Good morning, church family!
Let’s check-in with just one week until Christmas Day!
This past Sunday I shared a story about an inexperienced, lost intern who was sent around a minor league ballpark frantically searching for the box of curveballs that he was told the pitchers desperately needed. Of course, it was a prank. Sometimes we need to stop and consider if what we’re looking for is worth the search!
Since then some of you have shared your own stories about sending unsuspecting victims on hopeless hunts. Be careful if you’re ever asked to search for a can of elbow grease, blinker fluid or prop wash!
All kidding aside, Jesus told the story of a man who found a treasure in a field, sold everything he had and bought that field! (Matthew 13:44). When we find the hope, peace and joy of the Lord, it is a treasure worth so much more than what the world has to offer!
With one week to go until Christmas, I pray that you’ll find a valuable treasure: the presence of the God who dwells with us. When God shows up, we can’t help but be filled with rejoicing – just like those shepherds who were the first to visit Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. -Luke 2:20
Keep reading to see the latest announcements, and remember: God loves you, and so does your pastor!
--Pastor Billy
THIS SUNDAY: The Fourth Sunday of Advent we will light the candle of love and worship the God who came in the fullness of the time. We’ll also have a special Christmas gift for each child and teen present! Hope to see you Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: Invite the whole family for just an hour on Christmas Eve to hear the true Christmas story, sing along to some of your favorite Christmas songs and enjoy a candlelight service from 6-7 p.m. in our sanctuary. We’ll have special, safe candles for the kids as well!
ANGEL TREE: Huge thank you to so many who donated gifts for our Angel Tree kids! Those gifts were delivered this week, and almost 50 households will receive these extra blessings this Christmas because of your generosity! Thank you!
YEAR-END GIVING: I’m so thankful for the many generous supporters we have at Woodland Lakes Community Church who know the importance of giving and who obediently and sacrificially practice God’s call to generosity. As you make plans for your tithes and offerings through the end of the 2024 calendar year, we want to make you aware of some important dates:
For donations made by cash or check, please get them to the church office by 5 p.m. December 31. These donations can be received by our church office in person, by mail or by placing them in the donation box in the church office.
For online donations, including automatic withdrawals, please ensure that payment is scheduled to happen on or before December 20. While it seems like the online systems would deposit those funds immediately to the church, they do not; there can be up to a 12-day delay (and we aren’t provided a set date when the processing will occur). That is why we are encouraging you to make those donations by December 20th to guarantee they are posted in 2024.
If you are unclear about any of this, please feel free to call the church office at (316) 682-9522. Thank you for your generosity this year!
JUST FOR FUN
Hey, you read Pastor Billy's midweek check-in all the way to the end! As a reward, check out these crazy stories I came across recently:
A Ford Mustang got pulled over in Wyoming because it was decorated bumper-to-bumper with Christmas lights which, apparently, is illegal.
A new antibiotic that has been shown to slow the growth of certain cancer cells was recently discovered… at a Chicago park… by middle school students… in goose poop.
Only 7 days until Christmas: For just $68.75 you can buy a share of an actual Stegosaurus skeleton. But you have to wait until the Initial Public Offering launches on Friday.
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