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Dear Friends,

Angel Tree Generosity
One of the great privileges of being the rector at Christ Church for over 24 years has been watching your generosity in action. I believe we must have the most giving, big-hearted church family anywhere. I really mean this…did you see all the stacks and stacks of Angel Tree gifts brought in last weekend? Each one represents a person who will be touched and cared for in the name of Jesus Christ. Here are some pictures of the gifts being delivered last night. Thanks for your participation!

Delivery at a Plano community home

About to surprise someone

Theme of the night: smiles

Open Invitations
Earlier in 2009, the staff sat down and gave careful thought to how we invite and welcome new visitors into our church week by week. The Mozart Requiem, the Thanksgiving Eve service, and the Big Band Concert were part of that plan—special events designed with extra hospitality so that we might be ready, as a family, to receive those people whom the Lord wants to send to us. And He has! As 2009 closes, we have one more ideal opportunity to introduce someone to our worship life: Christmas Eve. This weekend, you will receive an invitation card that you can slip under a neighbor’s doormat or hand to a friend at work. I encourage you to do that simple act, and then let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Resolve to Worship, Grow and Serve in 2010
Also this weekend, you will receive a brochure with a comprehensive list of Christ Church’s offerings for the next 7 months—classes, events, studies, etc. I think (hope) you will appreciate our simplified and focused ministry plan. Please take it home and prayerfully consider the ways that we can help you complete your “Worship-Grow-Serve” triangle in 2010. Here is an advance electronic version for you to preview.

‘See you this weekend. Remember, the 9:15 & 11:00 services will be the traditional “Lessons and Carols.”

In Christ,
David+

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is 8:30 on Thursday morning and I am sitting down to write this letter for The Call and then turn to the final sermon in the “Grace Under Pressure” series from II Corinthians.  I want to post a few reflections on the series from my point of view…

Our Banquet
First, I thank God for the Bible. Could you ever imagine the kind of “meat” and meaning that we have found in a 2,000-year-old letter? That is the work of the Holy Spirit…and, I must say, a deeply hungry and devoted congregation. As you have seen, I slice the Word up pretty thin.  It is like a thick filet and it doesn’t take much to find rare blessings.

After the last sermon on “The Thorn and His Grace” a woman in the church wrote me about her ride home in the car with her family. An old wound and worry between them was quickly and wonderfully healed. That is the way it works. We slice the Word up for our banquet; we hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest. And then…it starts to slice us!  It cuts to the bone and marrow of our life (Heb 4) and begins a work of healing through grace. Sometimes the healing comes as insight, understanding, or knowledge. Sometimes the healing comes as emotional release. Sometimes, as we saw two weeks ago, the Word comes and simply demolishes our pretension, arguments and strongholds. (II Cor 10).

I want you to know that I consider the preaching of the Word my highest privilege before you. This week will be no less an honor as we wrap it up before Thanksgiving.

Sermon/Small Group Connection
Secondly, I see and hear that the connection we have established between the small groups is doing wonderfully. Hundreds of adults are sitting knee to knee with Bibles open to discuss and explore the application of the Bible verses they are hearing about in church.  (That, in the words of Thomas Cranmer, is the time for “inwardly digesting” the Word.)

There will be more sermon/small group connections beginning in January. I am eager to explore my favorite book in the Bible from the Old Testament (I think…I am still praying and brooding over the idea.)  In any event, now is a great time to join a small group or sign up to receive the study material on your own. To do either, simply contact Susan Freeman.

To all the “fellowship” groups out there…please let me encourage you to take advantage of these sermon/small group study opportunities.  Fellowship and friendship are deeply enriched by and through the Word of God.

Gifts
Just a final word… Please check your mailbox within the next few days to receive your latest giving statement. I would simply ask that you look at your contributions for 2009 and prayerfully consider whether they reflect the blessings that God has placed in your life this year. Also, I would want you to know that a portion of your giving goes to support our incredible mission in Peru.  I will speak more about this in the coming weeks.

Click here to see an update from Bishop Godfrey. (pdf, 3mb)

For now, I will get back to the sermon for this weekend.  I have the joy of being the preacher in all services in the Chapel and in the Sanctuary.

‘See you then.
David+

Dear Friends,

Last night I had the joy of teaching on “The Biblical Vision of Marriage.” The room was full of about 240 people—married and seriously dating couples in our church. I was very pleased at the enthusiasm for learning what the Bible has to say about men and women and the divine purpose of their relationship. Click here to listen (1:12) If you are interested in ordering an audio CD or a DVD of the talk, contact Access Video & Audio.

Here are a few things I’d want you to know this week:

Vestry Update
There have been three edits to the new vestry since you saw the election results last week. First, Mike Lister was named junior warden at last Saturday’s retreat. I am very much looking forward to working with him and Matt Atkinson, our senior warden. Second, Toby Eisenberg has been named to replace Jim Guiou, who recently joined the staff as director of program ministries and therefore had to vacate his vestry seat. Finally, we said a hearty thank you to George Flint as he stepped down as chancellor after 22 years of dedicated and excellent service to Christ Church. I thank God for George’s wisdom and brotherhood in Christ over these past years.

Giving During Tough Times
Someone asked a question recently that I think bears answering here. They asked what the Christian response should be to giving in the midst of an uncertain economy, job layoffs, housing foreclosures, etc. Of course you can probably predict my answer, but please note the reason behind it… Giving is an act of worship. Yes, it benefits the church and keeps its ministries strong for the mission, but more important is the Biblical truth that we should give in accordance to our thankfulness for how God has blessed us. Giving should remain a first priority, not a “tip” that we give after all the other bills have been paid. If you have questions about giving, I would love to answer them and show you what the Bible says about it. Here is one example.

Peru Mission Trip
Recently, a mission team from Christ Church visited Peru to hold a VBS at the orphanage there. Here are some photos and an online article about the trip.

If Christ Came to Christ Church
For this Sunday, I am hard at work preparing a sermon based on John 2. It’s that tense scene in which Jesus clears the temple in Jerusalem. My question will be: “What if Christ Came to Christ Church?” What would He find us doing? What would He see? Would it please or anger Him? I hope you’ll be here…and bring a friend! Remember, personal invitation is still the #1 way people discover Christ Church!

‘See you Sunday,
David+