CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME
Christmas time means party time. It is without a doubt the biggest birthday celebration of all. The world turns the season into a commercial frenzy, but for believers the holiday brings an opportunity for worship, fellowship and probably too much food consumption. In every church I ever served December always brought a sequence of parties. As pastor I had the distinct privilege to attend them all, and did most of the time! I guess I just like food, fun and Christian fellowship. When we served the Plainfield congregation in ERC, I had a new member remark about our Christmas festivities that “This is the eatingist church I ever saw.” After every special program we always held a reception with lots of food and some of the events centered around food like our “Olde English Christmas Dinner.” It was much easier to get non-churched friends and family members to come when we bribed them with fun, food and fellowship. Try it and see! I think Jesus understood this principle rather well. I told the new member to check out the New Testament and see how much of Jesus’ ministry involved food events. Anyway I want to tell you about some parties I recently attended.
Dave and Sally Green hosted three parties across the Great Lakes Region in early December for the pastors and spouses of the conference. Linda and I got to attend all three and meet the people attending. It was great! The first one on December 6 occurred at Troyer’s Dutch Heritage Restaurant in Bellville, Ohio (near Mansfield).
Great Lakes Region party in Bellville
The other two happened on December 8 in the north district (Michigan) and on December 11 in Findlay at the Church Center. In Michigan we met at Maxfield’s (near Edmore in the palm of the hand) which is an amazing place given its rural location and extensive menu. At each gathering we participated in a gift exchange which was followed by a time of show and tell. It was a good way to interact and get to know each other better. I did wonder about the box that housed Dick and Barbara Wilkins’ gift, but remembered that when we moved in May we also utilized some similar containers. It didn’t stop me from teasing Dick, however.
Just what kind of gifts are these?!
Each event closed with a time of prayer which provided an apt closing.
In addition to the GLR parties, Linda and I also dropped in on the Drapers (Dave and Linda) two nights in a row. Monday night (12-10) they invited the UF Bible study group that they lead and Tuesday night (12-11) they entertained the WTS and UF community.
The Draper Home
Their house was rather full the second night. Dave’s dad, “Junior,” was there, too. It was good to talk with him and get the scoop on some of President Draper’s youthful escapades.
The next night (12-12) we opened our home for our Sunday school class at College First and on Thursday night (12-13) invited the CGGC office staff in for a visit. Both nights I got to enjoy Linda’s tasty cookies and sweets with the company, but all (I should say most as I pilfered a few over the next couple days) remainders were reserved for our Pennsylvania Christmas. It really was nice to welcome our friends into our home and share a party time with them. Next year we also want to have a neighbor’s night and invite those living near us to stop by. We’ve met most of them over the last six months and know that several are fine Christian people, but we’re not certain about all. Our prayer for the coming year is that we might be as Christ to them. I hope that sometime in the future others of you in our church family may also come for a visit and possibly some cookies.
Ed
NOTE: In our writing there will always be the possibility of errors. I just don’t always remember correctly or have all the facts. I beg your indulgence and ask that you give me a call or email me when a correction is needed.
SEARCH ANNOUNCED FOR A NEW CGGC DIRECTOR OF CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
I ask for your prayers as we begin the search for a new Director of Church Development at the CGGC office. The committee (David Green, Mary Lehman, Bob Stephenson and I) met recently to lay out the process. Our first phase will be to identify potential persons for this position by March 1st. You can help here, too. If you or someone you know would consider God’s call to this work, please contact Dave Green (see below) and he will send out an invitation and information packet. The next phase will be to receive applications from those who choose to respond to the invitation. After that the committee will prayerfully and carefully consider each candidate in order to discern the Lord’s leading and identify the person to be selected. So, pray for the committee, possible names to submit and for the selection process.
If you have questions or anything you think might help in the search process, feel free to contact me by phone or mail (email too). Have a blessed Christmas and thanks for your prayerful support in our search process. Godspeed!
Pastor Ed
Pastor Ed Rosenberry
Executive Director, CGGC
(419) 424-1961
director@cggc.org
Pastor David Green
700 East Melrose Avenue
P.O. Box 1132
Findlay, Ohio 45839
(419) 423-7694
glcdirector@cggc.org
Winebrenner Seminary Announces:
New Testament Scholr, DR. SCOT McKNIGHT, to Speak at Ritz Lectures 2008
Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio proudly presents Dr. Scot McKnight as guest speaker for Ritz Lectures 2008. Join Winebrenner and Dr. McKnight on Wednesday, January 9th as they explore the topic of “Finding Faith – Losing Faith”, a series of lectures based on conversion. Ticket price is $59. Discounts are available for groups of 5 or more. Registration deadline is December 31, 2007. Visit www.winebrenner.edu for more information on this exciting event, or call 800-992-4987 to register today.
Additional Information:
Winebrenner Seminary will be holding a day of lectures on “Finding Faith – Losing Faith” on Wednesday, January 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Lecturer will be Dr. Scot McKnight, a noted New Testament scholar, prolific author, and host of the popular blog site www.jesuscreed.org. The public is invited to attend the sessions, which will be held in the TLB Foundation Convocation Center at Winebrenner Seminary, 950 N. Main St., Findlay.
Throughout the course of his lecture “Finding Faith – Losing Faith”, Dr. McKnight will address the topic of conversion as it relates to 4 different areas:
- Conversion as Leaving and Finding: Leaving who we were and finding who we are to be.
- Leaving Church, Finding Independence: Apostasy, or walking away from the Christian faith, as a form of conversion.
- Leaving Wheaton, Finding Rome: Evangelicals who abandon their inherited faith and convert to Roman Catholic theology.
- Leaving Synagogue, Finding Church: Conversion from Judaism to Christianity.
Dr. Scot McKnight has been a professor of New Testament Greek Exegesis for 27 years. In addition to being a prolific author, speaker and noted scholar, Dr. McKnight is the host of the blog, www.jesuscreed.org, which posts reflections on many compelling cultural themes that affect Christians today.
McKnight earned a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Nottingham, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies/New Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts in History/Greek from Cornerstone College.
