It case you haven’t noticed, it’s that time of year again. With leaves changing color, the temperature slowly ebbing and the election nearly behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to the festive season of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
We know it collectively as Holiday Season; that is, the season of holy days. Christmas certainly is holy. Thanksgiving should be a day to give thanks to our holy and gracious God. And while celebrating the dawn of a new year is not usually holy, it is a time to rededicate ourselves to following Jesus in the year ahead.
So, bring on the Holiday Season! And while we’re at it, let’s keep the season holy by making it a time of giving and serving, instead of just parties, food, music and presents.
At Broadway, we mark the holidays with two important opportunities to help people in need.
First, we will donate food and funds to fill our Thanksgiving Baskets. The baskets will go to families connected with our church who may otherwise struggle to enjoy a nice meal. We give turkeys, canned food, bread, potatoes, milk and gift cards. In recent years, we have also been able to provide a few baskets for families who are a part of Vida Eterna. It’s a simple and practical way to help those in need in the name of Jesus.
Second, we will provide Christmas presents to students at Rolling Green Elementary through the Love Tree. On Sunday, November 24, anyone who would like to participate can choose a tag from the Love Tree with gift ideas for a child identified by the school as in need of special support. Our gifts will be distributed before Christmas along with a message of love from our church. Through Love Tree, we share God’s love with families who might not be able to provide nice gifts for their children at Christmas.
We reach out to our community with the love and message of Jesus through these annual ministries. They are meaningful ways to help others and opportunities for us to practice generosity, a virtue that makes us more like Jesus, who gave Himself on the cross for our salvation.
For those of us who have been given so much by God, may this Holiday Season be a season of giving and serving. God’s word is full of gracious promises, including this one: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11). It’s a promise with a purpose. God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others.
In a way, that’s what following and serving Jesus is all about. God shows us love, and in turn, we love the people around us. Jesus gave His life for ours, and now we lay down our lives for others.
During this season of holy days that point people to God’s goodness and the birth of our Savior, let’s excel in the grace of giving (2 Cor. 8:7).
Thank you for your generous donations toward the Thanksgiving Baskets and Love Tree. I hope you will also join us for the Thanksgiving worship service with our brothers and sisters from Vida Eterna on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7:00 p.m. Later in the season, we will gather for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 4:00 p.m.
May this be a joyful and generous Holiday Season for our church family and community.
