Yee Haw VBS! God’s Greatest Gift

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
-John 3:16-17

It’s Christmas in July!!!  This week is our annual Vacation Bible School.  What a whirlwind of activity and fun!  Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to set up, decorate, cook meals and clean up afterwards, teach, lead, shepherd, and play with our kids.  You are the heart and hands of Jesus Christ this week.  Well done!

Our Bible lessons for VBS are about God’s greatest gifts.  The first is the story of Jesus’ birth.  That’s right, we are celebrating Christmas in July!  The second is the gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our third gift from God is the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  What a great way to celebrate God’s greatest gifts of love, salvation, and God’s presence with us always.

This fall, we will focus on telling the story of our faith.  In honor of our “Christmas in July”, I ask you to write up a short devotion about a favorite Christmas memory.  It can be about a church service, your favorite Christmas carol, a scripture of prophecy that means a lot to you or anything else you would like to share with your church family.  Our plan is to compile these devotions for Advent and print them in November.

Please prayerfully consider what God is calling you to share with your church family about Christmas and what God’s greatest gift of love means to you.

Father in heaven, we are friends to one another, not because we are so lovable and endearing, or because we choose to be with people who are like ourselves, but because you want us, as your children, to reach out with the best for other people, whoever they are and whatever their characteristics. You want your friends to enjoy a rich and healthy diet of love and joy, peace and patience, kindness and goodness. Thank you for making us your friends, and friends to one another.  Forgive us for our failure to love our neighbor as ourselves and grant us courage and love to serve each other.  Amen.