From the Pastor's Desk

On Amazon.com, you can choose from more than a hundred variations of Charles Dickens' story, A Christmas Carol. Though some scholars refuse to take this account of Ebenezer Scrooge seriously, it is one of the most enduring and endearing books ever written, routinely topping lists of readers' favorite Christmas books.

What is sometimes mistaken for a simple, heart-warming Christmas story, reveals a significance that extends far beyond the holiday season. If there is mercy for Scrooge, there must be deliverance in equal measure for us all. The themes that come to life in his story offer simple, yet profound illustrations of how the hardest heart can be transformed when repentance leads to renewal.

The message of Scrooge is one of redemption. We can all dare to start anew. It's about more than only Christmas. We are reminded that there is joy in starting over, we should live with the end in mind, and it's never too late to change, along with other lessons. As we delve into this Christmas Sermon Series this year on Lessons from Scrooge, we pray that the sub-title will manifest as reality in the lives of people, Becoming the Person You Always Wanted To Be. You will also hear testimonies and see ministry teams help drive home in a variety of ways the truth of the season, Jesus changes lives, one life at a time. I may be a Scrooge sometimes, but I don't have to remain one.

Merry Christmas! We love you! We are praying for you!

-Pastors Mark and Jennifer