December 2024

Advent is a special time of year that has been celebrated for centuries all over the world. This year we are excited to present some aspects of the Advent tradition that keep Christ front and center of the Christmas season. At St. Johns Discipleship Community Church, we are RECLAIMING CHRISTMAS this year!

The word “Advent” means, “Arrival.” Traditionally, the Advent season celebrates Christ’s first arrival: His birth. However, Scripture presents a picture of not just one arrivals but three:

• Christ With Us (“Immanuel” means, “God with us”)
• Christ In Us (The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer)
• Christ Who is Coming Back For Us (Christ’s Second coming)

The three “Advents” or “Arrivals” of Christ are summed up in this passage from the Book of Revelation:

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
-Revelation 4:8b

We want to encourage you and your family and friends to embark with us on a journey of exploring not just one but ALL THREE of Christ’s Arrivals with us this season. As a growing disciple of Jesus, we want to equip you to stay engaged with Christ every day this Christmas season. We hope to equip you to do this through:

• Daily Devotional Readings
• Weekly Advent-themed activities for you and the whole family
• Our Christmas Eve service for your family, friends, and co-workers

We are providing 50 free copies of our new Advent Devotional called, “Arrival” each Sunday (while supplies last). We feel like this is going to help you and your family keep Christ front and center this season!

If you would like to send a print copy to family and friends, you can order it here: https://a.co/d/3YyFMpa

However, if you would like to download the Arrival book to read on your phone, you can order it as an E-book available immediately, click here: https://a.co/d/fJTAbbW

Also, each Sunday we will be covering one of the four themes of Advent:

• Sunday, December 1 – “HOPE: A State of Anticipation”
• Sunday, December 8 - “PEACE: The Presence of the Prince of Peace”
• Sunday, December 15 - “JOY: The Act of Rejoicing In Christ”
• Sunday, December 22 – “LOVE: God’s Everlasting Covenant Fulfilled In Christ”

 

Tuesday, December 24 – CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: 4pm @ The Grove

Register for your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers today!
https://stjohnsdiscipleshipcommunitychurch.breezechms.com/form/Christmas-Eve-2024

 

Then, at the end of this series, we will ask everyone to begin praying about financial investing in one or more of the 4H discipleship areas during our upcoming Storehouse Season. Our STJDCC Storehouse Season kicks off Sunday, December 1st, and runs through Tuesday, December 31st. Now is a great time to begin praying about your year-end giving and doing all that you can to bring your best offering during the Storehouse Season throughout December. Where God guides, He provides! We are always so thankful to serve the Lord with such a generous church.

We believe this will be the BEST Christmas season ever for you and your family. We are excited to see all that God does in you and through you this month!

Love,
Pastors Bob & Paige