David Cummings
and
Carolyn Cummings
Youth Ministers

I’m half way through November as I write you this letter and I hope you are as excited as I am that the weather has finally decided to act like it’s winter. I love the cool crisp air and the excuse to bundle up. This time of year is always filled with gatherings of family and friends. It’s as if God designed this time of year to force us indoors to be warm with one another and to be filled with the joy that comes with being around the ones you love and the ones who love you. We gather for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years sometimes celebrating each event multiple times with different groups of people. We never know which joyous celebration will be cherished forever in our hearts and minds. We open our homes to loved ones we wish we could see more often and those we never seem to see enough. Loved ones who could not attend are missed and loved ones who have left this world will be missed and remembered with fondness. We laugh, we cry, we break bread, we talk, and we pray. Each year we remember celebrations from the past and we look forward with anticipation to next year’s. I believe this time of year is an amazing blessing from God.

It’s only by God’s design that we are first asked to be thankful at Thanksgiving. The whole goal of the holiday is to stop and thank God for everything in your life. What a perfect precursor to Christmas. It’s hard to treat God like Santa Claus after we spent time thanking Him for everything.

In the vein of Thankfulness I am thankful for Christmas. I’m not talking about all the decorations and presents (although I’m also thankful for all that too). I’m talking about what Christmas represents, Christ’s birth. Christmas is awesome because of this. Christmas is the incarnate hope of Easter while Thanksgiving is the humble recognition and gratitude of both those holidays. Even New Year’s, to me, is an annual rededication toward a God glorifying life. If your view of these holidays doesn’t reflect that I pray that it begins to.

It is my prayer that you have a wonderful holiday season celebrating God’s glory in the presence of many friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

In His service,
David Cummings

Youth events coming up!
Youth Christmas Party: Date TBD. This year’s party will have a snow man theme (I hope it snows!).

Tsunami Dec 28-30: At this conference our youth will spend three days with 2,500 other students in worship, listening to dynamic speakers, learning in specialized break-out session, and listening to some of Christian music’s top performing artists. This year’s theme is “Selfless Self.” Please pray for our youth now as God prepares them for this trip.