December 23

It doesn't happen often when the 4th Sunday of Advent AND Christmas Eve falls on the same day. At first, I was bummed about it because it would be hard for us to have an evening service like we normally do on Christmas Eve. And if we didn't have the evening service, it would mean we wouldn't be caroling on Christmas Eve like we traditionally do.

It's funny how things have turned out. We were planning on caroling after last Sunday's service. We, however, were not able to because of the bad weather conditions. So now we're going this Sunday. We'll be going caroling after the Christmas Eve Service after all! You can read about it below.

I've also realized that this unique year is also an opportunity. Almost every year for 30 years, I have not been home with family on the evening of Christmas Eve. As much as I love our evening Christmas Eve Service, I'm looking forward to a little different experience this year - chilling out with family and friends on a Christmas Eve. Hope you can take advantage of this unique opportunity also.

So we're blessed. We get to have an amazing worship service on the morning of Christmas Eve. Then we get to go caroling together. Then you can go to Wesley Oak's 5:00 pm service if you desire. And then you can chill out with family and friends. December 24th is going to be a wonderful day!

I don't want to give all of the details of what we'll be experiencing in worship this Sunday because I love the element of surprise. But I do want you to know that it's going to be an AMAZING SERVICE! The choir's music is going to be incredible. They will actually be doing FOUR pieces! One song will feature a young soloist named Aiden Singleton.

During the service, you'll be invited to bring your strip of cloth to the cradle and be invited to have prayer at the altar as we come to the end of a year and the start of another. If you do not have a strip of cloth, there are extras in the narthex.

We're going caroling on Christmas Eve after all! After last Sunday's poor weather conditions, we decided to postpone caroling until this Sunday. We'll provide sandwiches and chips to eat after the service for all the carolers. Then we'll go to three locations: Harmony at Savannah (1:30 pm), The Social at Savannah (2:30 pm), and The Oaks at Savannah (3:15 pm). So please consider going with us. It will be one of the best experiences you'll ever have.

Be sure to see the information in the December Newsletter about the Anticipation Celebration on January 1st. This long-standing Asbury tradition was started by Janice Gantt many years ago and continues to be a meaningful experience. See the details about this event by clicking on this link:

It has come to my attention that some of our staff have received emails by someone who is pretending to be me. This happens periodically, but we've noticed that the impersonators are becoming more and more detailed in their email, making it sound even more like me. So please be careful. Please do not send money or gifts to me even though it may sound like I am asking you to do so. If you ever have any question about an email from me or from someone at church, please call me or the church office about it.

Love,
Billy