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Third Sunday in Advent

December 15, 2008

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was the third Sunday in Advent. On this day Christians light the third candle of the Advent wreath. By lighting one candle each week of Advent, we help ourselves to get ready for the birth of Jesus. So far we have lit two candles. The first helped us to hope for God our Shepherd; with the second we asked God to come and forgive our sins. Today we remember the joy of waiting – because we know how the story ends! The candles have been purple until today. Today’s candle is pink – this color signifies joy!

My small Sunday morning mom’s group that meets in my home before church every week lit the pink candle together. That Joy has its own representation on this wreath was particularly meaningful to us. Joy is deeper than yuletide cheer, as heartwarming as that is. Joy speaks of His overcoming love and the spirit of His relentless pursuit. Joy because of our expectation that He is able …, our anticipation of today’s rescue, Joy that eternal promises will be fulfilled.

The saints of old had joy as their point of reference for their faith. So did Jesus. “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross … “(Heb. 12:2). Since the season of Advent began, I have been meditating on waiting, another word for faith. Our faith must also anticipate joy, believing that our savior is the One who came to save. Believing that even though He told us that in this world we would have trouble, He had overcome the world.

Saturday night was our Christmas fiesta, one of our annual homecomings, over a thousand people bathed in the beauty of this holiday event. The life of our ministry is expressed in celebrations; it is inevitable that someone both wanders in and comes home at this party. The attraction is love … we all get some. What gives me particular joy in a gathering like this? It’s that Jesus experience … for the joy set before us … lives transformed, that’s the joy before us. And there they were, everywhere, working, playing, serving, presenting, dancing, singing, cleaning, hugging, laughing, evangelizing, sweeping, making food, giving gifts, carrying the load … JOY!! They are our joy!

I love you, kit

Happiness and joy are not one in the same. Happiness is the elation that accompanies good fortune, while joy is the evidence of God's presence in the human experience. Joy is not a destination; it is a way of travelling.

Mary Manin Morrissey, pastor

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7
ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

- Mi Nana's Tamales

- Art Center Bags

- The story of Neighborhood Ministries:  The Relentless Pursuit
Tax Credit – “Free Money” to help

Don’t waste your free money! Help Neighborhood today with up to $400 that Arizona lets you give for free!

Arizona – the state that gives you money to give back to your community. Did you know you have up to $400 (married filing jointly) that the state effectively gives to you, so that you can give it to a charity of your choice through the simple matter of filing an extra form with your tax return?

Donate through Arizona Tax Credit 321. Following is the link to print out forms from the AZ department of revenue site. http://www.revenue.state.az.us/Forms/credits.asp



Finances and Prayer

Every week we are giving you updates on how end year giving comes in. We need to raise $230,848 over and above what we conservatively expect to be donated through December 31, 2008.

What a precious time of year to wait for the Lord to meet the very real and practical needs of the poor in our city! For our faithful Lord will show up, in ways beyond all we can ask or think.
 
Goal Week Ending
Dec 12, 2008

Remaining Needed
Donation Amount # of
Donors		 Total Goal # of
Donors		 Total Given # of
Donors		 Still Needed
Additional Goal            
 $                                           100 400  $     40,000 67  $    6,700 (333) ($33,300)
 $                                           250 200  $     50,000 4  $    1,000 (196) ($49,000)
 $                                           500 100  $     50,000 10.8  $    5,400 (89) ($44,600)
 $                                        1,000 40  $     40,000 7  $    7,000 (33) ($33,000)
AZ Tax Credit 150  $     60,000 43  $  13,031 (107) ($46,969)
           
Additional Goal Sub Total 890  $   240,000 131.8  $  33,131 (758)  $ (206,869)
           
           
Other Operations Giving    $   268,500    $139,435    $ (129,065)
Total Operations Giving    $   508,500    $172,566    $ (335,934)

We will keep you updated on these goals!

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