This special notice is for those who attend (or would like to come for the first time) The Perk on Thursday morning at 9:30. Last week we decided to have a little Christmas brunch along with our Bible study. Jaimie is bringing biscuits and gravy, so plan around that. Let's bring enough so that the kiddos can have a bite to eat too. If you forget about it, or simply don't have time to make/bring something, don't let that stop you from attending. This will be our last meeting of 2015, but we'll resume on January 7, 2016.
Common Grounds will meet Thursday night at 6:30. No one has said anything about doing something special for that. (I think most women are exhausted by that time of night and just lucky to make it at all!) If you want to bring a goodie, feel free! We will not be meeting again until January 7th.
We won't take down the Christmas decorations at church until Friday, January 8th. (It's always faster/easier to take down than put up!) We'll meet at 6 PM that evening for pizza and dismantling, followed by a game night. If coming at 6 for pizza doesn't work for you, please just show up around 7 for games. (Bring some!) Please let me know if you'll be there for the pizza and tear down, so I know how many pizzas to get. A contribution of $5/person is greatly appreciated.
Now here's the piece about peace I wanted to share with you:
And of His Peace ...
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. ~ Isaiah 9:7
Christmas—the time of year when it’s cold outside but warm in our hearts. When everyone gets along and there are no squabbles between the kids. The time of year when goodwill emanates from strangers in the store, and everyone greets us with a smile.When joy fills our hearts and we can’t help breaking out into a carol. You know that time of year? Me neither!
Christmas is no respector of life. The hardships and challenges of our lives don’t stop simply because it’s December. There are still fractured marriages to be lived in, cancer diagnoses to receive, mental health issues to be addressed ... and the list goes on.
The Christ Child was born into such a world. Born into the messiness of a stable, and the greater messiness of our lives. Lives that struggle to hold on to hope at times. Lives that are nearly overwhelmed by the despair around us.
As I ponder Isaiah 9:7, I see two things: Christ’s government (or rule) will have no end, nor will there be an end to His peace. It’s easy to project that into the future, but I believe it’s true for us here and now. And I need to cling to that. Paul knits those two concepts together in Colossians 3:15 when he reminds us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. When we allow Him to be the ruler of our lives, we will never run out of the peace needed to deal with our daily struggles.
I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is possible. Whether you find yourself in paragraph one this year, or down in the second paragraph, I pray you will give the Lord more room to rule in your heart and find the peace that goes along with that, no matter what your circumstances.
Until next time,
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com 971-285-6699
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