It’s one of my favorite quotes from Christian author, Steven Brown: “When things are the darkest, even a little light will do!” The physical attribute of light is that it will always win out over the darkness. The prophet Micah is writing some eight centuries before the birth of Christ during a very dark time in Judah’s history. The southern kingdom of Judah is about to be conquered by the wicked Assyrians, and yet in the middle of this political darkness, he declares that the “Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.” This small ray of hope will shine 800 years into the future as God keeps His promise, and Jesus Christ is born in the tiny town of Bethlehem. The same Messiah who was born in Bethlehem, grew up to give His life for our sin, rose from the dead, and will return in victory one day. We live in spiritually dark times, but that truth about our Lord Jesus is what brings us peace and perspective for the year 2020 and beyond.

At the end of our online sermon, we have included a videotaped communion time for you to follow at home. We realize this occasion is somewhat different from our usual Worship Center pattern. Still, we are confident each of these opportunities will glorify God and help us remember the suffering and death of Christ as the foundation to our salvation.

NOW until December 7, help support the Youth Scholarship Fund that assists students with Hume Lake Camp scholarships by purchasing a pie! Pies can be picked up at GracePoint Church on Thursday, December 17, between 5:30-7:30 pm. If you have questions, please contact Sean Watt @ (209) 369-1948 or sean@gracepointlodi.com.

Help bring joy to a child this Christmas by donating a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need. Gifts can be brought to the church office Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 12noon until December 7. 

Sunday, December 20, from 6-7 pm plan to come to GracePoint Church's back parking lot and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas in your car along with playing a trivia game. This is a family-friendly night for all ages! If you have questions, please call the church office at 369-1948.

I bet you have never given a goat, a watering can or a sewing machine to someone for Christmas. We don’t see these as valuable gifts. But for someone in Romania, Malawi or Burundi, they can be gifts that open doors and provide basic necessities of life. HOPE International invites you to make a contribution of any amount that provides men and women around the world with discipleship, biblically-based training and a safe place to assist people with start-up funds for a business. Your kids or grandkids can be involved, too! Go to hopeinternational.org to pick out a project or come by the church office and pick up a HOPE Gift Catalog. Make someone’s Christmas brighter this year!

 

Bible Reading Guides for 2021 have been ordered. If you wish to receive one, please call or email the church office at office@gracepointlodi.com and receive your own guide free of charge. We will mail it out to you when they arrive. Please provide your mailing address when you email or call us to request one.