This Sunday we're exploring why God chose to announce Jesus' birth to shepherds—the night shift workers who were considered the lowest in society. The good news of great joy wasn't just for the rich and powerful; it was especially for those on the fringes who needed hope the most. God's joy comes through breaking down unfair systems and bringing something new and refreshing to a world that desperately needs it. Join us as we open our hearts to God's grace!

This Sunday, we'll look at Joseph's story. When Joseph learned Mary was pregnant, he had every reason to feel anxious and upset, but God met him right in the middle of his confusion with a message that changed everything. Think about a time when someone walked into a difficult situation in your life, and you felt peace wash over you—that's the kind of peace God gave Joseph. That's the kind of peace God wants us to both receive and share with the world. This Advent season, be agents of peace for others who are struggling with grief, war, or need someone to bring calm into their chaos. See you Sunday!

Come join us on a journey through the Christmas Story. We begin with Mary. When the angel told Mary she would carry God's son, she said yes to God's plan, despite her fears. She had to trust God completely and become a hope for the entire world by bringing Jesus into it. We often use the word "hope" for small things like hoping for good weather, but real hope is much bigger and requires us to take action. Just like Mary, we're not meant to wait for hope to come to us. This Advent season challenges us to ask: How are we saying yes to God's plan and becoming bearers of hope for others?

At the end of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a clear mission: go and spread the good news of his life, death, and resurrection to everyone. That mission was a call to action that should change how we live day to day. As disciples, we're not called to simply fill church pews, but to actively work toward transforming the world into God's Kingdom. Our job is to create and tend to Kingdom Moments in our daily lives, trusting God to work through us even when we fall short. See you Sunday for the final message in our stewardship series, "More than a Church, a family".

Being part of a church means coming together as a community. True community isn't about staying comfortable—it's about making room for others who need a place to belong, even when that challenges us. In this week's sermon, we'll look into our worshipping community. When we worship together, we must focus our hearts and minds on God and what it means to be "in community" with those around us in worship. The physical spaces give us a place to worship, but the building is temporary—it is our place in God's family that is eternal.