Dear Church family and friends,
Some critical events we can prepare for – as we are doing with our ‘Promises of God in Genesis’ series, the newest sermon of which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyzjawuoqUQ – others less so. The question we must ourselves though is ‘how do we react?’ Are we present and engaged, trying our best to take the situation in? Or are we panicking and acting on insecurity? After the matter, we may have wished that we had behaved differently, or ‘better’, but we can only learn and improve for next time. God is gracious with us and allows us to reflect and try again. Do we allow ourselves and others that same grace?
This week in Church…
Praying Moms met this morning (Monday 22nd) via Zoom. Their next prayer session is on Tuesday 30th at 7:30pm.
Young Adults’ Bible Study (YABS) meets on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. More information can be found in the WhatsApp group or by asking Pastor Johannes, Mona or Oliver. Another way you can get in touch is by writing to yabs@ibc-giessen.org.
Christmas Eve, on Wednesday, will see our traditional evening service start at 5pm in the Chapel Room of the FTH. Commemorating and celebrating the birth of our Saviour, we will spend some time singing, praying and listening to a short sermon. The children will also have their own sermon! If you are not in Giessen, but would still like to visit our service, you are more than welcome to join in online.. After the service we invite you to join us for a finger food supper. Please bring along dishes which can be eaten as they are without re-heating.
There will not be a service on Thursday 25th or Friday 26th December.
Worship Service on Sunday 28th December will take place at the usual time of 11am, in the FTH facilities. We understand that some people may still be travelling and making the most of the elongated ‘Christmas Weekend’. If that’s you, but you would like to still experience a piece of home, you can make use of our livestream.
For a full list of all upcoming events at IBC Giessen, please take a look at the Church Calendar on our website: https://www.ibc-giessen.org/calendar/. If you require a link to our livestream or any other online activity we have coming up this week, please e-mail office@ibc-giessen.org.
IBC Giessen has members and visitors from all around the globe. You would get quite a few different answers to the question ‘how do you celebrate Christmas?’ Some might open presents on Christmas Eve, others on Christmas Day. Some travel a long way to be with family members, others not so far, and still others not at all. However you mark Jesus’ birth, may you enjoy it and do so in a deliberate way. Reflect upon it, and take the life changing good news that our Saviour has been born to heart.
Merry Christmas!