The team of couples who make Cafe Liberty such a good time together, look forward to seeing you. We so deeply appreciate these couples who make the first connection point for members, guests and friends so warm and welcoming.

I’m sure many of you find this last weekend of 2024 a good time for some cleaning and re-organizing of the loose ends of a busy season. May these few days prior to the start of 2025 also bring good rest, perspective and renewed energy for the goals you value most.

Among the many bright turning points of this year, we are so grateful for all who step up to serve in the mission we share as a church body. I noticed something interesting while listing some of the highlights of 2024: Four of the people I want to thank for exceptional service for the Lord asked me that they not be recognized. In each case, the reason is simple: Each one wants to glorify God and enjoys it so much more when it’s not being “praised” or complimented. So yes, I get that and we love that.

Together as a church family we can cherish the sunrise across the horizon in God’s Kingdom. As we turn a corner on a very consequential year for our country, we see massive changes taking place in the governance of many nations. In the final phase of Advent, our focus is on the way God moved Magi from the East to come to worship the newborn king. In that intriguing and mysterious way, the birth of Jesus bringing God’s saving promise to the world, also brought a reminder that He is LORD of all the nations.

Psalmists celebrated that fact, long before Bethlehem’s brightest night, when they declared God’s eternal plan for the nations of the earth to be blessed through the Messiah:

Thanks to all who contributed to the special missions offering this week for two crisis pregnancy centers. We’re gratefully sending a $500 offering to each of these two centers (Pregnancy Support Center of Westminster and Alpha Pregnancy Center of Reisterstown) for extra support made possible by your gifts. If you missed the Candlelight evening service and would like to contribute to the centers, simply add the word “LIFE” on a check in the Offering box on the Connections table. Your offering will be added to the totals for this gift to the pregnancy care centers.

We’ll repeat again here the links to online giving and welcome you all to share in the adventure God gives us to be good news people in an often-bad-news world!

Also, those who support via online giving make such a difference each month. Both options for online tithes and offerings are safe, secure and convenient through our Giving page.