DECEMBER 19, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

What have we done with Jesus at Christmas?

When we look around, we rarely see Him anywhere. Most home decorations don’t include Him, but they do include other characters like Santa, reindeer, the Grinch, and snowmen. Lots of conversations exclude Him, but we hear a lot about having a happy holiday instead of Merry Christmas. News shows talk a lot about shopping and sales numbers, but not much about the real reason for the season (which isn’t really about money). I could go on and on, but I think you would agree that Jesus has been lost in all the activity. God’s Son has been pushed aside for cheap substitutes.

As I said on Sunday, if one of those mysterious drones flying around our airspace was to land on earth and some intelligent life walked out of it and tried to figure out what all they observed was all about, it’s unlikely they would conclude that it was all a reflection and celebration of the birth of the God who became man, Jesus Christ. There’s just so little around us to indicate what Christmas is truly all about.

That’s where we come into play. God calls us to “be Jesus” to the people we engage with. We can help them see Him, and the Christmas season is one of the best times to do it.

I hope you’ll help others see Jesus through how you live and what you share with them. One of the opportunities you have available right now is to invite friends and family to church on Sunday and Christmas Eve. People need Him and we can help them see the Jesus that so few people really think much about.

What will you do with Jesus at Christmas?

Warmly,
Vince

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

We’re in the Christmas season.  Lights are all around us, parties are being planned, gifts are being purchased, and despite all the activities surrounding Christmas, so little of it is actually focused on what Christmas actually is or really means.  I wish it weren’t true, but it is.

Many people know some of the basic facts surrounding Christmas, even if for some it's a limited knowledge at best.  We know that it was the day that Jesus was born, that He was laid in a manger because there was no other place for Him to lay, it was in the winter, and Mary and Joseph were His parents.  What many don’t know or fail to appreciate about Christmas is a deeper understanding of this incredible, history-changing event and all that was involved with it. 

What a mystery that Jesus would leave heaven and come to earth in the miraculous and unusual way that He did! 

In this new series, The Mystery of Christmas, we'll explore some of the more incredibly mysterious and fascinating aspects of Christ’s arrival at Christmas, including the mystery of how God became a man, the mystery of what He has done and will do in the future, and the mystery of His choice of time in coming to earth over 2,000 years ago during the winter of 5/4 B.C. 

"What a mystery that Jesus would leave heaven and come to earth..."

Our goal is to help everyone go beyond a casual appreciation of Christmas so we can help you enjoy the birth of Jesus in a deeper and more significant way.

This is a great time to invite friends and family to join you!  I hope you’ll invite as many people as you can; don't underestimate what God can do through a simple invitation this Christmas.

Warmly,
Vince

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Hey Lakeshore!

Nate here.

So much is happening as we gear up for the holiday season, and I could not be more excited about it! I’m so excited to experience my first Christmas with my new church family at Lakeshore. I’m praying that this holiday season we would not be lulled into complacency by the same traditions, the busyness, or by anything that is not worthy of our attention. Rather, I pray that we’re put in awe of God in a new way as we celebrate the glory that is the birth of His Son, our Savior. Psalm 119:37 says “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” This Christmas season, I pray we would not be distracted by the worthless, but rather be enamored by the worthiness of Jesus!

Alongside the holidays, we’re deep into our Making Waves 2025 campaign and our Sunday series, Caring Like Jesus. It’s amazing to see God at work through initiatives like last week’s outreach to Greece Central families, this weekend’s Feed My Starving Children MobilePack, and more projects coming up this year and next. These efforts are making a real, eternal impact!

Of course, we serve because God has commanded us to, and because there is a great need right in our city. Did you know that only 10% of the Rochester area is plugged into a Bible believing church? This statistic is heartbreaking to me. The need is great, and we—not someone else—are God’s “plan A” to reach the lost people around us. That’s why ministries like Flower City Work Camp are so important.

"The need is great, and we—not someone else—are God's plan A to reach the lost people around us."

Some of our students will be serving with the project, which is also powered by Making Waves 2025. It’s happening in the spring, from April 14-18, but we need adult leaders to join us, too! Whether it’s helping with house projects, VBS, or sports camps, your time can make a difference for Jesus, right here in Rochester. If you’re interested in how you can get involved, please reach out or sign up here!

I know that together, eternal impact is within our reach. I’m blessed by you, Lakeshore, and I’m excited to see all that God is going to do in this next season!

Pastor Nate