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Hi everyone! 
It’s 2 weeks until Christmas day!!  I can’t decide whether that’s good news or whether it is terrifying. It’s a good thing I’m not cooking our Christmas dinner and that I don’t have a long list of presents still to buy. Otherwise, I think I’d definitely come out on the terrified side. I hope you’re enjoying the season and far enough ahead to be able to relax and drink it all in.


With all that’s going on, I’m going to keep this week’s note newsy. So here are a couple of reminders.
As noted elsewhere in the newsletter, this is the week of our annual Blue Christmas event, Sunday evening at 7:00. I know Blue Christmas isn’t for everyone, every year. But I’m glad WVBC has made a point of creating a time for grieving and for encouraging one another each Christmas season. Too often people who are wrestling with losses and other difficulties feel invisible and alone during the holiday. For anyone who has the blues, it’s important for you to know that it’s OK to express how you’re feeling, to bring it to our Lord and to share it with our community. We are, and want to be, a supportive family who are quick to acknowledge your pain, eager to listen, and to walk along beside you in whatever way we can. In a perfect world, it would be great if no one in our church and our wider community felt blue enough to come to an event like this. In our fallen world, many do. Please know that you are welcome, and by all means, invite others who might find comfort in this event to join as well.


Also, a reminder that our service on Sunday, December 22 will be specifically designed as a “bring your friend to church” kind of event. We all have friends and family who aren’t generally interested in church, but who are open to visiting a church once or twice a year, especially as part of the Christmas holiday. I suspect that we’ve all also had the experience where we brought a friend to some Christian event, only to find that the event turned out to be awkward and perhaps even a turn-off for our friend, for any number of reasons. Please be assured that this service is designed to be enjoyable even for those who might be a little skittish about church. There will be lots of music—mostly familiar Christmas carols. The message will be SHORT and friendly, and I don’t plan for an alter call or anything like that. We’ll talk about Jesus as someone worth knowing and serving. But we’ll save the heavy message of sin and repentance and surrendering your life for another day when it won’t be interpreted as a bait-and-switch. So by all means, please feel comfortable inviting outsiders to join us on the 22nd. Hopefully it will be a step on the path to faith for some.  Let’s all be in prayer that the Lord will use the time to touch lives.


As for this week, this will be our last in the sermon series looking at the “big story” that runs through the Old Testament leading up to the arrival of Christ. So far we’ve talked about a promised redeemer, about failures and delays and disappointments, and about God’s direct intervention through the coming Messiah, who would be a “big enough” Savior to meet our needs. This week we’ll think a little more about how the mission of Messiah, the Anointed One, fulfills expectations created by the major leadership roles in the Old Testament. If you’re wanting to do a little reading in preparation, our main text will be Isaiah 61:1-3.


What might be a suitable carol for this week? How about “What Child Is This?”
What child is this wo laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.


Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.


So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby,
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.


May you know the joy of the birth of Christ the King in this week!
Pastor Ken