Dear Brothers and Sisters,
There are many reasons people enjoy the Christmas season. Maybe it’s the break from work, extra time with family, or seeing the beautiful lights in the neighborhoods. These are all wonderful things about this time of year, but in the opening pages of our Advent devotional, Repeat the Sounding Joy, Christopher Ash gives us an even more profound reason to rejoice at Christmas time. In his comments on the first few verses of the Gospel of Luke, he says “Before telling us the story, Luke carefully shows us that what he is talking about is TRUE. Really true–True with a capital ‘T’.” The story of the world’s Savior coming to us as a human being, living a perfect life, and dying for the sins of the world before rising again is the greatest Truth there is. This Advent let Jesus Christ, who is the Truth, be the one who brings lasting joy to your heart.
On Sunday we continue in our series The Path to Joy with Luke 1:39-56, where Mary visits Elizabeth and sings a song of joy and praise to the Lord.
Click here to access the livestream of this Sunday’s worship service (9:30am).
Fellowship Time During the Advent Season
As we have done the last several years during the Advent season, we will continue to host fellowship time before the worship service. We encourage you to join us for refreshments and fellowship at 9:00am.
Community Christmas Lunch (Sunday, December 12; 11:00am)
Included in last Sunday’s bulletin was an invitation for you to hand to friends, co-workers, and neighbors to share in our Community Christmas Lunch on Sunday, December 12. The lunch, which will be provided by the church, is an opportunity for us to invite and to show hospitality to those in our community. Anyone is welcome to come to both the worship service and the lunch, or simply to join us for the lunch at 11 am. An RSVP is not required, but to help us keep track of the amount of food needed, we ask that if possible you contact the church office to let us know if you will be attending and how many guests you plan to bring.
Faith Community Church Advent Project
This Advent, our mercy ministry focus is to help DuPagePads raise funds to repurpose a 130 unit hotel in Downers Grove for use as an interim housing center. To participate, please pick up an envelope in the church narthex and place your financial gift in the offering plate.
Advent Events at Faith Community Church
Friday, December 10: Book Club: Letters from Father Christmas (10:00am)
Saturday, December 11: Men’s Christmas Breakfast (8:00am)
Sunday, December 12: Community Christmas Lunch (11:00am)
Friday, December 17: Austin Christmas Open House (5:30pm-7:30pm)
Sunday, December 19: Christmas Hymn Sing (11:00am)
Friday, December 24: Christmas Eve Service (6:30pm)
Office Administrator Job Opening
Our church is seeking to hire a part-time office administrator (20 hrs/week). The job description is attached to the Midweek Update. If you would like to inquire about the position, please contact Pastor Rhett.
Prayer Requests
Nicholas Wetherington: Thank God for giving Nick guidance on his next steps.
Debbie Gottlieb (Friend of Wetherington family): Thank God for Debbie’s continued rehabilitation following a recent illness.
Karla Van Der Molen: Please continue to pray that our Lord would comfort and strengthen our sister Karla.
In Him,
Pastor Rhett