Merry Christmas Parkside Family!
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Christmas is here!  It's time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, whose name is Immanuel...God with us!
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As I have been sharing in our "Christmas Wonder"... series, the Christmas story began long before Mary and Joseph, a bunch of shepherds and some wise men watched as Jesus exploded onto the scene.  The story of Christmas began way back in the book of Genesis, when God first promised that one day, He would send a Messiah to redeem mankind from his brokenness.  And while the last chapter of the Christmas story begins with the words, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available to them.", it doesn't end there.  The last chapter is still being written.  Bethlehem was just the beginning.  Jesus gave a promise of a repeat performance.  The skies will open up, trumpets will blast and a new kingdom will begin. 

The point of Christmas is that you and I need a Savior and because of Bethlehem we have one!  Let's not keep this a secret.  Invite someone to join you this Sunday morning at 10:30am for Christmas at Parkside!  Below are the details:

This Sunday, December 22nd, we will have ONE service at 10:30am.  There will be NO adult Sunday School.

The morning kicks-off at 9:30am with our Christmas cafe' featuring an assortment of fruit, bagels, pastries, cookies, coffee and hot chocolate.

At 10:30am we will all gather in our main sanctuary for a time of celebration featuring Christmas carols, advent candlelighting and a presentation by our very own Mary Jo Sharp, who will be speaking on the topic, "Is the Story of Jesus a Copy of the Pagan Myths?"  Mary Jo is an accomplished Author, Professor and Apologist. 

This Sunday represents a great opportunity for you to invite a relative, friend or neighbor who may need to hear the true story behind the birth of Jesus.  Who are you going to bring with you this Sunday?

So, don't forget this Sunday, December 22:  One service at 10:30am.  No Sunday School.  Christmas Cafe opens at 9:30am.  Don't come alone!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Doug

​Let me begin by wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  

I plan to keep this edition of TAB brief, as I want to encourage all of us push the pause button on the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas and spend a few moments reflecting on the day Jesus came to us.....in the flesh.

As you reflect on what the arrival of our Savior means to you personally, take a moment and read this excerpt from the book, God Came Near, by Max Lucado.....

"The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village.  As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets.  Vendors were positioning themselves on the corners of the most heavily traveled avenues.  Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops.  Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts. 

The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town.  After all, the inn was full, all the beds taken.  Every available mat or blanket had been put to use.  Soon all the customers would be stirring and there would be a lot of work to do.

One's imagination is kindled thinking about the conversation of the innkeeper and his family at the breakfast table.  Did anyone mention the arrival of the young couple the night before?  Did anyone comment on the pregnancy of the girl on the donkey?  Perhaps.  Perhaps someone raised the subject.  But, at best, it was raised, not discussed.  There was nothing novel about them.  They were, possibly, one of several families turned away that night.

Besides who had time to talk about them when there was so much excitement in the air?  Augustus did the economy of Bethlehem a favor when he decreed that a census should be taken.  Who could remember when such commerce had hit the village?  

No, it was doubtful that anyone mentioned the couple's arrival or wondered about the condition of the girl.  They were too busy.  There was too much to do to imagine that the impossible had occurred.

God had entered the world as a baby.

Those who missed His Majesty's arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren't looking.

Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?"

Plan to join us this Sunday at 9:15am, as we gather together to celebrate the birth of Immanuel.....God with us!

If you can't make our Sunday gathering, please consider joining us for our Christmas Eve service, Monday, at 4:00pm.  This brief service will include carols, a brief message from God's Word and a time to pause, light a candle and sing, Silent Night!

See you Sunday.

Pastor Doug

First of all, let me apologize for not sending out my weekly TAB email the last few weeks.  I'm sure you can agree with me when I say that there are times in life when things pile up and you find yourself running from one thing to another.  Hopefully things will start to slow down a bit, but with Christmas quickly approaching, I'm not sure that will happen.  Thanks for you prayers and understanding.

Speaking of Christmas, I want to focus this edition of TAB on this crazy time of the year when we waver between getting caught up in the excitement of the season and trying to stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas.  Sadly, apart from the angels nudging a few scared shepherds and a handful of wise star-gazers who were able to decode a cryptic star, many missed out on that very first Christmas when Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Missing the prophetic mystery of Jesus' birth means missing God-with-us, God-beside us, God becoming one of us.  Missing out on Jesus changes everything.  Like many, we can become lost in crowded malls, financial debt, and endless lists of gifts to buy, only to miss out on the one gift that can truly satisfy our thirst for more.

How do I keep from missing Jesus?......focus on the eternal over the temporal.  Colossians 3:2 reads, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."  We are celebrating the arrival of our Savior.  The significance of giving presents is to be directly related to God's presenting us the gift of His Son.

Next, Christmas is the time of year when people are wide-open to the Gospel.  Remember who we represent.  We are His chosen ambassadors, doing His business, so let's do it this Christmas.  Share Jesus with a co-worker or invite a neighbor to our Christmas Eve service, which will take place at 4:00 pm and include carols and candlelight.

Finally, one of the most effective maneuvers of the world system is to create a false sense of excitement.  As Christians, we are in danger of climbing the Christmas mountain, only to get lost in the afterglow of the New Year.  Guard yourself.  Enjoy the 25th.....but not at the expense of the 26th.  Make Hebrews 12:3 your theme verse for Christmas and beyond....."Consider Him.....so that  you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

Join us this Sunday, at 9:15am, as we begin our Christmas series titled, "He Came...."  This week, we will focus on the fact that Jesus came to rescue us from our suffering and our sin.  Our passage will be Isaiah 53.  Take some time over the next few days to read this incredible chapter showing God's incredible display of love through His Son, Jesus.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Doug
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