Did you miss it?

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Christmas is about children. It is about God, in the form of the Son, coming to earth as a newborn infant. It is about the look in a small child's eyes when they see the Christmas tree all lit up, with presents scattered around under the tree.

Last Sunday night we had our Children's Christmas Celebration at Ridgecrest. If you weren't there, then you missed a great night. We had lots of kids who shared their musical ability with us, by singing the time honored carols of the season. Then, all the children in the audience (at least those old enough to participate) played a part in our Nativity drama. We heard the Christmas story, as told in scripture, and finished with a living Nativity scene, filled with angels, shepherds, the wise persons, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus (a blond haired, blue eyed doll that isn't anywhere close to accurate, but does the job).

Not only were there lots of kids who performed/participated, but the audience was also full of younger kids who are a year or two away from singing themselves. I was at the back of the sanctuary for the singing part of the celebration. When Ginny brought Sam to the back, he came to me to let me hold him. It's been about 7 years since my little ones where holding age, so I relished that time (and Buck was a little jealous that I was stealing his little man).

I believe that at the Children's Christmas Celebration, we experienced the hope of Ridgecrest. We have lots of young adults with kids. They are the present hope and future promise of what Ridgecrest will be. Like a child who sleeps restlessly on Christmas Eve, I have visions of Sugar Plums (or of a growing, thriving church) dancing in my head. I can't wait for tomorrow to come, so that I can experience the reality of the Christ Child born anew in the world--and His church (Ridgecrest), committed to His mission--to make disciples for Jesus Christ.