Merry Christmas CLA! As I reflect on all that our church does around this time of year, it makes me realize that Christmas brings about many opportunities.
It’s an opportunity to serve - as we’ve seen many of our church members do by helping out at the First Christmas Experience, the Paul Baloche concert, spending hours setting up the church with decorations - not to mention the many other events that each of our ministries have put on.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate - to bring out the games, the decorations, the lights, and the old family traditions; to take a break from school and work and just have fun for a change.
It’s an opportunity to gather - with friends and family, loved ones and neighbours, and simply enjoy one another’s company amidst the busyness of the holiday season.
But what I think we might sometimes overlook at this time of year is that Christmas is also an opportunity to WORSHIP - to come and adore.
In my few months of being at CLA, it’s clear to me that this is a church that is desperate to worship. There’re not many things that I can think of that are more beautiful than the sound of a thousand voices lifting up the name of Jesus. That’s what this season is truly all about - not just the gifts and decorations but worshipping the King of kings for all He’s done.
Now, I’m not just saying this because I’m the worship pastor. The Christmas story should COMPEL us to worship. I think of the Magi who, when they came to the place where Jesus was, immediately bowed down in awe and adoration. That should be our response. That when we see the face of Jesus, when we enter into His presence, we can’t help ourselves from falling at His feet.
So as much as Christmas is about serving and celebrating and gathering, I encourage you to take some time to worship, too. A perfect opportunity to do that would be to come to one of our Christmas Eve services, where we will spend an hour together to sing and respond to God’s gift to us in a beautiful candlelit setting. Come with your families; invite a friend. Set aside a small part of your day to give God the glory He deserves.Whatever it looks like, wherever you may be, let the reminder of Jesus’ birth compel you to fall on your knees and worship. This Christmas, let us come and adore Him. He is Christ the Lord.
