My heart and spirit are always warmed when I begin to think about all of the outreach projects in which we are engaged as a faith community. I am going to list them as opportunities for giving and sharing in this festive season. As you walk into the narthex you are greeted by the Hat and Mitten Tree. These items will be distributed to our area schools and the need is always great as the cold weather settles in.

We had the joy of providing Thanksgiving Dinner with all of the trimmings for six families. We will be providing food for six families which includes ten children over Christmas.

When you enter our Fellowship Hall, you will see a brilliantly lighted sock tree. All of the socks given will go to Hope House for distribution.

Immediately following Christmas, we will be partnering with Christ United Methodist for Shalom on December 26, 28, and 30. Each of these nights we will start at 5 p.m. to provide dinner, followed by some fellowship time, and then a night of rest. Shalom serves our homeless.

The week before Christmas we host a class from Central Academy to help us prepare luminaries and engage in other tasks around the church. Please do not forget our special Christmas offering for the outreach ministries of the Christian Church in Ohio.

Many of you had the chance to share in the Middletown Civic Chorus’ presentation of George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah.” Had the Civic Chorus presented the entire “Messiah” you would have been in for just a little under three hour performance.

The string quartet, organist, trumpeter, chorus, and soloists were all marvelous under the direction of Dr. Jeremy Jones. Those portions of the “Messiah” that were presented helped to heighten one’s readiness for Christmas. Handel composed this work in twenty-four days for its first performance in Dublin, Ireland in 1741. And it always seems that this great choral work comes to its high point when the chorus and instrumentalists begin the Hallelujah Chorus.Every one stands as this chorus is being sung. It is said that we stand because the King of England stood, but there is no solid proof that that story may be true.

I share all of this because I want you to take some time to reflect upon the meaning of the Messiah in your lives. For centuries, the children of Israel longed for a Messiah, one who would come to free them from prison of death. Near the end of this great choral work there is a wonderful promise. You can read it in the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, “Since by man came death, the resurrection of the dead comes through Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:21)

As you near Christmas, what does the coming of the Messiah mean for you? Will the coming of Jesus really be the Savior of the world for you? The above questions are of greatest importance as we continue our journey of faith together.

Nothing says thanksgiving better to me than the words of a beautiful hymn that we do not have in our hymnal. I am going to share some of these words without sharing all of the verses and my prayer is that you will allow these words to give your encouragement and a good reason to be thankful every day that you live.
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.”
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The other two verses are just as rich with meaning. May all of you have a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving as you count your many blessings.