We’re praying for good health and the opportunity to celebrate with loved ones for you as you enter the Christmas holidays. In this week’s update, Pastor Danny updates us on Christmas Eve gatherings, year-end giving, and living sent at Christmas. Take a look!
Hello Church,
Here we are in the midst of the Christmas season…lots going on with family and friends and also here at church! Let me share some information on upcoming services:
• Christmas Eve – we will have two services on Thursday, Christmas Eve, at 3:00 and at 5:00, in person in the Worship Center and also online. Capacity is limited for each service, so registration is required. Just go to shades.org/Christmas to select your service time if you are coming in person. Christmas Eve is always special at Shades and we’re glad we can be together in person and also online for those not able to get to campus.
• Sunday the 27th and Sunday January 3rd worship will be online only, with service times at 9:00 and 10:30. As the holidays continue over those two weeks, enjoy the morning family worship time at home together!
• January 10th we will be back with our normal on campus and online schedule with both Sunday School and worship.
Hope Is Alive, our Christmas musical special was a great hit when it aired on Fox6 on December 6th, with an estimated 40,000 viewers! That is amazing! Now it’s available on demand on the Shades YouTube channel. You can watch it any time and make it easy for friends all over to watch as well. Just go to hopeisaliveshow.com to get the link. Copy it into a text or email and invite someone to share some great entertainment and more importantly a clear message about the eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ!
With 2020 coming to a close, many of you are thinking about year-end gifts to the church. You can make your gift via text at 205-881-5050, online at shades.org/give, or by dropping it by in person. The church office will be open during regular hours on Monday through Wednesday, December 28th through 30th and from 9:00 to noon on Thursday December 31st. The Shades family has been faithful and generous this year, making it possible for ministry to continue around Birmingham and around the world and I thank you!
As I reflect on the Hope Is Alive program. on Dr. Carter’s Come Before Winter message and on Tim Wheat’s blog post last week on making this a Christmas to remember, I see a common thread—the reminder to tell somebody about the saving grace of Jesus, about God’s amazing gift to us. You and I can be a part of making 2020 the BEST year of someone’s life, of changing a frustrating season in to a season of celebration. Watch for opportunities, be courageous, share the good news, LIVE SENT this Christmas!
Folks, I say it every week because I mean it — I am grateful to be your pastor and I look forward to see you this Sunday, either in person or online.