My first Christmas in San Diego was absolutely fantastic! No snow. No ice. Not even a cloud in the sky! Who could ask for a better Christmas than sunny and seventy-two degrees! On Christmas Eve we had lunch at a restaurant on Mission Bay, and I went surfing on Christmas Day in the afternoon. You know why? Just because I could!!

But that’s not the only thing that made this Christmas so great! It was so good to be with all of you this Christmas. What a blessing to spend Christmas Eve with all of you at our Christmas Eve services! So many of you have been so warm and welcoming during this season. Thanks to all of you for making our first Christmas in San Diego such a great one!

Next on the calendar: New Year! Which, naturally, brings up the question, “What’s God going to do at Northminster in 2008?” The only person who can answer that question, of course, is God. But we can be sure of this: God has good plans for Northminster!

I believe that God is going to do at least two things in 2008. First, God’s going to use us to reach out into our community, meeting the real needs of real people in Clairemont. Second, I believe that God will bring new people into our church; people who have been touched by our love as we’ve reached out into our community and people who see what we’re doing and want to join us.

So, as we move into 2008, let’s move forward with great optimism! God has good plans for us! “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

–Markus

Sermon by Markus Watson on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2007

This sermon may be downloaded to your local machine by right clicking (or control clicking on a Mac) on the link above and saving the mp3 file to your local hard drive.

It is recommended that you give Juice a try. Juice is an open source podcast receiver, allowing users to capture and listen to podcasts.

The story of the Little Drummer Boy, though only legendary, is one of my favorite Christmas stories. It is the story of a little boy with a drum who came to see the baby, Jesus. When he realized who this baby was, the little drummer boy wanted to give him a gift to worship him. Sadly, the boy realized that he had nothing of value to give to this holy baby, until he remembered his drum. And so, the little drummer boy began to worship Jesus by playing on his drum.

What I love about this story is that it shows us that the kind of worship that God cherishes is the kind that comes from our authentic selves—our real selves. We don’t have to pretend to be someone we’re not. We don’t have to act a certain way in order to be better worshippers. We can worship God in the “style” that best fits who we are and what God has given to us. If we are shepherds from the field, we can kneel down in submission to the Savior. If we are wise men from the East, we can offer him gifts from among our great riches. If we are a poor drummer boy, we can offer him our talents and the joy of seeing us use our talents.

What can you offer to Jesus this Christmas season? Can you offer him your service, your riches, your talents, or even your very life?

As you ponder these things, don’t forget that we’ll be gathering to worship Jesus twice on Christmas Eve: 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Please join us this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Christ at Northminster! There will be two services on Sunday morning, December 23rd at 9:00 and 10:45 am as well as two Candlelight services on Christmas eve, Monday, December 24th at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm. All are welcome to join us at church this joyful holiday season!

Sermon by Markus Watson on December 23, 2007

This is the fourth sermon in the series titled “Unexpected !!”

Theme – Did Mary really realize who this child was as she gave birth to him and as she nursed him? I don’t know. I imagine it would be hard to really grasp that the child you are holding is the Great I Am! But we know that Jesus truly was God in the flesh—God incarnate! This child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas is not just a cute baby—this child is God!

Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, the third sermon of the series, “Wise Man Living”, was not recorded. We are upgrading our recording capabilities to help prevent this from reoccurring.

This sermon may be downloaded to your local machine by right clicking (or control clicking on a Mac) on the link above and saving the mp3 file to your local hard drive.

It is recommended that you give Juice a try. Juice is an open source podcast receiver, allowing users to capture and listen to podcasts.

This winter friends of Northminster have been contributing to several collections for the homeless and the needy through our church. Although collections for these charities will always be welcomed, accepted and distributed through our church, we would like to draw your attention to some of the many ways you can contribute to the needy at Northminster as the celebration of Christ’s birth approaches.

• Northminster is collecting $1-$5 gift certificates for local fast food restaraunts or grocery stores to provide to those people who come to the church in hunger this winter season.
• We are also collecting donations to support the Community Christian Service Agency (CCSA) in their goal to supply 200 homeless individuals with gift bags containing a knit cap, gloves, hygiene kit, $5 meal card and greeting cards and stamps. (see www.ccsasandiego.org)
• The Northminster Women’s Association is collecting layettes for new mothers in need which will be donated to CCSA.
• We are also collecting canned and boxed food donations to supply to the urgent food needs of San Diego’s low income military families though the Military Outreach Ministries and for the Holiday Meal Baskets being distributed at CCSA. MOM’s current urgent needs are boxed meals, pasta, canned fruit, canned vegetables, cereal, baby food, peanut butter and jelly. (see www.ssandiegomom.org)
• The Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery at Northminster are collecting gently used items of warm clothing for the Baja Mission Project.

All contributions to these projects are welcome here at Northminster.

Finally, we wanted to spread the great news that all 94 families that registered for the Christmas “Adopt-A-Family” program at the Christian Community Service Agency (CCSA) have been adopted! Special thanks to the Northminster Women’s association for their contribution to this cause.

The Northminster Dolphin Mariners would like to extend their warmest holiday wishes and thank everyone who participated in their recent Christmas celebration and 2008 Officer installation at the Sizzler restaraunt on December 14th. A fun time of friend and fellowship was enjoyed by all. Thank you for helping to make this another wonderful fellowship event.

Just a reminder that the Dolphin Mariners meet on the third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. for fellowship, fun, service, special projects and loving support and is open to anyone interested in participating.

The Church Women United would like to invite you to join them at their upcoming annual meeting on Friday, January 11th at 9:30 a.m..  This meeting will be held at the Mary Star Catholic Church at 7669 Girard Avenue in La Jolla.  The title of the topic being presented at this meeting is “What is a Deacon?” and should be very interesting.  Please join us if you can.

The Northminster Preschool has a very active parent group that does fund raising to provide things such as enrichment programs for our school. As part of this program Eric Runningpath of the Navajo Nation has been coming to perform for our children for many years.

Eric is a Native American culture story teller and dancer and he enthralls the children every November.

Dear Northminster Parents and Friends:

It is unimaginable that Christmas is close upon us already! Wasn’t it just yesterday that your children started school with us laughing and shedding a few tears? We have made so many new friends since September and have had an amazing amount of fun!

It is so easy for me to reflect on the past 3 months and realize what a wonderful and blessed preschool we have here at Northminster. We have amazing teachers, the most considerate and giving parents, and beautiful children at this preschool. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for all that you do both big and small to make this preschool the best in San Diego. It really takes the efforts of many to make Northminster a unique and premiere school. I am thankful to all of you for your contributions to that effort.

During the holidays, we try to help out a local organization here in Clairemont called CCSA. They give food, clothing and gifts to the needy in our community. We will be holding a NEW toy drive from now until December 18^th. We will also collect canned and boxed food for them until that date. Either drop them by the office or in the classroom. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

A reminder that the preschool will be closed from December 24^th – January 4^th. We will re-open on Monday, January 7^th, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. Also, there will be no lunch bunch or extended care on Friday, December 21, 2007. Please make sure your child is picked up by 12:00 p.m.

The preschool also participates in Cars4Causes. If you have an old car that you would like to donate, contact them and they will come and pick-up the car and Northminster Preschool will receive a check. Just mention our name when you call.

On behalf of the Northminster Preschool staff, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008. Please, if you are traveling, make it a safe trip. We look forward to seeing everyone in 2008!

May God bless all of you this season and throughout the new year.

Shelli Harder,
Preschool Director