This Should Be Thanksgiving...But it is Black Friday!

If you are going to shop at Amazon for Black Friday, please do it here: Shop Amazon's Black Friday Week. The church benefits when you use our link. Thank you.

Join us for the Christmas Eve Service

You're invited to a Christmas Eve Service, "The Rhythm of Christmas," at New Life Church Riverfalls, 1984 McKillican Street in West Linn. Choose from two identical services on Friday, December 24th at 4:30 or 6:00. You won't want to miss this musical celebration of Christ's birth.

Operation Christmas Child a Success!

New Life Church filled and delivered 111 gift-filled shoe boxes to Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child, whose mission is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Last year over 8 million children in over 100 different countries received shoe boxes just like the ones sent by New Life Church. This year, our children in Treasureland collected toys and essentials and packed them into dozens of shoe boxes.

If you wanted to pack a shoe box but missed the delivery deadline, you can Build-a-Box online for a donation of $35. Just follow this link: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/giving/build-a-box

Christmas Service on Sunday

Only occasionally do I play the, "Because I'm the dad, that's why" card. I use it almost always for the same reason -- someone, usually a delightful young girl, is singing Christmas songs when it isn't the Christmas season. We have a deadline of December 1 before Christmas songs can be sung at our house that requires strict enforcement. I am, however, afraid I'm becoming soft in my old age.

I tell you this because I will be granting an extension on the Christmas singing this year. Since we were snowed out of our Christmas services this year, we're celebrating Christ's coming a little late. This Sunday morning, January 4, at 9:00 & 11:00, we'll hold our Christmas services at New Life Church Riverfalls.

And, we'll also be holding an open house for our newly remodeled ministry space. There will be refreshments between and after services. We're very excited about that upgrade, too.

So, if you didn't get your fill of Christmas music, or if you simply want to worship a humble king, come on Sunday. I promise I won't get grouchy about Christmas music until after the service.

Merry Christmas, 2008!

This has been a different kind of Christmas for New Life Church. I've canceled more services in the past 11 days on account of snow than I've canceled in my whole life.

Some things don't change at Christmas, they are not different year after year. The advent of the Messiah, the coming of Jesus, combines the great themes of the Bible and of God's purposes for the ages:

• The Glory of God. The birth of Jesus is the manifestation of the glory of God. The angels said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14). The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told (Luke 2:20). Christmas, like everything else, is about the glory of God.
• The Happiness of Humankind. The glory of God and human happiness are not antithetical, they can be one in the same. We didn't make up Joy to the World so we would have something to sing at Christmas. It was God's idea, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10).
• A Savior. The angel told Joseph to call the baby Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21). God had long been in the business of saving people from their self-chosen alienation from him. His son is the fulfillment of his saving plan.
  
• God With Us. Emmanuel: God with us (Matt 1:23). God in human in flesh, walking among men, to restore us to relationship with God is the essence of the incarnation. God is with us.

While we can shun God and attempt to distance ourselves from him. We can reject the savior. We can disregard our eternal happiness and refulse to glorify God. Yet, in the birth of his Son, God is bringing all those things together. So that he can be with us, be glorified, save us and make us eternally happy. If that doesn't make Christmas happy, nothing will.

Christmas Plans

Our Christmas Plans at New Life Church are as follows:

Christmas Sunday, December 21

New Life Robinwood -- 9:30
New Life Riverfalls -- 9:00, 11:00*

Christmas Eve, December 24

New Life Robinwood -- 4:30, 6:30

Invitations will be available next Sunday to help you bring your friends.

*Note the 11:00 start instead of 10:45.

Update: Operation Christmas Child

Did you put the smile on this child's face? If you provided one of the 83 shoe boxes that New Life Church collected in November for Operation Christmas Child, then you brought joy and hope to one of the 7.6 million children in over 100 nations who received a gift- filled shoe box and the life-changing message of the Gospel since November 2007.

Here is a true story included in the current Operation Christmas Child Special Report: "While distributing Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts in a village in Ghana, a member of our National Leadership Team noticed the thickly calloused feet of a young boy. 'Please God, Let this boy receive a pair of shoes in his box!' the woman prayed. The boy had never owned a pair of shoes and walked barefooted on a six- mile round trip to school and back to his home each day. When the child opened his box, he found, not just one pair of shoes, but two pair. And both sets of shoes were just his size! The volunteer rejoiced when she saw that God had placed the perfect gift into the hands -- and onto the feet -- of this needy child."

Thank You Angel Tree Volunteers!

Thanks to everyone who participated in Project Angel Tree. Through your generosity, we were able to provide Christmas gifts to 32 children of incarcerated parents. It's not just the children that are touched by the kindness of strangers. The caregivers and the incarcerated parents are positively affected as well. They asked me to convey blessings to the kind people who care about their children. We are honored to be a part of a church that values this important ministry.

Thank you,

--Darcey and Byron Philpot

Merry Christmas from New Life Church

I hope your Christmas is blessed and that you enjoy Christ more than ever. And. . . yes, I hope you remember to smile!

