Hi Buffalo Cov Family,

I feel a little connection to that first Christmas these days. Like Jesus who had to be born in the stable and His family who had to celebrate His birth in the stable, we as a church are going to be celebrating Christmas this year in a unique place. Rather than being in our nice cozy, beautiful worship center, we will be huddled together (still nice and cozy) in our gymnasium. While it may not have been our first choice, it actually looks very nice! Marissa Russell and her team of decorators have done a fantastic job of decorating our gymnasium for Christmas. The goal was to set a nice nature theme as a part of our Christmas in the gym and they have done a great job. It is beautiful and simple and elegant all at the same time. 

Praise God for the foresight of those in this congregation many years ago who thought to add a gym to our resources. I don't know what we would be doing without it!

And really, what do the Scriptures tell us about worship anyway? 

God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

Worship is about what is going on in our heart and soul and spirit. So the location doesn't matter. We could be in a gin-ormous cathedral and if our heart is not there, it wouldn't be true worship. Or we could be in a nice, but humble, gymnasium, with a church building all around us that is ripped up and torn apart, with the carpeting torn up from the floors, and junk laying everywhere, and discolored walls, and wires and conduit sticking out, and drywall dust, and missing chairs, etc. but if our heart is worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, then God is infinitely pleased with our worship!

So let's worship God in Spirit and in Truth this Christmas Season!

Let's celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ into this very needy world.

Let's give Him first place in our hearts.

Let's love those around us, both our family, friends, and co-workers, and our church family. Can you practice an extra measure of love and patience and joy this season as we gather together to worship the Christ Child? It doesn't matter where we worship; what matters is what's going on in our heart. 

God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

For a merry and blessed Christmas!

Pastor Bill