Dear Faith Community Church Family,
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is cause for celebration and worship! In Jesus Christ, the light of salvation has come to illuminate a dark world and to bring redemption to every person who believes in him. This Sunday we turn to Romans 3:21-31 for the third part of our Advent series, The Power of Christmas.
Also, as part of our Advent celebration, this Sunday at 11:00am, we’ll hold our Christmas Community Lunch. Invite friends and neighbors for this time of food and fellowship in the Mission Center. The main dish will be provided. If you’re able, please bring a side or dessert. A sign-up sheet is available here.
As a reminder, our fellowship time during the Advent season will take place in the narthex at 9:00am before the worship service. We will not be holding pre-service prayer these weeks.
Click here to access the livestream of this Sunday’s worship service (9:30am).
This Saturday: Men’s Ministry Christmas Breakfast (9:00am)
The Men’s Ministry Christmas Breakfast is a wonderful time of food, fellowship, and a white elephant gift exchange. The breakfast will be held in the Mission Center. Come in your Christmas garb!
December 18: Blue Christmas Service (7:00pm)
For many people the Christmas season is mixed with feelings of sadness, due to the loss of a loved one or some other difficulty in their life. The Blue Christmas service is intended for those in our congregation and in our community. During this service there is a place for lamenting those losses, while simultaneously looking to Jesus as the unfailing hope for the world.
Volunteers Needed for Christmas Pageant! (During Carol Sing on December 21; 11:15am)
As part of the carol sing on Sunday, December 21 our children will be performing a Christmas pageant. Join us for our carol sing and pageant as we’ll be retelling the story of Jesus’ birth through singing Christmas carols. We are in need of shepherds and wise men to help tell the story through a live nativity and narration. See Amy-Jo Wierenga if you are willing to help with the live nativity.
December 24: Candlelight Christmas Eve Service (6:00pm)
The Christmas Eve service is a joyful time of prayer, singing, and Scripture lessons. Be sure to invite friends and family to attend with you.
Advent Giving Project
This year as our Advent giving project, we will be donating items to the West Chicago Neighborhood Food Pantry. Simply bring the items to donate and place them under the Christmas tree in the Mission Center lobby. Items in bold are especially needed.
- Condiments: mayo/salad dressing, mustard /ketchup (plastic containers only)
- Laundry Care: detergent/dryer sheets
- Diapers/wipes: size 3 through adult sizes
- Paper Goods: towels toilet paper/Kleenex/ napkins
- Canned tuna/chicken in water
- Canned Beans/Fruits
- Boxed Cereal
- Crackers/Graham Crackers
- Jam/Jelly
- Pasta/ pasta sauce
- Rice
- Canned corn/peas
- Juice (no high fructose corn syrup)
- Gluten-free/corn-free items
- Coffee/Tea (1 lb. container or less)
- Cake Mix/Frosting
- Personal Care Items: shampoo/conditioner/bar soap/ tooth care/tampons/sanitary napkins
Financial Giving to Rossweldy (Kids Alive)
Our church sponsors Rossweldy, a 5th grader who attends Anija School with Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic. If you would like to donate funds toward her sponsorship, money jars are available in the narthex and rooms 3/4, 5, and 6.
Chicago Friends of Haiti Christmas Drive
Despite recent violence in Haiti, the church in Haiti remains faithful as ever. Here is a video showing some of the recent work in the school built recently for kids to receive a Christian-based education while meeting the academic demands of the national exams. Attached to this email is a flyer of needs for the school in Cavaillon, which are mainly food during this holiday season. If you wish to give toward the Chicago Friends of Haiti, please write a check, put cash in an envelope, or give online to our church (Faith Community Church) and note that it’s for the Chicago Friends of Haiti. We will send off one check later on to support the meal effort.
Prayer Requests and Praises
Amy Rhody (Larry and Pat LaBelle’s daughter): Please pray for a safe heart catheterization on December 18 and a quick recovery following the procedure.
Family of Ken Dawson: Please pray that the Lord would comfort the family of Ken Dawson, a longtime member of Faith Community Church, who went to be with the Lord on November 25.
Serena Family: Pray for the healing of Peter and Peggy Serena’s 4-year-old grandson, Joseph, who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.
With Hope,
Pastor Rhett