Ho! Ho! Ho! Hooooo boy, there is a lot going on!
Ho! Ho! Ho! Hooooo boy, there is a lot going on!
We are into Christmas season now and will have four weeks of an Advent series preaching on the Christmas theme starting this Sunday. There are really three uses of the word “Advent” in the Christian Church. Its origin is from the Latin word adventus, which simply translates as "coming" or "arrival." When we look back at the scriptural description of the world waiting for the Messiah, we can think of the whole of history from Genesis 3:15 to Jesus’ birth and see how the world was “in advent.” That is, they were waiting for the coming of Messiah. So, we are in Advent season now as we prepare to celebrate the remembrance of Christ’s birth.
Secondly, Advent refers to the anticipation of Jesus’ return. We are in the “second advent” now as we wait for Jesus to come back for his people, the Church.
Thirdly, and perhaps a way we have not thought about Advent, we are also always in a kind of advent as we wait for people we know to trust Christ as their Lord and Savior. We long to celebrate the new life when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior.
…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…
1 Peter 3:15
The Transition Team, the Elders, the Council and I are working at “being prepared” for the “advent” of the future LTCC. Toward that end, I want to invite you to hear and participate in what’s happening. This Sunday at the end of our worship service, I will lead a brief Family Forum to update everyone about the process we are in. I will dismiss those who need to leave but will ask everyone else to stay 15 to 30 minutes before “you are sent.” We will update you with the Transition Team’s progress, and what’s next for them. We will also share the list of those men who are in the elder training cohort, so you can be praying for them.
Another of our preparations has to do with making room for people (not at the inn, but in our building). We have that good problem of being crowded on Sunday mornings. Therefore, in order to allow guests to sit in the sanctuary, we are asking whosoever will, to voluntarily sit in seats set up in the foyer during the busy month of December. If you can do this for this short time, thank you. If it doesn’t work for you, no worries.
We are also in a kind of “advent” as we wait for the arrival of a new pastor. We are hard at work preparing. During this time of preparation, one of the items we are addressing is how we can “tweak” our mission / purpose statement, which is and will continue to be based on the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Our present purpose statement is given in our constitution as:
“The Lake Tapps Community Church family is committed to honoring God by introducing people to Jesus Christ, helping them grow in the faith, and equipping them to reach others.”
Please pray about how you would say our purpose in 10 words or less so that we all would know it, say it and draw from it as we seek God’s plan for our future and what ministries would flow from that. Again, we would base it on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
At the Family Forum we will give you a few ideas for a purpose statement that the Transition Team has come up with and then send you home to either put your ideas on this form, or send your ideas to me via email or paper. But please start praying right now.
We hope to “Let His people go” between 11:45 and 12 noon. I can promise you will not miss the Seahawks’ game on Sunday!
For the Deacons and Elders,
Merry Christmas! Pastor Bob
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Who is this week's Missionary Spotlight? Sergio & Alejandra Herrera
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