It is hard for me to believe that our Drive-Through Nativity is already over for 2014. So much work goes in to three nights of presentation (of course, I don't know how many of us would survive if we did it any more!), and everything looks so spectacular and full of life for those three nights.

I want to say thank you to all of you who gave up your afternoons or your evenings (or both) to make this Nativity a reality. I started naming names, then I kept discovering more people who served in ways I didn't even realize! Rather than leave anyone out (and we do have a space limit in these messages), I say thank you to everyone from our set builders to our decorators and costumers and food preppers and actors and child care workers and media gurus and fire keepers and traffic controllers and greeters and clean-up-ers. Something like this doesn't happen if the whole body isn't working together.

All of your work came together to produce something beautiful. You don't do it for the praise of men, but to praise our God, but I still give you my praise anyway. The nights get long and pretty cold, so I am grateful to be a part of a church that remains committed to this gift to our community.

Because many of you want to know, our census taker tells me that almost 2000 people drove through the Nativity this year, and that is in spite of Monday's dreary weather. So here's what we do next:

Keep Praying

We know that many people who drove through are friends and family and community members who come every year. We need to pray that the story we shared takes root in a fresh way (or in the first way if that's the case). Even if 90% of the people who came through are "regulars", that still leaves 200 people who likely have never seen this Nativity before and may not even know the story of Jesus. That's who this is about. Pray that God continues to speak to them through our Nativity and that Jesus will be born in them for the first time this Christmas season. Glory to God in the highest!

• Thursday 12/9, 6:30: Celtic Christmas Concert for Manna (Sanctuary)
• Saturday 12/13: Sleep in?
• Sunday 12/14, 5:30: Christmas Choir Concert!
• Sunday 12/21, 4:00: Caroling (instead of evening activities)

Also, we are pleased to release the first installment of David's new video series "FBC: Serve". (If the video doesn't play automatically, you can watch it either on our website or on David's Vimeo page.) We want to celebrate all of the members of First Baptist Church who serve and share opportunities for service to those who don't know about them! 

The first week of December is almost over.  Have you finished (or even started) your shopping, baking, Christmas cards or decorating?  How many parties will you attend this month? Don’t forget the concerts and Christmas plays!  Whew!  December can be one busy month with so much festivity, responsibilities and expectations!

So much for having a “silent night,” right?  It’s a shame that this time of year has become more about busy schedules and stressed budgets.  That’s not what it was meant to be!

It reminds me of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.  Remember how Martha was frantically busy taking care of her guests—namely Jesus and His disciples—while her sister, Mary, was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to Him and enjoying His presence.  Martha was more than a little perturbed at her sister and asked Jesus to reprimand Mary for not helping her out in the kitchen.  Instead, Jesus scolded Martha for being so worried and distracted by all the preparations and details. Jesus said Mary had chosen the better thing—being in Jesus’ presence!  And Jesus would never take that away from her!

Jesus doesn’t want to take it away from you either! I believe there are two things Jesus most wants for you and from you this Advent and Christmas:

1. Spend time with Him in daily devotions and in worship every Sunday. Find an Advent devotional that will work for you and your family (like the one our church produces) to guide you in daily time with Jesus. And make sure you have your family in worship every Sunday of Advent.
   
2. Find at least one opportunity this month to serve someone in Jesus’ name. That can be through helping with the Drive Thru Nativity, taking food to MANNA, or blessing a particular family with a meal or gifts.  Be creative!
   

Spending time with Jesus (Come and See…) and then sharing His love and Good News with others (…Go and Tell) are the two best ways to inhabit the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Everything else should be “icing on the cake.” I do hope you will go to some Christmas parties, sing some carols, and send some cards.  Just don’t let these things become stressful or burdensome. Remember what Jesus values, and try to be a little more like Mary this Advent. David