The Christmas season is in full swing! (Can you believe only ten more days until Christmas?!:) As we continue to celebrate and enjoy the gift of Christmas with all the parties, lights, trees, food and shopping to find that perfect gift, let’s make sure we take the time to consider… What does God have for us? What might He want for us this Christmas?

This weekend, we’ll remember the gift of Jesus as we continue in our “God With Us” series. Doug Fields will be with us, teaching on the gift of peace. What is peace? Why do we need it in our lives? What would be different if we could embrace and live in the peace that Christmas brings? Invite your friends and family to join us as we pause, take a deep breath together, and remember that this season revolves around the gift of a baby, the gift of Jesus, the gift of God With Us.

Peace,

Kyle

P.S. As you’ve been enjoying Christmas with family and friends and all the memories that it stirs, last week at our staff party, I was reminded what a creative and fun team we have! I love that we take Jesus (and not ourselves) seriously and I wanted to share this little inside look at the Christmas season with you.

Our 3/5 Marines and their families are looking forward to another joyous Christmas celebration at Mariners! Our annual Military Christmas Party begins at 1p, but we are in need of volunteers starting at 11:30a to help in the areas of meet & greet, Santa photos, gifts, children’s crafts, raffles, and food service! We would also love for volunteers to bring their favorite holiday dessert! Find out more and register here.

MILITARY CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sat, Dec 17, 1-6p, Community Center
Volunteers should arrive at 11:30a.

Blue Christmas is a worship service to bring hope to those who have experienced relational, emotional, physical or material loss this year. Join us for a night of reflection, prayer, Scripture and music that affirms God’s presence and comfort. Find out more and register.

CARE AND RECOVERY BLUE CHRISTMAS
Mon, Dec 19, 6:30p, Chapel

What gives you joy? This time of year, one thing that brings me joy is Christmas lights! I love turning off the lights in the house after everybody has gone to bed and just sitting by the glow of a lit Christmas tree. I love decorating the outside of our house so when we drive up, it’s this beacon of light, reminding me (and our neighbors:) of the joy of Christmas. Incredibly, those same lights became the source of a wonderful battle between my wife, Holiday, and me last weekend as we struggled to put them up. In an instant, one of my greatest sources of Christmas joy became a total joy robber. I was ready to pull them all down, pack them back in the boxes and be done with it.

What gives you joy? What steals your joy? I’m guessing my life isn’t much different than yours. There are moments you’re experiencing the fullness of Christmas and moments where you feel empty and are fighting to rediscover it. Is there joy that can transcend not only the nominal circumstances of life like battling over Christmas lights, but the deeper issues of our soul: loss, grief, loneliness, abandonment, disease?

Join us this weekend as we continue our journey to Christmas together, remembering that God is With Us, bringing the hope, joy, peace, and love that we are all truly desperate for and will never find in this world apart from Him. This is the way we’re really going to experience the truth and fullness of what Christmas has to offer and it’s what the world is desperate for. Invite your friends, your family, and your neighbors to join us as together we find Christmas and joy!

Peace,

Kyle

TREE LIGHTING PHOTOS
Christmas spirit filled the air last Friday night as our community gathered for our annual Tree Lighting to sing Christmas carols, play games, sip hot cocoa and enjoy time together.

View photos from the evening’s festivities here.
Tree Lighting portraits are available here.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Join us tomorrow night at our annual Tree Lighting as we kick off the Christmas season with a fun evening experiencing the best of Christmas – the lights, songs, and most of the all, the relationships and the laughter! Tree Lighting aims our hearts toward the joy and hope found in the beauty of the gospel on display. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us…looking forward to laughing and spending time with you all tomorrow night!

This weekend, Kenton kicks off our GOD WITH US Christmas series. As we anticipate the arrival of Jesus in this Advent season, each weekend in December we’ll journey through the powerful qualities Jesus brings to this world and our lives: Hope, Joy, Peace and Love. It is so easy for the beauty of Christmas to be drowned out by the busyness of the season or the darkness of this world that creeps into our lives amplifying whatever pain we may be experiencing. We remember that Jesus came as a light and that Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love are present and possible even in the midst of the most challenging circumstances. We will gather this weekend and throughout this month to remember the truth, beauty, and power that is available to us through Jesus.

Our neighbors, family and friends are longing to know that hope is possible. I invite you to bring them this weekend as we begin our Advent journey together remembering God is with us!

See you tomorrow night at the Tree Lighting and this weekend as we celebrate the gift of Jesus together.

Peace,

Kyle

Ring in the Christmas season with our annual Tree Lighting! Enjoy an outdoor market, crafts for kids of all ages, food trucks and of course our Tree Lighting program, complete with Christmas caroling and tons of fun for the whole family! For more info click here or search “Tree Lighting” on our website.

TREE LIGHTING
Fri, Dec 2, 5-8p, Patio and Worship Center

Sign up to volunteer or to find out about being a vendor at our outdoor market, contact Autumn, amiddleton@marinerschurch.org

During the Christmas season, we celebrate how God saw us when we were far off and sent us the greatest gift; His Son Jesus. This Gift of love compels us to love and care for the poor and marginalized among us. As a church we are committed to caring for the thousands of people in our community experiencing poverty and crisis this season.

Click here to find out how you can CELEBRATE DIFFERENTLY with us this year or visit the patio after services this weekend.

Its time to spread some Christmas cheer on OC’s foster children! Join us as we host and serve hundreds of children and their caregivers, families and group homes! We need over 200 volunteers to help with food, crafts and gifts! To register click here or search “Foster” on our website.

FOSTER FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sat, Dec 3, 11a-2p, on campus

Join us as we gather with the students and families from all three Lighthouse Community Centers for one big Christmas party! We will share a meal together, make crafts, play games, and celebrate all that God has done over the past year. For more info and register, click here, or contact Serena to sign up for a time to serve, smartinez@marinerschurch.org.

LCC CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sat, Dec 10, 12-3p
Kennedy Elementary School