IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME WITH PLANTATION PARK
Imagine if you were a parent unable to provide a Christmas gift for your child this year. That is a legitimate thing that happens with our kindergarten kids over at Plantation Park. That is not a memory any parent or child should have from Christmas. That is where we step in... most know that we have adopted the entire kindergarten class at the school. We are going to step in and make sure Christmas happens this year for these kids. We are asking everyone to bring in an unwrapped toy suitable for a kindergartener every Sunday starting November 30th. The toy can be for a boy, a girl, or either and we are looking at handing out toys to about 80 kids. Be a part of making this holiday season bright for a child! If you have not had the joy of helping with delivering the toys to the kids, you have missed out.
Plan on joining us in launching the Christmas break for the kids then on Monday, December 15th. Before the kids leave school, the teachers and staff get out and have some fun with a parade around the block. They have asked our friends and us to join the parade with motorcycles and jeeps. Feel free to dress up or decorate your bike/jeep. Lights would be really cool. If you're available, come on out and join in the fun. The parade kicks off at 1:00 pm.
Once we have all the toys, it's time to get them all wrapped and lableled. So, Monday, December 15th, plan on meeting us here at the church as we put our wrapping skills to the test (some folks are fun to watch as they try to wrap a toy...). We will put each kid's name on a toy for Santa to hand out. You can't imagine how great it makes a child to receive a toy with their name on it! Once we have them all wrapped and ready to go, we will take some time out to pray over the toys and the kids who will be receiving them. Come out for some fun, fellowship, and pizza as we help make Christmas special for our kids.
Tuesday, December 16th, come out as we partner up with "Santa" to deliver the toys to our kids. The excitement and joy you see on these kids faces is indescribable! Be a part of this time as each child hears their name called to come up and get their gift. Come hear the cries of joy as each child tears open their gift and delights in their gift! If you have never been a part of this time, make a special effort to be a part of the day... and see if you can keep your eyes from watering up from all the love filling the air.
Itinerary:
DECEMBER SERVE DAY
The best thing to do is see where God is working an jump in with Him. Men of Courage received a camp on Lake Bistineau to help with their mission to strenghten the Church. The ways God can use that camp are endless, but it needs some TLC. So, we are heading out to help with some clean up. Set aside Saturday, December 13th, for work at Camp Courage.
ITINERARY
This Advent Series, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, helps us to imagine the longing the Israelites must have felt as they waited for Jesus the Messiah to come, and it helps us to grapple with the longing we feel now as we wait for His return.
Two metaphors are used to express the hope for salvation of which Zechariah sings. One is in the form of the child over whom he sings. A child bears all the hopes and desires of those who nurture it in its infancy. As the parents celebrate the child’s birth, they celebrate all that they envision for that child in the future. The second is the coming of dawn. As one sits in darkness the light of the sun begins to spread across the landscape even before the sun rises and is visible. So in Advent we look forward to what is promised, the coming of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. We prepare ourselves for that even as John was to prepare the way of the one to come.
Prophecy makes the past present, and the present future. It shows the consistency of God’s work throughout time. It shows us that God has the power to bring about what he says he is going to, that he has the power to fulfill his promises. Leave the worries of the future to God. Look for what he is doing here and now.
Let's Ride!!...
December 14th is the 2nd Sunday of the month. If you are new to Open Road Fellowship, that's when we jump on our bikes and head out as a group right after church for a nice ride. It's an opportunity for us to grab some good food and enjoy some fellowship as we take some time to get to know one another. The direction we head is always an adventure but geared to provide a relaxing time out on the bikes. Invite your friends; maybe a nice ride might be what motivates them to come to church. Hey, and if you don't ride, don't let that stop you from enjoying the day...just hop in your car and follow along.
North, south, east, or west... no matter where we head, you are sure to enjoy the ride. So, come join us for our next 2nd Sunday ride!
Please join us in launching the Christmas break for our friends over at Plantation Park Elementary in Bossier. Before the kids leave school, the teachers and staff will conduct a parade around the block. They have asked our friends and us to join the parade with motorcycles and jeeps.
If you're available, come on out and join us. Feel free to dress up or decorate your bike/jeep. Lights would be really cool.
Itinerary
It seems like the year has flown by... but, let's take a moment and slow down as we come together for a night of worship. We all know folks far from the Lord - what a great Christmas present it would be if they were to come to know Jesus this Christmas. Most people say they would come to know Jesus if invited by a friend or family member, so why don't your start asking them to join you for the Christmas Eve Night of Worship?
Let's gather and sing out our praise to the God of the universe who is the only One worthy of our praise! Let's take some time to pray together and take communion together. Come out and plan on having an amazing night in the presence of God. Come out on Wednesday, December 24th as we lift our voices in praise for the blessings He has rained down on us!