Family Christmas Service

A distinctive of the Christmas season is that the family gathers together - and that is exactly what the Beaverton Foursquare family did last night. Instead of elaborate children's programs that require months of planning, rehearsing and recruiting...we simply have a family service that includes all generations. Imagine sitting together in the living room around the Christmas tree for a special and simple time of reading the Christmas story from scripture, singing carols and eating cookies. That was our experience last night. Meaningful, simple and joyful. And yes, we did eat cookies...lot's and lot's of cookies, brownies, fudge and even a vegetable platter that some Grinch brought :)

The service began with our kids giving an offering that culminated weeks of study, prayer and sacrifice. As part of the Advent Conspiracy our children worked together to buy a brick making machine for Sierra Leone where we are reaching as a church to build schools and churches in a predominantly Muslim part of the nation...these spaces will be where kids and adults can learn of God's love and truth.

The children and youth collected their offerings in boxes shaped as a brick which symbol-ized a small personal sacrifice
('one less present under the tree for me') to make a big future for others.


During a time of singing carols, several of our sixth and seventh graders built the bricks into walls which showed what can happen if everyone does something together.

Jared and Sarah Cepeda just returned from Sierra Leone where they had a chance to see first hand where our giving will have a direct impact. They had opportunity to share the Love of Jesus with a lot of children and adults in the city and in the villages.

When you go on a trip like they did, you come home forever imprinted by the love that God has for the nations and by the love you are shown by your brothers and sisters in Christ in that nation. In the photo behind them (you can click on picture to enlarge) is a group shot of a village that gave our team a goat as a gift...which they ate later that night for dinner. It is better to give the gift than to be the gift. I'm sure 'Gus' the goat would agree. However, God didn't hold that view when it came to giving to us the gift we would need most -- His own life.

At Christmas, we celebrate the truth that God Himself was both the giver and the gift. His gift of life, motivated by love was for all generations and for all nations. I'm thankful for moments that remind us of that truth in simplicity and clarity. We worship Him at Christmas because His gift is incomparable, personal and eternal. He gave us the gift of Himself.