first time holds the child that the angel Gabriel had told her she would conceive through the Holy Spirit. Yes, try to imagine how it really must have been on this most miraculous of nights.

Sure, sometimes it can be difficult not to get caught up in the fuss and rush that we are subjected to every year from the over commercialization of the celebration of this most sacred event.

But at some point, please just stop for a few moments. Take a breath and relax and take time to consider the true meaning behind the Christmas season.

That it's really about Immanuel. God with us. God with you. God With me. God in the person of Jesus Christ here with us on earth.

Now take just a few more moments. Set aside all the worldly matters that you might be contending with in order to consider that which truly matters: God is with you. Are you with Him?

'For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.' (Titus 2:11)

Dawe Glover

LEARNING LESSONS

Hello all! I hope everyone has had a chance to recover from all the turkey and pumpkin pie overload. I, for one, felt like a stuffed turkey. J

November has been an especially thought provoking month for the children. We focused on all the things we are thankful for that we normally do not think much of. This went way beyond the obvious family and friends answers I usually receive. We started the month off learning a song “Things I am Thankful For” and reflected from there. The children had to think and explain what would happen without basic items and object such as the sun, our freedom, and so on. These questions really got them going because we generally do not give much thought to these things. However, I wanted to make it clear to them that there are some who really do go without these things, many not by choice. I was impressed with the kids and some of the things they came up with once they caught on to the concepts of the lessons. Part of our lessons reflected on the life of Jesus and the simplicity of it all, knowing that God does not wish for us to fill our lives with materialistic items. Instead, we should focus on having a spirit-filled life.

To reinforce some of the things we came up with, we decided to take a hiking field trip. There the kids were able to connect with nature and all its undisturbed beauty. They also realized the importance of their actions in helping to keep our earth clean and “green”.

Next month we will build upon what we learned in November and practice giving to others less fortunate than we are. I am hoping the kids be able to share their skills and talents in ways that will bring joy to others.

We will also be having a Breakfast with Santa next month. Tickets cost just $5.00 and include a delicious breakfast and a family or children’s photo with Santa. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting Lorna, Tamra, or myself. Anyone wishing to assist with the event can contact me as well.

Happy Holidays!

Sabrina Feliciano

Youth Activities Director /Sunday School Teacher

First Christian Church

Prayer Requests

Rita Pollock

Andy Guten

Jennie Soden

Charles & Ruth Brennan

Mea Moon

Meana Torigoe

Ken Kakazu

Terry Sousa

Annie Palamites

Steve Oliver

Jared Citron

Addison Palanza

George & Laura Kendall

Jo Ann Russell

Mary Wilson & family

John Moon

Pastor Jon & his daughter Michele

Al Gardner

Don Shelton

Ben Bohren

Linnea Martin

Michele DeCosta & family

Fran DeCosta

Joan Hudson

Toraki & Taiko Fukushima

Mary & Mafi Galeai

Charles Chapman

Ellen Chapman

The Glover family

Miguel Sayers

Gayle Silva

Beverly McKeague

Isinory Manuel & family