This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday we celebrate the story of Joseph and Mary as they make their way to Bethlehem. Like many churches, we celebrate this by hosting a Christmas Pageant. Our children at the 10:30 service will be acting out the Christmas story. I love Pageant Sunday. I love it because in it, we tap into one of the earliest forms of Christian worship. In our earliest forms of worship, Christians would act out the stories of our faith as a way of sharing and teaching them. For generations, before literacy was common, these "plays" or "pageants" were how we learned the stories of Jesus. Needless to say, I love pageants.

Also, please remember that Harvest Hope has asked for feminine products and consumable baby goods (i.e., formula, wipes and diapers). If you see these things while you are out and about, please consider buying some. My friend Bob Bell sent a picture from Harvest hope on Monday. The line went down the block. This year the need is great; please consider helping in any way you can.

In Christ,

Mitch+