Greetings!

 

It's always fun to try to get the family together in one place at one time for our Christmas family picture.  We all have such busy schedules as Janelle works as the assistant manager at CIBC, Cory works in Construction, Christa works at an Accounting Firm in Vancouver, and Sherilyn works at Panago, Sirens and  Cleaning Houses.  Kathleen is in grade 7 already and can't wait to get up the local mountains and do some skiing. We had to have our little dogs Fluff and Buddy in the picture too as they are definitely a special part of our family.  Janelle and Cory just bought their first home in Richmond and moved into it in October.  Christa lives in Vancouver now too so our home is much quieter and we have to get used to cooking smaller quantities.  For a season we would always joke that it seemed like it was "feeding of the five thousand" at meal times, but it is nice to have a full table and break bread together! Sunday after church is our family dinner time and that's having communion. 

 

We've had a busy year of travels but are home to celebrate the Holidays with our friends and family. We are looking forward to the Candlelight Communion service on Christmas Eve at our church Destiny Centre in Tsawwassen.  We will  enjoy Christmas Day with our family then up to Powell River before the New Year to visit more of the extended Dubé family.

 

It seems every year more and more of the marketing and media are trying to remove Christ from Christmas by promoting "Seasons Greetings", or "Happy Holidays" in their advertising, but if it wasn't for Christ being born we would have nothing to celebrate!  Jesus is our Saviour - Luke 2:11 says, "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."  Jesus is our Messiah - Jeremiah 10:6 says, "Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, and Your name is great in might)".  Jesus is our King - 1Tim 1:17 says, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone be wise, be honor and glory forever and ever."

 

One of our family traditions on Christmas morning is to read aloud the Christmas story from Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20.  Jesus is the reason for the season and we don't ever want to take our focus off Him!  Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Christmas is a time of celebration, a time for salvation and a time for reconciliation.  The good news of Christmas is that Jesus came to be the bridge between us and God.  It is unbelievable that so many people have celebrated Christmas every year of their lives without ever opening their greatest and most expensive Christmas gift.  Jesus Christ is God's greatest gift and wrapped up in Jesus are all the benefits and blessings we could ever imagine!

 

From our family to yours...We wish you all the wonderful blessings Christ can bring to your life as you follow His way of love and peace.

  

Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year,

 

 

 

Pastors Darcy and Glenda Dubé