On Sunday, December 28, we’ll join together for one worship service at 10:00am in the Family Life Center. Breakfast provided. Menu: French Toast Casserole, sausage, fruit, coffee and juice. If you have extra Christmas goodies to share, please bring them.

No Sunday School for children and youth. Faith Class will not meet. Closer Talk (adult class) will meet at 11:00 am. All other Sunday School classes are NOT meeting.

Our mission project is a Book Drive (children’s books) for Hope House. Our livestream will be available by 8:30am that morning running a replay of the December 29, 2024, worship service. 

The church office will be closed on New Year’s Day.
The office will be open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Dec. 29, 30, 31 and Jan. 2. 

The Apostle Paul asks a question that has puzzled humans for 2,000 years: Why do I do what I don't want to do? (Romans 7:14-20) We might ask it like this -- why is my willpower so weak? Why do I struggle to forgive? Why is compassion offputting to me?

The earliest Christians had similar questions, so they went to the desert -- thinking that they could escape temptation there. What they found was temptation is a human experience. Even in the desert, it finds us.

A proper diagnosis is essential for healing. From the desert, these forebears of our faith paid deep and careful attention to the condition of their hearts. They began to write about the "root sins," the sins from which all other sins grow. Eventually, they clarified the list to what we later called, the Seven Deadly Sins.

In January, we'll examine each of these "root sins" during the sermon. Each week, the goal is finding freedom from that which seems to hold us in bondage: Why can't we choose what we say we want? Why do we speak hurtful words to those we love and then find it hard to apologize? Why does our love for God grow cold?

Healing depends on a proper diagonsis. Let's see what we can learn from those who've been asking these questions for a long time as we consider the Glittering Vices in our lives.

Starting Jan. 4, Pastor Charla will teach a Sunday morning class, from 10:00-11:00 am. This class will focus on mapping the right path for our spiritual journey. Some begin the spiritual journey with a life-changing experience with God. Others have no idea when they began, but they know they want to go further. Walking the path -- making forward progress -- is the desire we all share. If you'd like to know more, join Pastor Charla on the journey.

Many of you have a Sunday School class already; some do not. If you don't already have a group, consider joining with the group Pastor Charla will build in our six weeks together. If you have questions or would like more information, CLICK HERE, to email Pastor Charla

Friendly reminder, year end donations must be in the church office by 3:00 pm, Dec. 31, or postmarked by Dec. 31. Grateful for your generosity!