Christmas is a season of giving. We remember God’s great gift to us in the birth of Jesus our Savior. We celebrate the coming of our Lord with our family and friends, and together as a church. Whether it be in your home or neighborhood, or by participating in the meaningful events and services on campus, our prayer is that you’d express and experience the hospitality and generosity of Christ throughout this season.

We have many great ways to participate in this time of generosity. First, we have our toy and cereal drive for Rochester Family Mission that culminates at our Christmas Jam tomorrow, December 13th. Christmas Jam is a great place to celebrate the season in a family-friendly evening beginning at 4:30pm and filled with great food, hot cocoa, activities, a fun, gospel-centered show for the kiddos, and a tree lighting at 7:30pm. You’re invited to stay throughout the evening or just pop in for a little while. But the primary reason we are hosting Christmas Jam is that it’s a great opportunity to invite your family and friends to experience a small piece of the hospitality and generosity of our broader church community.  If you haven’t signed up to join us, you can do so at the button below!

Earlier in the day tomorrow, our Senior Connections (65+) will welcome a quartet from the RPO to celebrate the season through music. We will also have a special morning of scripture and carols on Sunday, December 22nd. And of course, our Christmas Eve Services on December 23rd and 24th. For further details on each of these events and services, please go to browncroft.org/christmas.

We also celebrate this season through the giving of our time, talents, and treasures. We are so thankful for the many of you who partner with what God is doing through the ministries of Browncroft. I think of the ninety people from all walks of faith who participated in Alpha this fall, to the about 170 of you who walked through our Rooted small group discipleship program this year. We praise God for the 50+ Browncrofters who were baptized this year and are excited to celebrate with 15 more individuals getting baptized this weekend! As we just completed our Send Me series in November, we are so thankful for the 12 short-term mission teams that were sent this year and look forward to how God is going to continue to expand our heart for outreach locally and globally through our new partnerships established in 2024. 

As we close up this year in exciting fashion, I also want to invite and encourage you to give to Browncroft this Christmas season. Your offerings and gifts go directly to continuing to impact Rochester and the world with the hope and life of Christ through the ministry of this church. 

I invite you to give to Browncroft throughout the year as part of your regular spiritual rhythm and practices. But I’d encourage you to consider giving a special gift during the Christmas season. You can give in person at one of our offering boxes around campus, through the mail, through stock transfer, or online at browncroft.org/give. You can also access your current annual giving statement and give directly to Browncroft online at https://browncroft.ccbchurch.com.  If you have any questions about how to give or access your annual giving records, please contact finance@browncroft.org.

Giving and living generously is an action of trust in the Lord and a celebration of God’s faithfulness and provision. I’m constantly reminded that living a life of hospitality and generosity is what God wants for us, not from us. I am so thankful to be celebrating the Christmas season with you at Browncroft this year. I look forward to seeing you at many of the Christmas services and events over these next couple of weeks. But more so, my prayer is that you’d experience and express the love, hope, and peace of the gospel this year.