It’s beginning to look a lot like ADVENT! 

As I write this, I’m watching out our front window a parade of people and cars slip and slide down the icy road coming out of this year’s Manito Park Christmas light display (“Enchanted Gardens Drive-Through Light Display, Dec. 11-20” is the official title).  With snow predicted most days this next week, my vista point here should be good for a few comedy videos (but hopefully no tragedies). 

This weekend also heralds the beginning of our new Advent 2020 series—Christmas Humility.  We’ll be looking at the advent of Jesus through the eyes and hearts of some of the most humble participants in the Christmas story:

• December 13 Christmas through the eyes of Mary
• December 20 Christmas through the eyes of the Innkeeper
• December 24 Christmas Eve— through the eyes of God
• December 27 Christmas through the eyes of Simeon & Anna

Our prayer is that the absolute wonder of this season will be experienced afresh as we walk in humility with those most-humble of participants so many years ago.  Don’t miss out on what God has for you this Advent!

As usual, we’ll also be ministering joy, love and kindness to many of those near us in the fast-food restaurants who will be working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. To do that we need two groups of volunteers:

• About 50 of us who will write a personal Christmas Card greeting to one of these employees.
• About 8 or us Christmas Eve and 8 on Christmas Day who will take these cards with “unexpected 20s” (we’ll supply) in them to those working the holiday shifts.

This Sunday we’ll be handing out the Mosaic Christmas Cards to any of you who want to write a personal note of encouragement.  Then next Sunday (Dec. 20), we’ll have you bring them back so the two delivery teams (Christmas Eve & Christmas Day) can surprise these hard-working neighbors with Christmas cheer. 

Men, our last 2020 Men’s Breakfast will be this next Saturday, December 19, at 8:00 at the HUB.  Our own Bruce David Anderson will be sharing some of his perspectives on FAITH.  Come and enjoy some good food, meaningful fellowship and real encouragement. 

A final word of gratitude to all of you who have so faithfully and generously supported the ministry of Mosaic in 2020.  To say that this has been a trying year for all of us is a bit redundant.  So, when I hear of other churches struggling to simply pay their pastors, I find my heart overflowing in gratitude to God for the amazing group of people you are.  This year we’ve helped more people with more ministry, more resources and more love than any time in our previous existence. Thank you for being the body of Christ in our community despite all the obstacles of 2020.  And thank God for His amazing care of and provision for all of us!

Anticipating His Advent,

Pastor John