Dear Friends,

Greetings in our Saviour's name! There is something about this month of December that prompts us to celebrate! In doing so, we adjust our schedules, expend great energy, and invest much time.

To the world's mind-set, it is the HOLIDAY SEASON of buying, partying and merriment.  It is "Happy Holidays" without Christ. Today in the United States under the guise of the separation of Church and state, much of the secular population is seeking to outlaw all semblances of Christianity by outlawing even the thought of Christmas in the public arena, lest its purpose and symbols might offend someone of another culture or religious persuasion.

To the believers in Christ it's CHRISTMAS , the season to again rejoice, worship and reflect upon God's "unspeakable gift," the precious Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 1:21, we read of the Angel's words to Joseph, "And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

After all, this is the purpose of Christmas. It is the story we should never grow tired of hearing. It is the story we should never grow tired of proclaiming. Against all odds, unexpected even by the virgin mother who bore Him, and questioned by all who refused to believe the miracle, the Babe in Bethlehem arrived for the express purpose of providing humanity at the cross of Calvary our "great salvation."

Every Christmas, how magnificent it is to remember "…that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…" II Corinthians 5:19! By becoming a member of the human family, the Son of God connected with all of us. By paying the price for sin at the cross of Calvary, He removed a long-standing offense. He made it possible, for people like you and me, to find redemption of the soul, forgiveness of sin, and hope of eternal life. Because He accomplished His purpose for coming, by faith we can know God the Father, and become connected to the family of God.

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."   John 1:12

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

If that does not give us cause to celebrate, we have missed the meaning of CHRISTMAS by a mile! Let us be resolved, at this time of the year more than ever, to keep the PROCLAMATION of the CHRISTMAS story in our WORSHIP and in our WITNESS, especially before our families and before an unbelieving world. Let our lives shine before others in a way that our talk, work and how we deal with the eventualities of life reflect the truth and reality of CHRISTMAS . Instead of saying, during this season "Happy Holiday," say it for what it is, "Merry CHRISTMAS!"

Again, in our 44th year of ministry, it has been wonderful to KNOW and EXPERIENCE how GOOD and FAITHFUL our God is all the time. It has been our humbled privilege to share with you the Weekly SERMON throughout this past year. Now, as we have shared with you, perhaps you would share with us. Would you be so kind as to drop us a note telling how these Weekly SERMONS have been a blessing to you. And even though we do not charge for the sermons, a gift to help meet our expenses would also greatly help and be very much appreciated. God's richest blessings and many thanks for considering this request.

Because of the CRADLE, the CROSS, and the CROWN (Philippians 2:5-11), from our home to your home, we wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Christ-centered and fruitful NEW YEAR in the Lord during 2012.

In His Amazing Grace,                                                                                                                                                                       

Pastor David and Mary Lou Miklas