It’ a week before Thanksgiving and our community is already preparing for the coming Christmas season. Throughout the area, we see a scattering of homes that have Christmas lights shining brightly in the night sky, trucks dropping off Christmas trees at parking lots and many businesses are starting to decorate their stores. There always seems to be a level of anticipation or excitement for the coming of Christmas. And, I’m sure, the reasons are many. People could be excited for the chance to make money, for attending festive parties, or to connect with family and friends. But, as we look at the human condition, I also think the feeling people have is not excitement but a heightened awareness of their desire to be loved and to feel valued. People try all sorts of things to satisfy their spirit only to find that the brokenness of this world doesn’t work. It’s not sustaining and eventually fails. They are trying to fill an emptiness in their heart that only Jesus Christ can fill. Thankfully for us, God, through His grace, sent His son to die on the cross for our sins, to fill that emptiness in our hearts, and to give us peace beyond all understanding.
Because of the emotional sensitivity people experience during the christmas season, we as believers have a great opportunity to touch the lives of those searching and those on the sidelines of life. We have the opportunity to share the compassion and love of Christ to our community and world that desperately needs Him. But, we know that can be easier said than done because it is easy to get caught up in the rat race of the season with crowded roads, rude people and all day shopping trips. Our challenge is to stay focused on the reason for the season…Jesus Christ! So, through the craziness that will come in the next several weeks let’s remember to love others. There are lots ways for us to do that…we could check in on an elderly neighbor, see how that co-worker how is a single parent is doing or visit someone who recently lost a loved one. Share Christ’s Love with others.
Also, Quest is going to have several opportunities for you serve our community and world through the following ways: serving dinner to families at the Ronald McDonald home, visiting and playing games with residents at a nursing home on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, helping local schools and the families they serve and our ministry partners in Haiti. Check out below and visit the information center in the auditorium for more details and to sign up for various outreach opportunities.
Making a Meal at the Ronald McDonald House
Where: Ronald McDonald House – West County
(next to Mercy Hospital at Conway Road and Ballas)
When: Saturday, December 3rd from 4:30pm-7:30ish
Get more details or register for the Ronald McDonald House project.
Christmas Day Elderly Care Center Visit
Where: West County Care Center
(312 Solley Dr, Ballwin, MO 63021)
When: Sunday, December 25th from 8:30-10:30am
New Year’s Eve Bingo
Where: West County Care Center
(312 Solley Dr, Ballwin, MO 63021)
When: Saturday, December 31st from 9:30-11:30am
Peace,
Steve