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Happy Snow Day, friends! I’m grateful for the flexibility to be working from home today! 

The snow was a beautiful ending to what was a beautiful evening at this year’s Journey to the Nativity. SO many hands went into bringing Diane Herr’s vision to life! It is really special to be a part of! There is always room for more, if you’d like to be a part of this in some way until another year, reach out to Diane. I’m sure she’ll be recruiting for next year soon!

Now we’re full torque into all things Christmas! Let me help you organize your calendar for the next two weeks!

  • Roots Night - This Wednesday (12/17)!
    • 5:45pm - Dinner in the FLC, Lil’ Roots Christmas Party in the Kid’s Wing, Youth Roots Depart for their Christmas Party on the Road!
      • Lil’ Roots will have dinner provided for them during their Christmas Party!
      • Youth Roots will leave the church at 5:45pm in the Holzhauer RV to do some Christmas Caroling on their way to Herr’s Lights! Dinner will be provided for them too!
    • 6:30pm - Family-In-Service Night: Christmas Caroling, leave from the Family Life Center
      • Lil’ Roots will be dismissed at this time to join their parents for Christmas Caroling.
      • Lori Holzhauer will assign groups with the adults during dinner. 
  • Grace Marriage Church-Wide Date Night (12/19)
    • 6:30pm, Sanctuary
  • Sunday Morning Worship (12/21)
    • Christmas Photo Backdrop Available!
  • Candlelight Communion (12/21)
    • 7pm - All generations are invited for a Christmas Communion service by candlelight! It is a meaningful service leading into the week of Christmas!
  • Christmas Eve Service (12/24)
    • 6:00pm - Doors Open, Hot Chocolate and Coffee Served! Christmas Photo Backdrop Available!
    • 6:15pm - Christmas Carols in the Sanctuary
    • 6:30pm - Service Begins
      • Lil’ Roots Kids Sing their Wednesday Roots Night Song during this service!
  • Sunday Morning Worship (12/28)
    • Pastor Kevin’s “where we’ve been and where we’re going” sermon! Come hear about the BELIEVE series we’re launching in 2026!

Just a few things to add to your calendar! But some wonderful opportunities for us to 

worship, fellowship and share our gifts with each other this Christmas season!

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Family Theme: Advent Week 3 - Joy

Our Root Text: Psalm 16:1-11, Luke 2:8-16

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Listen to this week’s advent episode on “The Dig” podcast and complete the “Advent in action” challenge!

This season of the “The Dig” podcast is specifically designed for EVERY GENERATION to deepen their understanding, ignite their curiosity and grow as fruit-producing, God-glorying disciples! Don’t miss out! To make it easier for you to find and listen, you can now grab “The Dig” episodes on the church website: https://www.mgcb.org/family-ministries/the-dig-podcast--8  

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

We’re not far out from 2026, you guys. I’ve been thinking about this year a lot as I am building hopeful expectations for a better one to come. It has been a year. Slow, long and deeply hard. I saw this quote the other day that gently reminded me that none of this was supposed to come easy. It said “the long way with Jesus is better than the short cut without Jesus.”

I’ve often asked God to give me a “long haul faith,” knowing full well that suffering is part of the Christian walk. So I can’t be surprised by the “slow, long and deeply hard.” Yes, I want to rush out of this and get to the “greener grass” - who wouldn’t! But I don’t want to do the short cut if it means I have to go at it without Jesus. 

Romans 8:23 is coming to my mind as I type this… “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” This year has felt like one long inward groan. But God is continually, day-by-day, building the eager waiting. Our King is coming!

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: Make a Christmas Movie Night and watch “The Star” as a family! Use this devotional guide as a way to cultivate meaningful conversations around this Christmas movie!

Something to Listen to: You’ve GOT to listen to this absolutely stunning song called “Mary’s Letters.” It will surely move you to tears!

Something to Follow: If you’re a last minute shopper there’s still time to grab some inspiration from my Roots Gift Guide!

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for who you need to invite to our Christmas Eve Service! 

PRAISE for all the hard-work and heart that was poured into our Journey to the Nativity!