December 15, 2022

Dear Central Church, 

A few weeks ago, our church hosted the Christmas Lights Drive Thru for our community. Almost 2,200 people came through our parking lot to see the lights and experience the story of Christmas. It was a special privilege for me as your pastor to welcome each car to Central and invite them to join us for worship. I don’t care how cold it is, if 2,200 people are going to come through our parking lot, I’ll be happy to greet them and let them know there is a place for them at Central. 

The Lord reminded me that each person who came through our parking lot had a story that was unique to them. Each family was experiencing this season in a different way. I met some who were feeling the joy of their first Christmas with a new baby. There was one couple who had recently immigrated to the United States and was trying to make sense of all the unique ways that Americans celebrate the holiday. I know there were some who were also in the midst of grief having lost a loved one. At the end of the last night I drove home thinking of how every car represented a story. 

An angel announced to Joseph that the baby his fiancé Mary was carrying was Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Jesus would grow up and experience the range of emotions that characterize the human experience. He would know firsthand what it’s like to laugh, to cry, and to feel everything in between. The Christmas story announces that whatever you’re going through, God has been there before and he is WITH you. 

I don’t know what you’re going through. This may be the most difficult season of your life. I do know this: God will not leave you alone. He will be with you no matter what!  

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we hear the good news of Matthew 1:18-25. Our worship ministry has a special service planned you will not want to miss. I look forward to worshiping Jesus, our Emmanuel, together with you.  

Until He’s Finished, 

Pastor Mark