Whiteboard: Christmas Weekend

Everything is coming together.

The poinsettias have been delivered, the choir has rehearsed, the scripts have been sent out to all of our readers, and the worship slides have been put in place. We have completed our Advent Sermon series, and received all of the blessings of the season that we need in preparation for the miracle of Christmas -- the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

Everything is coming together for our Christmas Celebrations here at FCC Scottsdale. Let me run through all of the festivities for you!

December 22nd Choir Christmas Concert at Westminster at 7PM
For the third year in a row the choir will go to the Westminster Village Retirement Community to perform a special Christmas concert.

December 24th Christmas Eve Service 7PM in the Sanctuary
We’ll have a full service of Lessons and Carols complete with a
traditional, candlelit “Silent Night” to close out the service.

December 25th Christmas Sunday Service 10:15AM in the Sanctuary
On Christmas morning we’ll gather for worship and celebrate the birth of Christ with “The No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant!” And then after service please join us in Fellowship Hall for a special celebration that we are calling “A Birthday Party for Jesus and Harriet Howard!” We’ll continue celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy some birthday cake in honor of Harriet’s birthday too!

I hope you can join us for all of these special occasions during this Christmas season. Wishing you many blessings for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Luke 2:1-20 The Birth of Jesus

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.