Hi Everyone!
We have a slab!! The
slab for the expansion was poured on Tuesday. Weather permitting the
blocks will be delivered and the masonry work will begin on Thursday or
Friday. Progress on the renovation continues with framing, HVAC
installation, electrical work and security system modifications. It's
exciting to watch the dream take shape and envision how God will use our
renovated and expanded space to grow his church. What a blessing it is
to be able to do this project! I am grateful for the generous and
faithful stewardship of our church family that is making this possible.
I was surprised by my kids. I
don't remember exactly when it happened but there was a time many years
ago when my kids started giving each other gifts at Christmas. Allyson
must have been about 9 or 10 and Sara about 7 or 8. They first started
making gifts for each other. It was the cutest thing to see them
secretly working on something for a week or two before Christmas to give
to each other and to their little sister, Emily (3-4 yrs.). It was
usually a custom work of art, but sometimes it included a trinket from
the "Dollar" store (purchased with their money). I loved watching there
faces as their siblings opened their love inspired gifts. They
enjoyed giving to each other more than opening their own gifts. As they
grew their gifts got more expensive, and they often saved for months to
buy gifts for their family members. I was surprised by their generosity
and by how much they enjoyed giving. As they have become adults they
have maintained that same spirit of giving to each other and to God's
work. They learned that giving is more rewarding than receiving.
That's what Jesus said would happen to all who give, "It is more blessed
to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35).
I urge you to give generously and be blessed this Christmas. Here are some possibilities to consider at Canopy Roads:
- Special Christmas Eve Offering. We will give the first $5,000 of the Christmas Eve offering to a small local church to pay for a much needed new sound system. Their old one is completely dead, and they spent all of their reserves on essential building repairs.
- International Missions (Lottie Moon) Offering. 100% of the Lottie Moon Mission Offering goes to support over 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries outside of North America. Envelopes for the offering are located in the backs of chairs in the worship center.
- Church budget or All In Campaign. We are still a little over $10,000 from meeting our operating budget for this year. We hope to meet that goal this Sunday. We need an additional $263,000 above what is currently pledged to the All In Campaign to pay for the construction costs. Wouldn't it be great to knock a huge chunk of this off before the end of the year?
Let's finish the year strong! This is a great time
of year to catch up on your tithe or give a generous "above and beyond"
offering to God's work. Please remember that in order to qualify for
tax credit this year, donations must be received in the church office,
processed online or postmarked by December 31st. The church office will
be closed December 25th through January 1st.
Christmas Eve Services will be at 5 & 7 PM. Invite
unchurched friends and family to attend with you on Christmas Eve. This
may be the easiest ask all year for someone who is unchurched. Pray and
invite! By the way, we need help with childcare at each service. Can
you come to one service and volunteer to serve at the other? If so,
email Diane Abrams to tell her which service you can volunteer.
The Christmas series, "Our Coming Savior" continues this Sunday. This week the focus will be on Mary and Joseph.
Blessings,
Matt
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