Tami, Ryan, Alyssa and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. This is our 11th Christmas in Denton. Ryan was eight and Alyssa was 4 that first Christmas in 1997. They are now 19 and 15 and Denton is the only home they remember. We have been blessed to live in Denton and to be a part of First Baptist Church these 11 plus years. As a young pastor I did not want to move from church to church and come to the end of my ministry and have a list of a dozen churches that I had pastored. I prayed that God would put me somewhere and leave me and give my kids the opportunity to go to one school and be able to call that place home. God has given me and my family that gift and this Christmas I am grateful for that gift.
As I write this afternoon it's the day before the day before Christmas! As I think about what will take place over the next 48 hours I'm excited about it all. Most all of it revolves around tradition at the Williams' house. We will begin our Christmas celebration by going to the Christmas Eve service tomorrow night. It will be a time of Christmas Carols, the Lord's Supper, Candlelight and most importantly sharing the moment with our church family. We will then go home and have a special time as a family. We will read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and we will read the classic Christmas book "The Night Before Christmas." Ryan and Alyssa will open one present that night before bed, they know what's inside! They always get new pajama's on Christmas Eve!
Christmas morning we will get up and open presents. We are so blessed to be able to give gifts to one another, more than any of us really need. Tami loves buying Christmas and she always goes overboard and I always get on to her, but I'm thankful that God gives us the means to do that. After we open our gifts and our stockings we will eat Sausage balls for breakfast (my favorite part!) We started a new tradition a few years ago of staying home on Christmas day and inviting whoever wants to come for Christmas lunch. My parents, my sister and her family and the Cole and Beth Sciba family are joining us this year. We will eat too much "fried turkey" and everything else and just enjoy being together on such a great day.
We won't get to see Tami's parents until after Christmas this year. Tami's Dad is in the hospital being treated for an infection. We pray that he gets well soon and gets to go home soon after Christmas.
My wish for you this Christmas is that you will enjoy family and friends, that you will get what you want and be able to give what you want as well. I hope you will be as blessed as I am by a church family, friends, and most of all your family as you celebrate Christmas this year!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Elves Shelves
For several years First Baptist Church Denton has helped numerous families at Christmas time. We would hear about families in need of help and different people in the church would "adopt" these families and provide toys for the kids, food and sometimes clothes. Usually we would help a couple of dozen families every year. Last year our Children's Pastor, Christy Butler, came up with the idea of Elves Shelves to try and help even more families.
The idea behind Elves Shelves is that parents come to the church and "shop" for toys for their children for Christmas. They are allowed to choose a certain number of toys for each child and then they give the toys to the children at Christmas. Last year we used a small classroom in the church and gave out toys over several days. We gave away several thousand toys and helped several hundred families. Then at the beginning of 2008 we began to make plans for this Christmas. About two dozen people became a part of the Elves Shelves planning team led by Christy Butler. They worked the entire year to make plans for this year's event. All year long they collected toys and money and signed up volunteers to work at the shopping days. Those days began last night and I can't tell you what an unbelievable expereince is has been already.
I am so proud of the people of First Baptist Church. They have given thousands of toys and thousands of dollars to buy even more toys. This year our entire gymnasium is full of toys for children of all ages. On Wedensday night the first families came to shop. 52 families who are a part of FBCD came to shop for their kids. Today dozens more have already come. We have over 1000 children registered to recieve toys this Christmas. Dozens of people from First Baptist are there greeting the people as they come in, helping them shop, and just showing them the love of Jesus.
The idea of gift giving began on that first Christmas 2000 years ago. We often credit the wise men for being the ones to create gift giving. But in reality they were the second ones to give. The first giver was God Himself. He gave His son Jesus that first Christmas and it is because of that we give today. I am proud to be a part of what is happening at First Baptist Denton this year. Proud of a church that even in tough economic times is willing to help those in need.
As you celebrate Christmas with your family and friends this year I hope you will find a way to follow the example of Jesus and GIVE to someone in need. With all the things happening in our country today, it won't be hard to find someone in need. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season this year.
The idea behind Elves Shelves is that parents come to the church and "shop" for toys for their children for Christmas. They are allowed to choose a certain number of toys for each child and then they give the toys to the children at Christmas. Last year we used a small classroom in the church and gave out toys over several days. We gave away several thousand toys and helped several hundred families. Then at the beginning of 2008 we began to make plans for this Christmas. About two dozen people became a part of the Elves Shelves planning team led by Christy Butler. They worked the entire year to make plans for this year's event. All year long they collected toys and money and signed up volunteers to work at the shopping days. Those days began last night and I can't tell you what an unbelievable expereince is has been already.
I am so proud of the people of First Baptist Church. They have given thousands of toys and thousands of dollars to buy even more toys. This year our entire gymnasium is full of toys for children of all ages. On Wedensday night the first families came to shop. 52 families who are a part of FBCD came to shop for their kids. Today dozens more have already come. We have over 1000 children registered to recieve toys this Christmas. Dozens of people from First Baptist are there greeting the people as they come in, helping them shop, and just showing them the love of Jesus.
The idea of gift giving began on that first Christmas 2000 years ago. We often credit the wise men for being the ones to create gift giving. But in reality they were the second ones to give. The first giver was God Himself. He gave His son Jesus that first Christmas and it is because of that we give today. I am proud to be a part of what is happening at First Baptist Denton this year. Proud of a church that even in tough economic times is willing to help those in need.
As you celebrate Christmas with your family and friends this year I hope you will find a way to follow the example of Jesus and GIVE to someone in need. With all the things happening in our country today, it won't be hard to find someone in need. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season this year.
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