Carols. Candlelight. Communion
in a small town, family-friendly church. And most of all...Christ the
Lord, the Baby Jesus born in Bethlehem.
That is what Home for Christmas is all about at First Church.
We want the people of Alvord to come home to Jesus this Christmas.
We believe that Christ is calling us to be where that happens.
We offer two Christmas Eve services on December 24. The
morning service at 10:55 will be the Fourth Sunday of Advent worship service,
with the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, music, and a special time for the
children. The evening service at 5:00 p.m. will include the Christmas
Eve lessons, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, a different and shorter
sermon, and candlelight singing at the conclusion.
A word about the Lord's Supper at Alvord: the table is open to
all people, regardless of age, church affiliation, or life situation, who
wish to live a new life in God's forgiveness. If you wish to participate
in Communion, you will be served as a member of Jesus' family.
Tracy Randall is our Home for Christmas coordinator. Here
is a message from Tracy:
Let's think about "Home for Christmas" for a moment. To you it
may mean "Home" for Christmas. Where is "home"? Yes, home is
where we live, but where is the "home" in "Home for Christmas"? The
"home" in "Home for Christmas" is a very special place...it is Jesus.
"Home" is Jesus.
I know you all have family to gather with and many of you can't be here for
our Christmas Eve service. I wish you could! I ask of you only
the following: pray that God will be with our church to offer Jesus to people
who need to go "home for Christmas."
For some, this is a very lonely time, even with their family. Others
may have a void they don't know how to fill. You and I know that only
Jesus can fill that void. That is the news we must share! There
may be someone in our community who has no place to turn and may not realize
Jesus is just waiting for them. Let us keep these people in our hearts
and prayers and ask the Lord to move them closer to him through us and our
church.
We can offer a place to "go home" to. It is
here, my friends! Please continue to pray for our "Home for Christmas"
campaign. It might just change someone's life forever. God bless
you in this wonderful season of celebrating Jesus' birth.
In Christ's love, Tracy
Alvord is one of nearly 200 United Methodist Churches participating in the
20-county North Texas Conference's "Home for Christmas" ministry.
