For behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people.
One of the greatest most profound statements made in the Bible was told to the shepherds. “The Messiah is for ALL people”.
I love Christmas at Eastern Hills! It is festive beyond belief. There is singing, caroling, musicals, parties, worship services. All of them proclaiming the good news that the Messiah has come…but mostly for us.
I don’t think that is intentional. I think we get so busy planning and doing that we forget to invite people who don’t know the good news. I shared a story Sunday during the announcements about a lady who saw a picture of our Christmas decorations. Her question was, “Is Christmas the time when they celebrate his birth or death?” My friend responded, “Are you kidding me? Really, you know right?” and the lady said no.
I shared a story with Pastor Josh about a neighborhood Facebook post. Someone was looking for a daycare for their children. Someone responded that the church in the neighborhood had one. He responded with a sad question, “What church?” Someone else said, “Pleasant Ridge.” Someone else said, “The church at the top of the hill on Karen Road. Eastern Hills I think.”
That statement was from people living in our neighborhood. Some didn’t know there was even a church in the neighborhood and then some who did, didn’t know the name of the church. After 60 years on top of this hill, we think that everyone knows we are here. They do not. We think everyone has a concept of what Christianity is all about, and they do not.
So, back to the Nativity story; after the angels had delivered the message to the shepherds it says, “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the sayings which was told to them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were made known to them by the shepherds.”
Like the Shepherds, we have seen, and we have experienced God’s great salvation through Jesus. It is now time to tell the story. We are never too young or too old to share the good news. Do we want our church to grow? The pastor can’t make it grow. Good programing doesn’t make a church grow. A church grows because the people bring their friends.
This Sunday, December 16, we will meet in the Reception Room at 2:30 PM. We will be going out into the neighborhood asking people what Eastern Hills can do to be of help to them and to the community. It is our opportunity to let our neighborhood know that there is a church in Forest Hills. We are here to be a light to this community. We want to point this neighborhood to the Savior, and in order to do that we will first just let them know we love them. This survey is not a door-to-door theological lecture. It is a simple gesture of, “How are you doing?” and “How can we help you?” The neighborhood needs to know Eastern Hills is here and that we care.
Greg