Anticipation

The American Thanksgiving weekend has ended, and people’s focus moves from Black Friday deals to anticipating Christmas.  What are you hoping will happen during this Christmas season?

Maybe you are in survival mode.  There is so much to do: decorating, baking, planning, entertaining, gatherings, etc.  Sometimes the season can feel overwhelming. Although there is a sense that there should be more to the season, we find ourselves trapped in the effort to meet  expectations.  These feelings, and the accompanying busy-ness, are related to our desire to accomplish desired things for ourselves and for people we care about.

But, what about God?  We say we care about Him.  Maybe we should stop and ask:  “What are God’s desires for this year’s Christmas season?  What are we anticipating that God might do before the end of this year?”

One thing that God seems to have arranged for our church is a children’s event next weekend.

A former schoolmate of our pastor’s wife is the staff advisor for a university club.  The club members are all elementary education majors at a Taipei university and will benefit in their future job search if they have additional experience working with children.  They asked if they could come and serve on a weekend at our church.  The result is the elementary children’s activity that will happen December 3-4. (Poster above)

Will you pray that the 20 students who registered will attend?  Pray that Covid and other life happenings will not prevent them from coming.

Will you pray that the 20 students will have good interaction with the teachers.  Our desire is that through that relationship the students will discover the joy of trusting Christ.

Will you pray for those from our church who will be assisting?  Pray we will serve well, honouring our Lord.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord that the elections for nine different kinds of local leaders on Nov. 26 was peaceful.  Please pray that those who were elected will lead in ways that benefit society and create freedoms for people to hear the gospel.
• Praise the Lord that Kathy-Lu’s health is improved.  We are trusting God to provide health and strength.
• Please pray that we will represent Christ and the gospel well as we talk with people during the Christmas season.
• Please pray that people who attend church-sponsored activities will be willing to explore more about being a Christ-follower.  May God add