Christmas Greetings to Community of Joy!

Here are our Christmas greetings to our congregation at Community of Joy Church of the Brethren. 2007 has indeed been a momenteous year!

Christmas 2007

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, she responded by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).

As we celebrate Christmas this year, we have lots to celebrate as a congregation!

First and foremost, we celebrate the constant presence of God with us… Immanuel! We have seen evidence of this presence most vividly this year as God guided us to our very first Ministry Center. And we see evidence of this as God helps us make new connections in our neighborhood.

And we celebrate being connected to a group of people who like Mary, are willing and eager to be used by God in sharing his love with the world! You constantly bring joy to our lives as we see you eagerly respond to God’s leadings and as you take seriously God’s call and the mission of our congregation to actively reach out with God’s love, hospitality, hope, healing and peace! We rejoice in all that we together have accomplished in this past year and eagerly anticipate all the ways we together will be on mission in the year ahead.

We want to assure you that we love being your pastors and serving God alongside each of you! And we look forward to years of mutual ministry together. You enrich our lives in so many ways and we are forever grateful to God for brining us together in 1999 and for continuing to guide and work among us all these years later.

When Mary got the news that the Messiah would be born to her… surely she had to do much adapting of her plans and life situation. One of the other things we celebrate this Christmas is being part of a group of people who are always willing and eager to adapt. There is not a challenge that you are not willing to rise up and meet. You have proved this over and over again and it never ceases to amaze us! We appreciate the fact that being on mission with and for God is of primary importance to you!

Thanks for all of the ways you bless our lives and help us see God a little more clearly! Looking forward to a Great 2008!

Merry Christmas! Pastors Martin and Sharon, Caroline and Emma