Yesterday was a great time of worship at The Gate.  Pastor Ry and Heather Torhan did an amazing job putting together the short play that was done near the end of worship by our kids.  Fitting in with our Christmas theme along the lines of the movie A Charlie Brown Christmas, the children acted out the nativity scene narrated by Linus of the Peanuts gang using the audio from the movie.  Other than Ry’s mad search for the lost baby Jesus during the morning teaching and the young sheep’s inability to fight the temptation to sheer themselves of the cottony wardrobe provided by Heather, the morning went without a hitch.

Kim Bennett and the worship team outdid themselves with music that included the old favorite “O Holy Night” and a newer take on “The Little Drummer Boy,” accented by the more than competent Jeff Worona on drums.

What will be remembered and celebrated most about our Christmas celebration is the spiritual rebirth of two people.  The observation was set before the congregation that we can’t truly experience Immanuel (“God with us”) if we don’t accept Jesus into our hearts, and that he’ll be with us no matter what happens from now on.  Two people are literally in their first full day of eternal life.  Well done.

For those who over this past year have decided put your trust in the true Light that brings light to everyone: Enjoy your first real Christmas.