Fee Fee Family,
I am honored to be one of your Interim Pastors.
I am enjoying and being inspired by Pastor Matt’s messages on Sunday mornings. My role is more focused on the administrative side of the ministries of the church. I am working with our great staff as they lead in ministering to the community and to our members. I will be leading Bible Study on Wednesday nights. And I am available to assist in ministering to the spiritual needs of our congregation. My time will be somewhat limited until the end of the year when I officially retire from my full-time job at Missouri Baptist Children’s Home.
It is hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner. For all too many people, this is a season of high stress. We create much of that stress for ourselves by everything we try to do in just a few short weeks.
During the Christmas season we decide to have more parties in one month than the rest of the year combined. In addition, we say, “let’s write a personal note to every person we’ve ever met in our lives.” If that weren’t enough, we redecorate our houses on the outside and the inside. Then we try to buy a special gift for every person we love. And, as if all of this wasn’t crazy enough, we say, “Let’s let the kids out of school for 2 weeks!”
It’s crazy what we do to ourselves. No wonder we have stress! Our hectic schedules and the stress they bring often cause us to lose sight of what Christmas is all about.
The most important thing about Christmas is seeking Christ. Much of the Christmas story is about people seeking Christ – from the lowly shepherds who were told by an angel how to find the baby to wise men who were led by a star.
But the most important element of the story is not the search for Christ. It is when both the shepherds and the wise men found Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us that finding Jesus caused the shepherds to glorify and praise God and the wise men to fall on their knees in worship.
It is my prayer that you enjoy all the activities of Christmas – the various church and school programs, family events, etc. – but that through all of that, you will truly seek Christ. And when you find Him, be sure to share Him with others.
May you have a blessed Christmas season.
Pastor Derald Harris