GSPC Voice: December 2022

December 2022

Dear Church Family,

On behalf of the church staff I would like to wish all of you a very blessed Advent and Christmas!

December is a great time to invite friends or family to worship or other church activities. We will be following the theme of “Christmas Lights” in worship, looking at the metaphor of light woven through the Advent promises of hope, love, joy, and peace in the Savior God would send.

We will have outstanding music and musical guests in December, including Caritas Acapella Group (Cathy Youngblood, director) on Dec 4, the Good Shepherd choir and worship team, and cello and special guests for Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve will be our traditional candle-lighting service at 6pm. If you watch from home, make sure to have your own candle so you can join along in lighting it with us at the right time!

We will not have Sunday school on December 25 or January 1, but we will have worship at 11:00am both those Sundays. Come a few minutes early to enjoy fellowship and music!

Re: Activities – There will be a Game Night at the Rea Shed on Friday, December 16 and a “Cookie Exchange” after worship on Sunday, December 18. Look later in the newsletter and in December announcements for more info!

Thank you to all who have given so generously in 2022 and who have responded to this year’s stewardship effort for 2023. Though we are beginning the budgeting process for 2023, it is not too late to communicate your giving information to Lisa Trevisan at the church (by mail, e-mail pledge@gspc.net, or leave a message for her at 704-364-1234 and she will return your call).

In these coming weeks I invite you to be selective with your time, to focus on what is really important, and to seek God as the center of this holiday. I hope you will experience the grace, peace, hope, and love that only God can bring. Finally, I hope that wherever you spend Christmas Day, gift giving, treasured memories, warm fellowship, and time together with loved ones will remind you of the great gifts God has given us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Christian love,

Robert

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UPCOMING SERMON TEXTS & THEMES

Advent Series: "Christmas Lights"
We will trace the theme of light through God's promise and provision of hope, love, joy, and peace in the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.

Nov 27: Hope for Light (Isaiah 59:9-21) - ADVENT 1
Dec 04: The Light of Love (John 1:4-5; 3:16-21) - ADVENT 2
Dec 11: Joy that Lightens Heavy Loads (Luke 1:46-56) - ADVENT 3
Dec 18: Light to Guide in the Way of Peace (Luke 1:76-79) - ADVENT 4
Dec 24: The Light of the World - CANDLELIGHT SERVICE, 6pm
Dec 25: Light Among Us - CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am