Hello HB,

Happy first week of December! I hope this note finds you well. How’s the Christmas preparation going? We have our tree up and decorated and a few lights outside! I consider that a success even if I didn’t get ALL the decorations up that we wanted. ha ha.

Since many of you will be attending a BUNCH of Christmas parties with people you don’t know, I thought I would give you some Christmas facts you can use as conversation starters to help break the ice. Did you know?

1. Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.
2. The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers.
3. Approximately 30-35 million real (living) Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S.
4. According to Guinness World Records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas Fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.
5. According to data analyzed from Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the two most popular times for couples to break up. However, Christmas Day is the least favorite day for breakups.

Now you can feel prepared for even the toughest of conversations!

When we talk about the Christmas season, the word preparation often comes to mind – preparing for family gatherings, parties, gifts for kids and loved ones. Just don’t forget to start now, while things are ramping up, to prepare your heart as well. A good way to do that is by reading our Advent emails that offer Scripture and a short message to help orient our hearts toward Jesus each day. Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” We want to be people who are able to celebrate and throw parties with the best of them this season, celebrating the arrival of Jesus. And, it starts with intentional preparation. I know I need it.

Sign up for our Advent emails here. Or follow us on Facebook and read our posts there. Don’t miss out on our Christmas Tree Lighting at Bella Terra. It will be a great way to bring your friends and neighbors out to celebrate. Also, we are having pancakes this Sunday after every service. Come to church hungry and BRING A FRIEND! Who doesn’t like pancakes??

Jairus

P.S.: Listen to past messages here.

P.S.S.: Give to Mariners HB here.

Join us in the parking lot after services, grab some good food and meet someone new!

Sunday, December 7, after every service

Bring a friend and join us for a wonderful morning celebrating encouraging friendships and the beauty of the season. We’ll have special music and stories from the heart, all over a delicious breakfast brunch. Afterward, we’ll gather to Celebrate Differently as we work together to assemble Christmas food baskets for local families in need. Find out more and register.

Women’s Christmas Brunch
Saturday, December 6, 9:30a-noon
Huntington Harbour Bay Club

Contact Beth with questions.
Find Mariners Church HB Women on Facebook and Instagram

Hang out with some great guys, eat good food, worship together and listen to an encouraging message. For more info, click here. For the location, contact Scott.

Saturday, December 13, 8-9:30a

Hey Mariners!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope this note finds you ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family. Caleb’s message last Sunday was an amazing reminder of how thankfulness is key to much of our journey with God. I am praying that you guys keep this close to your heart as the week goes by. Share with us what you are up to on Facebook or Instagram.

As this new season of Christmas and Advent approaches, I want to share two words to keep in mind. BE EXPECTANT. In worship on Sundays, I’m always praying that you come with expectant hearts – ready to worship – excited for what God may do or say to us that day. What would Christmas look like this year if we applied the same principle? Christmas can sometimes be a difficult season to see past with all the commercialism, money, gifts and other distractions that can cloud our view. What if this year, we showed up expecting God to do and say something different? What if we looked for it around every corner? Remember what it was like to look at things like a child? What if we were excited? What if we expected new and great gifts from a good and loving King? I believe we might find EXACTLY what we were looking for. Lets be expectant this holiday season. Let be expectant in worship on Sundays. We will be doing a LOT of interesting, fresh things in worship this holiday season starting this week. Let’s show up early expecting something new from God. He won’t let us down!

We start our new series, Christmas Is, this week. It is going to be amazing. We also have many wonderful events for you throughout the holidays, starting with the Women’s Christmas Brunch. You can find out more and sign up here.

This is an ideal time for you to invite your friends and family to church – you never know who may need it the most during the holidays.

See you Sunday!

Jairus

P.S.: Listen to past messages here.

P.S.S.: Give to Mariners HB here.

DID YOU KNOW:

Did you know that Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for PLUMBERS? According to Roto-Rooter, the nation’s largest plumbing service, the day after Thanksgiving is the most “backed-up” day of the whole year. And someone has to unclog the overwhelmed system.

Did you know that TV dinners were born as a result of Thanksgiving? In 1953, someone at Swanson misjudged the number of frozen turkeys it would sell that Thanksgiving…by 26 TONS! Some industrious soul came up with a brilliant plan: Why not slice up the meat and repackage with some trimmings on the side? Thus, the first TV dinner was born.

This Sunday is one of the more important Sundays of the year to be at our church. The 40 days after Thanksgiving are typically filled with high stress, massive distractions, and daunting debt. We want to help you prepare—like the calm before the storm—so that you can actually enjoy this holiday season.

And, we’re supporting a local business in our community with a Cash Mob:

CASH MOB: Main Street Waffle, following EVERY service this Sunday (8:30, 10, 11:30a, 6p). They are staying open late just for us…so plan on joining us. This is a simple, yet powerful way we can Love Where We Live.

See you Sunday!

caleb

P.S.: Listen to past messages here.

P.S.S.: Give to Mariners HB here.

We want to be a community that is in the community and supports local businesses. Please join us after each service as we bless Main Street Waffles and more!

Sunday, November 23, after each service
5 Points Plaza
18687 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648