Can It Get Any Colder?

Is there any question whether winter has arrived yet or not in Spokane?  Not if you’ve stepped outside in the last 24 hours.  With Tuesday night’s record-breaking temperatures in the negative double digits and 6 inches of snow already on the ground before Thanksgiving, I’m starting to have flashbacks to Ice Storm 1996 and the winters of 2008 and 2009 that both hold snow records in the books.  Where is Al Gore when you need him?

Weather like this has actually made me aware again of how very much I have for which to be thankful.  Just having a warm home, warm clothes, a warm family and warm friendships—who could ask for more even in sub-zero weather?  But best of all is the warm love of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We’ll be diving into that spiritual hot-tub of God’s love THIS THANKSGIVING SUNDAY as we finish up Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3.  No matter how cold it gets (or stays) this week in Spokane, I know God is able to melt the hardness of even the coldest heart with his amazing love.  I hope you can join us at 9 or 11 for one of these times of spiritual warmth.

This being Thanksgiving weekend, we’ll also be providing a special way to express our thanks to God for all his blessings.  Before and after each service, you’ll be able to visit our THANK-OFFERING STORE in the office area and give a donation towards any of the items we’ve purchased for the street kids at Cup of Cool Water this season. There’s everything from hand warmers and hats for $1-2/each to blankets for $20/each…with lots of socks and stuff in between.  Why not make this a family experience?  Whether your kids have a few cents or you have a few dollars, come ready to “purchase” the items needed to keep Spokane’s street kids warm this winter. 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Someone told me today, “Isn’t it wonderful to know that when you start hearing Christmas carols these days, you know Thanksgiving is just around the corner!” How true.  But Christmas really is fast approaching. So here’s what we’ve got coming up in the month of December. Mark your calendar.

DECEMBER 19^th—MOSAIC EVENING CHRISTMAS PARTY:  we’ll be enjoying food, music, ornament-making, caroling and more food the evening of the 19^th.  Block out a few hours from 6-8 to have fun, fellowship and food as we prepare for Christmas Eve Celebrations.  We’ll be blanketing the blocks near us with some gifts and invitations for Christmas Eve too.

DECEMBER 24^th—CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATIONS @ 3 and 5 PM:   We’re looking forward to hosting our neighborhood, each other and our friends and family at a couple of upbeat Christmas Eve services complete with hot drinks and warm fellowship.  Be inviting friends and neighbors now for what promises to be a wonderful 75 minutes of God-celebration Christmas Eve.  Invitations will be available for you to pass along starting December 5^th.

This comes with a pray your heart will be filled to overflowing this week with thanksgiving to God for his many multi-faceted blessings to you.  May our gratitude to God continue for far more than a single day.  After all, God has so richly blessed us with an eternity of good things to come. 

Lifting my heart in thanks to God for you,

Pastor John