Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 23, 2010

 

Merry Christmas!

 

I look forward to seeing you at one of our two Christmas Eve Services at 5:30 or 7:00 pm.   Each service will be packed with music, worship, a children’s story, and a message to remind us of the hope we have in Christ.  I can’t wait, as it is without a doubt my favorite service of the year! So bring the family and celebrate with us as only Central can do!  Come early to get a good seat!

 

We will then wrap up the Christmas season with two dynamic worship services on December 26.  The 9:30 services will be combined into one blended service in the worship center and the 11:00 service will be a contemporary celebration.  Both will feature a message by Jared Alcántara that you won’t want to miss.  In both services, we will have a guest worship leader,  Phil Biega, who recently completed a master’s degree program at Liberty University and has a real passion to lead us to the King.  Full nursery and children’s programs will meet both hours, so bring the family and celebrate with us.

 

My wife Kim and our children, Jonathan, Joshua, and Lydia join me in wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 17, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Two more chances to participate in our Living Nativity: tonight and tomorrow night from 6- 8 pm. 

 

This has been an incredible experience for all of us to see how God is working through all of you to serve our community.  I received emails of stories of people who were touched in a special way this past weekend by your hospitality, love, and warmth to all of our guests.  Over 600 people came through the Living Nativity last weekend, and even though it will be cold this weekend, we are expecting great crowds.  So bundle up, bring a friend, and pray for us as we seek to show the love of Jesus to our community.

 

Sunday morning we will continue our special Christmas Carol Series as we see that Christ brings meaning to our present.  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend to come with you as the music will be awesome (as always), the worship will be dynamic, and the message will lift up Jesus who brings us the gift of meaning that everyone is looking for.  I will be speaking in the 9:30 and 11:00 contemporary services and Pastor Gilmer will be ministering in the Classic at 9:30.  So I hope you invite and bring someone along with you!

 

The Great Christmas Giveaway continues to build!  Remember as you are planning your year-end generosity, that we will give away 10% of whatever is given to our general fund through December 31 to help community organizations impact people's lives.  I can’t wait to see how God will work through your giving hearts!  God bless you for your generosity!

 

Finally, just a reminder that Christmas Eve and Christmas weekend will be very special at Central.  We will have candlelight services on Christmas eve for the whole family at 5:30 and 700 pm.  Each service will be identical and will feature all the traditional Christmas music we love, a Children's story, Christmas Choir, handbells, and candle celebration as only Central can do.  I will be bringing a message that will wrap up (no pun intended) our Christmas series showing how Christ brings hope for our future!  So bring the kids and lets pack the worship center with worshippers of the New Born King! 

 

Then Sunday Morning, December 26, we will have two worship Services.  Our 9:30 services will be combined for a blended service featuring the Christmas Choir, the majesty of the organ, and our praise team in our worship center and a special treat (again, no pun intended!).  We will all be encouraged in worship as we are led by a guest worship leader, Phil Biega.  Phil is a graduate of Liberty University and Seminary and has a real passion to lead us to the King. We will then meet for a full contemporary service at 11:00 which will once again be led by Phil.   Jared Alcántara will challenge our hearts with a special message that I am looking forward to.

 

So there you have it.  Enjoy your weekend.  I look forward to seeing all of you!  Merry Christmas!

 

Pastor Gay

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 10, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

It starts tonight!  The work that has been done by over 150 volunteers will come to fruition starting tonight! 

 

Tonight at 6 pm, we kick off our Live Nativity and Lighting Display!  We are really excited about all that God is going to do through this ministry.  I hope that you have invited your friends and neighbors to come with you for a fun night of food, presentation of the Christmas story, crafts for the kids, special music, and so much more!  I look forward to seeing you, as I will be one of the story tellers, and I can’t wait to meet your friends and neighbors!  Make sure you dress warm, and pray, pray, pray!  Pray for good weather, pray for open hearts, pray for wisdom on the part of all of us who interact with our guests.  Pray for the enemy to be kept at bay, pray for fruit that will last!  God is on a mission, and we get the grandest of all privileges to be a part of it!  So come out and bring a van full of people with you, and let’s watch God work!

 

Then join us Sunday morning as we begin a brand new series called The Christmas Carol.  This week we will look at how the Christmas story gives us hope to find forgiveness from the ghosts of our past.  Jared will be speaking in the classic service and I will be preaching in both the contemporary services.  All of our services have special musical treats planned for all of our guests.  So call someone up and invite them to come with you.  It is going to be a Magical Christmas Sunday here at Central!

 

Just a reminder that it is not too early to tell your friends about Christmas Eve services.  We will have two services: 5:30, and 7:00 pm.  Both services are identical and will include our Central Choir, praise team, and all the traditional Christmas music that makes Christmas so special.  And of course we will have our annual Christmas story for the kids.

 

Christmas is here at Central!  See you this weekend!

 

Pastor Gay

 

P.S.  Yesterday, I saw the grand lighting of the Christmas trees for the Live Nativity, and it is beautiful!  I am excited to see what will happen the next two weeks!

 

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 3, 2010

 

Welcome to December!  And with the beginning of December there are some exciting things taking place.  Please take note!

 

This Sunday evening, December 5^th at 6 pm, we will hold a Congregational Business Meeting.  We will receive a financial report update as we go into December.  We will also be voting on the proposed New Constitution that the Deacons Council has presented during the month of November.  This is an historic time at Central as we vote to put into place a new leadership structure. There will be time for questions prior to the vote.  So if you are a member, please plan to be here at 6 pm and bring a dessert to share.  We will have dessert in the Fellowship Mall and then we will meet in the Worship Center for our Congregational Meeting.  I look forward to seeing you there!

 

We are counting down the days until our Live Nativity Community Outreach.  Lots of work has been going on inside and outside our building to get ready for our guests.  We have mailed out 7,000 invite cards to folks in a 2.5 mile radius of the church.  We will have extra invite cards for you to pick up to give out to your friends this Sunday at the Welcome Center.  I want you to know that this is going to be an unbelievable opportunity unlike anything we have ever done before.  So get our your cell phones and start to call or text your friends to tell them all about it and send them to the website for more info.  Finally, please join me in praying for good weather and a great harvest of sharing the love of Christ with our community.

 

Finally, join us for one of our three worship services this Sunday as we celebrate communion in prep for the Advent season.  It is going to be a great time worship. 

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay