Dear St. Andrews Family,

I have a job for you. I want you to find someone to tell you the 3-minute version of the Christmas story. Get them to throw in all the details they know. What was the king's name, what did they wrap the baby in, how many animals in the stable? If you have children in the home, ask them together and let them work on the story together. If you can’t find anyone to ask, then try the experiment yourself. Then read the actual story in Luke 2. Maybe read some from Matthew 1 and 2. Notice how far off the story you have in your mind is from the story in the Bible.

Now ignore your mistakes and realize that your story is really good, too. The question is, why is this story told? What is our takeaway? What should we do? I think the answer might surprise you.

Dear St Andrews Family,

You know that moment when everything seems hopeless? Of course you do.

• The medicine isn’t doing its job.

• Your marriage has no meaning.

• Your job is in jeopardy.

• Your children are suffering.

Maybe you are feeling this now.

Israel felt this. Their world had been crushed. The temple didn’t have the power it once did. God felt more than a little distant.

And then . . .

Suddenly!

Let’s talk about “suddenly” this week from Malachi 3:1. Suddenly, he whom you desire, will come. It’s a story we all remember—when HE came. And it’s a story that empowers us through all the hopelessness of our circumstances and points us to his perhaps “sudden” coming to rescue us again.

Pastor Jace

We are excited to have Rev. David Deming with us a guest preacher sharing a Thanksgiving message. What does it look like to have gratitude in ALL times?