A Moment With Pastor Fred

In 1965, Charles Schultz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS featuring Charlie Brown and the gang. He agreed with one requirement – to include the story of the birth of Jesus. Station executives were hesitant and tried to convince Schultz otherwise. Being a devout Christian, he was insistent. A Charlie Brown Christmas has been a classic. Sue and I still enjoy watching it after all these years. Linus reads directly from the Gospel of Luke. Following he turns to Charlie Brown and says, “And that’s what’s Christmas is all about.”

I trust you are getting ready for this week’s celebration of the Lord’s birth. Our children and grandchildren will be celebrating the holiday with their in-laws this year but that won’t diminish Sue and my excitement. If you’re in town I encourage you to be here Friday night for our Christmas Eve Service. We meet at 5pm guaranteeing you’ll be out by 6 in order to carry on family traditions. Carols, Scripture reading and a brief gospel message will be included. If you have guests – feel free to invite them. Due to the nature of this service, we will not have nurseries so the whole family can be included.

As we begin this week let’s not allow it to become holidaze! So, this week and next let’s recommit to live under the Spirit’s control. If we walk in the Spirit we’ll produce  spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, etc. Let’s make this Christmas and New Year’s Day truly occasions for celebration for the glory of God and the good of our souls.