Not 500, but many good results

Setting a goal encouraged us to invite others

Some of you have asked me already, “Did we make 500?”   I almost don’t want to answer the question because I am so excited about all the great events that happened over our Christmas weekend.   Numerous family groups were here in force and I saw many new faces as well.   The Christmas Eve music was super inspiring and our children and teens put the weekend over the top with their Christmas musical.  But, the answer is, no, we didn’t reach 500 total attendance for our three Christmas weekend services.   In fact, we did not get very close to the number goal.   But having talked to families and friends as they gathered both on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, I am convinced that we had between 60 and 100 more people than we would’ve had if we had not set a big goal and stretched.    The actual total of 370 included many family and friends that had been invited because we had set a goal.   John Abbott  expressed what I heard from many.  He came with a friend that I did not recognize.  Knowing he was from a large family of brothers, I asked, “Is this one of your brothers?”   He replied, “It’s one of the men who works with me; you said bring a friend, so I did.”   That spirit seemed to pervade the congregation both on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as there were many family members and guests who had been invited to celebrate Christ’s birth with us.   Other pastors who had services on Christmas day found their attendance on the low side.  But because of our children’s musical and our efforts to invite friends, our Christmas morning attendance (145) was significantly higher than our average attendance.  It was also a good thing that we had two Christmas Eve services because fitting everyone who came into one would have been extremely cozy (6 PM 160; 8:30 PM  65). 

A wonderful Spirit of worship and a great play

The most touching report that I heard concerning the Christmas services was Kim Ouderkirk’s report of the children’s prayer time as they prepared to perform their Christmas morning play.   One prayed something like this, “Dear Jesus, we have received so many gifts; now please help us give our gift to you.”  That is priceless.  Another prayed that someone would open their heart to Jesus because of the play.   The children’s’ prayers were so moving that some adults left the room to staunch their own tears.   Then they went out and delivered a nearly flawless performance, remembering all their lines and showing that they definitely know how to act a part.  The message of the play that God’s gift to us of his Son Jesus along with the salvation that he brings to us is the greatest gift of all was crystal clear.  Afterward the congregation gave them a standing ovation.   Our thanks go to Kim Ouderkirk for her leadership, to all who helped her, to the teens and children for their hard work, and to the parents who cooperated by adjusting home schedules on Christmas so that we could tell Jesus’ story and honor him in this important way on his birthday.    And they accomplished all this while also working around the 50^th anniversary renovations of the sanctuary.