Local Churches Remember the Reason for the Season
[gtxvideo vid=”lCB6DyeB” playlist=”” pid=”2gxTqEDg” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/lCB6DyeB-120.jpg” vtitle=”Church reasons”]
If you have not finished all your Christmas shopping just yet, do not worry. There is still some time to head to the stores to get those last minute gifts.
But remember, for some people, their Christmas wishes cannot be bought.
That is what Pastor of First Baptist, Jay Wolf, says is true for many people at his church. He made his sermons very specific for December.
“The Christmas celebration is focused on the Nativity set,” says Pastor Wolf. “And I’ve been doing a whole series on teaching how Christ is the centerpiece of Christmas.”
He hopes his message can bring peace to a busy time of the year.
“We live in a world where there is the crush of Christmas,” Wolf explains. “The frenzy of Christmas, there’s the food of Christmas, buying all the gifts, travel, the pressure of responses at Christmas, there’s family coming. Family comes on Christmas the therapy starts in January.”
Members of First Baptist only have a few things on their Christmas list: things that cannot be bought at any stores.
“For the Montgomery area, I would love to see real peace and contentment between individuals, the races, and the political arena,” says church member Douglas McElvy. “I think we’ve got the potential in Montgomery to be a excellent community that is known all over the country as being just a wonderful place to live and that people get along and care for each other.”
One woman hopes everyone remembers there are many more important things than gifts to give and receive.
“Our family has always gotten together to celebrate Christmas time, to show our love for each other, and to do things together that we enjoy,” church member Helen Figh says. “Christmas was a very special time always to my husband. And he died in June. So this is our first Christmas as a family without him, but he loved Christmas so much that now we think about how different life is for him.”
With the usual emphasis around gifts and shopping this time of year, Pastor Wolf hopes his congregation remembers the real reason for the season.
“Christmas is about C-H-R-I-S-T. It’s all about Christ,” Pastor Wolf explains.
Pastor Wolf adds First Baptist is open for two services on Christmas Eve, one at 3:30 PM and on eat 5 PM. He hopes anyone who does not have a place to celebrate the holiday will feel free to stop by and visit.
