Can you believe we’re already halfway through December? It’s almost Christmas! We’ve been walking through this month Celebrating Differently and this weekend we get to distribute gifts and meals to thousands in our community. I love that we are delivering so much more than food and presents, we are showing up in person and demonstrating the love, kindness and compassion of Jesus to others. We have parties for single parents, foster kids and our military at Camp Pendleton, just to name a few. What a great celebration of how God is using our church – using you – to make a difference this Christmas as we Celebrate Differently!

This weekend, we’ll continue walking through our Advent series, remembering and celebrating the promises we have in Jesus. Joy is the dominant emotion we are surrounded by at Christmas and we’ll unpack it together, discovering what it looks like to live immersed in Joy. How can we walk in Joy, not just as a temporary response to the circumstances in our lives, but a deep, profound joy that we can both receive and choose every day through the power of Jesus? Be praying about who you can invite to join us as we gather this weekend.

And, it’s not too early to start inviting your friends and family to join us for our Christmas services. Our community wants to go to church this season. People in our lives are desperate for the hope, peace, and joy we experience through Jesus and want to be invited to embrace this truth for themselves. I’m praying and believing that as God continues to place people on your heart… in your workplace… in your neighborhood… at your schools, that you would invite them to experience the profound and true meaning of Christmas that we have in Jesus.

Looking forward to seeing you all this weekend.

Peace,

Kyle

Join our young adults & singles for an evening of Christmas movies, food, games and more! Contact Alicia, aanzis@marinerschurch.org

Sat, Dec 12, 6:30p, Community Center

Looking for a godly mentor? Learn about the many benefits of engaging an iron sharpening iron relationship. More info online or contact Mac, mnmacadam@sbcglobal.net

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 1 Corinthians 4:7-9

This Advent season, when we celebrate the arrival of Jesus and the Hope we have through a relationship with Him, we’re also surrounded by tragedy, pain, and sadness, reminding us that we are still waiting. We’re waiting for His return when He will make all things new…permanently…for all time. As I pray for you, our community, and our world, may the promises in God’s Word bring hope and peace to our lives as we continue to live as ministers of His Kingdom. If you haven’t already, I invite you to join me as we cling to the message and promises of Advent together through our devotionals. You can follow along and invite others to join us.

This weekend provides a couple of amazing opportunities for you to invite people into the hope and peace we live in that transcends the circumstances of this world. Tomorrow night, we kick off the Christmas season together with our annual Tree Lighting. This is a beautiful environment where our friends, family and neighbors can see the hope and joy of the Gospel on display as we ring in Christmas together. Then, Kenton will be back this weekend with the perfect message -one the whole world longs for and wonders if it’s even possible -a message of PEACE.

Invite your friends and family to join us this weekend. I look forward to seeing you all and walking through this season together…

Peace,

Kyle

Join us for our annual Tree Lighting! Invite your friends and family for snow, hot chocolate, treat decorating, face painting, crafts, games, shopping at our outdoor Mariners Bookstore Christmas Boutique and more! Burger and pizza meals available for $5. Contact Autumn, amiddleton@marinerschurch.org to volunteer.

Fri, Dec 4, Irvine Campus
5:30p, Patio festivities
6:30p, Program in the Worship Center

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to attend a Mariners Church event…check out our new virtual tour!

For optimum viewing, use your phone or iPad for the full 360 experience! On desktop, you can ‘click and move’ on Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera. Don’t get dizzy, please share and enjoy!

Hear our Berlin Team as they share about what they saw on their recent Vision Trip, how God is moving and using refugees in a radical way, and how we can move forward together as a church to advance His Kingdom in Germany. Our partners in Berlin will even be Skyping in for the conversation! Don’t miss out on how you can get involved and be a part of what God is doing in Germany! For more information, please contact Paul at phan@marinerschurch.org

Sun, Dec 6, at 10:30a, Life Dev Bld r203, free
light refreshments provided

Help us in welcoming over 600 foster children and their families for our annual Foster Family Christmas Party! We need volunteers to help with games, crafts, food and fun! For questions, contact foster@marinerschurch.org or register online.

Sat, Dec 5, 11a-2p, Irvine Campus

Join us as we bring all three of our LCC communities together for one big Christmas celebration! We’re looking for volunteers to help make this a special day for the community. We’ll have homemade Mexican food, crafts, games, and more. Contact Gloria, gmartinez@marinerschurch.org

Sat, Dec 12, Kennedy Elementary School, Santa Ana
Shift 1: 9:30a-1p; Shift 2: 12:30-4p