If I haven’t said it before I’ll say it again – Christmas season remains maybe my favorite time of the year. A lot is added to the calendar, but those extra events are part of the fun. These last two weeks I’ve thoroughly enjoyed dipping into the Psalms (it’s always fun to change genres, going from the narrative of Acts to the poetry of the Psalms). And I find myself especially looking forward to our Christmas Eve service. It’s not because we’re doing anything particularly extravagant. In fact quite the opposite – this year’s service will be pretty straightforward. Our goal will be simply to tell the story of the birth of Christ, and celebrate it in song. Our hope is that anyone who comes, no matter how familiar or unfamiliar with the things of Christ, would be able to come and hear plainly about Jesus (and maybe make a new connection to the songs they hear in grocery stores in December). I always love our Christmas Eve services because of the familial feel. Our church brings warmth and joy – and often friends and family. Let me encourage you in that regard. If there’s ever a service a non-believing friend or neighbor or family member might attend if invited, it would be a Christmas Eve service (or Easter Sunday). My hope is the joy of the Christmas season will be capped off with a worship center full of praise.