Dear Friends,
Have you ever “re-gifted?” You know what I mean. Have you ever taken a gift that someone else gave to you, wrapped it back up, and then given it away to someone else? Is that OK? I suspect that many of us might consider it a social faux pas. I remember a story a friend shared with me several years ago about a gift his neighbor gave him. The man and his neighbor were friendly, but not particularly close. So my friend was touched when this older neighbor stopped by a few days before Christmas and brought him a gift. On Christmas morning he unwrapped what was obviously a book. Although the book looked fairly new, when he opened the cover, he found it had been inscribed by the person who had given it to his neighbor!
Remember that giving tree gifts are due back this Sunday!
Re-gifting can be a little risky. But there is one situation in which it is always appropriate. Those of us who have chosen to be Christ followers have received a gift of immeasurable value. To, in turn, give that gift to someone else is not only acceptable, it is one of the greatest expressions of love we can offer another person.
Someone loved us enough to offer us the gift of Jesus. I want to encourage us to “re-gift.” Christmas is just over a week away. This is the perfect time to offer someone the life-changing gift of Jesus. One great way to do that is to simply invite them to join you for Christmas Eve worship. Because Christmas eve falls on a Sunday this year, we will have our full morning schedule at all locations. Then we will offer candlelight services at 4:00 PM in Sandown, Plaistow and Amesbury as well as 6:00 PM in Plaistow. Please don’t miss this opportunity to share the precious gift that you have received with someone else.
A few of the guys enjoying time together at the "Men's Christmas Feast!"
This Sunday we will continue to “unwrap” the true meaning of Christmas. This has been a great series and I am particularly excited about this week’s message. I look forward to us all being together this Sunday as we continue our journey toward the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
God Bless,
Pastor Steve