PASTOR’S MESSAGE
Hi Friends,
Why has the Christmas story captivated so many? It’s not just THAT God came to earth. It’s HOW he came. Just think if Jesus would have been born at West Allis Memorial. Who would want to put that kind of nativity scene in their front yard?
Instead, the birth of Jesus is filled with challenges and surprises.
- Joseph finds out that his fiancé is pregnant, and he is about to call the whole thing off. But then an angel appears to him and he changes his mind.
- Caesar Augustus issues a census, and everyone has to immediately go to their hometown, even Mary who is ready to burst.
- All the inns are filled. So Joseph has to turn a barn into a hospital and a manger into a crib.
- Shepherds are surprised by an angel of the Lord, wrapped in God’s glory, who invites them to meet the king. An angelic choir breaks through heaven to sing God’s praise.
- Finally, pagan astrologers, who are the last people you would expect in this story, travel across the world, enchanted by a star to find the king of the Jews.
Now we have a story that is worth telling.
Nothing about this story is normal, nor would anyone have asked it to be this way. But this is the story that God was writing. Every challenge was an opportunity for faith. Every surprise pointed to God’s participation.
Nothing about our Christmas 2020 is normal, nor easy, nor would anyone have asked it to be this way. But this is the story that God is writing. I pray that you would face every challenge with faith and see every surprise as proof of God’s presence.
I look forward to worshiping with you this weekend at the Ministry Center or online Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30am.
Sharing Christ’s victory,
Pastor Ben
CURRENT SERIES – LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
ICYMI – Last weekend, Pastor Bill continued the series with a message about how we know that God promises to send us the light of Christ. Click here to read or watch this message.
Coming Up This Weekend – This weekend, Pastor Ben will share a message about preparing for Jesus’ birth. The light is coming, and as we get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we need to examine our hearts and recognize our deep need for a Savior. Join us on Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30am. You can join in for these services in person or online.
VICTORY OPPORTUNITIES
A Christmas Gift for YOU – We want to help your Christmas worship experience be full of light and joy. For those attending Christmas Eve worship online, you can pick up your Christmas gift from Victory on Sunday, December 20 between 2:00 and 4:00pm. This will be a contactless, drive-thru pick-up. This opportunity is open to people of all ages!
Christmas at Victory – There is light in the darkness. That light is Jesus. Join us for Christmas at Victory as we celebrate the light of Christ in our lives and our world. This worship experience will be available at the Ministry Center and online on Christmas Eve at 1:00, 2:30, and 4:00pm. Click here to reserve your seats if you have not already done so; very few seats remain for worship at the Ministry Center.
Year-Long Bible Reading Plan – The Victory community will be reading the Bible in a year again in 2021. Starting on January 1, you can join in a YouVersion plan that will lead you through the Bible with readings, video, and commentary by our pastors. You can go to votl.life/bible to learn more and find a link to the plan.
VICTORY NEWS
LINKED Matching Gift Opportunity – LINKED is our campaign to link with Christ, our community, and one another. This campaign goes through next year. To encourage new or increased giving for this campaign, an anonymous donor has offered to match new pledges and gifts during the month of December up to $12,500. You can get involved in LINKED and learn more by clicking here.
Victory News – Due to Christmas and New Year’s Day on the next two Fridays, we will not be sending out the blog on Fridays for the next two weeks. We encourage you to stay connected to what’s going on at Victory by following us on social media and visiting votl.life.
This Week’s Bible Reading – This week in the Biblical Storyline Plan, we read 1 Corinthians 5-16, 2 Corinthians 1-13. Supporting videos for this week included Overview: 2 Corinthians. Learn more about this reading plan and get involved at votl.life/bible.
Victory Stories
Christmas for the Community – This week, we delivered the toys and food items you donated to various organizations. We collected over a hundred gifts for the Friends of Jesus Toy Drive for children in need in Milwaukee. And, the Muskego Food Pantry received over 60 boxes of food from us on Monday through our partnership with MobilizeMKE. Victory is blessed to be able to support our community in these capacities.