Our December 16th Mosaic service at Western Avenue ministries will focus on Jesus, the greatest gift.  Come join others from different races, classes, interests and neighborhoods. In a Mosaic, loose pieces come together in creative ways to form a new element, replacing brokenness with beauty.  The service starts at 5:00 pm.

For this week, I have long sensed that God wants us to look at some of the most basic of truths.  We are hoping to reaffirm our belief and trust in the Bible as God’s very word and the only true guideline for our understanding of His will for our lives.  I am boiling over with excitement on this topic and hope to communicate it in a way that is both inspirational as well as instructional, but overall, honoring to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

I am drawing my input from God, of course, but also men like Charles Ryrie, F.F. Bruce, and Warren Wiersbe.  What writers, teachers or other influences give you confidence in God’s word?

Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul

Chosen by God is a clear, biblical presentation of the doctrine of predestination.  It is a classic of 20th Century reformed literature, written with passion and clarity.  Many is the believer who counts this book as life-changing.  Check it out!

The Senior High Youth are having a gift exchange “with a twist” this Sunday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Wurz’ home.  Everyone is asked to bring something they already own to be given as a gift to someone else.  These gifts should be useful and appropriate for both guys and gals (ex. CD, book, card game, etc.).  Wrap them to look enticing and bring them with you Sunday night.

The Mitten Tree is now in the Fellowship Hall.  Pioneer Club is asking for donations of warm weather accessories (gloves, hats, mittens, and scarves) for the people downtown at Western Avenue Ministries.  We are collecting for all ages (men, women and children).  Bring your donations to church by December 19 and hang them on the tree.  Once the tree gets too loaded…we can put them under the tree!

Sunday, December 2, we welcome Hal and Beth Hansen who are serving with New Tribes Mission in Thailand.  They will be introduced during the 9:30 am worship service and then share with us during the Sunday School hour.  Hal teaches at the Church Development for Missions school which assists tribal churches in developing teachers/leaders and better equipping them to teach God’s Word.  The graduates then return to their own areas to serve the Lord.  Beth home schooled Jane and Riley, who are now at Oklahoma Christian University.  She serves the school and the Thai church in many ways.  We are privileged and blessed to have them here.

It’s time once again for Christmas Caroling with Western Avenue church.  We will be meeting Friday, December 21 from 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm at the South Toledo Community Center (on Broadway across from Taco Bell, between South and Western.)  Dress warmly and bring flashlights or decoratively-lit hats.  Everyone is welcome (but it can be a bit cold for small children).  We will organize the teams and pray from 6:15-6:30 pm.  Then caroling is from 6:30-7:30 pm.  It’s not about singing well, it’s about being willing to “spread glad tiding of great joy!!”  From 7:30-8:00 pm we will have hot cocoa, share and pray.  Contact Penny Goodman if you are able to donate cookies and/or candy by December 19 to fill goody bags.  Also let Penny know if you would be willing to pray between 6:30 and 7:30 that night.

Transport for Christ is having their Christmas Party on Saturday, December 8th at 5:00pm at Hospice of Northwest Ohio located at 30000 E. River Road in Perrysburg.  Please bring a covered dish to share and be prepared to sing and enjoy Christmas songs before helping us pack small cookie bags to give out to the drivers during the last week before Christmas.  If you would like to help make cookies for the drivers this year, please bring them to church this Sunday, December 2, or no later than Wednesday, December 5.  Better yet, bring them with you to the Christmas Party on Saturday, December 8.  Thank you for your help again this year.   –Chaplain Peter Fisher–

The Experienced Ones Small Group is planning to go to the Elizabeth Scott Rest Home for Christmas caroling on Saturday, December 15 at 6:30 pm.  The Leinbach family has agreed to lead the singing.  Everyone will meet at Christian Fellowship at 6:30 pm and then go by car to Elizabeth Scott.  We will be singing for everyone at the home but especially for our members Eileen Houck, Bina Delamater, and Joe Sahadi.  They are asking for more volunteers to lend their voices to make this a special time for everyone.  Please consider joining them.

The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
We know we need grace.  Without it we’ll never come to Christ in the first place.  But being a Christian is more than just coming to Christ.  It’s about growing and becoming more like Jesus–it’s about pursuing holiness.  The pursuit of holiness is hard work, and that’s where we turn from grace to discipline–and often make a big mistake.  In The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges offers a clear and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to the believer.  Explore how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ.  It’s new in our Library this week!  Check it out!