New Life Church Christmas Services

I have overheard some people doing a double-take about the times of our Christmas services. The morning services tomorrow are the normal worship service times at both locations.

The extra Christmas services seem to be more confusing. Both will be candlelight services in celebration of the birth of Christ. The times are:

• December 23 (Sunday) at 6:00 at New Life Church Riverfalls.
• December 24 (Monday) at 6:00 at New Life Church Robinwood.

You are welcome to both or either, depending on which fits your schedule and desires to worship.

Life Group Christmas (Part 2)

One of our Women's Life Groups celebrated Christmas together this last Tuesday. They have been studying a book on prayer together throughout the fall. The Lord has nit their hearts together as they have studied God's Word, prayed together, and helped care for each other's needs (see Dian Hutchin's thank you note from Tuesday's post).

On Tuesday the festivities got interesting when Claire Robley got all tied up in a wacky Christmas game. Though it was cold outside, it was warm inside as the women celebrated the birth of our Savior and the fellowship that He has given them with one another.

The white elephant gift exchange got interesting when Evelyn Hall tried to steal a gift from poor little Miles Nelson. After some negotiations all was settled, and everyone went home happy... except Evelyn that is. In a last minute move of deception Miles ran out the door leaving his white elephant gift behind. Miles, she is waiting for you to come back and get that gift!

Seriously though, New Life Church Life Groups are the place to be if you want to grow in your relationship with Christ and build friendships His people. Contact the church office at 503-656-8600 to get involved in a life group in the New Year!

High School Students Help Bridges-To-Change

High school students from New Life Church delivered 17 Christmas trees to a transitional housing facility down the street called Bridges-To-Change on Saturday, December 8th. We also cut and erected the two Christmas trees at the Riverfalls campus, and afterwards had lunch together at Burgerville. Yum! Click here to see more pictures.

God is Involved

Our recent study in Ruth has reminded me in a fresh way about how God cares so deeply about our lives even though it doesn't always look like it. Here is a Christmas blog post I wrote in 2005 that surprised me with its relevance.

Children's Library: New Books and DVDs

NEW...NEW...NEW...NEW... NEW...NEW...NEW...NEW...



Book:

• "The Legend of the Christmas Tree"
• (The Inspirational Story of A Treasured Tradition)

DVD:

• "God Made You SPECIAL"
• Veggie Tales...Holidy Double Feature: "The Star fo Christmas" and "The Toy That Saved Christmas"

VIDEO:

• "The Star of Christmas"

Give Hope This Christmas!

New Life Church will be sharing the love of Christ again this Christmas through Operation Christmas Child. As you may remember, families who participate fill a shoe box with gifts and Samaritan's Purse delivers them around the world. You can find more information in the lobby of the church this Sunday. Shoe boxes are due back at either of our locations on or before noon on Sunday, November 18th.

Missions: The Holladay Family Needs Your Help!

Rick and Mary Beth Holladay are our Global Outreach missionaries to the Art Factory in Germany, where our GO team ministered this summer.

The Holladay Family will be here arriving from Germany December 15th with their four daughters. The family will be traveling during part of their stay. Can you provide wheels for the Holladays? If you have a car or minivan you can loan, please call Jeff and Carol Carlson at 503-656-0970.

Christmas at New Life Church Riverfalls

Christmas Eve was a delightful Sunday. . . as long as you weren't Mary, Joseph or an Angel. Here are some of the highlights:

Angel's Song

Shepherds, rejoice; lift up your eyes
And send your fears away;
News from the region of the skies,
Salvation's born today.

Jesus, the God, whom angels fear,
Comes down to dwell with you;
Today he makes his entrance here,
But not as monarchs do.

No gold, nor purple swaddling bands,
Nor royal shining things;
A manger for his cradle stands,
And holds the King of kings.

Go, shepherds, where the infant lies,
And see his humble throne;
With tears of joy in all your eyes,
Go, shepherds, kiss the Son.

Thus Gabriel sang -- and straight around
the heav'nly armies throng;
They tune their harps to lofty sound,
And thus conclude the song:

Glory to God, who reigns above,
Let peace surround the earth;
Mortals shall know their Marker's love
At their Redeemer's birth.

The Meaning of Christmas

John Piper gives some ideas about how to talk about the meaning of Christmas.

The Birth of Christ

Hark what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies
Lo! th' angelic host rejoices,
Heav'nly hallelujahs rise.

Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chant in hymns of joy;
"Glory, in the highest, glory!
Glory be to God most high!

"Peace on earth, good will from heav'n,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls redeem'd, and sins forgiven,
Loud our golden harps shall sound.

"Christ is born, the great Anointed,
Heav'n and earth his praises sing!
O receive whom God appointed
For your Prophet, Priest and King!

"Hasten, mortals, to adore him,
Learn his name, and taste his joy
Till in heav'n ye sing before him,
Glory be to God most high!"