A Note From Chris - December 2, 2021

I’ve been listening to Christmas music for weeks. Out of courtesy, I kept the volume pretty low up until Thanksgiving week. The other day, I heard the song, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” You may remember some of the lines, “Please have snow….and mistletoe….and presents by the tree.” And then again later, “Christmas Eve will find me, where the love light gleams.” Talk about the magic of Christmas! I don’t know for sure what “love light” is exactly, but I think I like it.

The great thing about that song is that it is an invitation home. In context, the singer won’t actually make it for Christmas; but in his heart of hearts, he desires to be home. He longs to be home. He wants to experience those things with the ones he loves.

This Christmas season, we want to invite people to come home. For some, that means coming back to church after a lengthy season of pandemic protocols and challenging social situations. While they are not all together gone, returning would be a step in the right direction. At Cornerstone, still a significant percentage of our people who were displaced by the pandemic have yet to rejoin us in worship and community. If that is you, could this Christmas be the time you “come home?”

For some of us, “coming home” has more to do with loving our church family or blood family in a more substantial way. What changes is God doing in you to prepare you to play your part in having a healthy home?

For others, this season has been challenging spiritually. Some have fallen away from a regular relationship with Jesus and putting Him in the center of life. Maybe you’ve been feeling that. Is this Christmas a season where for you it’s time to “come home” spiritually?

For others, the discouragement, difficulties, and questions of life open a door to a walk with Jesus that’s never been experienced before. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, the Father still stands with his arms open wide for his children to come home. Who do you know that may be open to a conversation about Jesus and his church this Christmas? Could you be an avenue of hope for someone else to “come home?”

Our Christmas series is called “Home For Christmas”. We are talking each week about the various aspects of what a healthy home looks like and how we can take steps in that direction.
Please be praying for the Christmas season! Our Christmas services are posted, and plans are being made! I hope you will join me at Shiloh or O’Fallon (and online) to worship our Savior. See the service times below!

I can’t wait for Christmas. In so many ways, it represents the most incredible things about God and our faith. I’m prayerful and hopeful. Merry Christmas!